Saucer Smear - Vol 30 No 05 - 1983

Magazine Overview

Title: SAUCER SMEAR
Issue: Vol. 30, No. 5
Date: June 25th, 1983
Publisher: SAUCER AND UNEXPLAINED CELESTIAL EVENTS RESEARCH SOCIETY
Editor and Supreme Commander: James W. Moseley

This issue of "Saucer Smear" is a non-scheduled newsletter dedicated to ufological journalism. It covers a range of topics including convention reports, book reviews, personal anecdotes, and reader contributions discussing UFO phenomena and related subjects.

Tid-Bits of Trash

The editor, James W. Moseley, begins by apologizing for the long delay since the last issue, attributing it to his travels and involvement in ufological events. He announces his upcoming appearance at the Scientific Bureau of Investigation (SBI) bash in Albany, New York, on August 13th. He also recounts a mysterious newspaper article about a Learjet that crashed in the Atlantic Ocean south of Iceland. The plane was off course, and fighter pilots reported no one visible inside, leading to speculation about oxygen deprivation.

The editor mentions Phil Klass's new book, "UFOs: The Public Deceived," and expresses an intention to review it. He also notes other publications, including Dave Reissig's "Starpoints The Great Lost Truth," Stewart Robb's "Nostradamus and the End of Evil," and Tom Benson's "The Sixth Quark Journal."

Moseley also details a live radio interview he conducted on station WARM in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and mentions his past association with Candy Jones of WMCA. He notes that Candy Jones lost her talk show and that he accepted an invitation to appear on the Alan Colmes show.

Betty Hill is reported to have appeared on the TV show "Lie Detector," run by F. Lee Bailey, and passed the test. The editor congratulates her.

Re-Hash of Twentieth National UFO Conference (NUFOC)

The 20th annual National UFO Conference (NUFOC) took place in Tucson, Arizona, on the weekend of May 14th. Local chairman Ed Biebel planned the event, which included a scenic dinner, a tour of Kitt Peak National Observatory, a skywatch, delegate sessions, and a public session. A press conference was also held.

Approximately forty delegates attended the "closed sessions," which the editor describes as "very likely the most profound & worthwhile of recent years," despite no formal resolutions being adopted. Discussions covered various aspects of ufology and its challenges.

The public session had disappointing attendance despite publicity. The editor served as master of ceremonies and presented the "Ufologist of the Year" award to researcher Hal Starr. A "Ufologist of the Decade" award was given to Dr. J. Allen Hynek of CUFOS for his contributions to making ufology respectable. Dr. Hynek's acceptance speech was dictated over the phone and has since been lost. His award was accepted by Allen Hendry, former chief investigator for CUFOS and author of "The UFO Handbook."

Hal Starr delivered a lecture titled "The KGB, CIA, and UFOs The Cosmic Watergate," discussing the strange interest government agencies have shown in ufological activities. He recounted finding a "bug" in his hotel room, which the editor witnessed.

Other speakers at the public session included Kal K. Korff, who presented a critique of Billy Meier, and Timothy Green Beckley, who discussed contactee claims. Diane Tessman also shared her experiences as a contactee.

Rick Hilberg, a co-founder of NUFOC, was unable to attend due to business problems. The 21st annual convention is planned for the weekend after Labor Day next year, sponsored by the "Cleveland Faction" of NUFOC.

The issue notes that Tucson is the headquarters of APRO, which is described as the oldest and most prestigious American flying saucer research group. However, APRO refused to cooperate with the NUFOC convention, despite overtures from the organizers.

The editor states that his fondest memories of the 1983 NUFOC are not from the speeches but from the new ufological friends he made, including Hal Starr, Greg Cushing, Allen Hendry, Ronald Story, Wendelle Stevens, Allen Benz, Winfield S. Brownell, Joanne Cusack, and J. Richard Greenwell.

Poor planning of the date and location of the public session is identified as the only flaw in an otherwise well-done performance by local chairman Biebel.

Missives from the Masses

This section features letters from readers and contributors:

• Timothy Good writes in response to a review of his book "George Adamski: The Untold Story," defending its authors and clarifying their approach to Adamski material. He mentions his meeting with Moseley in 1979 and his inability to obtain Moseley's "Special Adamski Expose Issue." Good also discusses Richard Ogden's statement about Dr. David Turner and the R.E. Straith letter, seeking further information that might discredit it. He highlights new material in the book, including chapters on Adamski's European visits and a meeting with Pope John XXIII, who awarded Adamski a gold medallion.
• Wayne Aho of the New Age Foundation suggests changing the name of "Saucer Smear" to "New Age Smear," arguing that focusing on the basic good in people could lead to greater contact. He criticizes infighting within the UFO community, seeing it as a fulfillment of efforts to ridicule UFOs officially.
• Don Strachan of "Light Times" praises "Smear" for its voice and content, admitting he reads it for Moseley's writing and John Keel's contributions, despite not being directly involved in the saucer field.
• Tom Burch, an unofficial nonsubscriber, finds "Smear" useful, informative, and fun, exposing him to diverse opinions on UFOs, paranormal phenomena, and Bigfoot. He appreciates the criticisms of Jim Oberg and the commentaries of John Keel, Prof. Hans Peterson, and others, viewing "Smear" as an "equilibrant" that prevents readers from taking themselves too seriously.
• Judith Starchild announces her decision to leave MUFON, describing it as a "phony hierarchy" that gives little and takes a lot. She recounts an experience where MUFON did not cover expenses for her investigation into the Shallcross case, despite an invitation to join accompanied by a $15 dues fee.
• Blaine Hamrick commends MUFON for promoting a scientific approach to ufology but notes a lack of progress. He discusses Tommy Blann's recent shift towards government conspiracy theories and fear. Hamrick also questions Ray Stanford's disappearance and mental health, and suggests that Moseley should have doubts about himself and Jim Oberg, noting his own phone number ends in "000."
• Mary Davis of "The Hollow Hassle" writes about her phone number ending in "00" and jokingly states she is not a CIA agent, suggesting an apology to Jim Oberg for previous assumptions about "00" and "000" phone numbers.
• Dave Schroth comments on the 1952 UFO sighting by Capt. William Nash, pointing out a contradiction in descriptions of the objects as UFOs versus alien spacecraft. He questions the lack of verifiable details regarding the alleged seven ground witnesses and the Air Force's involvement.
• George Earley responds to William Nash, asserting that wind affects sound wave propagation. He argues that ufology has developed a "believer" mindset that prioritizes faith over healthy skepticism, leading to misperceptions of conventional objects as UFOs.
• Jon Beckjord reports on a Bigfoot Project expedition in Oregon, hearing yells and screams and smelling sulphur dioxide. He also interviewed a medicine man who claimed to have been kidnapped by sasquatches 16 years ago.
• Dr. Stephen Kurzweil states that "something is occuring" that is labeled "UFO Phenomena" and urges readers to engage scientists by writing to the Committee on Scientific Freedom and Responsibility.
• Ken Behrendt announces his book "The First Book of Theoretical Ufology" on UFO propulsion will be available soon, suggesting it could provide "the" final solution to the UFO mystery.
• Larry Peters requests the definition of the word "TURPOLUCIDIUM" and mentions feeding his "creature sardines."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue reflects a critical and often skeptical approach to ufology, even while engaging with its enthusiasts. There is a strong emphasis on investigative journalism and questioning official narratives, as seen in the reviews of books by Phil Klass and Timothy Good. The editor, James W. Moseley, maintains a somewhat irreverent and personal tone, evident in the "Tid-Bits of Trash" section and his interactions with contributors. The recurring theme of infighting and criticism among ufological organizations (APRO, MUFON) highlights internal divisions within the field. The issue also touches upon the role of government agencies in UFO investigations and the challenges of maintaining scientific rigor in a field prone to sensationalism and belief-based thinking. The editor's stance appears to be one of critical inquiry, valuing personal experience and investigation while remaining wary of unsubstantiated claims and organizational politics.