SEARCHLIGHT

Magazine Overview

Title: SEARCHLIGHT
Issue: VOL. 2. NO. 3
Date: February 1966 (estimated)
Publisher: INTERPLANETARY NEWS SERVICE
Editor: Timothy Green Beckley
Country: USA
Price: $2.00 for 12 issues

This issue of SEARCHLIGHT focuses on the "Highbridge Incident" and the claims of Howard Menger, a contactee who wrote the book "FROM OUTER SPACE TO YOU." The magazine presents extracts from a letter Menger sent to Colonel At Jordan in September 1965, where he detailed his alleged experience in Highbridge, N.J., and his subsequent cooperation with the Pentagon. Menger suggested that his experience was used as a "gauge to indicate the people's reaction to alien contact," comparing it to the conditioning of astronauts for space exploration.

The Highbridge Incident and Menger's Claims

Menger's letter, dated September 18, 1965, describes an "actual experience" on his farm in Highbridge, N.J., which led to him being contacted by a department in the Pentagon. He claims he was asked to cooperate in an experiment to project a futuristic view of "things to come," implying that his silence and cooperation were secured by making him part of the "team." This experiment, he posits, was designed to understand human reactions to the unknown and to alien encounters, similar to how astronauts are trained.

Menger recounts that the press sensationalized the "flying saucers over Highbridge" story, which, while giving him publicity, also led to a loss of privacy for him and his family. He states that he gained confidence through lectures and the material provided to him. He also mentions being handed a "specimen" claimed to be a potato from the "Moon Base," which he describes as a remarkable example of dehydration.

Menger clarifies that he never claimed to have married a Venusian or that his wife came from Venus. He attributes the press's sensationalism to his wife's description as a "blond Venusian woman," which they exploited for profit.

Following the publicity of the "Highbridge Incident," Menger claims he withdrew from all saucer research activities, seeking peace. He asserts that his involvement in the UFO field was motivated by a desire to help.

Analysis and Commentary from Researchers

The magazine includes commentary from various figures in the UFO research community, offering different perspectives on Menger's claims.

Gray Barker, publisher of "FROM OUTER SPACE TO YOU," expresses that while he is generally jaded, Menger's statement interests him. He finds Menger's mention of the Pentagon intriguing, though he acknowledges the possibility of fiction in contactee accounts. Barker recalls Menger backing down on some claims during a TV appearance, which paradoxically made Barker take him more seriously. He also notes Dr. Leon Davidson's theory that UFOs might be hoaxes perpetrated by the CIA.

James W. Moseley, editor of SAUCER NEWS, comments that Menger's change of story requires courage and that Menger appears sincere. Moseley speculates that the government might have orchestrated Menger's pseudo-contact stories for unknown reasons. He aligns Menger's statements with Dr. Leon Davidson's theories about CIA involvement in UFO phenomena.

Dr. Leon Davidson reiterates his earlier opinion that the CIA might be involved, suggesting that an "electrical engineer from California, N.J." was the CIA contact man in the Menger case. He also proposes that newer secret agencies, such as the DIA (Defense Intelligence Agency), might be involved in "psychological warfare" related to UFO sightings.

Ivan T. Sanderson, a naturalist and author, is quoted suggesting that agents from other nations might be behind saucer contacts. He notes that many contactee stories share similarities, such as spacemen appearing at night and preaching brotherly love while warning against atomic weapons. Sanderson finds Menger to be sincere but questions how contactees identify "people from other planets" working in factories or driving cars.

Timothy Green Beckley (the editor) provides his own perspective, noting that while he cannot comment on Menger's claim of government employment without official permission, he finds it hard to believe. He recalls meeting Menger years ago and describes him as likable, suggesting he likely did not intend harm. Beckley questions whether Menger was deluded, misguided, or blackmailed, but acknowledges the disturbance caused by Menger's published stories and photographs.

Richard Shaver offers a more skeptical view, suggesting that contactees might lie because the truth is too complex and unacceptable. He believes that friendly beings exist in space ships but cannot come to Earth due to Earth's defenses. Shaver also warns against "Deros" and "evil people" who pretend to be nice.

Additional Content

The issue also includes a note about Menger's book being translated into French and his work on a new book. A section titled "WHAT I BELIEVE" by Gray Barker reflects on the Menger case and the broader UFO field. There is also a mention of a music record titled "AUTHENTIC MUSIC FROM ANOTHER PLANET" narrated by Howard Menger.

Book notes are provided for "TRUTH ABOUT FLYING SAUCERS" by Hayden Hewes, "AIR FORCE PROJECT BLUE BOOK SPECIAL REPORT #14," "CONCRETE EVIDENCE" by O. Angelucci, and an upcoming book "THE FLYING SAUCER STORY" by Brinsley Le Poer Trench.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the nature of UFO contactee claims, the potential for government involvement and manipulation (particularly by the CIA and Pentagon), and the concept of psychological warfare in the context of UFO phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded investigation, acknowledging the sincerity of some contactees while critically examining the possibility of hoaxes, delusions, or deliberate disinformation campaigns. The magazine encourages reader feedback on these complex issues.