Just Cause - 1992 03 - No 31 - New Series

Magazine Overview

Title: JUST CAUSE
Issue: NUMBER 31
Date: March 1992
Publisher: CAUS
Editor: Barry Greenwood
Address: CAUS, P.O. Box 218, Coventry, CT. 06238
Rates: $15 US, $20 Foreign

This issue of JUST CAUSE, dated March 1992, focuses on historical UFO cases and the critical examination of UFO research methodologies. The editorial notes the shift of UFO research towards entertainment and calls for a more grounded, scientific approach, contrasting it with NASA's credibility issues. The magazine features articles on the Roswell crash, 'Ghost Rockets' over Scandinavia, and 'foo-fighters' from World War II, alongside discussions on government secrecy and the challenges of obtaining UFO-related documents.

Editorial Notes

The editorial begins by reminding exchange magazines to send their publications to the correct CAUS address. The writer reflects on the current state of UFO research, lamenting its transformation into entertainment that distracts from societal problems. The media, government, and public are perceived as viewing UFO research as sensational rather than serious. The editor argues that NASA's credibility problems are minor compared to those of ufology and states that CAUS will continue to emphasize a basic, less sensational approach to prevent the field from being drowned in science fiction.

More On UFO Crash At Roswell

This section scrutinizes the Roswell UFO crash of 1947. The author points out the surprising absence of a significant case file within the Air Force's Project Blue Book collection, despite the incident's extensive media coverage. The article dismisses the idea that the Air Force considered it unimportant. It speculates that the file might have been "borrowed" by a scientist or a souvenir hunter and never returned. Drawing on Edward Ruppelt's "Report on Unidentified Flying Objects," the author suggests that the government likely treated the Roswell object as a national security matter due to its unusual nature and the lack of a UFO history to guide their response. The article emphasizes that interpreting secrecy as definitive proof of an alien crash is problematic without official documents, debris, or bodies. It highlights that the case relies solely on verbal testimony. The author then delves into the legal system's limitations in assessing UFO phenomena, contrasting it with scientific standards. The legal system can be manipulated, and judgments can be swayed by charisma rather than facts, as exemplified by the Dred Scott decision. Scientific study, with its stringent demands, is presented as the only valid method for assessing UFO claims, but it requires physical evidence, which is currently lacking for Roswell. The article discusses the symbols reportedly seen on an "I" beam from the alleged UFO wreckage, as drawn by Jesse Marcel Jr. While these symbols are described as unlike any known language, the author proposes a hypothetical decipherment, suggesting they could represent letters forming "BALLON." This interpretation is offered as a possible alternative to the alien spacecraft theory, aligning with the 'balloon-borne device' explanation favored by critics, and suggesting the object might have been a man-made device.

The author concludes that in the absence of physical evidence, interpretations of information are subjective. The article questions the technological leap that should have occurred if an interstellar spacecraft had been recovered in the late 1940s, noting that aeronautical history has progressed normally. It questions how knowledge from crashed discs, if real, has influenced technology, demanding concrete examples. The article also touches upon the MJ-12 documents as an attempt at documentation that ultimately failed. It questions whether a secret project could explain Roswell, stating that it is reckless to claim alien visitation without affirming and demonstrating such a possibility. While acknowledging that UFO reports exist and some are difficult to explain, the author maintains that presentation of information must be "airtight and debunk-proof."

SETI, UFOS AND THE GOLDEN FLEECE

This section discusses the "Golden Fleece" awards, given by former Wisconsin Senator William Proxmire for government waste. Proxmire awarded one such prize in 1979 to NASA's SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) program. The article notes that Proxmire later reversed his stance after investigating SETI, leading to the program's reinstatement in 1983. It then references a 1963 statement by Proxmire in the NICAP's UFO Investigator, where he acknowledged that a NICAP report provided substantial evidence for unexplained incidents, warranting thorough investigation. The author contrasts this past seriousness with the present-day attitude towards UFO research, recalling that UFOs were a major topic of debate in the 1960s and 1969.

THE MENDEZ STORY CONTINUES

This segment updates readers on the case of former Air Force Airman Simone Mendez. The FBI informed Mendez that further documents related to her case were being denied under the "b1" exemption of the Freedom of Information Act, citing national security. CAUS has appealed this decision, arguing that the Air Force had previously dismissed the document Mendez saw as a hoax, thus negating the basis for withholding related information on national security grounds. The outcome of the appeal is pending.

NSA STONEWALLING CONTINUES

Researchers have been informed by the National Security Agency (NSA) that it possesses post-1980 UFO documents being withheld due to potential "exceptionally grave damage" to national security. The article questions the validity of these excuses given the diminished threat from the Soviet Union. CAUS continues to file annual FOIA requests with the NSA to signal ongoing public interest. The section also notes that agencies like the CIA are considering releasing more documents due to slackening world tensions, encouraging researchers to continue filing requests.

GHOST ROCKETS - NEW INFORMATION

This article presents information from a formerly classified publication, "Intelligence Review" (Issue #347, January 9, 1947), concerning the "Ghost Rocket" wave over Sweden in the summer of 1946. The article is skeptical of sensational explanations and doubts General James Doolittle's involvement. It argues that the piece predates the modern UFO era and was not intended for public distribution, thus serving as a reasonable assessment of U.S. intelligence attitudes at the time.

FEATURE SECTION: "GHOST ROCKETS" OVER SCANDINAVIA

Flying missiles, dubbed "Ghost Rockets," were reported over southern Sweden in late May 1946, and subsequently in Finland, Denmark, and Norway. Descriptions varied, but common ones included "a ball of fire with a tail" and a "shiny cigar-shaped object." Speeds ranged from 65 m.p.h. to "lightning fast," and altitudes from treetop to 160,000 feet. Most reports described horizontal flight, with some noting dives into the ground or explosions. Fragments were described as "noumetallic slag."

A Swedish Air Force pilot reported seeing a dark, cigar-shaped object about 50 feet long and 3 feet in diameter, flying at 400 m.p.h. at an altitude of 650 feet. The object had no visible wings and maintained a constant altitude, which the author notes casts doubt on the report's reliability for a missile. The pilot stated it could not have been a Swedish jet plane.

The Scandinavian press initially attributed the sightings to Soviet missiles. However, censorship was imposed in August, and Communist papers claimed the missiles came from the United States, with General Doolittle sent to observe their effects.

Official Investigations

Swedish authorities began investigations in June 1946. By the end of July, nearly 1,000 reports were received. The Swedish Defense Staff's investigation is described as peculiar, with key personnel initially on leave. Spokesmen suggested Soviet launches from Peenemünde, but offered no evidence. No U.S. military or naval personnel in Sweden saw direct evidence. Official communiqués varied, with one in August suggesting celestial origin and another in October indicating that most incidents could not be meteorites, indicating a shift in attitude.

Attitude of Swedish Officials

The contradictory evidence makes a definite conclusion impossible. The author suggests Swedish officials were doing little to reach a conclusion, possibly for political reasons. The change in communiqués between August and October indicates an attempt to minimize the issue, possibly due to fears of official repercussions on Swedish-Soviet relations.

Conclusions

The article notes the Soviets' known work on guided missiles, specifically the V-1 type, which could have a range of 500 miles and fly horizontally at low altitudes. There is some evidence of such work at Stolp or on Baltic islands. Some reports mentioned the noise of an outboard motor, characteristic of the V-1's impulse duct motor. Others reported little or no sound, suggesting a turbo-jet. The best evidence points to only 2-3 real incidents of low-flying missiles, with high-altitude reports likely being meteors or fireworks. The author suggests the Swedish Defense Staff may have used the situation for political purposes, allowing newspapers to sensationalize the missiles without admitting a lack of evidence, at a time when the public demanded defense expenditure reductions.

CURRENT PROJECTS

CAUS is focusing on filling historical gaps in UFO sightings with military/government implications. They are collecting "Ghost Rocket" files from AFU of Sweden and early cases from the Center for UFO Studies. The organization is also intensely interested in "foo-fighter" reports from World War Two, seeking information from military history centers and assorted press coverage. The author expresses concern that some researchers may not see the value in pursuing old incidents, emphasizing the importance of understanding the past to comprehend the present. A sample of foo-fighter research is presented on page 8, with hopes to show more in the June issue.

New York Herald Tribune - January 3, 1945: Nazi Fire Balls May Be Kind of Ball Lightning

This article by Howard W. Blakeslee discusses the German "foo-fighters" or balls of fire reported by Allied airmen. It suggests they might be related to induction phenomena or ball lightning. Induction is proposed to explain how the objects maintain fixed distances from planes, regardless of speed or direction. However, the phenomenon of balls zooming upward and away from planes is compared to ball lightning, which is described as a harmless electrical discharge. The article notes that the deep purple color of brush discharge could explain red reports, and that ball lightning has been reported in red shades. It also mentions that ignition interference could stop a plane, and that German scientists might have found a way around some power issues related to interference.

New York Herald Tribune - December 14, 1944: New German War Device: Air-Floating Silvery Balls

This censored dispatch reports that Germans have deployed a new "device" into the war: mysterious silvery balls that float in the air. Allied bomber pilots reported seeing these objects individually and in clusters during forays over Germany. The purpose of these floaters was not immediately evident, but it was speculated they might represent a new anti-aircraft defense instrument or weapon.

Boston Daily Globe - Tuesday, January 2, 1945: Nazi Mystery Weapon Paces American Planes

American fighter pilots engaged in night intruder missions over Germany reported that the Nazis have introduced a new "secret weapon" – mysterious "balls of fire" dubbed "Foo fighters." These objects race alongside planes for miles, like will-o'-the-wisps. Pilots initially thought they might explode, but no planes have been damaged. Some pilots believe the "Foo fighter" is a psychological weapon. Intelligence reports suggest it is radio-controlled from the ground and can keep pace with planes flying at 300 miles per hour. Three types of "Foo fighters" are described: red balls of fire flying at wingtip, a vertical row of three balls in front of the planes, and a group of lights following the plane at a distance.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of JUST CAUSE include the critical examination of UFO evidence, the importance of scientific methodology in UFO research, and the persistent issue of government secrecy and lack of transparency. The magazine takes a stance advocating for a more rigorous, evidence-based approach to ufology, distinguishing it from sensationalism and speculation. There is a clear emphasis on historical research to contextualize current UFO phenomena and a skepticism towards claims lacking substantial, verifiable proof, particularly concerning crashed alien spacecraft. The editorial stance is one of cautious inquiry, demanding high standards of evidence and transparency from both researchers and official bodies.