MUFON New Jersey Chronicle - Vol 01 No 01 - 1990 09-10

Magazine Overview

This is the inaugural issue of The New Jersey Chronicle, a bi-monthly publication by the New Jersey Mutual UFO Network (MUFON), dated September/October. The magazine aims to inform, educate, and communicate with local MUFON chapters, presenting a forum for current and past statewide investigations. It features a regular column by State Director Dr. Donald A. Johnson, upcoming conference information, and a section for reader letters.

Congressional Inquiry Urged for Roswell Testimony

Dr. Donald A. Johnson, Ph.D., in his lead article, discusses the ongoing issue of government UFO secrecy and advocates for a Congressional inquiry into the Roswell Incident. He references the testimony of Major Jesse A. Marcel and the upcoming book by Kevin Randle and Donald Schmitt, which is expected to include new material and testimony from over 175 individuals. The article highlights the request for Congressional immunity for fifteen men sworn to secrecy regarding the Roswell crash retrieval. Johnson expresses doubt that the incident was merely a U.S. military secret project like an unrecorded rocket launch. He recounts a conversation with a senior CIA policy analyst who, based on mid-1980s documents, believed the government had retrieved an alien craft and stored parts in Nevada for NASA research. The analyst suggested that secrecy could be maintained by limiting the number of individuals aware of the information to fewer than 20. Johnson emphasizes that true government secrecy often resides within a small proportion of the government, not necessarily in branches like the Air Force.

State Director's Message

Dr. Donald A. Johnson, in his "State Director's Message," welcomes readers to the first edition and outlines the newsletter's dual purpose: to keep New Jersey MUFON members informed about UFO news and to inform other state MUFON organizations about activities in New Jersey. He stresses the need for financial support, with subscriptions costing $12.00 per year to cover printing and mailing costs. Johnson notes that New Jersey, being densely populated, has lacked a forum for discussing UFO phenomena and aims to supplant the rumor mill with accurate information. He also mentions the potential for combining the newsletter with an electronic bulletin board.

Organizational Notes and Regional Divisions

Dr. Johnson's message also details organizational changes, including dividing the state into two regions for membership meetings. Susan Van Slooten is appointed Assistant State Director for Northern New Jersey, and George Filer continues as Assistant State Director for Southern New Jersey. The dividing line between the regions is Monmouth, Middlesex, and Mercer Counties, with Monmouth and Mercer in the southern region and Middlesex in the northern. He thanks Paul Makuch for volunteering as editor and acknowledges the contributions of Bob Durant, Tom Benson, and Paul Ferrigelli.

Vallee Flunks History

Tom Benson's article critiques ufologist Jacques Vallee's statement in his book "Confrontations" that American ufology did not admit the existence of close encounter reports until the late Sixties. Benson argues that organizations like APRO and NICAP recognized and published such reports much earlier. He points out that NICAP, while distancing itself from CE-III reports due to the influence of "contactees" like Adamski, did collect and publish CE-I and CE-II cases, including those with electromagnetic effects, radar evidence, and physical traces. Benson cites NICAP's policy of quietly investigating controversial cases and their 1969 publication "UFOs: A New Look," which included a chapter on humanoid reports. Benson disputes Vallee's assertion that close encounter cases were not taken seriously by ufologists in the 1950s, listing numerous periodicals that published such material. He suggests Vallee's recent writings tend to denigrate American ufology and imply that significant research originated from Europe, forcing him to "re-write history" to support his thesis. The editor's note identifies Tom Benson as a former MUFON State Director for New Jersey with an extensive library of UFO-related materials.

MUFONET Update

This section announces the experimental MUFONET Message Echo, an online computer communications system and BBS operated by John W. Komar, State Director for Tennessee. Interested individuals are invited to contact Mr. Komar for details.

Upcoming UFO Conferences

The newsletter lists two upcoming events in the North East: the Omega Conference on October 13-14, featuring speakers like Jacques Vallee, Travis Walton, and Stanton Friedman, and the December 1-2, 1990 Scientific Study of UFO's Symposium, which will cover UFOs, Bigfoot, and Ghosts, and include a UFO photo display.

Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

Robert J. Durrant's article explores the connection between temporal lobe epilepsy and UFO abduction experiences, particularly referencing the works of Whitley Strieber (Communion, Transformation, Majestic). Durrant explains that temporal lobe epilepsy affects higher brain functions like memory and personal meaning attribution, leading to experiences described as mystical or paranormal. He notes that while formal diagnosis can be difficult, Strieber's negative test results for temporal lobe epilepsy still leave open the possibility that he suffers from sporadic episodes. Durrant analyzes Strieber's books, finding that symptoms of temporal lobe epilepsy are present, especially in "Majestic," which he distinguishes as a fictionalized account of the Roswell crash. He suggests that Strieber may be suffering from temporal lobe epilepsy, which could explain the nature of abduction experiences. Durrant also proposes alternative interpretations, including the possibility that aliens might intentionally induce or control temporal lobe functions in abductees through external means.

National UFO Sightings Data Base

Paul Ferrughelli and Bob Sylvester describe the National UFO Sightings Data Base developed by the National Sighting Research Center (NSRC) in Emerson, New Jersey. The database aims to compile and maintain a record of UFO sightings nationwide. The NSRC publishes annual summary reports, such as the "National Sightings Yearbook 1986-1988," which contains data on 494 sightings. The article details the database's components (GUI, DBM, GG, Telecommunications) and the types of analyses performed, including state distributions, close encounter cases, and statistical analysis. The data is sourced from various UFO organizations and publications and is entered without interpretation. The article also includes graphical breakdowns of UFO sightings by hourly and weekly time frames, and by shape (Disc/Round/Sphere, Triangular/Delta, Oval/Elliptical, Cylindrical, Rectangular), with "Multiple Lights/one" being the most frequently reported characteristic.

Summary of Current Investigative Reports

This section presents summaries of three recent UFO sightings investigated in New Jersey:

• December 13, 1989, Glen Ridge, NJ: A woman and her 18-year-old son witnessed a UFO with hundreds of twinkling lights, an irregular, flattened shape with spines, and a "dipping motion." The sighting lasted approximately 5 minutes for the first witness and 45 seconds for the second.
• January 6, 1990, Cookstown, NJ: A man observed two strange lights, one blueish-green and oval, the other with red and white lights in a line, hovering near McGuire AFB. Lights were seen beaming up from the base toward the object, which appeared to be humming.
• February 6, 1990, Barnegat, NJ: A mother, daughter, grandmother, and neighbor witnessed a dome-shaped UFO with multicolored flickering lights, described as mushroom-like, spinning, and hovering. The object was seen by the mother and daughter while driving to the store.

Reminder for Field Investigators

A note informs field investigators that the new Computer Input Form Number 2 is available from the State Director and will be included in the 4th Edition of the MUFON Field Investigator's Manual.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around government secrecy concerning UFO phenomena, particularly the Roswell Incident, and the call for greater transparency through Congressional action. The publication strongly supports the investigation of UFO cases and the dissemination of information to MUFON members and the wider public. There is a critical stance towards certain ufologists, as seen in the critique of Jacques Vallee, emphasizing the importance of accurate historical accounts. The editorial stance is pro-investigation, pro-information sharing, and critical of perceived obfuscation by government entities. The publication also explores potential scientific and psychological explanations for UFO experiences, such as temporal lobe epilepsy, while maintaining an open mind to the possibility of extraterrestrial origins.