CUFORN Bulletin - Vol 06 No 06 - 1985 - Nov-Dec

Magazine Overview

This issue of the CUFORN Bulletin, dated November-December 1985, is Volume 6, Number 6. The magazine is published by CUFORN Inc. in Willowdale, Ontario, Canada. The cover features a striking image of a UFO and the headline "Crescat scientia vita excolatur (Where knowledge increases, life is ennobled)". The issue is priced at $3.00.

Cover Story: Ipameri, Brazil UFO Sighting

The cover also highlights a daylight disc photographed on May 8, 1966, in Ipameri, Brazil, by James Pfeiffer, a U.S. aviation industry executive. The object was described as a gold spheroid, 60 to 70 feet in diameter, hovering at an altitude of about 1,500 feet above a wooded area. It emitted a high-pitched whine that changed to a low pitch when it landed. Restaurant employees witnessed the event. Pfeiffer managed to take one photo before the object descended at approximately 200 mph, executed a 90-degree turn, landed, and departed. This photograph had previously appeared in a 1966 issue of Life magazine and was declared genuine.

In This Issue:

The issue lists several key articles: "MJ 12: MYTH OR REALITY?", "UFOs and the Electronic Media", "Editor's Mother Dies", "Reagan, Friedman in the Spotlight", and "Strange lights in Sky".

Article: MJ12: MYTH OR REALITY?

This extensive article, authored by Barry Greenwood, reprints a feature from "Just Cause", the publication of Citizens Against UFO Secrecy (CAUS). The CUFORN Co-Directors consider the information and analysis presented to be a significant development in UFO research, particularly concerning the Roswell UFO crash-retrieval of July 1947. Lawrence Fawcett of CAUS reportedly received a small piece of the Roswell disc metal from the late Wilbert Smith.

The article questions whether a secret government panel intensively studied a crashed UFO case with compelling physical evidence and set the government's UFO debunking policy. It notes that many rumors have circulated for decades, with some lingering.

The CUFORN Bulletin is edited and published bi-monthly by Lawrence J. Fenwick. Subscriptions are $16.00 yearly in Canada and $19.00 elsewhere. Copyright is held by CUFORN, Inc., 1985.

The Editor's Perspective on MJ12

The Editor addresses the MJ12 question, acknowledging the persistent rumors and the lack of conclusive government documentation. The article references the Roswell incident and a document allegedly from the Air Force analyzing photographic data related to sightings over Kirtland AFB in August 1980. This document, which circulated on the UFO grapevine, mentioned "Project Aquarius" and "MJ12". AFOSI reportedly called this document a "fabrication".

The author recounts how the "MJ12" portion of the "Aquarius" document resurfaced when CAUS learned that researcher Lee Graham was investigating it, based on information from an unknown government source. The "MJ12" panel is described as having been formed to investigate and report to the President on UFO matters, specifically addressing the Roswell incident. The listed members of this panel are:

• Detlev W. Bronk
• Lloyd V. Berkner
• Vannevar Bush
• James V. Forrestal
• Gordon Gray
• Roscoe H. Hillenkoetter
• Jerome C. Hunsaker
• Donald H. Menzel
• Sidney W. Souers
• Nathan F. Twining
• Hoyt S. Vandenberg
• Robert M. Montague

The report submitted to the President, titled "MJ12", was classified "Top Secret-Eyes Only", dated September 18, 1947, and signed by President Harry Truman.

The "MJ12" Document and its Implications

The article questions the authenticity of the document, noting the date of September 18, 1947, which is the CIA's official first day. It explores the possibility that this was one of the first orders of business for the nascent CIA. The connection to the Roswell incident is deemed significant, given the information revealed by researchers like Bill Moore and Stanton Friedman, suggesting that the metallic debris from Roswell was more than just parts of a radar reflector balloon.

The article examines the background of several MJ12 members, including:

• Lloyd V. Berkner: Known for physics and electronics, served in public administration, and was involved with the Carnegie Institute of Washington and the Joint Research and Development Board.
• Detlev W. Bronk: President of Johns Hopkins University, a physiologist and biophysicist, chairman of the National Research Council, and a member of the Medical Advisory Board of the Atomic Energy Commission.
• Gordon Gray: Former Secretary of the Army, known for the "Gray Report" on the National Guard, and a veteran of World War II.
• Jerome C. Hunsaker: Head of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering at MIT, chairman of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, and a pioneer in aeronautical science.
• Nathan F. Twining: Commanded the 20th Air Force, involved in the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and held various high-ranking positions in the Air Force, including Vice-Chief of Staff.
• Donald H. Menzel: Director of Harvard College Observatory, an astrophysicist known for his theories on "flying saucers" as optical phenomena (mirages).
• James V. Forrestal: First Secretary of Defense, coordinating U.S. armed services.
• Roscoe H. Hillenkoetter: First permanent director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
• Sidney W. Souers: Organized the nation's first Central Intelligence Office and was executive secretary of the National Security Council.
• Hoyt S. Vandenberg: Predecessor to Hillenkoetter as director of central intelligence work, later Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force.

Analysis of MJ12 Members' Involvement

The article notes that many MJ12 members had connections to the National Security Council or the Research and Development Board (R&DB). It questions General Twining's pro-UFO "Flying Discs" memo, dated September 23, 1947, which came shortly after the MJ12 report, suggesting a possible influence. The involvement of Menzel and Vandenberg, who later became known for debunking UFOs, is seen as a curiosity, raising questions about their roles if the panel concluded UFOs were real.

The possibility that the MJ12 document was a fabrication is discussed, but the author also considers it could be a "leaker" of sensitive information. The article references the "54/12 Group" described in the book "The Invisible Government" by David Wise and Thomas Ross, suggesting a potential link to MJ12.

Dr. Richard Sigismond recalls a lecture by Dr. Edward Condon where physicist George Gamow mentioned serving on a secret UFO committee with General Curtis LeMay in 1952 to evaluate UFOs, raising another potential connection.

Article: Editor's Mother Dies

This section announces the delay in publication due to the death of Rose Fenwick, mother of Publisher/Editor Lawrence J. Fenwick. She passed away on January 14, 1986, after a struggle with cancer. She was 73 and had worked as an accountant in New York City.

Article: Friedman Article in Reader's Digest

Stanton Friedman, described as a "Ufologist" by debunkers, is mentioned for an article on the irradiation of meat for astronauts, published in "Ascent" and reprinted in the December 1985 issue of Reader's Digest.

Article: Alien raid could make Reagan, Soviets chums

This section includes a news clipping from The Toronto Sun (December 5, 1985) reporting on a statement by U.S. President Ronald Reagan suggesting that a threat from outer space could unite Americans and Soviets. The editor questions whether Reagan was conditioned to make such a statement as part of a program to prepare the public for the reality of humanoids.

Co-Directors Comments On "MJ12"

CUFORN Secretary Lawrence J. Fenwick expresses skepticism about Lee Graham's ability to verify Truman's signature from memory and questions the accessibility of UFO material at the National Archives. He suggests that some MJ12 members might not have seen the actual UFO or "dead humanoids" but relied on the observations of others. He also notes that the "Aquarius document" stated MJ12's access was "restricted".

CUFORN Treasurer Harry Tokarz questions why MJ12 is mentioned in the 1980 Aquarius document if 54/12 replaced it, and asks about any loosening of U.S. policy on releasing UFO information, while Reagan tightens secrecy.

CUFORN President Joseph Muskat wonders about the source of Lee Graham's information.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme in this issue is the investigation into the MJ12 document and its potential implications for UFO secrecy and government cover-ups. The CUFORN Bulletin maintains a cautious but open approach, emphasizing the need for conclusive government documentation while encouraging discussion and analysis of emerging information. The publication also touches upon broader UFO phenomena, media representation, and the potential for government disinformation. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical inquiry, seeking verifiable evidence while acknowledging the persistent nature of UFO-related mysteries.

Title: CUFORN BULLETIN
Issue: November-December, 1985
Volume: 11
Date: November-December, 1985
Publisher: CUFORN
Country: Canada
Language: English

UFOS AND THE ELECTRONIC MEDIA

This section of the CUFORN Bulletin critically examines how UFO-related content was presented by electronic media, focusing on television and newspaper coverage. The article begins by discussing the film "The Bamboo Saucer," also known as "Collision Course," a 1968 science fiction movie shown on CITY-TV in Toronto on November 15, 1985. The author notes that the film's only redeeming feature was its special effects.

Media Coverage Analysis

The article contrasts the coverage of the film by Toronto's two largest newspapers, The Toronto Star and The Globe and Mail. The Toronto Star described the film as being about "Three nations battle for control of a space object brought to their attention by a Red Chinese peasant's drawing," and stated it was made in 1967. The Globe and Mail, however, correctly identified the year as 1968 and described the film as "sci-fi," detailing that "American and Russian forces investigate a UFO sighting in China."

Criticism and Comparison

The author provides a critique of both newspapers' descriptions. The Globe rated the film "Fair," while the Star called it "Poor." The Bulletin's editor agrees with The Globe's appraisal, noting that it accurately called the object a UFO, whereas The Star used the vaguer term "space object" to avoid sensationalism. The editor also points out The Star's use of military terminology like "battle," contrasting it with The Globe's focus on investigation. The editor finds The Star's description more informative, particularly its detail about the "Red Chinese peasant."

The article also briefly mentions another film, "Overlords of the UFO," which aired on CITY-TV on December 9, 1985. The Globe called this film "low-brow," while The Star described its footage as "unique." Both papers correctly identified it as a documentary, with The Star using "flying saucers" and The Globe using "unidentified flying objects."

Strange Lights in Sky

This section, attributed to Gord McCulloch of the Temiscaming-Mattawa Bureau for "2-The Nugget," reports on numerous sightings of strange lights in the early morning sky on Wednesday, November 20, 1985. The sightings were reported from various locations across the district, including North Bay and as far south as Collingwood.

Witness Accounts

Jack St. Onge, a Tembec employee from Redbridge, described seeing a green light around 5 a.m. that appeared to be the size of a full moon and was approaching and growing larger. By the time his family came out, the object had disappeared, but two smaller spheres with light beams were visible. He described the experience as "somewhat terrifying."

While commuting to Temiscaming, Mr. St. Onge mentioned the incident to a colleague who admitted to having seen a similar object but hesitated to report it for fear of ridicule. Mr. St. Onge also discussed the incident with Rheal Viau, an electrician at the Temiscaming mill, who had also seen strange objects in the sky on his way to Temiscaming.

Mr. Viau provided further details about his observations: a yellow sphere visible for about 10 minutes, followed by a purple ball for a few minutes, and then a white sphere. These objects were visible through his windshield while traveling south, and he noted projections resembling light beams on their left sides.

Two truck drivers who stopped for coffee near Laniel reported seeing a white cloud above the highway that, upon their approach, shot straight up into the sky.

Other observers reportedly witnessed similar anomalies in the Sarnia/London/Chatham area within the same timeframe.

Official and Environmental Canada Reports

Mr. St. Onge reported his sightings to the North Bay office of Environment Canada. Barry Armstrong of Environment Canada confirmed that there had been reports of similar sightings from other centers that morning, including North Bay and Collingwood. Ted Aldridge, a professional pilot from Collingwood, also reported similar sightings made with a friend.

Jim MacLean, also from the North Bay office of Environment Canada, had compiled a log of these reports. However, Master Sgt. Don Weston of CFB North Bay stated there was "no indication" of any strange objects being sighted in the area.

NASA's Explanation

According to NASA, the sightings were attributed to the burn-up of a satellite.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue highlights the media's role in shaping public perception of UFO phenomena, contrasting factual reporting with sensationalism and differing analytical approaches. The editorial stance appears to favor more direct and specific reporting, as seen in the preference for The Star's description of the film "The Bamboo Saucer" despite its "Poor" rating, due to its more detailed, albeit potentially biased, narrative. The bulletin also documents multiple witness accounts of unexplained aerial phenomena across Ontario, showcasing a pattern of sightings that were investigated by Environment Canada but ultimately attributed to natural or known causes like satellite burn-ups by NASA. The overall tone suggests an ongoing interest in UFO reports and their media representation, while also acknowledging official explanations.