Saucer Smear - Vol 34 No 05 - 1987

Magazine Overview

Title: SAUCER SMEAR
Issue: Volume 34, No. 5
Date: July 5th, 1987
Publisher: SAUCER AND UNEXPLAINED CELESTIAL EVENTS RESEARCH SOCIETY

This issue of Saucer Smear, the official publication of the SAUCER AND UNEXPLAINED CELESTIAL EVENTS RESEARCH SOCIETY, is dedicated to ufological journalism. It is edited by James W. Moseley and provides a non-scheduled newsletter format.

RE-HASH OF THE 24TH ANNUAL NATIONAL UFO CONFERENCE, IN BURBANK, CA

The 24th annual National UFO Conference (NUFOC) took place from June 12th-14th at the Burbank Hilton Hotel, sponsored by author and lecturer William Moore. Despite significant advance publicity, the attendance was disappointing, and Moore reportedly lost money.

Moore's convention tactic of having eight lectures running concurrently during four time-slots on Saturday presented a scheduling challenge but generally ran smoothly. Major speakers included William Moore, Stanton Friedman, Hal Starr, Brad Steiger, Dr. Richard Neal, M.D., and Jim McCampbell of MUFON. Timothy Good of England, though unable to attend, had widely publicized the "MJ-12" documents in his native land in anticipation of his book "Above Top Secret: The Worldwide UFO Cover-Up".

Minor speakers included the "Smear" editor, Dale Kacamarek (ghost lights), Brian Parks, Ann Druffel (MUFON), Jim Speiser (ParaNet), Vickie Cooper ("California UFO" Magazine), Tracy Torme, Yonah Fortner, Tim Beckley ("Mr. UFO"), and Erik Beckjord (Bigfoot fame). Erik Beckjord reportedly attracted the most attention.

Stanton Friedman was presented with the "Ufologist of the Year" award. Friedman and Moore were also featured speakers at the Sunday banquet luncheon. The business meeting, usually held to discuss the next year's conference site, was adjourned due to low attendance.

Ted and Phyllis Hunt from Phoenix, Arizona, are pictured checking into the Burbank Hilton.

THE "MAGESTIC 12" DOCUMENTS: HOAX OR "SMOKING GUN"?

The most significant story emerging from the 1987 NUFOC Convention concerns the "Majestic 12" (MJ-12) documents, which purport to be documentary proof of a government UFO cover-up spanning forty years. These documents were not discovered through traditional research but were mailed anonymously on microfilm in December 1984 to Jaime Shandera, described as a producer, director, and researcher with extensive background in news and documentaries.

William Moore and Stanton Friedman have been working with Shandera to investigate these documents. Moore stated that when he received the document, phrases like "Top Secret" and "Eyes Only" were crossed out, leaving "Copy One of One" legible. The group also censored information in released versions, resulting in variations among the four obtained versions. The document itself is described as several pages of fascinating text.

Space limitations prevent full reproduction, but the document purports to be a briefing for President-Elect Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1952, referencing events from 1947-1952. It details the Kenneth Arnold sighting and a crash near Roswell, New Mexico, on July 7th, 1947, the subject of Moore's 1980 book "The Roswell Incident". The document describes a secret operation to recover the wreckage and states that four dead, decomposed human-like beings were found about two miles east of the crash site. A scientific team removed the bodies, and the wreckage was dispersed. A cover story claimed the object was a weather balloon.

Various attachments are mentioned, with "A" being a letter dated September 24th, 1947, from President Harry S. Truman to Secretary of Defense James Forrestal. This letter refers to "Operation Majestic Twelve" but does not specify its purpose. Forrestal, Admiral Roscoe Hillenkoetter (then head of the CIA), and Harvard astronomer Donald Menzel are named as original MJ-12 members. The document speculates on the origin of the craft, with Mars and other solar systems being possibilities, noting Menzel's skepticism.

Donald Menzel, who wrote anti-UFO books, is noted for his strong skeptical stance. The article questions whether Menzel lived a lie if he knew about the Roswell incident. Hillenkoetter, Menzel, and other MJ-12 members are now deceased, making an impartial investigation difficult.

Barry Greenwood, editor of "Just Cause", is quoted as suggesting the MJ-12 document might be a sophisticated fraud. "Smear" is conducting its own investigation and hopes to report sensational facts in the next issue. The editorial stance suggests the document is likely a fraud but condemns Phil Klass's view that it should not be released to the public. The public's right to know is emphasized, arguing that dead aliens from 1947 pose no present threat.

Moore, Friedman, and Shandera are said to have more information to release. The magazine congratulates them for making 1987 an exciting year in UFO research.

TID-BITS OF TRASH, IN THE SWINGING "SMEAR" TRADITION:

• A British correspondent notes that Phil Klass rejected an article on the Socorro case for "Skeptical Inquirer", apparently because Klass believed his own solution was the only correct one.
• Alan Benz of Tucson, Arizona, runs The Foundation for UFO Research and offers a $500 prize for a literary competition on suppressed UFO information.
• The death of Dominick Luchessi is mourned by Bob Zanotti, who recalls Luchessi as an intelligent, albeit sometimes crass, antagonist and a good buddy.
• Ken Behrendt expresses concern about potential brain tumors among UFO field investigators, suggesting it might be an occupational hazard from inhaling hazardous substances at landing sites. He recommends protective gear and dust masks.
• George Montgomery, a Beat Poet and mild UFO fan, died suddenly at age 48. The issue includes his last poem, "HOLY MOSELEY".

LETTERS FROM FANS, LOYAL SUPPORTERS, AND OTHERS:

• Gerd Hovelmann, a West German skeptic, corrects the "Smear" editor's report on a CSICOP Conference lecture about the animal language controversy. Hovelmann clarifies that "Clever Hans" refers both to the famous horse and to a type of methodological error, emphasizing the latter in his presentation.
• Bob Pratt, freelance writer and former UFO editor for the National Enquirer, praises "Smear" as a significant social document. He announces the upcoming book "Night Siege: The Hudson Valley UFO Sightings" by Dr. J. Allen Hynek and Philip Imbrogno with Bob Pratt, detailing sightings of a large triangular object in the New York and Connecticut area from 1982 to 1986.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of "Saucer Smear" heavily focuses on the 24th Annual National UFO Conference and the controversial "MJ-12" documents. The magazine maintains a critical yet engaged stance on UFO phenomena, often questioning the authenticity of claims while advocating for public access to information. The editor, James W. Moseley, appears to be a central figure, both as organizer and commentator. There is a recurring theme of skepticism towards certain individuals and organizations within the UFO community, balanced by a belief in the importance of open investigation and disclosure. The magazine also touches upon broader cultural and scientific discussions related to UFOs, including academic research and media coverage.