MUFON Minnesota Journal - No 181

Magazine Overview

This issue of the MUFON Minnesota Journal, dated September/October 2016 (Issue #181), focuses primarily on the phenomenon of UFO disinformation. The editorial notes that the issue concentrates on how the UFO subject has been used as a tool of disinformation.

Real UFOs and Real Disinformation by Nick Redfern

Nick Redfern's article, dated March 19, 2014, discusses how the UFO subject, particularly claims of "alien bodies on ice," has been used as a tool of disinformation. He explains that disinformation is a mixture of fact and fiction designed to confuse targeted individuals or groups, citing historical examples like the Nazis and the Soviets. Redfern suggests that the UFO phenomenon has been manipulated to a "huge extent" to confuse both enemy targets and the UFO research community. He references claims that in the mid-1950s, the U.S. Air Force commissioned the creation of lifelike "dead alien bodies" to smoke out Soviet agents and confuse the Russians about U.S. knowledge of UFOs.

However, the issue of UFO disinformation predates 1955. A 1949 Air Force Technical Report, Project Grudge, identified 228 incidents, with 30 unexplained. Notably, the report's Recommendations section suggested informing the Psychological Warfare Division and other governmental agencies interested in psychological warfare.

Redfern highlights a 1952 document from CIA Director Walter B. Smith to the Psychological Strategy Board, which concluded that UFOs had implications for psychological warfare, intelligence, and operations, suggesting their offensive or defensive utilization.

The article also touches upon the infamous alleged UFO crash at Aztec, New Mexico, in March 1948, popularized by Frank Scully's book. Redfern notes that Silas Newton, central to the story, was reportedly visited by a secret U.S. Government entity who knew his story was a lie but wanted him to continue telling it. This leads to the question of whether the government used Newton to discredit crashed saucer ideas to hide real ones.

Redfern also mentions rumors of a UFO crash on Spitzbergen, Norway, in the early 1950s, with a recovered craft and deceased alien crew. A declassified NSA document referred to this story as a "plant."

Further illustrating disinformation tactics, the article cites a June 2001 report in Britain's Independent newspaper about MI6 planting stories to smear an Egyptian candidate by claiming he believed in UFOs and extraterrestrial life.

Redfern concludes that the point of disinformation is to leave people confused, manipulated by those running the operation. He stresses that the existence of UFO disinformation does not negate the reality of the UFO phenomenon itself, which has too many credible reports to be solely a product of disinformation strategists. However, disinformation sows doubt, making the research community unsure of what is real.

Ex-CIA Chief Admits to UFO Disinformation

An article posted on Feb. 14, 2015, from AboveTopSecret.com, reports on comments made by an Ex-CIA chief and navy admiral stating the government engaged in a disinformation campaign regarding UFOs. The quote highlights that "through official secrecy and ridicule, many citizens are led to believe the unknown flying objects are nonsense." The article argues that demanding "proof" is part of this "official ridicule" and that Project Bluebook was a sham, akin to SETI. Admiral Hillenkoetter reportedly stated that high-ranking Air Force officers were concerned about UFOs due to extraterrestrial implications, and that the Air Force silenced personnel through regulation to hide facts.

How Disinformation Experts Spread Fear About UFOs - Anne Strieber

Anne Strieber's article, referencing http://www.ufoevidence.org/documents/doc1538.htm, summarizes Bill Moore's findings on government cover-ups and disinformation regarding UFOs. Moore defines disinformation as a "strange and bi-zarre game" where false information is dropped in a way that it's accepted as truth. Key factors include containing elements of truth for credibility. The article suggests that frightening UFO stories might be lies spread by disinformation experts or gullible individuals. While direct proof of government sponsorship is lacking, circumstantial evidence is growing, with at least one individual spreading disinformation while working for an intelligence agency.

The article recounts the Roswell incident in July 1947, where Air Force officials retrieved debris with unknown properties, and the cover-up that followed during the Cold War paranoia. It notes President Truman's creation of the CIA in 1947 to gather information on Communist threats.

Moore's work with APRO in 1979 led him to Paul Bennewitz, who believed aliens had implanted communication devices. Bennewitz conducted experiments detecting low-frequency signals and photographing unusual lights near Kirtland AFB and Sandia National Labs. Moore believes Bennewitz was receiving signals and filming unusual lights, but the question remains whether this was UFO activity or classified government research. Bennewitz's activities were surveilled, including wiretaps and break-ins, which he interpreted as proof he was onto something big, unaware of the disinformation capabilities of those spying on him.

By mid-1982, Bennewitz's story evolved to include elements like two groups of aliens (malevolent 'greys' and friendly ones), cattle mutilations, human abductions, implanted control devices, a broken treaty with the U.S. government, a secret base in Dulce, New Mexico, and supplied alien hardware. Moore states he knows this body of information is false because he observed the disinformation process unfold. He witnessed Bennewitz become increasingly paranoid and emotionally unstable, suffering from insomnia and deteriorating health, eventually leading to hospitalization.

The disinformation campaign was effective in preventing mainstream media and scientific communities from paying attention to Bennewitz's claims, thus losing any elements of truth. Moore suggests that Bennewitz might have stumbled upon signals from a sophisticated government project, or discovered a real government UFO project that used disinformation to protect its activities. He concludes that much of the current discourse on malevolent aliens and secret treaties has roots in the Bennewitz affair.

Moore believes the U.S. government has conducted a 40-year campaign of deception and disinformation against the public regarding UFOs, orchestrated by highly placed individuals within the intelligence community. Possible explanations include a security cover for a real UFO project, a diversion from non-UFO high-tech research, or manipulation by UFO aliens themselves. Moore posits that the truth is likely a combination of these factors.

The article emphasizes that powerful forces are spreading disinformation and warns against believing stories based on insufficient evidence. It also states that those who have experienced encounters should not be convinced their experiences were hallucinations, as the fear from confronting the unknown is real.

UFOS, DISINFORMATION AND DECEPTION by Simon Harvey-Wilson

Simon Harvey-Wilson's article, referencing http://greyfalcon.us/restored/UFOdeption.htm, discusses how understanding deception and disinformation techniques can make people less vulnerable to being fooled by governments claiming UFOs do not exist while allegedly conducting secret research. The article notes that deception is frequently used during wars.

Misleading Information

Deception is defined as creating a misleading impression through actions, targeting either enemy intelligence services or one's own citizens. Techniques exploit the tendency for people to believe information they have to ferret out is more true. An example cited is a 1998 Sunday Times article about "Germ war reports exposed as hoax," revealing how North Koreans in 1952 allegedly infected citizens with plague bacilli and used tissue samples to falsely accuse Americans of germ warfare.

Disinformation is the release or leaking of misleading information, often described as surrounding truth with "a tissue of lies." For UFOs, which appear publicly, a different technique is needed to keep them secret. The article suggests that after WWII, governments decided to make UFOs disappear psychologically through perception management or psy-ops, defining them out of existence and ridiculing witnesses. This cover-up is considered the most successful deception campaign in history, ironically leading to public disbelief even when evidence is presented.

Deception and disinformation techniques are categorized by five verbs: deny, distract, demean, deceive, and divide, often used in politics as well.

Military History

The article presents historical precedents for government secrecy, such as the U.S. government concealing German U-boat attacks off the East Coast during WWII. Wreckage was impounded, newspapers were persuaded not to publish, and breaches of security were considered treason punishable by execution. The author suspects a similar policy exists today regarding UFOs.

Books on Deception

Several books are recommended for understanding deception: "The Deception Planners: My Secret War" by Dennis Wheatley, "The Art of Military Deception" by Mark Lloyd, and "Op JB: The Last Great Secret of the Second World War" by Christopher Creighton. These books, while not directly about UFOs, illustrate the imagination, cunning, and ruthlessness employed in deception and disinformation. Wheatley describes how planners created elaborate schemes to mislead the enemy, and Lloyd provides historical overviews. Creighton's book details how British Intelligence smuggled Martin Bormann out of Berlin, highlighting the ruthlessness used to keep information secret, even involving the destruction of a Dutch submarine and its crew to prevent them from revealing intelligence about the Pearl Harbor attack.

Victor Ostrovsky & Claire Hoy's "By Way of Deception: The Making & Unmaking of a Mossad Officer" is also recommended. The author suggests that ufologists are amateurs compared to deception professionals and that if authorities want to mislead, there is little that can be done.

Examples of UFO Deception

Timothy Good's "Above Top Secret" (1989) describes a 1962 incident where U.S. Navy aviators allegedly found a UFO object in a hangar at Wright-Patterson Air Force base, guarded by eight men. The author questions the security measures, suggesting the incident might have been deliberately staged to reassure servicemen and the public that the Pentagon had the UFO situation under control.

The article discusses the abduction of Franck Fontaine at Cergy-Pontoise, France, in November 1979. Jacques Vallee's "Revelations: Alien Contact and Human Deception" suggests this abduction was carried out by the French government to observe reactions from the police, media, and public. Vallee advises abductees to be checked for syringe marks and drugs to detect official deception.

Sydney engineer Ted Roach published "The Physics of A Flying Saucer" in 1997, detailing ten inventions related to gravitational, electric, and magnetic fields. His patent applications were forwarded to the Department of Defense and Australian Safeguards Office due to possible military interest. Roach was told not to reveal details of his invention. After clearance, Roach questioned if his patent was allowed to proceed because it wouldn't work or if it was an opportunity for authorities to muddy the waters. He suggests that if UFOs exist, authorities may intercept patent applications for propulsion systems due to national security concerns.

The article also points out that misleading UFO information is published by magazines and internet sites, not just by disinformation experts. An example is a February 1996 "Encounters" magazine cover photo described as a "World Exclusive" showing jet fighters accompanying a black triangular craft being refueled. Bill Rose, in "UFO Magazine," claimed this photo was a fictitious simulation created to illustrate a sighting of an "Aurora Project aircraft." Ironically, Rose's article also suggested that the original sighting proved the U.S. or British air force had developed such a craft, creating a confusing scenario that damages UFO research credibility.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout the issue is the pervasive nature of disinformation and deception in relation to the UFO phenomenon. The articles consistently suggest that governments and intelligence agencies have actively worked to conceal information, manipulate public perception, and sow doubt within the UFO research community. The editorial stance appears to be that while a genuine UFO phenomenon likely exists, it has been significantly obscured by deliberate disinformation campaigns, making it difficult to discern truth from fiction. The issue advocates for a critical approach to information and a recognition of the sophisticated tactics employed to maintain secrecy and control public understanding.

This issue of the MUFON UFO Journal, dated July 23, 2014, features an in-depth article titled "William Moore: UFO opportunist or agent of disinformation" by Don Schmitt. The article examines the complex and often contradictory role of William Moore within the UFO community, questioning his motives and the authenticity of the information he presented.

The William Moore Controversy

The article begins by contextualizing the author's involvement with the J. Allen Hynek Center for UFO Studies (CUFOS) and his initial skepticism towards the Roswell incident. It then details how Jerome Clark contacted the author, suggesting a significant development that could 'break the entire UFO field wide open.' This development centered around William Moore, a ufologist who had allegedly stumbled upon or orchestrated a controversial topic related to UFOs.

Moore's background is explored, including his teaching career and early investigations into UFOs. His co-authorship of 'The Philadelphia Experiment' with Charles Berlitz is mentioned, followed by his collaboration with Stanton Friedman on a book about the Roswell incident. The article notes that Moore later disavowed his involvement in 'The Roswell Incident,' calling it a 'disgraceful hodgepodge of fact and fiction.'

The MJ-12 Documents and the 'Aviary'

A significant portion of the article focuses on the MJ-12 documents. Moore and Jaime Shandera are described as having obtained a copy of a memo from Robert Cutler, Special Assistant to President Eisenhower, which allegedly mentioned the MJ-12 project. They spent years trying to substantiate these documents, meeting with other members of a group referred to as the 'Aviary.'

The article details Moore's interactions with radio commentator Paul Harvey, who was initially willing to break the story but became disillusioned with Shandera's presentation and claims, particularly regarding organized religion being an alien concoction. This led to the author's own association with Harvey being severed.

Moore and Shandera are depicted as having a strategy to slowly release information, possibly as a disinformation campaign. The article suggests that figures like Richard C. Doty, an Air Force Office of Scientific Information investigator, were involved, possibly under pseudonyms like 'Falcon.'

Discrediting Paul Bennewitz

The article highlights the alleged role of Moore and Doty in discrediting Paul Bennewitz, an investigator who believed in a plot involving underground UFO bases. Moore reportedly fed Bennewitz misinformation and engaged in psychological manipulation, leading to Bennewitz's commitment to a mental health facility.

The 'Aviary' and Disinformation Tactics

The 'Aviary' is described as a group of 'shadow characters,' some allegedly within the UFO community, who worked with Moore and Shandera. The article suggests that the goal was to either disclose information or engage in a disinformation game. The 'UFO Cover-Up Live!' TV special is presented as an example of this, where 'Falcon' and 'Condor' (allegedly Doty and Robert Collins) were presented as intelligence agents.

Motives and Consequences

The article explores various motives for such a campaign, including financial gain, personal ambition, or even a KGB counter-intelligence operation, especially given Moore's knowledge of Russian and his claims about CIA agent Henry Rositzke. The author concludes that there is no evidence Moore was a genuine intelligence agent and suggests he was used to spread disinformation.

Conclusion and Recurring Themes

The article posits that the core elements of the UFO story promoted by Moore (extraterrestrial visits, a crash in New Mexico, government difficulty in reverse-engineering technology) were not new. It suggests that Moore's actions, while possibly driven by a desire for fame and financial gain, ultimately failed to convince many, including the author, who views the experience as a lesson in vigilance against 'stranger bearing gifts.'

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue strongly emphasizes the theme of disinformation within the UFO field. It highlights the difficulty in separating genuine information from fabricated narratives and the potential for individuals to be manipulated or to manipulate others for personal gain or as part of a larger intelligence operation. The editorial stance appears to be one of caution and skepticism towards sensational claims, advocating for rigorous investigation and a critical approach to UFO-related information. The article also touches upon the role of government secrecy and the challenges of obtaining verifiable evidence in UFO research.

This document is page 21 of the Minnesota MUFON Journal. The journal is published by MUFON, and the editor is identified as Joel Henry.

Content

The primary content of this page is a map of the New Brighton, Minnesota area. The map details various roads, including:

• County Road E2 (Co Rd E2)
• Lake Valentine Road
• 7th St NW
• 8th St NW
• 10th St NW
• 6th St NW
• 5th St NW
• 8th Ave NW
• 1st Ave NW
• Sioux Blvd
• Long Lake Rd
• Pike Lake Dr
• Highview Dr

Landmarks such as Hansen Park and the New Brighton Community Center are also marked. Major highways like I-694 and MN-27B are visible. A specific note on the map states, "(Co Rd E2 bridge has been torn down)".

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

As a MUFON Journal, the publication likely focuses on UFO and UAP phenomena. The presence of a map of a specific locality suggests that the content may involve local sightings, investigations, or geographical context for reported events. The editorial stance appears to be informative, as indicated by the inclusion of detailed maps and factual notes like the status of the County Road E2 bridge.