MUFON Minnesota Journal - No 164

Magazine Overview

Title: MUFON Minnesota Journal
Issue: #164
Date: November/December 2013
Publisher: MUFON
Country: USA

CE4 Corner: Unexpected Moments of Discernment

This section, authored by Craig R. Lang, MS CHt, emphasizes the critical need for discernment in UFO research, drawing from his nearly 20 years of experience as a researcher and over 15 years as a hypnotherapist. Lang recounts two personal experiences that highlight this theme. The first involves a woman who confronted him at a civic health fair, labeling his hypnosis work as 'evil' based on religious fundamentalist beliefs, which Lang suggests she had accepted uncritically. The second, more impactful experience, occurred at the Paradigm symposium in Saint Paul, where Lang heard an arch-skeptic, a professor of genetics and biology, argue that UFOs are not extraterrestrial, alien abductions do not exist, and ancient constructions are not alien-related. The skeptic asserted that current scientific knowledge is sufficient to dismiss such phenomena. Lang challenged the skeptic on the absolute claim of 'no evidence' for alien abduction, pushing him to prove his negative assertion. Lang posits that the skeptic's belief that current knowledge is sufficient to dismiss certain phenomena is as unsubstantiated as the beliefs it opposes, arguing there's no more evidence against aliens on Earth than for present-day alien contact.

Lang then shifts to a discussion about 'toxic contrails' (chemtrails), where he engaged with someone convinced that a conspiratorial organization was spraying toxic chemicals globally for population control and geoengineering. Lang suggests the individual might have been observing normal contrails persisting due to weather conditions, such as an approaching cold front, rather than a deliberate spraying plot. This experience broadened Lang's perspective, helping him understand the viewpoint of skeptics on UFOs and alien abduction. He stresses the importance of examining evidence and not jumping to conclusions, comparing the chemtrail belief to seeing Venus and concluding an alien mother ship is landing. He concludes that runaway belief, whether positive or negative, underscores the need for discernment and an awareness that what we think we know can be wrong.

Peru's Government UFO Agency Officially Reactivated After Increase In Sightings

This article by Lee Speigel reports on the reactivation of Peru's official UFO investigation department, the Peruvian Office of Anomalous Aerial Phenomena Research (OIFAA). The agency, which had been shut down for five years, is now soliciting information from the public due to an increase in sightings. The OIFAA will utilize the expertise of air force personnel, sociologists, archaeologists, and astronomers. Peru Air Force Col. Julio Jose Vucetich Abanto stated that the institution will study and research information from those who observe unconventional phenomena. The agency was originally established in 2001 but closed due to administrative issues. Unlike the historical stance of some other countries, South American nations like Peru, Chile, Brazil, and Argentina tend to have an open-minded attitude towards UFO reports. The article contrasts this with the U.S. Air Force's Project Blue Book, which ended in 1969 claiming no evidence beyond modern scientific knowledge, and mentions former military personnel suggesting government cover-ups. It also references the British Ministry of Defense's alleged strategy of downplaying UFO reports, as described by former MOD officer Nick Pope.

At Peace in Obscurity

Written by Billy Cox, this piece reflects on the legacy of biophysicist William Levengood, a crop-circle investigator who died at age 88. His colleague, Nancy Talbot, regards Levengood as a visionary whose work laid a foundation for future scientific efforts. Levengood's passing went largely unnoticed by the UFO community. He was the last surviving member of the BLT Research Team, which documented biological abnormalities in crop circles. John Burke, the 'B' in BLT, died in 2010, and Talbot now continues the work with dwindling resources. Levengood faced scrutiny over his academic credentials, but his botanical research papers were published in mainstream science journals. The BLT team investigated crop circles, discovering evidence of intense heat, specifically electromagnetic, causing plant-stem elongation and bending. They replicated this in the lab using an 'ion avalanche' of energy. Talbot mentions that Levengood and Burke patented this process as 'Stressguard,' a move she felt should have been shared freely with farmers. Data indicated accelerated growth rates in seeds from affected areas, disrupting pest cycles and increasing yields. Analysis of surrounding soil revealed undocumented crystalline structures. Talbot notes that while debunkers respond negatively, the data has not been formally challenged, often being ignored.

Message from Jan Harzan

Jan Harzan, MUFON International Director, thanks attendees of the 2013 MUFON Symposium, describing it as highly successful. He announces his election as the new Executive Director, succeeding Dave MacDonald, and outlines plans for MUFON's future, including expanding its reach and forming an Advisory Committee. Harzan shares his personal story, detailing his childhood interest in UFOs, a daylight close encounter in the early 1960s, and his pursuit of a Nuclear Engineering degree from UCLA to understand the technology. He realized that deep research, beyond conventional college classrooms, was necessary. After working at IBM, he joined MUFON in the late 1980s, eventually holding various leadership positions. His personal agenda is the "Scientific Study of UFO's for the Benefit of Humanity." Harzan invites readers to share their own stories and experiences with the UFO phenomenon and MUFON.

UFOexperiences: Terrified Truckers - On the (UFO) Road Again

This section details an account from Robert (Bob) and Jackie Bair, truck drivers from Yakima, Washington, who experienced unusual events over three days in 1984 while driving between Montana and Minnesota. Their story, reported in a local newspaper, describes encounters with lights, small winged beings with V-shaped heads, and hostile actions. They reported seeing 'nine little ships and one big ship' moving erratically, and the beings shot fine needle-like shavings at their truck. They experienced 'little black things' and objects resembling 'Vitamin E Capsules' forming on their windshield. The Bairs described hitting objects that felt like bubbles, leaving spots on the ground. They also reported a 'big peanut' shaped object falling from a 'spaceship.' The phenomena were not visible to others, leading Jackie to believe the objects could turn invisible. Police and highway patrol confirmed the Bairs were scared but could not see the objects themselves. Skeptics offered various theories, but the case remains unexplained.

UFO Fleets of WWII Amazing New Footage Revealed

This article discusses the term 'foo fighter,' used by Allied pilots during World War II to describe mysterious aerial phenomena. Initially associated with the U.S. 415th Night Fighter Squadron, the term came to encompass various UFO sightings from that era. Reported from November 1944, pilots initially suspected enemy secret weapons, but investigations revealed similar sightings by both Allied and Axis forces. Michael D. Swords notes that these experiences were taken seriously by scientists like David Griggs, Luis Alvarez, and H.P. Robertson, but the phenomenon was never explained, and much information remains classified. The article describes the 'foo fighters' as fast-moving, glowing round objects, variously colored, that toyed with aircraft without displaying hostile behavior. They could not be outmaneuvered or shot down. The phenomenon was widespread, leading to names like 'kraut fireballs.' While some scientists rationalized the sightings as illusions or St. Elmo's Fire, others suggested they might be secret German weapons. Time magazine reported on these 'balls of fire' in January 1945. The phenomenon in the Pacific Theater differed slightly, described as a large burning sphere. One account mentions a B-29 gunner hitting an object that broke into pieces. The postwar Robertson Panel suggested electrostatic or electromagnetic phenomena, or reflections from ice crystals, as possible explanations, noting that if the term 'flying saucers' had been popular, these objects would have been labeled as such.

Explanations and theories

This section explores various theories regarding 'foo fighters.' Author Renato Vesco proposed they were a new Nazi secret weapon called the 'Feuerball' (Fireball), a ground-launched, automatically guided jet-propelled flak mine. Vesco alleged these devices, operated by SS units, resembled tortoise shells and used gas jets and miniature klystron tubes to create a glowing appearance. He suggested they were intended to distract bomber pilots and offensively interfere with aircraft engine ignition systems. The article notes that while there's no hard evidence for the Feuerball drone, this theory has been supported by other authors and documentaries. Other suggested explanations include electrical discharges from airplane wings (similar to St. Elmo's Fire) and ball lightning. The U.S. Navy's Project X-148-AV-4-3, led by Dr. Edgar Vinacke, studied visual illusions and aviator vertigo, aiming to provide pilots with better information about disorientation phenomena.

Sightings

This section presents several sightings of 'foo fighters' and other anomalous phenomena. A September 1941 sighting in the Indian Ocean involved a "strange globe glowing with greenish light." Charles R. Bastien of the Eighth Air Force reported encounters with "two fog lights flying at high rates of speed that could change direction rapidly." Career U.S. Air Force pilot Duane Adams witnessed two incidents of a bright light pacing his aircraft over the South Pacific, once in a B-25 bomber and later in a KC-135 tanker.

Minnesota UFO Reports

This report details a sighting that occurred on September 22, 2013, in Sandstone, MN. The witness, a 40-year-old stay-at-home mom with a nursing background, observed a large, greenish-white, metallic-looking object in the sky. The object swayed, hovered, and pulsed while moving in a circular motion for approximately 45 minutes. It appeared to have a metallic look and emitted a glowing light without any sound. The witness also noted an airplane with blue lights in the distance. The sky was clear at the time of the sighting.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the critical importance of discernment, skepticism, and evidence-based reasoning in the study of UFOs and anomalous phenomena. The journal contrasts the perspectives of believers and skeptics, encouraging readers to maintain a critical thinking approach. There is a strong emphasis on the need to question assumptions and avoid jumping to conclusions, whether one leans towards belief or skepticism. The issue also highlights the historical context of UFO research, from WWII sightings to modern investigations, and underscores the ongoing efforts of organizations like MUFON to collect and analyze data. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, encouraging rigorous investigation while acknowledging the complexities and potential for misinterpretation within the field.

The document is page 11 of the Minnesota MUFON Journal, a free publication distributed via the internet as a PDF. It details a specific UFO sighting and provides contact information for MUFON Minnesota.

UFO Sighting Report

The primary content of the page is a report of a UFO sighting that occurred on October 8, 2013, at 20:00 in St. Cloud, MN. The object was described as a circle, initially appearing orange in the sky, but detailed on video as having multiple colors (specifically 10) and rotating or spinning quickly clockwise. It was observed about 200 feet off the ground, with no sound or movement noted initially. The duration of the observation was approximately one hour, after which the object reportedly "shot straight into the air."

The observer also notes a recurring pattern, stating that similar shapes have been seen "come and go for the past month," appearing about once a week in different locations within a mile of the previous sighting. The areas where the sightings occurred were described as being surrounded by farms, with nothing high enough in the air to explain the light form. The observer is continuing to research this phenomenon daily.

MUFON Minnesota Information

The page provides extensive contact and informational details for MUFON Minnesota:

• Meetings and Agendas: Links are provided to http://www.mnmufon.org/agenda.htm and http://www.mnmufon.org/event.htm for up-to-date information.
• Key Personnel:
• State Director: Craig Lang (phone: 763-560-1532)
• Assistant State Director: Bill McNeff (phone: 952-890-1390)
• Field Investigator Coordinator: Bill McNeff
• Journal Editor: Joel Henry (address: PO Box 240631, Apple Valley, MN 55124; phone: 952-431-2426; email: [email protected])
• Webmaster: Joel Henry (website: http://www.mnmufon.org)
• MUFONET: Information about a radio net operating on 3.9777 Mhz on Mondays at 7:00 pm CST, with Bob Shultz as Net Control.
• National MUFON Hotline: A hotline is available to report UFO news, sightings, etc., at (888) 817-2220.

Publication and Distribution

The Minnesota MUFON Journal (MMJ) is distributed for free as a .PDF document via the internet. Interested individuals can be added to the e-mail notification list by sending a request to [email protected]. Past issues can be accessed at www.mnmufon.org/mmjpdf.htm. The journal encourages readers to print copies for individuals who lack internet access, with the stipulation that no charge be made for these copies.

Contributions and Copyrights

Submissions for news or editorial contributions are welcomed and should be directed to the Editor. The page includes a note on copyrights, stating that articles are reprinted with permission or are believed to be in the public domain, and that permission must be obtained from the original author(s) for any use or reprint.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme is the reporting and investigation of UFO/UAP sightings, with a focus on providing information and resources to the public through the MUFON organization. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry and information sharing, encouraging public participation in reporting sightings and providing access to research materials. The journal emphasizes accessibility by offering free digital copies and encouraging the sharing of printed copies.