Just Cause - 1994 06 - No 40 - New Series

Magazine Overview

This issue of JUST CAUSE, number 40, dated June 1994, is published by CAUS (Citizens Against UFO Secrecy) and edited by Barry Greenwood. The cover headline emphasizes the organization's mission. The editorial section sets a tone of critical inquiry, advocating for scientific skepticism and 'common sense' in the study of UFOs.

Editorial

The editorial, titled "EDITORIAL," opens with quotes from Claude Bernard, William Whewell, and Johann Von Goethe, emphasizing the importance of doubt, truth, and the challenge of new ideas in science. It posits that UFO phenomena exist in a 'twilight zone between truth and fantasy,' and that the scientific method is the most reliable arbiter. The editorial argues that truth is the best possible explanation for a given set of conditions at a given time, referencing Jupiter's rings as an example of scientific discovery. It stresses that questioning everything is the only way to test new truths and warns against blindly accepting sensational news. The author asserts that 'common sense' is crucial for the future and that CAUS has challenged new notions in UFO study due to a perceived lack of intellectual discipline in the field, while acknowledging the enduring fascination with the premise of intelligent extraterrestrial life.

Analysis of Lincoln LaPaz's Involvement in Roswell

A significant portion of the magazine is dedicated to a letter from Robert G. Todd to Colonel Richard L. Weaver, dated June 21, 1994. Todd, an independent investigator, scrutinizes claims about Dr. Lincoln LaPaz's involvement in the 1947 Roswell incident.

Todd focuses on the testimony of Lewis S. "Bill" Rickett, a former Army Air Forces Counter-Intelligence Corps (CIC) agent assigned to Roswell Army Air Field (RAAF). Rickett claimed that Dr. LaPaz was tasked with scouring the area around the crash site for witnesses who saw the object while airborne. Rickett stated he was ordered to assist LaPaz, driving him to ranches and helping find accommodations.

Todd notes that the method Rickett attributed to LaPaz in the Roswell incident mirrors LaPaz's approach to investigating the 'green fireballs' observed in New Mexico starting in December 1948. Todd purchased Project Blue Book microfilm, specifically Roll #88, hoping to find a link between Rickett and LaPaz through the green fireball investigations (Project "Twinkle").

He found records indicating Dr. LaPaz's fourth report to the 17th District OSI, dated February 21, 1949. This report mentions that Special Agent Bill Rickett assisted the survey party at Roswell. Further examination of the microfilm revealed a "Report of Investigation" dated February 11, 1949, concerning a green fireball incident on January 30, 1949, near Walker AFB. This report was a joint effort by Special Agents Jack B. Williams, Lewis S. Rickett, and Lt. Ryan. It detailed an extensive search for witnesses and physical evidence, including an aerial and ground search in Lamesa, Texas.

Crucially, the report states that Special Agent RICKETT continued this search with Dr. LaPaz throughout Southeast New Mexico and West Texas from February 2 to February 5, 1949. Todd points out that the activities attributed to LaPaz by Rickett in connection with Roswell bear an "uncanny resemblance" to LaPaz's activities in the green fireball investigations. Todd concludes that Rickett, more than four decades later, was likely confused and mistook the green fireball investigation for the Roswell investigation. He highlights that Rickett is the only alleged Roswell witness to link Dr. LaPaz to the incident.

Todd also examines the testimony of Earl L. Zimmerman, a former AFOSI special agent. Zimmerman claimed that in 1949, LaPaz told him of his involvement in the Roswell case, mentioning interviewing sheepherders and ranchers and finding an area where the earth's surface was turned light blue. Zimmerman had been stationed at RAAF in 1947 and heard rumors about flying saucers.

However, Todd finds that Zimmerman's statements also suggest his involvement with LaPaz centered around the green fireball investigation. Zimmerman worked with LaPaz on an extended project at the University of New Mexico's research station on Sandia Peak in early 1949, investigating aerial phenomena. During this project, LaPaz allegedly told Zimmerman he had been involved in investigating "the thing found in the Roswell area that summer." Todd questions whether LaPaz was referring to the 1947 Roswell crash or the more recent green fireball incident near Walker AFB.

Todd's review of Blue Book records indicates that an observation post was established near Sandia Peak, recommended by Dr. Joseph Kaplan and Dr. LaPaz, for photographing green fireballs and other aerial phenomena. Zimmerman was assigned to this post. Todd concludes that if LaPaz mentioned any Roswell incident to Zimmerman, it was most likely the January 30, 1949, green fireball event.

Todd criticizes Roswell investigators (Moore & Friedman, Schmitt & Randle, Friedman & Berliner) for not mentioning LaPaz's involvement in the green fireball investigations, suggesting they may be deliberately omitting this information to avoid drawing attention to the Blue Book files. He asserts that these investigators rely on "scuttlebutt, innuendo, inference, distortions, and sometimes outright deception."

Postscript

The Postscript section addresses the preceding letter to the Air Force, commenting on claims related to the 1947 Roswell UFO crash. It reiterates that Robert Todd is an independent investigator whose research is vital for understanding government knowledge of UFOs. The postscript states that the validity of crashed saucer claims depends on the strength of their parts, and that Todd's questioning reveals Lincoln La Paz's involvement in Roswell to be "seriously flawed."

CBS UFO FILM SURFACES

This section announces that CAUS has obtained a copy of the CBS television documentary "UFO: FRIEND, FOE OR FANTASY," aired in May 1966 in response to the "Swamp Gas" wave of UFO incidents. The documentary, not shown for twenty-eight years, is described as vintage UFO history featuring figures like Walter Cronkite and Carl Sagan. John Stewart is credited with providing the copy and can be contacted for questions.

THE MANTELL UFO A SMOKING GUN? MAYBE! PART TWO

This article continues the discussion of the famous UFO encounter involving Captain Thomas Mantell on January 7, 1948. It presents photographs of a Skyhook balloon launched from Camp Ripley, Minnesota, provided by Professor Charles Moore. The article suggests these photographs show the same object Mantell saw.

Researcher Robert Todd received these photographs in late 1992. The date notations on the back, some labeled "1-6-48," were only a day before the Mantell incident. While many researchers believe Mantell pursued a balloon, the origin of the balloon was a mystery. Todd contacted Professor Moore, who provided additional photos of the January 6, 1948, launch from Camp Ripley.

The balloon's purpose was to carry a cosmic ray experiment into the stratosphere. The instrument package was released by a clock timer. The launch occurred at about 8 AM on January 6th, with temperatures around -45F. Winds from the north caused the balloon to drift southeast. Radio reports of a flying object over Illinois, Kentucky, and Tennessee were monitored.

The article notes that Project Sign (predecessor to Blue Book) lists four cases for January 7th: Mantell's, Lockbourne AFB, Columbus, Ohio, and Wilmington, Ohio. Mantell's was officially explained as a balloon, while the others were listed as Venus.

Captain Edward Ruppelt, in his 1956 book, suggested a Skyhook balloon launched from Clinton County Air Force Base in southern Ohio could account for witness reports. However, Professor Moore strongly ruled out Clinton County AFB as a launch site for the January 7th balloon, stating that the first "Skyhook-type" launch from that site was in July 1951.

Moore calculated that a balloon launched from Camp Ripley at 8 AM on January 6th could have covered the approximately 700-750 miles to Kentucky within 29 hours, factoring in an average drift speed of 18-25 MPH. He also noted that in 1952, he flew in a manned balloon at 7000 feet altitude from Minnesota to New York in 23 hours.

The article provides a chronology of events on January 7th based on Project Sign records:

• 100 CST: Civilians report UFOs overhead in northwestern Kentucky, seen in Madisonville and Elizabethtown.
• 110 CST: Object seen at Lexington, moving west, south of Ft. Knox.
• 120 CST: Godman Tower informed of sightings west of Ft. Knox, near Irvington and Owensboro.
• 145 CST: Godman personnel describe a small white object, bright on top, reddish on the lower portion, round, or like an ice cream cone. It remained stationary for 1.5 hours.
• 245 CST: Mantell, told to look for the object, sees it ahead and above, moving at 180 MPH. He later felt the object equaled or exceeded his speed. Mantell crashed and was killed.
• 318 CST: Third shift at Godman Tower is told a disc, balloon, or strange object is being hunted.
• 405 CST: Mantell's wing pilots take off again to look for him, unaware he had crashed. They find no sign of the UFO near Bowling Green, Kentucky.
• 430 CST: A Vanderbilt University astronomer sees an object near Nashville, Tennessee.

The article notes that the object's flight path shows a general southeast drift, consistent with the Camp Ripley Skyhook. It acknowledges contradictions in witness testimony regarding speed and direction, suggesting localized wind variations or reporting errors. A key piece of evidence is a report from Dr. Seyfert, an astronomer at Vanderbilt University, who spotted a pear-shaped balloon with cables and a basket attached, moving SSE at 10 MPH at 25,000 feet between 1630-1645 (430-445 PM). This would place the object 30-40 miles beyond where Mantell was last seen. The estimated speed of 25 MPH for this drift aligns with the earlier estimated drift speed range for the Camp Ripley balloon.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the critical examination of UFO claims, the importance of rigorous scientific methodology, and the debunking of unsubstantiated narratives, particularly concerning the Roswell incident. CAUS, through its publication JUST CAUSE, adopts a stance of skepticism towards sensational UFO accounts, advocating for evidence-based analysis and a reliance on "common sense." The magazine actively seeks to connect seemingly disparate UFO events, like Roswell and the green fireballs, and the Mantell incident with balloon launches, suggesting that conventional explanations are often overlooked or deliberately ignored by proponents of more extraordinary theories. The editorial stance is one of challenging the status quo in UFO research and promoting a more disciplined and rational approach.

This issue of UFO Magazine, identified as issue number 11, focuses on the Mantell UFO case and its potential connection to the classified Skyhook program. The content appears to be from the 1940s, with specific references to events in January 1948.

The Mantell Case and the Skyhook Connection The article begins by examining a photograph of a Skyhook object, noting its similarity to descriptions of objects seen in UFO reports. It discusses a witness in Madisonville, Ohio, who reported seeing an object traveling southeast and identified it as a balloon after observing it through a telescope.

Further sightings in Ohio several hours later are presented, with questions raised about their relation to the Skyhook. The timing and illumination of a balloon at high altitude are discussed, noting that a balloon at 100,000 feet would only be brightly illuminated for about 30 minutes after sunset, while the evening sightings occurred significantly later than sunset on that particular day.

The author critically examines Ruppelt's explanation of a Clinton County Skyhook launch, finding it hard to reconcile with witness statements and the lack of awareness from personnel involved in such launches. The article suggests that if witnesses were aware of the classified nature of the Skyhook program, they would not report sightings that could draw attention to it.

Professor Moore is cited as recalling a meeting with Ruppelt where Ruppelt believed a Camp Ripley launch was responsible for the Mantell encounter. However, the article questions why Ruppelt, in his 1956 book, strongly supported a Clinton County launch, suggesting this support lacked substantial evidence.

The explanation for this discrepancy is proposed to be the Navy's desire to avoid responsibility for Mantell's death. According to Professor Moore, who participated in discussions with the Navy, knowledge of the Camp Ripley balloon was suppressed. This suppression, even after the Skyhook program was declassified, would have been maintained to avoid upsetting Mantell's family and to prevent suspicions about the government's UFO statements.

CAUS (Center for UFO Studies, implied) regards the Camp Ripley Skyhook launch of January 6, 1948, as the stimulus for the circumstances leading to Mantell's accident. The article concludes that Mantell's accident could have been prevented if he had exercised proper caution and used appropriate equipment, suggesting he exceeded his limitations due to his fascination with witnessing a strange flying object.

Skyhook Balloon Specifics As a final note on the Mantell story, Professor Moore provided details about the January 6th Skyhook balloon. When fully inflated, it was nominally 72.8 feet in diameter by about 102 feet high, with a volume of approximately 226,000 cubic feet. It carried 80-pound loads to an altitude of 100,000 feet, where it became fully inflated and vented excess lifting gas through an 'appendix' at the bottom.

CAUS questioned whether the balloon would have been fully inflated at 25,000 feet. Reports from Kentucky described 'parachute' or 'cone-shaped' objects, implying the balloon was not fully inflated. However, other reports from the same areas described 'round' objects. Moore explained that on descent from high altitude, the balloon could have 'ingested' air through the appendix, which would prolong its flight by compressing the air and increasing buoyancy. He could not confirm if this happened with the January 6, 1948 Skyhook but noted that given the long flight, some air intake likely occurred.

Accompanying the text are two photographs of the Skyhook balloon, one labeled 'The January 6, 1948 Skyhook launch, shortly after release,' and another titled 'Another viewpoint.'

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the investigation of UFO incidents, particularly the Mantell case, and the potential involvement of classified government projects like the Skyhook program. There is a strong emphasis on critical analysis of witness testimonies, official explanations, and the possibility of government cover-ups or suppression of information. The editorial stance, as represented by CAUS, appears to be one of skepticism towards simplistic explanations and a persistent search for evidence that connects seemingly disparate events, such as the Mantell case and high-altitude balloon launches.