CUFORN Bulletin - Vol 06 No 01 - 1985 - Jan-Feb

Magazine Overview

Title: CUFORN BULLETIN
Issue: Vol. 6, No. 1
Date: January-February, 1985
Publisher: CUFORN Inc.
Country: Canada
Language: English

This issue of the CUFORN Bulletin, published by the Canadian UFO Research Network, focuses on a variety of UFO-related topics, including photographic evidence, alleged government cover-ups, personal encounters, and media coverage.

Key Articles and Reports

Brazilian Navy UFO Photographs

The issue begins with a report on six black and white photographs taken by Almiro Barauna on January 16, 1953, from the Brazilian Navy ship NE Almirante Saldanha. The UFO was sighted over Trindade Island, 20 miles east of Brazil. The observation was made by 60 crew members and subsequently tested by various labs, including the Brazilian Navy's Photo Reconnaissance Lab and an independent Brazilian lab, CDSAS, which eliminated any possibility of a hoax. The accompanying text describes the UFO as appearing lower, larger, and flying in the opposite direction when it reappeared, so fast that two subsequent shots were lost.

Robert Suffern's Encounter and Government Liaison

A significant portion of the bulletin is dedicated to the case of Robert Suffern, an Ontario farmer who reported a UFO sighting on October 7, 1975. The article, written by John Cosway, details Suffern's account of seeing a darkened space ship and a figure in a silvery-grey suit with a globe-type helmet. The report highlights the media attention Suffern received and the subsequent investigation by UFO researchers.

Further details are provided in an article by Harry Tokarz, titled "New Evidence-Top Secret Government/Alien Liaison." This follow-up report reveals that on December 12, 1975, three men, identified as top brass from the Canadian Forces, the U.S. Air Force, and the Pentagon, visited the Sufferns. According to the report, these officials provided detailed information about UFOs, their origins, and implied that the U.S. and Canadian governments have known about UFOs and have been cooperating with aliens since 1943. The article suggests this was a deliberate effort to placate witnesses and maintain government secrecy.

Close Encounter Near Lake Ontario

An article details a sighting by a retired man, Mr. W.F., in Toronto, Ontario, on October 13, 1984, concerning an event in June 1983. Mr. W.F. reported observing a rotating red and silver pumpkin-shaped object for ten minutes at 5 p.m. The object traveled east towards the Pickering Nuclear Power Plant. The report notes several potentially detracting facts, such as the witness wearing eyeglasses, his age, and his reluctance to sign the report or provide his address. The object was estimated to be moving at five miles per hour.

Media and UFOs

The bulletin discusses the media's role in reporting on UFOs. It mentions an appearance by Stanton Friedman on the Ontario Government's TV Network show "Speaking Out" on January 10, 1985, which discussed UFOs, ghosts, and monsters. The article notes discrepancies in the number of guests reported by different newspapers. It also references a CNN-TV News report on the Rendlesham Forest CE3 case.

Encounters With Our Readers

This section features letters from readers, including:

• John Brent Musgrave, who provided information on two non-credit UFO courses given in Canada.
• A letter from Charlie Alcock, who commented on previous issues and mentioned seeing UFOs in various locations.
• A letter from Richard Heiden, who commented on the book "Clear Intent" and the CUFORN Bulletin.

Book Review: The Uninvited II: The Visitation

Frank Taylor's book "The Uninvited II: The Visitation" is reviewed. The reviewer describes it as a thriller based on actual events involving NLs, abductions, and MIBs experienced by a family in England in 1981. The book is praised for its engaging writing style and affordability.

From Our Photo Archives

This section includes a photograph of a daylight disc UFO taken by U.S. Navy photographer Wallace Litwin on September 19, 1952, during the NATO exercise "Operation Mainbrace" in the North Sea. The photo is listed in Project Blue Book's microfilm.

Philadelphia Honoured

Nancy Allen received a nomination for best actress for her role in "The Philadelphia Experiment," a film based on CUFORN member Bill Moore's book.

B'nai B'rith Speech

Editor Larry Fenwick gave a lecture on UFOs to the Judea Lodge of B'Nai B'rith in Downsview, Ontario.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the persistent mystery of UFOs, the potential for government secrecy and cover-ups, and the importance of photographic and eyewitness evidence. The bulletin appears to advocate for greater transparency and public awareness regarding UFO phenomena, while also presenting detailed accounts of sightings and investigations. The editorial stance seems to be one of open inquiry into unexplained aerial phenomena, encouraging reader participation and sharing of information.

Title: CUFORN BULLETIN
Issue: January-February 1985
Date: 1985-01
Publisher: CUFORN
Country: Canada
Language: English

This issue of the CUFORN Bulletin features a strong rebuttal from physicist Stanton T. Friedman against a debunker named Henry Gordon, alongside an astronomy column and a review of a UFO-related book.

I Have Been Debunked Without Proper Research, Irates Physicist Declares

This section is a letter to the editor from Stanton T. Friedman, a physicist, responding to a November 14th article by Henry Gordon. Friedman vehemently criticizes Gordon's research methods and conclusions.

Friedman outlines six main points:

1. Security and Clearance: He argues Gordon misunderstands how security works, including the need-to-know concept and compartmentalization. Friedman, with 15 years of experience in classified research and development, states he has ordered classified documents and can guarantee governments can keep secrets, contrasting this with Gordon's apparent lack of experience in archives.
2. Professional Activities: Friedman clarifies that he has not given up on physics nor lectures about "The Coming of the UFOs." He asserts his active involvement as a physicist in commissioning the Pt. Lepreau Nuclear station, food irradiation, seed stimulation, and waste heat recovery from power plants. He also mentions participating in scientific symposia and belonging to professional scientific groups, refuting the title of his illustrated lectures as "Flying Saucers ARE Real."
3. Ontario Press Council Complaint: He dismisses Gordon's description of his complaint to the Ontario Press Council as inaccurate, stating that the information was readily available.
4. Phil Klass Offer: Friedman denies that reporter Phil Klass offered to pay his expenses from California to Washington to convince a congressional committee about the "Cosmic Watergate." He states there was no such forum and he had already provided testimony.
5. The Roswell Incident: Friedman claims that he and William Moore conducted 98% of the research for the book "The Roswell Incident" and have written three papers on the subject. He states they have spoken to numerous individuals involved, including Air Force generals and FBI agents, while Gordon and Klass have spoken to none of them. Friedman asserts that an alien saucer did crash, was retrieved by the Air Force and FBI, and was covered up.
6. Gordon's Research Deficiencies: Friedman concludes that Gordon's article and previous encounters demonstrate a lack of first-hand research, ignorance of government documents and procedures, and a disregard for truth, science, and journalistic honesty. He believes Gordon's article should have been preceded by contact with Friedman and research into his professional activities and the Roswell Incident, as well as the numerous documents establishing a "Cosmic Watergate."

Friedman criticizes Gordon's approach as typical of a "noisy negativist" who makes baseless statements. He concludes that CUFORN Bulletin readers are entitled to more than Gordon's dismissive debunking.

The Toronto Star's Credibility Questioned

This section, attributed to the Toronto Star, Saturday, February 23, 1985, features an editorial comment from a former journalist who is now a credit reporter. The author, having a degree in Journalism from Ryerson Polytechnical Institute, recalls an instructor's statement that the Toronto Star is considered the worst newspaper in North America by journalists.

The author suggests that any paper publishing a column called "Debunking" by Henry Gordon or his CSICOP associates deserves to be rated at the low end of journalistic quality. The author also recounts an instance where Gordon, a professional magician, publicly admitted at the Ontario Science Centre, "I don't know very much about UFOs," in front of 2,000 people. The Star reportedly did not cover this speech, while Global TV did.

Bright Lights on Winter's Long Nights

This article, by Terence Dickinson, originally published in the Toronto Star on Saturday, February 9, 1985, discusses astronomical observations for February evenings.

The Universe:

Dickinson identifies Venus and Sirius as the brightest planet and star, respectively, that are prominent in the frosty February evenings. He notes that Venus is currently at its brightest, appearing as a brilliant diamond, but sets two hours after darkness falls. Sirius, the brightest object in the southeastern sky, climbs higher as evening advances. Despite Sirius being 27 times more luminous than the sun, it is half a million times farther away and is the nearest star easily visible from Canada.

Dickinson refers to Venus and Sirius as "astronomical UFOs" because their visual characteristics, especially when near the horizon, might make them appear to be nearby celestial objects.

Color Flashing:

When close to the horizon, both Venus and Sirius can change color, flashing erratically from white to orange, red, blue, or green. Dickinson explains that this phenomenon is caused by the Earth's atmosphere generating the color and flashing, while the human mind creates the impression of hovering.

Venus as a UFO:

Dickinson states that Venus has been reported as a UFO thousands of times. He provides an anecdote about a television anchor, a university professor, several police officers, and a newspaper reporter who were all fooled by Venus's antics on the same night. He concludes that Venus is likely the number one culprit for misidentified UFO sightings, with Sirius following closely behind.

Terence Dickinson is noted as a former CUFORN member.

Sky Crash: A Cosmic Conspiracy

This section reviews the book "Sky Crash: A Cosmic Conspiracy" by Brenda Butler, Dot Street, and Jenny Randles, all from England. The book is described as one of the most important books ever written about UFOs.

Rendlesham Forest Incident:

The book chronicles events from December 27 and 29/30, 1980, in the Rendlesham Forest area near Woodbridge Airbase, an American facility in Suffolk, England. It details a reported lengthy conversation between Lt. Col. Charles Halt, the base's deputy commander, a small number of his men, and a few humanoids who were suspended in a shaft of light beneath a landed UFO.

Tape Recording:

CAUS's latest bulletin, "Just Caus," reportedly obtained a copy of the tape recording of part of the encounter and hopes to publish a transcript soon.

Media Coverage:

The case was also reported in the East Anglian Daily Times in England and on Cable Network News in the U.S. The book is described as a "must" for readers interested in this topic.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The CUFORN Bulletin, as evidenced by this issue, appears to champion the investigation of UFO phenomena and to be critical of debunking efforts. The prominent placement of Stanton T. Friedman's detailed rebuttal of Henry Gordon highlights a stance that supports UFO researchers and challenges conventional scientific or journalistic dismissal of the subject. The inclusion of an astronomy article by Terence Dickinson, while seemingly unrelated, serves to educate readers on celestial phenomena that can be mistaken for UFOs, indicating a balanced approach to distinguishing between genuine sightings and misidentifications. The review of "Sky Crash: A Cosmic Conspiracy" further reinforces the magazine's focus on significant UFO cases and related research, suggesting an editorial stance that is open to, and actively promotes, the exploration of unexplained aerial phenomena and related evidence.