MUFON New Jersey Chronicle - Vol 01 No 02 - 1990 11-12

Magazine Overview

Title: THE NEW JERSEY CHRONICLE
Issue: VOLUME 1 NUMBER 2
Date: NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 1990
Publisher: THE NEW JERSEY MUTUAL UFO NETWORK

This issue of The New Jersey Chronicle, a publication dedicated to covering UFO activity in the state for the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON), presents a variety of articles and reports. It features a prominent cover story about a rotating "box-like" UFO sighted over Teterboro, New Jersey, along with an eyewitness account. The publication also includes a "From the Editor's Desk" section, a "State Director's Message," and several feature articles exploring historical UFO cases, disinformation tactics, and updates on UFO research databases.

Cover Story: Rotating "Box-Like" UFO Spotted Over Teterboro, New Jersey

The lead article details a sighting on September 21st, 1990, at approximately 4:15 PM, near Teterboro Airport. Two MUFON members, one an experienced Field Investigator/Researcher, observed a unique, rotating, box-shaped unidentified flying object. The object traveled at high speed, estimated at 500 feet in altitude, in a S to N-NE direction. The sighting lasted between 1.5 minutes and 45 seconds. Two airplanes were observed before, during, and after the UFO disappeared. The object was described as having a black side and a shiny side due to its rapid rotation. It moved in a straight line without any sound or vapor trail. The witnesses were astonished and could not identify the object as a plane, bird, balloon, cloud, or fireworks.

From the Editor's Desk

In the "From the Editor's Desk," the editor welcomes readers to the second edition of the Chronicle, noting that several UFO sightings in the northern part of the state have been investigated since the previous issue. Two new columns are introduced: "Letters to the Editor" and "An Inside View," which will cover local UFO conferences. The editor encourages reader participation through articles, comments, and ideas.

State Director's Message

Donald A. Johnson, Ph.D., the State Director, discusses the ongoing situation with a book by Don Schmitt and Kevin Randle, which is facing a threatened lawsuit from Bill Moore for copyright infringement. Johnson expresses concern that the lawsuit, despite lacking basis, is causing the publisher to delay the book's release. He also mentions a proposal by Bob Durant to lobby Congress by distributing the book with an executive summary, suggesting a need for better coordination among UFO organizations like MUFON, CUFOS, the Fund for UFO Research, and Citizens Against UFO Secrecy.

Feature Articles

Disinformation---'50s Style

This article, an introduction to Bob Durant's 1958 Fitzgerald Report, discusses a fascinating close encounter case and the subsequent investigation by Project Bluebook. The author argues that Bluebook, a project of the Air Force, engaged in a disinformation campaign to debunk UFO sightings. The Fitzgerald sighting in Sheffield Lake, Ohio, is presented as an exceptional case that Bluebook attempted to explain away. The article criticizes Donald Menzel's debunking efforts, highlighting instances where Menzel allegedly inserted false data and ignored corroborating evidence, such as weather reports and witness testimony.

1994 - "Out of the Past and Into the Future?"

Tom Benson explores an article by Dr. Alberto Perego from a 1970 issue of "Flying Saucers" magazine, detailing a sighting on November 6, 1954, of 40 UFOs forming a "Greek Cross" formation over the Vatican City. Benson suggests this sighting might have symbolic meaning related to the year 1994, potentially indicating a future cataclysmic event, referencing Whitely Streiber's book "Transformation."

National UFO Sightings Research Center UPDATE

Paul Ferrughelli and Bob Sylvester present a summary of UFO sighting reports accumulated by the NSRC from 1986 to 1989. The data reveals repeatable tendencies, including sightings by multiple witnesses, nighttime visibility, lack of sound, and defined object shapes. The report also notes that 75% of sightings were long-range, and Florida and Indiana led in the number of sightings. Changes are observed compared to historical data from Project Bluebook, such as a decrease in Daylight Disc sightings and an increase in close encounter cases.

UFOCAT is Back

Donald A. Johnson, Ph.D., announces the reinstallation of UFOCAT, a comprehensive UFO database, on an IBM personal computer. UFOCAT, which contains over 106,000 entries, was previously maintained by the Center for UFO Studies. Johnson plans to update the database and make specialized listings available to researchers, including reports from the NSRC and citations from Dick Hall's book "Uninvited Guests."

An Inside View: The Long Island UFO Conference

Tom Benson reports on the "UFOs On Long Island" Conference III, held on October 27, 1990. The conference featured discussions on the alleged Moriches Bay UFO crash, intergalactic UFO invasion theories, and experiences of alleged abductees.

Gulf Breeze---A Personal Account

Major George A. Filer, Ret., recounts his personal investigation into the Gulf Breeze UFO sightings and encounters that occurred in late 1987 and throughout 1988. Filer aimed to determine if the widely publicized photographs and videotapes taken by Ed Walters were genuine or a hoax. He interviewed numerous residents and found that many people had witnessed strange lights and UFOs, often at low altitudes. The article highlights the sincerity of Ed Walters and the willingness of locals to share their experiences.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue consistently addresses themes of UFO sightings, investigations, and the potential for government cover-ups or disinformation. There is a strong emphasis on MUFON's role in collecting and disseminating information. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into UFO phenomena, while also critically examining official explanations and historical accounts. The publication encourages debate and the sharing of personal experiences and research, as evidenced by the "Letters to the Editor" and "An Inside View" sections.