MUFON Northern California Case Briefs - No 04 - 1995

Magazine Overview

This issue of 'CASE BRIEFS: EXPLORATIONS & REVIEW' from the MUTUAL UFO NETWORK, Northern California Affiliate, dated January/February 1995, issue #4, presents a collection of articles and commentaries on UFO phenomena, historical sightings, and government secrecy.

A Commentary from the Director

The Director's commentary reflects on the importance of approaching truth with caution, especially in the field of ufology, which is often clouded by disinformation. The Director emphasizes the need for personal critical thinking and the careful evaluation of information, likening it to organizing 'bits and pieces of information' on mental shelves. The commentary also touches upon the tendency for 'experts' to support established narratives and the importance of questioning authority.

Waiting for the Saucers, Part III: The Great California Airship Flap of 1896

Authored by Allen V. Dunkin, State Section Director for San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties, this article details the first major UFO flap in the United States, which began in California in September 1896. The flap involved numerous sightings of strange luminous objects and cigar-shaped craft. The article recounts specific incidents: a metallic UFO seen near the setting sun in San Francisco (September 21st), a brilliantly lit airship over Bowman (October), a flying object with a searchlight over Seal Rock (October), and a bright light witnessed by Hannah Harney and Ella Potter (November 15th). On November 17th, hundreds in Sacramento reported an airship, described as cigar-shaped and manned by four men, with audible machinery. Another airship was seen over Oak Park, leaving a smoke trail (November 18th). In Tagus, a canvas-like object was observed at 2,000 feet (November 20th). Downtown Sacramento saw an object described as a 'bright light, suspended from a large, dark body' (November 21st). On November 22nd, Methodist ministers observed a red fireball with white lights near Knights Ferry, which rose, descended, and disappeared. An egg-shaped vessel with a searchlight was seen over San Francisco and Oakland the same day. Subsequent sightings included a fast-moving cigar-shaped object with wings over Santa Rosa (November 23rd), reports in Red Bluff (November 24th), bright lights over Modesto (November 25th), a large black cigar-shaped object with a fish tail over Michigan Bar and Oakland (November 27th), and airships sighted in Fresno and Selma (December 6th), and pacing a railroad train (December 7th). Reports also came from Oregon, Washington, and Arizona in December. The flap concluded in mid-January 1897 with reports from Lodi and Acampo. Some builders claimed to be testing craft for public presentation, but no such presentation occurred. The article notes the similarity of these sightings to modern UFO reports and mentions rumors of visitors from space.

Waiting for the Saucers, Part IV: "A Nod is as Good as a Wink to a Blind Horse"

This section challenges the notion that the government knows nothing about flying saucers, citing Project Blue Book's over 700 unidentified cases. It highlights government secrecy, referencing the Atomic Age, nuclear explosions, radiation experiments on humans, and the covert existence of the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) for thirty years. It also mentions FEMA's secret program for nuclear war survival, involving a large budget and limited congressional awareness. The article lists other secret entities like the Manhattan Project, Area 51, Wackenhut, EG&G, and DISCO, concluding that the government is adept at keeping secrets. The author, Allen V. Dunkin, expresses a cynical view of elected officials and a preference for waiting for saucers. The Director's commentary, continued from page 1, urges ufologists to be knowledgeable but slow to accept and interpret information, emphasizing critical self-education and listening to gut feelings. It poses nine questions for consideration, including the relationship between world events and UFO phenomena, media portrayal of UFOs, and the significance of alien beings and cattle mutilations.

Case 1: The Perils of Kathleen (Part III)

This case, presented by Virgil Staff, MUFON State Director, No. California, details a regression of a woman named Kathleen. During one regression, Kathleen recalled an event from February 1994 where she was in a tall ceilinged room with an entity holding a little gray alien to be placed in a fire. The gray was described as naked, with three long fingers, and feet with cloven hooves. Kathleen attempted to communicate with the entity not to throw the baby in the fire. The article notes the mythological significance of the cloven hoof and suggests evidence of infant mortality and disposal.

Case 2: Uncle Ralph's Story

Authored by Virgil Staff, this case involves Carolyn Brazil, who recounted a story from her Uncle Ralph Scheibly about an event in 1945 or 1948, possibly in Arizona or New Mexico. A regression of Carolyn by Dr. Richard Haines revealed details that differed slightly from her initial recollection. Ralph Scheibly, a foreman, described witnessing a brilliant sun-like phenomenon followed by a large explosion on a flat plain. Upon investigation, he found a crashed circular metal craft and two small beings. The men were unable to approach due to intense heat. One of the small beings waved. Authorities arrived, and the men were held incommunicado, told they had seen an experiment, and warned not to speak of it. The experience led to a loss of faith in the U.S. government. The article estimates the event occurred in 1945, prior to the end of World War II or shortly after VJ Day. Carolyn's uncle and the other men were treated harshly by authorities, fostering deep resentment towards the government. Carolyn Brazil died on November 19, 1992, in San Francisco.

Oklahoma Investigations: Cattle Investigation

This article by Richard D. Seifried of MUFON's Oklahoma Chapter investigates the disappearance of 1700 head of cattle from a pasture in south central Oklahoma. The rancher claimed rustlers took the cattle, but no signs of theft were found. The pasture was small (fifty-one acres), making a large-scale theft difficult without detection. The rancher had insured the herd shortly before their disappearance. The Sheriff, who was cooperative, noted that the banker withheld documents. The article also touches on the similarity to a case in Georgia involving disappearing dogs and mentions the UFO cattle mutilation phenomenon. The author recounts an encounter with a black panther while investigating, which he believes was a real mountain lion, but notes that black panthers are sometimes seen by experiencers with abduction backgrounds. He also describes the quaint town of Addington.

Phoenix Interview: Vance Davis

This section reprints an interview with Vance Davis from 'The Phoenix Newsletter,' concerning the 'Augsburg 6' or 'Gulf Breeze 6' incident of July 14, 1990. The case involved six AWOL soldiers from Augsburg, Germany, who were stopped near Gulf Breeze, Florida. Initial media reports, based on government information, focused on a 'cult angle,' suggesting they were trying to find the Antichrist or steal secret government UFO papers. Vance Davis dismisses many of these reports as 'bull,' stating that their actions were not as portrayed. The article implies that the media reporting, especially when based on government pronouncements, was erroneous and distorted.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the critical examination of truth and information in ufology, the historical study of UFO sightings (particularly the 1896 California Airship Flap), and the pervasive nature of government secrecy regarding UFOs and other sensitive operations. The editorial stance, as expressed in the Director's commentary and the selection of articles, emphasizes skepticism towards official narratives, the importance of independent investigation, and the need for ufologists to be discerning and critical in their approach to evidence and interpretation. There is a clear implication that governments possess significant knowledge about UFO phenomena and actively conceal it. The issue also highlights personal accounts of alleged encounters and abductions, presented as case studies for analysis.

Title: CASE BRIEFS: EXPLORATIONS & REVIEW
Issue: JANUARY / FEBRUARY 1995
Volume: 1990 (Note: This appears to be a misprint or an unrelated year associated with the content, as the issue date is 1995).
Publisher: MUFON Northern California
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of Case Briefs: Explorations & Review features an in-depth interview with individuals who went AWOL from the U.S. Army in Germany. The interview, conducted by 'PR' and 'VD', delves into their experiences with UFOs, parapsychology, and a Ouija board that seemingly guided their actions.

Interview with AWOL Soldiers

The interviewee, referred to as 'VD', recounts how he and his colleagues were told by a Ouija board to leave Germany and seek a different way to learn what they needed. After failing to get transferred or released from the Army, they decided to go AWOL, believing the information they possessed was crucial and needed to reach the highest possible source. They felt that the government had changed the UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice), which loosened AWOL laws, though they were unaware of this at the time.

UFO Documents and Information

VD explains that UFO documents were received from a woman in Germany associated with the Ashtar Command. These documents included the Cooper Report and other materials, some of which were identified as MJ-12 documents. VD notes that while they received these documents, they didn't get much from their workplace, but they began experiencing unusual events and seeing things differently, including doing hypnosis and using Tarot cards as part of their parapsychology research. They were initially trying to disprove such phenomena until the Ouija board and hypnosis sessions began to influence them.

The Ouija Board and Guidance

The Ouija board played a significant role in their decision-making. VD describes how they asked it for guidance on how to proceed, and it advised them to leave Germany. They also consulted the board about their planned departure date, and it indicated that leaving after July 1st would provide protection, though they didn't understand why at the time.

The Atlanta Incident

An incident in Atlanta was recounted where the Ouija board predicted they would be lost on a flight. During an interrogation, authorities confirmed they knew the group was in Atlanta but admitted they lost track of them, humorously stating, "We lost yak."

Gulf Breeze and MUFON

Regarding their arrival in Gulf Breeze, Florida, VD clarifies that it was not related to the UFO flap occurring there at the time, nor were they aware of the MUFON conference. They had not seen a UFO themselves, though VD does not deny their existence.

Testing Spirits and the "Lord"

When asked how they tested the spirits through the Ouija board, VD stated they would ask, "Who is the Lord? Who is the Lord over Heaven and the angels?" If the response was not "Jesus is the one and only true Lord," they considered the spirits not to be real.

Document Handling and Investigation

VD mentioned leaving copies of UFO documents in rooms in Augsburg. They expressed that the documents they had seen, including those sent by the interviewer (released by Army INSCOM), did not appear to be part of a thorough investigation, suggesting they looked like the starting point for one.

Future Plans and Personal Reflections

VD outlines their plans for the next year, which include focusing on a magazine called "Keepsake New Mexico" and sharing their story and information. They also plan to pursue an educator's degree in secondary education. Reflecting on their experiences, VD identifies the stress and shaken faith in the government as the biggest negative, while finding a life mate and having children as the biggest plus. They affirm they would go through it all again if given the same information.

Contact Information and Publications

The interview concludes with contact information for readers to send letters and details about their book, "The Gulf Breeze Prophecies," available for $25 (or $20 if mentioning the article in Phoenix Newsletter). The "Keepsake New Mexico" magazine is also available for $5.95 per issue.

Media Corner and Winter Events

This section provides information on local media coverage of UFO-related programs, including "Sightings" on KPIX Channel 5, "Encounters" on KTVU, and "The Extraordinary" on KTVU Channel 2. It also announces a "UFO Marathon" planned by Ralph Steiner of KPFA and details the MUFON Bi-Monthly Bay Area Meeting scheduled for January 15th.

"Dreamland" Update

This segment provides a list of California radio stations that broadcast Art Bell's show "Dreamland" on Sunday nights, along with their broadcast times. It notes that stations are being added frequently and encourages listeners to urge their local stations to carry the program. Contact information for Chancellor Broadcasting Co. is provided for programming questions.

Case Briefs Editorial Stance

The editorial note clarifies that "Case Briefs: Explorations and Review" serves as a forum for open exchange of ideas, and the opinions expressed by contributors do not necessarily reflect the views of MUFON or its editorial staff. Submission guidelines for articles, news items, reviews, and event information are provided, including a mailing address and instructions for submitting on diskette.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around UFO sightings, government secrecy, the use of esoteric tools like Ouija boards for information gathering, and personal journeys of discovery and disillusionment. The editorial stance, as indicated by the disclaimer, is to provide a platform for diverse viewpoints within the UFO and paranormal community without endorsing any specific perspective. The publication encourages reader participation and the submission of relevant content.