MUFON Michigan Newsletter - 2008 03

Magazine Overview

This issue of the Michigan MUFON Newsletter, dated March 2008, focuses on UFO sightings, government secrecy, and investigations into unexplained aerial phenomena (UAP).

Words From the State Director

The State Director, Bill Konkolesky, opens the newsletter by thanking volunteers for scanning old case files and mentions the upcoming MIMUFON meeting on March 16th at Walli's East. Gary Golem will lead a Field Investigator's training session, and John Tenney, an independent paranormal investigator, will present on Michigan historical cases, including the 1953 Kinross case, and discuss how UFO incidents are spun and exaggerated in the media. Subscribers are reminded of the option to download a full-color electronic newsletter.

Inside this issue:

The table of contents lists several articles, including 'Texans Report UFO Sighting,' 'INSIDERS EXPOSE REASONS FOR UFO SECRECY,' 'Pilot encounters with UFOs,' 'UFO Investigators Flock to Stephenville, Texas,' 'MUFON CMS logs sighting report with Photo,' 'UFO center moves to old missile site,' 'Niles, Michigan – July 20, 1988 Nocturnal Lights: Bill Murphy's Column,' 'United Nations May Recognize Alien UFO Visits,' 'Recent Michigan Sightings,' and 'From The Editor's Desk.'

Notice and Upcoming Events

A notice clarifies that articles in the newsletter do not necessarily reflect the official views of the Mutual UFO Network. The location for the MUFON International Symposium is announced as the Double Tree Hotel in San Jose, California, from July 24-27, 2008, with investigator training on July 24th, business meetings and a banquet on July 25th, and general speaker sessions on July 25th and 26th. Ruben Uriarte, NorCal MUFON State Director, requests prayers and support for this project. MUFON's mission is stated as the scientific collection and analysis of UFO/Abduction data to learn about the phenomenon.

A UFO MINI-SYMPOSIUM is scheduled for Saturday, March 29th, 2008, at the Tinley Park Holiday Inn and Convention Center in Illinois. The event includes registration, continental breakfast, lunch, and guest speakers such as Don Schmitt, Darryl Barker, Mark Rodeghier, and Sam Maranto. Details and registration are available at www.illinoismufon.com. The event is sponsored by The J. Allen Hynek Center For UFO Studies (CUFOS) and Illinois Mutual UFO Network, MUFON.

Texan Report UFO Sightings

This article by Angela K. Brown reports on numerous sightings in Stephenville, Texas, in January 2008. Dozens of people, including a pilot and business owners, reported seeing a large, silent object with bright lights flying low and fast, with some reporting fighter jets chasing it. Steve Allen described the object as a mile long and half a mile wide, unlike anything from Earth. Machinist Ricky Sorrells saw a flat, metallic object hovering about 300 feet over a pasture. Maj. Karl Lewis of the 301st Fighter Wing stated no F-16s were in the area and suggested the sightings might be illusions caused by commercial airplanes. Air Force bases in Abilene and Wichita Falls also reported no aircraft in the area. The Air Force no longer investigates UFOs. The report notes that the story was picked up by the Associated Press from the Stephenville Empire-Tribune.

INSIDERS EXPOSE REASONS FOR UFO SECRECY

This article discusses Dr. Steven M. Greer's report that government insiders have revealed a classified program related to UFOs. The reasons for secrecy are cited as the inertia of classified programs, embarrassment over past illegal actions, and the understanding of UFO energy and propulsion systems, which could end the reliance on fossil fuels and transform the global economy. The article mentions that US government investigations into UFOs are ongoing but highly compartmentalized and top-secret. Dr. Greer briefed CIA Director James Woolsey in 1993 and learned of secret projects denied access to President Clinton and Mr. Woolsey. Senator Byrd's counsel indicated that upwards of $100 billion per year was spent on 'black' projects, including UFO programs. Dr. Greer provided briefing materials to President Clinton and Hillary Clinton, who reportedly refused further disclosure. The Disclosure Project has uncovered thousands of official documents and witness testimonies related to UFO programs that operate outside Congressional oversight.

Pilot Encounters with UFOs

This article by Leslie Kean, originally from The Providence Journal, discusses a study titled 'Aviation Safety in America – A Previously Neglected Factor' by retired aerospace scientist Richard F. Haines. The study presents over 100 pilot and crew reports of encounters with unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) that may have compromised aviation safety. Pilots described geometric forms and lights inconsistent with known aircraft. Bizarre objects paced aircraft, sometimes disabling instruments or interrupting communications. The study includes 56 near misses, with some pilots taking impulsive evasive actions. Haines states there is no threat of collision due to the UAP's maneuverability. Examples include TWA Capt. Phil Schultz's 1981 sighting of a large, round, silver object over Lake Michigan, and veteran Japan Airlines 747 Captain Kenju Terauchi's 1986 encounter over Alaska. A 1997 Swissair encounter with a glowing white, cylindrical object is also mentioned. Jim McClenahen, a retired FAA air traffic control specialist, notes that UAP can divert controllers' attention, posing a danger. The study does not explain the origin of UAP but suggests they are associated with intelligence, deliberate flight control, and advanced energy management. The article also mentions John Callahan's upcoming briefing on FAA documentation and CIA suppression of the Terauchi encounter. Retired United Airlines Capt. Neil Daniels expresses the profound nature of these energies and the need to understand them.

UFO Investigators Flock to Stephenville, Texas

This article by Mike Von Fremd reports on a team of six MUFON investigators interviewing citizens in Stephenville, Texas, who claim to have seen a UFO on January 8, 2008. The Mutual UFO Network is documenting these sightings, with State Director Ken Cherry noting the exceptional number and credibility of the 50 callers. The Stephenville Empire-Tribune has received international attention regarding the reports of a mile-long bright object. The Stephenville High School Science Club is selling T-shirts depicting a Holstein cow being beamed up by a saucer. Over 30 residents described the object as mile-wide, silent, with bright lights, flying low and fast. Reporter Angela Joyner described the lights as intense. Constable Leroy Gateman demonstrated the lights' movement. Rick Sorrells saw the object while hunting. Steve Allen, a pilot, described it as mile long and half a mile wide, and not from Earth. Allen sketched the object, which he said traveled at amazing speed without sound and split into two. A spokesman for the 301st Fighter Wing stated no aircraft from their base were in the area and suggested commercial airplanes might be the cause, an explanation rejected by witnesses. A former Air Force technician insisted it was an unidentified flying object. Gateman found it too fast to track with binoculars. Some residents expressed embarrassment, with City Councilman Mark Murphy noting that people are not used to such events.

MUFON CMS logs sighting report with Photo

This section presents a sighting report logged by MUFON CMS from Noblesville, Indiana Province (Canada), on January 31, 2008. The witness was home alone when they noticed what they initially thought was a helicopter about 300-400 feet away. The object was silent, not moving or flashing, and had a waviness in the air around it. The witness took pictures with a camera and cell phone before the object disappeared westward at high speed, appearing to curve upwards. The witness recalled a similar experience as a child. The editor's note mentions that photos of a UFO over O'Hare Airport in Chicago bear a striking resemblance to the Indiana Province sighting.

Monthly Statistical MUFON Report - for Oct. 07 – Jan. 08

This report details MUFON sighting data from October 2007 to February 2008. In October 2007, there were 218 sightings reported globally to MUFON through CMS, with 183 in the US and 3 in Michigan. There were 8 Landings, Hovering, or Takeoffs and 8 Entities observed. In December 2007, 234 sightings were reported worldwide (194 in the US, 5 in Michigan), with 10 Landings, Hovering, or Takeoffs and 17 Entities observed. January 2008 saw 607 sightings worldwide (556 in the US, 8 in Michigan), with 36 Landings, Hovering, or Takeoffs and 37 Entities observed. In February 2008, there were 404 sightings (353 in the US, 10 in Michigan), with 14 Landings, Hovering, or Takeoffs and 29 Entities observed.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the persistent reporting of UFO sightings, the perceived government secrecy and cover-up surrounding the phenomenon, and the efforts of organizations like MUFON to investigate and document these events. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry and a challenge to official explanations, advocating for greater transparency and public awareness regarding UAP. The newsletter actively promotes MUFON's mission and upcoming events, encouraging participation in investigations and training.

This issue of the Michigan MUFON Newsletter, dated March 2008, focuses on various UFO-related topics, including the relocation of a major UFO reporting center, detailed witness accounts from Michigan, and international developments regarding UFOs. The publication serves as a platform for sharing UFO sighting reports, investigative findings, and discussions within the UFO community.

The National UFO Reporting Center Moves to a Missile Site

The lead article details the relocation of The National UFO Reporting Center from Seattle to a former Atlas E missile site in Eastern Washington, near Harrington. Director Peter B. Davenport purchased the 22-acre site for $100,000, attracted by the idea of owning a missile site. The center, essentially run by Davenport with a telephone, tape recorder, and computer, houses thousands of UFO reports in a large underground bunker. Davenport, who took over from founder Robert J. Gribble in 1994, spends his time transcribing calls and emails, posting reports on the Web site, and giving lectures. He considers himself a skeptic, estimating that 90% of calls can be disproved, but acknowledges that a significant portion remain unexplained. The article also touches on the history of UFO reports in Washington, referencing the 1947 Mount Rainier sighting that coined the term 'flying saucers'. Davenport believes governments and the press may be hiding UFO information to prevent panic.

UFO skeptic Jim Oberg is quoted, stating that Davenport provides a valuable service but that ufologists are too quick to label phenomena as extraterrestrial. Oberg acknowledges that aliens might be visiting but insists the evidence doesn't lead to an unavoidable conclusion.

The article mentions recent events, including former Arizona Governor Fife Symington's belief about the Phoenix lights and France's release of extensive UFO files. Actress Shirley MacLaine also revealed that Dennis Kucinich saw a UFO. A report from O'Hare Airport in Chicago about a saucer-shaped craft hovering over the airport is also included, with the FAA attributing it to a 'weather phenomenon'. Davenport, who has a degree in fisheries, was friends with the center's founder, Gribble, and continues the work at a cost of $500 a month.

Niles, Michigan – July 20, 1988 Nocturnal Lights

This section features a detailed case investigation from the Michigan MUFON files, investigated by Shirley and George Coyne. On July 20, 1988, Nancy D. and her family witnessed unusual lights in the sky. The initial sighting involved two balls of light, which later appeared to be 25 to 30 balls of light 'chasing' each other within a cloud. The witnesses, including Karen D., her daughters Nancy (16) and Rachel (13), grandmother Mrs. Donaldson, brother Jack, nephew Jake, and five neighbors, were awed by the display. Jack, in his haste to see the lights, fell down the stairs but was uninjured.

Further investigation revealed that the lights were part of a searchlight display at the Notre Dame campus in South Bend, Indiana. A pilot, Larry, who was in a local store, also witnessed the lights and contacted the control tower at South Bend, who confirmed they were also observing the lights but could not identify them or their source, and they were not showing on radar. Dan Wright of MUFON was contacted and coordinated with the Coynes to investigate. The Coynes eventually identified the source of the lights as a searchlight display, much to the witnesses' embarrassment. MUFON Deputy Director Dan Wright commends the thorough investigative work that resolved the case, highlighting the human element of wonder and the importance of common sense in investigations.

United Nations May Recognize Alien UFO Visits

This article reports on discussions at the United Nations concerning the UFO phenomenon. Gilles Lorant, an attaché to the French CNRS and a member of IHEDN, participated in meetings in February 2008. The US Air Force and National Guard presented a report on UFO demonstrations and their potential impact on communities. Representatives from 28 nations, including the Vatican, attended meetings discussing the social and economic implications of UFO sightings and the possibility of extraterrestrial life. Concerns were raised about charlatans, religious prophecies, and the potential for adverse public reactions to UFO sightings to cause economic recession.

The meetings reportedly echoed concerns from the 1953 Robertson Panel and the 1961 Brookings Report. The year 2009 was suggested as a potential turning point for a shift in official attitudes from debunking to encouraging serious study of UFOs, provided social stability in G8 countries and liberal democratic systems in developing nations are maintained, and UFO sightings continue. The article suggests that governments might exploit divisions within the UFO community. Lorant's testimony indicates that governments are moving towards a more open approach due to increased sightings, with conditions including continued social peace and persistent UFO demonstrations worldwide.

Recent Michigan Sightings

This section presents two recent UFO sighting reports from Michigan.

September 28, 2007, Warren, MI: A twelve-year-old boy and his father witnessed five small, lighted objects moving quickly in a line, changing orientation and forming a shallow arc. They described the objects as distinct circles, not pinpoints like stars, and noted their speed and coordinated movement, dismissing the possibility of meteors or satellites. The witness, who has seen unexplainable phenomena three times in 20 years, expressed being freaked out and unable to find any explanation.

October 3, 2007, Canton Township, MI: A witness observed 7-8 tiny, bright silver orbs at a very high altitude moving randomly, appearing and disappearing, and turning dark before reappearing. They described the movement as similar to a swarm of fruit flies. A single, larger silver orb then appeared and moved west like an aircraft but too slowly, with an aura and a slight trail. The witness, a college graduate, and his co-driver, an army veteran, noted that the object did not follow a regular flight path and did not resemble a plane.

Investigator John Tenney to Speak at March's Meeting

UFO investigator John Tenney was scheduled to speak at the March 16 MiMUFON meeting in Flint, Michigan. He planned to discuss Michigan's historical UFO cases, including the 1953 Kinross case, and why UFO incidents become exaggerated in public reporting. The article includes an excerpt from Tenney's encounter with then-presidential candidate George W. Bush in 2000, where Tenney attempted to ask about government information on UFOs. He was physically removed by security. The article also mentions Bill Konkolesky's similar experience with Mitt Romney.

From The Editor's Desk: Stephenville Witnesses Ridiculed and Silenced

Editor David Twichell discusses the media coverage of the January 2008 Stephenville, Texas UFO sightings. He notes that Larry King's CNN show devoted an hour to the subject, interviewing witnesses and UFO debunker James McGaha. Twichell suggests King appears pro-UFO. McGaha questioned witnesses' qualifications and suggested they misinterpreted what they saw, attributing the sightings to conventional aircraft in an airplane corridor. Despite the Air Force initially denying military jets were present, witnesses reported seeing military jets chasing an object. A poll on Larry King's website showed an increase in belief in extraterrestrial life after McGaha's segment.

The article also mentions reporter Angelia Joiner, who interviewed witnesses and noted the military's initial denial and subsequent flip-flopping. Joiner was reportedly fired from The Empire-Tribune and told to back off the story, with speculation that the town's 'upper crust' was embarrassed. The military blamed internal miscommunication. Twichell quotes James Fox, who stated that governments suppress UFO information not because of what they know, but because of their lack of knowledge and control, which could panic the masses.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently promotes the investigation and reporting of UFO phenomena, providing a platform for witness accounts and expert analysis. There is a clear stance in favor of open inquiry into UFOs, as evidenced by the coverage of the UN discussions and the criticism of media figures and officials who dismiss or downplay sightings. The editorial tone suggests a belief in the significance of UFO phenomena and a concern about potential government cover-ups or a lack of transparency. The inclusion of contact information for MUFON state directors and a subscription form further emphasizes the organization's commitment to engaging the public and fostering a community of UFO researchers.