Saucer Smear - Vol 28 No 02 - 1981

Magazine Overview

Title: SAUCER SPEAR
Issue: Volume 28, No. 2
Date: February 10th, 1981
Publisher: SAUCER AND UNEXPLAINED CELESTIAL EVENTS RESEARCH SOCIETY
Editor: James W. Moseley

This issue of Saucer Spear, a non-scheduled newsletter, focuses heavily on debunking and critically analyzing alleged evidence of extraterrestrial encounters, particularly photographs. The main article, "A REAL-LIFE SCIENCE-FICTION DRAMA: 'TOMATO MAN' VS. 'FISH-TANK MAN' (or) DEAD ALIENS DON'T TALK," dissects a booklet titled "Alien Body Photos: An Updated Report," co-edited by Williard McIntyre, Dennis Pilichis, and Charles J. Wilhelm. The magazine expresses skepticism towards McIntyre's claims and the authenticity of the photos presented.

"Alien Body Photos" Booklet Analysis

The review highlights that McIntyre's booklet offers two sets of alleged alien photographs. The "good" set, promoted by McIntyre, includes pictures purportedly taken at a UFO crash site on July 7th, 1948. The "bad" set, presented by Leonard Stringfield, consists of about eight pictures. The magazine suggests McIntyre's team attempts to discredit Stringfield's photos to elevate their own.

The "Fish-Tank Man" photo, published by Fass Publications (known for "Official UFO" and "Ancient Astronauts"), allegedly shows a dead alien in a coffin or fish-tank found beneath New York's Empire State Building. The narrative involves claims of telepathic contact with Atlanteans by a "Dr. L. K. Barnes." However, the article reveals that this was likely a staged photo of a doll, with the story fabricated by Tim Beckley of Global Communications, as explained in a letter to Dennis Pilichis included in McIntyre's booklet.

Another photo from Stringfield's collection, a supposed alien head found in a Chicago sewer, is also dismissed. The article points out that "Dr." Barnes is again involved, with the story appearing in "Ancient Astronauts." The magazine aims to demonstrate that the source of Stringfield's pictures is dubious.

"Tomato Man" vs. GSW Analysis

The "Tomato Man" photos, allegedly from a 1948 UFO crash at White Sands, New Mexico, are also scrutinized. McIntyre's source, a photographer at White Sands, remains unnamed. The magazine notes that Bill Spaulding of GSW analyzed these photos and concluded they depict a badly burned and partially dismembered monkey, not an alien. GSW's analysis suggests that if the incident occurred as reported, it implies the U.S. Government was illegally testing rockets, possibly cross-launching into populated areas. The magazine quotes GSW's conclusion that "at this time there is not one data point to even suggest that an alien creature was attributable to the imagery on the analyzed negatives."

Despite GSW's findings, McIntyre reportedly picks and chooses which parts of their conclusions to accept. The magazine contacted Bill Spaulding, who confirmed his "monkey explanation" and stated his belief that early "flying saucer" crashes involved U.S. governmental experiments. Spaulding is preparing a paper to support this theory.

Skepticism and Misinformation

The article raises questions about why "crashed saucer" photographs are surfacing after so many years and whether they are being disseminated for misinformation purposes. It suggests that if these photos are part of a plot to mislead the public and researchers, then the valid crashed saucer cases might make more sense.

News Briefs and Letters

This section covers various items:

• Len Stringfield: His version of the "Fish-Tank Man" case can be found in the December 1980 MUFON UFO Journal. The same issue reportedly contains an expose of the Billy Meier/Pleiades UFO case by Kal K. Korff.
• "The Meier Incident: The Most Infamous Hoax in Ufology": An article in "Ideal's UFO Magazine" is mentioned.
• George Earley: A non-subscriber, wrote an article for "Fate" titled "Crashed Saucers and Pickled Aliens," arguing that captured discs from the 1940s and 1950s could not have been transported to distant military bases due to their size and weight.
• Joseph Granville: The stock market analyst claims to predict earthquakes and foresees one near Los Angeles on April 10th, 1981.
• Jerry Clark: Wrote an article about Super Skeptic Phil Klass in "Fate."
• Bob Sheaffer: Another Super Skeptic, now resides in California.
• "Ideal's UFO Magazine": The 13th and last issue featured an article about a New York City convention by Antonio Huneeus.
• Bill McIntyre: Is reportedly releasing a treatise on the R. E. Straith affair, alleging that the "Saucer Spear" editor's name figures prominently in it.
• "Hangar 18" Movie: The magazine harshly criticizes the Sunn Classics science-fiction movie "Hangar 18," calling its advertisements misleading and the film too long, dull, and improbable.
• Francie and Brad Steiger: Are releasing five books in the current year on topics including UFOs and past lives.
• EGO DEPT: Editor James W. Moseley is scheduled to speak in Cleveland, Ohio, on "5-D Entities As Seen From a 34-D Perspective."
• Peter Edler: A science fiction writer, has published a fictionalized book about Betty Hill called "Soldiers of Earth."
• Richard Ogden: Has privately published a book, "Flying Saucers and the Devil's Triangles," which allegedly "exposes" the "Saucer Spear" editor.

Missives from the Masses:

• George Earley: Critiques Wendelle Stevens' defense of the Meier/Pleiades tale, calling it "twaddle" and arguing that Stevens fails to provide scientific proof.
• Mary Guerra: Warns readers about Kal Korff's books on the Meier case, stating she has not received them and intends to contact the U.S. postal inspector.
• Peter Sutherland: Comments on a letter from Joan Jeffers (mistakenly identified as Joan Thompson), finding it "warming."
• Anonymous "D. L.": Discusses exotic vegetables and critically analyzes "The Philadelphia Experiment," questioning the technological feasibility of such an experiment in 1943.
• Jon Beckjord (Project Bigfoot): Discusses the politics of the Bigfoot movement and its parallels with UFO politics. He quotes Rene Dahinden on the limited knowledge in Bigfoot research.
• Jerry Clark: Offers a linguistic correction, emphasizing that "phenomenon" is singular and "phenomena" is plural, criticizing editors who misuse these terms.

Manure Scheme Backfires

A news report details the conviction of Michael J. Randazzo for defrauding investors in a scheme to ship $1.2 billion worth of manure to Bahrain. The jury found him guilty on seven of eight fraud counts.

Stanton T. Friedman Letter

Stanton T. Friedman, winner of the "Ufologist of the Year" award, proposes a "Pseudoscientific antiufologist of the Year" award for the Amazing Randi and Dr. Carl Sagan. He accuses them of misrepresenting the Betty and Barney Hill abduction case and the associated star map. Friedman criticizes Sagan's presentation on "Cosmos" and Randi's book "Flim-Flam," alleging deliberate distortion and deception. He highlights the work of Marjorie Fish in creating 3D models of the star map, which he claims Sagan and Randi ignored or misrepresented. Friedman notes that both Randi and Sagan are members of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP).

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are skepticism towards UFO evidence, particularly photographic evidence, and the suggestion of misinformation campaigns within the UFO community. The magazine actively engages in debunking claims and promoting critical analysis. The editorial stance is clearly that of a skeptic, questioning the validity of many UFO phenomena and attributing some claims to hoaxes, misinterpretations, or deliberate deception. The magazine appears to pride itself on presenting a critical, "no-holds-barred" approach to UFO investigations, even if it means alienating some within the field. The use of terms like "dubious," "ludicrous," and "misinformation" throughout the text underscores this critical stance.