Saucer Smear - Vol 45 No 05 - 1998

Magazine Overview

Title: SAUCER SMEAR
Issue: Volume 45, No. 5
Date: June 5th, 1998
Publisher: THE SAUCER & UNEXPLAINED CELESTIAL EVENTS RESEARCH SOCIETY
Editor: James W. Moseley

This issue of "Saucer Smear" is dedicated to ufological journalism and presents a critical look at various UFO-related events and personalities.

Now That We've Trashed The Roswell Incident, We Take On A Much Easier Target: The Alleged Landing At Aztec, N.M.

The lead article focuses on the upcoming UFO festival in Aztec, New Mexico, commemorating a supposed flying saucer crash on May 25th, 1948 (or March 25th, 1948), where sixteen dead little humanoids were allegedly found. The editor, James W. Moseley, expresses significant skepticism about the Aztec incident, noting the lack of evidence and the commercial motivations behind the festival, which he likens to a "comic opera type of move." He points out that the excuse for the festival is the success of the Roswell 50th anniversary event. Moseley highlights that the alleged Aztec landing was first mentioned by Frank Scully in 1949 and his 1950 book "Behind the Flying Saucers," tales later exposed in "True Magazine." Interestingly, Roswell was not mentioned in Scully's book. Moseley recounts his own interviews in the early 1950s with Scully and Silas Newton, who fed Scully false information. He also mentions meeting Robert Spencer Carr in 1984, who initially promoted the Aztec story but later claimed spaceships landed in front of his home and occupants came inside to chat. Carr's son later suggested his father made up stories for attention. The article credits Karl Pflock, Mike McClellan, and Matt Graeber for information.

Miscellaneous Ravings

This section provides updates and commentary on various UFO-related topics:

• APRO Revival: Moseley dismisses the claim by William Heft to have revived the Aerial Phenomena Research Organization (APRO), stating that Heft does not possess the original files and that the new APRO's intentions to wear dark uniforms and carry badges sound like a "childish ufological game."
• Area 51 and Government Cover-up: An article from the Albuquerque Tribune is cited, quoting a funeral director, Norio Hayakawa, who believes the UFO phenomenon is a government scheme to conceal military weapons development at Area 51. Hayakawa is calling for a demonstration on June 6th, linking it to the number 666.
• Internet Debate: A debate on the Internet between researchers Jerry Clark and Robert Todd regarding the Roswell Incident is mentioned. While Todd made excessive remarks, he is credited with obtaining Jesse Marcel's service records, exposing him as an unreliable witness.
• Hal Starr: The passing of Hal Starr, a news reporter and announcer who had a syndicated UFO radio show and was Arizona State Director for MUFON, is noted. Starr was known for his pleasant personality and was a friend of the editor.
• Fortean Times: The English magazine "Fortean Times" is praised for its articles on hoaxes, including Mexican UFO videos and historical American hoaxes. The editor expresses mild offense that the 1957 "Straith Letter" hoax concerning George Adamski was not mentioned.
• Richard Boylan Accusation: Whitley Streiber accused former psychologist Richard Boylan of being a "possible disinformation agent" based on statements Boylan made about a Catholic theologian, Msgr. Corrado Balducci, and a supposed Vatican Commission on UFOs. Boylan recently lost his license to practice psychology in California due to a "hot tub" incident.
• Gray Barker and CSICOP: An article by John C. Sherwood in "Skeptical Enquirer" is discussed, where Sherwood confesses to writing two made-up articles for "Saucer News" when Gray Barker was editor. The article questions why CSICOP published this piece and notes the discrepancy in Barker's reported death date.

Books To Keep Your Bonfire Burning Brightly

• "Everything is Under Control: Conspiracies, Cults, and Cover-Ups" by Robert Anton Wilson: This book is described as a comprehensive overview of conspiracies, running over 400 pages. It covers various topics, including the Illuminati, Freemasonry, the CIA and drug-running, the Kennedy assassination, government warfare experiments, AIDS, and UFO-related subjects. "Saucer Smear" is credited in the footnotes.
• "The Great UFO Hoax: The Final Solution to the UFO Mystery" by Gregory Kanon: This book is called "absurdly pretentious" and "disappointing." Kanon argues that intelligent life likely does not exist elsewhere in the universe, thus UFOs are not interplanetary. The editor disagrees, believing life is common. Kanon's thesis is that UFOs are military aircraft, secret experiments, or mind-control games used by the government to distract the public or prepare for a fake alien invasion. The editor agrees with this to a point but finds Kanon overstates his case.

Tidbits of Trash

• Roswell Museum Expansion: The Roswell Museum is planning a $15 million, three-phase expansion due to expected attendance of over 300,000 visitors. A Roswell Festival and Musical are also planned.
• National UFO Conference (NUFOC): The date and location for the annual NUFOC are still uncertain.
• "Shockingly Close to the Truth!" Book: Karl Pflock and James W. Moseley are still seeking a publisher for their book.

Letters From Those Few Who Sometimes Still Use "Snail Mail"

• Stanton Friedman: Friedman comments on the MJ-12 documents, questioning the security clearances of Mrs. Menzel and Dr. Taves. He notes Menzel's claimed connection to the NSA and Navy predecessor, and his TS Ultra Clearance with the CIA. Friedman states that the story is in his book "TOP SECRET/MAJIC."
• USAF OSI and MJ-12: The issue of the MJ-12 documents being marked "BOGUS" by USAF OSI Colonel Richard Weaver is raised. The FBI reportedly stopped its investigation after OSI's claim. A Freedom of Information Act request for documentation was denied.
• Robert Anton Wilson: Wilson writes about his book "Everything is Under Control," comparing its organization to the World Wide Web. He mentions Professor Timothy F.X. Finnegan, who claims to see the face on Mars and believes in "UFO/Satanic Conspiracies."
• Erik Beckjord: Beckjord, a former Bigfoot hunter, criticizes "Smear" for being behind the times and suggests the magazine is dead due to the rise of the Internet.
• Phil Klass: Klass jokingly asks to be canceled, calling the editor "too damned skeptical" and a rival "skeptical UFOlogist."
• Art Wand: Wand humorously questions if the editor's recent writings are due to "industrial-strength ganja."
• Karl Pflock: Pflock compliments the editor and Robert Anton Wilson's observations but points out a nitpick regarding the description of Mary's position as Chief of Staff to Congressman Steve Schiff, comparing it to a "copy boy."
• Norman A. Howard: Howard questions the editor's use of "J.S." after his name, calling the MUFON Journal a "fourth-rate publication."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include skepticism towards sensational UFO claims, particularly the Aztec landing, and a critical examination of the evidence and motivations behind them. The editor, James W. Moseley, consistently adopts a critical and often dismissive stance towards what he perceives as hoaxes, commercial exploitation, and unsubstantiated theories within the UFO community. There is a strong emphasis on debunking and questioning the credibility of certain researchers and their claims. The rise of the Internet as a source of UFO information and its impact on traditional publications like "Saucer Smear" is also a notable theme. The editorial stance is one of rigorous investigation, a demand for solid evidence, and a healthy distrust of unsubstantiated narratives, even while acknowledging the enduring public fascination with the UFO phenomenon.