Saucer Smear - Vol 24 No 09 - 1977

Magazine Overview

Title: SAUCER STEWS
Issue: Vol. 24, No. 9
Date: September 10th, 1977
Publisher: THE SAUCER AND UNEXPLAINED CELESTIAL EVENTS RESEARCH SOCIETY
Editor: James W. Moseley

This issue of "Saucer Stews" is a non-scheduled newsletter that covers various topics within the ufological community. It includes "Misc. Ravings" from the editor, a report on the 14th National UFO Conference, and a section for reader mail.

Misc. Ravings

The editor begins with a somber announcement of the recent death of UFO pioneer Ray Palmer of Amherst, Wisconsin. Palmer is remembered as a warm and wonderful person who, despite his wild theories, encouraged critical thinking and exploration of new ideas. His legacy is that of a master who made people think in "new, weird, wild directions."

Next, the publication issues a challenge to Captain Jim Oberg, known for his anti-UFO stance. The challenge is to produce an "unretouched, uncensored clear daylight photograph" of either the north or south pole, specifically to determine if a "Hole" exists there. The implication is that if such a photo is not provided, the existence of a hidden hole will be assumed.

The editor also mentions his regular appearances on the Long John Nebel - Candy Jones Show, a radio program heard nationally. He discusses Paris Flamonde's book "UFO Exist" and notes the sad decline of Long John Nebel, whom he has known for twenty years, due to cancer.

Finally, the editor announces his reinstatement as a member of NICRAP (National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena) after having been ejected years prior for activities deemed "un-NICRAPian." This, along with his membership in GSW (Ground Saucer Watch), signifies a move towards rehabilitation within the "Saucer-dumb" community.

Report on the 14th National UFO Conference

The 14th National UFO Conference was held in a major downtown hotel in San Francisco, California, on the weekend of August 6th. The event, the first such meeting west of the Mississippi, saw high attendance at both the "closed session" and the "open session." Dale Rettig is credited as the local chairman for his efforts.

Featured speakers at the evening meeting included nuclear physicist Stanton Friedman and Dr. James Harder, who replaced Allen Greenfield. The afternoon session featured lesser-known speakers such as Dr. Richard Haines (research scientist), John Musgrave (president of the Edmonton UFO Society), and Brad Sparks (physics major at the University of California).

The editor, who chaired the National UFO Conference, expressed disappointment that none of the "new blood" attending chose to permanently associate with their group. This, along with the absence of several key members who had promised to attend, has made the location of the next year's annual meeting uncertain.

A "smoke-filled back room" conference was held on the Friday evening before the official meetings, where most of the conference's business was conducted. The only significant decision made was the replacement of Curt Sutherly with Allen Greenfield on the "Permanent Organizing Committee." Greenfield, a co-founder who had previously become estranged, is welcomed back.

The editor concludes that while the San Francisco conference was a high point, the National UFO Conference may no longer be a viable organization unless it receives more support from its members and attracts new ones. He is seriously considering resigning as chairman.

In Which We Meet the Semi-Legendary Carlos Allende

During a visit with former UFO personality Gray Barker in West Virginia, the editor met Carlos Allende. Allende is described as "semi-legendary" due to rumors of his non-existence and the possibility of multiple individuals using the name. Allende recounted an alleged experience from World War II as a merchant seaman, where he and other sailors saw a ship and its entire crew disappear. He claimed this was a secret U.S. Navy experiment that backfired, preventing the crew's return.

Gray Barker, described as an "able student," spent an evening interviewing Allende and making tape recordings. Allende's most significant revelation was that he had "annotated" Morris Jessup's book "The Case for the UFO" in three different handwritings around 1956. The editor notes that Allende's activities over the past two decades, other than traveling under various aliases like "Carl Allen," are unclear.

The article includes a comparison of Allende's handwriting samples and a brief mention of a local Clarksburg newspaper article about "Col. Carl Allen," which the editor states does not align well with the information provided by Allende.

Col. Carl Allen Is Visitor Here

This section, seemingly a reprint from the 12-Clarksburg Telegram dated August 22, 1977, introduces Col. Carl Allen (also known as Carlos Miguel Allende). It states he is a native of West Virginia, the son of Fred Clay Allen, a Methodist minister, and that his kin include many West Virginians. Col. Allen is credited with co-authoring the book "Case for the UFO" with Grey Barker. The article mentions his father, Harry Carl Allen, was a long-time resident of Harrison County, and that the senior Allen was born near Grafton.

Strictly Business

This brief, unrelated item describes George Bobbitt, a "hard line businessman" from Hillside, N.J., who sought a judge's ruling to evict his sick mother and disabled brother from an apartment they rent from him, after his mother fell one month behind on rent due to illness.

Threatening Letter Dept.

The publication reports receiving a series of "weird, threatening letters" from Weslaco, Texas, after twenty-four years of dealing with "crackpot mail." These letters accuse the editors of "keeping yourself imprisoned in a 3½ dimensional cubasphere" and declare "triple high treason." The letters warn of dire consequences, including disbarment from "all 37 Time levels" and assignment to "bone detail and other menial duties," if a negative attitude is not changed by September 12th, 1977. The letters also mention a "Ship of the 4 D.C. class" and "humaton weapon." This correspondence has been turned over to the Fart Lee post office and the FBI.

Ye Olde Mail Bag

Lou Farish writes, expressing understanding for the disappointment regarding the lack of "new blood" at the UFO conference. Farish characterizes the conference as a "private" group with "hard core" members whose personalities are not conducive to organization or membership drives. He views the conference as merely a name and the Robert E. Loftin Memorial Award as a "farce," suggesting it has become a "mutual ego-boost society" rather than a meaningful recognition.

Editor's Note: The editor agrees with Lou's remarks, stating they are "right on target."

John Keel (writing as Wepfallow T. Curzenbacker) makes a snide remark about the editor being Howard Hughes' sole beneficiary due to his role in protecting the secret of Hughes' flying saucer project, and wishes the editor harm.

Dr. Thornton Page thanks the editor for removing the "X" after his name and expresses willingness to contribute more UFO cases. He notes that he and others tried to get the White House to cancel the UFO Symposium and states he has not worked for the CIA.

Jim Maney encourages the editor and expresses anticipation for the results of investigations at the Safari Motor Inn in Shitsdale, Arizona, during the recent MUFART conference. He also comments on Bill Spaulding's demotion and the potential for computer analyses of pitcher's motions.

Dave FidelRE suggests that "Superskeptics" are entering "Dangerous Ground" and that UFO activity might be an "Illuminati plot." He also expresses a fear of "lloigor," which he describes as "strange and unnatural occurrences beyond the comprehension of our (man/woman-kind's) limited scope."

Editor's Note: The editor asks, "what the hell are lloigor?"

Captain Jim U-Know-Who writes a witty memo, noting that Bruce Maccabee and Brad Sparks have challenged his identification of the Gemini II sighting with Proton 3. He states it's "put up or shut up time" for "El Capitano." He also mentions Lucius Farish spreading rumors about the Skylab 3 "astronaut UFO" and offers to reveal why he didn't include it if a magazine will print the story.

He anticipates that the story of a Chilean soldier who spent fifteen minutes on a UFO and returned with a week's beard will spark a new trend, suggesting "UFOniks" will invest in shaving products.

Don Strachan comments on Ted Zilch's prediction about "Hustler's" competition and "Playboy" and "Qui." He mentions his reporting on Acapulco for "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" publicity. He recounts an incident on March 26th, hitch-hiking out of Pascagoula, Mississippi, where he was picked up by a "strange-looking little man" and later found himself in Snowflake, Arizona, on July 7th, 1977, with the runs. He notes that 7 is the number of stars in the Big Dipper.

He also inquires about the "3½ D Theory" as a new non-subscriber.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the passing of significant figures in ufology (Ray Palmer), the organization and challenges within the UFO community (National UFO Conference, NICRAP), personal anecdotes and experiences (Carlos Allende), and the ongoing debate between believers and skeptics. The editor's stance appears to be one of active participation and commentary within the ufological field, often with a critical and sometimes humorous tone, as seen in his "Misc. Ravings" and responses to reader mail. There is a clear emphasis on encouraging thought and discussion, even when dealing with controversial or bizarre claims. The publication also seems to engage with the broader media landscape, referencing radio shows and other publications.