CUFORN Bulletin - Vol 06 No 03 - 1985 - May-Jun

Magazine Overview

CUFORN Bulletin - May-June, 1985

This issue of the CUFORN Bulletin, published by the Canadian U.F.O. Research Network, covers a range of topics related to UFO research and sightings. The cover features a photograph of a MUFON CE2 display of photos from MUFON's 16th annual symposium in St. Louis, Missouri.

Key Articles and Features:

• MUFON's Symposium - A Success in St. Louis: The bulletin reports on MUFON's 16th annual symposium, held from June 28th to 30th, 1985. The event featured a photographic exhibit of CE1 and IFO photographs, which impressed visitors. The symposium's theme was 'UFOs: The Burden of Proof'.
• Leonard Stringfield's Presentation: Veteran UFO writer-investigator Leonard Stringfield presented a case study titled 'Fatal Encounter at Fort Dix-McGuire: A Case Study', detailing an incident where a Military Policeman fired at a humanoid. Stringfield provided a copy of the U.S. Air Force Incident Complaint Form.
• Symposium Speakers and Topics: Speeches included Marge Christensen on 'Shifting The Burden of Proof', George Fawcett on 'UFO Repetitions: A Challenge To Scientific Investigations', Peter Gersten on 'The Burden of Proof', John F. Schuessler on 'The Medical Evidence in UFO Cases', and Ted Phillips on 'Physical Trace Landing Reports: The Case for UFOs?'. William Moore's topic was 'Crashed Saucers: Evidence in The Search For Proof'. Other speakers included Stanton T. Friedman, David Webb, and Budd Hopkins.
• Workshops and Attendance: Budd Hopkins conducted a workshop for field investigators. Continuous showing of UFO documentary films and video tapes took place. Total attendance was in the range of 250 people. A 'Breakfast With The Speakers' feature was popular. Videotapes of speeches were made available for sale.
• A Brief Interview with U.S. Major General Keegan: The bulletin recounts an encounter with Major General George Keegan, former Chief of United States Air Force Intelligence, on May 8, 1985, in Toronto. Keegan, when asked about UFOs and 'Project Aquarius', stated he was not going to get into 'that whole ball of wax again' and would take anything that didn't have to do with UFOs. His eyes reportedly lit up when 'Project Aquarius' was mentioned.
• The New UFO 'Depression': An editorial by Lawrence J. Fenwick discusses a perceived dramatic drop in UFO reports in North America since the release of the movie 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' in 1979. Fenwick suggests this is a form of manipulation, where humanoids, being far advanced in evolution, are using mass media to condition humanity to their appearance.
• UFOs and the Electronic Media: This section examines how UFOs are portrayed in the media.
• Bill Moore on TV: CUFORN member Bill Moore appeared on ABC-TV's 'Eye On Hollywood' on May 10, 1985. The segment included footage from various sources, including the New Zealand motion picture, Four Corners, the Catalina Island movie, and photos from McMinnville, Oregon, and Rouen, France. The Jimmy Carter sighting report and Gordon Cooper's letter to the UN were also shown. Moore refuted the statement that the U.S. Air Force no longer investigates UFOs. The segment also covered the Roswell crash-retrieval of 1947, with interviews with first-hand observers like Bill Brazel and Major Jesse Marcel.
• Media Omission: The Globe and Mail's TV Guide noted the film 'The Disappearance of Flight 412' but made no mention that it dealt with UFOs.
• UFO items from the Newspapers: This section includes various newspaper clippings:
• A Thai IFO: A description of 'Pomperipossa', a COLT 77A Hot-Air Balloon that was reportedly the first official U.F.Q. reported in Thailand during the 1978 Asian Games.
• BLOW THE WHISTLE ON THE DIX-MCGUIRE UFO CONNECTION: An appeal for information regarding the autopsy report and other records of an incident in 1978 where an Army policeman pursued and shot a disembarked occupant of a nighttime UFO near Fort Dix and McGuire AFB, NJ.
• Strange encounter of a Soviet-UFO kind: A report from the Los Angeles Times (Jan. 29, 1985) about pilots and passengers aboard a Soviet airliner encountering a star-like UFO that escorted them.
• Lights fantastic: A report from the Globe and Mail (Toronto, Feb. 1, 1985) about a strange encounter involving a display of lights on an Aeroflot flight from Rostov to Tallinn.
• UFO'S IN THE NEWSPAPERS: A section featuring clippings from The Pentagram and Toronto Star.
• 'Strange' twinkling in Calgary wasn't UFO, stargazer says: A Calgary police officer suggested that strange twinkling lights seen in the sky were likely planets Venus or Jupiter, or the star Sirius, not UFOs.
• In Search of UFOs: An advertisement from CAUS seeking to file a lawsuit under the Freedom of Information Act to obtain government data on UFOs.
• Situation Red Index Available: Information on a 46-page index to Leonard H. Stringfield's work, compiled by Lawrence J. Fenwick, available for $7.00.
• APRO Suspends Bulletin Publication: An announcement that the July, 1985 issue of the APRO Bulletin would be the last one due to the ill health of Coral Lorenzen.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance:

The CUFORN Bulletin consistently focuses on presenting evidence and reports of UFO phenomena, often highlighting cases that suggest official cover-ups or government secrecy. The editorial stance, as seen in Lawrence J. Fenwick's piece on the 'UFO Depression', suggests a belief in the reality of UFOs and the possibility of advanced extraterrestrial intelligence manipulating public perception through media. The publication aims to inform researchers and the public about the latest news, sightings, and investigations in the field of ufology, with a particular emphasis on Canadian and international cases.

Title: CUFORN Bulletin
Issue: May-June, 1985
Volume: 11
Publisher: CUFORN
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of the CUFORN Bulletin features a practical guide on interviewing and interrogation techniques by Sgt. John C. Campbell, along with correspondence regarding UFO investigations and alleged government coverups.

Interviewing/Interrogation: An Easier Way That Works

By Sgt. JOHN C. CAMPBELL

Sgt. John C. Campbell, a Sergeant of Detectives with the Minnesota's City of Duluth Police Department and a police officer with 14 years of experience, shares methods and techniques for effective interviewing and interrogation. The article, adapted from the Canadian Police News (Spring, 1985), offers advice for UFO field investigators.

Key Interviewing Principles:

• Timeliness: Conduct interviews as soon as possible after an incident, as memory fades quickly.
• Background Information: Gather information about the person, including any history of hoaxes.
• Interviewer's State: Ensure you are mentally and physically prepared before conducting an interview.
• Interviewee's Needs: Address the emotional and physical needs of the interviewee. Calm excited or upset witnesses through casual conversation, offering refreshments, or ensuring privacy.
• Environment: Select a private location away from distractions like telephones. Eliminate physical barriers such as desks or tables. Seat the interviewee so they are either directly facing you or at a 90-degree angle to observe their body language.
• Appearance: Regulate your appearance to be at the same level as the interviewee. If they are dressed casually, consider removing your tie and suit jacket.
• Interviewer Protocol: If there are two interviewers, only one should ask questions at a time. The other can note down questions to ask later.
• Rapport Building: Get to know the interviewee and build rapport. Allow them to feel some control, for instance, by asking permission to take notes.
• Information Gathering: Listen carefully and paraphrase what you hear to ensure correct information. Avoid leading questions, sarcasm, interruptions, and rapid-fire questioning.
• Conclusion: End the interview courteously, summarize the conversation, and ask if there is anything else they wish to add or emphasize. Inquire about others who might have additional information.

Narrative Flow: Allow the interviewee to tell their story in a narrative form at their own speed. If they stray too far, guide them back with direct questions. If they repeat parts of the story, let them, as they may add further details.

Keeping Out of Touch

This section features a letter from Robin Hardy of Toronto, responding to an article titled "Are UFOs Bunk?" (Feb. 13). Hardy questions the assumption that if intelligent aliens were visiting Earth, they would have contacted humans by now. He uses historical examples like the World Wars and the Holocaust to illustrate how future historians might view the 20th century. Hardy also questions why an intelligent species would want to contact humanity, given our perceived savagery and barbarism.

Air Fare Was Offered, He Says

This section contains a letter from Philip J. Klass of Washington, D.C., correcting an error in a previous letter from Stanton Friedman published in the Feb. 23 issue. Friedman had challenged a statement by columnist Henry Gordon, claiming Klass did not offer to pay Friedman's expenses from California to convince a Congressional committee about a "Cosmic (UFO) Watergate."

Klass states that on December 19, 1975, during interviews on San Francisco radio station KNBR, he offered to underwrite Friedman's tourist-class airfare to Washington if Friedman agreed to present evidence of a UFO coverup to the Church and Pike Committees. Klass emphasized the importance of this offer, stating, "I think it is that Important to the nation - IF there is a UFO coverup as you charge."

Klass concludes that Friedman never opted to accept this offer.

Following Klass's letter is a brief, unsigned commentary that criticizes Klass's offer. The commentary suggests that Klass's statement is "full of possible excuses for him to back out of his agreement" and that he would likely find ways to invalidate the offer, such as deeming Friedman a tourist if he stayed in a hotel.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The CUFORN Bulletin appears to focus on UFO phenomena and related investigations. The article on interviewing techniques suggests a practical, evidence-gathering approach. The correspondence section highlights ongoing debates within the UFO community regarding the nature of UFOs, the possibility of alien contact, and the credibility of researchers and their claims, particularly concerning alleged government coverups and the willingness of prominent figures to engage with such evidence.