Just Cause - 1994 12 - No 42 - New Series

Magazine Overview

Title: JUST CAUSE
Issue: NUMBER 42
Date: December 1994
Publisher: Citizens Against UFO Secrecy (CAUS)
Address: CAUS, Box 176, Stoneham, Ma. 02180
Rates: $15 US, $20 Foreign
Editor: Barry Greenwood

This issue of JUST CAUSE, published by Citizens Against UFO Secrecy, focuses heavily on the 1994 Air Force report concerning the Roswell Incident. The magazine critically analyzes the report's findings and the media's reception, while also proposing a new philosophical approach to UFO research.

The Air Force Roswell Report

The lead article discusses the Air Force's September 9, 1994, report, which was presented as the final word on the Roswell crashed-UFO case. The report, the result of an eight-month study initiated by the General Accounting Office (GAO) at the request of Congressman Steven Schiff, concluded that the debris found in 1947 was from a top-secret balloon project called 'Project Mogul,' designed for monitoring foreign nuclear testing. Colonel Richard Weaver, the report's signatory, stated that no evidence of a cover-up, alien bodies, or extraterrestrial materials was found.

The report is described as voluminous, with a 25-page summary and 33 attachments. The magazine notes that much of the national media accepted the Air Force's conclusions, citing The New York Times as an example. However, other outlets, like The Albuquerque Journal, were more skeptical, suggesting the Air Force had lied in 1947. USA Today took a neutral stance.

The UFO press reacted harshly. The Fund for UFO Research accused the Air Force of trivializing UFOs, while author Karl Pflock criticized the Air Force for failing in its duties to respond to Congressional direction. The Center for UFO Studies deemed the report 'weak and internally inconsistent.'

The article questions the Air Force's extensive investigation, which went beyond the GAO's requirement to simply locate records. It notes the significant cost and suggests that the Air Force's involvement in a 'public relations circus' was unusual, given their previous policy of ignoring UFOs. The magazine points out that the Air Force relied on civilian UFO researcher Robert Todd for information and leads on Project Mogul, questioning why their own researchers, who presumably had access to classified sources, did not have this information readily available.

Summary of HQ NAIC Research into the Roswell Incident, Unidentified Flying Saucers, and Project Blue Book

This section summarizes research conducted by HQ NAIC (Headquarters, National Air Intelligence Center) into the Roswell Incident, flying saucers, and Project Blue Book. The purpose was to summarize sources used in the 1947 Roswell incident study, where allegations suggested a flying saucer and/or aliens were found and transported to Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.

Background: Congressman Steven Schiff initiated an investigation, leading a GAO auditor to visit the HQ NAIC History Office. A local TV station also covered the story.

Findings:
1. A review of HQ NAIC History office, CIRC holdings, and other USAF Museum archives (millions of pages) found no reference to the Roswell incident or alien presence.
2. An electronic search of the Air Force Historical Research Agency archives also yielded no references.
3. A review of the Dayton Daily News (July 1947), local libraries, and Wright State University holdings found no conclusive evidence of alien presence at Wright-Patterson.
4. Conversations with people involved in Project Blue Book revealed no evidence of flying saucers or aliens at Wright-Patterson.
5. Congressional investigations over the years have not found evidence of alien involvement.
6. All of the organization's UFO study files were transferred to the National Archives.

Conclusions:
1. Concerted research failed to find evidence relating to the Roswell incident or alien presence at Wright-Patterson. The issue cannot be definitively resolved due to the absence of documentation, leading to persistent claims of a cover-up.
2. The lack of documentation suggests that if Roswell material was analyzed at Wright-Patterson, it was not remarkable or extraterrestrial. Standard government record-keeping procedures would have preserved such significant documents.
3. Due to the age of the incident (nearly 50 years), a clear record trail may no longer exist.
4. Despite extensive efforts by UFO researchers, no physical evidence or photographs of flying saucers or aliens related to Roswell have been found.
5. Early UFO literature (Ruppelt, Keyhoe, Menzel), Project Blue Book records, and the Condon report do not mention the Roswell incident.
6. HQ NAIC acknowledges that absence of evidence is not evidence of absence, but all research avenues have been exhausted.
7. HQ NAIC suggests contacting the GAO or Congressman Schiff for a comprehensive report of federal agency findings.

Summary of Research Conducted by the NAIC/HO at Maxwell AFB, 7-10 MAR 94

This section details research strategies employed at Maxwell AFB. Two assumptions were explored:

Assumption I: Physical Explanation for the Material

The researcher looked through Roswell, Biggs, Holloman, and Kirtland base records for explanations like airplane crashes, lost nuclear sensors, or misplaced bombs. A reference to a July 3rd balloon launch at Holloman aligned with the official story. While no direct explanation was found, a Roswell history mentioned 60" radar discs for B-29s. The 1947 crash of a P-80 aircraft near Carrizozo, New Mexico, was considered as a possibility for debris. Army Air Force flying training bases existed in the region by July 1944, and a 1945 study of Japanese bomb balloons found in the U.S. was also noted. However, Roswell base records were not found at Maxwell.

Assumption II: Extraterrestrial Vehicle Evidence

This assumption explored whether evidence of an extraterrestrial vehicle would exist in associated programs like electronics research, air defense systems, propulsion studies, or aircraft design. Searches of Scientific Advisory Board, Research and Design, Continental Air Command, and Air Defense Command records yielded no direct evidence. Work on nuclear propulsion aircraft was seen as a spin-off of atomic weapon research. Intelligence and Research and Design records, even those classified Top Secret, contained no references to extraterrestrial vehicles. The report concludes that developments were likely driven by ongoing research or the Soviet threat. The ACS/Intelligence records referenced the 'flying saucer myth,' reinforcing the belief that no unexplainable object was found. The Historical Research Agency is preparing its own record of its search.

Areas for Further Research

Two areas are suggested for further research:

• National Archives: Specifically Record Group 341, where SAF/AAZ had researchers working during the week of the author's visit. This group contains 3.4 million pages of documents.
• Roswell: Roswell base records, mentioned as not being at Maxwell and likely not in the National Archives, may still exist somewhere in Roswell if they survived the base's closure.

Chicago Tribune - Air Force: Roswell 'UFO' Probably a Military Device

This news clipping from the Chicago Tribune (September 9, 1994) reports on the Air Force's conclusion that the supposed alien spacecraft discovered near Roswell, N.M., 47 years prior was likely a secret Army Air Force balloon designed to monitor Soviet nuclear testing. The Air Force report dismissed claims of alien visits as 'undocumented, taken out of context, self-serving or otherwise dubious.' The material found near Roswell consisted of foil-wrapped fabric, wooden sticks, rubber pieces, and small I-beams with strange markings. The report stated that the 'Roswell Incident' was not a UFO event and that the wreckage was most likely from 'Project Mogul balloon trains.'

Daily Mail - UFO legend that won't fly away

This article from the Daily Mail (September 10, 1994) by George Gordon in New York discusses the Air Force's attempt to debunk the Roswell mystery. It reiterates that the discovered object was a burst balloon, dismissing theories of spacecraft and 'little green men.' The article mentions that officials of the then Army Air Force initially suggested it was a weather balloon, but this failed to stop the spread of bizarre claims, including reports of child-sized coffins for alien remains. It notes that the material found was thin, strong, and resistant to tearing or burning. The article also references Admiral Roscoe Hillenkoetter's accusation of the Air Force suppressing evidence and CAUS's lawsuit, which was dismissed. It highlights Congressman Schiff's role in pressing the Pentagon for clarification, leading to the Project Mogul explanation. Don Berliner of the Fund for UFO Research called the report 'pathetic,' while Walter Haut, a volunteer at the Roswell UFO Museum, stated that those who made the original claims were not 'flaky people.' Shopkeepers in Roswell are expected to continue capitalizing on the UFO legend.

Shine

This section, likely from the same publication as the Daily Mail article, discusses the enduring nature of the Roswell legend. It mentions former CIA director Admiral Roscoe Hillenkoetter's accusation of Air Force suppression and the lawsuit filed by Citizens Against UFO Secrecy. It reiterates the Project Mogul explanation and quotes Don Berliner's skepticism. It also notes that shopkeepers in Roswell are unlikely to let the legend fade, as it is a major tourist attraction.

Weaver Report, page 5

This excerpt from the Weaver report highlights the contradictions in various versions of the Roswell story. It notes that the initial report of debris from one site has grown to claims of airplane loads of debris from multiple 'debris fields.' Simple descriptions of sticks, paper tape, and tinfoil have evolved into exotic metals with hieroglyphics. Some versions now claim two crash sites and alleged alien bodies, with varying numbers of bodies. These claims are complicated by researchers' disagreements on exact locations and dates.

Analysis of the Weaver Report

The article criticizes the Air Force's approach, suggesting that if they had a simple answer (like a weather balloon), they should have stuck with it, rather than admitting the original explanation was incorrect 47 years later. The author posits several possibilities for the Air Force's actions: either their researchers knew the truth about ETs and lied, or Weaver's staff were not properly briefed about a top-secret ET matter, indicating an internal cover-up. Alternatively, they might know nothing of crashed saucers because none exist. The article argues that the Weaver report's admission of error and its detailed description of research efforts are unusual for the Air Force, which historically provided simple conclusions without detailed investigation. This instance suggests the Air Force was not forthcoming in its earlier statements.

The article notes that the contradictions in the Roswell story make it difficult for proponents of the ET theory to argue their case. It questions why an agency trying to cover up the 'truth' would involve public researchers and make such a detailed admission of error. The author suggests that the Air Force's actions only make sense if they lack a definitive answer and are grasping for one, even seeking help from civilian UFO researchers.

A Radical Notion

This section introduces a philosophical proposal for UFO research, drawing a parallel to Thomas Jefferson's concept of separation of church and state. The author proposes separating 'belief in extraterrestrials' (church) from 'general research into the nature of sightings and detections of unknown aerial objects' (state).

The author argues that the UFO community's overriding philosophy has been the belief in UFOs as extraterrestrial vehicles, which has led to conflict and animosity. The proposed separation aims to reduce the 'clashing, conflicting level of argument over UFO reality.'

It is acknowledged that deemphasizing belief might be 'bad for business' for UFO organizations that rely on ET promotion for funding. The author calls for building a bridge to the scientific establishment and performing a 'face-lift on UFOlogy' by replacing a 'picketing, chanting, drum-beating desire to promote UFOs' with a position that deals with information detached from preconceived notions. This approach, it is hoped, will gain acceptance from an outside world uncommitted to UFOlogy.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this issue is the critical examination of official explanations for the Roswell Incident, particularly the 1994 Air Force report. The magazine's stance is skeptical of the Air Force's conclusions and methodology, highlighting the inconsistencies and the historical context of government secrecy surrounding UFOs. There is a strong emphasis on questioning authority and demanding transparency. The introduction of the 'Radical Notion' suggests an editorial desire to move UFO research towards a more scientific and less belief-driven approach, aiming to bridge the gap between UFOlogy and the mainstream scientific community. The publication, 'Citizens Against UFO Secrecy,' clearly advocates for a critical, investigative approach to UFO phenomena and government involvement.