Saucer Smear - Vol 47 No 05 - 2000

Magazine Overview

Title: SAUCER SMEAR
Issue: Volume 47, No. 5
Date: June 15th, 2000
Publisher: SAUCER & UNEXPLAINED CELESTIAL EVENTS RESEARCH SOCIETY

This issue of Saucer Smear, a non-scheduled newsletter, focuses on the Paul Bennewitz case, UFO research, and related controversies within the ufology community. It includes contributions from various researchers, ufologists, and writers, offering a mix of investigative reporting, book reviews, and opinion pieces.

The Paul Bennewitz Case Revisited

The lead article revisits the case of Dr. Paul Bennewitz, a government contractor associated with Thunder Scientific Corporation near Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico. Bennewitz reportedly became involved in UFO research in the early 1980s, acquiring film of mysterious lights, hearing alien code, and seeing UFOs and secret tunnels. Sergeant Richard Doty of the OSI (Office of Special Investigations) met with Bennewitz, listened to his evidence, and, according to Doty, intentionally misled him into believing the coded messages were from aliens. The article notes that former ufologist William Moore, a friend and co-worker of Sgt. Doty, was also involved. It is suggested that Moore and Doty may have collaborated to create the MJ-12 documents. Bennewitz's beliefs reportedly intensified, leading him to spend time in a mental hospital. His wife, Cindy, has refused recent interview requests. The article also mentions Christa Tilton's book, "The Bennewitz Papers," which discusses the case.

Other UFO-Related Topics and Investigations

The issue touches upon various other UFO-related matters. Sgt. Doty reportedly believes the U.S. government has captured extraterrestrial hardware and visited "Area 51" in Nevada. His current role as a state police trooper in New Mexico is mentioned. The article also briefly mentions Linda Moulton Howe.

A "Blast from the Past" section features an article from 1969 by Dr. E.U. Condon, who, after publishing a negative report on UFOs, expressed strong views on the need for a "National Magic Agency" and advocated for severe punishment for those who teach "pseudo-sciences" to children.

"Tidbits of Trash" highlights three items from the "Weekly World News": an alleged alien backing Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, NASA finding an alien "Port-a-Potty" on the Moon, and a press conference in Lyons, France, about strange-looking beings.

Another item discusses a French science journalist's book claiming NASA astronauts practiced sex in outer space, a report dismissed as "absolute rubbish" by a British expert.

The 37th annual National UFO Conference (NUFON) in Corpus Christi, Texas, is announced, listing speakers such as Walt Andrus, Stanton Friedman, and Rick Hilberg.

Brief Biased Book Reviews

Several books are reviewed:

• "The Forgotten Flap 1964" by Rick Hilberg: This 32-page book covers UFO events from 1964, including a case in New York state where a farmer named Gary Wilcox encountered "English-speaking Martians."
• "The Field Guide to UFOs: A Classification of Various Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Based on Eyewitness Accounts" by Dennis Stacy and Patrick Huyghe: This book categorizes UFOs into seven basic shapes: spherical, discoid, elliptical, cylindrical, rectangular, triangle, and shape-shifters.
• "UFO FBI Connection: The Secret History of the Government's Cover-Up" by Dr. Bruce Maccabee: The reviewer notes that while Dr. Maccabee is a legitimate physicist, his association with Ed Walters' Gulf Breeze sightings raises questions about his gullibility or deliberate disinformation.

PFlock PTalk / An Anti-Book Review

Karl Pflock reviews Toby Smith's "Little Gray Men: Roswell and the Rise of a Popular Culture," calling it "the worst – though not the most dishonest" Roswell book. He criticizes its premise that Roswell spawned the entire UFO phenomenon and popular culture since 1947, citing examples like "Captain Video" and Jack Nicholson's "Easy Rider" soliloquy.

Letters to Ye Olde Editor

• Phil Klass responds to Joe Stefula, suggesting the U.S. Southwest UFO incident in the late 1940s was not a government cover-up but a mundane issue, linking it to President Truman's health.
• Matt Graeber reports on an NBC "Extra" segment about an alleged alien skeleton unearthed in Ladonia, Texas, and the opinions of paleontologist Robert "Bob" Slaughter's widow and MUFON Director Walt Andrus.
• Tom Benson theorizes that the Roswell UFO crash may have been caused by escaped monkeys from the Los Alamos lab.
• Ronald D. Story requests submissions for the Extraterrestrial Encyclopedia Project.
• Chris Roth observes a decline in "nuts-and-bolts" UFO cases, lamenting that scientific publications are reduced to debating old cases while many report dream encounters.

Additional Contributions and Commentary

• Robert Anton Wilson provides an essay "In Doubt We Trust: Cults, Religions and B.S. in General," distinguishing between "cults" and "religions" based on membership and financial influence, and questioning the materialistic vs. metaphysical distinction.
• Harry Lime of Lime Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. writes from Vienna, commending the journal as the "Reigning Court Jester of Ufology" and advising against focusing too much on "The Amazing Randi."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the ongoing debate about the authenticity of UFO phenomena, the role of government secrecy and disinformation, the credibility of witnesses and researchers, and the distinction between genuine investigation and hoaxes. The editorial stance, as represented by James W. Moseley and contributors like Karl Pflock, appears to be critical of sensationalism and eager to expose potential deception within the ufology field, while still acknowledging the persistent mystery surrounding UFOs. There is a clear skepticism towards certain claims, particularly those involving elaborate hoaxes or unsubstantiated theories, balanced with an interest in exploring genuine unexplained phenomena.