Ground Saucer Watch Bulletin - 1981 04 - April

Magazine Overview

Title: GSW NEWS BULLETIN
Issue: APA '81
Date: April 1981
Publisher: Ground Saucer Watch (GSW), "CIVILIAN AERIAL PHENOMENA RESEARCH ORGANIZATION"
Location: Phoenix, Arizona, USA

This issue of the GSW News Bulletin, dated April 1981, delves into various aspects of UFO research, focusing on organizational challenges, potential government manipulation, and a statistical overview of reported sightings.

Table of Contents

The issue features a "Table of Contents" outlining the following articles:

• DIRECTLY SPEAKING by William H. Spaulding, Director (Page 1)
• MAP OF SIGHTINGS (Page 2)
• THE FEDERAL HYPOTHESIS by William H. Spaulding (Page 3)
• GET THE MONKIES OFF MY BACK! by William H. Spaulding (Page 10)
• THE COMPLETE LIST OF UFO MATERIALS FOR SALE (Page 14)
• IT'S ALL OVER BUT THE SHOUTING - Staff Editorial (Page 18)
• STAFF REPORT ON PRIME TIME UFO'S (Page 19)
• SUGGESTED READING (Page 20)

Directly Speaking

In his editorial, "Directly Speaking," William H. Spaulding addresses the significant impact of inflation on UFO research organizations. He notes the tremendous rise in prices for all conceivable items, increasing operational expenses such as secretarial costs, postage, printing, rent, and telephone charges. Spaulding highlights that viable methods for obtaining funds are limited to lectures, contributions, membership dues, and sales of materials. He mentions a recent, albeit "minuscule," grant to a UFO group for pursuing government documents related to the GSW lawsuit. Spaulding expresses concern over the types of individuals requesting information, often teenagers working on school projects who ask for free materials without providing postage. Another category identified is the "flash-enthusiast" whose interest is fleeting and tied to media publicity. The article concludes that inflation, lack of funding, and negative public opinion are major obstacles to progress in ufology.

Map of Sightings

This section presents a map of the United States with numbers indicating UFO sightings logged by GSW-East & West. The data covers the period from December 1980 through March 1981. Key statistics include:

• 200 called-in reports of UFOs.
• 40 Reports (hard copy) received.
• An unknown rate of reports (percentage) from December 1980 through March 1981.
• Arizona numbers (58) do not include advertisement airplanes in Phoenix.
• A note indicates that 5 sightings are attributed to bright stars, the planet Venus, and other celestial or conventional misinterpretations.

Additional sightings are listed for Mexico (4) and Canada (6), with "All Others" accounting for 16.

The Federal Hypothesis

William H. Spaulding introduces "The Federal Hypothesis," a theory suggesting CIA involvement in promoting a pro-saucer viewpoint rather than suppressing interest. This hypothesis stems from the covert operational techniques of intelligence agencies. The article reviews historical facts related to UFO sightings:

1. Modern UFO sightings began around 1947.
2. The Air Corps initiated its first investigative programs in 1948.
3. Military investigations focused on case-by-case studies with demographic distribution and pattern recognition.
4. Early government documents show many observations occurred near military installations, raising questions about whether these were genuine sightings or related to personnel's proximity to bases.
5. Government documents also relate to UFO activity in foreign countries, prompting questions about whether it's a global phenomenon or widespread misinterpretation.
6. The empirical nature of UFO data relies on witness testimony, and the article questions the believability and potential bias in accepting such reports.
7. Not all UFO data can be dismissed as hoaxes or misinterpretations; categorizing them is a violation of scientific methodology.
8. Investigations by both civilian and military entities have shown evidence of "foul-up," with many cases improperly investigated due to time, money, or technique.
9. As early as 1952, the CIA, with NSC approval, took command of UFO investigations, arguing that UFOs could be used as psychological warfare weapons.
10. The intelligence community's involvement, coupled with the Air Force's perceived feeble efforts, led many civilian researchers to believe in a massive conspiracy to cover up extraterrestrial visitations. The article posits that misinformation tactics might have been used to misdirect public thinking.
11. No data presented definitively proves visitations from outer space, though some unexplained cases remain bizarre.
12. Statistical data from Project Blue Book indicates less than 3 percent of incidents were "unknowns," while civilian data banks suggest closer to 8 percent.
13. Studying UFO evidence is difficult for scientists due to the lack of physical experiments.
14. The vast distances between stars make extraterrestrial connections improbable, yet many researchers overlook this.
15. UFO incidents appear cyclic, with theories also showing periodicity (e.g., crashed saucers in the fifties, abductions in the sixties, and crashed saucer rumors currently).

Spaulding elaborates on the Federal Hypothesis, stating it was not initiated by the government to create a conspiracy but arose from the mystery of sightings. Early Air Force projects (Saucer & Grudge) concluded that UFOs were not alien spaceships or foreign weapons. The hypothesis suggests that around 1952, the intelligence community began to promote and manipulate the UFO story rather than simply debunk it. This covert organization likely infiltrated and utilized the official investigative groups to justify its goals. Documents obtained via FOIA mention the use of "flying saucers" for psychological purposes, including:

A. Nurturing the idea of a massive cover-up through leaks.
B. Funneling misinformation to gauge public reaction.
C. Encouraging the subject through agent interface and funding.
D. Creating UFO hysteria by concocting events and sensationalizing reports.

The staging of events, including close-encounters-of-the-third-kind, is discussed as a means of psychological manipulation. The article suggests that a few staged events could generate numerous new incidents, creating a domino effect. It posits that the total UFO situation may be composed of less than five percent staged events, with the remainder attributed to psychic experiences, fantasies, misinterpretations, and hoaxes. Scientific tests show induced hysteria is possible, and the body politic can be suggestible to ideological stimuli.

Specific incidents deserving study include the formation of NICAP, contact reports from the early 1950s, the abduction syndrome of the 1970s, the "leaking" of UFO materials, and the resurrection of crashed saucer stories.

UFO researchers are described as susceptible to contrived manipulations. The article questions why ufologists are chosen to receive "secret" information and the motives behind releasing it. It suggests that a conspiracy group, possibly a component of the CIA or another powerful intelligence body, could direct such an operation, requiring liaison with other government groups.

• Objectives and motivations for such a group could include:
• Concealment of secret government programs (e.g., nerve/germ warfare testing, stealth aircraft technology).
• Diversion of public/government scrutiny from specific political incidents.
• Psychological games to study public reactions and test mind control.
• Manipulation of public opinion through staged events, such as the November 1957 incident where UFOs appeared over Texas and New Mexico, diverting attention from Russia's successful space launches.

The article concludes that the event was overwhelming and temporarily shifted focus from America's failures and Russia's success. The agents of such a group would act as links between the "source" and researchers/media. The source itself might not be interested in UFOs but in achieving goals through fringe ufology elements. Key questions are posed: How important are flying saucers? How important is the saucer movement? How does the scientific community view the collected proof? The answers are likely negative, with UFO research potentially being a means to an elaborate conclusion or a psychological experiment.

Seasoned UFO researchers are expected to react negatively to the Federal Hypothesis, as they have invested significant time in pursuing UFOs. The idea of their search being part of a deliberate manipulation is likely to offend them. The motivation behind such manipulation is suggested to be ideological and possibly sinister, aiming to trigger public responses through indirect means. Possible reasons for a manipulative effort include:

A. Social control to shape attitudes and direct public opinion.
B. Real-time testing of national defenses.

Get the Monkies Off My Back!

This article is mentioned in the table of contents but its content is not provided in the scanned pages.

The Complete List of UFO Materials for Sale

This section is mentioned in the table of contents but its content is not provided in the scanned pages.

Staff Editorial: It's All Over But the Shouting

This section is mentioned in the table of contents but its content is not provided in the scanned pages.

Staff Report on Prime Time UFO's

This section is mentioned in the table of contents but its content is not provided in the scanned pages.

Suggested Reading

This section is mentioned in the table of contents but its content is not provided in the scanned pages.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the challenges of UFO research, particularly financial constraints and the potential for government manipulation. The "Federal Hypothesis" is a central theme, proposing that intelligence agencies might be using the UFO phenomenon for psychological purposes or to conceal other activities. The editorial stance, as presented by William H. Spaulding, is critical of the current state of UFO research, highlighting its susceptibility to misinformation and the need for more rigorous scientific investigation. There is a clear skepticism towards unsubstantiated claims and a suggestion that the UFO movement itself might be a product of external manipulation rather than genuine extraterrestrial contact.

This issue of "UFO" magazine, volume 10, issue 9, published in 1980, delves into various facets of the UFO phenomenon, with a strong emphasis on potential government involvement, cover-ups, and the analysis of photographic evidence. The magazine presents a critical perspective on the interpretation of UFO events and highlights the challenges faced by researchers in obtaining information.

Potential Government Explanations for UFO Sightings

The issue outlines several potential explanations for UFO sightings attributed to government activities. These include:

• Germ/Nerve Warfare Testing: To assess the effects of substances on demographics and public psychological responses, using a manufactured mystery as a cover.
• Rocket Testing Cover: Some tests have been deliberately falsified to create the appearance of crashed saucers.
• Technology Development: To conceal advanced systems like remote drones or 'invisible' aircraft, with 'good' UFO events generated to hide the true source.
• Psychological Tests: Staged events to gather data on responses to mind control.
• Political Maneuvering: To offset political situations or crises, particularly in foreign countries.
• Shaping Public Attitudes: To influence conceptions of economic and foreign policy issues, and to contain citizen actions and ideas.

The magazine notes that governments may encourage non-conventional movements, like UFO beliefs, to control situations non-forcibly and use them for their own goals.

Analysis of Alleged 'Crashed Alien' Photographs

A significant portion of the magazine is dedicated to the analysis of two photographs forwarded by Williard McIntyre, director of a Maryland-based UFO organization, to GSW. These photos were purported to be of deceased 'aliens' from a crashed saucer event in the late summer of 1980.

GSW conducted a computer photographic analysis of the two B&W negatives. The analysis revealed:

• Age Dating: The negatives were empirically dated to be close to 30 years old.
• Image Quality: The larger negative had a shallow depth of field, and portions were out-of-focus. The smaller negative was highly cropped.
• Creature Description: Evidence suggested a severely burned and mutilated 'creature' or animal, with signs of rigor mortis indicating death occurred approximately twelve hours prior to the photos being taken.
• Measurements and Forensic Comparison: Measurements of the head, jaw bone, arm/leg lengths, hands, and feet were compared to forensic pathology records, revealing commonalities with a laboratory monkey.
• Wreckage: Computer scrutiny of wreckage materials in the smaller negative showed terrestrial geometric shapes and signs of manufacture.
• Size: The 'creature' was measured at 863mm from head to buttocks.
• Physical Details: Evidence of a horny sheath on the toe portion of the primate and a nail covered by hair, similar to a monkey's. The smaller negative showed photographic evidence of burning on the skull, indicative of a high-temperature flash burn, and disintegration of the torso due to crushing.
• Hoax Assessment: No evidence of a hoax or deliberate manipulation of the film was found.

Conclusion of GSW Analysis: The GSW photographic review staff concluded that the photographs represented a misinterpretation of a normal laboratory monkey (either rhesus or orangutan) that had been badly burned and partially dismembered. They suggested that if the narrative of the UFO incident was accurate, it implied grave implications for the origin of the crash/accident.

Further Analysis: GSW continued analysis, revealing that the burnt effect on the 'dead alien's' head was attributable to blistering on a space helmet worn by the monkey, with a fastening snap identical to early-space devices. Markings were attributed to safety belt and buckle protection from heat, and a dark substance was identified as burnt nylon from 'spacesuits' used for test animals.

Misinformation and Dissemination: The magazine criticizes the dissemination of these photos in tabloids as 'dead alien bodies' and notes that McIntyre's organization published a counter-argument based on biased information. The writer asserts that GSW has investigated numerous disc-shaped crash claims and found them void of substantiation, attributing most 'crashed saucer stories' to misinterpreted rocket testing failures or animal testing devices.

The Role of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

An article titled "It's All Over But The Shouting" discusses the CIA's actions in the summer and fall of 1980. Following exposure of its past actions, the CIA was preparing an assault on the FOIA.

Key developments mentioned include:

• Supreme Court Decision: The CIA won a Supreme Court decision against ex-agent Frank Snepp, granting the agency total editorial control over material published about it by employees.
• Legislative Efforts: Liaison officials were meeting with legislative councils to attempt to cease future FOIA requests and obtain exempt status.
• CIA Justification: The CIA maintained that negative publicity (e.g., failures in South America, Iran, Watergate) was a direct result of the FOIA.
• Domestic Intelligence Program: Re-establishment of a domestic intelligence program with covert contacts in various sectors, justified by 'national security'.

The article posits that if the CIA is successful, especially with a more conservative government, FOIA requests for UFO information will cease, and lawsuits will likely fail, preventing the release of documents on the subject. It highlights the tension between the public's right to know and governmental secrets, noting that governments tend to over-classify information.

Available Documents and Technical Papers

The magazine includes extensive lists of documents and technical papers available for sale from GSW, INC. These documents are described as results of legal action and FOIA requests against U.S. government and military agencies. They cover a wide range of UFO-related topics, including:

• USAF Textbooks: Offering a reversal of the Air Force's position on UFOs.
• Government Documents: Detailing UFO incidents in Iran, Morocco, Tunisia, and over military installations.
• CIA Memorandums: Discussing UFOs as psychological warfare weapons.
• NORAD Documents: Reporting UFO overflights and military concerns.
• Historical Reports: Including Project Sign, Project Saucer, the Robertson Panel Report, and USAF Scientific Advisory Board findings.
• Technical Papers: On UFO cover-ups, the failure of UFO research, electromagnetic effects of UFO encounters, and the use of digital computers in UFO analysis.

Prices are listed for individual documents and special group rates.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are government secrecy, the potential for misinformation and cover-ups related to UFO phenomena, and the challenges of obtaining verifiable evidence. The magazine adopts a critical stance towards sensationalized UFO claims, particularly those involving 'crashed aliens,' advocating for rigorous analysis and scientific scrutiny. The editorial stance appears to favor a skeptical approach to extraordinary claims, suggesting that many UFO incidents may have mundane explanations rooted in government testing or experimentation. The importance of the Freedom of Information Act for transparency is also a significant theme, with concern expressed over potential government efforts to curtail its effectiveness in relation to UFO research.

Title: GSW News Bulletin
Issue: 19
Date: February 12, 1981 (based on the news segment date)
Publisher: Ground Saucer Watch, Inc.
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of the GSW News Bulletin critically analyzes a news segment that aired on ABC-TV's "20/20" program on February 12, 1981. The segment presented a new theory attempting to explain the UFO phenomenon through geological processes.

Staff Report on Prime-Time UFO's

The report begins by expressing strong disapproval of the "20/20" segment, deeming it "utterly ridiculous" and comparing its finesse to that of a cadaver. The segment featured Hugh Downs and introduced a new theory investigated by geologists. This theory posits that nocturnal UFOs are actually the electro-plasma effect caused by fault lines in the earth's crust. When pressure on these fault areas is released, for instance, by an earth tremor, the quartz rock is said to release plasma, which visually resembles night-time UFOs.

To demonstrate this, the geologists conducted real-time tests by crushing quartz rocks using a mechanical laboratory device. High-speed photography captured the results, showing plasma/electrical charges lasting for 1/10 of a second. The geologists concluded that the duration and size of these "UFOs" would increase with larger rocks.

The report then shifted to Heber, Arizona, to re-enact the Travis Walton abduction case. The reporter, described as yawning due to the intensity of the story, attempted to tie this case into the geological theory by showing a map of faults and quartz rocks.

The GSW staff then raises several serious questions regarding this new theory:

1. Stereotyping: The article notes that attempting to attribute UFOs to a single origin has historically failed, citing examples like ball lightning, swarming insects, balloons, and swamp gas.
2. Daytime Sightings: If rocks produce UFOs at night, the theory does not account for daytime sightings.
3. Altitude and Encounters: The theorists themselves admit plasma is a low-level, close-to-the-ground phenomenon. This raises questions about how the theory explains high-altitude sightings or encounters with aircraft, sarcastically suggesting the cargo bay of an airliner might be filled with quartz watches.
4. Travis Walton Case: The article dismisses the Travis Walton incident as, at best, a psychological experience pursued for "fun and profit."
5. Location Discrepancy: It questions why the few purportedly bonafide UFO reports occur in areas devoid of rocks and faults, contradicting the geological theory.

The publication concludes that while new theories are needed in UFO research, and it agrees that extraterrestrial explanations are unlikely, this "pseudo-geodetic hypothesis" is an insult to anyone beyond the sixth grade and is itself "loaded with faults."

Suggested Reading

For researchers interested in staying current with UFOlogy, GSW recommends the following publications:

• Center For UFO Studies (CUFOS): Offers four publications: Associate Newsletter (monthly), Bulletin (quarterly), International UFO Reporter (bi-monthly), and The Journal of UFO Studies (semi-annually). Their address is 1609 Sherman Avenue, Suite 207, Evanston, IL 60201. Dr. J.A. Hynek is associated with this organization.
• Retrievals of the Third Kind: A case study of alleged UFO occupants in military custody by Len Stringfield. Contact GSW for details.
• MUFON's Symposium Proceedings: Available for 1973 through 1980. Contact MUFON.
• MUFON's UFO Journal: Published by MUFON, INC, 103 Old Towne Road, Sequin, TX 78155, for $15.00/year.
• The Australian UFO Bulletin: Available from P.O. Box 43, Moorabbin, Victoria 3189, Australia, for $7.00/year (overseas rate).

GSW News Bulletin Publication Details

The GSW News Bulletin is published three times annually: April, August, and December. Regular features include "Directly Speaking" by William H. Spaulding (Director/WD), organizations news, Map of Sightings, and other articles related to UFOlogy. Subscriptions are available by mail. Non-GSW members pay $4.50/year, while GSW members pay $3.50/year. Checks or money orders should be made payable to Ground Saucer Watch, Inc.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The primary theme of this issue is the critical evaluation of a specific UFO theory presented in mainstream media. The editorial stance is highly skeptical of simplistic or pseudoscientific explanations for UFO phenomena, particularly those that appear to be sensationalized or lack rigorous scientific backing. The publication advocates for continued research but dismisses theories that it considers intellectually weak or opportunistic. There is an underlying theme of concern about the lack of transparency and the potential for misinformation in UFO research, hinted at by the opening paragraph referencing the CIA and FOIA.