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Magazine Overview

Title: Visitors
Issue: Number 3
Date: October 2008
Publisher: Illinois MUFONNFP
Document Type: Newsletter

This issue of Visitors, the quarterly newsletter of Illinois MUFONNFP, focuses on a highly successful UFO symposium, ocean-based anomalies, and practical advice for field investigators.

Record Attendance at Symposium

The lead article details the "UFO Symposium 3: Show Me the Evidence: The Science of Ufology," which saw record attendance with over 250 people. Prominent presenters included Stanton Friedman, Donald Schmitt, Ted Phillips, and Bill Murphy. Bill Murphy's presentation emphasized the similarities between science and ufology and the importance of critical evaluation. Donald Schmitt discussed the military's involvement in the Roswell crash of 1947, highlighting the government's efforts to conceal facts. Stanton Friedman's presentation, "Flying Saucers and Science," explored governmental bureaucracy and its attempts to cover up evidence of alien encounters, presenting numerous documents to support his claims.

USOS and Other Ocean and Sea Anomalies

This article, written by John B. Ringer, explores the phenomenon of Unidentified Submersible Objects (USOs) and other anomalies observed in oceans and seas. The author recounts personal experiences on an ocean voyage, reflecting on how the vastness of the sea can lead to misinterpretations but also sparks thoughts about UFO reports of discs entering the water. The piece suggests that the ocean is a vast and mysterious environment where such phenomena could easily occur and remain undetected.

The Director's View: Ten for Ten

Sam Maranto, Director of Illinois MUFONNFP, provides an overview of the organization's achievements over the past ten months. Key accomplishments include three successful one-day symposiums attended by hundreds from multiple states and countries, numerous public speaking engagements, and significant publicity across various media platforms. The newsletter itself, 'Visitors,' is noted as becoming a staple. The organization has also seen substantial membership growth, is developing a 'brain trust' of university PhDs, has more field investigators, and is planning a 'Community Out Reach' program. Maranto encourages readers to support the local organization by joining Illinois MUFON.

Upcoming Event: UFOs and the National Defense

A prominent announcement details the fourth UFO symposium, scheduled for November 9th at the Tinley Park Holiday Inn Convention Center. Titled "UFOs and the National Defense," the event will explore questions about UFOs shutting down missiles and government interference in national defense. Key speakers include Robert Hastings, author of "UFOs and Nukes," and Sam Maranto, who will conduct an interview of witnesses. The event promises to reveal secrets kept from the public and will include a Q&A session.

Photography for the Field Investigator (Part Two): Equipment

This multi-part article by Frank Coffman, MUFON Field Investigator and Editor, continues its detailed guide to photography equipment for field investigators. This installment focuses on camera recommendations and essential gear.

Film Cameras:

Coffman recommends seeking out film cameras on eBay for their affordability. He suggests Canon Elph Jr. or Elph II for APS format pocket cameras. For Single Lens Reflex (SLR) APS cameras, the Nikon Pronea 6 and Pronea S, and Canon EOS IX and IX Jr. are mentioned. For 35mm film, he recommends the Kodak Retina series of rangefinder 'folders,' specifically the Retina IIa (with an f2 lens) and the Retina IIIC. For 35mm SLRs, the Nikon F series, particularly the Nikon F4, is suggested. For middle format cameras (120/220 roll film), the Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta A and C are recommended for their sharpness and portability. The Mamiya 645 Pro TL and Mamiya M645 1000s are also noted as good manual options. The Mamiya Press series is ideal for tripod mounting.

Digital Cameras:

For digital cameras, Coffman recommends any of the new, dependable mini-cameras, highlighting the Canon Digital Elph SD1000 as a fully automatic option. For digital SLRs, the Canon EOS Digital Rebel is highly recommended for its value and capabilities. He also praises the Canon Powershot G9 and its newer model, the G10, as excellent compact cameras with advanced features.

Peripheral Gear:

Essential peripheral items include lens filters (UV/skylight, yellow, orange, red, green) for black and white film, a tripod or monopod for stability, and camera bags, particularly backpacks, for carrying equipment. A light meter is also suggested for manual cameras. For night sightings, quick settings like FOCUS=INFINITY, F-STOP=MAXIMUM WIDE, and SHUTTER SPEED=AT LEAST ONE SECOND are advised, though a smaller automatic or video camera might be more practical.

Northern Lights: A Grand Unifying Theory of UFOs?

Written by Bill Murphy, this article critically examines the tendency within ufology to develop grand, unifying theories that attempt to explain all aspects of the phenomenon. Murphy argues that the vast range of UFO-related phenomena—including various craft shapes, lights, hot spots, abductions, crop circles, and even claims of 'space brothers'—should caution against overly simplistic explanations. He references scholars like Robert Sheaffer and Michael Swords who have critiqued such comprehensive theories. Murphy expresses concern about charismatic individuals who promote weakly substantiated explanatory webs that often conflict with established facts and even with each other. He emphasizes the need for critical thinking and discrimination in evaluating these theories, warning that unscientific explanations can harm ufology's struggle for recognition.

Endnotes and Call for Assistance

The article on unifying theories includes endnotes referencing works by Robert Sheaffer, Michael Swords, and Phillip Morrison. The newsletter concludes with a call for volunteers to assist Illinois MUFON, seeking professionals for consultant roles, field investigators, and a marketing-experienced individual for a board position. Interested parties are encouraged to contact Sam Maranto.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently promotes the scientific investigation of UFO phenomena, as espoused by MUFON. There is a strong emphasis on critical thinking, evidence-based research, and the need for discrimination in evaluating theories. The publication encourages active participation in the field through membership and volunteer work. The editorial stance appears to be one of cautious optimism regarding the UFO phenomenon, advocating for rigorous investigation while warning against unsubstantiated or overly speculative theories. The importance of reliable equipment, particularly for field investigators, is also a recurring practical theme.

This issue of the "Newsletter of Illinois MUFON" from October 2008, Number 3, focuses on a variety of UFO and ufology-related topics. It features reports on recent events, ongoing research, and upcoming activities for the organization.

Symposium Recap and Attendance

The newsletter begins by discussing a recent symposium that saw "RECORD ATTENDANCE." It notes that attendees learned about the event through radio ads, newspapers, and the internet. The number of attendees and members has been climbing with each symposium. The article mentions that attendance might have been even higher if not for the concurrent Chicago Air and Water Show and peak vacation time.

Ted Phillips concluded the symposium with a presentation on alien visitations and announced research into a discovery made during WWII in Slovakia, named the "Moonshaft," which may contain evidence of subterranean alien bases. A survey of attendees indicated that many heard about the symposium via radio interviews, such as Stanton Friedman on "Coast-to-Coast."

It was suggested that future symposiums, which have been held in Tinley Park, should be held in various locations across the state to encourage new memberships and interest in ufology.

UFO/Water Sightings (USOs)

A significant portion of the newsletter is dedicated to "Various UFO/water sightings," also referred to as Unidentified Submarine Objects (USOs). The article notes that the oceans are a vast, unexplored realm, offering a place for clandestine activities away from the constant surveillance on land. The oceans cover about 70% of the globe and contain 97% of Earth's water supply.

Several specific cases are detailed:

• John Carpenter's Observation: While observing the night sky in the Southern Hemisphere, Carpenter and companions saw a bright object with extra lights that they initially assumed was an airplane. However, a former pilot stated it was not an airplane. The object dropped near the water, hovered, and then slowly submerged.
• Edward's Observation: While watching a video, Edward noticed a flat, circular object leaving the sea at a 30-degree angle, appearing to shed water as it emerged.
• Al's Observation: Al, fishing at Montauk Point, saw a blazing light flash in the sky, followed by three disk-shaped objects hovering over the ocean. They spun for five minutes before plunging into the water without a splash, as if an opening swallowed them.
• Shannon's Observation: In the fall of 1975, Shannon witnessed two objects emerge from the sea side-by-side, dripping water, and ascend rapidly in formation.
• Lt. Hedison's Observation: Aboard a navy destroyer, Lt. Hedison observed an unidentified green light that dropped to within 30 feet of the ocean and moved toward the ship. After the ship turned to avoid it, the light kept pace. As the ship emerged from fog, radar detected a blip, and the UFO followed the ship's maneuvers before entering the water.

The article references a website devoted to UFOs in or around water and notes the numerous sightings suggest "more watery strangeness than I imagined."

The Lure and Mystery of the Sea

This section delves into the historical and mythological perception of the oceans as mysterious places harboring strange creatures. It mentions ancient mariners' fears of monsters, whirlpools, and sirens. The sea serpent is highlighted as a pervasive mythical creature found in various cultures and religions, often depicted as an enemy of God.

Unidentified Submarine Objects (USOs)

This section confirms the existence of numerous high-quality reports of UFOs entering and leaving the water, leading to the coining of the term USO. The author speculates that these craft use the underwater realm for their operations, possibly for fuel or as a base of operations, given the vastness and unexplored nature of the oceans.

The Shag Harbor Incident

The newsletter highlights the incident at Shag Harbor, Nova Scotia, as perhaps the "best documented UFO/water incident." It references the book "Dark Object" by Don Ledger and Chris Styles and a History Channel documentary. The incident, occurring on October 4, 1967, involved a large object (estimated at 60 feet) seen by multiple witnesses, including ground observers and pilots. The object appeared to be in distress, landed on the water, and was seen floating with a single light on top before sinking. Rescue boats found no wreckage but noted yellow foam and rising bubbles. The presence of nearby military installations led to involvement from Canadian and US authorities, who did not share their findings. The book suggests a second craft joined the first, and the underwater UFO was later seen leaving the water with its companion. The author also mentions Ivan T. Sanderson's "Invisible Residents: The Reality of Underwater UFOs" as further reading.

The Caves of Mars

This article, by Guy Richards, discusses recent NASA photos of the extinct volcano Olympus Mons on Mars. Seven caves, named "the seven sisters," were photographed on its slopes. The most interesting is "Chloe," about 400 feet across and 80 feet deep. Exo-geologists believe these are lava tubes that have collapsed. Thermographs show that cave mouth temperatures are cooler than the Martian surface during the day and warmer at night, indicating a more constant temperature. The article suggests that these caves could be ideal locations for finding life on Mars due to potentially warmer temperatures and the presence of water, as suggested by the Mars Phoenix lander findings. It also proposes that deep caves could serve as protected habitats for future astronauts, reducing the need for heavy habitat construction.

ORB/V OVER CHICAGO

This "FROM THE FILES" section details Case No. 11386, an "ORB/V OVER CHICAGO" sighting. In June, a man and woman in Indian Boundary Park observed a bright orb moving from west to east. After about fifteen seconds, it slowed, shot up vertically, looped, and descended. As it moved away, it became translucent, revealing a darker v-shaped object within. The article notes that while glowing orbs are common descriptions in UFO sightings, seeing another object within the orb is less common.

MUFON 40TH INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM CHANGES

Sam Maranto, President, writes about a change in plans regarding hosting the 40th anniversary symposium. Illinois MUFON NFP was informed that they would not be hosting the event due to concerns about their inexperience and lack of a sizable bank account. Colorado MUFON, having hosted multiple previous symposiums, was chosen instead. Illinois MUFON expresses well wishes to Denver and plans to host other major events next year.

Upcoming Events (COMING EVENTS)

The newsletter lists several upcoming events in October, November, and extending into June '09 and September '09:

• October 29th: Gatto's Restaurant, Tinley Park, IL - UFO Hunters Season Premiere Dinner.
• October 30th: Crest Hill Public Library, Crest Hill, IL - Presentation by Sam Maranto: "Seminar on UFO's."
• November 9th: Tinley Park Holiday Inn Convention Center, Tinley Park, IL - UFO Symposium 4: "UFOs and National Defense" with Robert Hastings and Sam Maranto.
• November 18th: Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL - Presentation by Sam Maranto: "UFOs and the Media."
• November 25th: Forest Park Public Library, Forest Park, IL - Presentation by Sam Maranto: "UFOs and Chicago-Related Sightings."
• June 2009: Majestic Eagle Ridge Resort, Galena, IL - Four Corners Conference.
• September 2009: Rend Lake, IL - Rend Lake Regatta.

Incoming

Sam Maranto, President, provides an "INCOMING" section detailing future activities. The Majestic Eagle Ridge Resort in Galena will host the Four Corners Conference in June 2009, featuring a symposium, golf, and fishing tournament. The event will also include ghost tours, wine tours, and casino opportunities.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently promotes the Illinois MUFON organization, encouraging membership and participation in events. The editorial stance is clearly pro-ufology, presenting UFO and USO sightings as credible phenomena worthy of investigation. There is a strong emphasis on research, witness testimony, and the potential for extraterrestrial or unknown craft activity on Earth, particularly in less explored environments like the oceans. The newsletter also covers broader topics related to UFOs, such as the portrayal of aliens in popular culture (e.g., "The Day the Earth Stood Still") and scientific exploration (e.g., Mars caves).