Data Net - No 23 - 1969

Magazine Overview

This issue of DATA-NET REPORT NO. 23, dated December 1968, is published by WBGRPL, the control station for DATA-NET, a group of radio amateurs interested in the UFO problem. The newsletter is edited by J. J. Clark, with Analytical Research by Joe Adamski. The membership fee is $4.00 per year, and the report is published monthly.

Dell Publishing's "Flying Saucers, UFO Report"

The primary focus of this issue is the curious discontinuation of Dell Publishing's magazine, "FLYING SAUCERS, UFO REPORT." The authors express curiosity about Dell's actions, noting that the magazine was of higher quality than current offerings, with good printing and photo reproduction. It contained over 60 pages of well-written articles, both serious and humorous, and notably, no advertising. Only four issues were printed, and all were sell-outs, with each successive issue outselling the previous. Despite this apparent financial success, the magazine was discontinued.

Inquiries to the publishers yielded "idiot notes," one stating that back issues were unavailable. A more detailed response from an "Ed. Asst.," Mr. S. Marling, claimed the decision was made "for purely practical reasons: nothing mysterious about it!" The authors doubt Marling wrote this note and find the explanation unsatisfactory, especially in light of other UFO magazines that are currently selling well.

UFO Sightings and Investigations

The newsletter then presents several UFO-related reports and discussions:

Christian Rosenkreuz and Historical Incidents

A note clarifies that Christian Rosenkreuz is not the founder of the Rosy Cross, as stated by Steiger and Whritenour, but likely refers to a 17th-century incident in Cassel, Germany.

Lucci and Belvoir Photos

From UFOIC Australia, it's reported that Prof. Jim McDonald agrees with Dr. Condon that the Lucci photos have too many discrepancies to be genuine, and the Belvoir photos were caused by oilfires.

White Sands Missile Range Report

A special report from Newsday discusses identified "saucer-like objects" hovering in southwestern skies during 1966-1967. These were identified as "balloon-launched space craft" fired from the White Sands Missile Range. The craft were propelled at 1,100 MPH and launched to 130,000 feet by balloons, with rockets then taking them to 140,000 feet. The purpose was to gather data for possible spacecraft landing on Mars. An Air Force officer suggested these could give the illusion of flying saucers, but Gabe Brillante, chief of information at White Sands, insisted the photographed object was not the right illusion.

Santa Cruz Substance

DATA-NET received a silvery threadlike substance from a Santa Cruz police detective. It was analyzed by a metallurgist as aluminum chaff used by aircraft to confuse enemy radar, suggesting it was dropped from an aircraft.

Houston UFO Substance

A report from The Dallas Times Herald details a chemist's inability to identify a substance that allegedly floated down from an unidentified flying object over Houston on November 3, 1968. The substance, resembling "angel hair," was analyzed and found to be fibrous, elastic, and organic, but its exact nature remained undetermined.

Satellite Telescopes and Astronomy

A report from The Christian Science Monitor discusses the Orbiting Astronomical Observatory 2 (OAO 2) spacecraft, which uses telescopes to detect stars invisible to the human eye. The primary mission is to take ultraviolet pictures to understand universe formation. The telescopes were provided by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Laboratory.

Dr. Berthold Eric Schwarz's Cases

Dr. Berthold Eric Schwarz, an assistant attending psychiatrist, has written an article in "MEDICAL TIMES" citing four cases of UFO experiences that he considers "essentially real, and neither phantasied nor dereistic." Two cases occurred in New Jersey and two in Pennsylvania.

One case involved Sgt. Benjamin Thompson of the Wanaque Reservoir Police Force, who reported observing UFOs on four separate occasions. On October 11, 1966, he described a bright white object, diagonally 250 feet up, so bright it blinded him. He described it as a basketball with a hole and a football set in it, capable of shooting straight up. A fellow officer and a woman witnessed this sighting.

Another New Jersey case involved Jerry H. Simons, a 22-year-old forester, who reported a huge glowing light on the road, which he initially mistook for a brake light. The light became brighter, and he noticed a distinct outline of a solid body. The "weird light" pursued Simons in his auto. He reported this to Thomas P. Byrnes, superintendent of the Newark Watershed. Simons sketched the object as an estimated 25 by 30 feet, at tree height. The object reportedly made no noise and had no odor or sensation. Simons' auto motor was unresponsive for less than a minute. Three months later, Simons was admitted to Montclair Community Hospital with a "fascinating illness" characterized by fatigue, anorexia, generalized soreness, weakness, drowsiness, chills, and weight loss.

Two Pennsylvania cases are also mentioned: one involving a 73-year-old electrical contractor who saw a huge, flaming body that stalled his engine, and another where four adults and two infants saw a bright, hovering, mushroom-shaped light.

Pulsars and the 'Green Men' Theory

Reports from The Dallas Morning News discuss the "Green Men" theory of origin for radio signals from outer space being discredited. Physicists now favor natural origins, such as neutron stars. Dr. Engelbert L. Schucking explained that pulsars are the most accurate clocking devices known, beating with great regularity. The signals, first discovered by S. Jocelyn Bell in 1967, come from pulsating radio sources up to 19,560 light years away. The theory suggests a spinning neutron star, shrunk to a 10-mile dimension, could have an intense magnetic field creating a radio beam. Discussions also include X-ray stars, solar oblateness, and tachyons.

Scientists Seek Source of Beeps

Scientists are fascinated by radio signals first heard in 1967. Dr. A. G. W. Cameron stated these are a "completely new kind of object, so far not fully understood." While the "little green men" explanation is considered a "last resort," scientists are exploring whether these signals are from another world or a natural phenomenon. The intensity of the signals is enormous, with estimates suggesting pulsars generate radio power 10 billion times greater than all Earth's power sources combined.

UFO Speculation and Space Probes

Two scientists, Dr. J. E. McDonald and Dr. Garry C. Henderson, speculated that a highly advanced civilization on a distant planet might be launching "space probes" to observe Earth, explaining UFO sightings over the last 20 years. They suggested we could be under surveillance by a civilization far more advanced than ours. They emphasized the need for intensive study by the federal government using scientific instruments.

Dr. McDonald termed the UFO phenomenon "the greatest scientific mystery of the 20th century" and accused the Air Force of trying to "bury and rebury these reports" with "ludicrous explanations." Dr. Henderson noted that Soviet scientists are also mystified by UFOs.

The Dale Spaur Sighting: A Classic Case

This section details the widely reported sighting by Dale Spaur, a Portage County sheriff's deputy, and posse member Wilbur Neff on Sunday morning, April 17, 1966. They chased a saucer-shaped illuminated disc for 86 miles across two states. Hundreds of witnesses reported the object. The disc was described as no more than 150 feet away, 35-40 feet in diameter, and 18-20 feet high. The chase involved police from Conway, PA, and East Palestine, Ohio. The object gained altitude and disappeared. Mantua police Chief Gerald Buchert took a photo of the object, described as disc-shaped, but its subsequent fate is unknown. Wright-Patterson AFB reportedly checked the photo.

Dale Spaur described the object as casting so much light it was like broad daylight, and that it was an actual material vehicle, not a blob of light. He stated he was a skeptic until this experience. The ship seemed propelled by a stream of light and made a steady humming sound. Spaur believed the ship was guided and maneuverable. He was convinced it was a saucer-shaped vehicle.

The AF Project Blue Book investigation concluded the object was the planet Venus, an explanation that caused controversy. Congressman William Stanton requested an investigation into the AF Blue Book's findings. Spaur found the explanation an "insult" and stated he would not gamble his life on it. He was besieged by investigators and media, making TV appearances and participating in broadcasts.

Spaur was shown a photo by James Lucci that bore a remarkable likeness to the object he and Neff saw.

Two key items are highlighted as potentially important: the "accident" on Route 224 and the significance of a 1959 Ford found near the sighting area. The car was registered to Robert W. Nelson, with a learner's permit issued to Sanford H. Brown. Neither man has been found. The car was red and white with a triangle and lightning bolt emblem reading "Seven steps to Hell." It contained walky-talkies, tape recorders, and tapes. A radioactivity check was negative.

Dale Spaur himself is described as "lost." A story from the San Diego Union indicated he had lost his job, his wife, his honor, and 40 pounds. He was working as a painter for $80.00 a week, living in a motel, and paying alimony. The report suggests Mrs. Spaur may have been as much to blame for the separation as Dale.

A reproduced story from The San Diego Union by John DeGroot details Spaur's "ruined world of loneliness and twisted nightmares" six months after the chase, living in hiding, no longer a deputy sheriff, his marriage shattered, and facing financial hardship.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of DATA-NET CONTROL WBGRPL exhibits a critical and investigative stance, particularly regarding the publishing industry's handling of UFO-related content. The authors are skeptical of official explanations and corporate statements, seeking deeper truths behind seemingly mundane events. There is a clear interest in documenting and analyzing UFO sightings, presenting detailed accounts and questioning official conclusions. The newsletter also engages with contemporary scientific developments, such as the study of pulsars, contrasting them with earlier, more speculative theories. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded inquiry, encouraging members to contribute information and research, while maintaining a critical perspective on established authorities and media narratives.

This issue of DATA-NET, dated January 1969, focuses on a significant UFO sighting and subsequent chase that deeply affected the witnesses. The publication is a private group that does not have subscribers and relies on donations.

The Spaur/Neff Sighting and Chase

The main narrative details an incident involving Deputy W. L. Neff and a driver identified as Spaur. While driving on U.S. 224 near Randolph and Atwater, Ohio, they observed a 1959 Ford with a peculiar emblem: a triangle with a lightning bolt, labeled "Seven Steps to Hell." Upon stopping to investigate, they heard a humming sound and saw a large, saucer-shaped craft with an intense, purplish-white light rising from the woods. The light caused their eyes to tear up, and they experienced a strange paralysis.

The craft ascended to about 150 feet and moved directly over their patrol car, emitting a warm, pleasing heat. Spaur felt an intuition that touching the car would cause it to disappear. After the craft moved away and stopped, both men inexplicably raced back to the cruiser simultaneously. Spaur reported the sighting over the radio, with other similar reports already coming in. Despite being told to "shoot it," Spaur felt a strange compulsion not to.

The craft, described as about 50 feet across and 15 to 20 feet high with a dome and antenna, then moved away, and Spaur followed in his patrol car. The chase continued eastward through Ohio and into Pennsylvania, with the craft appearing to wait for Spaur at intersections and even doubling back once. The chase ended near Pittsburgh after sunrise when Spaur ran out of gas.

Aftermath and Personal Impact

The incident had severe repercussions for the witnesses. Spaur experiences recurring nightmares of the chase. The sedan with the "Seven Steps to Hell" emblem disappeared. Spaur's daily life was disrupted by reporters, television cameramen, Air Force investigators, government officials, and strange letters. His marriage to Daneise Spaur deteriorated, leading to her filing for divorce and working as a waitress. She described him as becoming frightened, strange, listless, pale, nervous, and prone to disappearing for days.

Neff, who refuses to discuss the event, stated that "Everything changed." He felt as though he no longer had anything for himself, with his wife, home, and children seeming to fade away. Spaur was later jailed after his wife filed assault and battery charges following an incident where he shook her violently, leaving bruises. Upon his release, Spaur left town, but the "saucer followed him, locked in his dreams."

Hoax Explanation and Rebuttal

A postscript mentions a UPI article from The Daily Record that claimed the sighting was a hoax, rigged by "science-fiction fans and physics students at Kent State University" using a weather balloon, car antenna, bicycle light, and transistor batteries. However, the article dismisses this explanation, noting that the object was chased at speeds over 100 miles per hour and that deputies reported seeing similar objects on subsequent nights, leading to a "classic case."

Editorial: A Personal Sighting

The editorial section describes a personal sighting by the editor on a late night between December 28 or 29, 1968. While letting his cat outside, he observed an object surrounded by a brilliant white light in the Northern sky. The object was circular, flat, and appeared huge, several times the size of the full moon. It had a radiant white light, rimmed or contained, with a bright blue-green object at its center. There was no vapor trail or sparking. The editor acknowledges it could have been a re-entry burn-out or a meteor but states he knows what he saw was "gorgeous, the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in the sky."

Related Sightings

Following the editorial, the issue reports a sighting from the Redwood City Tribune on December 31, 1968. Two 16-year-old girls, who did not believe in flying saucers, reported seeing a "long, flat object" with a blue light over Redwood City around 11:40 pm. They described it as moving in various directions at high speed, about 45 degrees above the horizon, with a dark center and a blue light on its right side. Patrolman Donald G. Wyman confirmed the girls were sober and firmly convinced of what they saw.

DATA-NET Operations and Funding

The issue mentions a DATA-NET reward of $25.00 for an authentic UFO photograph, with the film to be forwarded unprocessed and with detailed information. The reward is open only to members. The editor, Michel M. Jaffe, emphasizes that DATA-NET is a private group without subscribers and is facing financial difficulties, with a current deficit of $13.00 related to the photograph reward. They are seeking donations for essential costs like paper, printing, postage, and envelopes, with the editor covering other expenses such as gas, telephone calls, and bribes.

Michel M. Jaffe also announces he will be in New York in January '69 on temporary assignment, which may cause delays in the report. The issue concludes with a sign-off and contact information for Michel M. Jaffe, DATA-NET CONTROL, W36RFL.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are unexplained aerial phenomena (UAP/UFOs), the personal and psychological impact of sightings on witnesses, the investigation of such events by authorities, and the challenges faced by private research groups like DATA-NET. The editorial stance is one of serious inquiry into UFO phenomena, dismissing easy explanations like hoaxes when evidence suggests otherwise, and highlighting the profound, often disruptive, effects these experiences have on individuals' lives. The publication appears dedicated to documenting and analyzing these events, despite its limited resources.