MUFON Arizona - 1997 10 22 - Vol 06 No 10

Magazine Overview

This is the October 1997 issue of the MUFON Arizona Chapter Newsletter, Volume 6, Issue 10. The cover features a desert landscape with cacti and the headline "ARIZONA CHAPTER The Truth is Out There". The issue details upcoming meetings, media watch, and various articles related to UFO phenomena.

Meeting Announcement

The main meeting for October 1997 was scheduled for Wednesday, October 22, at 7:30 p.m. at the National Guard Armory in Phoenix. The program featured a video interview with Selman Graves, a witness to the retrieval of a UFO crash in Paradise Valley, Arizona, in 1947. The location was specified as 5636 E. McDowell Road, east of 52nd St., then north on Bushmaster Blvd. into the Armory.

Contact information for various MUFON-AZ chapter directors and support groups was provided, including Tom Taylor (State Director), June Scherrer (Pima County Sect. Dir.), Jim Ossipov (Asst. State Director), Doris Barley (Temp. Yuma Cty. Sect. Dir.), Dr. Ruth Hover (Abduction Support Group), Herb Funston (Cochise Co. Sect. Dir.), Ken Kerber (Pinal Co. Sect. Dir.), and Mike Hayes (Mojave Co. Sect. Dir.).

Director's Message

Tom Taylor, State Director, expressed his hope that the meeting would be informative. He highlighted the significance of the 1947 Paradise Valley UFO crash, noting it was briefly mentioned in the book "Above Top Secret." He also mentioned that Dr. Hover's Field Investigator classes were progressing well, with new investigators preparing for tests. Taylor reminded members that November and December meetings would be held on the THIRD WEDNESDAY of the month due to the holidays. He also encouraged attendance at the Casa Grande Ruins outing.

Casa Grande National Monument Outing

A MUFON-AZ outing to Casa Grande National Monument was scheduled for Sunday, October 26. Carpooling was arranged, with participants asked to call Tom Taylor for rides. Attendees were advised to bring their own food and drink. The departure time was 9:30 a.m. from the NW corner of Mill and Southern in Tempe.

Media Watch

This section, by Tom Taylor, discussed a KTAR panel on the "Phoenix Lights" on October 5, expressing dismay that Bill Hamilton was introduced as Assistant State Director for MUFON-AZ, a position he no longer held. It also mentioned an interview with Dr. Steven Greer on October 8, who claimed his presence in Phoenix on March 13th accounted for the Phoenix Lights and discussed hearings in Washington, D.C. on the UFO situation.

Frank Baranowski's 'Mysteries Around Us'

Frank Baranowski hosted an interview on "Mysteries Around Us" on Saturday, October 11, featuring Ted "Sparky" Loman, Robert Morning Sky, and Standing Elk, who had presented at the "Prophets Conference" at Corona Ranch in Phoenix. The author also attended the conference, which included a panel discussion with Bob Dean, Ted Loman, Dr. Steven Greer, and Dr. Edgar Mitchell.

UFO Program Listings

A list of recently aired television and radio programs related to UFOs was provided, with a request for members to notify Tom Taylor of any additions or changes. Programs mentioned included "Dreamland" (radio), "Erskin Overnight" (radio), "UFO-AZ Radio Show" (radio), "Mysteries Around Us" (radio), "Unsolved Mysteries" (TV), "X-Files" (TV), "Sightings" (TV), and "The Visitor" (TV).

Weekly Radio Programs

Details were given for "DREAMLAND" hosted by Art Bell on KFYI Radio, with a list of affiliate stations in Arizona. Art Bell also hosts "Coast to Coast" weeknights.

50+ Years of Arizona Sightings 1946-1997

MUFON-AZ was still offering Jim Ossipov's comprehensive listing of reported Arizona sightings for sale at meetings for $6.00, or $7.50 by mail.

Calendar

• Upcoming chapter meetings were listed:
• Cochise County Chapter: Saturday, October 25, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. at Sierra Vista City Library.
• Pima County Chapter: Saturday, November 1, 1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. at Wilmot Library in Tucson.
• Yuma County Chapter: Sunday, December 7, 1:00 p.m.

• Other events included:
• "Preparing for Contact" Workshop in Phoenix, October 25-26 ($155).
• Casa Grande National Monument Outing, October 26.
• Academy of Close Encounters Therapists in San Diego, November 15, featuring Dr. Ruth Hover and others ($75).

A reminder was given that November and December MUFON-AZ meetings in Phoenix would be on the THIRD WEDNESDAY instead of the fourth.

Classified Ads

An advertisement encouraged members to place ads in the MUFON-AZ Newsletter, with rates starting at $5.00 for three lines.

Article Submission

An invitation was extended to members to submit articles and book reviews. Handwritten articles or those typed on a typewriter were accepted, but computer-submitted articles were preferred. Submission instructions included using WordPerfect 5.1 or ASCII format, and sending to Tom Taylor or Mary Hart.

Cochise County Section Report

As of August 31, 1997, the Cochise County section had 13 members, with 8 certified as MUFON Investigators. Their meetings focused on UFO case studies, including a simulated hovering UFO daytime sighting problem that involved calculating distance, flight level, and direction of motion. The NOVA video "UFO's: Are We Alone?" was shown during the August meeting.

Shag Harbour Incident of 1967

This article detailed the incident that occurred at 11 p.m. on October 4, 1967, when a UFO estimated at 60 ft. in diameter, flashing four lights, was seen hovering over Shag Harbour. It tilted, hit the water with a bright flash and an explosive sound. Witnesses reported the crash to the RCMP. The craft left a strip of yellow foam as it moved toward the open sea and disappeared. The incident was brought to the attention of the Condon Committee. The article notes that the military initially believed the UFO had navigated to a different location after submerging. A second UFO was reportedly on the scene repairing the crippled craft. A Soviet sub later violated the 12-mile limit. Both submerged UFOs began moving toward the Gulf of Maine, surfaced, became airborne, and flew away. There were claims of debris recovery. A week later, a family observed two UFOs hovering over Shag Harbour.

Styles, who investigated the incident, found that logs from the lighthouse and radar records were missing. He also noted a strange situation with the "Annual Stroker's Report." The article mentions a connection to Father Michael Surke-Gaffney, a priest, astronomer, and UFO investigator for Canada's National Research Council.

More Hard Evidence -- An Editorial Comment

This section discussed Wilbert B. Smith's admission that fragments from UFOs had been recovered and analyzed by Project Magnet and Second Story. One fragment was reportedly shot off a UFO by a jet interceptor near Washington, D.C. in July 1952. Smith described the fragment as a matrix of magnesium orthosilicate containing thousands of 15-micron spheres. The author notes that UFO critics often focus on physical trace cases and that magnesium appears in at least half of the UFO physical traces cited.

Text of Accompanying Arizona Republic Article from June 30, 1950

This section reprints an article titled "MYSTERY SOARS OVER ARIZONA" from the Arizona Republic. It describes a "weird, bulbous thing" observed for seven hours over Phoenix, which thousands of people watched. Observers included Dr. William A. Rhodes, a research engineer, who estimated the object's altitude at 50-60 miles and described it as a globe with an ice-cream-cone-like projection. American Airlines pilots and fliers from Williams Air Force Base and Luke Field estimated its height at over 50,000 feet. Army radar units could not pick up the object. The article notes that the object moved westward and was described as brilliant white, almost blinding. Its size was undetermined but considered gigantic.

Periodical Review

• This section reviews several publications related to UFOLOGY:
• The Journal of Scientific Exploration: A quarterly publication from the Society of Scientific Exploration, costing $40 per year, featuring refereed articles.
• The Journal of UFO Studies: Published by the J. Allen Hynek Center for UFO Studies, this scholarly publication features articles by academics and experts in the field, costing $18 per edition.
• The International UFO Reporter (IUR): Also from the Hynek Center, this publication offers well-researched papers on UFO activity and field of interest. It requires a contribution of at least $25.
• The Anomalist: Edited by Patrick Huyghe and Dennis Stacy, this publication emphasizes first-person experiences and investigations, costing $10 per issue.

The review also mentions a book by Steven Dick, "The Biological Universe: The Twentieth-Century Extraterrestrial Life Debate."

Alien Agenda Book Review

Jim Marrs' book "Alien Agenda" is reviewed by Herb Moran, who describes it as a current summary of UFO/ET/UT realities. The review highlights Marrs' arguments against critics like Phil Klass and Curtis Peebles, and his reasons for believing in a UFO information coverup.

Universal Studios creates 'Area 51'

This article reports on Universal Studios' "Halloween Horror Nights" attraction, which includes an "Area 51" exhibit featuring a 50-foot spacecraft, an alien autopsy, and space creatures. The attraction also includes "Tales From the Crypt Film Vault" and "The Creature From the Black Lagoon's Monsterquarium."

Ex-astronaut urges alien hearings

This article features ex-astronaut Edgar Mitchell, who believes aliens have crash-landed on Earth and calls for congressional hearings on whether the U.S. has captured alien spacecraft and studied them for new technologies. Mitchell spoke at the "Prophets Conference" in Laveen, Arizona, and theorized that a "parallel government administration" has been involved in reverse engineering alien technology for decades. He stated that it would be best if the U.S. government bought into this and broke the "shroud of secrecy."

Frances Emma Barwood, a member of the Phoenix City Council, is mentioned as being the only one to ask for an investigation into mysterious lights seen over the city on March 13, noting that ridicule makes people afraid to come forward.

'Extraterrestrial perspective' spurs astronaut's big search

This article focuses on Dr. Edgar Mitchell's belief in extraterrestrials, stemming from his experience walking on the moon. He founded the Institute of Noetic Sciences to search for answers to fundamental questions about consciousness and existence. Mitchell's views incorporate concepts like "electromagnetic energy" and "quantum fluctuations," and he speaks of a "Janus Principle" or "two faces of the same reality," suggesting a self-organizing, intelligent, and creative universe. He also touches on alien abductions and "reverse engineering projects" related to UFO technology. The article notes that Mitchell is a guest lecturer at the Prophets Conference.

Laser to be shot at satellite

This article reports on Defense Secretary William Cohen's approval for the Army to fire a laser beam at an Air Force satellite. Critics fear this test, conducted at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., is a step toward a new arms race. The Pentagon stated the test would not destroy the satellite, create orbital debris, or pose a risk to other satellites, and is consistent with U.S. policy. However, critics argue that developing such a capability could lead to a dangerous new arms competition. John Steinbruner, a senior analyst at the Brookings Institution, called the test "an unbelievably foolish judgment."

Subscription Information

The final page provides subscription details for the MUFON-Arizona Newsletter, with dues set at $15 for a full year (one issue per month). Instructions are given for renewing or starting a subscription, including mailing a check payable to Tom Taylor to his address in Tempe, Arizona.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently promotes the investigation of UFO phenomena, encouraging member participation in meetings, outings, and article submissions. There is a strong emphasis on reporting sightings, sharing information, and discussing evidence, including physical trace cases. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into UFOs and related topics, while also acknowledging skepticism and the need for scientific rigor, as seen in the review of the "Journal of Scientific Exploration." The issue highlights the ongoing efforts of MUFON-AZ to keep the public informed through various media and events. There's also a recurring theme of potential government secrecy and the need for transparency regarding UFOs, as expressed by Edgar Mitchell.