Journal of UFO History - Vol 1 No 1

Magazine Overview

Title: Journal of UFO History
Issue: Vol. I, No. 1
Date: March-April 2004
Publisher: The Donald E. Keyhoe Archives
Description: This inaugural issue of the "Journal of UFO History" is a publication of the Donald E. Keyhoe Archives, edited by Richard H. Hall. It is published six times per year and aims to present a comprehensive history of UFO phenomena through essays, commentaries, analyses, reviews, documents, letters, photographs, and interviews. The journal's future is stated to depend on "market forces," specifically subscription numbers.

Editorial

The editorial section, written by Editor Richard H. Hall, outlines the journal's mission to provide a rich history of UFO phenomena, covering popular, official, news media, and scientific reactions to UFO reports. Hall emphasizes the importance of reader support for the journal's continuation. He also provides a brief background of his own involvement with UFOs, starting in 1957 when he received a letter from Maj. Donald E. Keyhoe about the formation of NICAP. Hall served as an officer of NICAP for 10 years and considers Keyhoe his mentor. The Donald E. Keyhoe Archives are maintained to honor Keyhoe's memory.

Historical Viewpoints

This section presents a sampling of historical opinions and viewpoints on UFOs from various individuals across different decades. It includes:

• Dr. Richard P. Youtz (1960): A psychologist who suggested that "flying saucers" might be "afterimages" from bright light sources.
• Dr. Theodore R. Van Dellen (1959): A newspaper columnist who dismissed UFO sightings as "rumors" and attributed them to optical illusions, afterimages, and the suspense of the Cold War.
• Dr. Addison M. Duval (1959): A psychiatrist who stated that "seeing things which don't exist" is a common result of anxiety and fear of the unknown.
• Dr. Bernard Lovell (1966): A British astronomer who suggested UFOs are either natural phenomena or hoaxes, and that witnesses are "tremendous emotionalists."
• Dr. Otto Struve (1952): An astronomer who considered it unlikely that "flying saucers" come from other planets due to the vast distances involved.
• Dr. Alexander Klemin (1950): A technical editor who dismissed "flying saucers" as having no aerodynamic, electromagnetic, or psychological basis, suggesting they add to "gaiety of nations."
• Maj. Gen. Richard E. O'Keefe (1959): Stated that UFOs must be identified as "serious USAF business."
• Capt. Luis Sanchez Moreno (1962): An Argentine Naval Intelligence officer who reported seeing "mobile bodies with incredible speed and irregularity of movement."
• AIAA UFO Subcommittee (1970): Concluded that a significant residue of well-documented, unexplainable UFO cases should arouse scientific curiosity.

Early 20th Century Aliens

This article details two early UFO-related incidents:

• 1901 Bournebrook, England Encounter: Jenny Randles reports on an interview with Frank Warley, who as a 10-year-old boy encountered a blue-green, box-shaped metallic object with a turret and door. Two small, greenish-gray beings with opaque helmets emerged, gesturing a warning. The craft emitted a bright flash and a "whooshing" noise before ascending.
• 1950 Lufkin, Texas Sighting: Jack Robertson, a pharmacist, reported seeing a round, flying object about eight feet in diameter that hovered over his car, emitting a dull red glow. After the object departed with a "whooshing roar," Robertson felt a burning sensation on his face. The object was described as rounded like a globe and appeared to be made of aluminum. Sparks were seen flying from its bottom.

NICAP History

This section chronicles the history of the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena (NICAP). It references a 1960 United Press International (UPI) report detailing an Air Force Inspector General Brief that classified UFOs as "serious business" related to national defense. The article notes that NICAP was organized in 1956 by Washington-area professionals, with Maj. Keyhoe joining as a consultant in 1957. Despite initial grandiose plans and ongoing funding issues, NICAP developed public relations expertise and maintained contacts within the national press corps. Early NICAP records are housed in the Donald E. Keyhoe Archives. The section also hints at puzzling events involving individuals with military and intelligence backgrounds during NICAP's later years.

NICAP Board of Governors

This part lists the members of the NICAP Board of Governors as of late 1957. The board included a mix of religious figures, retired military officers, scientists, and a newsman. Notably, Vice Adm. R.H. Hillenkoetter, the first director of the CIA, was on the board, explained as a Naval Academy classmate of Maj. Keyhoe who supported his goals. The article critiques conspiratorial interpretations of Hillenkoetter's involvement, emphasizing the need for real historical analysis in the UFO field.

The "Pre-History" of UFOs

This article explores ancient accounts that might be interpreted as early UFO reports. It mentions ancient Roman texts describing "flying shields" and aerial phenomena, as well as Biblical accounts like the "pillar of fire" and "Ezekiel's wheel." The author notes differing interpretations of these accounts, with some seeing them as literal space visitor reports and others as "messengers of God." The article distinguishes between uncritical acceptance of UFO reports and scholarly, scientific methods. It traces more credible modern UFO reports to 19th-century scholarly journals, early 20th-century aviation literature, and World War II accounts.

Selected Bibliography of UFO History

A curated list of recommended books and resources for public and institutional libraries, covering topics such as Project 1947, "Ghost Rockets," UFO encyclopedias, Project Blue Book, and early 20th-century UFO reports. It also includes a "Suggested Reading" list with specific articles and books.

Keyhoe Archives Inventory

This section details the contents of the Donald E. Keyhoe Archives, which include documents, letters, audio-tapes, videotapes, newspaper clippings, articles, posters, fliers, photographs, broadcast transcriptions, and memorabilia. Due to a lack of funding, a complete inventory has not been possible, but major elements include correspondence with Dr. James E. McDonald, UFO sighting case files, NICAP records, news media files, government and agency files, and numerous books and audio-visual materials. Access is available to legitimate researchers by appointment.

Saucer Whimsey

A lighthearted section featuring excerpts from Frederick Winsor's "The Space Child's Mother Goose," with humorous, rhyming verses about saucers and aliens.

Dialogue with Wendy Connors

This interview focuses on Wendy Connors' work in preserving historical UFO audiovisual records. Connors coined the term "Faded Discs" to describe early audio recordings from the late 1940s onwards. She explains the purpose of her project is to locate and preserve these often-poorly marked recordings using modern technology, a process that is costly and time-consuming. Connors currently has over 800 recordings dating from 1938 to 1977. She believes hearing firsthand accounts adds depth and understanding to UFO history. She has produced compilations like "Ufology: A Primer in Audio - 1939 to 1959" and is working on others. Donations are requested to support her efforts.

In the continuation of the dialogue, Connors expresses awe at the complexity of Ufology today, noting the need for specialization. She believes that the future may hold the discovery of intelligent life beyond Earth. Connors also mentions her regular appearances on Errol Bruce-Knapp's radio program "Strange Days...Indeed."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the historical documentation and preservation of UFO phenomena. The editorial stance, as presented by Richard H. Hall, is one of serious inquiry into UFO history, emphasizing the importance of archival research and firsthand accounts. There is a clear focus on the early history of UFO sightings, the development of organizations like NICAP, and the challenges of collecting and maintaining historical records. The journal positions itself as a scholarly endeavor, seeking to provide a comprehensive and accurate historical record, while also acknowledging the ongoing mystery and complexity of the UFO phenomenon. The importance of supporting such archival work through subscriptions is a consistent underlying message.

This document, issue number 11, focuses on a "CHRONOLOGY OF EARLY UFO HISTORY: 1947-1950". It meticulously lists significant events, sightings, and official reports related to Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) during this pivotal period.

Chronology of Early UFO History: 1947-1950

The chronology begins with the widely reported Kenneth Arnold sighting above Mt. Rainier, Washington State, on June 24, 1947. This is followed by a significant internal Air Force communication on September 23, 1947, where the Air Technical Intelligence Center stated that UFOs were real. The year 1948 saw the tragic death of Capt. Thomas Mantell, an Air National Guard pilot, who crashed while pursuing a UFO on January 7. The Air Force established "Project Sign" (or "Saucer") on January 22, 1948, to investigate these phenomena. In August 1948, a Top Secret "Estimate of the Situation" from the Air Technical Intelligence Center concluded that UFOs were likely spaceships from another planet, though this was not accepted due to a lack of proof. Project Sign issued a report on April 27, 1949, deeming interplanetary visitors "improbable" but acknowledging numerous unexplained cases. June 10, 1949, recorded two round white objects maneuvering around a missile in flight at White Sands, New Mexico. The fall of 1949 featured radar tracking of five metallic objects at high speed over a key atomic base. The year concluded with the Air Force issuing "Project Grudge" on December 27, 1949, which attempted to explain away UFO sightings as delusions or hoaxes.

The chronology extends into 1950 with influential articles. In January 1950, Maj. Donald E. Keyhoe published "Flying Saucers Are Real" in TRUE Magazine, arguing for an extraterrestrial origin of UFOs. In March 1950, Cmdr. R.B. McLaughlin, USN, wrote an article in TRUE Magazine titled "How Scientists Tracked a Flying Saucer," detailing the tracking of an elliptical UFO at White Sands, New Mexico, on April 24, 1949.

Airline Pilot Sighting Over Arkansas

A separate article details a sighting by Capt. Jack Adams of Little Rock, pilot of a Chicago & Southern Airlines DC-3, on March 20, 1950, near Stuttgart, Arkansas. Adams reported seeing a circular object with a bright white light flashing intermittently from its top, with what appeared to be ports or windows around the edge. He described the object as flying at "tremendous speed" with no visible exhaust or vapor trail, and noted it made no noise audible over his engines. This sighting, along with others by airline and military pilots, prompted the U.S. Air Force to intensify its UFO investigations.

Contact Information and Resources

The document provides contact information for Wendy Connors, who offers information, order placement, and PayPal donations related to "fadeddiscs." Her website is listed as www.fadeddiscs.com, and her mailing address is P.O. Box 8552, Albuquerque, NM 87198. Connors mentions that "Strange Days...Indeed," a program featuring audio clips from UFO history, is popular and available via streaming audio online and on CFRB 1010 in Toronto or CJAD 800 in Montreal on Saturday nights at 10:00 p.m. EST.

Web Sites for UFO History

A list of useful websites for UFO history research is provided:

• www.nicap.dabsol.co.uk (NICAP) by Francis L. Ridge, which continues NICAP's work with case files and supporting documents.
• www.project1947.com (Project 1947) by Jan L. Aldrich, focusing on the early history of UFOs through the 1950s and the Air Force UFO project.
• www.theozfiles.com (The Oz Files) by Bill Chalker, concentrating on Australian UFO history and aboriginal sightings.
• www.cohenufos.org (Jerry Cohen), offering UFO history, case studies, dialogue, and letters.
• www.cufon.org (Computer UFO Network) by Dale Goudie, a multi-faceted site with documents, interviews, and cases.
• www.afu.info/index.htm (Archives for UFO Research/AFU, Sweden) by Anders Liljegren, featuring a large collection of historical UFO material.
• www.narcap.org (National Aviation Reporting Center on Anomalous Phenomena), focusing on flight crew sightings.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The primary theme of this issue is the historical documentation of early UFO phenomena from 1947 to 1950. The editorial stance appears to be one of factual reporting and compilation, presenting a timeline of events, official statements, and eyewitness accounts without overt sensationalism. The inclusion of contact information for Wendy Connors and a list of web resources suggests an aim to connect readers with further information and research opportunities within the UFO field. The emphasis on official reports and pilot sightings indicates a focus on credible sources within the UFO community.