MUFON Minnesota Journal - No 095

Magazine Overview

Title: Minnesota MUFON Journal
Issue: #95
Date: May/June 2002
Publisher: Minnesota MUFON

This issue of the Minnesota MUFON Journal delves into various aspects of UFO phenomena, radar detection, alleged government cover-ups, and cutting-edge scientific discoveries.

Directors Report: Radar and UFO's in the 1950's

Bill McNeff, State Director of Minnesota MUFON, presents a report from a meeting on February 9th, featuring retired electronic communications specialist Bill Cheney. Cheney, a computer pioneer who worked at Remington Rand and was involved with the early development of Univac, shared his experiences with UFOs detected on radar in the New Mexico area during the 1950s. He was part of an Air Force unit that constructed three large radars starting in 1947, with operations beginning in 1950. Cheney was the NCOIC for one of these sites, supervising a crew of 16 men. These sites used CPS-5 radars with MTI (Moving Target Indication) that could ignore clouds but show UFO blips within them. The displays were PPI scopes, offering a map-like presentation, but lacked altitude indication. UFO blips were frequently detected.

Cheney recounted how fighter planes were vectored towards these targets, but the UFOs would invariably take off at 4000 MPH just as they came into visual range. The objects were also seen from the ground, with reported shapes including globes, discs, and cigars, with cigars being the most common. Despite Project Blue Book's official stance of "no confirmed sightings," Cheney submitted reports through his chain of command, not to Blue Book. He noted that when planes got within 20 miles, the UFOs would accelerate instantly to 4000 MPH, and their movement between radar coverage areas allowed for timing. His service at these radar sites covered the early 1950s, and they were told they were guarding Los Alamos. Cheney also showed a 4-5 inch scar on his upper arm, noting his sister had an identical scar, and that they shared a psychic connection.

NASA Conceals UFO Information: Say Top Secret Insiders

This section, attributed to the Disclosure Project Internet Initiative ([email protected], March 6, 2002), presents testimony from individuals claiming to have inside knowledge of UFOs and extraterrestrial intelligence within NASA and other government agencies.

Donna Hare, a former NASA contractor employee with Secret Clearance, stated that while working in the photo lab, a colleague pointed out a UFO in a satellite photo and mentioned that such objects had to be airbrushed out before the photos were sold to the public.

USAF Sergeant Karl Wolf, with Top Secret "Crypto" Clearance, worked as a photographic technician at Langley AFB. He was asked to go to a facility where NSA was processing lunar orbiter information. There, he was shown a composite photo of the moon that revealed a base with geometric shapes, spherical buildings, tall towers, and objects resembling radar dishes.

Mr. Harland Bentley, who has a graduate program in nuclear engineering and has worked on contracts for NASA and the Department of Energy, recounted an incident in 1967 or 1968 where astronauts on a loop around the moon reported a "bogey" – another type of ship with portals through which they could see beings. Photographs were taken of a saucer-shaped craft that then departed quickly.

USAF Nuclear Arsenal Security Officer Larry Warren was shown a film after an extraterrestrial vehicle landed and interacted with Air Force personnel. The film reportedly showed structures on the moon and astronauts pointing at these "box kind of things" and structured objects moving off the moon's surface, filmed by Apollo missions.

The article states that these witnesses are among over 400 military, intelligence, and government insiders identified by Disclosure Project Director Steven M. Greer MD. The collective testimony aims to establish proof that UFOs are real and that secret groups within the government and corporations are withholding compelling evidence from the public, Congress, and the President. The testimony from Hare, Wolf, Warren, and Bentley is presented as establishing a pattern of suppressed evidence.

To Chinese UFO buffs, it's a serious science

This article by Kristie Lu Stout of CNN (April 12, 2002) reports on the serious approach to UFO research in China.

Joseph Wong, a lab manager at Hong Kong's City University, who also chairs Hong Kong's UFO club, views UFO research as a scientific endeavor. The club explores topics like "E.T. Civilization" and "Alien Kung Fu," meeting at places like the UFO Station cyber cafe. Members take UFO books, newsletters, and clippings seriously.

Albert So, a university professor and Hong Kong UFO club member, believes that understanding UFO phenomena requires a broad understanding of disciplines including mathematics, physics, history, philosophy, and paranormal activities. Hong Kong's UFO enthusiasts are lobbying for a university degree program in 'Ufology'. Wong suggests that such a degree could lead to new understandings of the universe and ways of life.

The article notes that China's state-run media reports on UFO sightings, and the Ministry of Science and Technology treats the topic with respect. So suggests that Eastern cultures, particularly Chinese culture, are more open to discussing UFOs due to a belief in the supernatural. An ancient drawing depicting an emperor meeting a flying boat is cited as a compelling artifact supporting UFO study.

Wong emphasizes that the process of investigation is more important than confirming the existence of UFOs, as it helps in understanding ourselves and our planet. He sees studying aliens as a way to satisfy human curiosity.

UFO hypotheses by Bill Hamilton/Skywatch

This section by Bill Hamilton discusses UFO hypotheses, referencing a debate with John Rimmer and points posted by Stanton Friedman.

Hamilton presents 10 points derived from a listing, seemingly related to the characteristics of unknown UFO sightings versus known phenomena. These points suggest that if unknowns are alien spacecraft, their characteristics should differ from knowns, and that better quality sightings are more likely to be unknowns. He also references radar sightings and the classification of UFOs as a highly classified subject.

He mentions Ted Phillips' collection of over 5000 physical trace cases and the Roswell Incident, citing books by Berliner and Friedman, and Len Stringfield.

Hamilton questions the appearance of "fancy 'secret vehicles'" like the U-2 and SR-71 in the 1940s and 1950s, noting their absence in later conflicts like the Korean War or Gulf War, despite their advanced performance. He cites Bruce Maccabee's findings that there was no increase in sightings with the U-2 and SR-71's deployment, contrary to CIA historian claims.

Websites for Skywatch International are provided.

A Look at Stanton Friedman

This piece by Dick Moss introduces Stanton Friedman, a physicist with a Masters Degree from the University of Chicago, who worked for General Electric and McDonnell Douglas. Friedman has testified at Congressional Hearings and the UN, worked on the Betty Hill star map, and is known for his efforts in gathering evidence of crashed saucers. His position is that some UFOs are interplanetary craft, and all flying saucers are UFOs, though few UFOs are flying saucers.

Friedman participated in UFO video programs, instigated the Roswell segment on "Unsolved Mysteries," and authored books like "Crash at Corona" and "Top Secret/Majic." He is a dual citizen of the U.S. and Canada.

Friedman critiques the "SETI cultists" for focusing on the vastness of the universe without providing context for UFO enigmas. He defines the "local galactic neighborhood" as a small region around Earth. He also discusses the Fermi Paradox and the implication that extraterrestrial civilizations might not be capable of interstellar travel, leading to a focus on listening for signals.

Friedman argues that astronomers often try to debunk the notion of alien visitations using four techniques: withholding information, closed-mindedness, attacking individuals, and making proclamations without investigation. He criticizes the Drake Equation for ignoring evidence of Earth being visited and migration/colonization.

What Does the Jonathan Reed Case Teach Us?

By Craig R. Lang MS CHt. (2002)

This article discusses the controversy surrounding Dr. Jonathan Reed, a psychologist who claims a close encounter with an extraterrestrial (ET) where he killed the alien after it killed his dog. Reed alleges he was harassed by "dark forces" within the government, leading to the confiscation of evidence and the disappearance of the alien's body.

The case has divided the UFO community. Lang expresses trepidation about Minnesota MUFON's involvement but notes that after hearing Bob Schultz's presentation, he decided to keep an open mind. Schultz's presentation, which included a tape of Reed's talk, reportedly touched upon the "Shadow Government" and "anomaly community."

The author explores the implications of the Reed case, whether true or false. If true, it suggests a nation where rights are a facade and the pursuit of truth is forbidden. If a hoax, it implies a sophisticated operation with multiple people involved, possibly funded by wealthy, hidden sources. The story's sinister nature and emotional appeal are noted, as is its divisive effect on the UFO community.

Lang references a comment made during the Phoenix lights sighting controversy: as researchers get closer to the truth, hoaxes become bigger. He suggests the Reed case might be such a hoax, an attempt to mislead researchers by those behind "The Cover-up."

Ultimately, the Reed case is seen as emotionally impactful, tapping into primal fears and serving to divide the UFO community. The author concludes that the case, whether true or false, is designed to create fear and division.

A New Form of Matter

By Patrick L. Barry, Dr. Tony Phillips, Science@NASA

This article reports on the creation of a new kind of matter that bridges the gap between the human world and quantum physics.

Scientists have created a new form of matter that comes in waves. This discovery is described as thrilling and deeply satisfying. The article mentions that this new matter is created by Nobel prizewinning scientists Wolfgang Ketterle (MIT), Eric Cornell (NIST), and Carl Wieman (University of Colorado), who were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2001 for their work on Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs).

BECs are described as not fitting into the categories of solids, liquids, or gases, and are explained through quantum mechanics, where objects can be in two places at once and behave as both particles and waves. BECs are formed when gas atoms undergo a transition to behave as a single matter-wave. A BEC is a group of millions of atoms merged into a matter-wave, cooled to near absolute zero.

Ketterle explains that BECs can be regarded as photographs of wave functions. The research was independently conducted by Cornell and Wieman, who created BECs from rubidium atoms.

Bose-Einstein condensates were predicted by Satyendra Nath Bose and Albert Einstein in the 1920s. The article notes that when two BECs overlap, they "interfere" like waves, creating patterns of matter and empty space due to constructive and destructive interference. Ketterle clarifies that matter is not destroyed but reappears elsewhere in the pattern, conserving the total number of atoms.

Not all atoms can form BECs; only those with an even number of neutrons, protons, and electrons. Sodium atoms, used by Ketterle, have a sum of 34, which is even.

BECs are quantum creatures large enough to be seen and hold promise for future technologies like smaller computer chips, MEMS, and quantum computers. Ketterle is experimenting with a pulsed atom-laser, which, unlike light-lasers, has mass and bends in gravity, and is scattered by air molecules. Atom-lasers require a vacuum and may find uses in atomic clocks, spacecraft navigation, atomic optics, and fine lithography.

Discovery of new star type may defy fundamental physics

By PAUL RECER, AP Science Writer (April 10, 2002)

This article reports on the discovery of bizarre objects by an orbiting X-ray telescope that may represent a new class of star and a new form of matter, challenging current physics theories.

Observations of objects called RXJ1856 and 3C58 revealed they were too small and too cold to be neutron stars. RXJ1856 has a temperature of about 1.2 million degrees and a diameter of about 12 miles. This evidence suggests a star composed not of neutrons, but of "strange quark matter." This matter consists of up, down, and strange quarks, with strange quarks being denser.

David Helfand's team observed 3C58, a neutron star remnant, finding its temperature was less than 1.8 million degrees, far below predictions for a neutron star. This temperature "violates the standard theory for neutron stars and raises fundamental questions about the matter in 3C58."

Astrophysicist Michael Turner suggests these objects may be new members of the "stellar family tree," being less dense than black holes or white dwarfs but clearly different from neutron stars. The observations will need confirmation.

Field Investigator Update: April 2002 - More Triangles and "Something Happening"

By Craig R. Lang - MN MUFON FI Coordinator

This update details recent fly-by and maneuver sightings reported to Minnesota MUFON.

A triangle sighting on Saturday, April 20, involved a witness observing a triangular shaped object moving rapidly from East to West. Described as a "flying wing" with no fuselage or tail, it was dark, translucent, and apparently solid, with many lights. It flew overhead at about 50 degrees elevation and was lost to sight in the trees.

Another witness reported a dark triangle with lights on the edges, flying low over treetops without sound. These sightings are consistent with a large number of triangle cases received in recent years, suggesting a well-defined but ambiguous phenomenon. The reports are often from single witnesses, usually at night, and the objects travel in ways that should be observable by many.

Experiencers are reporting a sense of imminence, a feeling that "something big is happening," mirrored by comments from Whitley Strieber. This sense of immediacy is described as a "fork in the road" or a "gathering storm."

The article references David Jacobs' book "The Threat" and the concept of "The Changes," a time of trial and societal shift. While some experiencers foresee a dark scenario, others envision a more pleasant outcome, but all agree it involves a transition with religious or spiritual overtones. The author concludes that experiencers may soon find out what is happening.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue consistently explores the intersection of UFO phenomena with scientific inquiry and alleged government secrecy. Recurring themes include the historical analysis of UFO sightings (particularly radar data from the 1950s), the potential for government cover-ups of evidence (as suggested by NASA insider testimony), and the ongoing debate surrounding UFO hypotheses. The journal also highlights recent scientific advancements in physics, such as Bose-Einstein condensates and the discovery of new stellar objects, suggesting that the boundaries of our understanding are constantly being pushed. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into unexplained phenomena, encouraging critical examination of evidence and testimony, while also acknowledging the complexities and controversies within the UFO community, as exemplified by the discussion of the Jonathan Reed case.

This document is page 11 of the Minnesota MUFON Journal, a publication focused on UFO research and investigations within Minnesota. It contains contact information for key MUFON personnel, details on becoming a field investigator, an announcement for the International MUFON Symposium 2002, and general information about MUFON's activities and resources.

Contact Information and Investigator Training

The journal provides contact details for several Minnesota MUFON representatives. Richard Moss is the State Director, Bill McNeff is the Assistant State Director, and Craig Lang serves as the Field Investigator Coordinator. Lang can be reached by phone at 763-560-1532 or by email at [email protected]. Minnesota MUFON can also be contacted through their website, http://www.mnmufon.org.

Joel Henry is the Journal Editor and Webmaster, with contact information provided for the PO Box address in Apple Valley, MN, and his email is [email protected]. The MN MUFON WEB PAGE is also listed as http://www.mnmufon.org. For radio communications, MUFONET operates on 7.237mhz on Saturdays at 7:00 am CST, with Bob Shultz as Net Control.

The publication emphasizes the opportunity to become involved in UFO studies and encourages those interested in becoming field investigators. Classes for field investigators are conducted as interest dictates, typically about three times per year. To become an investigator, individuals must join MUFON as a field investigator trainee and purchase the official field investigators manual. The journal stresses the need for active investigators to help understand the UFO phenomenon.

Announcements and Resources

An announcement is made for the International MUFON Symposium 2002, which will be held in Rochester, NY, from July 5-7. More details, including registration information, are available on the mufon.com website.

A National MUFON Hotline is provided for reporting UFO news, sightings, and other related information, with the number 1-800-836-2166.

Readers are invited to submit news or editorial contributions to the journal, with articles and inquiries to be directed to the Editor.

Copyright Notice

A note on copyrights states that articles in this issue are the property of their originators or their assignees. Articles are reprinted with permission or are believed to be in the public domain, and permission to use or reprint must be obtained from the original authors.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme is the active pursuit of UFO research and investigation through organized groups like MUFON. The editorial stance encourages public participation in these investigations, emphasizing the need for trained investigators and the ongoing mystery surrounding the UFO phenomenon. The journal acts as a conduit for information, contact, and announcements within the Minnesota UFO community.