MUFON Massachusetts - Newsletter - 38 - 1987 01

Magazine Overview

This is the January 1987 issue of the MUFON Newsletter, published by the Mutual UFO Network, Inc. The issue is primarily focused on UFO-related news, investigations, and organizational updates within the MUFON network, with a strong emphasis on the Massachusetts chapter.

Monthly Library and Mall Displays

The Massachusetts MUFON chapter is initiating a new outreach strategy by holding monthly library and mall displays using a four-panel UFO exhibit. These displays aim to increase public awareness of the UFO subject and potentially boost membership. The chapter is seeking volunteers to help schedule and assemble these displays for April and June.

Massachusetts MUFON Hotline

The Massachusetts MUFON Hotline number is now listed in both the yellow and white pages, categorized under 'Aviation'.

Vallee Lectures in London

On June 30, 1986, Dr. Jacques Vallee delivered a lecture in London titled "Close Encounters of the Fourth Dimensional Kind." Organized by the International Center for UFO Research, the event was attended by British ufologists and members of the public. The presentation provided an introduction to ufology, discussing cases like the Hill abduction, Lonnie Zanora, and Valentich. Vallee's summation suggested that UFOs are a multi-faceted phenomenon, possibly originating from another dimension.

News from Woodside Planetarium and Observatory

Ray Fowler is scheduled to conduct a course on UFOs, with details provided for adult versions at Endicott College (starting Feb. 3), Northern Essex College at Newburyport High School (starting March 30), and Salem State College (starting May 28). Each session includes handouts and audio-visuals. Jim is the contact person for more information.

Nomination

Joanne Bruno, the Essex County section director, has been nominated for the position of secretary for Mass. MUFON. She is recognized as an experienced and objective investigator who is a valuable asset to the organization.

Washington Update

Bruce Maccabee has provided tentative pricing for an event in Washington D.C., including session fees, banquet, reception, and accommodation at American University. Interested individuals are advised to contact Dr. Bruce Maccabee.

Alaska Sighting

A significant sighting of a Japan Airliner over Alaska on November 17, 1986, was reported in the national media. The incident involved a Japan Air Lines flight that reported seeing three unidentified objects. FOIA requests have been filed, and Elmendorf AFB in Alaska was reportedly closed to the public after the sighting. The object was described as large, comparable to two aircraft carriers, accompanied by two satellite objects. This event is seen as a potential story for national media publicity for the 1987 UFO Symposium in Washington, D.C.

Massachusetts Case Reports

Two cases are detailed:
1. Rochester, Massachusetts (circa 1982): Mr. B.A. reported a metallic grey sphere hovering at power lines, which then maneuvered towards his right and straight up out of sight.
2. China, Maine (January 1, 1987): Two witnesses observed a metallic sphere over a lake that exhibited jerky, skipping movements and was reportedly twice the size of the moon.

TV-Radio Log

• Several media appearances and broadcasts related to UFOs are noted:
• Washington State Director Dale Goudie appeared on the Larry King show on CNN on January 2, 1987, alongside JAL pilot Capt. Kenjyu Terauchi and FAA spokesman Paul Steucke.
• Channel 5 in New York aired a 15-minute update on the Alaska incident on January 5, 1987.
• Larry Bryant was a guest on the Steve Wiseman show on WRKO on January 10.
• The documentary "UFO-It Has Begun" aired on Channel 6 (Portland, Maine) on January 10.
• The docudrama "The UFO Incident" aired on Channel 27 on January 12.

Strange Encounter Over Alaska

This article details the Japan Air Lines Flight 1628 incident on November 17, 1986. Pilot Kenjyu Terauchi and his crew reported seeing flashing lights alongside their Boeing 747 cargo plane for about an hour over the Alaska wilderness. The objects were described as large, with the main one being "two times bigger than an aircraft carrier," and walnut-shaped. The objects were also reportedly detected on radar, though the FAA initially dismissed military radar echoes as 'clutter' and a blip on FAA screens as a 'split image' of the aircraft. The Air Force attributed potential sightings to 'clutter.' The FAA confirmed the incident but closed its inquiry, calling it a 'mystery.' Terauchi speculated the object came from another planet, humorously suggesting their interest might have been in the cargo of French Beaujolais wine.

Tabloid Connections (The Added Burden)

Written by James R. Melesciuc, Massachusetts State Director, this article expresses strong criticism of MUFON's association with tabloid publications. Melesciuc argues that this connection damages MUFON's credibility, alienates members, and sensationalizes the UFO subject. He highlights how tabloids promote "supermarket mentality" and use "military alien attacks and sexual assaults" to grab attention, which he believes turns off the public and undermines the hard work of serious researchers. He recounts instances where MUFON representatives have been featured in sensationalized tabloid articles, causing embarrassment and confusion among members. Melesciuc emphasizes that MUFON's primary functions are to collect and preserve data and to act as a support group for those who have experienced encounters, not to sell stories to the tabloids. He questions the rationale behind maintaining a tabloid connection, especially when it leads to misrepresentation and potential disillusionment for new members. The article concludes by stating that this association creates an "added burden" and a "loss of unity" for the national network, questioning the motives of those who prioritize notoriety over the credibility and hard work of MUFON membership.

UFO Expert Claims: These 4 Types of Space Aliens Are Regular Visitors to Earth

This section, attributed to Walter Andrus, international director of MUFON, outlines four common types of alien visitors based on MUFON's case files:
1. Small Humanoid: Approximately 3½ to 4½ feet tall with large heads, round eyes without pupils, and slit mouths.
2. Bigfoot-like Creature: A hairy, ape-like entity with long arms, sharp teeth, and a large nose, estimated to be over seven feet tall and weighing up to 400 pounds.
3. Humanlike: Aliens that appear almost human in size and form, sometimes indistinguishable from humans but with distinct characteristics.
4. Robots: Mechanical beings that move in a specific manner, assisting in tasks like medical examinations.

The article also includes a quote from nuclear physicist Stanton Friedman, who claims aliens visit Earth regularly and are generally curious rather than harmful, with many looking like us but having holes for noses and ears.

Mysterious radar sighting reported (Daily Times Chronicle)

This newspaper article from the Daily Times Chronicle corroborates the Japan Air Lines Flight 1628 incident. It details how an air controller at Elmendorf Air Force Base confirmed radar contact with a mysterious object trailing the JAL jumbo jet. The article notes that the crew reported seeing white and yellow lights, not typical aircraft markings. The FAA confirmed that their radar picked up something near the JAL plane, but the Air Force suggested it was 'clutter.' The article also mentions that the FAA asked a northbound United Airlines flight to make a turn to confirm the UFO's existence, but that crew reported nothing unusual. The FAA has drawn no conclusion about the incident.

JAL pilot describes UFO (Valley Times Chronicle)

This article from the Valley Times Chronicle provides further details from pilot Kenjyu Terauchi about the November 17, 1986, sighting. Terauchi, a pilot with 29 years of experience, described the objects as "two small ships and the mother ship," expressing amazement at their ability to disappear, reappear, and move quickly. He speculated the objects were of extraterrestrial origin. Terauchi drew maps and pictures for the FAA, describing the main object as "a very big one - two times bigger than an aircraft carrier." He noted that the smaller UFOs did not appear on his radar. Terauchi also humorously suggested the aliens might have been interested in the Beaujolais wine cargo. FAA security manager Jim Derry confirmed that the crew members were "normal, professional, rational" and had no drugs or alcohol involved. The article also mentions that the mysterious object stayed with Flight 1628 for at least 32 minutes, according to FAA flight control reports.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the reporting and investigation of UFO sightings, particularly the significant Alaska incident involving Japan Air Lines Flight 1628. There is a strong emphasis on the importance of credible research and the challenges faced by organizations like MUFON in maintaining public trust. A prominent theme is the critique of tabloid journalism and its detrimental effect on the serious study of UFO phenomena, as articulated by James R. Melesciuc. The newsletter also highlights MUFON's outreach efforts, such as library displays and public lectures, and its role as a support network for witnesses. The editorial stance, particularly from Melesciuc, is one of advocating for professionalism, credibility, and a clear separation from sensationalist media practices to advance the field of ufology.

This issue of the magazine features an article titled "SETI Without Saucers?" by David W. Swift, a professor of sociology at the University of Hawaii. The article, published in April 1982, delves into the complex relationship between the public's interest in Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) and the scientific search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI).

The SETI Challenge: Public Support and the UFO Connection

David W. Swift addresses the significant hurdle faced by SETI scientists: securing public and government funding. He notes that while public support is crucial, citizens are often thrifty, making it difficult to justify expenditures for seemingly esoteric projects like SETI. A primary frustration for SETI scientists is the public's tendency to conflate UFOs with SETI. Laymen often group aerial and celestial phenomena, including flying saucers, "little green men," and extraterrestrial intelligence (ETI), as aspects of the same phenomenon. This contrasts sharply with scientists' views, who typically distinguish between UFOs (often dismissed as misperceptions or hoaxes) and ETI (a legitimate topic for scientific investigation).

This friction between laymen and scientists creates a dilemma. While SETI scientists need public support, the very individuals enthusiastic about SETI are often also interested in UFOs, which can annoy serious scientists. Swift points out that laymen are often puzzled by prominent scientists who advocate for SETI yet remain skeptical of UFO reports.

Survey Data and Demographic Correlations

A recent Gallup poll revealed that approximately half of U.S. adults believe intelligent life exists on other planets, and more than half believe UFOs are real. Further analysis of the survey results, specifically Tabulation T-1, indicates a strong relationship between these two beliefs: individuals who believe UFOs are real are significantly more likely to believe in ETI.

Tabulation T-2, "Social Level of Respondents to Questions on ETI and UFOs," further illuminates this connection. It shows that belief in both ETI and UFOs increases with higher levels of education, income, and occupation. For instance, 62% of college-educated respondents believed in ETI, and 66% believed UFOs were real. Similarly, those with incomes of $20,000 and over showed higher belief rates (59% for ETI, 65% for UFOs). Professional and business individuals also exhibited higher belief rates (60% for ETI, 65% for UFOs).

Implications for Public Support and Funding

Swift argues that these "ETI-UFO believers" possess the demographic characteristics of politically persuasive citizens. Their high levels of education, income, and occupation place them in the most influential stratum of the population, making them key figures in influencing Congress and federal spending. The author asserts that it would be unwise to ignore this group, as they are the very people most likely to affect federal funding decisions.

Reasons for Scientific Aversion to UFOs

Swift explores several reasons why SETI scientists might avoid the UFO question:

1. Perceived Irrelevance: Scientists may feel UFOs have little relevance to their specific research.
2. Scientific Rigor: Even if UFOs were worth studying, it might be difficult to do so with the desired degree of scientific rigor.
3. Unwanted Interaction: Engaging with the UFO topic can lead to time-consuming and unwanted interactions with the public, including individuals claiming sightings, reporters seeking stories, and community groups requesting speakers.
4. Reputational Risk: Scientists may fear that associating with UFOs could taint their own credibility. SETI itself has only recently emerged from the realm of comic strips and science fiction. To protect their recently acquired scientific respectability, SETI scientists may be reluctant to associate with topics perceived as less serious or more fringe.
5. Funding Concerns: The article mentions that SETI has already faced criticism, such as receiving a Golden Fleece Award from Senator Proxmire, and scientists may fear that involvement with UFOs would invite further trouble from Congress.

A Proposed Policy Shift for NASA

Despite these understandable cautions, Swift questions whether this approach is the most effective. He points to the general interest in occult phenomena and the box office success of films like "Star Wars" and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" as evidence of significant public potential for topics like UFOs and SETI. He suggests this potential could be mobilized if scientists and NASA were willing to adopt a more relaxed stance.

Swift clarifies that he is not suggesting involvement with topics like Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster. Instead, he posits that UFOs, as aerial phenomena, fall within NASA's jurisdiction.

Potential Benefits of a Combined Approach

Swift proposes that a more open policy toward UFOs could offer NASA several benefits:

• Public Education: It could provide an opportunity for NASA to educate the public on the distinction between UFOs and SETI.
• Increased Funding: Such a policy might attract more funds, some of which could be allocated to SETI research.

He notes that NASA is currently facing a period of low public enthusiasm, with the Space Shuttle program not generating widespread excitement. In contrast, interest in UFOs remains high despite decades of debunking efforts. Swift concludes that while there is no guarantee of benefit to SETI from a more flexible approach, he sees no undue risk and much to gain from NASA addressing the broader spectrum of related questions.

Acknowledgment

The article acknowledges the helpful comments of Mike Brein, Ben Finney, and Jeff Smith.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The central theme of this issue revolves around the intersection of scientific inquiry (SETI) and popular culture (UFOs). The editorial stance, as presented by David W. Swift, advocates for a more integrated approach, suggesting that organizations like NASA should not shy away from the public's fascination with UFOs but rather leverage it to foster support and understanding for the scientific search for extraterrestrial intelligence. The article emphasizes the importance of public perception and demographic influence on scientific funding and research priorities.