MUFON Arizona - 1996 02 28 - Vol 05 No 02

Magazine Overview

This document is the February 1996 issue of the MUFON Arizona Chapter Newsletter, Volume 5, Issue 2. It covers a range of topics related to UFO phenomena, including a featured video program, upcoming events, media watch, personal accounts of sightings, and a significant legal case involving Area 51.

February Program: UFOs: Secrets of the Black World

The main program for the February 1996 meeting was a video by German researcher Michael Hesemann titled "UFOs: Secrets of the Black World," which concerns Area 51. The meeting was scheduled for Wednesday, February 28, 1996, at 7:30 p.m. at the National Guard Armory in Phoenix, Arizona.

Director's Message

State Director Tom Taylor's message highlights the upcoming program and mentions the first Section Directors' meeting of 1996, held in Gila Bend, Arizona. This meeting allowed directors to discuss MUFON-AZ plans and share information. Attendees included Paul Ankney (Asst. State Director), Jim Ossipov (Maricopa County Section Director), June Scherrer (Pima County Section Director), Gloria Roche (former Yuma County Section Director), and Richard Motzer (Arizona Field Investigator Trainer).

Taylor also announced that Gloria Roche would not continue as Yuma County's Section Director, with Doris Barley stepping in temporarily. He expressed openness to suggestions for another State meeting before the hot weather and for potential speakers.

Additionally, Taylor noted the growing interest in Sedona for UFO activities and the need for someone to organize a chapter there. He also mentioned a special showing of "Unsolved Mysteries" that retold the story of Lonnie Zamora and an Art Bell interview with Budd Hopkins regarding a NOVA special aimed at discrediting the abduction scenario. Ray Fowler was also featured on Art Bell's show, discussing the connection between out-of-body experiences and UFO abductions.

Outing at Painted Rock State Park

An outing to Painted Rock State Park, west of Gila Bend, Arizona, was scheduled for Saturday, March 30. The park is known for its petroglyphs. Details for carpooling from the east and west valleys were provided, along with a request for attendees to bring their own food and drink, cameras, binoculars, and telescopes.

Media Watch

Tom Taylor's "Media Watch" column provides a list of recent and upcoming media programs related to the UFO topic. This includes a special on "abductions" in the Phoenix Metro area, a disappointing promotion of Area 51 by local CBS, and an upcoming Arizona Republic article on Remote Viewing. A UFO sighting in Mexico City was featured on a news report, and NBC was scheduled to present a special on "The Mysterious Origins of Man." An article by John Keel in "Fate" magazine on building a flying saucer detector was also mentioned.

Weekly programs listed include "Dreamland" with Art Bell (KFYI Radio), "UFO AZ/UFO Talks" (Dimension Cable), and "The Extraordinary Morning" (Channel 15). Other programs mentioned are "Encounters," "Unsolved Mysteries," and "X-Files."

UFO Sightings Reports

Bob Dean, former Pima County Section Director, was featured on "Sightings" discussing his military experience and desire for government information release. The trailer for the new UFO film "Independence Day" was noted, and a local Channel 8 program on February 27 was mentioned.

UFOs Sighted Near Douglas & Bisbee

Several reports of UFO sightings near Douglas and Bisbee, Arizona, were detailed. Heather Castner and her grandmother, Earline Edinger, reported seeing a strange cluster of lights on September 14. Retired shoe store owner John Ortega described a bright, pancake-shaped light over the Mule Mountains and later a cluster of lights from his porch. Aviation officials stated no military aircraft could explain these reports. Libby Army Airfield officials confirmed that no military aircraft from Fort Huachuca flew within 15 miles of the sighting locations. TRW's unmanned aerial vehicle tests were also grounded at the time. The National UFO Reporting Center noted an increase in Southwest sightings since July 1994. A woman in Superior also reported seeing a similar object. Local resident Dan Oldfield reported seeing a green, fast-moving object with a tail on September 30.

Did the STS-73 Astronauts See a UFO?

An article from "The UFO Enigma" suggests that a female astronaut aboard the STS-73 flight of the Space Shuttle Columbia reported seeing an "Unidentified Flying Object" on October 22, 1995. The report details a brief exchange about the sighting before it was apparently switched to a secure downlink.

Compelling Evidence

This section discusses two pieces of evidence presented at the "Dialogue With The Universe" Conference in Dusseldorf. The first is a videotape of Astronaut Gordon Cooper stating he knew a UFO landed at an airbase, was filmed, and the film sent to Washington D.C. The second is a film claimed to be from Wright Patterson AFB, showing a crashed UFO recovered in 1947.

Stargate Conference

The Stargate Conference in Tucson featured a surgeon who presented enlarged photos and video of tiny, shiny black objects removed from individuals, which were found to contain constituents of natural body ingredients not found together. The objects appeared to have nerve cells and could signal the brain. The surgeon also presented pathology reports. Other "experiencers" brought "implants" removed from their bodies, described as ceramic substances. The conference brought together geologists, astrophysicists, and astronomers to share cutting-edge information and develop models for "crisis Intervention" techniques.

STAR NATION/UFO Conference

A STAR NATION/UFO Conference was scheduled for June 12-18 in South Dakota, featuring speakers like Bob Dean and other UFO researchers. The conference aims to share knowledge from Native American "Star People" and promote "Honesty in Government" for disclosure of government information.

Incident on the Mount

This personal account describes an event in 1976 in Pilot Mound, Iowa. The narrator and his friend Gregg experienced a sudden flash of light, followed by a town-wide blackout and deserted streets. Their car also developed faint blue-green stains on the hood and roof. They were deeply unsettled by the experience, which they never discussed again until this account.

Desert Battle: Secret Air Base Broke Hazardous-Waste Act, Workers' Suit Alleges

A Wall Street Journal article by Margaret A. Jacobs details a lawsuit filed by widows and former civilian workers against the Defense Department concerning alleged hazardous waste violations at Area 51. The workers claim exposure to toxic fumes caused health problems and are seeking classified information for medical treatment. The government is fighting the lawsuit by invoking national security privilege, arguing that disclosure could risk American lives. The article discusses the legal implications, the government's classification of documents, and the plaintiffs' claims of retaliation and lack of protective gear. It also mentions the environmental cleanup costs for federal facilities.

Frequent Fires

This section, likely a continuation of the Area 51 lawsuit article, details the alleged burning of hazardous chemicals in 100-foot pits at Area 51 during the 1980s. Workers reported developing breathing difficulties, skin inflammation, and other health issues. They claim Air Force officers rebuffed requests for protective gear. The article notes that the government denied Mr. Frost's request for worker's compensation and that Prof. Turley's clients aim to prove the government violated the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.

Reticent Patients

This part of the article discusses how many workers feared retaliation and avoided seeking medical help or providing full explanations for their symptoms. After Robert Frost's death from cirrhosis of the liver in 1989, his widow sought legal advice, and a study of his tissue revealed high levels of dioxins and carcinogens, attributed to industrial exposure.

The 'Mosaic' Theory

The Defense Department's strategy of invoking national security privilege is explained, arguing that acknowledging seemingly innocuous facts could create a "mosaic" revealing military secrets. The article notes that Judge Pro has largely sided with the government, classifying documents and rejecting the argument that the privilege cannot conceal evidence of a crime. However, the government did disclose that the EPA had begun inspecting Area 51, a "black" base, but refused to make the inspection report public, citing the privilege, until President Clinton granted an exemption.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently focuses on UFO phenomena, government secrecy, and the pursuit of disclosure. The editorial stance appears to be in favor of investigating and publicizing UFO-related information, encouraging member participation, and questioning official narratives, particularly concerning Area 51 and alleged government cover-ups. The inclusion of a lawsuit against the Defense Department and detailed accounts of sightings underscore a commitment to exploring controversial topics within the UFO community.