Saucer Smear - Vol 31 No 05 - 1984

Magazine Overview

Title: SAUCER SMEAR
Issue Date: August 1, 1984
Publisher: The Saucer and Unexplained Celestial Events Research Society
Type: Non-Scheduled Newsletter

This issue of SAUCER SMEAR, Volume 31, No. 5, dated August 1, 1984, announces a new mailing address in Key West, Florida, for editor James W. Moseley, who is relocating to pursue his 'ghoulish antique gallery'. The newsletter covers a range of UFO-related news, opinions, and reader contributions, often with a critical or skeptical tone towards certain figures and organizations within the ufology community.

Key Articles and News

Editorial and Announcements

The issue begins with an announcement of the new mailing address in Key West, Florida. It also includes a notice that a "Dreaded 'X'" on an envelope signifies the recipient is being removed from the mailing list unless they respond.

Dr. Richard Haines and NAUFOF

A "HOT FLASH" reports that Dr. Richard Haines, Director of the North American UFO Federation (NAUFOF), is "stepping down" effective September 1st, citing increased workload at NASA. This announcement follows an editorial in the April 25th, 1984 issue of "Smear" that strongly criticized Haines's methods and called for his resignation. The newsletter notes that Dr. J. Allen Hynek is the only other Board member with a doctorate, and suggests that Pete Mazzola, the current Deputy Director, is likely to take over Haines's position.

UFO Conference and Organizations

NAUFOF may dissolve completely before September 1st, with a mail vote in process among Board members regarding the organization's continuation. Details will be in the next issue. Pete Mazzola is slated to be a speaker at the forthcoming 21st annual National UFO Conference (NUFOC) in Cleveland, Ohio, on September 21st-22nd. James W. Moseley is the Permanent Chairman of the NUFOC.

News Briefies

• "Doc" McIntyre: "Wild Bill" McIntyre of MARCEN fame, rumored to have died, has resurfaced in California after over two years of absence. His address and letter contents are being kept confidential at his request.
• Bill Steinman: Steinman has apologized for his conduct that led to a previous rebuke in "Smear". However, Bill Moore reports that Steinman has also abused information sent in confidence to him.
• Dr. Stephen Kurzweil: Budd Hopkins has issued a memo stating that Dr. Kurzweil, a N.Y.C. dermatologist, is mentally deteriorating. The newsletter expresses a dim view of Hopkins as a source due to his past attitude towards "Smear".
• Jim Rigberg: Former UFO book seller Jim Rigberg is in a nursing home in the New York area, not deceased as previously reported.
• Arthur ("Art") Aho: Contactee Wayne Aho reports that his brother Arthur, also a ufologist, died in October of the previous year. The brothers had philosophical differences, and Art had changed the pronunciation of his last name.

Editor's Activities and Correspondence

James W. Moseley participated in an hour-long interview on the Bob Grant Show on WMCA in New York, discussing UFOs and grave robbing. He has also appeared with Long John Nebel and Candy Jones.

Reader Mail and Opinions

• Kenneth McClintock, Jr.: Letters from this individual in Honolulu, Hawaii, are described as incoherent but harmless. He maintains a "24-hour UFO hotline" at 808-923-0233.
• Bill Moore: Moore is on a publicity tour for the movie adaptation of "The Philadelphia Experiment", a book he co-authored. He appears to distance himself from claims that the book solved the mystery.
• Bigfoot in Skamania County: County commissioners in Skamania County, Washington State, have made killing Bigfoot a misdemeanor, following testimony from "experts" like Erik Beckjord.
• Allen Greenfield: Now known as "Spider Rainbow", he writes poetry and engages in radical political activities.
• Gene Steinberg: Ex-wife Geneva Freechild (formerly Geneva Steinberg) also lives in Atlanta.
• James W. Moseley: The editor is considering changing his name to "Fearless Fosdick".

Cover Story: Valentich in Missile Claim

The cover features an article from TRUTH, Melbourne, Australia, dated March 3, 1984, discussing the disappearance of pilot Frederick Valentich. A leading American scientist, Dr. Richard Haines (Ph.D.), proposes in an unpublished book that Valentich's aircraft may have been hit during a secret American weapons test, possibly from Pine Gap. Guido Valentich, Frederick's father, mentioned an anonymous phone call suggesting Frederick was blown up in a weapons test.

Missives from the Masses

• Dr. Thornton Page (NASA): Writes from June 14th, mentioning attending a symposium in Boston on the Search for Extraterrestrial Life. He intends to present UFO evidence as the only positive evidence of ET Intelligence, contrasting it with the work of Carl Sagan and Frank Drake. His own paper concerns the use of the Space Telescope after 1987.
• Ron Schaffner: Comments on Erik Beckjord's editorial regarding Janet and Colin Bord's book "The Evidence of Bigfoot". Schaffner questions the validity of 'soft' evidence like hair and blood samples, stating they cannot be primary evidence and asking how they mutually confirm each other. He clarifies his lecture topic for NUFOC was to show discrepancies in the Walla Walla case, not to prove it a hoax. He also discusses the Rome, Ohio case, suggesting it has a 90% probability of being an elaborate hoax and that Pilichis may not have known it. He encourages a debate on the case.
• Kal K. Korff: Criticizes Phil Klass's statement that those accusing the US government of withholding UFO data are aiding Communists, calling it absurd. Korff asserts that accusing the government of a conspiracy is a constitutional right, regardless of whether organizations like the NSA have released documents.
• Ken Behrendt: Believes the government is involved in a "Cosmic Watergate" to hide UFO truth. He suggests ufologists must duplicate saucer technology themselves to prove UFO reality, as he is convinced enough data exists to attempt it.
• Christian Lambright: Expresses a desire for an association of independent researchers willing to exchange information freely, based on mutual respect. He feels many UFO organizations act like "black holes", retaining information from their members.

Specific Case Discussions

• The "Cosmic Watergate" Theory: Ken Behrendt posits that the government is hiding UFO truth and that researchers must replicate the technology.
• The "Walla Walla" Case: Discussed by Ron Schaffner, who aimed to show discrepancies rather than prove it a hoax.
• The "Rome, Ohio" Case: Ron Schaffner believes this case has a 90% probability of being an elaborate hoax.
• The "Mansfield, Ohio UFO/helicopter encounter" case (October 18, 1973): Phil Klass maintains it was a meteor, but investigators like Jenny Zeidman disagree, noting the object hovered. Klass's use of historical meteor accounts, including those from Charles Fort, is questioned.

Other Items

• James Oberg: Mentioned in relation to an article in 'Omni' titled "Pearl Harbor in Space", which allegedly explains how Soviets can knock out defense satellites. The author questions if Phil Klass will accuse Oberg of "helping the Communists".
• Bob Schmidt: Critiques those who adhere strictly to scientific principles, suggesting they can explain away strange phenomena while believing in abstract concepts like black holes based on others' claims.
• "Great ball of fire. What was that?": A brief anecdote about a man experiencing a ball of fire in his toilet bowl during a storm, attributed to Martin Uman of the University of Florida.
• Aram Churche Correspondence: A letter from Richard J. Benson of Aram Churche to James W. Moseley, discussing angles related to the Cheops Great Pyramid and their potential connection to UFO movement and time phenomena. Benson offers "ARAM CHURCHE works" for scientific handling.

News Clippings

• Olympic Fatality: A bald eagle named Bomber died during training for the Olympics due to stress and smog-induced lung disease.
• "Begging your pardon": An excerpt from a Chinese economic journal's rejection slip to a British writer, noted for its polite and elaborate phrasing.
• "COP WHO KILLED TOT GETS 35G": A brief news item from Los Angeles about a former police officer who shot and killed a child by error.
• "Tired man kills self at 110": A brief news item.
• "Moving Van Found With 143 Aliens": A brief news item from Mission Viejo, Calif.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The editorial stance of SAUCER SMEAR appears to be critical of established ufological figures and organizations, particularly Phil Klass, whom the editor frequently challenges. There is a strong undercurrent of skepticism towards claims of government cover-ups, while simultaneously advocating for greater transparency from UFO researchers themselves. The newsletter also highlights reader contributions and diverse opinions within the UFO community, often presenting them as evidence of the chaotic and sometimes contentious nature of the field. The publication seems to champion independent research and a direct, no-nonsense approach to investigating UFO phenomena, often questioning the motives and methods of prominent individuals and groups.