Pegasus - Vol 04 No 2

Magazine Overview

Title: PEGASUS
Issue: Vol.4 No.2
Date: May Issue (1995)
Publisher: Surrey Investigation Group on Aerial Phenomena (SIGAP)

This issue of PEGASUS magazine, published by the Surrey Investigation Group on Aerial Phenomena (SIGAP), delves into the concept of 'High Strangeness' and presents a detailed account of the controversial Philadelphia Experiment, alongside other UFO-related topics.

High Strangeness

The editorial introduces the concept of 'High Strangeness' as phenomena that are not just strange but personally threatening, pushing the boundaries of belief and invoking defense mechanisms. It notes that while the idea of UFOs was once incredible, it is now widely accepted, with some even believing in abductions. The article references J. Allen Hynek's decision to confront the unthinkable and mentions historical cases like the Antonio Villas Boas abduction and the Dr. 'X' case in France. It also touches upon the enduring mystery of the Philadelphia Experiment, dismissing the claims of arch-sceptics Menzel and Klass and highlighting the lone voice of Alfred Bielek who claims to have insider knowledge.

Bielek on Philadelphia

A significant portion of the magazine is dedicated to an interview with Alfred Bielek, who claims to have participated in the Philadelphia Experiment. Bielek asserts that the experiment, initially a civilian project possibly funded by the Navy, began around 1932-33 in Chicago and later moved to Princeton University. He identifies key figures involved, including John Hutchinson, Nicola Tesla, Dr. Emil Kurtenauer, and Dr. John Eric von Neumann. Bielek states that Tesla was assigned to government projects by Franklin D. Roosevelt, including the 'Death Ray' and later the Philadelphia Experiment, which he believes Tesla deliberately sabotaged due to its danger.

Bielek recounts his own alleged involvement as Edward A. Cameron, alongside his half-brother Duncan, in a successful invisibility experiment with a minesweeper in 1940, predating the more famous 1943 incident. He details how the experiment escalated, involving pulse modulation of energy and massive generators. The infamous 1943 experiment on the USS Eldridge is described: on July 22nd, the ship became invisible to radar and visual contact for twenty minutes, leading to crew members experiencing severe psychological distress. A subsequent attempt on August 12th made the ship invisible to radar for a short period before it vanished entirely for four hours.

Bielek claims that he and his brother jumped off the ship during the 1943 incident and landed at the Montauk Army Base, where they encountered Dr. von Neumann. He suggests they were pulled into a 'time current' and that a UFO was also sucked along and dismantled at Montauk. The reason for the experiment's failure and the crew's suffering is attributed to the disruption of the Earth's biorhythm on August 12th, a twenty-year peak, and the lack of a sufficiently advanced computer to manage individual time lock references. Bielek also discusses the concept of 'Zero Time Generator' and the possibility of government agencies manipulating souls and bodies, including his own and his brother's, to create new identities.

Wiltshire UFO No ET

This section addresses recent sightings of triangular aircraft in England, noting that while they resemble the Lockheed F-117a Nighthawk, an air crash near Boscombe Down in Wiltshire fueled speculation of extraterrestrial involvement. The official story was a Tornado fighter crash, but witnesses reported two tail fins, inconsistent with a Tornado. The secrecy surrounding the recovery operation and the presence of the Defence Assessment Agency at Boscombe Down led to rumors of a secret aircraft development, possibly a variant of the YF-23. The article concludes by suggesting that such sightings might involve terrestrial prototypes, like a naval version of the Stealth fighter, and that manufacturers would prefer them to be misidentified as ET UFOs.

Aussie Crop Circle

A brief report from The Adelaide Advertiser details a crop circle discovered on December 9th, 1994, in an inaccessible location in Australia. The stalks were bent without breaking, and no tracks were visible, leading to speculation about the method of its creation.

A UFO Experienced

This personal account by 'Peter Alexander' describes a UFO sighting on January 21st. The witness, while smoking outside his house, experienced a sense of being watched and saw a faint reddish glow that intensified. He then observed a triangular object briefly before a bright circular light shot over his head towards a river at incredible speed. The experience left him feeling dumbfounded and thrilled, with a sense of reality being suspended. He later experienced static electricity and a dull, aching head, which he attributes to shock. The witness, a rational and intelligent individual, is convinced of the reality of his experience and notes a feeling that something is being blocked from his memory, possibly related to time displacement.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around 'High Strangeness,' the controversial and speculative nature of the Philadelphia Experiment, and personal UFO experiences. The magazine appears to lean towards exploring fringe theories and unexplained phenomena, providing platforms for individuals like Alfred Bielek and 'Peter Alexander' to share their extraordinary accounts. The editorial stance, particularly from the editor G.M., is one of cautious endorsement of the witnesses' accounts, emphasizing the importance of subjective experience in UFO research while acknowledging the need for further investigation and protection of identities. The inclusion of the Wiltshire UFO crash and the Australian crop circle adds a broader scope to the UFO phenomenon coverage.

This issue of the International Roswell Initiative, dated February 10, 1995, is presented as an "Open Letter to All Those With an Interest in the UFO Phenomenon." It details a significant movement underway in the United States to persuade the U.S. government to share its knowledge about UFOs and extraterrestrial intelligence. The initiative is a joint effort by three major UFO organizations: the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON), the J. Allen Hynek Center for UFO Studies (CUFOS), and the Fund for UFO Research (FUFOR). Organizations in several European countries have also joined, demonstrating a global effort to end government secrecy on the UFO issue.

The International Roswell Initiative and the Roswell Declaration

The primary focus of the initiative is the 1947 Roswell incident, described as one of the best-documented UFO cases. The incident involved the recovery of unusual debris, a subsequent military press release about a "crashed disk," and a later denial that it was a weather balloon. Credible witnesses have testified that the weather balloon story is false. The strategy of the Roswell Initiative is to collect signed copies of a one-page document called the Roswell Declaration. This Declaration requests an Executive Order from the U.S. President to declassify all government-held information regarding UFOs or extraterrestrial intelligence. It is presented not as an endorsement of belief, but as a request for a change in law to mandate a policy of openness and candor.

Signed copies of the Roswell Declaration are planned to be delivered to the U.S. President and members of Congress on a yet-to-be-determined date in 1995. Simultaneously, UFO organizations worldwide will deliver copies to American embassies in their respective countries. The objective is to draw media and public attention to the Roswell matter and to advocate for a more open government policy on the UFO phenomenon, believing that public and media pressure can be a key factor in achieving this change.

The Roswell Declaration was published in April 1994 in the journals of CUFOS and MUFON, and the Fund for UFO Research included it with its newsletter. It was also mailed to members of the Society for Scientific Exploration (SSE), an organization of over 400 scientists. The cover letter for the SSE mailing was written by Dr. Robert M. Wood, a physicist and advocate of the initiative. The Declaration has since been published in Omni magazine, UFO magazine, and International UFO Library magazine, and has been made available on computer bulletin boards, America Online, and the Internet. It has been translated into several languages, and signed foreign Declarations have been received.

Public Awareness and Government Response

Polls indicate a majority of people believe in the existence of UFOs and extraterrestrial intelligence, showing a strong desire for truth. The Roswell Declaration is seen as a vehicle to galvanize this interest into a grassroots movement. Over 15,000 signed Declarations had been received by January 1995, including hundreds from scientists and engineers. Public awareness in the U.S. has increased, with respectable books and mainstream network television shows featuring segments on Roswell. A major television movie, "Roswell," aired on Showtime and received a Golden Globe nomination. The Declaration has also been mentioned on national television programs, including a Larry King special.

At the request of New Mexico Congressman Steven Schiff, the U.S. Government Accounting Office (GAO) is conducting an inquiry into the Roswell case to investigate reporting procedures. However, the article expresses doubt that the GAO will be able to access information if the Air Force or other agencies wish to keep it secret. The GAO's report is expected in about a year.

In response to public and political pressure, the Air Force issued its first official statement on Roswell in 47 years on September 8, 1994. This 23-page report stated that the "most likely" source of the Roswell debris was a balloon from Project Mogul, a secret program using high-altitude balloons to detect Soviet nuclear tests. The report's conclusion is criticized for not representing a significant change from the original 1947 weather balloon story, as the components used in Project Mogul were similar to those used in weather observation flights.

Critiques of the Air Force Report and Evidence of Cover-up

The article strongly criticizes the 1994 Air Force report, calling it "speculation" not backed by files or records. It highlights the incredible absence of official records for key events, including:

1. The recovery of material from the Brazel ranch by U.S. military officers.
2. The alleged "mis-analysis" of the material as a crashed UFO by officers of the 509th Bomb Group, leading to a press release.
3. The transportation of the recovered material to Fort Worth Army Air Field.
4. The re-analysis of the material at Eighth Air Force headquarters.
5. The announcement of the re-analysis results at a press conference by the commander of the Eighth Air Force, General Roger Ramey.
6. The ultimate disposition of the recovered material.
7. A log entry by the Project Mogul team acknowledging the recovery of one of their balloons near Roswell.

The article argues that the lack of official records for these events, despite the significant public relations impact of the "crashed disk" press release and subsequent "weather balloon" explanation, points to a cover-up. The 1994 Air Force report is deemed unconvincing, with omissions such as the non-interview of key witnesses like General Arthur Exon, Glenn Dennis, and Jesse Marcel, Jr., whose testimony would have contradicted the Air Force's conclusion.

Broader Issues of Government Secrecy

The Roswell case is presented as part of a larger pattern of UFO information cover-up by the U.S. government. In 1980, Citizens Against UFO Secrecy (CAUS) learned of 156 UFO-related documents held by the NSA and internal references to documents held by other agencies like the CIA. However, access to these documents was denied, even when appealed in federal court. The NSA did not allow the judge to view the documents, instead submitting a special "top secret plus" affidavit.

The article emphasizes that most government employees, even those with top secret clearances, likely do not have access to classified UFO information. It suggests that government secrecy, while necessary to some extent, has become excessive, serving as a shield for abuse, avoidance of scrutiny, and operation outside the law. The "black budget" for secret government programs is estimated at a staggering $25 billion annually, with the NSA's 1995 budget alone projected at $3.5 billion.

Resistance to declassification is highlighted by the example of President Clinton's Executive Order to declassify nearly 44 million pages of secret documents, which was delayed nearly a year due to resistance from military and intelligence officials. Similarly, nearly five million pages of Vietnam War documents remain withheld despite President Nixon's promise of declassification.

Support and Hope for the Future

Despite the challenges, the article notes that some politicians, including President Clinton, are aware of the problem of excessive secrecy. Former Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater is cited as an exception, stating, "I think the government does know." He recounted an experience with General Curtis LeMay regarding a room at Wright Patterson Field containing secret UFO material, where LeMay reacted angrily to his inquiry.

Senator Goldwater also mentioned his friendship with General William "Butch" Blanchard, the officer who issued the original Roswell press release. Goldwater's own experience with the Roswell Initiative was significant, as he stated, "You touch something very close to me, by your letter. Roswell has long been a point of great interest to me, since the first UFOs turned up."

The article poses the philosophical question, "Are we alone?" and suggests that if the Roswell premise is correct and the initiative is successful, this question will be answered with absolute finality. It calls for individuals to support the effort by signing and distributing the Roswell Declaration, emphasizing that this grassroots movement offers the best chance to learn the truth about the UFO phenomenon. The author, Kent Jeffrey, Coordinator, expresses hope that success will lead to a greater sense of wonder about the universe.

CSICOP Strikes Back?

This section discusses a report from Harvard University's "Special Faculty Committee" that allegedly accused Dr. John E. Mack of violating academic standards of conduct. The committee reportedly found it scientifically and academically irresponsible for any research scientist to state publicly that extraterrestrial life exists, and considered it professionally irresponsible for Dr. Mack to validate a close encounter experience as potentially "real." The author criticizes this as an "underhand action by a faculty cabal" and an "impermissible claim to define and restrict the legitimacy of what is allowed to constitute accepted reality," arguing that it is a shackle that should not be placed on humanity.

UFO Shapes and The Gatwick Files

The magazine includes a page illustrating various shapes of UFOs spotted over the years. Following this is a section titled "The Gatwick Files," which lists 23 documents detailing UFO incidents from 1978 to May 1994, supplied by Contact Int. after an inquiry to BAA, Gatwick Airport. Each entry includes the date, aircraft type (or unknown), location, phase of flight, and a CAA reference number, along with a narrative description of the sighting. These reports describe a wide range of phenomena, including bright lights, unidentified objects, unusual shapes, and high-speed aerial phenomena.

Notable incidents in The Gatwick Files include:

• A bright light seen at 11 o'clock above NR Leeds on July 5, 1978.
• A UFO observed passing 200ft below an aircraft near Vicenza on September 19, 1979.
• An object appearing like a fighter aircraft drop tank near Vicenza on June 11, 1980.
• An unidentified foreign object seen on radar near Lyon on February 13, 1981, described as sizeable and oval-shaped, tracking towards the aircraft at very high speed.
• A large translucent object 500ft long at 41000ft near DINKELSBUHL on June 12, 1982, found to have the form of a double rectangle surmounted by a globe crowned by a silver cone.
• An unidentified object sighted near Brindisi on June 21, 1982, described as a black shiny doughnut shape about the size of a car, tumbling and stationary.
• A large black object, balloon-shaped with a large white spot, observed 10nm SE of Florence on August 18, 1983.
• A green flare seen descending near Amboise on August 9, 1984.
• A UK reportable incident on August 24, 1984, where an aircraft struck an object, causing damage to the propeller, fuselage, cowling, and control run. Foreign metallic object pieces were found.
• A bright light seen at 65 degrees elevation near Reading on October 26, 1984.
• Bright white lights arcing across an aircraft track near HERALD on December 20, 1984.
• A flash of light, approximately the size of a football, seen at FL330 near an aircraft on January 24, 1985.
• A bright light passed upwards in front of an aircraft near Ireland on February 5, 1986, with a burst of green light observed.
• A radome found dented near Athens on August 3, 1986, with reports of a "tiny bang."
• A non-UK airmiss involving a black cigar-shaped object without wings, passing 500ft above on a reciprocal track near Belgrade on August 21, 1986.
• Possible infringement of Stansted SRZ by an unidentified aircraft on October 12, 1986.
• A model aircraft flew approximately 5ft above a helicopter rotor disc near Hatfield on June 15, 1989, described as a "buzzing" by a "long cylindrical object with wings."
• Non-UK ATC incident involving lights believed to be landing lights of another aircraft near Tokyo CTR on July 1, 1989.
• A UFO passed above an aircraft at 11200ft near Belfast on November 11, 1989, bursting into a cascade of lights.
• A pilot reported a missile-type object passing in the opposite direction near ARM CLIFF on April 21, 1991, described as approximately 5 meters long and brown.
• Foreign ATC occurrence of a missile or similar object sighting in Yugoslav airspace on July 9, 1991.
• An unidentified high-speed object (estimated Mach 3) seen near Elba on April 1, 1992.
• Sighting of an unusual object, a black boomerang-shaped object, hovering over RAF Northolt on May 1, 1994.

Sightings

This section details recent UFO sightings:

• November 5, 1994, Millbrook, Southampton, UK: A veteran UFO watcher, Mark Moore, along with Katie Gulliver, reported seeing two mysterious balls of light. This sighting coincided with reports of a rotating circle of lights witnessed by security guards at Southampton University and a similar sighting by Beverley Petts.
• November 24, 1994, York, UK: Pensioner Evelyn Cook reported seeing a blue light, described as a blue ball the size of a football, hanging over her building. She was woken by a loud bang and saw the light through her peep hole and kitchen window.

UFO Goes to Market

On January 4, 1995, at Slyfield Market in Guildford, UK, Mrs. Kathleen Roy observed a small spherical UFO spinning just above the market stalls. She described it as a white ball of light, hovering, rotating, and then rapidly gaining height and vanishing within ten to twelve seconds. She stated it was not a plane, star, or imagination.

Four Yards from a UFO!

On July 19, 1994, in Nybro, Sweden, Eva Hoglund, a bird watcher and amateur astronomer, observed three bright lights approaching an object that appeared square and the size of a large terrestrial aircraft. The object emitted multi-coloured sparks as it flew low over the car park opposite her balcony, passing within four yards of her position with a faint droning noise. Eva contacted the military and appealed for witnesses, but to no avail. She learned of a similar sighting in nearby Vetlanda.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are government secrecy regarding UFOs and extraterrestrial intelligence, the importance of public awareness and pressure for declassification, and the detailed reporting of UFO sightings and incidents. The editorial stance is strongly in favor of transparency and openness from the government on the UFO phenomenon, viewing the withholding of information as a significant issue impacting humanity. The magazine actively promotes the Roswell Initiative as a means to achieve this goal and provides extensive documentation of UFO-related events through "The Gatwick Files" and eyewitness accounts.