MUFON Massachusetts - Newsletter - 46 - 1987 09

Magazine Overview

This issue of the MUFON Newsletter, Issue #46, dated September 1987, is published by MUTUAL UFO NETWORK, INC. and covers a range of topics related to UFO phenomena, investigations, and public interest. The cover headline highlights that 'UFO stories keep public's attention.' The newsletter features articles, conference announcements, case reports, and commentary from various contributors.

Conferences and Events

The newsletter announces two upcoming conferences. The first is 'The UFO Experience,' presented by Omega Communications on November 7-8, 1987, in North Haven, CT, featuring speakers like John White, David Manke, Philip Imbrogno, and Budd Hopkins, covering topics from 'Exploring Outer and Inner Space' to 'The UFO Abductee.' The second is a one-day event on September 26 at the Brewster Middle School in Brewster, NY, focusing on the 'Hudson Valley Mystery: UFOs in New York and CT.' This conference will feature speakers such as Whitley Strieber, John Fuller, Budd Hopkins, John Keel, and Peter Gersten, and will include accounts from local residents who have witnessed strange phenomena since 1983, with over 5,000 sightings reported in the surrounding counties.

MUFON Initiatives and Reports

An important measure instituted at the 1987 MUFON Symposium in Washington, D.C., was the establishment of a new position: Investigative Coordinator. Dan Wright, MUFON's Regional Director for the Central States, has taken on this role. His responsibilities include coordinating field investigators, acting as a clearinghouse for case reports, reviewing reports, providing feedback, and assigning ratings to cases. This initiative aims to bring professionalism and standardization to UFO case investigations. State Directors are requested to submit copies of case reports to Dan Wright.

Case Reports

Several case reports are detailed:

• Case A: On February 10-19, 1979, in Methuen and Reading, MA, a witness reported observing an N/L (Non-identified light) that changed shape from starlike to spherical four times. The witness also reported a Close Encounter of the Third Kind (CE III) with entities and was taken onto the object, returning to their automobile at 6:30 a.m.
• Case B: On August 17, 1987, in Lynnfield, MA, a witness reported an N/L, possibly Jupiter, between 10-12 p.m.
• Case C: On September 9, 1987, between 1:30-2:30 a.m., in Northwest Conn., Springfield, MA, Merrimac and Haverhill, MA, several witnesses reported an N/L with a loud rumbling noise, possibly a helicopter or C-5 aircraft. Investigation is continuing.

CUFOS and Document Authenticity

The J. Allen Hynek Center for UFO Studies (CUFOS) released a bulletin addressing a CSICOP press release that questioned the authenticity of widely publicized UFO documents. These documents include a September 24, 1947, memorandum from Truman to Secretary of Defense James Forrestal, a November 18, 1952, briefing paper for President-Elect Eisenhower about recovered UFOs, and a July 14, 1954, memorandum from Robert Cutler regarding the MJ-12 group. CUFOS is seeking an independent investigation into these documents, noting that seasoned researchers foresaw problems due to a lack of in-depth investigation. Disclaimers have been issued by the National Archives regarding the Cutler Memo, and the source of these documents remains anonymous, requiring critical evaluation.

Radio-TV Log

On August 21, 1987, from 2-5 p.m., Jim Melesciuc, Ann Duffel, Phil Klass, and Frank Stranges were guests on WALE radio in Fall River. A humorous note is included about Phil Klass's reply when asked if he knew Jim Melesciuc.

Book Review: 'Above Top Secret'

Thanks to Philip Mantle, MUFON representative for England, the book 'Above Top Secret' by Timothy Good is reviewed. The book, with a forward by Lord Hill-Norton, examines government suppression of UFO evidence, suggesting a conspiracy of fear due to extraterrestrials' interest in Earth and potential threats to security, religions, and scientific beliefs. The book attempts to answer questions about the UFO problem and government concealment. It is slated for U.S. publication in Spring 1988.

Commentary: 'Is History Repeating Itself?'

By Jim Melesciuc, the commentary draws parallels between the current UFO interest and the 1950s contactee movement. The 1950s saw massive publicity for contactees like Howard Menger and Truman Bethurum through media and conventions, which often interlocked UFO beliefs with occult subjects. This led to a deterioration of Ufology's respectability and increased ridicule. The author argues that similar patterns are emerging, fueled by publicity surrounding the JAL sighting, the MJ-12 controversy, abductees, channeling, and the harmonic convergence. The electronic media is also contributing to this trend. The commentary criticizes Gary Kinder's book 'Light Years' for promoting the Billy Meier contacts, which were known to be a hoax. It also points to Whitley Streiber's promotion of channeling and his upcoming book. The author suggests that Jamie Shandera, along with Moore and Friedman, were part of a disinformation campaign related to the MJ-12 papers, which received worldwide media attention. The commentary concludes by noting that extra effort is being spent by researchers to correct these issues and bring respectability to the scientific study of UFO phenomena.

UFOs: Therapy Helps Out-of-This-World Patients Cope

An article by William E. Geist from The New York Times discusses how group therapy helps individuals who claim to have been abducted by aliens. Budd Hopkins, author of 'Missing Time' and 'Intruders,' runs these meetings for abductees, describing their experiences as traumatic. The article notes that being abducted by aliens is not always glamorous, often causing lateness and social awkwardness. Rosemary Osnato, a graphic artist, shares her experience of abduction and how people often envy her, while Helen Wheels recounts being abducted as a child and continuing to have medical tests performed by aliens. The article also mentions Whitley Strieber's book 'Communion' and Gary Kinder's 'Light Years,' as well as Budd Hopkins' 'Intruders,' which detail alien encounters. The piece highlights the growing interest in UFOs, with conventions, best-selling books, and increased reports of sightings and abductions.

News Clippings and Miscellaneous Items

• Haverhill Gazette (7-6-87): 'Witnesses say UFOs are choppers.' This article reports on a loud noise heard late Wednesday night in Haverhill, MA, which residents described as unidentified helicopters buzzing treetops without navigation lights. Authorities had no immediate explanation, though some suggested Army helicopters on a training mission.
• Boston Globe (8/25/87): 'UFO records faked, investigator reports.' This report states that 'Top Secret' documents claiming the Pentagon recovered a crashed flying saucer and alien bodies in 1947 are bogus, according to a report by Phillip Klass, Washington editor of Aviation Week.
• The Times (August 10, 1987): 'UFO stories keep public's attention.' By Coria Holland, this article discusses how UFOs have become a household word, attributing this to movies and books. It highlights Raymond Fowler's work as national director of Investigations for MUFON, his belief that the government tries to hide UFO sightings, and mentions classic sightings like the Exeter, NH case. It also details the Andreasson Family case and the Betty and Barney Hill encounter.
• 'Now You Know' Snippets:
• The first liquid-fueled rocket was launched by Dr. Robert Hutchings Goddard on March 16, 1926, reaching an altitude of 41 feet.
• Gemini 3's unofficial nickname was 'Molly Brown,' later accepted as 'Titanic' by NASA.
• The middle letter in 'MiG' is lowercase because it stands for the Russian 'and.'
• The American woodcock is the slowest bird, timed at 5 mph in flight.
• A meteor streaking across the Canadian sky on September 19 created seismic waves.

Recommended Reading

A list of recommended books on UFOs and related topics is provided, including works by Dr. J. Allen Hynek, Jacques Vallee, Budd Hopkins, and others.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the increasing public attention to UFO phenomena, the role of media in shaping perceptions, the ongoing debate about government secrecy and cover-ups (particularly concerning the MJ-12 documents), and the experiences of UFO abductees. The commentary by Jim Melesciuc suggests a critical stance, warning against the commercialization and sensationalism that can detract from serious UFO research, drawing parallels to the past. The overall stance of the newsletter appears to be one of active investigation and documentation of UFO reports, while also acknowledging and addressing the controversies and potential for misinformation within the field.