NM MUFON News - no 27 - 1995 07

Magazine Overview

This issue of the NM MUFON NEWS, dated July 23, 1995, is the 27th issue and focuses heavily on the Roswell UFO Encounter 95 festival and related topics. The cover prominently features the headline 'ROSWELL UFO ENCOUNTER 95' and a price of $1.50.

Roswell UFO Encounter 95

Miller Johnson reports on the first annual UFO Encounter festival held in Roswell on July 1 and 2, organized by a 25-member committee. The festival was an effort by the city to capitalize on its UFO reputation. Johnson details his experience attending the event, including delivering I-Beams to the International UFO Museum and Research Center, attending a cocktail party, and a panel discussion featuring Linda Howe, Stanton Friedman, Don Schmitt, and Kevin Randle. Linda Howe spoke about presidential briefing papers detailing the retrieval of six aliens from the Roswell Incident. Stanton Friedman discussed Majestic 12 and Major Jesse Marcel's involvement.

The report continues with Johnson's attendance at an Alien Costume Contest and an Arts and Crafts Fair. He notes the presence of a U.S. Army camouflage net and mentions that Stan Friedman spent much of Saturday under it. The 'Out-of-This-World Laser/Light Show' was canceled due to lightning. The following day, Johnson attended another panel discussion and visited the museum, which saw a high visitor count. He also mentions missing the Great UFO Float Race and other attractions.

Forty Years of UFOs - Jim Mosely Talks to NM MUFON

Carolyn Duce-Ashe reports on a talk given by Jim Mosely, a long-time UFOlogist and editor of 'Saucer Smear.' Mosely, known for his truthful yet funny style, shared his thoughts on the UFO mystery, stating he still doesn't have answers after decades of research. He believes there's a 'strong possibility of a psychic factor' in the phenomenon and doesn't agree with 'nuts-and-bolts' researchers. Mosely recounted a 1954 sighting of five saucers in Miami. He also shared his impressions of the Gulf Breeze phenomena and discussed psychic events, noting that while they exist, they cannot be controlled. He expressed skepticism about the Santilli film, calling it a 'Hollywood type' production, but noted that the coiled phone cord seen in the film was patented. Mosely feels UFOlogy has 'gone downhill' due to issues like the Santilli film and researcher rivalry. He commented on various figures in the field, including Phil Klass, James Randi, James McDonald, John Keel, Linda Moulton Howe, and Glenn Campbell. Regarding the UFO enigma, Mosely stated that people don't want simple answers and that it's an intense, anomalous phenomenon that science cannot yet deal with.

Physicist: I Launched UFO

Lawrence Spohn reports on Charles B. Moore, a Socorro physicist who claims the debris from the 1947 Roswell crash was not from an alien craft but from a lost Air Force Project Mogul balloon he launched. Moore, a 76-year-old physicist, states that the description of the debris fits his 600-foot-long balloon apparatus, which was never recovered. He believes the Air Force's official explanation, which acknowledges the debris was from a Project Mogul balloon, supports his claim. The Air Force draft report is expected to address the incident and has uncovered no evidence of alien bodies or materials. Proponents of the alien craft theory, like Walter Haut and Clifford Stone, disagree with Moore's explanation, insisting that eyewitness accounts and the strange properties of the recovered materials point to an extraterrestrial origin. Moore concedes that conspiracy proponents may not be convinced but hopes the public will discern fact from fiction, stating he is '90th percentile' sure it was his balloon.

David Thomas, an Albuquerque scientist, has written about Moore's connection in 'Skeptical Inquirer,' expressing 99.9% certainty that the recovered material was from Moore's balloon. Thomas highlights 'direct links' between Moore's evidence and Roswell reports, including the timing of the launch and recovery, and the construction materials of the balloon and its radar reflector, which allegedly match the recovered debris. Philip J. Klass, a renowned UFO debunker, also believes Moore's details fit the facts, suggesting this should 'put the nail in the coffin' of the Roswell incident.

An Evening of Mystery: Walton and Rogers in Albuquerque

Debby Stark reports on a talk given by Travis Walton and Mike Rogers in Albuquerque. Stark notes that Walton's story, while known, is considered 'boring' compared to other abduction accounts. The report details Walton's 1975 experience of being taken by a UFO while working with logging buddies. He recalls being examined by strange beings and briefly touring a spaceship. Walton reappeared five days later with fragmented memories. Rogers showed clips from the movie 'Fire in the Sky' and other TV appearances, highlighting the accuracy of certain details in the film and Rogers's paintings illustrating the story.

Stanton Friedman in New Mexico

Carolyn Duce-Ashe covers Stanton Friedman's presentation in Albuquerque. Friedman discussed his standard talk, 'Flying Saucers are Real!', and introduced new topics. He aims to separate information from 'garbage' in UFOlogy and mentioned his goal to 'secure the planet for intelligent life.' He also briefly discussed the Santilli film, expressing skepticism but noting the patent of the coiled phone cord. Friedman feels UFOlogy has declined due to issues like the Santilli film and researcher rivalries. He mentioned his book with Don Berliner, 'Crash at Corona,' and promoted his CD ROM of James E. McDonald's paper on UFOs.

Schiff: Is alien autopsy authentic?

This Associated Press report discusses a 15-minute film purporting to show the autopsy of an alien captured near Roswell in 1947. Even UFO enthusiasts are skeptical, and Representative Steve Schiff is seeking to verify its authenticity. The film, if legitimate, would be the first hard evidence of a UFO crash in the area. The government maintains the crash was an Air Force experiment. The film's owner claims to have acquired the footage from an Army photographer.

Calendar and Announcements

The issue includes a calendar of upcoming NM MUFON meetings and special events, featuring speakers on topics such as 'Are Extra-Terrestrials Really Influencing Human Reality?', cattle mutilations, and ancient Egypt. Announcements include a newsletter, books on UFOs and new energy, and information on subscribing to various UFO-related publications.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the Roswell Incident, UFO sightings, abduction experiences, and the ongoing debate between conventional explanations (like Project Mogul) and extraterrestrial origins. There's a strong emphasis on UFOlogy as a field of research, with discussions on its current state, prominent figures, and the challenges of separating fact from fiction. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical inquiry, presenting different viewpoints and encouraging readers to discern information, while also acknowledging the enduring mystery of the UFO phenomenon.