Ground Saucer Watch Bulletin - 1978 08 - August

Magazine Overview

Title: GSW NEWS BULLETIN
Issue Date: August, 1978
Publisher: GSW, INC.
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of the GSW News Bulletin provides updates on the organization's activities, including a significant lawsuit against the CIA, a report on recent UFO sightings, and an in-depth analysis of historical FBI files concerning unidentified aerial phenomena.

Directly Speaking

By William H. Spaulding, Director GSW/WD, this section addresses the overwhelming response to the April 1978 Bulletin, noting that sales of additional copies provided much-needed funding for the GSW lawsuit against the CIA. Spaulding announces that Richard Gottlieb, the editor, has been accepted into a Tucson, Arizona-based medical school and will be stepping down as editor after this issue. Gottlieb's efforts are praised, and he has agreed to continue contributing articles. The section also expresses gratitude to lawyer Peter Gersten and the office staff of Mr. H. Rothblatt for their dedication to the legal case. Spaulding reiterates the goal of forcing the government to release true facts about UFOs and asks for continued moral and financial support. An update on the legal action against the government is provided, detailing the service of two legal documents on the CIA: interrogatories with over 600 UFO-related questions and a request for production of documents concerning UFO cases and researchers. The potential impact of obtaining this data is highlighted, promising conclusive proof. The section concludes with thanks to the membership for their support.

Update

By Richard Gottlieb, Acting Editor, this section provides a detailed update on the GSW-CIA litigation. It lists major pleadings filed to date, including the Complaint, Answer, Motion to Dismiss (denied), Motion for a Change of Venue (granted, moving the case to Washington, D.C.), and a Motion to drop secondary parties, resulting in the case name "Ground Saucer Watch, Inc. against Central Intelligence Agency!". The section details the 635 Interrogatories served to the defendant and the Request for Production of Documents and Other Things (274 sets). Approximately 86 requests are for documents from the 1952-1953 UFO flap, covering strategic meetings, policy recommendations, intelligence reports, and high-level discussions. Examples of requested documents include discussions between President Truman and DCI Smith, Dr. W.G. Whitman and OSI personnel, A.C. Lundahl and ONI Lt. Cdr., and a briefing for the DCI by Ransom L. Eng. Additionally, about 105 sets of documents detailing the CIA's direct involvement in the study or suppression of the phenomenon were requested. The section also lists documents related to UFOs in various CIA offices, the Psychological Strategy Board, and the Intelligence Advisory Committee, as well as those concerning meetings with CIA agent "Hazen" and Richard Hall. A group of requested documents pertains to individuals involved in the UFO movement and specific sightings, including 16 sets dealing with artificial satellites and their effects. Specific incidents mentioned include a mystery satellite tracked by Gruman Aircraft Corp. (1960), an orbiting object tracked by the Smithsonian Observatory (1961), and crashes of an airliner (1953) and Air Force planes (1959, 1959). Documents relating to the 1975 USAF base buzzing and the 1976 Iranian incident were also requested. The bulletin notes that due to postal rate increases, the GSW News Bulletin will be reduced in page count from 30 to approximately 20-22 pages.

Map of Sightings

This section presents a map of the United States showing UFO sightings logged by GSW-East & West from April to July 1978. The map indicates the number of sightings per state, with Arizona having the highest number (190), followed by California (12) and Ohio (25). Canada reported 10 sightings, and Mexico reported 3. The accompanying text clarifies that these are "called-in reports" and do not constitute proof of real UFOs. It notes 252 called-in reports and 29 hard copy reports received. An unknown rate of 12.2% for April-July 1978 data is mentioned. Notably, Arizona's numbers do not include sightings related to the Phoenix-based advertisement airplane. A footnote indicates that 158 sightings were attributed to planets (Venus, Mars, Jupiter & Saturn) and other celestial phenomena, with a peak in calls during May/June.

UFO Related Information From the FBI File

By Dr. Bruce S. Maccabee, GSW Consultant, this article delves into FBI files concerning "Green Fireballs." It states that by the fall of 1947, the Air Force Intelligence considered "flying discs" to be real objects. In the summer of 1948, the intelligence group believed the phenomena were extraterrestrial, but this view was met with disfavor. The personnel in the intelligence group changed, and new members were less inclined to accept reports as accurate, opting for mundane explanations. By the end of 1948, the idea of a new phenomenon was in disfavor. However, in December 1948, "green fireballs" began appearing in the southwestern United States, prompting an investigation. The FBI was brought back due to concerns about protecting vital installations. The article reproduces a document dated January 31, 1947, filed under "Protection of Vital Installations," which discusses "Unidentified Aircraft" or "Unidentified Aerial Phenomena," also known as "Flying Discs," "Flying Saucers," and "Balls of Fire." This matter was considered top secret by intelligence officers of the Army and Air Forces. The document notes reports from the past two years of "flying discs" and mentions a 1948 sighting by an Eastern Airlines pilot and passengers over Montgomery, Alabama, describing an unconventional, wingless aircraft resembling a "rocket ship" traveling at an estimated 2700 mph. Sightings near the AEC Installation at Los Alamos, New Mexico, during December 1948 are also detailed, involving various agents and personnel. Dr. Lincoln La Paz is mentioned as being in charge of observations. The phenomena were described as possibly resembling jet exhaust during the day and as brilliant green lights at night, sometimes with red or orange flashes. Spectrum analysis of one light suggested a copper compound used in rocket experiments. Reports indicated speeds of three to twelve miles per second. The article also references a later FBI report from around two months after the initial document, which reemphasized the secret classification and noted that the matter was termed "Unconventional Aircraft" and investigations were named "Project Grudge." The USAF Air Materiel Command had primary responsibility, and incidents analogous to "green fireballs" were reported, primarily confined to the Los Alamos, Las Vegas, and West Texas Triangle areas. Higher military authorities believed the phenomena would eventually be found to have a natural explanation. The report also mentioned sightings around Camp Hood, Texas, and suggested a connection with secret experiments by a U.S. Government Agency in guided missile development.

The article further discusses the "FBI POLICY RESTATED," noting that an upsurge in AF interest in late 1948 and early 1949 led to a re-statement of policy. Following a bulletin from October 1, 1947, FBI agents were instructed to refer all flying disc reports to the Air Forces and take no investigative action. However, early in 1949, the FBI learned that the Air Force was taking UFO reports seriously, evidenced by the publication of an "Air Intelligence Requirements Memorandum Number 4." This document established a prototype sighting form (AF form 112) for reporting information on unconventional aircraft and unidentified flying objects. The memorandum was circulated to various high-level military and intelligence officials. It included detailed questions about the sighting, the aircraft's characteristics, and the observer's reliability. The article then references a memorandum from Mr. Fletcher to Mr. Ladd concerning "FLYING DISCS" dated March 14, 1949. This memorandum requested approval for an attached SAC Letter to furnish the field with the type of information desired by the Air Force Intelligence Division. It reiterated the 1947 policy of discontinuing FBI investigative activities on flying discs and referring all future reports to the Air Forces. However, it also noted that a Resident Engineer from the Air Materiel Command at Oak Ridge had confidentially advised the Bureau that flying discs were believed by the Air Force to be man-made missiles, possibly of Russian origin. The Air Force had furnished the Bureau with copies of the "Unconventional Aircraft" memorandum for its field offices. At that time, the FBI was conducting no active investigation but recommended that field offices secure information from complainants due to the importance of the matter to national security, to assist the Department of the Air Force. The attached SAC Letter #38, dated March 25, 1949, directed attention to the 1947 bulletin regarding the discontinuance of FBI investigation into flying discs.

Editor's Note

By Richard Gottlieb, this brief note thanks the readers for their support and mentions that the GSW News Bulletin will be reduced in size due to increased postal rates.

Suggested Reading

This section lists suggested reading materials, but the titles and authors are not legible in the provided scan.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The GSW News Bulletin consistently advocates for government transparency regarding UFO phenomena. The editorial stance is one of active investigation and a commitment to uncovering and disseminating information, particularly through legal means. The publication highlights the importance of historical UFO cases and government documents in understanding the phenomenon. There is a clear emphasis on the ongoing legal battle with the CIA as a primary method for obtaining this information. The publication also acknowledges the challenges and limitations faced by researchers, including government secrecy and the changing nature of official investigations over time. The recurring theme is the pursuit of truth and the belief that UFOs represent a real phenomenon that the public has a right to know about.

This issue of the GSW News Bulletin, published by Ground Saucer Watch, focuses on UFOlogy and government involvement with the phenomenon. It presents information derived from FBI files and discusses efforts to uncover suppressed evidence through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.

FBI Policy on UFOs

The bulletin begins by detailing an early FBI directive concerning 'flying discs.' A confidential source informed the Bureau that these objects were believed to be man-made missiles, likely developed by the USSR through experimentation over the past four years. Consequently, FBI Director John Edgar Hoover issued a directive stating that FBI offices should not actively investigate flying discs but should refer to relevant memorandums when receiving voluntary information from the public. This policy, established in a memorandum dated February 15, 1949, and referenced in Bureau Bulletin #57, aimed to guide agents on the type of information desired by the Air Force.

The article notes the irony that the information from the 'Resident Engineer' (the confidential source) was used to justify this policy, even though the engineer admitted he was not directly involved in the Air Force's UFO investigation. This letter forms the basis of the FBI's approach: avoid proactive investigation but accept and process any information offered.

1949 UFO Cases in the FBI File

The bulletin then shifts to specific UFO cases documented in FBI files from 1949. It contrasts this year with 1948, which was considered a 'dry year' for UFO reports. In 1949, the number of reports increased significantly, with the FBI receiving data that suggested agents might have been less hesitant to engage with UFO business.

Key incidents from 1949 include:

• January and March 1949: Brief reports of bright objects sighted over Kirtland AFB near Albuquerque, New Mexico, and at Killeen Base near Camp Hood, Texas. These were not investigated by the FBI.
• Early April 1949: A confidential source informed the FBI that three employees of the Department of Recreation in Parks in Los Angeles had noticed objects in the sky. The FBI agent noted that this information was being provided for whatever action the Bureau desired, with no investigation being conducted by the FBI.
• May 5, 1949: A reporter for the Sun-Star newspaper in Merced, California, was contacted by a Lieutenant Colonel from Castle Air Force Base. The officer inquired if the newspaper had received any reports of 'flying discs' in the vicinity. This led to the revelation that a friend of the reporter, who was in the Air Corps Reserve, had reported observing a strange object to the Intelligence Officer at Castle Field.
• April 4, 1949 (reported May 13, 1949): A witness, a member of the Active USAF Reserve with pilot experience, reported observing an object from his home near Merced. The object emitted a continuous, intense clicking noise and was described as a solid mass, approximately four to five feet in diameter, with an estimated altitude of less than 1000 feet. Its color was dull, light-colored metal, possibly due to reflection from ground lights. The object moved slowly, then maneuvered in an arc, and its clicking sound stopped when it was overhead. The witness's dog also reacted to the sound. An attempt to locate other witnesses proved unsuccessful.
• April 5, 1949: Teletype reports of sightings from Ogden, Logan, and Trenton, Utah, were initially identified by the Office of Special Investigations (OSI) as practice bombing missions.
• April 16, 1949: An FBI agent interviewed a resident in Ft. Smith, Arkansas, about a sighting. The SAC letter to FBI headquarters indicated that OSI and MID had been notified.
• May 12, 1949: Newspaper clippings described a flying disc sighted at Radford, Virginia. The FBI agent confirmed he had not spoken to any witnesses.
• May 18, 19, and 23, 1949: The Office of Naval Intelligence received reports of 'single discs' seen over New Orleans. The Navy informed the Bureau that Army Intelligence had investigated these cases.
• May 27, 1949: Lt. Shell of the Navy reported a sighting of several 'discs' while flying an airplane in southern Oregon. The Air Force left this case unidentified.
• September 25, 1949: A pilot flying from Clark Field to Parkersburg, West Virginia, reported a bright yellow object coming directly toward him at high speed. The object, described as rocket-like with vertical and horizontal fins, approximately 15 to 18 inches long and 4 inches in diameter, passed about 100 feet under his ship. The pilot estimated its altitude at 3450 feet and its speed at 240 degrees. Visibility was excellent, about 30 miles. The object appeared to drop slightly as it passed. The pilot's wife, who was with him, did not see the object.

Ground Saucer Watch (GSW) and FOIA Efforts

The bulletin highlights the efforts of Ground Saucer Watch (GSW) in pursuing UFO evidence. In June 1978, GSW, represented by Peter Gersten, filed a significant FOIA discovery motion against the CIA in the U.S. District Court. This motion included a 635-question interrogatory and 274 document requests, forcing the CIA to answer questions about its involvement with UFOs, based on 60 attached CIA documents.

GSW's requests included specific inquiries about 'ghost rocket' incidents in Scandinavia in 1946 and OSI's files on flying saucers/discs/UFO reports dating back to 1949. The organization's goal is to obtain suppressed UFO evidence and make it public. GSW offers the interrogatories, requests, and exhibits for $25 to its members, noting that much of this material has not been previously seen by the public.

Citizens Against UFO Secrecy (CAUS)

Recognizing the geographical challenges in coordinating efforts, W. Todd Zechel, Director of Research for GSW, created Citizens Against UFO Secrecy (CAUS) in March. CAUS is a nonpartisan, nonprofit lobbying and research group focused on combating government secrecy by filing FOIA requests, appeals, and suits, and investigating UFO incidents involving military personnel. Membership is open to all, and one can join by subscribing to CAUS's newsletter, 'JUST CAUSE,' which reports on incidents and releases evidence.

CAUS has published issues covering crashed saucers, rumored UFO crashes, State Department UFO reports, a UFO sighting over a New Jersey naval base, and alleged CE-III incidents in Las Vegas. The bulletin urges readers to subscribe to 'JUST CAUSE' for $10 per year.

Editorial Notes and Future Outlook

Richard Gottlieb announces his retirement as acting editor of the GSW News Bulletin as he prepares to attend the University of Arizona College of Medicine. He expresses gratitude for his time with GSW, praising the organization's members for their imagination and thirst for truth.

The bulletin concludes with a 'Suggested Reading' section, recommending publications like MUFON's UFO Journal, UFO Pulse-Analyzer, International UFO Reporter, and JUST CAUSE. It also provides subscription details for the GSW News Bulletin itself, which is published three times annually (April, August, and December).

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are government secrecy surrounding UFO phenomena, the role of investigative bodies like the FBI and CIA, and the efforts of civilian organizations like GSW and CAUS to uncover and disseminate information through FOIA requests and public awareness campaigns. The editorial stance is one of active pursuit of truth, advocating for transparency and supporting organizations dedicated to solving the UFO mystery. There is a strong emphasis on the importance of public support, both financial and moral, for these endeavors.