Data Net - No 34 - 1970

Magazine Overview

Title: DATA-NET
Issue: VOL. IV NO. 4
Date: April 1970
Publisher: DATA-NET (The UFO Amateur Radio Network)
Document Type: Magazine Issue

Main Content

This issue of DATA-NET, REPORT NUMBER 34, from April 1970, serves as the official publication for The UFO Amateur Radio Network. The magazine details various activities and reports related to UFO phenomena.

The Mitchell-Hedges Crystal Skull

A significant portion of the issue is dedicated to the Mitchell-Hedges crystal skull. The report, by Josephine Clark, describes a private viewing of an exquisite quartz crystal replica of a human skull. The skull's origins are mysterious, with speculations ranging from pre-Columbian art to a religious symbol. It was discovered in British Honduras in 1927 by F.A. Mitchell-Hedges. The current custodian is Frank Dorland of Mill Valley, California, an art conservator who has been studying the skull since 1950. Dorland believes the skull has its own personality, named 'EA', and that it represents the true God as believed by Mayan, Yucatan, and Aztec civilizations. The skull exhibits remarkable craftsmanship, including natural purity, harmony of line, mass, and surface, with detailed reliefs, natural prisms, and lenses that allow light projections. Dorland suggests the skull may have accumulated intelligence from those who handled it and could be a magician's creation or an extraterrestrial deposit. He believes the skull's history holds the key to unlocking its secrets and proposes it should be on public display rather than kept in a bank vault. The article notes that PSYCHIC magazine and the San Jose Mercury newspaper have previously reported on the skull.

Your World and UFOs

Authored by Bob Achzehner, WSAUT, this section discusses the public and scientific reluctance to accept UFO existence. It draws parallels to historical resistance to new technological developments and scientific discoveries, citing the Paris Academy of Sciences' dismissal of meteorites in 1772. The author criticizes the 'fear syndrome' prevalent in the scientific community, which leads to ridicule or avoidance of UFO phenomena. The Condon Committee's report, released in May 1969, is mentioned as concluding there was no evidence of extraterrestrial visitation, a conclusion the author finds inconsistent with the report's body and important cases. The article also recounts an unusual UFO display over Chicago's western suburbs on the same night the Condon Report was released, which was publicly explained as a restaurant advertising stunt involving helium balloons.

Landing Reports

Compiled by Frater Jacobus, this section provides a chronological list of UFO landing reports from various dates and locations across the USA (Texas, Ohio, Florida, Maryland, New Hampshire, Arizona) and Canada. Each entry includes the date, location, day/time, a description of the event (landed, hovered), and witnesses if recorded.

Announcements and Network Information

• The issue includes several announcements and network-related information:
• Announcements: A reward of $25.00 is offered for an authentic photograph of a flying saucer, open to members only.
• Shop & Swap: Free listings are available for items wanted, for sale, or for trade.
• UFO Library: Books are available on loan to members.
• Research Service: Technical research assistance is offered free to members.
• Network Schedule: Details are provided for Thursday GMT and Wednesday PST/PDST radio communications on 7.268 (LSB). A Saturday net for novices and beginners is scheduled on 21.120 CST.
• Ham Roster: A list of amateur radio operators (call signs) and their locations is included.
• UFO Detector: Information on obtaining 'The Saucer Seeker' booklet, which includes plans for building a 'Saucer Seeker', is provided.
• UFO Research Committee: Rod Dyke is seeking translators for a worldwide clipping service and offers payment for usable clippings.

Other Features

• Saucer Nests: A brief report on a UFO sighting and ground circles in Standoff, Alberta, Canada, investigated by Lorraine Cameron, involving Sam Hoeffer.
• Midwest UFO Conference: Details are provided for a conference to be held in Peoria, Illinois, on June 13, 1970, featuring speakers like Dr. J. Allen Hynek, Dr. Allen R. Utke, and Mrs. Coral Lorenzen.
• SKYLOOK: A monthly publication by Norma E. Short is advertised.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the reporting of UFO sightings and incidents, the exploration of mysterious objects like the crystal skull, and the critique of scientific skepticism towards UFO phenomena. The editorial stance, as stated in the policy, is that DATA-NET believes sufficient evidence exists to prove the reality of UFOs and aims to investigate their nature, origin, and purpose. The network actively encourages information sharing through its radio communications and publication, supporting research and member participation.

This issue of "UFO Events" (Vol. 1, No. 1), published by DATA-NET REPORT with a cover date of January 1970, presents a collection of UFO sightings and related phenomena from various locations, primarily focusing on reports from the 1950s and early 1970s. The magazine's content is largely composed of witness accounts, official statements, and chronological listings of reported events.

Key Articles and Reports

Australian Sightings

The issue begins with a report from West Cairns, Queensland, Australia, dated April 25, 1968, detailing the discovery of an oval-shaped area of flattened cane, described as a 'saucer nest' by children. This is followed by a report from Mrs. Cameron who visited an alleged landing site in July 1969 and collected grass samples from two burned circles.

Several reports from Australia are attributed to Sam Kaufman of New South Wales. In 1952, Mrs. Jean Kaufman observed a long, cigar-shaped object emitting smoke. In 1957 or 1958, Sam and Jean Kaufman witnessed several bright objects changing color and drifting east. Sam Kaufman also reported seeing a similar object described as a fried egg with a tail.

Further Australian reports include a 1950 sighting in Farmington, New Mexico (though this is geographically in the USA, it is presented within a section that includes Australian reports), where a large group of 'flying saucers' were observed. Mrs. X reported a UFO pacing her car between Marmor and Gladstone, Queensland, in March 1969, describing a pulsating light that eventually moved away at high speed. Alan Pool reported a circular saucer landing in his paddock near Perth, Australia, in November 1967, which then took off like a rocket.

North American Sightings

Reports from the USA include a 1950 incident in Farmington, New Mexico, where hundreds of 'flying saucers' were seen. In Canon City, Colorado, in May 1950, Ben C. Herezl observed eleven flying saucers. San Jose, California, reported a 'ball of flame' seen by two men in June 1950. A significant report from May 1952 details the Norwegian Government's declaration that a crashed object on Spitzbergen was 'definitely not of this Earth,' with subsequent secrecy surrounding the investigation.

Canadian sightings include reports from British Columbia: a shiny orange disc seen by Mr. and Mrs. Stanley-Jones in Duncan in January 1970, and Mayor Jim Quaife of Duncan reporting a large red object with a purple light in January 1970. In Maple Bay, British Columbia, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur LeQuesne reported a shiny orange craft dropping three fireballs in January 1970.

European Sightings

From England, a 1950 report from Whitby, Yorkshire, describes an object resembling 'two revolving hoops.'

Chronological Report and Data-Net

A significant portion of the magazine is dedicated to a "Sighting Report Reference Chronology" for January 1970, listing numerous sightings across Canada, the USA, and Australia with dates, locations, times, and brief descriptions. This section is compiled by Jo Clark, Secretary-Editor.

The "Data-Net" section includes a letter from WA3FCM, Ted Uncapher, praising the report's format and expressing a desire for the 'UFO tourist season' to continue. T. Townsend Brown also contributes a brief note.

Shop & Swap and Stop Press

The "Shop & Swap" section includes advertisements for radio equipment. A "Stop Press" section, dated April 12, 1970, by Michel Jaffe, reports on the financial difficulties and alleged mismanagement at NICAP, leading to the firing of Major Donald Keyhoe and Gordon Lore. It suggests NICAP will restart from scratch with a one-page journal and unpaid staff.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the widespread nature of UFO sightings across different continents, the variety in descriptions of aerial objects, and the consistent pattern of official bodies classifying information or offering mundane explanations (e.g., Venus, jet planes). The magazine appears to present these reports without overt editorializing, allowing the witness accounts and official statements to speak for themselves, though the "Authorities" conclusion for the Farmington case is presented with a skeptical "!!??!". The "Stop Press" section indicates a critical stance towards organizational management within the UFO research community, specifically NICAP.