Saucer Smear - Vol 42 No 01 - 1995

Magazine Overview

Title: SAUCER SMEAR
Issue: Volume 42, No. 1
Date: January 5th, 1995
Publisher: SAUCER & UNEXPLAINED CELESTIAL EVENTS RESEARCH SOCIETY

This issue of 'Saucer Smear' is a non-scheduled newsletter dedicated to ufological journalism, serving as an official publication of the SAUCER & UNEXPLAINED CELESTIAL EVENTS RESEARCH SOCIETY. The editor is James W. Moseley. The publication's mailing address is P. O. Box 1709, Key West, FL 33041. A prominent "X" on the envelope signifies removal from the mailing list unless the recipient makes contact, ideally with a donation.

Book Review: 'SECRET CIPHER OF THE UFONAUTS' by Allen Greenfield

The issue features a review of Allen Greenfield's book, which posits a connection between occultism and the UFO movement over the past 48 years. The book introduces 'Cipher 6', a system claimed to yield meaningful results when applied to UFO contactee names. The review notes that Greenfield's work is complex and controversial, but the editor found joy in learning to understand the cipher chart. The book highlights ufologists with presumed occult knowledge, such as Meade Layne, George Adamski, George Hunt Williamson, Ray Palmer, and Dr. Frank Stranges. The review mentions that the word 'FACT' has cipher significance and discusses the discovery of numerous cipher variants. Greenfield himself acknowledges that with infinite numbers and letter combinations, one can find correlations to support preconceived notions, but argues his method is confined to the book's contents.

Cipher 6 Explained

A chart titled 'The Classical English Qabalah' is presented, showing numerical values assigned to each letter of the English alphabet. The review explains that while the math is simple addition, the concepts are complex. A specific example is given using the name 'Barney' from the TV show, which, when subjected to a 'secret cipher', results in '666'. This leads to a speculative conclusion that if the secret cipher equates the star to evil, and Allan Greenfield's shirt color matches Barney's, he might be a 'Barney disciple spreading disinformation'.

Interview with Terry R. Wriste

Chapter Twelve of Greenfield's book, an interview with Terry R. Wriste, is highlighted as particularly valuable, discussing the Shaver Mystery, ciphers, and the UFO contactee syndrome.

Miscellaneous Ravings: MUFON Politics and Ufologist of the Year Election

The newsletter reports on a critical letter sent by Richard Seifried, MUFON's Oklahoma Assistant Director, to the MUFON Board of Directors. Seifried criticizes the organization's leadership, particularly International Director Walt Andrus, regarding the 'election' for 1993 Ufologist of the Year. Seifried alleges that Andrus arbitrarily negated an election won by Donald Ware and printed untrue information in the MUFON UFO Journal. The letter suggests Andrus is high-handed and arrogant, warning that MUFON could collapse like NICAP or become a debating society if not managed properly, and advises caution in selecting new officials.

Roswell Incident Theories

The search for a complete solution to the Roswell Incident continues, with the December 1994 issue of a Canadian zine, 'UFO Seeing Eye', exploring the theory that the Roswell UFO was a U.S. experimental craft with humanoid robots. 'Saucer Smear' investigated this but found it to be speculation based on sketchy information. A monograph by Gene Maron, 'Roswell Another Perspective', proposes that a bomb was deliberately placed on a Mogul balloon to destroy a flying saucer, suggesting the Air Force acted out of embarrassment over the 1947 UFO flap. The article also briefly mentions John Keel's balloon theory.

Obituaries and Book Mentions

Veteran ufologist Leonard (Len) Stringfield, known for his work on 'crash/retrieval' booklets and evidence of alien crashes, has died of lung cancer. He was recognized for his intellectually honest contributions to the UFO field. A review copy of Ingo Swann's book 'Purple Fables', a collection of four fables, is also mentioned. The book is described as fiction and not directly related to UFO or psychic research.

Ufologist News and Events

Harley Byrd, known for his 'Inner Earth' fame, is pictured receiving an award. His upcoming convention is mentioned, as is the editor's planned attendance at Tim Beckley's convention in Colorado Springs. Uri Geller has been ordered to pay $149,000 in legal costs related to lawsuits against James Randi and CSICOP. Dr. Leo Sprinkle and his wife are selected to lead a UFO delegation to England and Ireland as part of a cultural exchange program.

Letters to the Editor

Several letters are included:

• Martin Gardner, a CSICOP member, expresses enjoyment of 'Saucer Smear's humor but questions the time spent on UFO mania, stating alien UFOs are a myth.
• Barry Greenwood of CAUS suggests that if ufologists ceased bickering and focused on research, 'Saucer Smear' would cease to exist, lamenting the idealism of this thought.
• Ed Walters corrects a misinterpretation of his stance on 'Project Awareness', clarifying he is 'stand-off-ish' with UFO conferences in general and did not refuse to attend a local Gulf Breeze conference due to lack of interest.
• Charles Broerman corrects a typo in a previous letter and expresses a 'bad feeling' about a photo of Mr. Alexander, referencing the Danny Casolaro case and warning against believing any news of his suicide.
• Paul Fisher expresses shock at a report of Budd Hopkins giving the finger at a UFO conference, suggesting it might have been a gang sign.
• Rob MacGregor, a writer of novels, praises 'Saucer Smear' and agrees with the editor and Robert Anton Wilson regarding Budd Hopkins' inflexibility. He notes Wilson's interesting comments, particularly on the Illuminati.
• Robert Anton Wilson discusses his use of probability in sentences and expresses skepticism towards '100% certitude', applying it to both True Believers and Skeptics.
• Chris Roth calls 'Saucer Smear' one of the best, noting that criticism from Budd Hopkins and Jon Erik Beckjord indicates the publication is doing something right. He also mentions that Harley Byrd has alienated supporters.
• Karl Pflock criticizes a previous issue as sinking to new depths and comments on the address of the Randle/Schmitt newsletter regarding the Roswell Incident.
• Robert Wanderer discusses how belief in long-held ideas, like the Roswell case, can lead to resistance when evidence disabuses them, noting that 'alien bodies' seem to exist only in dim memory.
• John VanAken recounts a story about Pappy Henderson allegedly flying alien cargo and bodies to Andrews Air Field for viewing by Dwight Eisenhower and Robert P. Patterson, sarcastically questioning the exposure to alien bacteria.
• Steve Anderson offers a brief theory on cattle mutilations involving the removal of genitals and draining blood, linking it to the Taurobolium rite and the birth of the sun-god.

News from Fireside Books

A press release announces 'REVELATION X: The "Bob" Apocryphon' from Fireside Books, focusing on hidden teachings and deuterocanonical texts of J.R. "Bob" Dobbs, and questioning the nature of the Church of the SubGenius.

Air Force Reacts Officially to Bogus Documents

An item from Barry Greenwood's zine 'JUST CAUSE' describes a new Air Force procedure: a rubber stamp to label questionable or hoaxed documents as 'NOT AN OFFICIAL USAF DOCUMENT', 'NOT CLASSIFIED', or 'SUSPECTED FORGERY OR BOGUS DOCUMENT'. This is a response to the influx of hoaxes, such as the MJ-12 deception, and aims to prevent unchallenged spread of misinformation.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the sociology of ufology, the analysis of ciphers and occult connections to UFOs, internal politics and disputes within the ufological community (particularly MUFON), and ongoing debates about the Roswell Incident. The editorial stance appears to be critical and analytical, often employing humor and skepticism, while also providing a platform for diverse viewpoints and news within the UFO field. The editor, James W. Moseley, is presented as a central figure, with various contributors offering opinions on his work and the publication itself. There is a clear emphasis on presenting information and fostering discussion, even when it involves criticism and controversy.