FUFOR - 1985 Q4 - Quarterly Report October-December

Magazine Overview

This document is a quarterly report from the Fund for UFO Research Inc., covering the period of October to December 1985. It details the organization's activities, research projects, financial status, and publications. The report is presented in a newsletter format across several pages, with a cover story from the SUNDAY MAGAZINE section of The News American newspaper.

Quarterly Report: October - December 1985

The report begins by highlighting the activities of Dr. Bruce Maccabee, Chairman of the FUND, who delivered four lectures on UFOs to diverse audiences. He also presented a paper at the International Cultural Foundation's conference in Dallas, Texas. The FUND's financial reserves have grown over the past year, countering a negative report in OMNI magazine.

During October, the FUND hosted author Gary Kinder, who is writing a book about UFO studies, and an Air Force colonel who discussed the operations of NORAD's Cheyenne Mountain complex. The FUND approved its 24th research proposal, focusing on British airship sightings from the early 20th century, and received its 25th proposal to correlate instrumented 'sightings' with visual ones. Further investigation into an alleged U.S. government 'cover-up' of UFO information was also supported.

A significant portion of the report details the ongoing investigation into the Puget Sound 'UFO that got away' case. Analysis of reddish mud scraped from a submerged object revealed it to be iron oxide, removing it from the 'anomalous' category. However, the object's shape, size, and apparent disappearance remain unexplained.

Financial Report and New Initiatives

The Treasurer's report for the 4th quarter of 1985 shows a decrease in total assets from $5,373.45 to $5,093.36, resulting in a net loss of $280.09 for the quarter. Expenditures totaled $3,027.97, while income was $2,744.88.

Due to funding insufficiencies in resolving a specific case, the FUND initiated a 'Rapid Deployment Fund' to make money available for immediate investigations. This fund has already accumulated over $700.

The FUND has received initial portions of two abduction case catalogs being compiled by Dr. Edward Bullard and Michael Frizzell, which are expected to be available in the spring. These catalogs are described as exhaustive analyses of abduction cases from around the world.

A new package of U.S. government documents concerning a 1955 UFO sighting involving U.S. Senator Richard Russell is now available for $15. This package includes over 50 pages of previously unreleased material.

Advance orders are being taken for Dr. Richard Haines' book, 'The In-Flight Disappearance of Frederick Valentich,' which details the disappearance of a pilot off the coast of Australia in 1978 after reporting a UFO. The book is expected in late spring and is described as the most thorough analysis of the case.

1985 Year-End Report

The FUND sponsored various research projects in 1985, including investigations into UFO crash/retrieval and abduction reports, as well as historical research. The final report on the psychological study of UFO 'abductees,' by Dr. Aphrodite Clamar, Bud Hopkins, and Ted Bloecher, was released, finding that abductees are essentially normal people exhibiting symptoms of victims.

Major catalogues of UFO abduction cases by Dr. Edward Bullard and Michael Frizzell are set to be released in 1986. A study of the 1896-97 'mystery airship' reports in the U.S. by Robert G. Neeley, Jr., is nearing completion. Additionally, a grant was approved for British investigators to compile and analyze data on 'mystery aircraft' reports in the British Isles from the early 20th Century.

An update of the study on Iberian Peninsula UFO cases involving physical effects (Close Encounters of the Second Kind) is also expected in 1986. The FUND continues to encourage UFO research at the college/university level and is evaluating a proposal from a graduate student in astronomy.

The report notes that while there are many significant projects that could be undertaken, they are often beyond the FUND's current financial resources.

Sunday Magazine Cover Story: "New UFO Facts Revealed"

The SUNDAY MAGAZINE section features an article by Anita Lewis summarizing a study on UFO abductees, funded by the Fund for UFO Research. The study, involving nine individuals, utilized hypnosis and psychological testing to explore abduction claims. The article highlights the experiences of Steve Kilburn and Virginia Horton, who recalled being abducted and taken aboard alien spacecraft.

Psychologist Dr. Elizabeth Slater tested the individuals without knowing their claims, finding no evidence of mental disorders. Her assessment was that their psychological characteristics were consistent with those of people who had experienced a traumatic event. UFO researchers Ted Bloecher and Bud Hopkins, along with Dr. Aphrodite Clamar, conducted the study. Hopkins notes that abductees often report paralysis, terror, and a blank period before and after being on a table in a bright room. The aliens are described as typically 4.5 to 5 feet tall with large heads, slender bodies, whitish-gray skin, black eyes, and slit mouths.

The article mentions the Barney and Betty Hill case as a famous example of abduction. It also recounts a case in Brazil involving Antonio Villas Boas. Dr. Ronald Westrum, a sociology professor and FUND board member, states that abductees often suffer from unexplained fear, anxiety, phobias, nightmares, and flashbacks, sometimes leading to personality unraveling.

Dr. Bruce Maccabee is quoted discussing the possibility of aliens visiting Earth and the potential for government knowledge of such phenomena, comparing humans to ants in terms of intelligence hierarchy. Hopkins expresses certainty of a U.S. government cover-up regarding UFO information.

Questionnaire

A 1986 questionnaire is included, soliciting input from readers on areas where the Fund for UFO Research should concentrate its efforts. Topics include historical research, crash retrieval investigations, abduction case studies, public education, government documents, societal consequences of UFO proof, immediate investigation of current sightings, analysis of physical trace cases, radar sightings, photograph cases, identified flying objects, humanoid reports, contactee cases, media reporting, paranormal phenomena, cattle mutilation, and alien artifacts on the Moon and Mars.

Reply Form

A reply form lists various materials available for purchase from the FUND, including document collections on Senator Richard Russell's sighting, Dr. Richard Haines' book on Frederick Valentich, Dr. Bruce Maccabee's UFO Document Companion, and reports on UFO "abductees" and "mystery airship" sightings. The form also allows for tax-deductible contributions to the Rapid Deployment Fund.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the ongoing research and investigation into UFO phenomena, particularly UFO abductions and historical sightings. The Fund for UFO Research Inc. positions itself as a primary organization supporting such research, aiming to encourage scientific inquiry and provide resources for the study of UFOs. The editorial stance is one of serious investigation and open-mindedness towards the subject matter, while acknowledging the need for rigorous research and the limitations imposed by funding. The magazine also highlights the importance of public engagement through questionnaires and the dissemination of research findings and available documents.