SUN 09 (May 1991)

Magazine Overview

This issue of Skeptics UFO Newsletter, dated May 1991 (SUN #9), published by Philip J. Klass, focuses on the contentious disputes within the UFO research community, particularly concerning the Roswell incident. The cover headline boldly states that a 'BITTER SQUABBLE OF "CRASHED-SAUCERITES" REVEALS FAULTY MEMORIES OF KEY WITNESSES ON WHICH THEIR CRASHED SAUCER CLAIMS DEPEND.' The newsletter critically examines the conflicting accounts provided by prominent researchers like William L. Moore, Jaime Shandera, Kevin Randle, and Don Schmitt, questioning the reliability of their sources and the integrity of their claims.

The Roswell Controversy: Conflicting Accounts and Questionable Memories

The central theme is the acrimonious debate between the Moore/Shandera camp and the Randle/Schmitt camp regarding the 1947 Roswell crash. Both groups agree that a crashed saucer was recovered in New Mexico in July 1947, but they offer sharply conflicting recollections from the same key witnesses. This controversy is being fought out in various UFO publications, including the MUFON UFO Journal, International UFO Reporter (IUR), and Moore's publication FOCUS. The newsletter emphasizes that the controversy highlights how fragile and uncertain are the memories of surviving principals over 40 years later.

The article details the known facts: Maj. Jesse Marcel recovered debris from the Brazel ranch and flew it to Ft. Worth for examination by Brig. Gen. Roger M. Ramey. Seven photos taken in Ramey's office on July 8, 1947, show Ramey and his chief of staff, Col. Thomas J. DuBose, examining debris. Moore/Shandera claim this is the authentic debris from a crashed saucer, while Randle/Schmitt assert it is a substituted balloon-borne radar tracking device.

The newsletter presents evidence challenging the credibility of Maj. Marcel's recollections, noting that all seven photos show the same debris, contradicting his claim that wreckage was cleared out and substituted. According to Moore's book, Marcel stated in the late 1970s that one photo was of the 'actual stuff' and not staged, but later, 'they cleared out our wreckage and substituted some of their own.'

Randle/Schmitt argue that the debris in the Ramey office photos is indeed from a balloon-borne radar target, likely a hexagonal corner reflector made of balsa wood and aluminum foil, as supported by Joe Kirk Thomas after studying the photos. The crucial question remains whether the photos show the original debris or a bogus substitute.

Col. DuBose's Testimony and Memory Issues

Shandera's article in FOCUS presents verbatim quotes from two interviews with the 89-year-old Col. DuBose, who reportedly confirmed that the material in the Ramey office photos was the debris brought by Marcel. However, an earlier interview with DuBose by Randle and Schmitt, conducted on Aug. 10, 1990, using hypnosis, yielded a conflicting response: DuBose stated the material was NOT the debris Marcel brought. When later questioned by Shandera about a switch, DuBose dismissed it as 'bull.'

Further complicating matters, DuBose's memory proved unreliable when he failed to recall Shandera's visit for an interview a few months prior, a fact confirmed by Mrs. DuBose. This demonstrates DuBose's inability to remember recent events, casting further doubt on his recollections of events from over 40 years ago.

Randle/Schmitt also interviewed J. Bond Johnson, the reporter who took some of the Ramey office photos. Johnson initially doubted he had photographed the authentic debris but later told Shandera he was confident the photos showed the actual debris.

The 'Ed Walters' UFO Model and House Plan Discrepancies

Another significant section of the newsletter addresses the controversy surrounding Ed Walters and his alleged UFO model and house plans, particularly concerning the Gulf Breeze UFO case. The article, titled 'BRUCE MACCABEE, DAN WRIGHT AND WALT ANDRUS PROVE THAT P.T. BARNUM WAS CORRECT: YOU CAN FOOL SOME OF THE PEOPLE ALL OF THE TIME,' details discrepancies in Walters' explanations.

When a UFO model was found to have a midsection fabricated from a sketch of a house, Walters claimed the sketch was made for the Thomas family in September 1989, nearly two years after his UFO photos were public. He further alleged the sketch was stolen by 'debunkers' who used it to build the model. This explanation was endorsed by MUFON's Walt Andrus and Dan Wright, and Bruce Maccabee.

However, the newsletter points out that the house in the sketch was to be built at 712 Jamestown Drive, where Walters had already built a house in early 1987, not on Shoreline Drive as indicated for the Thomas house. Additionally, the Thomas house was intended to have a 'Senergy' exterior, while the model drawing showed a 'BRICK' exterior.

Walters issued a press release with a detailed house plan for the Thomas family, showing a Living Area of 1740 sq. ft. and a Slab Area of 2393 sq. ft. The newsletter argues that this plan may be a 'slightly doctored version' of the original borrowed from the Thomases, who never received their original back. The newsletter highlights a 'CUT 2' annotation on the Thomas plan, which reduced the living area by 64 sq. ft. to match the UFO-model figure, potentially to meet a $100,000 target price. This cut also eliminated space for a requested second full bathroom.

Further discrepancies are noted in the Slab Area calculation. Walters' 2393 sq. ft. figure failed to account for the slab needed for stairs to the garage. Even after accounting for this, the calculation was still off by one square foot. Walters retroactively created a 1-sq. ft. hole in the slab to accommodate a porch support post, enabling him to deduct that area and arrive at 2393 sq. ft., while conveniently ignoring the larger hole needed for the garage access stairs.

Other UFO Cases and Skeptical Commentary

The newsletter also briefly covers the Kecksburg, PA UFO crash incident from December 9, 1965, noting its recent airing on 'Unsolved Mysteries' and Stan Gordon's belief that the government possesses the object. It also references an article in the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER by Robert R. Young for factual information on the Kecksburg incident.

In a section on 'UFOLOGICAL PREDICTIONS,' Jerry Clark, editor of CUFOS's IUR, predicts shocking revelations about UFO cover-ups and major media coverage of Roswell-related investigations in 1991. The editor, Philip J. Klass, humorously questions whether to wager on this prediction.

Newsletter Operations and Subscription

Finally, the newsletter announces that its circulation has reached 1,000,135, with a breakdown of subscribers and distribution. It also notes a change in subscription policy due to a U.S. Justice Department challenge: the annual subscription rate for SUN will henceforth be $15/year for all subscribers, regardless of their UFO beliefs, to comply with the Robinson-Patman Act.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the unreliability of witness memories in UFO cases, the critical examination of evidence presented by UFO researchers, and the promotion of skepticism towards extraordinary claims. Philip J. Klass, the editor, consistently adopts a critical and analytical stance, dissecting the arguments and evidence presented by various UFO proponents and researchers. The newsletter aims to debunk unsubstantiated claims and highlight logical inconsistencies, often using detailed analysis of documents and testimonies. The editorial stance is clearly that of a skeptic, questioning the validity of UFO phenomena as presented by enthusiasts and seeking rational explanations.