Saucer Smear - Vol 28 No 05 - 1981

Magazine Overview

Title: SAUCER LEER
Issue: Volume 28, No. 5 (Non-Scheduled Newsletter)
Date: April 30th, 1981
Publisher: SAUCER AND UNEXPLAINED CELESTIAL EVENTS RESEARCH SOCIETY
Editor and Supreme Commander: James W. Moseley

This issue of "Saucer Leer" continues its in-depth investigation into alleged alien creatures and UFO phenomena, featuring updates, reader contributions, and critiques of prominent figures in the ufology field.

Creature Update

The "Saucer Leer" editor is investigating the "Fish-Tank Man," an alleged space creature immortalized in photographs. Jeff Goodman provided a negative of one of these pictures, and prints were sent to Len Stringfield and others to determine if Stringfield's creature is the same. The consensus is that Stringfield's pictures are similar to those in "Official UFO" but not identical, differing in angle, focus, decomposition, and other aspects. The editor speculates that Stringfield is not showing his photos because they received a skeptical reception at a CUP meeting in Cleveland.

An alleged picture of the "Jersey Devil" is presented, reportedly snapped near a swimming pool in Fort Lee, New Jersey, in 1973. The image shows a strange effect on the George Washington Bridge and blotches on the creature's legs, possibly caused by RADIATION. Readers are advised to take precautions if they encounter this entity.

UFO Investigation and Analysis

The issue touches upon an examination by the Air Force's Aircraft Restoration Division of alleged "saucer" wreckage photos. Personnel were unable to determine the aircraft type, suggesting it could be a 1930s or 1940s vintage trainer, noting a pair of eyeglasses in one print. They returned the prints, stating they had no use for them.

News Briefies

The annual "Saucer Leer" Spring get-together is announced for Saturday, May 9th, at the editor's residence in Guttenberg, N.J.

The editor, James W. Moseley, notes his favorable mention in two books: "The Encyclopedia of UFOs" by Ronald Story and "The UFO Encyclopedia" by Margaret Sachs. Sachs' inscription to Moseley is quoted as "To Jim Moseley, Supreme Commander, Boil on the Ass of Ufology, with all best wishes...."

A new UFO zine, "The Sixth Quark Journal," edited by Tom Benson, is introduced. The first issue is described as technical, offering 60 pages for $2.50.

Internal problems are reported at CUFOS, NICRAP, and APRO, with a specific mention of a failed attempt by pro-Pleiades members to take over the APRO board of directors through proxy votes. Anti-Pleiades forces legally secured control.

The issue notes the near-assassination of President Reagan, predicting he will not survive his term, and expresses disapproval of assassination as an American practice.

A predicted major southern California earthquake on April 10th failed to occur.

The 18th National UFO Conference (NUFOC) is announced for June 27th in De Pere, Wisconsin.

An apology is issued for not printing all recent reader submissions, promising more in the "Son of Saucer Leer" issue.

Letters to the Supreme Commander

George Earley writes regarding Bill Moore's research on crashed saucer stories, correcting details about the transportation of the Mt. Palomar mirror and questioning the size comparison of a 25-foot disk to a 200-inch mirror.

Janice Croy expresses enjoyment of "Saucer Gear" and approves of the "Supreme Commander" title.

Tom Benson humorously questions Moseley's "Supreme Commander" title, asking what he commands.

Dr. Thornton Page of NASA recounts a trip to New Zealand and Australia, observing nocturnal wildlife and local attitudes towards UFOs. He mentions a Chicago CUFOS event and discusses the Drake equation's uncertainty regarding planet formation.

Mary Levesque praises the newsletters and criticizes Fass Publications' magazines.

John Keel provides two pieces of information: the first space flight by living creatures (four monkeys in 1951) and details about the "Philadelphia Experiment," suggesting it was related to attempts to develop atomic weapons rather than invisibility.

Dave Reissig corrects a typo in a previous issue and shares his ambition to be an international manure trader.

James ("Capt. Jim") Oberg of NASA writes about Mr. Beckley, exposing that a story in Beckley's "UFO Review" about alien sexual contacts and "Miss Penelope Kuntz" was actually from the National Lampoon's "Sunday Newspaper Parody," suggesting Beckley knowingly perpetuated a hoax.

Debates and Critiques

James Maney discusses the Klass-Friedman debate in San Antonio, describing it as a comparison of apples and oranges. He details Phil Klass's "experiment" involving a "star map" and Stan Friedman's challenge to it, noting Klass's use of ad hominems against Friedman.

Tommy R. Blann writes about a UFO sighting near San Antonio on February 22nd, occurring during the Friedman-Klass debate, and suggests the debaters should investigate such events.

Charles Wilhelm challenges Len Stringfield, calling him the "Father of Conspiracy" and accusing him of paranoia regarding military conspiracies against his work. Wilhelm criticizes Stringfield's dismissal of the Coalition's crashed saucer photos based on a single analysis report.

Bill Lutters observes a more serious style in recent issues and warns Moseley about potentially losing his reputation. He asks for comments on accusations made by Stanton Friedman concerning Randi and Sagan.

Peter Edler describes his invention of a "UFO doll" that Carl Sagan attacks when wound up, believing it will be marketable.

Jerry Clark responds to Phil Klass's refutation of his article in "Fate" magazine, clarifying details about media contacts and discussing W. Todd Zechel. Clark asserts that Klass's "investigation" of Zechel's background did not prove or disprove his claims and criticizes Klass's attempt to prove the NSA is a military agency.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue reflects a critical and often skeptical stance towards certain aspects of ufology, particularly concerning the authenticity of photographic evidence and the credibility of some prominent researchers. There's a strong emphasis on debunking hoaxes and exposing misrepresentations, as seen in the critique of Beckley's work and the detailed analysis of the Klass-Friedman debate. The editor, James W. Moseley, actively engages with his readership through letters and his own commentary, often with a sharp, sometimes sarcastic, tone. The publication appears to champion rigorous investigation and evidence-based conclusions, while also acknowledging the ongoing controversies and internal disputes within the UFO community.