Saucer Smear - Vol 34 No 09 - 1987

Magazine Overview

Title: SAUCER SMEAR
Issue: Volume 34, No. 9
Date: December 15th, 1987
Publisher: SAUCER AND UNEXPLAINED CELESTIAL EVENTS RESEARCH SOCIETY

This issue of "Saucer Smear" is a non-scheduled newsletter dedicated to ufological journalism. The editor, James W. Moseley, addresses non-subscribers with a "dreaded 'X'" on their envelope, indicating they will be dropped from the mailing list unless they respond. The newsletter covers a range of topics, from the availability of back issues and the sale of the Integratron to discussions on UFO documentation and personal accounts.

Miscellaneous Ravings

The "Miscellaneous Ravings" section opens with Moseley's holiday greeting and a notice about dropping non-subscribers. He then discusses the availability of 135 back issues of "Smear" for $95 per set or $1.00 each, noting their historical value. The sale of George Van Tassel's Integratron for $150,000 is announced, with contact information for his widow, Dorris. For those with less funds, a $2.00 listing of 58 UFO information sources in Canada, England, Australia, and the USA by ufologist George Fawcett is mentioned.

Moseley also addresses a point raised by Dr. Bruce Maccabee regarding the correct spelling of "materiel" (with an 'E') versus "material" (with an 'A'), noting that this corrects Phil Klass's accusation against Bill Moore. Maccabee's quarterly report for the Fund for UFO Research, Inc. is mentioned, highlighting the high cost of professionally analyzing MJ-12 documents ($3,000), a goal to which the editor has contributed.

NUFOC and MJ-12 Document Authorship

The newsletter reports that the location for the 1988 National UFO Conference (NUFOC) is still unknown, raising doubts about its continuation. A significant piece of news, termed a "hot FLASH," suggests that Col. Wendelle Stevens, currently in an Arizona penal institution, has identified Richard Doty, an Air Force Intelligence officer, as the author of the MJ-12 documents. The newsletter questions why Stevens's information should be believed on this matter when not on others.

Presidential Curses and Skepticism

President Reagan is noted as potentially being the first president in over a century to overcome the "Twenty Year Curse" (presidents dying in office), a pattern that has affected seven U.S. presidents since 1840, including John F. Kennedy.

Letters to the Editor

Several contributors share their views:

• Brian Parks (California): Criticizes the "appalling lack of research or logic" from critics of the MJ-12 matter, dismissing the idea that a covert operation would release material to archives. He uses the term "useful idiots" for some critics.
• Jennings Frederick (Contactee): Responds to Larry Peters regarding Bigfoot, stating it's a real "non-human" entity from prehistory, possibly from extraterrestrial experiments. Frederick asserts the MJ-12 documentation is authentic, regardless of future findings.
• Mike Dennett (Skeptic): Praises the issue, particularly the UMMO affair review and Erik Beckjord's Loch Ness photo.
• Tom Mercatante: Questions Erik Beckjord's luck in finding Nessie or Bigfoot and obtaining great pictures.
• Riley Crabb (New Zealand): Believes the MJ-12 controversy highlights high-level conferences on UFOs in the 1950s. He suggests that if MJ-12 is a government plant, its motive is dissatisfaction with government secrecy. Crabb also recounts a personal experience in the 1970s with Barbara Schutte, who was abducted and given hypnotic suggestion, leading to recurring nightmares.
• Denis Corey (Cowtown/Columbus, Ohio): Concludes that MJ-12 is a hoax after a trip to Southern California. He notes the intricate effort involved and expresses hope that Bill Moore will "go public" soon. Corey also criticizes Erik Beckjord, calling his photos poor and him a "laughing-stock."
• Peter Gersten (CAUS): States that Citizens Against UFO Secrecy (CAUS) continues to pursue truth via FOIA requests. He shares a recent FOIA release titled "German Flying Wings Designed by Horton Brothers," believing it explains the nature and origin of strange objects seen from 1946-1952.
• Leonard Stringfield: Expresses concern over the dispute surrounding the MJ-12 documents, noting that research itself is at stake. While skeptical of surreptitiously released documents, he refrains from making conclusions. He acknowledges the validity of questions raised by Fawcett & Greenwood but urges allowing Moore & associates to respond. Stringfield also raises the omission of the Aztec, N.M. crash case of 1948 from the MJ-12 papers, questioning if it's fiction as Moore contends or an oversight.
• Jerry Clark (CUFOS and FATE): Considers skepticism a rational response to the MJ-12 matter, noting that things too good to be true often are. He believes that while the MJ-12 briefing itself might be a simple matter of document analysis, the broader issue of UFO crashes and retrievals may remain unanswerable. He also mentions information from independent sources suggesting MJ-12 existed and that the Aztec case is not fiction.

Other Articles and Features

• "Off-duty nudity keeps cop off force": A brief report on a California Highway Patrol officer's dismissal for appearing naked at his home windows.
• "Moseley Posts Loss for Quarter, May Sell Operation": A report from The Wall Street Journal about Moseley Holding Corp.'s financial losses and potential sale of its retail brokerage business.
• "Dead man re-elected": A report from New York about Bronx District Attorney Mario Merola being re-elected shortly after his death.
• "The Beckjord File": This section presents images related to Erik Beckjord, including a blow-up of a Loch Ness Monster picture, an anti-Beckjord cartoon, and a mention of his planned "Creature museum." Beckjord claims to be the only person to have photographed Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster, though not at the same time.
• "SPACE POTTY": A story about Dr. Leonard Stern reporting the discovery of a fiberglass porta-potty in a Swedish peat bog, allegedly left by aliens 20,000 years ago.
• "In case of a quake, break the toilets!": A brief item from United Press International about earthquake emergency plans.
• "You Can Call the Dead - Collect": An article detailing people who claim to be able to telephone the dead, sometimes collect, with anecdotes about advice received from deceased individuals.
• "It's time to shine for Moseley": A byline for David Ramsey, Staff Writer.
• "FAA rules out alcohol, drug abuse as cause of a close encounter": A brief mention of a ruling by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the ongoing debate surrounding the MJ-12 documents, the credibility of UFO researchers, and the nature of disinformation within the UFO community. The editorial stance, as expressed through Moseley's "Miscellaneous Ravings" and the selection of letters, appears to be one of open discussion, presenting various viewpoints from skeptics, believers, and researchers, while also maintaining a critical eye on claims and evidence. There is a clear emphasis on the historical value of UFO literature and a desire to track down the truth behind alleged UFO phenomena, even while acknowledging the possibility of hoaxes and deception.