MUFON Minnesota Journal - No 060

Magazine Overview

This issue of the MINNESOTA MUFON Newsletter, dated July/August 1996, features a range of articles on UFO phenomena, scientific investigation methods, and historical cases. The cover highlights a piece from the State Director, Michael Strainic, discussing UFOs in Canada.

From the State Director: Ufology in the Great White North

Michael Strainic, National Director for Canada, presents his perspective on UFOs, suggesting that many incidents may be staged events by the phenomenon or the intelligence community. He believes we have seen many 'masks' but not the 'real face' behind the UFO phenomenon. Strainic's talk covered both historic and modern aspects of UFOs in Canada.

He details the Airship Wave of the 1890s, documented in Canada and the US, noting that some sightings couldn't be attributed to a specific balloonist due to timing. He recounts an incident in 1915 where an object dropped three balls of fire into the St. Lawrence River, causing a police blackout in Ottawa and a public reaction of 'war nerves.' Airship sightings reappeared between 1898 and 1908. Strainic also mentions Wilbert Smith, who proposed 'Project Magnet' to study geomagnetics as a link to UFO technology, believing it would be the key to understanding their flight characteristics.

Minnesota MUFON Meetings

Announcements for MUFON meetings are provided for Saturday, July 13, and Saturday, August 10, at the Science Museum of MN. Specific instructions for entry and times are given, emphasizing the need to arrive between 1:00 and 1:30 PM or at the 3:00 PM break. The building and ramp areas are designated as non-smoking, with free coffee and soft drinks.

The 1970s Fuhr Case and Williams Lake Incident

Page two continues with details on UFO cases. The 1970s Fuhr case from Saskatchewan involved five aluminum-colored domes spinning above a field, emitting smoke, and leaving 'saucer nests' rather than crop circles. In 1990, a high-strangeness event in Williams Lake, BC, included a 39-foot ring pressed into a driveway and a cone of red light over an apple tree, which subsequently lost all its apples without any falling to the ground.

Crop Circles and Animal Mutilations

Strainic also discussed crop circle phenomena, noting reports of dizziness and nausea near circles, and how animals like dogs and geese would avoid them. He described how geese would detour around formations, and sometimes split up to go around opposite sides. Odd sounds, like a flapping bird or footsteps, were sometimes heard. Canada also experiences animal mutilations, sometimes with organs liquefied. A flattened porcupine found in a crop circle had its quills arranged as if swirled by a force that also affected the wheat, suggesting a powerful force. Another case involved a farmer's blind dog disappearing and being found near a flax field circle, with its head missing, indicating it had traveled a significant distance into dense flax.

The Shag Harbour, Nova Scotia Case (1967)

The issue recounts the 1967 Shag Harbour case, where a sixty-foot diameter UFO was seen hovering over water. It then dropped rapidly, hit the water with a bright flash and explosive roar, and sank, leaving behind glowing yellow foam. A search was conducted by Navy divers but was eventually canceled.

The UFO Phenomenon and The Scientific Method by Craig R. Lang

Craig R. Lang addresses the definition of 'science' in the context of UFO investigation. He emphasizes the need to distinguish scientific approaches from other beliefs like new age or spirituality. Lang argues that conservatism in science is good, and the burden of proof lies with researchers. He outlines the scientific method, involving observation, replication, interpretation, and verification, noting that interpretation is the most vulnerable step to human failings. Scientific investigations typically progress from observation and experiment to hypothesis, theory, and law, often involving backtracking as new evidence emerges.

Lang discusses the challenges of applying the scientific method to UFOs, as laboratory experiments are not feasible. Field observations during sightings are crucial, but the inability to reproduce results is a fundamental difficulty. He states that 'smoking gun' evidence is still lacking, and while radar/visual cases and witness sightings are compelling, the evidence remains ambiguous. He suggests that rigorous data-gathering by organizations like MUFON is key to analyzing sightings, ground traces, and artifacts to draw general conclusions about UFOs and characterize their behavior.

He notes that several theories exist for the UFO phenomenon, including the ET hypothesis, spiritual, and inter-dimensional interpretations, but none are currently verifiable. He suspects a testable hypothesis will eventually be confirmed by a combination of observation and compelling physical evidence.

Field Investigator Group Update

Craig R. Lang also provides an update on the Field Investigator Group. He notes an encouraging surge in interest and the process of training new investigators and setting up a network. He details plans for study groups to prepare for the MUFON Field Investigator's exam, with meetings scheduled in June and July. He encourages interested individuals to sign up at meetings or contact him directly. He also mentions the need to establish a cadre of available investigators and develop ties with law enforcement and the press.

UFOs in Elementary School? You bet!

This section describes Bob Schultz's 10-week mini-course on 'The science, politics and history of UFOs' for fifth graders at Pike Lake Elementary. Schultz uses engaging methods, like demonstrating how high a stack of $1 billion bills would be (78 miles), to capture students' interest. The class has generated significant interest, with more students applying than could be accommodated. Schultz, a retired electrical engineer, encourages students to do their own research and think critically, offering them three choices: believe, not to believe, or 'think maybe.' He aims to teach them that science is 'neat' and that there's more out there than they know, encouraging them to explore independently. He hopes to expose them to concepts like velocity formulas and anti-gravity theories to prevent future intimidation by science. The class has been so successful that a second class is planned for the fall.

Remote Viewing and Cosmic Voyage by William I. McNeff

William I. McNeff evaluates the validity of remote viewing (RV), particularly 'Scientific Remote Viewing' (SRV) as described in Courtney Brown's book, 'Cosmic Voyage.' McNeff shares personal experiences, including vivid dreams that seemed precognitive, such as one where his mother appeared to fall, which he later connected to a family tragedy. He also recounts a friend's precognitive dream about a friend's impending death. These incidents, along with others, convinced him of the reality of remote viewing.

McNeff discusses the CIA's review of government-sponsored remote viewing experiments. He cites the Journal of Scientific Exploration, noting conflicting conclusions from statistician Jessica Utts (who found psychic functioning well-established) and psychologist Ray Hyman (who did not). He questions the CIA's motives for sponsoring research for 24 years if results were consistently negative, suggesting political reasons and the desire to maintain a secret capability. He highlights successes like the Star Gate program, where remote viewing was used by government employees for operational military tasks, and a case where viewer Pat Price accurately described a Soviet complex.

McNeff notes that the CIA may have intentionally 'stacked the deck' for the evaluation panel by focusing on experiments with a lower success rate. He quotes Russell Targ, a SRI researcher, who believed remote viewing data contributed significantly to understanding our interconnectedness with a non-local universe and hoped it would promote compassion.

Movie Review: The Arrival

Todd Amundson reviews the film 'The Arrival,' starring Charlie Sheen as a radio astronomer who searches for intelligent signals from space. The film involves aliens who can morph into humanoids. Amundson describes it as an action film with science fiction overtones, reminiscent of cold war thrillers, praising the creature design and special effects. He recommends it as an enjoyable film.

Moon Shots and Ghost Astronauts: Did Deke Slayton Take His Last Flight After Dying?

This article, reprinted with authors' permission, details an extraordinary event involving astronaut Deke Slayton. Slayton died on June 13, 1993. However, hours later, at 7:57 a.m. local time, his registered Formula One racing plane, N21X, took off from John Wayne Airport in California. The aircraft was identified by witnesses, and the FAA issued a citation for noise violations to Donald K. Slayton. Bobbie Slayton, Deke's wife, confirmed the incident and stated that the FAA citation is still in her possession. She pointed out that Deke had been dead for six hours before the reported flight and that the plane N21X had been in an aircraft museum in Sparks, Nevada, since March 1993, with its engine removed. The plane that flew had no electrical starter and required an external person to swing the propeller to start the engine, yet the sighted plane took off on its own. Witnesses confirmed the plane's identity and its departure. The article suggests that Deke Slayton may have taken six hours to 'find Gus' (Grissom) to help him prop the plane, referencing a quote from Slayton about keeping the dream alive.

Houston Sky

Information is provided for Houston Sky, a publication from the Houston MUFON Editor, Gayle Nesom. Subscription rates and contact information are included.

Important Dates!

A list of upcoming events is provided, including the International Tesla Society meetings, the ICAAR's Great Plains UFO Conference in Sioux Falls, SD, and the 27th Annual MUFON International UFO Symposium in Greensboro, NC.

Tune in!

Information is given on how to listen to Bob Schultz on MUFONET on Saturday mornings at 7:00 CST on 7.237 Mhz. Also listed are radio programs like The Laura Lee Show on KSTP-AM 1500 and Art Bell's Dreamland, as well as Extraordinary Science radio programs on WWCR.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently emphasizes the importance of scientific investigation and rigorous data collection in understanding UFO phenomena. There is a clear stance that while skepticism is healthy, it should not prevent the examination of evidence. The publication highlights historical cases and contemporary research, including remote viewing, to explore the complexities of the UFO subject. The editorial tone encourages critical thinking and independent research, as exemplified by the elementary school class feature. The newsletter also serves as a platform for organizing local MUFON activities, such as field investigator training and meetings, fostering a community of researchers.