Devil's Advocate, The - No 04

Magazine Overview

This issue of The Devil's Advocate, dated October 28, 1955, is identified as Issue #4. The magazine is published in Pensacola, Florida, and costs $2. The cover headline announces 'Angel Hair Falls At Whitsett; Saucers' Overhead,' indicating the primary focus of this edition.

The Whitsett Angel Hair Case

The lead article, researched by Brian Boldman, delves into the events of October 27, 1955, in Whitsett, North Carolina. On that day, 120 elementary students, their teachers, and the principal reported seeing 'flying saucers' and a substance described as 'angel hair' drifting from a cloudless sky. H.D. Lambeth, the principal, described the objects as looking like 'shiny steel balls' and reported seeing about 10 of them moving in various directions. He collected some of the 'angel hair,' which was later identified by a Greensboro biologist as 'probably some kind of synthetic textile fiber.'

The Greensboro Daily News reported the story, and Captain Murray Thornton, executive director for Greensboro Civil Defense, collected samples for analysis. However, no results were ever reported. A subsequent article in the Greensboro Daily News, 'Whitsett's 'Angel Hair' Is Puzzling Technicians,' quoted a fiber technician from Burlington Industries who stated the material was not synthetic. Another report mentioned a 'fiber technician with Burlington Industries' saying it was not synthetic, and the 'Greensboro biologist' said it was not spiderwebs.

The article details the investigation by the author, who contacted ufologist George Fawcett and H.D. Lambeth. Lambeth, a former navigator and observer in World War II, a teacher, and a psychologist, stands by his story and remembers the events clearly. He also related an incident where he and several students witnessed a small gold or bronze colored object fall into nearby woods, which was never found.

A significant detail is that both samples of 'angel hair' collected by Lambeth—one in his wallet and one in a sealed jar at the school—vanished without explanation.

'Angel Hair' Falls At Whitsett With 'Flying Saucers' Overhead (Greensboro Daily News Article)

This section reprints an article from the Greensboro Daily News by Guy Munger. It corroborates the sighting of 'flying saucers' and 'angel hair' by 120 students and teachers on October 21, 1955. H.D. Lambeth, principal of Whitsett School and a World War II aerial observer, reported the objects were visible between 2:45 and 3:10 PM. He described them as 'shiny steel balls.' The 'angel hair' was described as looking like 'cotton candy' and was found scattered over several acres. When burned, it gave off an odor like burning silk. A Greensboro biologist examined a sample and said it was unlikely to be spider webs, despite similarities to material found in Burlington that was attributed to spider webs.

Captain Murray Thornton of Civil Defense stated that the 'angel hair' and 'saucers' would be investigated. The article notes that school was let out early on the day of the incident.

'Angel Hair' Substance Still Not Identified

This section continues the investigation into the 'angel hair.' A fuel oil distributor, Dan Arden, suggested the phenomena might be attributed to bugs. He reported seeing swarms of insects and trailing strands of spider web-like material on the same day as the Burlington sightings. The 'angel hair' was described as having a consistency that would ball up when touched and was salty. A strand measured 1/10,000th of an inch in diameter. The Greensboro biologist stated that the large quantities of 'angel hair' indicated spiders were not responsible, as no area could support a spider population large enough to produce such webs.

The CIA and Remote Viewing

This section shifts focus to the CIA's research into 'remote viewing,' where individuals are rumored to possess the ability to see and describe locations or objects regardless of distance. The magazine is attempting to obtain a full report via a Freedom of Information Act request. The conclusions section of the report indicates a statistically significant effect was observed in laboratory experiments, but not everyone was convinced. The report concluded that remote viewing had not shown any intelligence value and the program should not receive further funding.

Another Key Roswell Witness Bites the Dust!

This article is a reprint from 'Saucer Smear' concerning Jesse Marcel, an intelligence officer at Roswell Army Air Field during the 1947 Roswell Incident. Researcher Robert Todd's analysis of Marcel's military file suggests Marcel exaggerated or lied about aspects of his career, including flight hours and college degrees. The article questions Marcel's credibility as a witness to the Roswell Incident.

A Response to the Evolution of Abductions

This section presents a response from abduction researcher Martin Kottmeyer to a previous article on the evolution of abductions. Kottmeyer argues that the chronology of fictional entities in films establishes a cultural pool from which UFO myths could emerge. He suggests that psychology plays a major role in these experiences and that instinctual fears, particularly of spiders, may be rooted in the imagery of contact stories. He challenges purely psychological theories, noting that many abductees describe their experiences as dream-like and that the disjointed content makes it weirder to assume it isn't a dream.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the unexplained phenomena of 'angel hair' and UFO sightings, the challenges in identifying such substances, and the ongoing mystery surrounding events like the Whitsett incident. The magazine also explores government involvement in paranormal research through the CIA's remote viewing program and critically examines historical UFO cases like Roswell. The editorial stance, as stated, is to believe in a genuine UFO phenomenon while maintaining an open-minded, objective approach by examining all sides of the story. The magazine encourages critical thinking and research into these complex subjects.

Title: Devil's Advocate
Issue: 11
Publisher: Devil's Advocate
Publication Frequency: Every 2-3 months

Content Summary

This issue of "Devil's Advocate" delves into the complex nature of alleged extraterrestrial encounters, emphasizing the psychological factors that may influence perceptions. The editorial team discusses Whitley Strieber's claims of "visitors" staying in his home, noting that the complexity and duration of these experiences make them difficult to dismiss as mere dreams or hallucinations. While acknowledging the possibility of deception, they express doubt that Strieber is being deceptive, suggesting a need to remain open to his experiences.

Devil's Advocate Roundtable

To foster a community of researchers and enthusiasts, "Devil's Advocate" is introducing classified ads. These ads cost $5 for up to 35 words, with an additional $1 for every 10 words thereafter. The publication is open to accepting ads from other newsletters and will consider trades. Display ads are also available at $15 for a 1/8 page, provided they are camera-ready.

Researcher Inquiries

Several specific calls for information are highlighted:

• Angel Hair Research: Brian Boldman is seeking samples of or information regarding "angel hair." He can be reached at Box 156, Belews Creek, NC 27009, or via email at [email protected]. His article on the subject is featured in this issue.
• Military Hoaxes and Psychological Warfare: "Devil's Advocate" is actively looking for information concerning potential military efforts to create hoaxes of UFO sightings. They are also interested in the military's use of, or experimentation with, psychological warfare. Interested parties are encouraged to respond directly to "Devil's Advocate."

Subscription Information

The magazine provides details on its subscription rates: $10 for 6 issues (approximately one year), with foreign subscriptions costing $20. Single issues are priced at $2 each. The publication is released every 2-3 months. Payments via checks or money orders should be made payable to Tim Brigham.

Acknowledgements

Special thanks are extended to Shari Van Schaick for her assistance with editing. The publication encourages readers to share their feedback, articles, and information.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the intersection of unexplained phenomena (specifically UFOs/ET encounters) with psychological interpretation and the need for a collaborative research community. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded inquiry, acknowledging the potential for psychological influence while not prematurely dismissing firsthand accounts. The introduction of classified ads signifies a commitment to building a network for sharing information and fostering discussion within the field of ufology and related subjects.