FUFOR - 1994 Year In Review

Magazine Overview

This document is a review of UFO activity and related research from the year 1994, published by the Fund for UFO Research Inc. It covers sightings, government involvement, abduction reports, crop formations, cattle mutilations, and scientific research efforts. The publication highlights the increasing scientific interest in the UFO phenomenon.

Sightings

The majority of reported UFO sightings in 1994 involved "odd lights" that provided little information for investigation. However, there was an increase in reports of distinct objects, many described as triangular, capable of silent flight at low speeds (under 50 mph) followed by rapid acceleration. A notable event in March 1994 was a series of reports from southwestern Michigan, triggered by U.S. Weather Service radar tracking and visual sightings of unexplained targets over several nights. These reports came from both average and skilled observers, and no explanations were immediately forthcoming.

Government Activity

In January 1994, Representative Steve Schiff (R, NM) formally requested the General Accounting Office (GAO) to investigate the 1947 UFO crash in New Mexico, after failing to get a satisfactory explanation from the Secretary of Defense. The GAO began searching for government documents related to the highly publicized incident. While no date was set for the GAO's report, it was stated that all findings would be turned over to Rep. Schiff, who intended to make them public. In October, the U.S. Air Force announced the results of its own effort to find documentary evidence of the "Roswell incident." Instead of providing information to the GAO, the Air Force chose to make its findings public, announcing it had "discovered" that what was recovered in New Mexico were the remains of balloons from the secret Project Mogul tests. This "explanation" had been hinted at previously by former Project Mogul employees. The Fund for UFO Research responded by pointing out that the synthetic rubber balloons used in Project Mogul in 1947 bore no resemblance to the materials described by witnesses to the Roswell crash, and that such balloon materials would disintegrate quickly, leaving no mysterious remains.

Abductions

Reports of "highly unwelcome interference in personal lives by presumed aliens" continued to be received. These accounts often displayed striking patterns and similarities, with specific descriptive details kept out of publication for internal checks. It is estimated that thousands of individuals worldwide are involved in similar experiences, which mental health professionals have been unable to explain. Publication was expected in early 1995 of the proceedings from a scientific conference on abductions held at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. This 600-page report was to be distributed to university libraries, medical schools, and other institutions for study. A computer database of abduction cases was also nearing completion, intended for qualified professionals studying the phenomenon.

Scientific Research

Funding for serious scientific research into the UFO mystery had increased considerably, largely due to support from the Bigelow Foundation of Las Vegas, Nevada. The foundation is advised by representatives from three major private UFO organizations: the J. Allen Hynek Center for UFO Studies (Chicago, Ill.), the Mutual UFO Network (Sequin, Tex.), and the Fund for UFO Research. Research proposals were being invited, with the intention of publishing the results.

Peripheral Matters

Crop Formations

Precise and complex crop formations continued to appear in fields of grain, primarily in southwest England, with some also appearing in North America in 1994. While there is little basis for assuming a direct connection to UFOs, it remains one of many considered explanations. Some formations may be hoaxes, as the ability to create them and deceive experts has been demonstrated. Despite reduced press attention, their appearance persisted.

Cattle Mutilations

Reports of allegedly high-tech mutilations of cows, horses, and other farm animals continued to be received. These incidents are speculatively connected to UFOs, but the possibility exists.

Highlights of the Fund's Year

The Fund for UFO Research's activities in 1994 included:

• A study of strange images on Shuttle Discovery videotape, scheduled for publication in 1995.
• A pilot study of UFO cases involving radiation injuries.
• Expanded research into the massive 1947 UFO wave.
• Work on the UFO papers of the late Dr. James McDonald, a senior atmospheric physicist at the University of Arizona.
• Symposia on Government secrecy and on "abductions."

Contact Information

For further information, individuals could contact Don Berliner at the Fund for UFO Research, Inc., P.O. Box 277, Mount Rainier, MD 20712, or by telephone/fax at 703-684-6032.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this review are the persistent nature of UFO sightings and related phenomena (abductions, crop circles, cattle mutilations) despite a lack of definitive explanations, the ongoing efforts by government bodies and researchers to investigate these phenomena, and the growing scientific interest and funding for UFO research. The editorial stance appears to be one of objective reporting and advocacy for serious scientific inquiry into these unexplained events, while also critically evaluating official explanations, as seen in the response to the USAF's Roswell report.