Saucer Smear - Vol 41 No 06 - 1994

Magazine Overview

Title: SAUCER SMEAR
Issue: Volume 41, No. 6
Date: July 15th, 1994
Publisher: Official Publication of the Saucer & Unexplained Celestial Events Research Society

This issue of Saucer Smear, edited by James W. Moseley, focuses heavily on the ongoing debates and research surrounding the Roswell incident. It features a mix of articles, letters to the editor, and commentary from various figures in the ufology community, highlighting differing interpretations and ongoing controversies.

Roswell Incident Debates

The central theme revolves around the Roswell, New Mexico incident of 1947. Todd Zechel's tract "AIR 1½" and Bruce Maccabee's response "Son of Hot Air" are discussed, with Maccabee's remarks seen as largely defensive of himself. Editor Moseley recounts a conversation with Karl Pflock, who is investigating Roswell for FUFOR. Pflock's stance, as stated in a previous UFO Magazine article, is that the debris was likely from a Project Mogul balloon. However, Pflock also posits that an entirely separate, unexplained incident accounts for the bodies allegedly found at the crash site, raising the possibility of two concurrent, semi-mysterious events. A report by Pflock titled "Roswell in Perspective" is mentioned as being available from FUFOR.

Bruce Maccabee is also noted for having written a 10-page paper for President Clinton's science advisor, which reportedly downgrades the Roswell spaceship to a "non-man-made device that crashed." The article points out Maccabee's omission of the Gulf Breeze UFO case and the Linda Napolitano case, which he had previously supported.

Project Mogul and Debris Analysis

Page 2 delves into "Project Mogul," a formerly classified balloon project led by Professor Charles R. Moore. The article suggests this project offers a partial answer to the Roswell mystery. Professor Moore, in correspondence from 1992, expressed his long-held opinion that the debris recovered by W.W. Brazel in 1947 was from one of their balloons. He recounts trying to convince William Moore (author of "The Roswell Incident") of this, but failing. Moore's letters detail experiments conducted at Alamogordo Army Air Field in June and July 1947. He discusses the Roswell Daily Record transcript and the International UFO Reporter, reinforcing his belief that their balloons were the source of the debris. Moore specifically addresses details from the transcript, such as the use of scotch tape and a stylized flower-like design on the tape used for ML-306/AP targets, and the description of rubber as "smoky gray." He concludes that the debris was likely from a balloon-borne radar-target test flight and is not surprised that intelligence officers might not have recognized it.

UFOlogy Community Dynamics and Controversies

Several sections highlight the internal dynamics and conflicts within the ufology community.

UFOlogy Feuds

A significant portion of the magazine details a "horrible feud" on the West Coast between Harley Byrd and Shiela Welch on one side, and various UFO researchers including Vickie Cooper, Don Ecker, Erik Beckjord, Bob Lazar, Gene Huff, and Russ Estes on the other. Byrd is accused of initiating the feud with libelous charges. The conflict is so intense that the magazine fears someone might get hurt. A UFO convention planned by Byrd is noted to coincide with the NUFOC convention in Cleveland, though little competition is expected.

Other Research and Opinions

• The Alexander UFO Religious Crisis Survey: A survey of religious leaders indicated that the certainty of intelligent extraterrestrial life would not be a threat to their faith. The survey was prepared for the Bigelow Foundation, and its author is Victoria Alexander, wife of John Alexander, a retired colonel involved in non-lethal weapons programs.
• "The Lobster" Article: An article from a British conspiracy magazine titled "Non-lethality: John B. Alexander, the Pentagon's Penguin" is discussed. It refers to Alexander allegedly being an entity named "Penguin" within a secret U.S. government group called The Aviary. The article's author, Armen Victorian, is described as controversial.
• Books and Publications: Two small books are reviewed: "Anomalist: #1: Summer 1994," a twice-yearly series featuring essays by various ufologists, and "Grey Matter A Cartoon Compendium for the UFO Insider" by Frances Anne Ecker.
• Phil Klass's Letter: Phil Klass writes in response to Todd Zechel, asserting Zechel is wrong and recounting a personal anecdote about a "Phil Jr."
• George Earley: Comments on Phil Klass's modesty regarding TV appearances and the nature of "show biz" versus politics in UFO coverage.
• Kevin Randle: Defends his new book on Roswell, emphasizing the corroboration of testimonies from various sources, even if Ragsdale and MacKenzie's accounts were removed.
• Paul Fisher: Criticizes the repeated use of the balloon explanation for Roswell, citing the late General Thomas Du Bose's statement that it was a concocted story by General Ramey.
• Christopher Allan: Agrees with Bill Moore that the new Roswell book by Randle & Schmitt is a "comedy of errors."
• George Hansen: Expresses concern over Pat Marcattilio being denied recognition as MUFON's ufologist of the year, urging readers to meditate on Marcattilio's traits as representative of ufology's essence.
• Howard and Connie Menger: Report on Howard's work on a power pack and mourn the death of Augie Roberts, a TV producer who documented their New Jersey UFO experiences.
• Richard Freeman: Shares his amusement at the initials "J.S." and his surprise at a mention of the Cuban Missile Crisis being dealt with aboard a UFO.
• Simone Mendez: Offers a cryptic apology regarding Roswell stances and mentions "illumination."
• Jim Oberg: Praises Saucer Smear for its "intelligent proclamations" and "hardcopy permanent record," contrasting it with the "drivel" of internet conversations. He also notes Zechel's potential behind-the-scenes role in MJ-12 and mentions OMNI's "Operation Open Book" seeking cases of government repression related to UFO secrecy.
• Monty Cantsin: Comments on the material the CIA works with, suggesting a loss of influence due to "sheer stupidity."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently champions the principle of ufological journalism and provides a platform for diverse, often conflicting, viewpoints within the UFO community. The editor, James W. Moseley, appears to maintain a critical yet engaged stance, presenting various theories and debates while occasionally offering his own interpretations or commentary. There is a clear emphasis on dissecting official explanations, questioning government secrecy, and exploring the complexities of witness testimony and research methodologies. The issue also highlights the personal rivalries and passionate disagreements that characterize the field of ufology.