Journal of UFO History - Vol 1 No 3

Magazine Overview

Title: Journal of UFO History
Publication: A Publication of the Donald E. Keyhoe Archives
Issue: Vol. I, No. 3
Date: July-August 2004

This issue of the Journal of UFO History, published by the Donald E. Keyhoe Archives, focuses on various aspects of UFO research and history. The cover features a photograph from a 1968 NICAP-Connecticut Affiliate meeting, with key figures like Thornton Page, John Fuller, and James E. McDonald present. The issue includes an editorial, articles on NICAP's early history, an M.K. Jessup letter, James E. McDonald's AIAA paper, a chronology of early UFO history, and discussions on UFOs around the world and a dialogue with Francis Ridge.

Editorial

The editorial notes that the Donald E. Keyhoe Archives are accumulating significant information on UFO history. It thanks subscribers for their financial support and invites comments and suggestions for future issues. The editor, Richard H. Hall, emphasizes the importance of reader feedback and mentions that longer commentaries are welcome, subject to editing.

Cover Photo and NICAP-Connecticut Affiliate

The cover photo depicts a strategic planning session at the NICAP-Connecticut Affiliate (NICAP-CONN) meeting in 1968. This affiliate was headed by George W. Earley. The article identifies four other NICAP affiliates in Los Angeles, Kansas City, Chicago, and New York City. The meeting featured John Fuller briefing attendees about a forthcoming LOOK magazine article that would expose a memo from the University of Colorado Project, suggesting the study was a sham. Attendees included Dr. Thornton Page (Wesleyan University), David Morgan (physicist), John G. Fuller (journalist), Richard Hoagland (space sciences museum curator), and Dr. James E. McDonald (University of Arizona).

The National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena (NICAP): Early History

This section details the history of NICAP, established in the late 1950s through the 1970s. NICAP emerged as the primary UFO organization, superseding the Tucson-based Aerial Phenomena Research Organization (APRO) led by Coral and Jim Lorenzen. The article notes that while APRO and NICAP initially had cordial relations, they became strained as NICAP gained national prominence. The author, Richard H. Hall, recounts his involvement starting in June 1958, describing NICAP's struggles with financial resources and the office being run by Mrs. Rose Hackett Campbell and Bess Clark. Hall expresses his dismay at an uncritical, mystical mindset within NICAP, focused on 'spreading the word' from 'contactees.' He recounts a private conversation with Major Keyhoe where he shared his concerns. Despite Mrs. Campbell's contributions, Hall eventually left NICAP for a job at Air Force Times.

The article also references an early edition of NICAP's membership publication, "The U.F.O. Investigator," featuring headlines about "Tacker Replaced As Spokesman," "Hidden Reports Revealed To NICAP," and "New Capitol Hill Backing For NICAP."

M.K. Jessup Letter

A letter from M.K. Jessup to Major Donald E. Keyhoe, dated September 22, 1958, expresses concern about the state of NICAP. Jessup believes the UFO business is a "lost cause" as long as the public is drawn to sensationalism from figures like Adamski and Menger. He admires Keyhoe's efforts but notes the difficulty in interesting the public in a practical approach. Jessup sides with Keyhoe against the 'crackpot element' and 'contact hoodlums,' preferring NICAP to remain clean even if it means failure. He mentions that Rose Hackett is coming to see him and Pelley, possibly to encourage him to become active in NICAP or start a new organization. Jessup states he has had enough of the 'subjective' aspects of UFO research.

From Outer Space (Denver Post Story)

This section reprints a Denver Post article from November 28, 1966, by Bill Myers, titled "Two Experts Conclude UFOs Come From Outer Space." The article features Donald D. Keyhoe and Richard H. Hall, who stated that UFOs exist and may be craft from outer space. They discussed NICAP's membership (11,000-12,000 members) and its network of professional advisers. Keyhoe and Hall explained NICAP's methodology of collecting and evaluating UFO reports, weeding out mistakes and focusing on 'hard-core reports' from reliable witnesses. They mentioned that NICAP had received over 10,000 reports, with 1,500 to 2,000 considered 'substantial cases.' The article quotes Keyhoe stating, "I changed my mind" about UFOs after seeing massive evidence, and references his book "Flying Saucers From Outer Space." The article also touches upon the Air Force's policy of debunking UFO sightings, which Keyhoe believed was influenced by the CIA due to concerns about public reaction.

Following the article is a commentary by Richard H. Hall, clarifying that the headline did not accurately reflect their statements. He emphasizes that they advocated for a badly needed independent scientific investigation and highlighted the Air Force's tendency to 'explain away' or ignore significant reports. Hall expresses his disillusionment with the state of journalism regarding controversial subjects like UFOs.

Impact of UFOs on the National Space Program

This abstract of a talk by James E. McDonald (Institute of Atmospheric Physics, University of Arizona) discusses his two years of intensive study of UFO reports and witness interviews. McDonald concludes that the scientific community's past casual response to the UFO problem has been a serious error. While acknowledging that many reports are misidentifications, he asserts that a significant number of cases cannot be explained by ordinary hypotheses. McDonald takes the hypothesis that UFOs may be devices of extraterrestrial origin seriously, despite its improbabilities. He notes that the primary objection to this hypothesis is the lack of understanding regarding propulsion schemes for interstellar travel.

Chronology of Early UFO History, June-July 1950

This section provides a timeline of UFO sightings and related events from June to July 1950:

• June 21, 1950: UFO buzzed Hamilton AFB control tower.
• June 24, 1950: Cigar-shaped object paced a United Airlines plane over the California desert, observed by Navy personnel.
• June 30, 1950: Minister reported a rotating, circular object hovering and then accelerating away.
• July 1950: Flying magazine article "Flying Saucers Fact or Fiction?" summarized pilot sightings.
• July 1950: Civil Aeronautics Agency engineer reported a "wingless, fuselage-shaped" object maneuvering at high speed.
• July 11, 1950: Two Navy aircraft observed a disc-shaped, inverted bowl object near Osceola, Arkansas, also detected on radar.

The section also continues the discussion from McDonald's AIAA talk, emphasizing the need for scientific scrutiny of UFO evidence and its potential impact on the national space program. It mentions a House Committee on Science and Astronautics Symposium on Unidentified Flying Objects held in July 1968.

UFOs Around the World: Official Views & Newsnotes

This section compiles reports on official stances and investigations regarding UFOs globally:

• South Africa: The Military Attache stated that UFO reports are investigated by the Air Force, with most explained as natural phenomena.
• Argentina: The Embassy informed NICAP of consideration to create an agency similar to NICAP for scientific cooperation.
• France: Dr. Claude Gaudeau visited NICAP adviser Walter N. Webb, expressing interest in a comprehensive research study of UFO sightings using computers and medical examinations.
• Australia: A weekend conference in Ballarat led to the formation of a national UFO investigation organization.
• Chile: Three scientists declared UFOs real, with Professor Gabriel Alvial citing scientific evidence and lamenting government secrecy. Plans for a university center to study the phenomena were announced.
• General: Statements from Chilean scientists suggested that "We are not alone in the universe," following a rash of Southern Hemisphere UFO sightings.

Dialogue with Francis L. Ridge: Reflections on 40 Years of UFO Research

This interview with Francis L. Ridge, a veteran of NICAP investigation teams and State Section Director for MUFON, covers his extensive experience in UFO research. Ridge discusses his involvement in organizing the Indiana NICAP Subcommittee in 1960 and its work over a decade. He mentions his move to Illinois and his role in MUFON. Ridge highlights significant cases, including the southern Illinois sightings in August 1963, which involved electromagnetic effects, a close encounter, and a low-level car chase. He also discusses establishing a UFO detection program called MADAR (Multiple Anomaly Detection and Automated Recording) and publishing the "UFO Intelligence Summary," which served as a constantly updated database of UFO sightings.

Ridge explains that MADAR was crucial for correlating UFO sightings with anomalous instrumental data. He mentions that the "UFO Intelligence Newsletter" was part of this effort. He also discusses the availability of hard copies of his regional UFO report and plans to release a book on CD. The interview concludes with a mention of the NICAP web site.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the historical development of UFO investigation organizations like NICAP and APRO, the ongoing debate surrounding the extraterrestrial hypothesis, and the challenges of obtaining credible scientific scrutiny for UFO phenomena. There is a consistent emphasis on the importance of rigorous investigation, the critique of official debunking policies, and the need for open-mindedness in scientific inquiry. The editorial stance, as expressed by Richard H. Hall, advocates for a thorough, independent scientific approach to UFOs, while also acknowledging the difficulties posed by media sensationalism and institutional resistance. The issue champions the work of dedicated researchers and organizations that have strived to bring UFO phenomena into the realm of serious study.

This document is an excerpt from an issue of UFO Magazine, featuring an interview with Francis L. Ridge conducted by Dick Hall. The interview, spread across two pages, delves into Ridge's extensive involvement in UFO research and related projects, his motivations, and his perspectives on the subject.

Ridge Interview, Continued

The interview begins with Ridge explaining how he transitioned from wanting to leave the UFO subject to initiating new projects. He recounts accidentally observing "fastwalkers" with a telescope in the late 1970s. This led him to develop the Lunascan Project in 1995, which uses a surveillance camera mounted on a telescope to observe objects in space, particularly between Earth and the Moon. Ridge notes that while he swore he was out of the UFO business, he aimed to "catch 'them' with their pants down" through this project.

Ridge then discusses his motivation for creating the NICAP website. He was spurred by a "pretender" who exploited NICAP's reputation. Ridge wanted to protect NICAP's good name and began working on the website in 1997, archiving NICAP sighting files from the Center for UFO Studies. He likens the task to "eating an elephant" and notes that the site, like the Lunascan Project, grew significantly.

Dick Hall expresses his admiration for the NICAP site, calling it his "absolute favorite" due to its factual information. Ridge emphasizes that the site features the "very best military and airline cases ever reported," moving beyond typical civilian reports. He highlights uncovered information supporting cases like the Trindade Island incident (January 1958, Brazil) involving a Saturn-shaped object, and damning information on supposedly explained cases like Fort Monmouth (September 1951, USA), where Air Force pilots pursued a silvery disc-shaped UFO.

Ridge acknowledges that he was drawn back into the UFO business despite his intentions to leave. He then details the establishment of the Nuclear Connection Project (NCP), which, with the help of others like Larry Hatch, logged over 200 cases of UFOs associated with nuclear weapons or sites. One notable case involved a UFO over a control tower in New Mexico, situated over a weapons storage area and a B-58 Hustler bomber preparing for a nuclear weapons delivery exercise.

Ridge reflects on the irony of getting deeper into the UFO business the more he tried to exit it. He states that the NCP is still active, having logged many significant cases, and the Lunascan Project is alive but not actively scanning, with people worldwide contributing better equipment and observations. He mentions plans to analyze NASA pictures and anticipate live images from the TransOrbital corporation's commercial lunar mission.

When asked about hobbies outside of UFOs and lunar scans, Ridge mentions starting a 1950s-themed room with a recording studio in the summer of 2003, where he and his daughter, who sings country music, spend time. He sees it as a way to relax after over 40 years of intense UFO research.

Ridge shares his ultimate thinking about UFOs, stating his conviction that "something very big and potentially important is going on." He expresses pride in being a former member of NICAP, calling it "the best UFO organization that ever existed," and believes its work has made history and will become even more important over time.

The document also includes contact information for Francis L. Ridge (618 Davis Avenue, Mt. Vernon, IN 47620) and a note that purchases and donations from the website support his work.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this excerpt are the dedication to UFO investigation, the preservation of historical UFO data, and the importance of credible, fact-based reporting. The editorial stance appears to be one that values rigorous research, particularly focusing on military and official sightings, and acknowledges the historical significance of organizations like NICAP. There is a clear emphasis on distinguishing factual accounts from sensationalism or exploitation.