Journal of the Fortean Research Center - Vol 2 No 3

Magazine Overview

This issue of the JOURNAL of the FORTEAN RESEARCH CENTER, Volume II, No. 3, dated October 1987, is published by the Fortean Research Center and priced at $3.50. The cover features an illustration titled 'FANCIES & PICTURES'. The magazine is dedicated to investigating unexplained phenomena.

Contents and Key Articles

VERDICT STILL OPEN ON MJ-12 (Page 3-8)

This extensive article discusses the controversy surrounding the alleged MJ-12 documents, which purportedly detail a secret U.S. government study of a crashed UFO and its occupants. The J. Allen Hynek Center for UFO Studies (CUFOS) maintains that the question of their authenticity is still open, despite debunking efforts by the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP).

William L. Moore, who has investigated the documents, argues that CSICOP's charges of 'hoax,' 'forgery,' and 'deception' are premature and unscientific. The article details three key documents:

• A September 24, 1947, executive memorandum from President Truman to Secretary of Defense James Forrestal, authorizing 'Operation Majestic-Twelve' (MJ-12) under the leadership of Dr. Vannevar Bush.
• A November 18, 1952, briefing paper for President-Elect Eisenhower, stating the U.S. government possesses remains of two crashed UFOs.
• A July 14, 1954, memorandum from Robert Cutler to General Nathan Twining regarding an MJ-12 group meeting.

The article addresses specific points raised by UFO debunker Philip J. Klass, who claims the Cutler memorandum is 'phony' for several reasons, including it being unsigned, a 'typed original' rather than a carbon, lacking a Top Secret registration number, and carrying a classification caveat not in use until later.

Moore, along with researchers Stanton T. Friedman and Jaime Shandera, counter Klass's arguments:

• Unsigned Memo: Cutler was out of the country, and memoranda were often handled by staff. Unsigned memoranda, including carbons, were common in government documents of the era.
• 'Typed Original' vs. Carbon: The blue carbon ink and the nature of the impression on onionskin paper are consistent with a carbon copy.
• Top Secret Registration Number: Two other Top Secret Cutler memoranda from the same era also lack such numbers.
• Classification Caveat: The caveat 'Top Secret Restricted Security Information' was in use in the early 1950s, contrary to CSICOP's claims based on a National Archives letter. The article notes that 'Restricted' was also a separate classification until 1953, causing confusion.
• Typeface: The typeface is consistent with a Remington-Rand typewriter common in government offices, and comparisons based on a few documents are meaningless.
• Watermark: The absence of an 'Eagle' watermark is not unusual, as government offices used various types of onionskin paper, some without watermarks.

The article also mentions that the National Archives and presidential libraries could not find identifiable records for 'Majestic 12' or 'MJ-12,' but suggests this is due to classified 'black projects' and material being removed from files before archival custody.

James Layerzopf of the Eisenhower Library indicated that 'numerous indications of selected material having been pulled from files' have been found.

Another key document discussed is the September 24, 1947, executive memorandum from Truman. Klass alleges it's a forgery created by superimposing a fake message on a photocopy. However, the article states there is no evidence for this, and a print from the original negative shows no sign of superimposition. The document bears an authentic-appearing Truman signature.

Klass also claims the document is 'counterfeit' because it doesn't fit the format of an 'authentic Truman letter,' lacking the recipient's name and address. The article clarifies it is an executive memorandum, and an expert described its style and format as 'absolutely authentic.'

The seven-page 'Top Secret Eyes Only' Eisenhower briefing paper is also examined. Klass claims it presents the 1947 New Mexico UFO crash as if Eisenhower had never heard of it. The article argues this judgment is flawed, as Eisenhower might not have known all details, and his role as a potential university president at the time doesn't preclude his involvement in such a group.

Friedman and Moore's investigation, based on interviews with nearly 100 people, suggests an unknown object crashed near Roswell in July 1947, leading to a government announcement, a cover-up within 24 hours, the discovery of alien bodies, and material sent to Wright Field. Five individuals involved in the Roswell event testified that strange symbols, mentioned in the MJ-12 document, were attached to the crashed vehicle. The article notes that the 12 members of Majestic Twelve all had high-level security clearances.

Former U.S. Senator Barry Goldwater is quoted as saying he was denied information about UFOs, and the matter was 'classified above Top Secret.' He heard a plan was underway to release some of this material.

Mark Rodeghier, scientific director of CUFOS, states that the center has not concluded whether the documents are authentic or a hoax, and they are seeking an independent investigation. He asserts that no evidence conclusively proves the documents false and encourages further investigation.

A declassified memorandum from THE WHITE HOUSE, dated July 13, 1953, addressed to GENERAL TWINING, details President Eisenhower's expectation for him to attend an Extraordinary Meeting of the National Security Council, emphasizing special security precautions and secrecy.

ASSORTED ODDITIES (Page 9-10)

This section presents a collection of unusual and unexplained events:

• Newscast Hijacking: Gary Stollman, a man with a history of mental illness, took over a live newscast on KNBC-TV, demanding that a statement about the CIA and space creatures be read, warning of a plot against the U.S. government. The statement was read by consumer reporter David Horowitz, who had previously warned parents about the type of toy pistol Stollman used.
• GET THE MOP, MOM!: In a home belonging to William and Minnie Winston, human blood was found seeping from the floors of multiple rooms. Police were puzzled as no source could be identified, and the couple stated they and no visitors were present. Homicide Detective Steve Cartwright called it an 'extremely strange situation.'
• 'TELEPATHIC' CALL LEADS TO ARREST: A 42-year-old Lincoln man was arrested for narcotics possession after claiming he was instructed by telepathic communication from his federal probation officer to call the police.
• GIRL RAISED BY PIGS: In northeastern Liaoning Province, China, a 13-year-old girl named Wang Xianfeng, who was raised by pigs due to her family's circumstances, is now being trained by psychologists. She had the intelligence of a 3-year-old, knew no Chinese characters, and had no conception of sexes. She has since learned to read, count, sing, and do housework.
• 'Angel' on TV draws crowds: In Mount Shasta, California, thousands of people visited Diane Boettcher's home after an image, described as an angel, appeared on her TV screen. Boettcher, a drug counselor and writer, believes it is an angel, noting its brightness, halo, and wings. However, the police chief and a TV repairman attributed the image to a faulty TV capacitor and low-voltage power supply.

Membership Information (Page 2)

Membership in the Fortean Research Center costs $15.00 per year and includes a subscription to the Journal, discounts on special publications, and reduced fees to conferences. The center seeks donations to support its investigations into the unexplained.

Publisher's Statement (Page 2)

The Journal of the Fortean Research Center is published quarterly by the Fortean Research Center, a non-profit corporation. Its purpose is to investigate all aspects of unexplained phenomena, including UFOs, cryptozoological mysteries, out-of-place animal sightings, geological and archeological anomalies, psychic phenomena, and other areas of study that may provide data useful for resolving these mysteries. It aims to serve as a source of accurate, reliable information.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The primary theme of this issue is the critical examination of evidence related to alleged government cover-ups and unexplained phenomena, particularly the MJ-12 documents and the Roswell incident. The journal adopts a stance of open inquiry, presenting both sides of controversial topics while encouraging further investigation and emphasizing the need for unbiased research. The 'Assorted Oddities' section highlights the breadth of unexplained events the Fortean Research Center investigates, ranging from alleged paranormal occurrences to unusual human behavior and sightings.

This issue of the FORTEAN RESEARCH JOURNAL focuses on "AERIAL GOINGS-ON" and includes a detailed account of a UFO sighting by Delta Air Lines Flight 1083, along with various other reports on unexplained phenomena and strange deaths.

Delta Flight 1083 Incident

The core of the aerial report details an incident on June 25, 1987, involving Delta Air Lines Flight 1083, en route from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Atlanta, Georgia. The crew reported a "missile" approaching head-on and passing approximately 500-600 feet below the aircraft. The object was described as having a "short squatty 'Homemade' appearance," approximately 4-6 feet long with large fins attached halfway up its length. The main body was white to yellow, and the fins were beige to brown. The pilot stated it appeared to be descending and unpowered when it passed below him, and that no evasive action was taken. The aircraft was on the 041° radial of the Charleston, West Virginia, VOR (HVQ) at 31.5 miles, tracking inbound.

This information was obtained by Mr. Stan Gordon of the Pennsylvania Association for the Study of the Unexplained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA, in a letter dated July 24, 1987, provided the requested information, which was shown on FAA forms 1360-33 and 8020-5. The FAA explicitly stated that the interpretation of the information was subjective and did not represent an official FAA conclusion. The fees for this information were waived, and the FOIA Control Number was FS-87-58.

Further investigation into the incident involved contacting the Indianapolis Center, which reported no military traffic in the area. The pilot interview notes from Captain W. Cantrell and Second in Command M. Martella corroborate the sighting details, including the object's appearance, color, and trajectory. The notes also mention the aircraft's altitude and heading changes following the sighting.

Strange Deaths, & Etc.

The journal also features a section titled "STRANGE DEATHS, & ETC.," which compiles various unusual and unexplained fatalities reported in different newspapers. These include:

• Electrocution by Lightning: Graves Thomas, a 40-year-old attorney, died instantly from a lightning strike near Bossier City, Louisiana, despite no prior thunder or lightning.
• Couple Die Within Six Hours: Roy and Alvina Doudney, a Lincoln, Nebraska couple married for 56 years, died within six hours of each other from natural causes.
• Wildlife Deaths Puzzle Authorities: An estimated 3 million fish and 1,500 water birds died at the Stillwater Wildlife refuge near Reno, Nevada. The cause was initially attributed to salt concentration but later deemed more serious, with pelicans, ducks, and other birds found dead.
• 2,000 Dolphins Die Off Brazil: Nearly 2,000 dolphins, primarily females and babies, died off the northeastern Brazilian coast in April. The cause remains unknown.
• More Dead Dolphins: An unprecedented number of dead or near-dead bottlenose dolphins washed ashore on the Atlantic coastline from New Jersey to Virginia over a five-week period.
• Mystery Deaths of 240 Hogs: 240 hogs died on a farm in New Douglas, Illinois, baffling swine experts. The animals were not poisoned, and the cause remains undetermined.
• Fifth Defense Scientist Dies: Peter Peapell, involved in a secret defense project, died of carbon monoxide poisoning. He was the fifth scientist to die under unusual circumstances in eight months, with authorities labeling the deaths as suicides, though an investigation was called for due to the pattern.
• David Sands: A computer expert died when he drove his car, loaded with gasoline cans, into an abandoned cafe in Surrey, England, after completing work on a secret air defense radar system.
• Vimal Dajibhai: A programmer was found dead beneath a suspension bridge in Bristol, England. Relatives and friends testified he had no reason to commit suicide.
• Ashad Sharif: A computer expert died near Bristol, England, in a case ruled a suicide by hanging.
• Richard Pugh: A computer design expert was found dead in his home in Essex, England, with unexplained circumstances.
• Avtar Singh-Gida: A scientist disappeared in northern England while conducting experiments on underwater acoustics; police are still investigating.

Book Reviews

The journal also includes reviews of several books:

• "The UFO Conspiracy" by Jenny Randles: Described as a comprehensive and thoroughly researched collection of material on UFO origins, offering a balanced view. The reviewer highly recommends it for serious researchers.
• "UFOS 1947-1987: The 40-Year Search for an Explanation" edited by Hilary Evans and John Spencer: This book consists of 40 pieces on various aspects of the UFO phenomenon, providing an excellent overview.
• "Modern Mysteries of Britain" by Janet and Colin Bord: Praised as another must-have book, it contains no major surprises but is enjoyable and well worth reading.

Organizations and Support

The issue concludes with a "HELP OUR FRIENDS" section, listing various organizations involved in the study of the unexplained, such as MUFON, Fortean Times, and the International Fortean Organization (INFO), encouraging readers to support them financially and spiritually. The Fortean Research Center is also listed as a non-profit corporation for the study of unexplained phenomena.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are aerial phenomena (specifically UFO/UAP sightings), unexplained deaths, and the compilation of research and information on these topics. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious inquiry into anomalous events, presenting documented evidence (like FOIA requests) and diverse reports of unexplained occurrences, while also promoting the broader Fortean community and its research efforts.