Just Cause - 1985 06 - No 04 - New Series

Magazine Overview

Title: JUST CAUSE
Issue: NUMBER 4, NEW SERIES
Date: JUNE 1985
Publisher: Lawrence Fawcett
Editor: Barry Greenwood
Address: P.O. Box 218, Coventry, Conn. 06238
Subscription: 4 issues - $10 ($15 foreign)

This issue of "JUST CAUSE" focuses on significant UFO-related news and historical documents, emphasizing the release of government files and analysis of past sightings.

Subscriptions Due

The newsletter begins with a reminder to subscribers that their subscriptions are due, emphasizing that subscriber support is crucial for the publication's operation, including printing, mailing, and financing document requests.

FLASH FLASH FLASH: HUGE FILE RELEASE BY AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE

This section details the unexpected release of 1720 pages of UFO files by the Air Force, stored at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. These files, dating from 1948 to 1953, partially document the involvement of Air Force Intelligence in the UFO phenomenon. An interesting point is that these files were stored under the same records group heading (RG341) as the Project Blue Book files but were never listed with them. CAUS researcher Robert Todd is credited with persistently pushing for the release of these documents.

Selected extracts from these files are presented:

• MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD (18 Feb. 1949, SECRET): This portion states that out of approximately 210 incidents, about twenty percent were explained, mostly as misidentifications of weather balloons or astronomical phenomena. It notes that two incidents were determined to be hoaxes. The memorandum concludes that there is no tangible evidence to support theories of foreign nation activity, though it doesn't categorically deny the possibility, especially for overseas incidents. For domestic incidents, it suggests foreign devices would defy known aeronautical science.
• Discussion on "Secret Weapons" and the "Federal Hypothesis": The newsletter discusses the early government admission that the "secret weapons" theory was insufficient for explaining UFOs. It introduces the "Federal Hypothesis," championed by William Spaulding, which posits government responsibility for UFO activity. CAUS expresses skepticism, finding no clear evidence for this, except possibly for advanced aircraft technology malfunctions, and prefers to rely on well-documented government information.
• Letter from A.F. Intelligence to a private citizen (23 Apr. 1952, portion): This letter discusses an evaluation of World War II "Foo Fighter" reports, concluding that they were likely misidentifications of conventional objects and not unusual phenomena. The newsletter notes that this analysis was not previously mentioned in public releases.
• Discussion on WWII "Foo Fighters": CAUS recounts efforts to obtain WW2 histories and bombing mission reports related to "Foo Fighters" from the National Archives and military history detachments, which proved difficult. They mention that approximately 40 to 50 reports from the WW2 era exist in books and periodicals, and a release of official documentation would be a significant historical find.
• AIR INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION REPORT (20 Dec. 1948): This 6-page study analyzes four UFO cases from July 24 and July 26, 1948. The report focuses primarily on Incident 1, known to researchers as the Chiles/Whitted case, involving a cigar-shaped object. The report states the object was not a meteor, found no witness unreliability or inaccuracies, and confirmed weather reports. Investigations with various agencies failed to reveal evidence of testing devices that could explain the object. The report concludes that the flying anomaly was unidentified as to origin, construction, and power source, but showed a definite trend of southward flight headings, supported by evidence from reliable sources, and that such a craft could be supported by aerodynamic means.

TRANSCRIPT: "The Cupless Saucer" (July 26, 1952)

This section presents a transcript of actual transmissions between Washington National Airport (WA) and Andrews AFB (AN) during the 1952 UFO wave over Washington, D.C. The dialogue details radar sightings of an unidentified target, described as a "big target" moving eastbound and passing directly over Andrews Field. The object was tracked for several miles, and its course was steady East. Andrews radar detected multiple targets, with one described as a "big fat target" NE of Andrews, and others south of the field. The object's altitude was estimated to be over 8,000 feet.

WORLD WAR TWO UFO - AN UPDATE

This update provides additional information on a UFO sighting by Donald Pratt aboard the Battleship USS New York in March 1945. A Philadelphia Inquirer report from April 10, 1966, confirmed basic details, with the story also appearing in the Baton Rouge SUNDAY ADVOCATE. The UFO was described as round and silver-colored, about the size of a two-story house. The navigator of the ship reportedly calculated that its position matched that of Venus. However, the newsletter questions this explanation, noting that Venus would not appear as a large, distinct object in daylight, nor would it be confirmed on radar. The sighting's time would also place Venus 20 degrees East of the meridian, not directly overhead.

APPLE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA CRASH/RETRIEVAL -- AN UPDATE

This brief update states that checks into a previously reported Apple Valley UFO crash/retrieval incident (mentioned in JUST CAUSE, March 1985) have proven fruitless. Interviews with former teachers and the school principal did not verify the story, leaving the incident inconclusive.

STATE DEPARTMENT AND FBI DOCUMENTS RELEASED

CAUS supporter Mike Charest has obtained new documents from the State Department and the FBI.

• State Department AIRGRAM (Dec. 23, 1966): This document reports on the possible sighting of two "flying saucers" by passengers and crew of a TAP flight from Beira, Mozambique to Luanda on December 7th. A passenger noticed objects "scouting" the plane, and the Captain, Maia De Louriero, reported the sighting to the Luanda Control Tower, which stated there was no traffic in the area. The objects vanished as the plane approached touchdown.
• FBI Documents (Jan. 3, 1985): Charest also obtained 83 pages of documents from the FBI's Los Angeles field office, dating largely between 1948 and 1952. These consist of clippings and FBI Complaint Forms reporting various UFO sightings in Southern California. An additional 98 pages were withheld for privacy reasons.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the declassification of government UFO files, historical analysis of UFO sightings from WWII and the post-war era, and the ongoing efforts by researchers like Robert Todd and Mike Charest to uncover and disseminate information. The editorial stance of "JUST CAUSE" appears to be one of critical inquiry, favoring documented evidence and government releases while maintaining skepticism towards unsubstantiated theories like the "Federal Hypothesis." The publication actively seeks to provide its subscribers with access to primary source material and detailed case analyses, underscoring the importance of continued support for their research and publication efforts.