Data Net - No 38 - 1970

Magazine Overview

Title: DATA-NET REPORT
Issue: Vol. IV, No. 8
Date: August 1970
Publisher: The UFO Amateur Radio Network
Document Type: Magazine Issue

Editorial Stance and Purpose

The DATA-NET REPORT, the official publication of The UFO Amateur Radio Network, is published monthly. Membership is $4.00 per year. The publication asserts that sufficient evidence has been presented to prove the existence of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and states its ultimate purpose is to answer the questions: What are they? Where do they come from, and how? Why are they here?

Key Personnel and Operations

The publication is overseen by Michel M. Jaffe (WB6RPL) as Control-Director-Publisher, with Josephine J. Clark serving as Editor-Secretary-Printer. Jerold R. Johnson (WASRON) is the Assistant Control, and Mark J. Richardson (WN0ZRG) is the Research Editor. The publication is copyrighted by Michel M. Jaffe in 1970.

Announcements and Services

DATA-NET offers several services to its members. A reward of $25.00 is posted for an authentic photograph of a flying saucer, open only to members. Free listings are available in the SHOP & SWAP section for wanted, for sale, or for trade items. The organization appreciates receiving UFO-related information, including newspaper clippings, magazine articles, books, and sighting reports, and will honor confidential requests. A UFO LIBRARY provides books loaned free to members, and a RESEARCH SERVICE offers assistance with technical questions free of charge to members. Additionally, copies of "The Saucer Seeker" by W9AUT, which includes plans for building a SAUCER SEEKER, are available free. Permanent magnets for the SAUCER SEEKER are also sold for $2.00.

A red check mark next to a member's address indicates an expired membership, with a prompt to join or renew.

Network Operations and Communication

The publication details the NETWORK SCHEDULE, including a Wednesday schedule with DATA-NET Control (WB6RPL/Mike) and alternate (W6BPV/Tom) on 7.268 LSB, and a Saturday net for novices and beginners with WN0ZRG (Mark) on 21.120.

KP4CH is available for contact on 21342 KC for information regarding Puerto Rico.

A list of DATA-NET COMMUNICATION CENTERS is provided, with call signs and locations across the USA, Canada, and internationally (Puerto Rico, Australia, New Zealand, South America, Africa, Atlantic, England, Wales).

A BULLETIN by Mike Jaffe emphasizes the purpose of a UFO network: communication via on-the-air, phone, or radiogram. On-the-air activities should include discussions, gathering sighting information, and establishing stations as UFO information-communication centers. Hamradio stations listed are official DATA-NET COMMUNICATION CENTERS, expected to maintain weekly schedules.

QSOs need not be restricted to the UFO subject, but contact should be maintained. Any station interested in acting as a Communications Center should contact the Control Station. Members can find Communication Center call letters in the "Radio Amateur Callbook." The Control Station requests local schedules from each Communication Center.

Reviews and Publications

UFOIC's "Australian UFO Review" No. 10 is reviewed as excellent, featuring 58 pages of articles, photos, maps, drawings, and paintings. It is available for borrowing from the DATA-NET Library or for purchase directly from UFOIC.

The publication states it does not carry paid advertisements but reviews other journals and products, giving honest opinions.

A free ad is included for a private ski resort in the Alps, with bids to be sealed.

Condon Report Analysis

A significant portion of the issue is dedicated to a multi-part article titled "SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF UNIDENTIFIED OBJECTS," which provides page-by-page notes and comments on the Condon Committee report. The author recommends readers refer to their own copy of the Condon Report and suggests members question the committee about entries they deem "unbiased and scientific."

The analysis criticizes the Condon Report for:

• Omitting test results for the Ubatuba, Brazil magnesium fragment, which suggested it was not made on Earth. The report allegedly downplayed evidence of its "tremendous strength in two dimensions."
• Contradicting itself regarding sonic booms; while stating that supersonic objects necessarily create sonic booms, it also discusses methods to eliminate them, methods potentially used by UFOs.
• Finding "no evidence" of UFO radiation events near high-level scientific installations.
• Dismissing UFO reports from Antarctica in 1965 without contacting key witnesses like Commander Mario Jahn Barrera.
• Diverting attention from hundreds of reports of automobile electrical system failure with inconclusive testing of spark plugs using DC magnetic fields, ignoring the potential impact of alternating fields.
• Failing to explain a fluctuation of over 19 megawatts causing a massive northeast blackout, despite a UFO being seen operating over power lines, dismissing it as coincidence.
• Carefully "selecting" cases from Project Blue Book files, implying a bias against UFO evidence.
• Explaining sightings with improbable scenarios, such as a radar-visual UFO requiring a 10-15 degree air temperature difference over one centimeter.
• Omitting the Tinker AFB radar-tracking of four UFOs in the Chiles-Whitted case, which would have supported the Wichita sighting.
• Describing the Ubatuba magnesium sample as "100.0 percent pure" but noting the absence of calcium, silicon, and mercury, which would be expected from terrestrial purification methods. The author challenges anyone to produce such pure magnesium today.
• Explaining a sighting as Jupiter when Jupiter had reportedly disappeared in spring 1966.
• Ignoring the detail that a horse's body was carried several hundred yards through the air before being dropped in the Snippy case.
• Using dismissive language like "Scraping the old barrel-bottom again" when discussing observer tendencies to over-estimate elevation angles.

The author suggests that the Condon Committee's work may be a continuation of efforts to "strip the UFO subject of its aura of mystery" from the public.

UFO Events and Sightings

The issue includes a "SIGHTING REPORT MAP" for May and June, indicating locations with reported sightings across North America and other regions.

Several specific sighting reports are detailed:

• Australian Sighting (1962-11-23): John Klassen reported a shimmering green object near Revesby, New South Wales, that traveled northeast and exploded noiselessly into yellow sparks.
• Canadian Sighting (1970-06-28): Morley Wiltse reported seeing four bright, round dots moving at high speed in a perfect line near Murray Hills, Ontario.
• UFO Events (Clipping the News):
• Cerro Chinito, Venezuela (1970-05-02): A strange object shaped like a bottle on a box, with four legs, reportedly landed, causing panic.
• Luanda, Angola (1970-05-12): A car was pursued by an intense "red sphere."
• Bahia Blanca, Argentina (1970-05-16): A formation of five UFOs was photographed emitting colored light.
• Gwynne, Alberta, Canada (approx. 1970-05-27): Mr. & Mrs. Larry Hladik saw a bright, reddish light, the size of a small dinner plate, moving across the sky.
• Wadena, Saskatchewan, Canada (1970-06-03): Five women reported an explosion of bright blue light from a central ball of fire.
• Mid-Atlantic Ocean (1970-06-11): Thor Heyerdahl's crew reported a bright orange UFO moving across the horizon.
• Federal Way, Washington, USA (1970-02-15): Two girls reported seeing a "falling star" that turned bright orange.
• Olympia, Washington, USA (1970-06-26): John L. Jones reported four bright red, ball-shaped objects in a diamond formation leaving white smoke.
• Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA (approx. 1970-07-01): A "silver, saucer-shaped aircraft" was observed rising from the Yadkin River and ascending rapidly.

• UFO Events From the Past:
• Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (1952-04-18): Dozens reported a blimp-like or saucer-like object hovering, then vanishing and reappearing.
• London, England (1952-07-18): Several people reported a "super-fast rocket," cigar-shaped, blue in the center, merging to orange and green.

• UFO Comments and Opinions:
• Whyalla, Southern Australia (1970-05-22): An object reported by 15 people was identified as a hot air balloon.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include a critical examination of official UFO investigations, particularly the Condon Report, highlighting perceived flaws and biases. There is a strong emphasis on the importance of amateur UFO research, communication networks (like DATA-NET and NICAP), and the collection of sighting reports. The publication appears to advocate for the reality of UFOs based on the evidence presented, and encourages active participation from its readership in gathering and disseminating information. The editorial stance is one of skepticism towards official explanations and a proactive approach to understanding the UFO phenomenon through independent investigation and networking.

This issue of Greater Oregon, dated June 1970, focuses heavily on the topic of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs), presenting a collection of articles, reports, and opinions that aim to explore the phenomenon.

Article: "CAN'T LAUGH THEM OFF"

The lead article, dated 5-29-1970, discusses a full-page article by Dr. J. Allen Hynek, director of the Lindheimer Astronomical Research Center at Northwestern University, published in The Christian Science Monitor. Dr. Hynek's report details the number of UFO "saucers" reported to the U.S. Air Force over 22 years, noting a peak in 1952 and a subsequent decline. The article highlights that after Air Force flyers lost their lives chasing saucers, the Air Force abruptly ceased its investigations in early 1969, stating that the phenomena didn't exist. Despite this, countries like Britain, Canada, Chile, Greece, Sweden, and New Zealand continue to maintain offices for UFO reports. Dr. Hynek observes that only small-town newspapers still report UFO sightings, often by respected community members who would gain nothing but ridicule for fabricating such experiences. The article posits three possibilities for sightings: a major delusion, an actual craft operating under unknown physical laws, or something that created physical impressions without a material object. It dismisses the delusion theory by noting that it doesn't affect animals or inanimate objects. The article cites that over 12,000 UFOs were seen in 22 years, and a 1965 Gallup Poll indicated five million Americans reported seeing a UFO that year, while the Air Force officially reported only 12, suggesting a vast number of unreported sightings.

Midwest UFO Conference

An article dated 6-13-1970 reports on the Midwest UFO Conference held at Bradley University. Dr. J. Allen Hynek, a featured speaker, stated that the U.S. Air Force's discontinuation of Project Blue Book and the University of Colorado report, which attributed most sightings to ordinary phenomena, had undermined serious attempts to explain UFOs. Hynek asserted that UFOs "do exist" and that more people are becoming intellectually bothered by the problem. He described UFO research as a "strange, complex 'interdisciplinary problem'" primarily hindered by data gathering and processing. He emphasized the need for "quantitative than qualitative" reports, asking for specific details like speed and acceleration rather than vague descriptions. Hynek urged potential investigators to specialize in areas like "nocturnal lights, daylight sightings and physical effects." He predicted that progress would be made by dedicated individuals using their own funds. Hynek also stressed the importance of witness credibility, stating, "The better you know a person, the better you can judge his credibility."

APRO's Report and Other Speakers

Mrs. Coral E. Lorenzen, secretary of APRO (Aerial Phenomena Research Organization), spoke on "UFOs -- 1970, An Up-to-Date Report." She stated that APRO had investigated 765 reported UFO sightings since January 1, 1969, and advocated for examining both reliable and "wild" reports. Mrs. Lorenzen discussed sightings of occupants aboard unidentified spacecraft, recounting a case of two nurses witnessing "two tall men" near a British Columbia hospital in January 1970. She also presented a theory suggesting UFOs might be responsible for power blackouts, showing a graph that depicted a similarity between UFO sightings and power blackout incidents. Despite claims that UFOs are "infallible" because they haven't crashed, APRO has collected materials from reputed UFO landing sites, including a piece of metal that changed color after discovery.

John F. Schuessler, a life-support engineer for the Gemini space programs, discussed interplanetary space flight and expressed belief in flying saucers, suggesting that UFOs outperform current spacecraft technology and that more energy should be directed towards understanding their propulsion.

Other speakers included Dr. Allen R. Utke on scientific evidence of UFOs, Ted Phillips Jr. on alleged UFO landing sites, and Robert Smulling on UFO pictures.

Stanton T. Friedman Interview

An article dated 6-14-1970 features an interview with Stanton T. Friedman, a specialist in nuclear rocketry, who believes "visitations of intelligently controlled extraterrestrial vehicles are occurring." Friedman has studied UFO phenomena for 11 years and testified before the House Committee on Science and Astronautics. He noted that while thousands of sightings have been reported, concrete proof is lacking. Friedman aims to establish UFOs as a legitimate field of study by mobilizing the technological community for instrument-based data collection. He posed the possibility that UFOs originate from an advanced civilization in outer space, drawing parallels to humanity's own rapid technological progress. Friedman also mentioned that airline pilots, who once reported sightings, have stopped due to the rigorous physical and psychological examinations they underwent.

Possible Explanation for Tuesday's UFOs

A brief report from Ashland, Oregon (6-23-1970) suggests that smoke jumper drops using orange parachutes coincided with UFO reports, potentially explaining the sightings as reflections of sunlight. Another report mentions a United Air Lines pilot mistaking a missile fired from Vandenberg Air Force Base for a UFO.

Sighting Report Reference Chronology (May 1970)

This section lists 18 UFO sightings from May 1970, detailing the date, location, description (e.g., flyover, hovered, landed, formation flyover), and witnesses or report numbers. Locations span across the USA, Venezuela, and Australia.

The Mail Box

This section contains letters to the editor. One letter from Jerome Clark of Chicago criticizes a "vicious and wrong-headed" review of John Keel's book "UFOs: Operation Trojan Horse" by Mike Jaffe, accusing "DATA-NET" and other UFO groups of "repression" and an "Inquisition" for not allowing free inquiry. Clark defends Keel's work, suggesting that phenomena like "men-in-black," psychic connections, and complex ufology are real.

Another letter from Mrs. Norma Short, Editor of SKYLOOK, praises a review of Keel's book and expresses admiration for the writer's convictions and courage in weeding out "gimmick writers."

A response from the "Editor" of DATA-NET states that while they welcome responses, they disagree with anyone forming strong conclusions without adequate facts and do not feel obligated to grant "equal time" to all viewpoints.

Shop & Swap

This section includes classified ads for items wanted, for sale, or for trade, including radio equipment and Tektite samples.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the persistent nature of UFO sightings, the challenges of scientific investigation, and the perceived reluctance of official bodies to seriously address the phenomenon. There's a strong undercurrent of advocating for rigorous, data-driven research, as emphasized by Dr. Hynek and Stanton Friedman. The issue also touches upon the credibility of witnesses, particularly those in rural communities, and critiques what some perceive as a restrictive or dismissive attitude from certain UFO organizations and publications towards unconventional researchers like John Keel. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, but with a demand for factual evidence and a critical approach to unsubstantiated claims, as reflected in the "Editor" response in "The Mail Box."