JUFOF - Issue 066 - 1989 06

Magazine Overview

This issue of the 'JOURNAL FÜR UFO-FORSCHUNG' (Journal for UFO Research), published by the Gesellschaft zur Erforschung des UFO-Phänomens e.V. (GEP), is the 6th issue of the 10th year, dated November-December 1989. It features a cover headline focused on 'UFO - EIN PHÄNOMEN UND SEINE GEHEIMHALTUNG' (UFO - A Phenomenon and Its Secrecy).

Key Articles and Content

UFO - A Phenomenon and Its Secrecy by Thomas Mehner Mehner's article delves into the growing evidence and discussions surrounding UFO secrecy, particularly in the USA. He highlights how the Freedom of Information Act has led to the release of previously classified documents, suggesting that US intelligence agencies like the CIA and NSA have been actively investigating the UFO phenomenon for decades. Mehner posits that while most sightings are explainable, a small percentage remains unexplained, potentially pointing to a larger, hidden reality. He discusses the controversial 'MJ-12 documents' and the possibility of a centralized government group dedicated to UFOs. The article also touches on the idea that the UFO phenomenon might be used to mask secret military aircraft development or to study public reactions to unexplained events.

Cover-Up: A Control Factor? by Werner Walter Walter examines the historical context of alleged UFO cover-ups, referencing Maj. Donald Keyhoe's claims in the 1950s about the US government withholding information. He discusses the 'Armstrong Circle-Theater' incident and Keyhoe's confrontation with CBS producer Irve Tunick regarding the 'Utah' UFO sighting. Walter also explores the more recent 'MJ-12' controversy and the role of anonymous sources in disseminating information. He touches upon the work of UFO researchers like Leonhard Stringfield and the challenges of verifying information from 'deep throats' within intelligence agencies. The article also questions the authenticity of some UFO claims and the potential for manipulation within the UFO community.

Are We Alone? Part 2 by Rudolf Henke Henke continues his discussion on the 'ETH' (Extraterrestrial Hypothesis) versus 'IFO' (Identified Flying Object) interpretations of UFO sightings. He explores various hypotheses for phenomena like ball lightning and seismic lights, concluding that they can only explain a small fraction of UFO reports. Henke critically examines the evidence for extraterrestrial visitation on Earth, noting that while some believe in ancient alien astronauts (like E. von Däniken), most scientific organizations and the GEP find no conclusive evidence. He also discusses the challenges of finding proof for extraterrestrial life and the possibility of interstellar travel.

UFO Landing in Woronesch (USSR) by Hans-Werner Peiniger This section reports on the widely publicized UFO landing incident in Woronesch, USSR, in September 1989. According to TASS reports, Soviet scientists confirmed the landing of an unidentified flying object and the presence of giant, human-like extraterrestrials. Eyewitnesses described a large, gleaming sphere or disc and beings approximately three to four meters tall with small heads. The report details the discovery of a 20-meter wide crater with deep holes and unusual rock samples not found on Earth. The article notes that the 'bio-location' method was used to confirm the landing site and the path of the beings. It also mentions other reports of 'banana-shaped' objects in the sky. The article includes a quote from the head of the Geophysical Institute of Woronesch, Genrich Silanov, advising Western journalists not to believe everything TASS reports.

D.U. - Dialogue with the Universe: Report from the International UFO Conference in Frankfurt by Gerald Mosbleck Mosbleck provides a detailed account of the UFO conference held in Frankfurt. He describes the challenges in organizing the event and the presence of various exhibitors and attendees, including GEP members. The report highlights presentations by UFO researchers like Budd Hopkins and Stanton Friedman, who discussed topics such as alien abduction and the MJ-12 documents. Mosbleck notes the significant interest in the 'Star People' meeting and the presence of 'New Age' elements. He also recounts an incident where a speaker, Peter Tewes, was interrupted due to his controversial statements, which were perceived as neo-Nazi. The report mentions Erich von Däniken's presentation on his latest book and the multimedia show by Johannes von Buttlar. Mosbleck concludes that while the conference was advertised as a UFO conference, it leaned heavily towards New Age themes, with only a few dedicated UFO researchers present.

Other Sections

• GEP-Information: Details about the GEP's mission, membership benefits (including receiving the 'JUFOF' magazine), and a definition of UFOs based on Dr. J. Allen Hynek's work.
• Impressum: Publication details, including responsible editors and copyright information.
• UFO-Hotline: Contact information for reporting UFO sightings.
• New Members: A list of new GEP members.
• Adolf Schneider left MUFON-CES: Notes a departure from the organization due to disagreements.
• Woronesch brought press reports: Mentions the media attention surrounding the Woronesch incident.
• New Year's Greetings: A seasonal greeting to readers.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently adopts a critical and analytical stance towards UFO phenomena. While acknowledging the existence of unexplained sightings, it emphasizes the need for rigorous scientific investigation and is skeptical of sensational claims and unsubstantiated theories. The GEP, as presented in the magazine, aims to research the UFO phenomenon scientifically, distinguishing between verifiable facts and speculation. There is a clear distinction made between genuine UFO research and the more esoteric or 'New Age' interpretations of the phenomenon. The magazine also highlights the role of government secrecy and disinformation in shaping public perception of UFOs. The editorial stance appears to be one of cautious inquiry, seeking evidence-based explanations while remaining open to the possibility of extraterrestrial involvement.

Title: JOURNAL FUR UFO-FORSCHUNG

Issue: 5'89

Volume: 3

Date: September 1989

Publisher: GEP

Country: Germany

Language: German

ISSN: 0937-0778

Price: DM 10.00

Cover Headline: Woronesch: UFO-Landung oder Medien-Schwindel?

This issue of the "JOURNAL FUR UFO-FORSCHUNG" (Journal for UFO Research) critically examines a reported UFO landing in Woronesch, Soviet Union, on September 27, 1989. The magazine questions the veracity of the reports, which originated from the Soviet news agency TASS and were amplified by international media. The article highlights inconsistencies in witness accounts, particularly the limited number of observers and the questionable nature of the alleged landing traces. It also points out the potential for media sensationalism, citing that TASS itself admitted to receiving information second-hand.

Woronesch: UFO Landing or Media Swindle?

The lead article scrutinizes the widely reported UFO landing in Woronesch. It notes that only a few children allegedly witnessed the event, and their parents have forbidden further questioning. The article questions the credibility of a young witness who appeared on Soviet television, and points out discrepancies between the "Hummo" symbol depicted in a witness sketch and its alleged origin in a Spanish hoax. The landing site itself is described as being on soft ground, making the claim of four distinct indentations dubious. Furthermore, 'unidentified' soil samples were later identified as normal iron ore. The article also casts doubt on the 'bio-location' method used to confirm the landing site, describing it as akin to dowsing and not a scientific instrument.

The author suggests that the Soviet news agency TASS, under the influence of 'Glasnost,' is now engaged in the 'news business' and selling sensational stories. The TASS correspondent reportedly admitted to receiving information from secondary sources. The article speculates whether media exposure to UFO topics, such as the TV production "UFO cover-up, life," or the "Hummo" story, might have influenced the young witnesses in Woronesch.

Style Questions: Dealing with Fellow Humans

This section, authored by Gerald Mosbleck, addresses the growing membership of the GEP and the need to inform new members about the history and dynamics of the German UFO scene. It aims to clarify the GEP's position relative to other organizations, particularly CENAP, to avoid confusion.

1. Dealing with Witnesses

Mosbleck recounts an incident where Werner Walter of CENAP allegedly sent a witness a letter with five Polaroid photos, describing the object as not being of alien origin and of small size. The GEP's approach is contrasted with CENAP's, with Mosbleck stating that GEP would never intimidate a witness or share their personal information. He criticizes CENAP's handling of a photo case in Italy, where the witness had approached GEP for assistance, and Walter had subsequently sent the photos to Klaus Webner, demanding payment for an assessment.

2. Dealing with Dissenters

Mosbleck notes similar experiences of witnesses with CENAP. He clarifies that GEP's intention is not to criticize Walter and Köhler's methods but to highlight differences in approach. He emphasizes GEP's commitment to factual investigation and avoiding personal attacks, even when disagreeing with others' theories. He also touches upon the controversy surrounding the Frankfurt UFO conference, which CENAP allegedly tried to discredit by spreading rumors.

Working Methods

This section, likely written by a GEP representative, outlines the organization's rigorous approach to UFO research. It highlights the development of a systematic investigation methodology, validated by Berkeley University, and its publication. GEP cases are reviewed by peer researchers, and the organization adheres to legal requirements for associations, including proper bookkeeping and regular elections. The work of GEP is described as serving non-profit purposes, with all cases being personally researched and archived.

The text contrasts GEP's methods with those of CENAP, which is described as not being a registered association with no published methodology. CENAP's work is characterized as increasingly reduced to journalistic activity, which GEP feels leads to confusion and negatively impacts their own research.

Standpoints on UFO Research and Pro-Astronautics (Part 2)

This section presents the opinions of several individuals active in the German UFO scene on various questions related to UFO phenomena, pre-astronautics, and extraterrestrial intelligence.

Axel Ertelt (GEP Schriftführer) believes that UFO phenomena might be related to 'time cracks' where objects disappear and reappear. He considers the possibility of extraterrestrial visitation in ancient times but suggests that evidence might point to future humans traveling back in time. He is open to the idea of extraterrestrial civilizations but notes the vast distances involved. Ertelt's background includes being a master carpenter, funeral director, and writer, with involvement in UFO research since 1970 and pro-astronautics since 1974.

Johannes Fiebag (Diplom-Geologist) acknowledges multiple hypotheses for the 'Bermuda Triangle' phenomenon but finds none entirely satisfactory, suggesting that many cases are exaggerated. He views the idea of 'Paleo-visits' (extraterrestrial visitation in ancient times) as a plausible working hypothesis, citing evidence from Dogon astronomy, ancient technology reconstructions, and monumental architecture. He believes the extraterrestrial hypothesis is the most probable explanation for UFOs due to its simplicity and ability to explain various associated phenomena.

Hans-Werner Peiniger discusses the reliability of witness testimonies, citing a STERN magazine experiment that demonstrated significant discrepancies in eyewitness accounts of a traffic accident. He emphasizes the importance of forensic psychology and criminalistic methods for UFO investigators to distinguish between facts and assumptions.

Key Incidents and Reports

Gulf Breeze Anonymity Lifted: The article announces that Edward and Frances Walters will detail their 'Gulf Breeze' sightings in a book published by William Morrow Co., with a foreword by Budd Hopkins and photo analysis by Bruce S. Maccabee.

CENAP and WDR: Hj. Köhler of CENAP-Mannheim failed to appear for a scheduled WDR regional broadcast, leading to an explanation from Rudolf Henke (GEP and CENAP member) distancing himself from Köhler's actions.

UFOs over Innsbruck: Reports from October 20, 1989, describe 'soap bubble-like' objects and a 'metallic cabin ship' observed over Innsbruck airport.

Polar Lights Cause 'UFO-Alarm': On October 20, 1989, polar lights seen as far south as Germany led to widespread panic and false reports of UFOs, fires, or nuclear explosions.

Austrian Builds Runway for UFOs: An architect in Kautzen, Austria, is building a UFO landing strip, reportedly based on information from a medium, to accommodate extraterrestrials who will rescue 140,000 'righteous' people from an impending apocalypse.

MJ-12 and Dr. Donald Menzel: Stanton Friedman suggests that Dr. Donald Menzel, a known skeptic, played a significant role in the MAJESTIC-12 group, possibly involved in code-breaking and having connections to national security agencies.

Atlantis: A Continent Surfaces: A book by Fritz Nestke and Thomas Riemer proposes that Atlantis was located in Antarctica, supported by modern glaciological research and ancient texts.

France 1954: Invasion from Mars? A CENAP documentation, based on Gerard Barthel and Jacques Brucker's book, analyzes the 1954 French UFO wave. The report concludes that after re-examining cases, most sightings, after excluding hoaxes and misidentifications, remain unexplained.

UFO Vision - Arbog for UFO-litteratur 1989: A review of the Danish UFO research organization SUFOI's 1989 literature yearbook, highlighting articles on UFO cults, contactees, and book reviews.

Reader Letters

Walter L. Kelch comments on a classified observation, suggesting it could be a plane/balloon, and emphasizes the importance of classifying the object itself.

Hans-Werner Peiniger discusses the unreliability of witness testimonies and the difficulty in distinguishing between actual observations and assumptions, advocating for the use of forensic psychology.

Thomas Mehner responds to a zetetiker's (skeptic's) arguments, defending the AAS and Polish UFO researchers as credible sources and criticizing CENAP's often polemical discussions.

Georg Lorbertz reviews MUFON-CES Report No. 10, finding it informative despite some prior knowledge of the cases. He defends the inclusion of German cases and argues that UFOs do not necessarily imply extraterrestrial intelligence.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around critical analysis of UFO reports, the reliability of eyewitness testimony, and the methodologies employed by different UFO research organizations. The GEP, as the publisher, clearly positions itself as a proponent of rigorous, scientific investigation, contrasting its approach with what it perceives as sensationalism and less methodical work by other groups like CENAP. There is a strong emphasis on distinguishing between factual evidence and speculation, and on the importance of transparency and ethical conduct in dealing with witnesses. The magazine also explores historical UFO cases and the broader implications of UFO phenomena for our understanding of history and the universe.