Magonia Supplement - No 49 - 2004 02 16

Magazine Overview

This issue of Magonia Supplement, No. 49, dated 16 February 2004, focuses on the phenomenon of UFO 'flaps' and the role of media in their creation, specifically examining the 'modest surge' of UFO reports in 1950. The main article, "KEYHOE AND THE 'MODEST SURGE' OF 1950" by Martin S. Kottmeyer, challenges the conventional understanding of how media attention influences UFO sightings.

The 'Modest Surge' of 1950 and Media Influence

Kottmeyer begins by presenting a paradox: the theory that UFO flaps are caused by media coverage seems counterintuitive when applied to the 1950 surge. Evidence suggests that during the five-year period from 1947 to 1951, UFO reports averaged fewer than fifteen per month. A modest surge occurred in 1950, coinciding with Donald Keyhoe's influential UFO book and his charges of a government conspiracy. However, data from the '1950 Blue Book tally' shows that May and June, the months of Keyhoe's book release, were actually the lightest months for reports, even below the 1947-51 average.

The article highlights the release of Keyhoe's article in *True* magazine, which David Jacobs described as the most widely sold and read in the magazine's history. Frank Edwards's early broadcast of the article generated significant interest, leading to an Associated Press article and a plug by Walter Winchell. Despite this publicity, January and February reports remained low, with the 'modest surge' appearing only in March.

Curtis Peebles notes that *True* published a follow-up article by Commander R.B. McLaughlin in March 1950, detailing a 24 April 1949 incident he believed involved extraterrestrial beings. The magazine also featured seven photos of flying saucers in its April issue. By the end of spring 1950, publicity was steady, but report numbers were dropping.

The Farmington Incident and the Dimmick Hoax

The article questions why reports concentrated in March and then declined. While McLaughlin's piece was early in the March surge, the most significant event of that month was the R.L. Dimmick case. Dimmick claimed to have seen a corpse taken from a crashed saucer near Mexico City. This story, disseminated widely by teletypes and radio stations, caused a media frenzy, with the Chicago Tribune's phone lines tied up and the Pentagon besieged by newsmen. Time magazine noted this as the prominent story of the period in its April 17, 1950 issue.

Kottmeyer points out the irony that Dimmick's tale was later confessed as a hoax, yet it is linked to the notorious Farmington, New Mexico incident, which is still considered mysterious by some ufologists. The paradox remains: how could Keyhoe's seminal work fail to create a significant flap, while a hoax like Dimmick's generated a 'modest surge'? This challenges the notion that media attention is the sole critical factor in UFO flaps.

Literary Criticism: Abduction Narratives

Budd Hopkins and Carol Rainey's 'Sight Unseen'

John Harney reviews "Sight Unseen: Science, UFO Invisibility and Transgenic Beings" by Budd Hopkins and Carol Rainey. Harney criticizes Hopkins for regarding abduction narratives as true accounts of real physical events, leading to 'absurd theorising and pseudoscientific speculation'. He cites the example of Katharina Wilson, who reported 'missing time' at O'Hare Airport. Hopkins attributes this to a probable abduction, while Harney suggests mundane explanations like mental fugues or confusion.

Harney also discusses the 'phantom support group' described in the book, which he suspects is an example of modern folklore. He questions the lack of detail regarding the location, owner of the apartment, and the identities of the investigators, suggesting that Hopkins's literal interpretation of UFO narratives ignores basic scientific principles and common sense.

Other Book Reviews

Peter Rogerson reviews Dave Blevins's "UFO Directory International" (2003), noting the inclusion of e-mail addresses and web sites, but also criticizing the padding with local MUFON branches and the inclusion of a religious cult (Aetherius Society). John F. Moffitt's "Picturing Extraterrestrials" is reviewed as a book that, despite its art history background, discusses alien abduction narratives from a generally skeptical viewpoint, framing them as part of postmodern commercial culture.

Stephen Webb's "If the Universe is Teeming with Aliens, Where is Everybody?" and William C Burger's "Perfect Planet, Clever Species, How Unique Are We?" are reviewed as books that critically examine claims for extraterrestrial intelligence, suggesting that the absence of ETs or their signals is strong evidence against their existence.

Odds and Ends

This section features several brief, often bizarre, news items:

• Laughlin Laugh-in: A preview of the 13th International UFO Congress, highlighting speakers like Wynn Free, David Wilcock, and Rich Dolan, and noting the inclusion of Budd Hopkins and Carol Rainey to promote their book.
• New Jersey Conference: A preview of a conference sponsored by The UFO/ET World Traveling Museum and Library of Scientific Anomalies, with speakers discussing topics ranging from alien contactees to life on Mars and UFOs in world politics.
• Croydon Tram Incident: A report from a website detailing vandalism and disruption on a Croydon tram, including a graffiti artist and a man who resisted arrest.
• Tiger Woman of Qom: A report from India about police breaking up a crowd gathered for the rumored execution of a half-woman, half-tigress.
• The Husband in the Bathroom: A story about a Turkish woman who allegedly locked her husband in a bathroom for three years.
• The Case of the Cuddly Goose: A report about a Vietnamese man charged with animal cruelty for carrying a goose, claiming it was a Vietnamese custom.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently questions the literal interpretation of UFO phenomena and abduction narratives, favoring explanations that align with basic scientific principles and critical thinking. There is a clear skepticism towards claims of government conspiracy and extraterrestrial visitation, particularly when they lack robust evidence. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical inquiry, challenging the more sensationalist aspects of ufology and advocating for logical and scientific research methods. The "Odds and Ends" section, while seemingly disparate, often highlights the bizarre and unusual, perhaps serving as a counterpoint to the more serious analytical articles, or as examples of the kind of unusual stories that ufologists might latch onto.

The magazine also seems to engage in literary criticism of UFO literature, evaluating books and articles based on their methodology, evidence, and adherence to scientific principles. The overall tone is one of intellectual rigor, with a particular focus on debunking unsubstantiated claims and promoting a more grounded understanding of UFO phenomena.