Magonia Supplement - No 55 - 2005 03 15

Magazine Overview

Title: MAGONIA Supplement
Issue: No. 55
Date: 15 March 2005
Focus: Special Issue on The Carbondale UFO Crash: The Reality, the Hoaxes and the Legend.

The Carbondale UFO Crash: The Reality, the Hoaxes and the Legend

This special issue of MAGONIA Supplement, authored by M.J. Graeber, delves into the 1974 Carbondale, Pennsylvania UFO incident, often referred to as "The Carbondale UFO Capers." Graeber, positioning himself as one of the primary UFO investigators of the event, aims to present his recollections and reflections, exploring how the legend of the Carbondale UFO came to be.

The Initial Report and Investigation

The incident began on the night of 10 November 1974, when a local radio talk show host announced the report of an unidentified flying object that had apparently crashed in Carbondale. Graeber, contacted by the show's host, confirmed the report's legitimacy, having been informed it originated from an Associated Press release. He then contacted the Carbondale police department, where a desk officer reported that a group of five teenagers had observed an airborne object that plummeted into a pond and sank. The object was described as fiery, falling in a shower of sparks, and splashing into what locals called a coal breaker pit or 'silt pond.'

The police, led by Acting Police Chief Sgt. Francis X. Dottle, cordoned off the area due to the pond's steep and slippery banks. Sgt. Dottle, along with other officers, observed a glowing object submerged in the water on the night of 9 November, which remained aglow for about six to eight hours into the morning of 10 November.

The teenagers described seeing a fiery object streak across the sky, entering the area of Russell Park. They discovered a strange light glowing in the pond about twenty feet from shore. Their initial descriptions varied, with some noting a faint 'fizz' or sizzling sound, and an odour 'like gas from a gas stove.' The object was described as bright whitish-yellow with a trail of reddish sparks, estimated to be about the size of a five-cent piece, though one boy later described it as "three times the size of a basketball." No sounds were noted by the teens as it fell, and they did not see smoke. Later versions of the story credited the boys with saying the object whistled.

Witness Descriptions and Object Characteristics

When the boys returned to the pond about 15 minutes after reporting the submerged light, they perceived the light had shifted position. It was described as a yellow-orange or yellowish-white irregular disc about 5 feet in diameter on the water's surface. UFO researchers later interpreted this as a 20-foot diameter glow. Graeber's experiment with a flashlight suggested that the perceived size could be influenced by the beam's dispersion. The object's speed was described as tremendous, and its lack of floating debris and sinking suggested it wasn't a typical aircraft.

Scientific and Expert Involvement

Graeber inquired about the possibility of the object being 'space junk,' prompting a mention of military tracking installations like NORAD. A concern was raised about potential residual power from 'snap units' (nuclear batteries) if it were a spacecraft. Dr. J. Allen Hynek's Center for UFO Studies was contacted, and Dr. Hynek advised Sgt. Dottle that a meteor would be extinguished upon hitting water. He also suggested checking for radioactivity, fearing a faulty spacecraft snap unit might be leaking.

Graeber himself traveled to Carbondale to assist. He was joined by Mr. Dains, Dr. Hynek's investigator, and Mr. Barry of the 20th Century UFO Bureau. They attempted recovery efforts, including pumping water from the pond. The police had cordoned off the site, and a large crowd, estimated between 1500 to 3000 people, gathered.

Recovery Efforts and Theories

Attempts to locate the object included using a large crane with a magnet and pumping water. Due to the silt and trash clogging the pumps, a drainage ditch was dug. Eventually, a scuba diver, Mark Stamey, was brought in. Stamey, who had come from New York, was reportedly seeking publicity for his diving business. He was briefed on potential hazards, including electrification or radioactivity.

During the recovery, a TV helicopter circled the pond. While no definitive information was gathered on the object itself, Dr. Hynek's representative and Graeber began to suspect a prank. The recovered object was a Conger Railroad Lantern, manufactured around 1950, which had been sold by Sears Roebuck under the brand name "Homart." It was found at a depth of about 7 feet, and one of its bulbs was reportedly faintly aglow, speculated to be due to the battery's displacement of water.

Alternative Explanations and Rumors

Rumors circulated that the object was a Soviet missile or an alien spaceship. Robert D. Barry of the 20th Century UFO Bureau initially suggested it was an errant Soviet missile returned under a "secret exchange program." However, he later dismissed the incident as a "hoax," stating that for the 20th Century UFO Bureau, "the flashlight is a hoax."

The Role of Deputy Ned Dailey

Deputy Ned Dailey, a self-proclaimed UFO enthusiast, also investigated the scene. He claimed to have detected a peculiar Geiger counter reading that disappeared when a cloud above the pond dissipated, suggesting the cloud itself caused the reading. He also described a "sympathetic vibration" in the water and used a metal locater and compass to measure a submerged object approximately 11 feet in diameter, which he felt was not a flashlight or lantern but possibly a rocket.

Dailey's account was met with skepticism by some, particularly Sgt. Dottle, who was frustrated by the circus-like atmosphere and the eventual identification of the object as a lantern. Dailey's claims, including the presence of National Guard members (which others disputed), were questioned for their accuracy and contradictions.

The Confession and Conclusion

Despite the ongoing speculation and the development of a "Carbondale legend," a confession published in the Scranton Sunday Times in November 1999 revealed that Bobby Gillette, one of the original witnesses, admitted that he and his friends had tossed the lantern into the pond as a joke. This confession, however, was largely ignored by UFO enthusiasts who preferred to embrace the more sensational aspects of the event.

Graeber concludes that the lantern, an odd-looking contraption about 12 inches long with a hard black rubber handle, was likely stolen from a railroad yard and thrown into the pond by individuals fearing discovery. He notes that such lanterns were common in coal-cracker and railroading towns and used decoratively.

The article highlights the contrast between the sensationalized "legend" of the Carbondale UFO crash and the more mundane reality, attributing the event to a prank that escalated due to public interest and media attention. The investigation, while initially focused on a potential UFO, ultimately pointed towards a deliberate hoax.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine's stance, as presented through M.J. Graeber's narrative, is one of critical investigation into a UFO case that became legendary. The recurring themes include the power of folklore and sensationalism to shape public perception, the challenges of distinguishing between genuine phenomena and hoaxes, the role of media in amplifying such events, and the often-unscientific approach taken by some UFO researchers. The editorial stance appears to favor a rational, evidence-based approach, acknowledging the possibility of misidentification and deliberate deception over extraordinary claims, while also recognizing the human tendency to seek the extraordinary.

Title: MAGONIA Supplement
Issue: No. 55
Date: November 1974
Publisher: Magonia
Country: UK
Language: English

This issue of Magonia Supplement delves into the 1974 Carbondale UFO incident, critically examining the events, witness testimonies, and the subsequent media frenzy. The author expresses skepticism regarding the narrative of a crashed UFO and a significant cover-up, suggesting that the incident was largely sensationalized.

The Carbondale Incident: A Re-examination

The article begins by addressing the ongoing investigation into the Carbondale pond incident, noting that a deputy is attempting to shift focus to other reported sightings. The author points out that the deputy's personal experience with a submerged UFO was not mentioned in the magazine's six-page exposé. The incident at Carbondale is described as having been blown out of proportion, creating a circus-like atmosphere that thrust the community into the global spotlight, though this attention eventually faded.

Despite the passage of time, the legend of the Carbondale UFO crash persists, with some believing it to be more significant than the Roswell incident due to the larger number of alleged witnesses. The author questions why many witnesses did not come forward immediately or approach investigators at the time. A significant point of contention is the military's alleged covert removal of the UFO from the pond, which the author finds implausible given the presence of numerous police officers, fire company personnel, Civil Air Patrol members, and other officials who reportedly saw nothing unusual.

The author also questions why Deputy Ned Dailey did not return to the pond later to investigate further, especially since he was certain something was still there. Mark Stamey, a diver, reportedly found nothing in the pond except polluted water and discarded junk. The article highlights the discrepancy between Deputy Dailey's claim of the object being 2 1/2 feet below the surface and the fact that the pond's water level had been lowered by 3 or 4 feet by fire company operations.

Debunking Cover-Up Claims

Regarding assertions that Sgt Dottle threatened UFO investigators, the author clarifies that Dottle merely advised against mentioning an "unverified" report of a high radiological reading to prevent panic. The truth, according to the author, was that the reading was actually .05R, and Dottle wanted to prevent a panic, not hide a UFO recovery. The article suggests that Mr. Barry later incorporated this minor incident into his "self-serving errant Russian Missile Tale."

The author expresses doubt that an unidentified military spokesman informed Mr. Barry about a covert recovery operation involving a missile, suggesting that Barry's story was likely spawned by Ned Dailey's account. The article posits that Ned Dailey may have misled Mr. Barry, just as he allegedly misled Ohio MUFON researchers.

The author and Mr. Dains are presented as objective UFO "proponents" who traveled to Carbondale expecting a meaningful case, but found that unusual or incontrovertible evidence was not found, and witnesses had discredited themselves with exaggerated stories.

UFOLOGY AND UFOOLOGY

The author, with over thirty years of experience in investigating UFO reports, observes that the UFO phenomenon has gone through many changes and phases. They note the emergence and disappearance of numerous "star witnesses" and "UFO experts." The author expresses a suspicion that many diverse occurrences are carelessly lumped together and mistakenly labeled as the "UFO phenomenon" by researchers whose work is shoddy and lacks objectivity.

The article touches upon the "Abduction phase/craze" of ufology, describing the UFO experience as having transformed from a visually perceived event into an invisible and tactile one. The author finds it curious that a sculptor turned UFO expert was the first to make this discovery and questions the role of a staunch anti-communist preacher with government run-ins having a publicist who was privy to information about a high-level cover-up involving a Soviet missile.

Personal Anecdotes and Reflections

The author recounts receiving calls from press and radio stations seeking information about the Carbondale incident and also receiving crank calls. They were called a "pinko son-of-a-bitch" and an "undercover Air Force colonel" for suggesting that a railroad lantern was the object found in the pond.

An anecdote is shared about meeting Mike McClellan, a fellow UFO investigator, after Mark Stamey retrieved the lantern. While seeking food, they encountered a sandwich shop owner who, along with two friends, expressed curiosity about the incident. In a lighthearted moment, the author jokingly told the ladies that they had not found a flying saucer but had recovered a little alien from a downed scout ship, which led to laughter.

The author mentions that they last visited Carbondale at that time and had planned to return in November 2004, but Mike McClellan passed away in October 2003. The author and their wife plan to return for the 30th-anniversary celebration of the UFO crash, if it is scheduled, hoping Carbondale might become a profitable UFO tourist attraction like Roswell or Aztec.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue strongly emphasizes a critical and skeptical approach to UFO phenomena, particularly concerning the Carbondale incident. The author challenges official narratives, media sensationalism, and the credibility of certain witnesses and investigators. The core stance is one of questioning unsubstantiated claims and seeking verifiable evidence, while acknowledging the enduring mystery of the UFO phenomenon. The editorial also highlights the author's personal journey and experiences within the field of ufology over several decades.