MUFON Louisiana - Vol 08 No 05 - 1996

Magazine Overview

This issue of the LA MUFON newsletter, dated September/October 1996, is Volume 8, Number 4. The publication is dedicated to the scientific investigation and study of the UFO phenomenon and is published by the Louisiana Mutual UFO Network (LA MUFON), an affiliate of the international Mutual UFO Network (MUFON). The newsletter's editor is W. L. "Barney" Garner, who also announces his resignation as MUFON State Director for Louisiana, effective December 31, 1996. Garner expresses his continued interest in UFO investigation and hopes to maintain contact with educators, scientists, and law enforcement officials. He also solicits recommendations for UFO information sources for the final issue.

Rockefeller Funds UFO Briefing Report for U.S., World Leaders

The lead article details a 168-page Unidentified Flying Objects Briefing Document, "The Best Available Evidence," funded by Laurance Rockefeller. Approximately 1,000 copies were delivered to influential individuals, including John Gibbons (President Clinton's science advisor), the president of France, Henry Kissinger, and Colin Powell. The document's purpose is to persuade governments to release all collected UFO evidence for open scientific inquiry. The report's principal author is Don Berliner, with co-authors Antonio Huneeus and Marie Galbraith. An executive summary was prepared by Richard H. Hall. The Center for UFO Studies (CUFOS), MUFON, and FUFOR provided data for the report.

The report is divided into three sections: an Overview (19 pages), Case Histories (98 pages), and Quotations (40 pages), with 10 pages of Appendices. The Overview discusses government secrecy, the case for UFO reality, extraterrestrial origins, and the UFO cover-up, citing prominent figures. Part II, Case Histories, presents 19 case discussions, focusing on establishing the physical reality of the UFO phenomenon. These include Close Encounters of the First Kind (CE1) and Close Encounters of the Second Kind (CE2) involving physical evidence, but notably exclude abduction cases (CE4) and direct observation of alien beings (CE3) to concentrate on the core question of UFO reality.

Part III, Quotations, compiles statements from military, civilian, and scientific officials indicating government involvement in the UFO phenomenon since World War II. The Appendices cover characteristics of IFOs and UFOs, terminology, international agreements, recommended reading, resource catalogs, and lists of organizations like CUFOS, FUFOR, and MUFON.

Laurance Rockefeller, an 85-year-old venture capitalist, funded the report and reportedly discussed it with President Clinton and Hillary. His spokesman stated Rockefeller is interested in learning what the government has on file. Rockefeller has also funded Dr. John E. Mack's abduction research and meetings of the Starlight Coalition, composed of former intelligence and military officers. The report is not available for public sale, with only 1,000 copies printed.

Identified Heavenly Objects

This section, authored by Michael D. Sandras, provides astronomical information for September and October. Two bright planets, Jupiter (evening sky) and Venus (pre-dawn east), are highlighted. Saturn is also visible in the early evening eastern sky, and Mars has a distinctive reddish hue in the early morning west of Venus. The "Summer Triangle" stars (Vega, Deneb, Altair) are prominent in the early evening sky, with Sagittarius and Scorpius in the southern part. The "Milky Way" is described as a band of light formed by billions of stars. The early morning sky is dominated by winter constellations like Orion, Taurus, and Canis Major. The Orionid Meteor Shower peaks on October 21st, but will be affected by the Moon. A total Lunar Eclipse is scheduled for September 26th, visible from most of the United States, during which the Earth passes between the Sun and Moon. Saturn will be visible near the Moon during the eclipse.

An "Identified Heavenly Objects Finder" provides azimuth and elevation data for planets and stars from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for various dates in August, September, October, and November 1996. It also notes the end of Daylight Savings Time on October 27th.

Case Histories: The Best Available Evidence

This section details 19 incidents or groups of incidents cited in the Rockefeller Report. The cases span from 1943 to 1994 and include:

• 1943-45: "Foo Fighters" Over Europe and Asia: Reports from WWII pilots and aircrew describing encounters with "glowing balls of light," often exhibiting unusual maneuvers and speed.
• 1944: "Foo Fighters" Over the Indian Ocean: A B-29 bomber reported a red-orange spherical object that paced the aircraft and performed evasive action.
• 1944: "Foo Fighters" Over Hagenau, Germany: An American night fighter encountered two glowing orange objects that performed complex maneuvers.
• 1946: "Ghost Rockets" Over Scandinavia: A wave of sightings of tubular or "spindle-shaped" objects flying low and slowly with little or no sound.
• 1947: First American Sighting Wave: Kenneth Arnold's sighting of "nine peculiar looking aircraft" over Washington State, which coined the term "Flying Saucer."
• 1947: Roswell Incident: Mentioned as potentially included in the report.
• 1952: Second American Sighting Wave: Intensive UFO activity over Washington, D.C., involving luminous objects tracked by radar and observed visually.
• 1953: CIA Panel: A secret panel of scientists recommended a debunking effort for UFO reports, failing to address the actual nature of the phenomena.
• 1956: Radar/Visual Jet Chase Over England: RAF radar operators and a jet interceptor tracked and chased an unidentified object displaying high speed and rapid directional changes.
• 1957: Third American Sighting Wave: Electromagnetic effect cases concentrated around Levelland, Texas, where glowing objects caused vehicle systems to fail.
• 1958: Brazilian Navy Photographic Case: A Saturn-shaped UFO was photographed near Trindade Island, Brazil, with Navy tests confirming its high speed.
• 1964: Landing Case at Socorro, New Mexico: Police officer Lonnie Zamora reported a shining egg-shaped craft with slender legs and two small beings outside, which later took off silently.
• 1967: Physiological Case at Falcon Lake, Canada: Amateur prospector Steven Michalak reported a metallic, disc-shaped object that emitted heat, causing burns and radiation sickness symptoms.
• 1975: Strategic Air Command Bases UFO Alert: Reports of "military helicopters" intruding on high-security bases in northern states, whose origin could not be determined.
• 1976: Multiple Witness Case in the Canary Islands: A large luminous UFO was observed for 20 minutes, with depositions taken from witnesses and a color photograph.
• 1976: UFO Dog Fight Over Tehran: Two F-4 Phantoms were scrambled to intercept a UFO, which jammed their systems and emitted a missile-like object that landed.
• 1980: UFO Incidents at Rendlesham Forest, England: U.S. Air Force personnel at NATO bases reported strange lights, a glowing triangular object, and beams of light illuminating base areas.
• 1981: Physical Trace Case in Trans-en-Provence, France: An object shaped like two saucers landed, leaving a circle with landing tracks and radioactive soil samples.
• 1986: Jet Chase Over Brazil: Luminous objects were tracked by radar and observed visually, darting and making sharp turns.
• 1986: Japan Airlines 747 Case Over Alaska: A 747 crew reported sighting two small unidentified lights and one huge lighted object that maneuvered around the aircraft.
• 1989: Multiple Witness Case at Russian Missile Base: A KGB file describes a sighting of a disc-shaped UFO hovering over a rocket weapons depot, emitting a green light and a beam.
• 1989-90: Sighting Wave in Belgium: Hundreds of reports of dark triangular UFOs with bright lights and beams, tracked by radar and pursued by F-16 jets.
• 1991-1994: Recent Cases: Includes sightings in Paraguay (electromagnetic effects), Mexico City (radar confirmation), United Kingdom (diamond-shaped object, light beam), and southwestern Michigan (anomalous targets on radar).

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently focuses on the scientific investigation of UFO phenomena, presenting documented cases and official reports. The editorial stance, as indicated by the Rockefeller Report's purpose and the inclusion of various official investigations, supports the idea that UFOs are a real phenomenon deserving of serious study. The emphasis on physical evidence, radar/visual confirmations, and electromagnetic effects suggests a leaning towards tangible proof. The exclusion of abduction cases from the "Best Available Evidence" report indicates a strategic focus on establishing the reality of the phenomenon itself before delving into more controversial aspects. The newsletter also highlights the historical involvement of governments and military organizations in UFO investigations, often encountering unexplainable phenomena and resisting public disclosure.

The newsletter encourages readers to conduct their own research and make informed decisions, reflecting a commitment to critical thinking within the field of ufology. The editor's departure and the call for reader input on information sources suggest a desire to ensure the continuation of UFO awareness and study beyond the publication's cessation.