Saucer Smear - Vol 59 No 04 - 2012

Magazine Overview

Title: SAUCER SMEAR
Issue: Volume 59, No. 4
Date: April 20th, 2012
Publisher: SAUCER & UNDPLAINED CELESTIAL EVENT SOCIETY
Country: USA
Language: English
Cover Headline: SHOCKINGLY CLOSE TO THE TRUTH!

This issue of SAUCER SMEAR, a publication dedicated to ufological journalism, presents a collection of articles and missives covering a wide range of anomalous phenomena, from alleged UFO sightings to historical mysteries and ongoing research projects.

Miscellaneous Ravings: In Which Your Editor Suddenly Closes His "Open Mind"

The editor expresses a growing awareness of the limitations of the 'nuts and bolts' explanation for the UFO mystery, stating that beyond that, it's all guesswork. He highlights a particularly unbelievable 2-page UFO sighting report from the April-May issue of "Open Minds" magazine. The report details an encounter by Alvah Buckmore Jr. in Springfield, Massachusetts, on September 11th, 2011. Buckmore described seeing a small, blue, elongated object, about twelve inches long with concentric rings, flying about 15 feet above the pavement. Initially suspecting teenagers with a remote-controlled toy car, he later came to believe the object possessed intelligence. The most astonishing aspect was the object's subsequent crash into the cement floor, where it disintegrated and disappeared completely, leaving no trace. The editor questions the possibility of such an event and suggests that an interrogation of the teenagers would be a starting point for investigation.

The "Miracle" of Fatima

This section discusses the events at Fatima, Portugal, in 1917, drawing from a three-volume set of books. The author suggests that these events, rather than being mass hysteria or religious hallucinations, were UFO/paranormal in nature, potentially making Fatima the first major UFO case of the 20th Century. The narrative begins on May 13th, 1917, when three peasant children (Lucia, Janita, and Francisco) saw an apparition they took to be the Virgin Mary, though it was described as a three-foot-tall female child. The apparition predicted similar events on the 13th of subsequent months until October, when important information about World War I and the future of mankind would be revealed. The predictions were accurate, though one about the end of WWI on October 13th did not materialize. On October 13th, 1917, an estimated 60,000-70,000 people witnessed the 'Sun' performing impossible actions, described in four phases: spinning, showing iridescent colors, oscillating, and returning to stabilization. The object emitted heat, yet could be viewed directly without harm. The children were led by Lucia, whose statements were later controlled by the Church. The section notes that the three-volume set includes forewords by Dr. Jacques Vallee, Jim Marra, and William Birnes, and represents a sincere effort to find an objective solution.

Additions and corrections from Curt Collins are then presented:
(1) The apparition was described as hovering or standing on a branch, about six feet above the ground.
(2) The monthly apparitions began on May 13th and ended on October 13th, 1917.
(3) The idea of the Lady descending by ladder from a UFO is conjecture, though a beam of light was also mentioned.
(4) The children were Francisco (9), Jacinta (7), and Lucia (10).
(5) Lucia died in 2005; the other two died within 2-3 years.
(6) Lucia initially called the apparition 'Our Lady' or 'a small very pretty lady', not resembling the typical depiction of the Virgin Mary.
(7) The 'Sun' aspect was researched at least 8 years after the initial events.
(8) The UFO explanation emerged later, with books like Jacques Vallee's 'Anatomy of a Phenomenon' and Carl Jung's 'A Modern Myth of Things Seen in the Skies'.
(9) Literary critic Martin Kottmeyer is quoted, suggesting the 'Sun' event was a misimpression confined to a small region of Portugal, potentially a gigantic illusion. He notes that Lucia's prediction about the Portuguese expeditionary force returning home soon did not happen.
(10) Written evidence regarding Fatima has been contradictory. A Life Magazine article in 1951 claimed a photograph of the Sun near the horizon was 'rigorously authentic', but Life later admitted the picture was taken in 1922, at sunset, several miles from Fatima, not 1917 at noon.
(11) The editor concludes that the case is complex and fascinating, preferring the UFO explanation but acknowledging unanswered questions.

Flash: The President Speaks Out About Roswell!

A March 22nd item from the White House Press Secretary relays remarks by President Obama during a trip to New Mexico. He described his trip as wonderful, mentioning landing in Roswell and announcing he came in peace. When asked about Roswell rumors, he humorously stated, "If I told you I'd have to kill you," implying secrets are being kept. The editor wonders how conspiracy buffs will react, reminding readers that "a lot of true words are spoken in Jest."

Update on the "Starchild Project"

This section revisits the Starchild Project, concerning a human (?) skull found in a cave in Mexico. Some experts believe it may not be of strictly human origin. Researcher Lloyd Pye is mentioned as believing the artifact is of cosmic importance. Sophisticated DNA tests are needed, but are expensive. Pye insists that a fragment of the Starchild's FOXP2 gene is vastly different from the human version, suggesting it is human-like but not human. More funding is needed for further testing, with a website provided for details.

Sunken Treasure, Anyone?

The editor recounts his past experience hunting for buried treasure in Peru. He contrasts this with sunken treasure hunting, which requires significant capital. The late Mel Fisher's discovery of the Atosha treasure ship in 1986 is mentioned, yielding millions in gold, silver, and emeralds. A recent item describes Swedish treasure hunters locating a large, underwater "something" in the Baltic Sea – a 60-meter diameter cylinder-shaped object with a "rigid tail" about 400 meters long, possibly a UFO. The hunters plan to return in the spring to investigate further.

A Walk on the Wild Side: "Hunt for the Skinwalker"

This section reviews the book "Hunt for the Skinwalker" by Dr. Colm Kelleher and George Knapp. It explains that a Skinwalker is a human witch from southwestern Indian superstitions capable of shape-shifting into animals. The book details the involvement of Robert Bigelow and his organization, NIDS, in investigating a ranch in northeastern Utah where unbelievable events occurred, including UFO sightings, alleged skinwalkers, cattle mutilations, and poltergeist activity. The ranch was eventually sold to Bigelow, and the NIDS team moved in, with Tom Gordon staying on as manager. The section highlights two specific incidents: a wolf-like animal that approached, allowed petting, then attacked a calf, and was shot by Tom Gorman but remained unharmed before dematerializing; and an event where four prize bulls were found in a locked trailer, seemingly having been hypnotized or moved inexplicably. The book is recommended, though it's noted that no photos are included and no proof of the events was obtained.

"New" Roswell Crash and a New Aztec Book

Researcher Anthony Bragalia and Ray Grasse have uncovered a new Roswell UFO crash story, allegedly occurring in December 1947, distinct from the June-July 1947 event. This new story reportedly includes wreckage, dead aliens, and military warnings. Simultaneously, a new book, "The Aztec Incident" by Scott and Suzanne Ramsey, is released, with an endorsement from Stanton Friedman. The Aztec crash allegedly occurred in early 1948, as popularized by Frank Scully's 1950 book "Behind the Flying Saucers," which cited Silas Newton and a "Dr. Gee." The book described wreckage, dead bodies, and military threats. The editor notes that his interest in UFOs dates back to 1953, when he interviewed Scully and Silas Newton. He recalls a passage from Scully's book that turned him off the Aztec case: the aliens' use of a "System of Nines" and a spaceship dimension of "99 feet, 9 inches," which he found inconsistent with a universal system and the use of feet and inches by spacemen.

Missives From The Masses:

Rob Swiatek writes regarding the Cash-Landrum Event, questioning a government project gone amuck explanation and finding it nonsensical. He argues that a nuclear reactor is too heavy and that a diamond-shaped object wouldn't be lift-generating like an airfoil. He concludes that the event remains unknown, similar to Kenneth Arnold's sighting.

Bob Sheaffer recounts his experience on a panel with Lowell Cunningham, author of the "Men in Black" comic series. Cunningham explained his decision to portray MIB as protective agents rather than villains. Sheaffer also mentions John Keel's alleged threat involving a blowtorch.

Tim Printy of "SUNlite" responds to comments about the "Dream Team" and the Roswell story, stating his belief that Project MOGUL is the best explanation but is open to convincing evidence. He questions whether the "Dream Team" would alter their conclusions if evidence pointed away from an alien spaceship crash.

Stanton Friedman writes, agreeing that the editor has not provided facts to substantiate claims against MJ-12 and Menzel's involvement. Friedman asserts that he has research showing MJ-12 existed and Menzel was part of it, referencing his book "Top Secret/MAJIC." He provides details about Menzel's extensive NSA connections and cryptographic skills, suggesting he would have been ideal for deciphering Roswell "hieroglyphics." Friedman challenges the editor to provide arguments against MJ-12 based on facts rather than proclamation.

Editor's Ravings on Friedman's Letter:
(1) The editor acknowledges Friedman's research but notes that Friedman admits to not providing a "smoking gun" for Menzel's involvement in MJ-12.
(2) The editor disputes Friedman's argument about Menzel's Japanese language skills being relevant to deciphering Roswell symbols, stating that the "hieroglyphics" are simply "stylized flowers" and do not require a cryptographic expert.
(3) The editor recalls Dr. Menzel fondly, despite his absurd UFO views, and mentions his science-fiction oriented paintings.

(Continued from Page Six)

The editor reiterates his interest in UFOs dating back to 1953, mentioning his interviews with Frank Scully and Silas Newton. He plans to publish selected notes from these interviews. Regarding the Aztec case, he recalls a passage in Scully's book that cited aliens using a "System of Nines" and a spaceship dimension of "99 feet, 9 inches," which he found unconvincing as a universal system, especially when combined with the use of feet and inches.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of SAUCER SMEAR consistently questions official narratives and religious explanations for anomalous events, favoring UFO and paranormal interpretations. The editor maintains an open-minded yet critical stance, seeking objective evidence and challenging conventional wisdom. Recurring themes include the Roswell and Aztec incidents, the nature of consciousness and reality, and the potential for advanced extraterrestrial or unknown phenomena influencing human history. The publication appears to be a platform for disseminating alternative theories and research within the ufology community, often engaging with skeptical viewpoints while championing the pursuit of unexplained mysteries.