Just Cause - 1996 09 - No 48 - New Series

Magazine Overview

Title: JUST CAUSE
Issue: NUMBER 48
Date: September 1996
Publisher: Citizens Against UFO secrecy
Editor: Barry Greenwood

This issue of JUST CAUSE, a newsletter focused on government secrecy and UFO phenomena, addresses the ongoing debate surrounding extraterrestrial life and the challenges of UFO research. The editorial highlights the increased availability of government documents but notes that they do not verify claims of crashed saucers or abductions, suggesting that the 'business' of ufology has overshadowed reality.

Editorial: The State of UFO Research

The editorial reflects on the evolution of UFO research, noting that while more documents have become available, they haven't settled the controversy. It criticizes the current state of ufology, where reality is often manipulated by proponents and opponents, leading to its exploitation in legal defenses and media. The editor expresses a desire to return UFO research to a more serious, investigative approach, emphasizing that much remains unknown about early government UFO projects like Sign and Grudge. The piece calls for continued research into local sources to fill gaps in the historical record.

Naval UFO Reports: Where Are They?

This section critically examines the scarcity of UFO-related records from the U.S. Navy compared to other agencies like the Air Force, FBI, and CIA. Despite FOIA requests, only a few inches of material have been obtained. The Navy's explanation is that the Air Force held primary responsibility for UFO investigations, and naval reports were often transferred or destroyed. However, the article points out an exception: the survival of a 1947 USS Chipola deck log entry, which was not found in the Project Blue Book index. The piece also discusses the limited naval record of the 1952 Tremonton, Utah, UFO filming and the absence of records from MERINT radiotelegraph procedures. It highlights that the U.S. Hydrographic Office, through its 'Notice to Mariners' publication from 1958-1966, issued reports on 'Celestial Phenomenon' from merchant vessels, suggesting a potential source of overlooked military reports.

NAVSPASUR and Intelligence Gathering

The article notes that the Naval Space Surveillance System (NAVSPASUR) tracks thousands of 'unidentified orbiting objects.' It suggests that while the Navy may not have conducted dedicated UFO projects, it likely gathered information on UFOs incidentally through intelligence reports and ships' logs. The piece references a study on meteoroid impacts detected by Defense Department satellites, indicating that many unexplained flash phenomena occur, particularly over water, and could be observed by ships.

Cowflop Quarterly Absent

This brief note informs readers that 'Cowflop Quarterly' has not been published this quarter and its future publication is at the discretion of its editor, Robert Todd.

Project 1947 Accomplishing Many Goals

This section provides an update on 'Project 1947,' a historical search of early UFO years. Approximately 4700 newspapers have been scanned, resulting in twenty-one volumes of information on the 1947 UFO wave. The project head, Jan Aldrich, has largely completed his search phase, but readers are urged to assist in searching local newspapers before the June 1997 deadline.

Scholarship Invades UFology

Two new reference works are highlighted: the 'MUFON JOURNAL COMPREHENSIVE SUBJECT/AUTHOR INDEX, 1967-1996' and 'FSR, FLYING SAUCER REVIEW 1955-1994, AN INDEX.' Compiled by Edward Stewart, these indices are presented as valuable tools for researchers seeking to navigate the vast content of these periodicals.

Poll Conducted on UFO Secrecy

This section reports on a Newsweek poll released on June 30, 1996, revealing that 49% of Americans believe the government is hiding UFO information. The poll also found that 12% of respondents had seen unidentified flying objects, and only 20% believed UFOs were alien ships. The article analyzes belief patterns by age, noting that younger demographics show higher belief rates. It questions the value of such polls when the fundamental evidence for UFOs remains elusive, suggesting that the field is often treated as belief-oriented rather than a system of objective study.

Cosmic Case of Double-Dipping?

This article by David L. Chandler details a remarkable event on October 3, 1996, where a meteor was sighted streaking across the sky in New Mexico and West Texas, dimmed, and then reappeared about 100 minutes later over California, moving in the same direction before exploding. The 100-minute interval corresponds to the time it would take for an object to orbit the Earth. Astronomer John Wasson has offered a $5,000 reward for any piece of the meteorite, believed to have landed near Kernville, California. Mark Boslough of Sandia National Laboratories notes the numerous coincidences suggesting the two sightings were related. The event is compared to a similar, though less conclusive, sighting in 1972. Seismic data from the California Institute of Technology indicated an impact in the southern Sierra Nevada. The article suggests that pieces might have fallen during both passes, and finding them could confirm the connection.

Investigative Detachment Report: Unidentified Flying Object (1956)

This section reproduces a memorandum from the Investigative Detachment, 14th District OSI (IG) USAF, dated August 28, 1956. It details a report received from Mrs. Jerry Wickstrom of Cheyenne, Wyoming, concerning her son David's sighting of an unidentified flying object on August 26, 1956. The object was described as round with a convex top and bottom, silver in color, approximately fifteen feet in diameter, and smooth. It moved from southeast to northwest in level flight and disappeared behind a hill. The report also notes a peculiar event where a white puff of smoke appeared from the rear of an abandoned car body as the object passed over it, and the car's rear window was found shattered with small, rectangular fracture lines.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around government transparency (or lack thereof) regarding UFO phenomena, the challenges and evolution of UFO research, and the presentation of specific case studies and scientific analyses. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical inquiry, advocating for a return to rigorous, objective research while acknowledging the public's fascination with the topic. There is a clear emphasis on scrutinizing official records and questioning sensationalized accounts, particularly those driven by media exploitation. The magazine aims to provide a platform for detailed investigation and historical research, encouraging reader participation in uncovering factual information.