Ground Saucer Watch Bulletin - 1978 04 - April

Magazine Overview

This issue of the GSW News Bulletin, dated April 1978, is primarily focused on the organization's efforts to uncover information about unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and the government's handling of this phenomenon. The bulletin features several articles that delve into historical investigations, official reports, and speculative theories.

Directly Speaking

By William H. Spaulding, Director GSW/WD, this section outlines the organization's ongoing commitment to investigating the UFO phenomenon. Spaulding highlights the intelligence community's cover-up and GSW's efforts, particularly through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), to obtain documents. He reveals that GSW has sued the CIA for information, acknowledging the significant legal costs but deeming it worthwhile. Spaulding expresses skepticism that the UFO problem will be solved by government releases or scientific investigations, urging members to support the lawsuit as an immediate opportunity to make progress. He also discusses GSW's financial needs, noting that as a non-profit organization, donations are tax-deductible, and mentions plans for a monthly bulletin and other fundraising projects to cover legal fees and research expenses.

Gone But Not Forgotten

By Dr. Bruce Maccabee, GSW Consultant, this article examines the FBI's involvement in UFO investigations during a specific period. Maccabee analyzes FBI files from October 1, 1947, to September 1, 1948, noting a directive from the Air Defense Command (ADC) to coordinate investigations with the FBI. He details correspondence between the FBI and the Air Force regarding this directive, indicating that the ADC at Mitchel Field was initially unaware of the FBI's cessation of UFO investigations. The article touches upon the FBI's perception of UFOs as 'gone' by mid-1948, while the Air Force continued its involvement. It also mentions a request from the Air Materiel Command (AMC) to analyze a soil sample from a reported 'flying saucer' depression, which the FBI found to be unremarkable. A later teletype message in December 1948 about a 'flying disc' at a Mojave Desert airport turned out to be an abandoned toy, but it shows that FBI agents continued to investigate and report cases.

Ups and Downs of UFO Explanations

This section, also by Dr. Bruce Maccabee, continues the historical overview of UFO investigations. It discusses the Air Force's initial view that 'flying discs' were either Russian missiles or natural phenomena, and the possibility of subversive origins. The article notes that the FBI eventually withdrew from the 'UFO quagmire' due to a lack of evidence of internal subversion. Maccabee highlights a period in 1948 when Project Sign investigators leaned towards the extraterrestrial hypothesis (ETH), though this later shifted to more conventional explanations like misidentification and hoaxes. The transition from Project Sign to Project Grudge is mentioned, along with the high security rating given to these projects. A significant focus is placed on a report from a Mr. E., a Resident Engineer at the Air Materiel Command, who provided information to the FBI in January 1949. Mr. E. suggested that 'flying saucers' or 'mystery missiles' were believed by Air Force intelligence to be man-made, possibly of Soviet origin, and that research was extensive at Wright Field. He speculated that these missiles could be nuclear-powered and capable of tremendous range, possibly utilizing atomic energy. He also noted that they appeared to approach from the north and return in the same direction, with no known crashes in the US. The article also references a Czechoslovakian report of a collision between a transport and an unidentified missile, which disintegrated without a trace. Mr. E. believed these missiles could be controlled in speed and altitude, and that their nature was a significant concern for the US military establishment.

Other Articles and Features

• Map of Sightings: A brief mention of a 'Map of Sightings' suggests a visual representation of reported UFO incidents.
• Project UFO -- A Review: By Diane Morang, this article likely provides a review of a project related to UFOs.
• Report on Unidentified Flying Objects: A Special Report to the GSW Membership: By W. Todd Zechel, Director of Research, GSW, this is a detailed report for GSW members.
• Military Installation Overflights by UFOs: By Richard Gottlieb, Acting Editor, this article focuses on UFO sightings over military bases.
• Tales of a Comet -- Review and Opinions: By Rosemary Baum, this piece offers a review and opinions on a comet-related topic, possibly in relation to UFOs.
• Suggested Reading: A section listing recommended reading materials for members.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are government secrecy surrounding UFOs, the challenges of obtaining official information, the historical evolution of UFO investigation projects (like Sign and Grudge), and speculative theories about the origin and nature of UFOs, particularly the possibility of advanced Soviet technology. The editorial stance, as expressed by William H. Spaulding, is one of proactive investigation and a belief that direct action, such as legal challenges, is necessary to uncover the truth, rather than passively waiting for information to be released. The organization emphasizes its non-profit status and reliance on member donations to fund its research and legal efforts.

This issue of "PROJECT UFO" (Volume 11, Issue 11, dated 1978) focuses on the historical investigation of UFO phenomena by US government agencies, particularly the FBI and CIA, and features a review of the TV show "Project UFO" along with a detailed report on military installation overflights by unidentified objects.

FBI and CIA Investigations

The article details the FBI's involvement in investigating flying saucer reports, starting with an interview in March 1950 where the Air Force (AF) stated it had discontinued its intelligence project due to misidentifications. However, by May 1950, an AF briefing suggested the extraterrestrial hypothesis (ETH) was unprovable and attributed reports to mass hysteria. The OSI informed the FBI in August 1950 of concern over "green fireballs, discs, and meteors," and by October 1950, stated that investigations failed to indicate sightings involved extraterrestrial or foreign spacecraft. The FBI file for 1951 contained no interoffice memoranda. In 1952, the AF admitted to failing to reach satisfactory conclusions on numerous sightings, though it acknowledged the possibility of interplanetary ships. A Project Blue Book news release in October 1952 indicated that about 20% of sightings remained unexplained. A document from October 27, 1952, highlighted the impact of the Delbert Newhouse film on Air Intelligence, leaving them baffled.

CIA documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act reveal that by December 1952, Dr. Marshall Chadwell advised that while UFOs were considered optical illusions or atmospheric phenomena by some, military officials were considering interplanetary ships. An August 1952 memo from Edward Tauss recommended continued CIA surveillance but urged secrecy to avoid public alarm. Another memo from July 1952 noted the formation of a special study group to review UFO sightings. A report from August 15, 1952, mentioned inexplicable rises in background radiation at Los Alamos and Oak Ridge, with credible observers reporting incredible phenomena. Dr. Chadwell also recommended the CIA investigate the phenomenon for psychological warfare purposes. By 1952, the CIA reportedly considered UFOs extraterrestrial spacecraft but decided against public disclosure, initiating a 25-year campaign of debunking and disinformation.

Review of "Project UFO" TV Show

Diane Morang reviews the TV show "Project UFO," produced by Jack Webb. She finds the show to be a modernized and Hollywoodized version of old Project Blue Book cases, offering little for the scientifically-oriented investigator. While acknowledging the special effects, she notes the show's inconclusive ending leaves the viewer frustrated and calls for a UFO show with more facts and substance.

The Wrecking of NICAP

The issue details how the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena (NICAP) was allegedly sabotaged by CIA operatives Bernard J. O. Carvalho and Nicolas de Rochefort, who infiltrated the organization. Following Townsend Brown's resignation, Major Donald Keyhoe took over NICAP and rebuilt it into an effective investigative agency. However, the CIA, through operative Joseph Bryan (allegedly the founder of the CIA's Psychological Warfare section), infiltrated NICAP. In 1969, a coup led by Bryan ousted Keyhoe, ostensibly due to financial mismanagement. Stuart Nixon and Jack Acuff, manipulated by CIA agents, took control, leading to the dissolution of NICAP's investigative capabilities and a shift to a more government-friendly public posture.

Ground Saucer Watch (GSW) and Legal Battles

Ground Saucer Watch (GSW) is presented as an organization emerging to take the case for UFOs into court, where it aims to win where NICAP failed in Congress. GSW has filed a lawsuit against the CIA and is seeking documents related to low-altitude penetrations over SAC air bases in 1975. They have interviewed military and intelligence officials and obtained affidavits regarding the suppression of UFO evidence. The article emphasizes the need for public support, both moral and financial, to fund legal fees and pressure government agencies to reveal the truth about UFOs.

Military Installation Overflights by UFOs

Richard Gottlieb reports on GSW's efforts to break through government cover-ups regarding UFO data. The article details specific incidents of unidentified objects observed over US and Canadian Air Force bases in 1975, based on excerpts from NORAD Command Director's Logs. These include reports of unknown helicopters landing in munitions storage areas, objects hovering over SAC weapons storage areas, and radar/visual contacts of multiple objects with unusual flight characteristics. One notable incident involved F-106 aircraft being unable to gain visual or radar contact with targets that would turn lights on when the aircraft were present and off when they left. Other reports describe large red to orange to yellow objects and objects emitting light that illuminated a site driveway. The article notes that these sightings were logged as remaining unknowns.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are government secrecy, intelligence agency involvement in UFO investigations, alleged cover-ups, and the efforts of civilian organizations to uncover the truth. The editorial stance appears to be critical of government handling of UFO information and supportive of organizations like GSW that are pursuing legal avenues to expose evidence. The article highlights a shift from Air Force-led investigations to a more covert CIA operation, with a focus on debunking and disinformation.

This document, likely an issue of "UFO REPORT" from 1978, contains a collection of reports, analyses, and interviews related to UFO phenomena. It covers specific sighting reports from November 1975, a detailed review of the 1908 Tunguska event, and an exposé on alleged government coverups and potential CIA involvement in UFO-related organizations.

UFO Sightings - November 1975

The document begins with a chronological log of UFO sightings and related events from November 7th to November 9th, 1975. These reports originate from various sources, including SAC (Strategic Air Command) Command Posts (CP), L-sites, K-sites, and E-1 reports.

On November 7th, SAC advised K-1 of a bright object to their east, described as orange/gold with non-distinct lights. A civilian also reported seeing an object bearing south near Lewistown. Later that day, L-1 reported an object issuing a black, tubular object, with surveillance unable to detect any unusual tracks. By November 7th, 1355Z, K-1 and L-1 reported visual sightings as the sun rose, and by 1429Z, UFOs had disappeared.

November 8th saw a security camper team at K-4 report a UFO with white lights and a red light. Personnel at K-1 observed the same object. Height personnel reported picking up objects at 10-13,000 feet, described as 2 to 7 aircraft, with speeds ranging from 7 to 18 knots. Another report detailed a stationary object at 12,000 feet with varying numbers of objects. Radar contact was lost on November 8th at 0820Z, with fighters breaking off pursuit. SAC CP reported that observed objects' lights went out when fighters arrived and returned when they departed. An L-5 report indicated an object increased speed to high velocity and raised its altitude, becoming indistinguishable from stars. An E-1 report noted a bright white light north of Lewistown.

On November 9th, SAC CP reported crews observing a yellowish bright round light north of Harlowton at an altitude of 2,000 to 4,000 feet. Later that day, SAC CP reported a UFO, an orange-white disc object, southeast of Lewistown, with surveillance unable to get a height check.

Subsequent entries on November 9th and 10th detail further sightings, including an orange-white disc near Lewistown, an object confirmed by L-1, and a UFO sighting near Harlowton. A report from Minot Air Force Station described a bright star-like object moving east, approximately the size of a car, observed at 1,000 to 2,000 feet high with no noise.

The Tunguska Event: Comet vs. Spaceship Hypothesis

The document includes a review and opinion piece by Rosemary Baum on the Tunguska event of 1908. Based on recent Soviet expedition results, a new theory suggests the explosion originated from a comet. James E. Oberg, contributing editor of Astronomy magazine, is cited for his work on the Tunguska explosion, debating the comet versus "conventional" comet theory.

The article lists nine "important factors" of the Tunguska blast:
1. Force equal to a modern thermonuclear bomb.
2. Explosion occurred miles above the ground.
3. Combination of thermal pulse, light flash, shock wave, and magnetic flux.
4. Blasted region had an irregular, butterfly-like shape.
5. Eyewitnesses described a glowing fireball, with contradictory accounts suggesting a course change.
6. Skies over Europe were brightly lit for days after the event.
7. Native folklore includes tales of sickness among reindeer.
8. Accelerated growth in the region surrounding the blast.
9. Conflicting reports of radioactivity traces in tree growth rings of 1909.

Thomas Atkins and John Baxter's book "The Fire Came By" is presented as a theory that attempts to answer these questions, proposing a spaceship hypothesis. However, Oberg uses their work as a sounding board against the comet theory. He notes that comet meteor material found includes metallic spherules and Carbonaceous Chondrite. Oberg refutes the spaceship hypothesis by citing photographed meteor trails that disintegrated in flight and had orbits characteristic of comets, not meteorites. He reconstructs a ballistic trajectory placing the object on a collision course from high above the ecliptic plane, consistent with a comet. The luminous clouds observed worldwide are explained by a probable comet tail and the "white night" phenomenon.

The document also touches upon the development of microbarographs to monitor nuclear tests, noting high-altitude explosions worldwide. It addresses the radioactivity claims, citing Aleksey Zolotov's disputed findings and Willard Libby's research, which indicated unusually high fallout in 1909 but concluded it was random flux, not from a large megaton blast.

Government Coverup and CIA Involvement

The issue strongly suggests a government coverup of UFO information. It states that declassified sightings at Air Force Bases in late 1975 were only revealed after FOIA requests. A policy decision was made to "put a lid on the matter," with a memo instructing that responses to media queries should emphasize isolated or specific incidents to prevent connections from being made. The document criticizes this approach, suggesting it implies an inability to deal with crises.

An epilogue discusses an interview with Col. (Ret.) Joseph Bryan III, who admitted to working for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), possibly from 1948 to 1952, and potentially later. He denied being the chief of the CIA's Political and Psychological Warfare Staff but did not deny his work involved psychological warfare. Bryan denied any connection between his CIA work and his involvement with NICAP, stating he had resigned from the CIA before meeting Don Keyhoe. He expressed surprise at the idea of penetrating NICAP, calling it "all overt." Bryan admitted to writing a letter denouncing the Air Force's position on UFOs and having an interest in NICAP's events, but denied playing a central role in Keyhoe's removal as NICAP President. The author suggests Bryan's revelations will embarrass the CIA.

Reporting UFOs in Ohio

Contact information is provided for "The Ohio UFO Investigators League" for individuals wishing to report UFO sightings or obtain information in the Ohio area. Headquarters are listed in Fairfield, with additional contacts in Springfield and Dayton.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the documentation of UFO sightings, the scientific and speculative analysis of historical anomalous events (Tunguska), and the critical examination of government transparency and potential coverups regarding UFO phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of skepticism towards official explanations and a belief that UFO information is being deliberately withheld from the public. There is a strong emphasis on investigative journalism and the pursuit of truth, even when it involves controversial topics like alleged CIA interference.
The document criticizes sensationalism in ufology, suggesting it deters conventional scientists from investigating the subject positively. It concludes that traditional science may be operating on "blind faith" due to a lack of sufficient scientific effort into the extraterrestrial possibility, and that man sets his own mental limits in scientific inquiry.