MUFON Minnesota Journal - No 045

Magazine Overview

This issue of the MINNESOTA MUFON Newsletter, dated January/February 1994 (Issue #45 94-1/2), focuses on several key themes within ufology, including the concept of invisibility in UFO abductions, the role of disinformation in shaping public perception, and the psychological phenomenon of false memories. The newsletter features articles, meeting announcements, and reports on various sightings and cases.

The Unseen: Invisibility and UFO Abductions

The lead article, 'The Unseen,' continues a summary of Budd Hopkins' presentation at a UFO Symposium, focusing on his theories about invisibility in UFO abductions. Hopkins contends that in some cases, the craft and occupants must be invisible to explain why abductions occur in places where they should be observed. The article highlights the Linda Cortile case, where witnesses described a 'spectacular light show' and a UFO with flashing lights and a beam, yet no one saw the craft arrive, the aliens enter, or the UFO depart with Linda and her son. This case brought invisibility to the forefront, as Linda had been abducted many times from the same area without recorded observations until this incident.

Budd Hopkins also shared a story from Australia about Linda, her husband, and a guest who awoke with nosebleeds. A young couple approached Hopkins after a lecture, presenting four photographs taken in 1978. These photos, which were predominantly red, depicted a playground, a bay, and a tree. The couple explained that they and their son were supposed to be in the photos, but were not visible, despite being present in the scene. The photographer had moved slightly between shots, and the couple did not know where the negatives were.

The article further details a hypnosis session with the husband, who described a silver ball that seemed to be watching him and taking him and his family up to a larger object. He felt the ball was hiding him. The wife, under hypnosis, described photographing her husband and sons, and then feeling they were 'going up.' She recounted entering a craft through the bottom, her sons being taken away, and undergoing gynecological procedures. She described their descent in a bright light, seeing her husband below holding his camera. The husband, under hypnosis, described a silver ball that followed him and belonged to 'that other thing that's up in the sky.' The incident concluded with the family, their clothing, and the camera becoming invisible to others on the playground.

The article notes that the UFO and the ball were also invisible to the other people. Budd Hopkins concludes that invisibility would be a more practical method for abductions than the 'switching off' of hundreds of people. The article ends with a quote from Dick Moss, marveling at the 'temporarily invisible camera record the invisibility of the mother and sons against a visible landscape.'

UFO Stories - Disinformation?

This section, an excerpt from 'SWAMP GAS,' discusses how many major UFO stories are a result of government disinformation campaigns. Speaker Bill Moore, who claims to have been part of such campaigns, stated this at a MUFON meeting. Moore explained that disinformation has become a primary defense for keeping secrets. He cited the example of underground bases at Dulce, NM, and the associated grays, reptilians, and captured craft, which he claims were fed to Paul Bennewitz to discredit him. Bennewitz, who ran a scientific firm in Albuquerque, had photographed and filmed UFO activity and recorded magnetic activity near the Manzano weapons storage area.

Moore stated that disinformation is not a complete lie but contains enough untruth to be easily discredited and to mislead people. He explained that Bennewitz had stumbled onto something, possibly UFO-related, and was asked by government officials to remain silent. When Bennewitz refused and began spreading information about low-frequency radio transmissions, Moore claims he was mentally broken.

When questioned about whether Moore's own statements could be disinformation, he responded that one must weigh information from all sources. He criticized the UFO field for wanting to prove a theory rather than letting evidence lead, stating that theories and speculation have a place but must be labeled, and belief systems do not belong in research.

The section includes a quote from John Swinton, former Chief of Staff of The New York Times, about the role of journalists in distorting truth.

False Memory

Authored by Bob Seath, this article explores the concept of false memory in the context of UFO abduction reports. It references recent news items about false memory in abuse and criminal cases. A study on children's reliability as witnesses in sex abuse cases found that repeated questioning could lead them to add fictional details. Ann Landers, in a response to a reader, stated that while some childhood abuse memories are real, many accusations are false, and false memories are more prevalent than people realize, often being implanted by therapists.

Dr. Elizabeth Loftus, a psychology professor, is quoted on the prevalence of false memories. The article mentions Margaret Hapsch, an eyewitness to a drive-by shooting, who recanted her earlier testimony after therapy sessions. Gary Wells, a psychology professor, suggested Hapsch might be experiencing a 'memory experience' rather than a recovered memory, noting that the mind may not work that way and that stress can affect memory. Both academics have researched witness identification and false memories.

The author concludes by questioning whether his own lack of UFO sightings or abductions is due to his memory being false.

A Very Close Encounter!

This article recounts an incident involving a deputy sheriff named 'Dale' in Arkansas on November 19, 1989. While patrolling a remote gravel road, Dale encountered an old Chevy with four teenagers standing beside it. He then saw a dark gray, dull-looking object, described as 'exactly like you would expect a flying saucer to look.' It appeared to be two saucers joined, smooth, with no visible joint. The object was motionless, hovering about three to four feet above the road, estimated to be about 30 feet across, with a smooth surface and no windows.

Suddenly, the deputy's spotlight and the entire electrical system of his patrol car went dark. The teenagers' car also lost power. Dale described feeling scared and hearing the girls express fear. About three minutes earlier, the teenagers had also seen the object and their car had lost power. The object ascended vertically, and as it reached about twenty-five feet, the glow on the ground faded. The glowing ring on the bottom of the saucer was described as being about ten feet across.

The object ascended to about a hundred feet, then shot off horizontally towards the northwest. Immediately after the UFO departed, the lights and radios on both vehicles suddenly came back on. Dale stated that he had always been skeptical of flying saucer stories but knew what he saw was real and solid.

Other Reports

Close Encounter: This section details another incident where a deputy sheriff, 'Dale,' described an object that looked like two saucers joined, smooth, and with a ring of light on the bottom. The object hovered motionless before ascending and disappearing. The encounter caused the electrical systems of two vehicles to shut down.

UFO study says we're normal, well-balanced! An Associated Press report indicates that researchers found UFO reporters scored no worse than other people on psychological health and intelligence tests, appearing 'very normal.' The study, conducted by Patricia Cross and Nicholas Spanos, included individuals who reported seeing UFOs or aliens, and members of the general public.

News from Nevada: This section reports on a strange implant case from Western Australia, featured on an Australian television show. The case involved a man named 'Ron' who experienced an abduction at age seven. He was given a telepathic message, found himself in a hall with humanoids, and was given a cricket bat, wickets, and ball. He later coughed up a piece of metal, which was analyzed and found to be an unusual combination of metals, possibly an electronic probe.

Another report from Oklahoma MUFONEWS describes a sighting by Mrs. L-B- in Czestochowa, Poland, who saw a 'ball with a tie' travel quickly and vanish, leaving her with a euphoric feeling. She later saw two individuals outside her balcony window and invited them in, but they remained motionless.

Meetings and Events

MINNESOTA MUFON Meetings:

• Saturday, January 8, 1994
• Saturday, February 12, 1994 Location: THE IRISH WELL, 1975 University at Prior, St. Paul, MN Social: 1:00 p.m., Meeting: 1:30 p.m.

MEETINGS DU JOURI:

• PARANORMAL GROUP: Saturday, January 22, 1993, at The Irish Well, 2:00 p.m. Speaker: Wells Horverid on "Possession."
• TESLA SOCIETY: Saturday, January 15, 1993, at Pavick Museum of Radio, St. Louis Park.

WITH REGRETS...

The Theosophical Society has suspended public lectures until further notice.

Late breaking news!

The February Paranormal Group meeting is scheduled for Saturday, February 26, 1993, at The Irish Well, 2:00 p.m. Speaker: Arlene Zeismer, discussing "Lay lines and the paranormal aspects of crop circles."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the unexplained phenomena associated with UFOs, including abductions and sightings, and the psychological aspects that influence how these events are perceived and reported. The newsletter appears to maintain an open-minded stance towards UFO phenomena, presenting various accounts and theories without outright dismissal, while also critically examining potential explanations such as disinformation and false memories. The editorial stance encourages research and the weighing of evidence, as highlighted by Bill Moore's comments on the importance of not letting belief systems dictate research conclusions.