Magonia - No 88 - 2005 05

Magazine Overview

MAGONIA 88, published in May 2005, is an issue of the magazine "MAGONIA" incorporating "MUFOB 135." The cover features a striking image of a conical object with an eye-like feature, and headlines about an investigation into the vanishing X-15 pilot case by Curtis Peebles, an introduction to "The Victorian Charm of the Protong" by David Sivier, and mentions of book reviews and updates from "The Pelican."

Editorial Notes: The Contactee vs. Abductee Dichotomy

The editorial, written by John Rimmer, addresses the ongoing debate among ufologists about the distinction between abduction experiences and contactee experiences. A correspondent claimed these experiences are fundamentally unalike and that the idea of abduction was unknown in mainstream ufology in the early 1960s. Rimmer challenges this by citing earlier cases, such as the Villas Boas case (1957) which introduced alien impregnation, and a 1958 case of a man paralyzed by an alien figure and taken to Mars. He also mentions the Desvergers case from the 1950s, where a scoutmaster reported fighting saucer occupants. Rimmer argues that these cases demonstrate the abduction motif was circulating in the UFO sub-culture alongside the contactee era. He posits that the contactee/abductee division is part of a broader dichotomy within the UFO field, reflecting a split between 'religious' contactee-oriented myths and 'secular' scientific traditions. He notes that elements of both traditions appear in the work of researchers like John Mack and Budd Hopkins, suggesting little real difference between the two types of experiencers. Rimmer concludes that the difference might lie in the prevailing societal atmosphere: a past faith in progress versus a present postmodern moral relativism, leading to a perception that extraterrestrial contact might not necessarily be beneficial.

The Case of the Vanishing X-15 Pilot by Curtis Peebles

This article investigates a UFO incident involving an X-15 flight, where the pilot was allegedly abducted. The story originated from Dr. James M. McDonald's involvement with congressional UFO hearings. Dr. Robert M. Wood, then Deputy Director for Research and Development at Douglas Missile and Space Division, recounted a story told to him by a colleague at Vandenberg AFB about Gene May, an X-15 pilot who reportedly vanished for 3 hours during a 15-minute flight and was examined aboard a UFO. Wood considered his source reliable.

Curtis Peebles, the author, was surprised by this account in Ann Druffel's book "Firestorm," which detailed McDonald's activities. Peebles notes that the X-15 was a high-altitude research aircraft. He recounts that the story of Gene May's abduction was also told to retired X-15 engineer Kenneth W. Iliff at the Giant Rock conventions in the early 1960s. Iliff and his colleague Lowell Greenfield heard a speaker claim to have been involved with the X-15 program and recount how the aircraft and pilot vanished for several hours before reappearing. Iliff and Greenfield dismissed this story as a fabrication, noting that the X-15 was built by North American Aviation, not Douglas, and that Gene May was a Douglas test pilot, not an X-15 pilot.

Peebles explores potential inspirations for the story, including popular culture shows like "The Twilight Zone," "The Outer Limits," and "Star Trek." He also examines a real X-15 flight incident where the pilot, Capt. William J. Knight, experienced APU failure and lost telemetry, but this did not involve aliens. Peebles concludes that the Gene May story, while possibly influenced by melodrama or popular culture, lacks factual basis and was likely a fabrication, highlighting how such stories can persist despite easy verification.

The Life and Times of Gene May

This section provides biographical details about Gene May. Born in 1904, May was an experienced airline pilot and later a test pilot for Douglas Aircraft Co., flying aircraft like the D-558-1 Skystreak and D-558-11 Skyrocket. He accumulated significant flight hours and was known for his ability to note subtle aircraft behaviors. May left flight testing around 1953 and worked in various companies before returning to flying. He died in 1966 at the age of 62. The article emphasizes that May was never associated with the X-15 program, which was built by a different company, and that official records and publications do not mention him in connection with the X-15.

The Victorian Charm of the Protong by David Sivier

This article discusses the theories of fringe writer Stan Gooch, who proposed that Christianity originated from a secret lunar cult. Gooch's theory, prompted by the release of Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ," suggests that the story of Christ is a garbled version of an ancient Moon religion ceremony involving sacrifice and resurrection. Gooch links Christian practices, like the Eucharist, to these alleged pagan rituals, citing Friday the 13th and Monday as Moon-related days, and Easter's determination by the Moon.

Sivier critiques Gooch's theory as "utter rubbish," noting the lack of evidence for cults practicing both castration and human sacrifice as described. He contrasts Gooch's views with those of other fringe figures like Stanislaus Szukalsky, who believed in archaic, prehuman races. The article also touches upon the influence of 19th-century anthropological theories, such as those of Auguste Comte and Herbert Spencer, on the development of ideas about religion and human origins, particularly concerning evolutionary progress and the concept of 'survival of the fittest.' These theories, though later discredited, persisted and influenced occult and Fortean fringe thought.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue strongly critiques the uncritical acceptance of eyewitness testimony in ufology, particularly in the context of the Gene May case. It highlights how believers may prioritize subjective accounts over factual evidence and scientific analysis, often invoking 'cover-ups' to explain discrepancies. The magazine also explores the historical and psychological underpinnings of fringe beliefs, examining how theories about ancient cults, racial origins, and the nature of religion have evolved and persisted. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical inquiry, aiming to debunk unsubstantiated claims and to analyze the underlying motivations and methodologies within ufology and related fringe fields.

This issue of Magonia, dated Spring 1980, features a cover story detailing the planning of the German High Command's invasion of Scunthorpe, accompanied by an article by Nigel Watson on the 1909 and 1913 airship flaps. The magazine also includes a report by Jenny Randles on a case in Wallasey involving paranormal experiences, and information about Magonia's supplement, website, and regular London meet-ups.

Articles and Features

German Invasion Planning and Airship Panics The cover image depicts two German officers planning the invasion of Scunthorpe. Nigel Watson's article discusses the 1909 and 1913 airship flaps, which were seen as portents of growing German military power, and how this theme was further explored by Watson in subsequent publications.

Paranormal Experiences in Wallasey Jenny Randles reports on a case from Wallasey where a percipient experienced paranormal and psychic phenomena dating back to childhood. The individual is described as a 'loner' who lived in remote areas, mirroring aspects of a case described by Nigel Watson.

Magonia Resources and Events Information is provided about Magonia Supplement, edited by John Harney, available in print and online. Readers are directed to the Magonia website (www.magonia.demon.co.uk) for an archive of articles and a second website for historic UFO magazines, a picture gallery, and case studies. Regular monthly meet-ups for those interested in Magonia are held in London.

Address Adjustment Subscribers and correspondents are asked to omit 'John Dee Cottage' from the address due to property re-numbering, with 5 James Terrace remaining the important part of the address.

Book Reviews

This section reviews several books on cryptozoology and related subjects:

• J. Robert Alley, *Raincoast Sasquatch: the bigfoot/sasquatch records of Southern Alaska*: This book is described as a classic technique for bombarding the reader with accounts, focusing on 'paws and pelts' animals. The reviewer notes a lack of truly unambiguous physical evidence.
• Chad Arment, *Cryptozoology: Science and Speculation*: Arment's approach is to look for real animals, separating cryptozoology from paranormal speculation. The reviewer finds his method of presenting accounts easy to read but notes the continuous text can be overwhelming.
• Ronan Coghlan, *A Dictionary of Cryptozoology*: This dictionary lists a vast array of mystery animals, including those that may be genuine but uncatalogued, and others that seem to inhabit a 'goblin universe' or are products of the human imagination.
• Loren Coleman and Patrick Huyghe, *The Field Guide to Lake Monsters, Sea Serpents and other Mystery Denizens of the Deep*: This book uses summaries of accounts to build illustrated portraits of various creatures. The reviewer notes that while some accounts might refer to real animals, others seem metaphorical, representing the 'wildest, weirdest' aspects of the world.
• Linda S. Godfrey, *The Beast of Bray Road: trailing Wisconsin's Werewolf*: This book is mentioned for its account of an upright, dog-headed creature, suggesting that such phenomena are hard to find evidence for.
• Nick Redfern, *Three Men Seeking Monsters: six weeks in pursuit of werewolves, lake monsters, giant cats, ghostly devil dogs and ape men*: This book is described as a hilarious account of an adventure with Jonathan Downes and Richard Freeman, exploring strange beasts and people, with a focus on the 'boggart' aspect of cryptozoology.

The reviews collectively highlight a division within cryptozoology between those seeking physical evidence ('paws and pelts') and those interested in the folklore and social meaning of the narratives. A recurring theme is the lack of conclusive physical evidence for many of the creatures discussed.

Historical and Theoretical Articles

Theories on the Origin of Religion and Mythology The issue delves into various theories regarding the origins of human religion and mythology. It discusses the influence of thinkers like W. Robertson Smith, Freud, H.G. Wells, and the emphasis on shamanism as an early religious system. The article critiques the idea of totemism as the sole origin of religion, referencing Frazer and Hegel. It also explores the Hegelian concept of dialectic and its influence on Marx's ideas of societal progress.

Neo-Paganism and Ancient Matriarchies The text touches upon modern Neo-Pagan movements and their interest in ancient matriarchies, linking this to figures like Marija Gimbutas and Johan Backhofen. It contrasts this with European deism and discusses the influence of Rousseau and Diderot's 'Noble Savage' concept.

Solar Mythology and Max Muller The theories of Max Muller regarding solar mythology as the primal religion of humanity are discussed, along with his linguistic approach to interpreting myths. The influence of his pupil, Sir George William Cox, is also noted, who saw Indo-European myths as allegories of the sun's struggle against darkness.

Critiques of Anthropological Theories The article highlights modern anthropology's rejection of theories positing a uniform, primitive Cro-Magnon culture based on communism, matriarchy, and goddess-worship. It discusses the work of Boleslaw Malinowski and Franz Boas in challenging unidirectional views of cultural development. The challenges to the idea of totemism and shamanism as the origin of religion are also presented, alongside critiques of the notion of Christ's Passion as a mythological treatment of human sacrifice.

The 'Noble Savage' and Cultural Relativism The concept of the 'Noble Savage' is discussed, particularly in relation to Paul Gauguin's paintings. The article also touches upon the Surrealists' championing of indigenous cultures and the challenges posed by postmodern cultural relativism, which can lead to the defense of practices or beliefs that are irrational or repellent.

Neanderthals and Early Human Culture The issue examines the debate surrounding Neanderthals, including evidence for symbolic culture (burials with flowers, jewelry) and the ongoing discussion about their potential for left-handedness and their diet (carnivorous). The article notes that recent findings tend to disprove some of Gooch's theories about Neanderthals.

Political Interpretations of History The text critiques the projection of 20th-century political structures onto prehistoric societies. It discusses the political inclinations of left-handers and the rejection of atheist communism and secular socialism by groups like radical Islamists. Comparisons are made between the Iranian Revolution and laissez-faire economics, and the nature of China's communist system is questioned.

The Pelican Writes: Ufology and its Theories 'The Pelican' offers a critical perspective on ufology, questioning its continued existence and advocating for the exposure of the UFO 'mystery.' The article discusses two main theories: the extraterrestrial hypothesis (ETH) and the psychosocial hypothesis (PSH). It highlights Jerome Clark's opposition to the PSH, arguing that it is a non-technical response to the phenomenon. 'The Pelican' contends that the PSH implies that hoaxing is normal and questions the validity of cases like Trans-en-Provence, which it labels a crude hoax.

Salem Witch Trials Marilynne K. Roach's book, *Salem Witch Trials: a day by day chronicle of a community under siege*, is reviewed. The review emphasizes that the Salem outbreak was not a top-down conspiracy but emerged from the stresses of life in a closed society during times of war and siege, with witchcraft functioning as an explanation for daily hardships and anomalous personal experiences.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently questions sensationalist claims and advocates for rigorous standards of proof, particularly in the fields of ufology, cryptozoology, and the history of religion. There is a clear skepticism towards theories lacking empirical evidence or relying on outdated anthropological models. The editorial stance appears to favor rational inquiry and a critical examination of historical and pseudoscientific narratives. The issue also touches upon the political and social contexts influencing beliefs and interpretations, particularly concerning ancient cultures and contemporary social movements.