MUFON Minnesota Journal - No 110

Magazine Overview

The Minnesota MUFON Journal, Issue #110, dated Nov./Dec. 2004, is a publication from the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) focusing on UFO phenomena. This issue features a cover story on 'Ghost Rockets,' reports on the passing of notable UFO figures, and an analysis of 'Black Triangle' sightings.

Directors Report: Ghost Rockets

This section, authored by Dick Moss, MN MUFON State Director, details the phenomenon of 'Ghost Rockets' which followed the 'foo fighters.' The phenomenon was first recognized in Finland on February 26, 1946, when unusual meteor activity was reported. Three months later, sightings began in northern Sweden. On June 9, 1946, a 'rocket' was seen over Helsinki, leaving a luminous afterglow, and a luminous object was reported approaching Finland before retracing its course. The logical assumption was that these might be Soviet modifications of German V-1 and V-2 rockets. The article recounts a German rocket test from Peenemunde in June 1944 that failed and crashed in Sweden. During 1946, over 2000 objects were reported over Scandinavia, described as torpedo-shaped rockets with fiery exhausts and tail fins, performing spectacular maneuvers. Some rockets were seen to explode, leaving dark slag-like residue. While conventional wisdom suggested Russian testing of captured German V-2s, radar operators in England maintained the objects did not originate from Russia. The seriousness of the ghost rocket reports was amplified by the belief that the Russian army had captured German scientists and rockets, though it was later known that most German technology and scientists had gone to the United States. The Swedish public became alarmed, and their government began censoring news reports. A committee, possibly the first UFO investigative group, was formed to study the sightings. The phenomenon reportedly moved south, with sightings eventually seen as far away as India. The article also mentions an instance where a meteorologist mistook a fast-moving object for an airplane.

On page 2, the report continues, detailing an incident where an object exploded without sound. Reports of objects landing and exploding are contradictory, with some scientists analyzing fragments as resembling organic carbide, while others found no fragments. In August 1947, Lt. Gen. Jimmy Doolittle and David Sarnoff investigated the ghost rocket phenomenon in Sweden, noting the puzzling lack of wreckage. An account from July 9, 1946, describes Erik and Asa Reutersward photographing a greenish-white object that disappeared with a burst of flames and a hissing sound. The phenomenon reportedly peaked around this time. Objects also appeared over Greece, leading to an official investigation in 1947, which concluded they were not missiles. Official Greek files remain classified. Ghost rockets were also reported over Denmark, Finland, and Norway, with speeds estimated at 2000 mph. A British newspaper suggested the Russians were testing captured rockets to intimidate, but Russia had few V-2s. Investigations also uncovered reports of porous, yellow fragments and porous black carbon-like material, with analysis failing to identify their origin. Despite admitting that many sightings could be natural phenomena, the Swedish Commander-in-Chief stated in 1946 that some sightings could not be attributed to natural phenomena or dismissed as figments of imagination. The article notes that a few sightings of this type of craft have been made since the 1940s, including a 1984 Lear jet sighting and a 1985 Cessna sighting over Sweden.

Internet sources used include parascope.com, about.com, ufo.it, and ufoevidence.org. Eddie Bullard contributed sightings to the Project 1947 website. Written sources include Ronald Story's Encyclopedia of UFOs and books by Loren Gross and Jerome Clark.

Several Notable UFO Figures Have Passed Recently:

1961: UNFORGETGETTABLE BETTY HILL

This section, excerpted from UFO Roundup, reports on the passing of Betty Hill, a key figure in ufology, who died of cancer at age 85 on October 18, 2004. Betty Hill, a housewife from Portsmouth, N.H., had her UFO experience in September 1961, which she described as an 'alien abduction.' She and her husband, Barney Hill, were active in civil rights campaigning. The article recounts their drive to Canada in September 1961, where they encountered a bright light that turned out to be a large craft with a double row of windows. Barney Hill died in 1969, while Betty Hill continued to believe in her abduction experience and reported occasional visual encounters with UFOs. The article references the book 'UFO: The Complete Sightings' by Peter Brookesmith.

Gordon Cooper: NASA Mercury Pioneer, Dies

This report announces the death of Gordon Cooper, one of the original Mercury astronauts, at age 77. Cooper was a pioneer in human space exploration and piloted the final flight of the Mercury program. He was selected as a Mercury astronaut in April 1959. The article notes his role in the space race between the US and the Soviet Union and his cocksure attitude, immortalized in Tom Wolfe's book 'The Right Stuff.' Cooper piloted the 'Faith 7' spacecraft on a 22-orbit mission and served as command pilot of the Gemini 5 mission, setting a new space endurance record. He joined the Marines during WWII and transferred to the Air Force, flying numerous test flights. Kennedy Space Center director Jim Kennedy stated that Cooper's legacy is permanently woven into the fabric of the center.

PASSING OF DR. JOHN MACK

This section reports the death of Dr. John Mack in London, England. Dr. Mack was a well-known Abduction Researcher and author, and had recently presented at the T. E. Lawrence Society Symposium in Oxford. He was struck by a vehicle driven by an intoxicated driver while walking on Totteridge Road and was pronounced dead at the scene. Information will be posted to the John Mack Institute website.

Silent Running: 'Black Triangle' Sightings on the Rise

By Leonard David, Senior Space Writer, September 2, 2004. This article discusses the increasing number of 'Flying Triangle' sightings. The National Institute for Discovery Science (NIDS) has catalogued these sightings, noting that they have intensified in the 1990s and are being openly deployed over population centers and near highways. The study suggests that the behavior of these craft is consistent with the routine and open deployment of an advanced DoD aircraft or non-DoD personnel, rather than covert deployment. The NIDS study indicates that the Triangles are low-flying, brightly lit, and often seen in plain sight, with little or no attempt to hide. The article contrasts this with the earlier, more covert deployment of stealth aircraft like the F-117 and B-2. The study concludes that the open deployment is consistent with routine operations, not secret ones.

Colm Kelleher, NIDS Administrator, states that the analysis melds three major U.S. databases: NIDS, MUFON, and data from independent researcher Larry Hatch. The sightings are clustered on both coasts and near population centers and Interstate Highways. NIDS has amassed almost 400 sightings of triangular/boomerang/wedge-shaped objects. The article notes that the features of a Black Triangle are impressive, with one witness describing a craft as 'huge...no more than 500 feet or so up, and big enough to take up my field of sky vision.' The witness estimated the vessel to be about 200 feet wide and 250 feet long. The analysis falls into two camps: the Triangles are human-made, or they are not. The article concludes that distinguishing between these possibilities is difficult in 2004.

Authenticity Meters Added To Majestic Documents

By Ryan S. Wood. This article discusses the challenges of authenticating 'Majestic documents,' which relate to crashed UFOs and government control. The author poses questions about document origin, forensic tests, content markers, witnesses, ease of hoaxing, and motives for faking. The article outlines a system for rating document authenticity based on eight factors: Eyewitness, Zingers, Content, Chronology, Typography, Forensics, Linguistics, and Anachronisms. Each factor is assigned a weighting factor, and the final score determines the level of authenticity, ranging from High Level (80-100%) to Low Level (0-20%). The article provides contact information for further discussion on document authentication.

Crop Circle found in Lake Elmo, MN

A crop circle was discovered in Lake Elmo, MN, and visited by Minnesota MUFON Field Investigators. The formation was a single circle, 37ft across N-S and 40ft across E-W, with stalks broken at the root base and aligned towards the south. No expulsion cavities or elongated nodes were found. The formation date was estimated to be about two weeks prior to the visit. Animals had entered the circle and eaten some of the corn. The investigators were unable to take samples due to rain and mud.

RICHARD DOLAN PRESENTATION

By Bill McNeff, MN MUFON Assist. State Dir. This report summarizes a presentation by Richard Dolan titled 'The UFO Coverup and the American Police State.' Dolan's goal was to examine UFOs scientifically and to write about 'the slow death of the American republic.' He stated that UFOs are a 'big part of the cancer of secrecy.' He compared the US situation to Rome, where a republic became an empire and the military gained power, leading to authoritarianism. Dolan noted that the US has bases in 59 nations. He discussed the national security revolution over the last 50 years, with UFOs being a potential national security threat that cannot be acknowledged, leading to government by secrecy and the involvement of exotic technology. Dolan mentioned receiving e-mail threats and dealing with elites who believe UFOs are extraterrestrial. He questioned whether the US has duplicated UFO technology, with some believing they have had it for years, and that the Soviets also possess it. He referenced Belgian triangles outperforming F-16s. Steven Bassett is quoted as saying political parties will want to be 'The Discloser,' but disclosure could lead to economic devastation. Dolan believes 'Black programs are doing reverse engineering on the UFOs.' He stated he only writes what can be historically verified.

Dolan reviewed the historical record, mentioning a 1942 UFO sighting over Los Angeles, 'foo-fighters' reported worldwide, and 'ghost rockets' in Scandinavia. He discussed the Roswell incident, citing testimony from Gen. Thomas Dubose and Maj. Jesse Marcel, and the Ramey memo. Dolan believes Roswell was an ET crash. He also mentioned a 1947 memo by Col. W. D. Wentworth stating that 'The AMC [Air Material Command] is making models. The flying saucer did exist.' General Arthur Exon stated that in July 1947, 'extraordinary material arrived from Roswell.' Project Sign considered UFO origins as Soviet, US, or ET, with a consensus that UFOs were real and serious.

Dolan stated he is 'not willing to reject the MJ-12 documents,' citing the detailed knowledge they contain, such as Donald Menzel's involvement. He noted that J. Allen Hynek worked under Menzel, and Robert Landry briefed Harry S Truman on UFOs. During 1947-1948, the USAF attempted intercepts of UFOs. Truman feared the CIA, and Eisenhower warned about the 'military-industrial complex.' James Forrestal, the first Secretary of Defense, kept diaries that are still classified. Forrestal had an uneasy relationship with HST, and his death in May 1949 was ruled a suicide, with no investigation beyond the Navy.

An FBI memo from 1949 stated that UFOs had been sighted near AEC installations. The article mentions the authenticity of UFO photos taken by farmer Paul Trent near McMinnville, Oregon. In July 1952, ten UFOs were seen over Washington D.C., with a CIA group witnessing some. A meeting in Gen. Samford's office discussed the possibility of UFOs being interplanetary. Gen. Samford later issued an explanation of temperature inversions for the sightings, but an intelligence memo stated the UFOs were 'possibly alien.' Part 2 of this article will appear in the next issue.

The Coverup Revisited: Richard M. Dolan's 10/16/04 Talk at MN MUFON

By Craig R. Lang, MN MUFON FI Coordinator. This report summarizes Richard M. Dolan's presentation on 'UFOs and the National Security State.' Dolan began with an analogy of the US republic to the Roman republic, discussing how a republic can become an empire and lead to authoritarianism. He suggested that the size of the black budget and Congress's control over the intelligence community are measures of a republic's health. Dolan stated that the 'Rubicon has been crossed' and the Patriot Act may have made true representative authority unrecoverable. His talk focused on the history of UFO secrecy, with his first volume covering 1941-1975 and the second volume covering 1975 to the present. He noted that the 1970s and 1980s were particularly damning, as the chance to roll back the National Security State after Watergate was missed. The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) was effective until recently, becoming moot due to the Patriot Act. The article mentions John Greenwald's website, The Black Vault, and notes that the coverup appears to have patched its holes and resumed business as usual.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the historical analysis of UFO phenomena, particularly the 'Ghost Rockets' and the 'Roswell incident,' the impact of government secrecy and coverups on society, and the ongoing investigation into UFO sightings. The passing of prominent figures in the UFO community, such as Betty Hill, Gordon Cooper, and Dr. John Mack, is also highlighted, underscoring their contributions to the field. The journal maintains a stance of serious inquiry into UFO phenomena, presenting research, eyewitness accounts, and expert analysis, while also acknowledging the complexities and challenges in verifying information and understanding the full scope of the UFO mystery. The issue emphasizes the importance of document authenticity and the potential implications of UFO technology for national security.

This document is page 11 of the Minnesota MUFON Journal, a publication focused on UFO research and related topics. It features content related to author Richard Dolan, information on purchasing lecture tapes, and contact details for the Minnesota MUFON organization.

Content Summary

Richard Dolan's "UFOs and the National Security State"

The journal begins by summarizing Richard Dolan's views presented in his book, "UFOs and the National Security State." Dolan reportedly covers "low points" in American history such as the Robertson Panel, the "suicide" of James Forrestal, the Condon Report, and the decline of Project Bluebook. He also discusses MJ12, suggesting its continued existence. Dolan's work is described as offering a "sobering view" of the USA's evolution into an "authoritarian military police state," drawing alarming parallels to the decline of the Roman republic. The reviewer considers the book a "must-read" for anyone studying contemporary history, even those with little interest in UFO studies, and notes that the vision it portrays of the near-term future is "not pleasant to think about."

Tapes Available of the Richard Dolan Lecture

Details are provided for purchasing copies of a Richard Dolan lecture presentation, which lasted 3 hours and 56 minutes. The prices listed are for the tapes themselves and do not include shipping:

• 1 VHS EP Tape: $10
• 2 VHS SP Tapes: $15
• 2 S-VHS SP Tapes: $20

The prices are stated to be close to cost due to low sales volume. Recommendations are given based on VCR type and intended use: S-VHS tapes for highest quality with an S-VHS VCR, 2 VHS tapes if no S-VHS VCR is available, and SP format for making copies for friends. The audio quality is assured to be the same high fidelity regardless of the tape format chosen.

The objective is to produce a quality job, comparable to taping IUFOC and MUFON-Denver conferences. Comments are appreciated.

Instructions are given to RSVP the number of tapes desired if picking them up at the next MN-MUFON meeting. For mail orders, inquiries should be sent to [email protected], with a note that shipping costs may be added.

Minnesota MUFON Contact Information

Contact details for Minnesota MUFON are provided:

• State Director: Richard Moss (Phone: (320) 732-3205)
• Assistant State Director: Bill McNeff (Phone: (952) 890-1390)
• Field Investigation Coordinator: Craig Lang (Phone: (763) 560-1532)
• Journal Editor: Joel Henry, PO Box 240631, Apple Valley, MN 55124
• Journal Phone: (952) 431-2426
• Journal E-Mail: [email protected]

MN MUFON WEB PAGE

The web page for MN MUFON is listed as http://www.mnmufon.org, with Joel Henry noted as the Webmaster.

MUFONET

MUFONET operates on 7.237mhz on Saturdays at 7:00 am CST, with Bob Shultz as Net Control.

National MUFON Hotline

A hotline is available to report UFO news, sightings, etc., at 1-800-836-2166.

Minnesota MUFON Journal Back Issues

Information is provided to access back issues of the Minnesota MUFON Journal at www.mnmufon.org/mmj.htm.

Contributions and Copyrights

News or editorial contributions to the journal are welcomed. Articles are reprinted with permission or are believed to be in the public domain. Permission to use or reprint must be obtained from the original author(s).

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the critical analysis of governmental transparency and national security concerning UFO phenomena, as presented by Richard Dolan. The editorial stance appears to be one of promoting UFO research and information sharing within the MUFON community, encouraging contributions, and providing resources for reporting sightings and accessing past publications. The journal actively facilitates communication through its contact information, website, and a dedicated hotline.