Data Net - No 54 - 1971

Magazine Overview

Title: DATA-NET
Issue: Vol. V No. 12
Date: December 1971
Publisher: The UFO Amateur Radio Network (DATA-NET)
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of DATA-NET, the publication of the UFO Amateur Radio Network, is dated December 1971 and contains a variety of articles related to UFO research, data analysis, and personal accounts.

Announcements

The issue begins with a list of announcements, including a reward of $25.00 for an authentic photograph of a flying saucer, open to members only. It also highlights the SHOP & SWAP service for members, the RESEARCH LIBRARY for UFO books, and a TECHNICAL RESEARCH SERVICE for technical questions. The magnetic UFO detector, "The Saucer Seeker," is available for members. Back issues are available starting from December 1969, Report #30. A special report, "A Study of 100 Iberic Landings" by Vicente-Juan Ballester Olmos and Dr. Jacques Vallee, is available for $1.50.

DATA-NET Communication Centers

The issue details the network schedule for Wednesday at 7:00 PST (Thursday at 0300 GMT on 7.268 LSB). It lists active communication centers, including WAØZRG in St. Louis, MO, and KP4CH in Puerto Rico.

From the Director at Large

Michel M. Jaffe, Director at Large, reports on his travels across the United States. His journey begins in Seattle, Washington, where he gets lost upon arrival and is guided by radio to D-N member Esther Wright. He discusses his conversation with Esther about UFOs and her reading of Keel's book. Jaffe then visits Rod Dyke, founder of the UFO Research Committee, and is impressed by his extensive UFO library and photo collection. He highlights Rod's ability to acquire difficult-to-obtain UFO films and praises his UFO and Forteana clipping service, recommending it for support. Jaffe also mentions a humorous incident involving UFO films and a fishing rod mimicry. He concludes his Seattle report with a mention of his ongoing search for Sasquatch near the Oregon-Washington border.

His travels continue to Tucson, Arizona, where he contacts APRO Headquarters and speaks with Coral and Jim Lorenzen. He then attends a UFO symposium sponsored by APRO and the University of Arizona. Jaffe assists Dr. J. Allen Hynek by providing transportation to and from the symposium. He lists the speakers at the symposium, including Dr. Frank B. Salisbury, Dr. Kenneth V. Anderson, Dr. John C. Munday, Dr. Harold A. Cahn, Dr. R. Leo Sprinkle, Dr. Robert S. Ellwood, Dr. Emerson W. Shideler, and Dr. Robert F. Creegan for the first session, and Dr. Richard C. Henry, Dr. Walter W. Walker, Dr. B. Roy Frieden, and Dr. John S. Derr for the second session. He notes receiving two parking tickets during his stay. He also mentions viewing movie films with Ray Stanford and meeting Ken Stinmetz and his wife Phyllis. Jaffe recounts a peculiar incident after dinner where a man dressed in black darted out the door. His journey then takes him to Austin, Texas. He makes a final attempt to contact Mrs. James E. MacDonald and ends up meeting her daughter Betsy, with whom he shares a profound, albeit brief, connection.

Research in Progress

Dr. David R. Saunders presents his ongoing work on UFOCAT, a computerized catalog of UFO cases. The 1969 version had 1400 cases, UFOCAT-70 reached 15,278 entries, and UFOCAT-71 contained over 37,000 entries, with UFOCAT-72 reaching 42,032 entries. Saunders discusses the challenges of duplications and the need for winnowing the file. He details his analysis of UFO wave shapes, classifying them as Type A (gradual peak, sharp decline), Type C (abrupt onset, gradual decline), and Type B (symmetrical). He hypothesizes that Type B waves result from random fluctuations, while Type C waves are triggered by sensational publicity. Saunders proposes that Type A waves might be explained by press behavior, favoring later phases of a wave. He presents data from the 1947, 1950, 1952, 1954, 1957, 1964, 1965, 1966, and 1967 waves, suggesting a possible 5-year cycle for Type A waves, with 1950 being a non-conforming exception. He anticipates 1972 as a crucial test for this hypothesis.

Record and Analysis of the Spanish Negative Landings

Vicente-Juan Ballester Olmos contributes an article on the analysis of negative UFO landing reports from Spain and Portugal. He notes that many reports do not fit the unidentified category and have conventional origins. He presents a catalog of 60 negative Type I reports from 1936-1971, detailing case number, date, time, location, province, and descriptive codes ('.', 'L', 'B', 'T' for proximity to ground, touching ground, beings, and landing traces, respectively). The article includes statistical treatment of the data, focusing on the time distribution of negative cases, noting an absence of homogenous frequency and a contrast with the nocturnal character of Type-I phenomena reported by Vallee, Ballester & Vallee, and Phillips. The yearly distribution of these negative cases is also presented, showing distinct features compared to the landing catalogue.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of DATA-NET reflects a strong emphasis on empirical research and data analysis within the UFO field. The publication actively encourages member participation through its radio network, services, and information sharing. The editorial stance, as stated in the policy, is that DATA-NET believes sufficient evidence exists to prove that unidentified flying objects exist and seeks answers to fundamental questions about their nature, origin, and purpose. The magazine promotes a scientific approach, evident in the detailed analysis of UFO waves and the cataloging of landing reports, while also valuing personal accounts and research efforts from its members.

This issue of DATA-NET, Volume 5, Issue March-May 1971, is a publication focused on UFO research and reports. It includes a comprehensive analysis of UFO activity, statistical data, and detailed accounts of individual sightings from various locations.

Analysis of Spanish UFO Cases

The issue delves into the statistical behavior of UFO reports in Spain, particularly focusing on 'negative cases' (explained sightings or non-events) and comparing them with reliable landing cases. Figure 3 illustrates the yearly distribution of 60 negative cases from 1936 to 1971, highlighting peaks in 1954, 1965, and 1968/69. The article posits that these 'crests' are influenced by public psychosis generated by reiterated press UFO information, temporarily reducing apathy and fear of ridicule, thus increasing reporting.

Table II provides a yearly distribution of fraudulent cases and percentages, showing that the proportion of frauds in 'wave' years (43%) is not significantly different from the rest of the years (30%). Figure 4 shows the monthly distribution of negative cases during the Spanish 1968/69 UFO wave, indicating a random distribution for these 19 cases.

Table III compares observed percentages in three catalogues of Type-I reports: 1176 from a worldwide catalogue (Dr. Jacques Vallee), 120 from the Iberian catalogue (Ballester Olmos), and 60 from the negative catalogue (Ballester Olmos). The analysis reveals a strong correlation between real cases (worldwide and local) but a large difference with negative cases, particularly in 'touched ground' and 'no object' categories. The percentage of cases near the ground is lower, with only the occupant proportion showing general agreement.

Table IV details the explanation classes for the 60 cases, with 'Fraud and hoax (non-event)' accounting for 35%, 'Manufactured object' for 25%, and 'Natural phenomena' and 'Others' each for 20%.

Case Studies of UFO Sightings

The issue features several detailed accounts of UFO sightings from different parts of the world:

• October 27, 1971 - Wellington, Ontario, Canada: Morley Wiltse observed a UFO moving across the northeastern sky. It was described as a sphere-like object, cherry-orange-red, followed by smaller objects. The flight path was downward, and the speed was comparable to a high-speed jet.
• September 6, 1971 - Big Horn, Wyoming, USA: Fifteen people witnessed pulsating lights from a group of objects in tight formation, moving at high velocity. The objects appeared to 'leap-frog' each other, with random brightening and dimming.
• March 22, 1969 - La Selva Beach, California, USA: Yvonne Rogers saw a long, dull silver-gray object that emitted gray smoke and disappeared, reappeared, and then vanished permanently.
• May 1971 (Approx.) - Lidster, NSW, Australia: Mrs. Mary Mallon reported a barrel-shaped object with a triangular front and sparkling colors, skimming above tree level.
• July 12, 1971 - Tokoroa, Auck., New Zealand: Mr. D. Houghton observed an oscillating light resembling a lighthouse beacon, moving at high speed.
• July 16, 1971 - Finley, Washington, USA: Residents reported two bright red objects, initially thought to be planets but questioned due to their appearance and timing.
• July 16, 1971 - Prescott, Washington, USA: Neil Arbogast described a large, bright object with antennas and beams of light, followed by other objects with changing colors.
• July 17, 1971 - Mount Gambier, S.A., Australia: Mrs. J. D. Jackway saw an orange-colored light that moved very fast.
• July 18, 1971 - Townsville, Qld., Australia: Several men on a fishing excursion saw a cluster of red lights hovering above them before shooting across the sky at high speed.

Book Reviews and News

The issue also includes a section titled 'Clipping the News,' which summarizes various UFO reports and related news items. It mentions reviews of books such as 'OUR HAUNTED PLANET' by John Keel and 'THE SECRET SOCIETIES OF ALL AGES & COUNTRIES' by Charles William Heckethorn. It also notes the defunct 'Dissenter Magazine' and the new publication 'CAVEAT EMPTOR.' Special Issue No. 4 of the British FLYING SAUCER REVIEW is also mentioned.

Conclusion

The authors conclude that the statistical behavior of the analyzed UFO data suggests that Type-I UFO activity cannot be explained solely as a set of frauds, mistakes, or misperceptions. Instead, they propose that the reason for this activity must be sought in the generation of an 'absolutely new phenomenon in the annals of the contemporary science.'

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the statistical analysis of UFO sightings, the comparison of different types of reports (negative cases vs. reliable landings), and the detailed reporting of individual UFO encounters. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious investigation into the UFO phenomenon, moving beyond conventional explanations to consider the possibility of a novel scientific event. The publication emphasizes data collection, witness testimony, and analytical rigor in its approach to understanding these unexplained aerial phenomena.