CAUS Story Release - 1978 August

Magazine Overview

Title: CAUS
Issue: Story Release
Date: August 9, 1978
Publisher: Citizens Against UFO Secrecy (CAUS)
Country: USA

This issue of CAUS focuses on an FBI interrogation of UFO researcher Robert Todd, detailing the events and implications surrounding his Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. The cover headline starkly announces, "FBI INTERROGATES UFO RESEARCHER: GOVERNMENT MAY CONFISCATE DOCUMENTS."

FBI Interrogates UFO Researcher Robert Todd

The main article, written by Brad Sparks, Director of Research for CAUS, reports on an interview with Robert Todd. On the evening of July 28, 1978, two FBI agents visited Todd at his parents' home in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. Todd, 24, specializes in sending FOIA requests to the U.S. government regarding UFOs. The interrogation lasted over an hour and focused on Todd's letters to the National Security Agency (NSA).

The Cuban Jet Incident and FOIA Requests

Todd had been sending FOIA requests to the Air Force, CIA, NSA, and Navy since February of that year concerning a 1967 incident involving a Cuban Air Force jet and a UFO. The CIA, on March 10, suggested Todd "check with the Cuban Government for records on this incident." On July 14, Todd notified the NSA and Air Force that since they were uncooperative, he would contact the Cuban government. He also asked them for advice on what information in an attached statement should not be transmitted, giving them a 20-day deadline.

In response to this, two FBI agents appeared at his door. Todd recounted that the FBI agents read him his rights and "tried to intimidate me" by citing espionage laws and mentioning penalties including life in prison or death. Todd stated he was "shook" and had considered quitting UFO research.

Source of Information and FBI Concerns

The FBI agents were particularly interested in the source of a statement Todd had obtained regarding the Cuban incident. Todd explained that a researcher had passed it to a reporter, who then passed it to him. After repeated questioning, Todd identified the reporter as Robert V. Pratt of the National Enquirer. He refused to identify the "West Coast researcher" to the FBI, eventually stating the researcher was on the West Coast.

One FBI agent asked Todd if he knew W. Todd Zechel, Director of CAUS, whom Todd had previously inquired about to the NSA. Todd stated he did not know Zechel and told the FBI he believed Zechel had no connection to the Cuban incident. The FBI confirmed they had received Todd's letter regarding Zechel.

The FBI agents also indicated they knew of Todd's July 14 letter to the NSA, which included a statement from a security specialist. They pressed Todd to identify the source of this letter.

Details of the Cuban Jets Incident

CAUS has pieced together details of the Cuban jets case. The incident involved the 6947th Security Squadron of the U.S. Air Force Security Service (AFSS), based at Homestead Air Force Base near Miami. This squadron's mission was to monitor Cuban Air Force communications and radar.

In March 1967, intercept operators at Detachment A (located at Key West Naval Air Station) reported that Cuban radar controllers detected an unidentified "bogey" approaching from the northeast. At an altitude of about 10,000 meters (33,000 feet) and a speed of nearly Mach 1 (660 mph), two MiG-21 jet fighters were scrambled to intercept it. The jets were guided by radar to within 5 kilometers (3 miles) of the UFO.

The flight leader reported the object was a "bright metallic sphere with no visible markings or appendages." When radio contact failed, Cuban Air Defense Headquarters ordered the leader to arm his weapons and destroy the object. The leader reported his radar was locked on the bogey and his missiles were armed.

Seconds later, the wingman reported that his leader's jet had exploded. He stated there was no smoke or flame, and his MiG-21 had disintegrated. Cuban radar then reported the UFO accelerated and climbed above 30,000 meters (98,000 feet), heading south-southeast towards South America.

An Intelligence Spot Report was sent to NSA headquarters, as AFSS units are under NSA operational control. However, Detachment A did not receive an acknowledgment, prompting a followup report. Orders were then given to ship all tapes and data to NSA, listing the aircraft loss as due to "equipment malfunction." At least 15 to 20 people in the detachment were informed of the incident.

FBI's Classification and Motivation

The FBI agents indicated that some of the information Todd possessed was classified. One agent described it as "above Secret," while another stated, "Most of it is b------t." The younger FBI agent, who admitted to being a pilot, also mentioned he had once seen a UFO he could not identify.

When Todd asked how the FBI would caption his case file, an agent replied it would fall under "Counterespionage." The FBI men left after Todd identified Pratt as the reporter. Todd's mother asked if he was in trouble, and an agent responded he was "the man on the end of a string."

Official Positions

Paul B. Lorenzetti, spokesman for the FBI field division in Philadelphia, stated on July 31 that he was "not aware of anything" about the Todd investigation and was "not cleared to gain information in such investigation." He suggested calling back later.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are government secrecy, the potential for suppression of information related to UFO phenomena, and the challenges faced by independent researchers using FOIA. CAUS positions itself as an organization dedicated to uncovering and disseminating information about UFOs, highlighting the government's efforts to control or classify such data. The editorial stance is critical of government secrecy and supportive of researchers like Robert Todd who pursue transparency.

This document consists of pages 11 and 12 from a publication titled "SPARKS/FBI INTERROGATES." The content focuses on the difficulty in obtaining information from government agencies regarding an investigation into an individual referred to as "Todd." The date mentioned in relation to these inquiries is July 31, with a subsequent event on August 4.

FBI Interrogations and Official Stonewalling The narrative begins with Lorenzetti instructing Special Agent Roger Midkiff not to comment on any pending investigation, citing official Bureau policy. Midkiff indicated that a statement might be made upon the completion of an investigation and hinted that the reporter might be contacted for other reasons.

John Perks, a spokesman at FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C., stated on July 31 that he had no knowledge of an investigation into Todd and would need to check. Later that day, his superior, Tom Coll, reiterated the FBI's policy of never confirming or denying who they have spoken with, or even if they have spoken with anyone.

NSA's Refusal to Cooperate Charles Sullivan, a spokesman for the NSA, also based in Maryland, was reached for comment on July 31 regarding the Todd story. He was explicitly unresponsive, stating, "I'm not going to be responsive to you at all." Sullivan explained that government agencies do not provide information about other government agencies, emphasizing the difficulty of even understanding internal agency matters.

Air Force Involvement and Classified Information The document then shifts to an interaction involving Air Force Major Gordon Finley and Todd. On Friday, August 4, Finley reportedly phoned Todd. Todd recounted that Finley called because it was the last day of a 20-day time limit Todd had placed on a request for information made in a July 14 letter. This deadline had extended to 21 days.

According to Todd, Maj. Finley stated that a statement concerning a "Cuban incident" included classified information. Finley inquired about the number of copies of this statement Todd possessed. Todd, in turn, asked Finley why he wanted to know. Finley then instructed Todd to seal all copies of the statement in an envelope, indicating that "someone" might come to pick it up. Todd refused this request.

Todd also recalled asking Finley about the classification of the information, noting that Finley seemed reluctant to provide it. Todd mentioned the FBI investigation, and Finley, according to Todd, confirmed that the classification was "Secret or above."

Finally, Todd asked Finley if the Air Force intended to transfer the matter to an investigative agency, with Todd having the FBI in mind. Finley responded, "probably," and indicated that the Air Force had given Todd's letter considerable thought.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance The recurring themes in this excerpt are government secrecy, the difficulty in obtaining information from federal agencies, and the handling of classified information. The editorial stance appears to be one of investigative journalism, highlighting the obstacles faced when trying to uncover details about government actions and investigations. The use of spokesmen and official policies to deflect questions is a central point of criticism.