MUFON Minnesota Journal - No 112

Magazine Overview

Title: Minnesota MUFON Journal
Issue: #112
Date: March/April 2005
Publisher: Minnesota MUFON
Country: USA

This issue of the Minnesota MUFON Journal features a "Directors Report" focusing on the historical significance and implications of the Robertson Panel, alongside several articles critically examining media coverage of UFO phenomena, particularly a recent ABC special. It also includes reports on specific UFO incidents and discussions on the psychological and societal aspects of UFO experiences.

Directors Report: The Robertson Panel Report - What Else Is In It?

This article by Dick Moss, MN MUFON State Director, revisits the Robertson Panel Report, formed in mid-January 1953. The panel, composed of distinguished nonmilitary scientists, was tasked with reviewing UFO evidence and assessing potential national security threats. The report's objective, as quoted from a TV program, was to "remove the aura of mystery from the UFO phenomenon so that people no longer take them seriously and don't bother to report them." This was driven by concerns stemming from the 1952 UFO wave over Washington D.C. and President Truman's order to the CIA to make recommendations.

The panel concluded that UFOs did not pose a direct threat to national security or appear to be of extraterrestrial origin. However, they feared that communication channels could become clogged with irrelevant reports, leading to hysterical mass behavior. The CIA's main concern was that UFO reports might obscure a real threat from the Soviet Union. Consequently, the panel recommended that the National Security Council debunk UFO reports and create a policy of public education using mass media, advertising, and even the Disney corporation.

The report dampened government enthusiasm for UFO study, leading to Project Bluebook being turned over to an enlisted man. An order in December 1953 made reporting UFOs by military personnel a national security issue, with potential prosecution for violations. While the Air Force publicly debunked UFOs, they privately maintained secrecy. The article notes that the Air Force may no longer need to collect public reports because the phenomenon's overall activity has remained constant.

In January 1953, military personnel in England were ordered to report UFO sightings covertly. Information on the Robertson Panel is widely available, with early books emphasizing the concern about clogged communication channels as a reason for suppression.

UFO's in the Media

Disappointing but not surprising – the Peter Jennings UFO special

This section, edited by Joel Henry, presents a critical review by Craig R. Lang, MN MUFON Field Investigator, of the ABC documentary "Peter Jennings Reporting: UFO's, Seeing is Believing" (Feb 24, 2005). Lang expresses disappointment, finding the special largely a repetition of the "official line" and a "whitewash" that suppressed evidence. He notes that the first part provided a favorable overview of UFO history and the Air Force's dilemma, referencing photographs and gun camera footage. However, he criticizes the significant airplay given to the SETI Institute, questioning their expertise on UFO cases. Lang laments the special's claim of "no physical evidence," ignoring reports like the Sturrock Report and COMETA Report. He also feels too much time was devoted to Roswell, with the Mogul balloon hypothesis presented negatively and the USAF's "Case Closed" report given undue positive attention.

The special's discussion of alien abduction is also criticized for focusing on psychologists who claim it's fantasy, citing a study that traumatic memory is not verifiable. Lang argues this approach begins with the assumption that abduction is fantasy, a "fatal flaw." He believes the special missed crucial material, such as the work of Dr. John Mack, and failed to acknowledge professionals who accept the physical reality of abductions.

Lang concludes that the special was an "extraordinary whitewash" and a "brutal suppression of the evidence." He notes that the show ended with Dr. Michio Kaku suggesting the need to "think out of the box" and that "maybe, just maybe..." there is something to UFO visits, offering a slight glimmer of hope.

Dr. John Mack Cut From Jennings' ABC Special

Will Bueche reports that Dr. John Mack's interview, his last-ever before his death and the only one granted for a major program in years, was excluded from the finished Peter Jennings special. This is seen as a stunning omission for a documentary purporting to explore alien encounters, especially given Mack's status as a leading authority on the subject. The footage was recorded in high definition widescreen and is considered exceptionally valuable. Efforts are underway to determine if the footage can be licensed.

Bueche, who served as Mack's media coordinator, states that the interview was excellent and elicited new insights from Dr. Mack.

Budd Hopkins' Response to the ABC Peter Jennings "Seeing is Believing" TV Program

Budd Hopkins, writing on behalf of the Intruders Foundation, also expresses strong criticism. He states that Jennings' producers interviewed him multiple times, and sensing their agenda, he preemptively provided specific observations about the UFO abduction phenomenon, designed to underline its physical reality and counter skeptical explanations. ABC, however, "suppressed 'all' of these observations."
Hopkins refutes the "sleep paralysis" explanation, noting that many abduction cases involved people engaged in normal activities, not lying paralyzed in bed. He also points out that many abduction reports involve multiple witnesses with identical recollections, ruling out "fantasy-proneness." Furthermore, he highlights the suppression of photographic evidence of physical traces like scoop marks and scars. Hopkins also mentions that Dr. David Jacobs' hypnotic regression for the camera was suppressed because the case didn't fit the "sleep paralysis" agenda.

He emphasizes that about 30% of abduction reports are recalled without hypnosis, rendering that argument moot. Hopkins criticizes the producers for presenting debunking scientists and lurid reenactments, while suppressing the testimony of mental health professionals who accept the reality of UFO abductions. He calls the presentation "deliberately dishonest" and urges the press and scientists to investigate extraordinary phenomena with extraordinary rigor.

More reviews of the Jennings UFO Special are mentioned, including those by Richard Dolan and Whitley Strieber.

The CE4 Corner

Managing the Fear

This article by Craig R. Lang addresses the fear experienced by close encounter experiencers. Lang initially dismissed strong emotional reactions as invalidating but learned through hypnotherapy study about long-delayed emotional reactions to trauma. He draws a parallel to a Vietnam veteran's PTSD triggered by fireworks.

Lang discusses a paper by Richard McNally, which claims alien abduction tales offer clues on memory and that fantasies can have the same emotional impact as real traumatic events. Skeptics use this to argue that repressed memories of close encounters are unreliable. Lang finds a "fatal flaw" in this argument: the assumption that alien abduction is pure fantasy. He argues that many close encounter events have hallmarks of reality, including physical evidence and multiple witnesses, making the "pure fantasy" argument invalid.

If abduction is not pure fantasy, then the emotional trauma of the encounter is as significant as any other traumatic event, highlighting its deep impact. Lang recounts his early experiences as a MUFON field investigator, noting the intense fear experienced by an individual named "Evelyn." Through deep hypnosis, Lang helped Evelyn address an "inner child aspect" that feared the unknown, fostering an agreement with a more inquisitive part of her mind. This process helped Evelyn manage her fear and explore her experiences more objectively.

Lang also references Roper polls indicating that about 0.2% of the population meets criteria for being experiencers. He notes that a significant group experiences post-encounter fear, and wonders how many live with this fear, seeing terror instead of beauty in the night sky.

April 22, 1966 UFO/ET Report from Bagley, Minnesota

William I. McNeff reports on a UFO/ET incident from Bagley, Minnesota. Two sources are cited: one mentions an object flying at low altitude and landing, with four dwarfs making repairs before the craft flew away. The other describes an orange sphere seen in Portugal, followed by a flying saucer in Bagley, Minnesota, flying low, jumping over a school bus, and landing on the outskirts.

A witness, "Rocky," who was 15 at the time, provided additional information. His memory was jogged by reading about the incident online. He recalls being brought aboard a craft, flying it to Russia, and then back to Bagley. He describes the craft as having no pilot seat or visible controls, connecting telepathically to the mind, and allowing 360-degree vision. He also mentions learning to land from space. In Russia, he was shown how to end nightmares from age 3. He flew the craft low over Bagley, jumping over a stopped bus to ensure he would remember the experience. He landed the craft and slipped away while the "grays" pretended to do repairs. He also mentions starting a forest fire to help him remember the contact experience.

Rocky states the "grays" were drones controlled by the ship, which is intelligent and has chambers for making "clones" of ETs. Rocky's account includes checkable items, such as burying a sketch of a future self in a tin can. The craft was seen by many citizens, but Rocky found no mention in the local paper. He plans to check the Fosston paper and his wife's recollection.

Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus: So Where Does That Leave Ufology?

Sheryl Gottschall, an Australian UFO Researcher, discusses the male dominance in the field of Ufology. She questions how the field would change if more women were actively involved, suggesting that women might explore different issues and demonstrate different values. Gottschall believes Ufology is unbalanced and hindered by a male mindset.

She traces this male dominance back to the 1940s, noting that most contactee movements and subsequent researchers have been men. She speculates this could be due to societal norms, the nature of the phenomenon, or a desire to appear scientific. Gottschall observes a recent shift influenced by the New Age movement and women, leading to a more lateral viewpoint and a willingness to entertain new ideas.

She argues that to regain balance, Ufology needs to dismantle invisible "not welcome signs" that deter women. She points out the disproportionate number of men speaking at conferences, authoring articles, and leading organizations. While women haven't been explicitly discouraged, they haven't been encouraged either. Gottschall suggests that combining the strengths of male and female perspectives could lead to a deeper understanding of the UFO phenomenon.

She contrasts the typical male focus on "things and objects" (initiative, activity, power) with the female focus on "people and feelings" (stillness, receptivity, intuition). She believes the Martian focus has historically taken precedence, and even the shift from "alien" to "UFO" in organization names reflects a move away from the Venusian focus.

INSIDE STAR GATE

This short piece from FAS Project on Government Secrecy by Steven Aftergood discusses the pursuit of "remote viewing" as a tool for intelligence collection. It mentions Paul H. Smith's memoir, "Reading the Enemy's Mind: Inside Star Gate: America's Psychic Espionage Program," which details the development of this "black" program. The article notes that while Smith insists the technique works, most non-believers find little substance to it.

Scientists fail to see eye to eye over girl's 'X-ray vision'

This article by Phil Baty reports on a clash between Nobel laureate Professor Brian Josephson and paranormal expert Richard Wiseman regarding the alleged X-ray vision of a Russian schoolgirl, Natasha Demkina. Josephson supports Demkina's claims, while Wiseman is skeptical. Josephson believes an experiment designed to disprove Demkina's abilities was "a fix."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of the Minnesota MUFON Journal consistently critiques media portrayals of UFO phenomena, particularly the tendency to debunk or downplay evidence, as seen in the review of the Peter Jennings special. There's a strong emphasis on the historical context of UFO investigations, exemplified by the detailed look at the Robertson Panel and its lasting impact on government policy and public perception. The journal also explores the psychological dimensions of UFO experiences, including abduction phenomena and the management of fear, while advocating for a more balanced and open-minded approach to research that incorporates diverse perspectives, including those of women. The inclusion of specific case reports, like the Bagley incident, grounds the discussion in empirical data, even as the journal grapples with the challenges of scientific validation and the suppression of information by official sources. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical inquiry, advocating for thorough investigation and challenging conventional, often dismissive, explanations of UFO events.

This issue of UFO Updates, dated approximately January 2005, features several articles exploring the scientific and investigative aspects of UFO phenomena and related topics. The cover headline, "ET Visitors: Scientists See High Likelihood," sets a tone of increasing scientific consideration for the possibility of extraterrestrial visitation.

Article: Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal

The issue begins with a discussion of an experiment testing Ms. Demkina's claimed paranormal abilities, specifically her ability to identify medical conditions. Professor Josephson, a physicist, criticized the experiment, posting his comments on his personal website without peer review. He argued that the test was designed to make Ms. Demkina fail, noting that she overcame odds of 50 to one to correctly diagnose four out of seven patients. However, Professor Wiseman, an experimenter, agreed that the success criteria were set higher than standard psychological tests, but defended it by stating that Ms. Demkina's claim would be a significant challenge to science if true. He acknowledged the experiment was not perfect but provided insight into Ms. Demkina's abilities. The experiment was filmed for a Discovery Channel documentary.

Article: The 2004 Canadian UFO Survey: Summary of Results

This section presents findings from the 2004 Canadian UFO Survey, reporting 882 sightings, a 31% increase from 2003, and a steady rise since 1998. Over 5,000 sightings have been officially reported in Canada since 1989, with many provinces reporting record highs in 2004. Approximately 15% of reports were unexplained, dropping to 7% for high-quality cases. Most sightings involved multiple witnesses and lasted about 20 minutes. The survey highlights an increase in UFO sightings over sixteen years, with some objects lacking obvious explanations. Witnesses include pilots and police, and while many sightings are lights, a significant number are objects with definite shapes.

Article: ET Visitors: Scientists See High Likelihood

This article, by Leonard David, discusses the "Fermi Paradox" and how recent astrophysical discoveries suggest the presence of extraterrestrial civilizations. Physicist Enrico Fermi's famous question, "Where are they?" is revisited. A team of American scientists, including Bernard Haisch, James Deardorff, Bruce Maccabee, and Harold Puthoff, propose in the Journal of the British Interplanetary Society (JBIS) that it is a mistake to dismiss UFO reports, as they might contain evidence of extraterrestrial visitors. They cite the discovery of a "galactic habitable zone" and the relative youth of Earth's sun as factors suggesting alien civilizations would be far more advanced. The article also touches on superstring theory and the possibility of moving between dimensions to overcome faster-than-light travel limitations. Haisch argues that the scientific community often dismisses UFO observations as misinterpretations or hoaxes, but that a "yes" to ET visitation aligns with current physics theories.

Article: Post: Magnetism Does Not Cause Paranormal Experiences

This section, authored by David Rudiak, critiques previous research suggesting that electromagnetic stimulation of the temporal lobe can induce paranormal experiences. Rudiak compares the power output of commercial magnetic stimulators to that of the Persinger apparatus, finding the former to be millions of times more powerful. He questions Persinger's claims of inducing complex hallucinations like alien abductions with significantly weaker magnetic fields. The article also distinguishes between "electronic harassment" (microwaves) and magnetic neuro-stimulation. It highlights the importance of "double-blind" experiments in scientific research to avoid bias.

Article: Magnetism Does Not Cause Paranormal Experiences (Source: News-Medical.Net)

This article reports on a study by scientists from Uppsala and Lund universities in Sweden that questions previous findings linking electromagnetic stimulation to paranormal experiences. Their double-blind study, involving approximately 90 students, found that magnetic fields did not cause religious or paranormal experiences. However, highly suggestible individuals did report such experiences, particularly those with personality traits indicating openness to shifts in consciousness and a "new age" lifestyle. The study concludes that the sensational conclusions drawn in previous research should be questioned.

Article: Extraordinary claims? Extraordinary Attitudes!

This section presents viewpoints from UFO researchers on the scientific community's approach to extraordinary claims. Alfred Lehmberg criticizes the "extraordinary claims requiring extraordinary evidence" rubric as a "think cloak" that prevents validation. Richard Hall offers a variation: "Extraordinary events require extraordinary investigation." Michael Salla suggests that investigating the UFO phenomenon is more akin to investigating human rights abuses or organized crime than designing aircraft.

Article: UFO Clippings Booklet

Rich Reynolds shares information about a 40-page booklet compiled in 1968 containing newspaper clippings from 1948-1968, covering both pro and con viewpoints on UFOs, including famous figures like Hynek. The booklet was resurrected and is available for sale on eBay. It includes items about the Ann Arbor swamp gas fiasco and other Michigan sightings. Reynolds also offers the booklet to UFO Updates readers for the cost of postage (four 37-cent stamps or $1.50).

Article: Project Blue Book NARA microfilm

William Wise announces the creation of a website providing free online access to the National Archives Blue Book microfilm collection, making the documents searchable. Approximately 10% of the collection has been scanned and posted, with more content to come. They are also making high-resolution scans available on CD-ROM, with the first CD containing scanned contents of NARA microfilm roll 1. Researchers can request a copy of this CD-ROM. The Blue Book Archive project involves several individuals and organizations.

Event: Grant Cameron Lecture

An announcement for a lecture by Grant Cameron on Thursday, May 19, at 7:00 PM in New Brighton, MN. The cost is $10 at the door. Further details and updates are available at a provided website.

Minnesota MUFON Information

Contact information is provided for Minnesota MUFON, including State Director Richard Moss, Assistant State Director Bill McNeff, and Journal Editor Joel Henry. Details for the MN MUFON WEB PAGE, MUFONET (a radio net), and the National MUFON Hotline are also included. The Minnesota MUFON Journal (MMJ) is a free PDF publication available via email or download.

Object Description (Page 7)

Page 7 includes an illustration of a UFO with descriptive text: "No portals, No lights, No physical controls, Inner chamber has 6 horizontal chambers that are like drawers. One for each crew. Ramp slides up."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue consistently explores the intersection of scientific inquiry and anomalous phenomena, particularly UFOs and paranormal claims. There's a clear effort to present research findings, both supportive and critical, of these topics. The editorial stance appears to favor rigorous scientific investigation, including double-blind studies and critical evaluation of evidence, while also acknowledging the growing scientific interest in the possibility of extraterrestrial visitation. The publication serves as a resource for researchers, providing access to archives and information on lectures and organizations within the UFO community.