Journal of UFO History - Vol 1 No 5

Magazine Overview

Title: Journal of UFO History
Publication: A Publication of the Donald E. Keyhoe Archives
Issue: Vol. I, No. 5
Date: November-December 2004
Editor: Richard H. Hall

This issue of the Journal of UFO History, published by The Donald E. Keyhoe Archives, focuses on historical UFO investigations, congressional interest, and the challenges within the UFO research community. The cover features an artist's concept of 'Armor of the Future, 1959,' a painting from the Armor Center at Fort Knox, Kentucky.

In this issue...

The table of contents lists the following articles:

• The Congress and UFOs
• Air Force Project and Colorado UFO Study
• Major Keyhoe and the Air Force
• Ohio Sheriffs' Sighting, 1966
• Dialogue with Barry Greenwood
• Chronology of Early UFO History
• Alexander D. Mebane: In Memoriam

Congressional Interest in UFOs

The article "Congressional Interest in UFOs" notes the current lack of interest in the U.S. Congress, attributing it to the subject's "tabloid" image and the scarcity of scientific study of UFO cases. However, it recalls past interest from political figures like Lyndon Johnson and Gerald Ford. Key events highlighted include:

• April 5, 1966: The House Armed Services Committee convened the first formal hearing on UFOs, prompted by a wave of sightings and public criticism of the Air Force's UFO project.
• 1966: The University of Colorado UFO Project was established, sponsored by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, with Dr. Edward U. Condon as its director. This project proved controversial.
• July 29, 1968: The House Science and Astronautics Committee held a "symposium" where scientists testified, with ground rules preventing direct criticism of the ongoing Colorado Project.

Lynn Catoe compiled an annotated bibliography on UFOs for the Library of Congress in 1969. Marcia Smith's 1976 report, "The UFO Enigma," provided a comprehensive overview of sightings, witness credibility, and Air Force investigations.

A selected bibliography lists key documents and reports, including congressional hearing records, Lynn Catoe's bibliography, Marcia Smith's report, NICAP's "UFOs: A New Look," and Richard H. Hall's "The UFO Evidence."

USAF Intelligence Officer Saw UFO Formation in 1947

This section details a sighting by a staff intelligence officer at Rapid City AFB, South Dakota, in mid-August 1947. The officer observed about 12 luminous, elliptical objects flying in a tight diamond formation. The objects descended, leveled off, made a wide turn, and then accelerated rapidly while climbing away. They emitted a yellow-white luminous glow. This report was from an Air Force intelligence interrogation, formerly classified SECRET.

Sightings & Editorials Led to Air Force Shake-Up, Colorado Study

This article discusses how publicized UFO sightings in Michigan and the Ravenna, Ohio, incident of April 17, 1966, contributed to the shake-up of Project Blue Book. The Ohio incident involved deputy sheriffs pursuing a glowing craft that the Air Force later attributed to the Planet Venus. Daily newspapers criticized the Air Force's explanations, with The Richmond News-Leader calling their policy "obfuscation." Columnist Roscoe Drummond called for a presidential or congressional panel to investigate UFO evidence.

Gerald Ford News Release

Congressman Gerald R. Ford issued a news release in April 1966 stating that the Air Force was arranging a study by high-caliber scientists, to be contracted soon after July 1, 1966. This study was intended to be objective, carried out by a university with no prior ties to the Air Force, and its findings would be made public. Ford expressed a preference for a congressional investigation with witnesses but acknowledged the scientific study as a step in the right direction.

Accuracy of Keyhoe Book Endorsed by USAF Officials

This section examines the publication of Major Donald E. Keyhoe's 1953 book, "Flying Saucers From Outer Space." Based largely on Air Force information, Keyhoe concluded that UFOs were extraterrestrial visitors and that the Air Force was concealing this truth. Both Albert M. Chop and Capt. Edward J. Ruppelt confirmed the accuracy of Keyhoe's reporting of Air Force cases. Ruppelt, in a telegram and later letters, authenticated the information in the book, though he stated the conclusions were Keyhoe's. Al Chop's letter indicated an open-minded attitude towards Keyhoe's extraterrestrial conclusion if the reported maneuvers were correct. The section also mentions Air Force cases released to Keyhoe, including a Sept. 23, 1951, March AFB, Calif., case involving interceptor pilots attempting to engage a strange object. It notes that during 1951 and 1952, UFOs were tracked by radar and visually observed by interceptor pilots, often engaging in "cat-and-mouse" maneuvers. The Central Intelligence Agency convened the Robertson Panel in January 1953, leading to a more skeptical phase of Air Force investigation.

Ohio Sheriffs' Sighting Instrumental in 1966 Hearings

This article elaborates on the April 17, 1966, sighting in Ravenna, Ohio, by Deputy Sheriffs Dale Spaur and Wilbur Neff. They encountered a brightly glowing object that rose from the woods, emitted a humming sound, and then engaged in a pursuit with the sheriffs. The object crossed into Pennsylvania, and was observed by local police. When an Air Force interceptor approached, the object shot straight up. The Air Force's explanation involving the Planet Venus and an earth satellite was deemed inadequate, fueling public outcry and leading to the 1966 hearings.

Suggested Reading

A list of suggested reading materials is provided, including books by Donald E. Keyhoe, Edward J. Ruppelt, Michael David Hall and Wendy A. Connors, Kevin D. Randle, and Richard H. Hall.

Dialogue with Barry Greenwood

This extensive interview with UFO researcher Barry Greenwood, co-author of "Clear Intent: The Government Coverup of the UFO Experience," covers his personal journey into UFO research, his archiving efforts, and his experiences with UFO organizations like MUFON and NICAP.

• Interest in UFOs: Greenwood's interest began naturally in the 1960s, influenced by the space program and notable incidents like the Socorro, New Mexico sighting. He felt a need to archive information due to the subject's ridicule.
• Research Approach: He focused on more serious, evidence-based research rather than "contactee" accounts.
• MUFON and NICAP: Greenwood discusses his resignation from MUFON due to its national leadership making unsubstantiated claims about UFOs as proof of extraterrestrial visitations and their desire to partner with tabloid newspapers for publicity. He criticizes the "entropy" within UFO organizations, where organizational politics and personal beliefs can overshadow original goals.
• Effectiveness of Ufology: He believes Ufology is in crisis due to a lack of public concern and funding. He suggests that high-quality documentaries, similar to those by Ken Burns or Brian Greene, could improve the public image of UFO research and attract necessary funding.

Chronology of Early UFO History: February-August, 1951

This installment provides a chronological list of UFO sightings from February to August 1951:

• Feb. 19, 1951: Cigar-shaped UFO over Mount Kilimanjaro, Kenya.
• May 22, 1951: American Airlines pilot reports erratic blue-white object near Dodge City, Kansas.
• June 1, 1951: Technical intelligence official observes a "stubby cigar" object near Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.
• July 9, 1951: P-51 fighter pilot encounters a spinning disc near Milledgeville, Georgia.
• July 14, 1951: UFO tracked by radar and photographed near White Sands, New Mexico.
• July 23, 1951: Air Force pilots observe a silvery object circling near March Field, California.
• Aug. 11, 1951: Former Air Force pilot sees three disc-like objects in formation in Portland, Oregon.
• Aug. 25, 1951: "Lubbock Lights" observed in Texas; photographs taken.
• Aug. 25, 1951: Sandia Base guard observes a flying wing aircraft with soft glowing lights near Albuquerque, New Mexico.
• Aug. 26, 1951: Air Force radar tracks a UFO at 900 m.p.h. in Washington State.

A survey from the August 1951 issue of Popular Science magazine indicated that 70% of witnesses believed UFOs were intelligently controlled devices.

Alexander D. Mebane: In Memoriam

This section is a brief memorial to Alexander D. Mebane.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The journal consistently explores the historical aspects of UFO phenomena, emphasizing documented cases, official investigations, and the challenges faced by researchers and organizations. There is a clear stance on promoting serious, evidence-based research and critiquing inadequate official explanations. The editorial content, particularly the interview with Barry Greenwood, highlights the difficulties in maintaining the credibility and focus of UFO research organizations amidst public skepticism and internal organizational politics. The issue advocates for a more scientific and saleable approach to UFO research to gain wider acceptance and funding.

This document consists of two letters written by Alexander D. Mebane, addressed to Richard Hall and published in "UFO Magazine" issue 11. The letters, dated March 6, 1995, and November 24, 1993, along with a later one from October 20, 1990, discuss Mebane's views on UFO phenomena, skepticism, and the extraterrestrial hypothesis. A brief obituary for Mebane, who passed away on December 4, is also included, noting his background as an investigator, analyst, editor, and organic chemist with interests in Fortean anomalies.

Letter 1: On CSICOP Mebane begins by addressing the "indignant" reaction to the "egregious truth-twisting" by figures like Klass and the CSICOP (Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal). He argues that defenders of "scientism" face a difficult task in proving a "universal" negative (that UFOs never happen). To maintain their position, they must make it appear that such reports are invariably mistakes, lies, or the product of "naturally-abnormal or humanly-warped minds." Mebane characterizes these individuals as "brutally 'tough-minded' scorners and ruthless tramplers of all evidence" who must be "unreasonable fanatics" in their "unconditional defense of an actually-untenable metaphysics."

Letter 2: On "Crashed Saucers" In this section, Mebane applies the law of probability to the idea of UFOs as real physical vehicles piloted by aliens from other planets. He posits that if such visits have occurred over tens of thousands of years, there should have been a "small number of perfectly-genuine UFO crashes," yielding wreckage and pilot remains. He finds it difficult to believe that such events have never happened if physical vehicles and beings are involved, unless miracles are allowed. Mebane contrasts this with the "supernaturalist" view, which dismisses such propositions as superstitions.

Letter 3: On the Extraterrestrial Hypothesis (dated Nov. 24, 1993) Mebane reflects on his younger days when he and others criticized "blind, closed-minded pedants" who used a-priori axioms to deny the possibility of extraterrestrial visitations. He expresses a concern that he might be becoming one of those "silly asses" himself, but ultimately reaffirms his belief. He notes that arguments against the probability of straightforward extraterrestrial voyagers are now stronger than they were 43 years prior, due to increased knowledge of the solar system. However, he argues that this new knowledge "makes a devastatingly large difference in the probability equation," requiring the postulate of supraluminal space travel. Mebane states he has discarded the "originally-'obvious' belief that flesh-and-blood denizens of the astronomical universe were arriving in nuts-and-bolts spaceships," finding it absurd. He then proposes that the "mountain of direct observation" proving they are physical beings actually proves they "seem to be" that way. He suggests that this "convincing character of this impersonation proves that it can only be a deliberate one." These beings, capable of transforming appearances and producing "scenery" in a "prodigious way," are, by definition, of "supernatural" character.

Letter 4: On the Extraterrestrial Hypothesis (dated Oct. 20, 1990) This letter continues Mebane's discussion on the extraterrestrial hypothesis. He questions how, in younger days, he and others used to argue against the "impossibility" of extraterrestrial visitations based on a-priori axioms. He admits that the arguments against the probability of straightforward extraterrestrial voyagers are stronger now, given the advancements in knowledge about the solar system. He suggests that new knowledge necessitates the possibility of supraluminal space travel. Mebane has abandoned the belief that aliens are arriving in physical spaceships, finding it absurd. Instead, he proposes that the evidence suggests these beings are putting on a "spectacularly mounted 'show'" for human observation, with the purpose of eliciting wonder and leading theorists to false conclusions. He concludes that beings capable of such transformations and illusions are, by definition, of a "supernatural" character.

Tribute to Alexander D. Mebane The issue includes a brief tribute to Alexander ("Lex") Mebane, who died on December 4th. It mentions his age (81), his home in Venice, Florida, and his recent major surgery. Mebane is remembered as a long-time friend and colleague, actively involved as an investigator, analyst, and editor in the Civilian Saucer Investigation of New York in the 1950s, alongside Ted Bloecher and Isabel Davis. His profession was organic chemistry, and he possessed a keen intellect and a strong literary bent, with interests including Fortean anomalies.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance The recurring themes in these letters revolve around the critical examination of skepticism, particularly as embodied by organizations like CSICOP, and the exploration of the extraterrestrial hypothesis. Mebane advocates for a nuanced approach, acknowledging the difficulties in proving UFO phenomena while also critiquing the absolute denial by skeptics. He questions the conventional extraterrestrial explanation, suggesting that the observed phenomena might be a form of elaborate deception or have a "supernatural" origin. The editorial stance, as represented by the publication of these letters, appears to be one that encourages open discussion and critical analysis of UFO-related topics, even when they challenge established scientific or skeptical viewpoints. The inclusion of Mebane's tribute suggests an appreciation for his contributions to the field.