SUN 12 (Nov 1991)

Magazine Overview

Title: SKEPTICS UFO NEWSLETTER
Issue: SUN #12
Volume: NOV. 1991
Publisher: Philip J. Klass
Date: November 1991

This issue of the Skeptics UFO Newsletter, published by Philip J. Klass, delves into several controversial UFO cases and research claims, primarily focusing on skepticism and critical analysis of evidence. The newsletter scrutinizes the Gulf Breeze UFO sightings, the authenticity of Ed Walters' UFO photographs, and the credibility of claims regarding a crashed saucer incident.

Maccabee Admits Some Gulf Breeze UFOs Were Flares, Insists Others Are 'Trufos'

The lead article addresses the ongoing debate surrounding the Gulf Breeze UFO sightings, particularly the "Red-light UFOs" (RUFOs). Bruce Maccabee, a proponent of the Gulf Breeze case, is quoted admitting that "a couple cases" might have involved balloon-borne road flares, and another involved a balloon with chemical lamps. However, Maccabee publicly maintains that many other RUFO sightings are genuine "Trufos" (true UFOs).

The author points out the curious coincidence that genuine ET craft would resemble hoax balloon-borne road flares. The article highlights a common characteristic of RUFOs: their red color turning to white shortly before disappearing. Several witness accounts are cited, including those from Maccabee's own paper in the MUFON Proceedings, describing this color change. A Florida skeptic, referred to as 'Dolphin,' conducted spectral experiments on commercial road flares, finding they burn with a white light for about 20 seconds, then turn red for about 10 minutes, and finally return to white before burning out. These flares weigh only 5 oz., well within a balloon's lifting capacity.

Maccabee's Gulf Breeze Visit and Sighting

The newsletter details Bruce Maccabee's visit to Gulf Breeze on September 15th, hoping to witness a UFO. Despite approximately 50 people gathered at the Bay Bridge park area, no UFO appeared. Maccabee later set up equipment, including a tape recorder and a sensitive microphone, to detect the sound of a burning road flare. On September 16th, at 8:33 p.m., a UFO was reported. Maccabee described it as "not very spectacular. A small glob of light" with "tiny, clear lights in an elliptical ring." The lights dimmed and went out approximately 71 seconds later. Maccabee took two photos, which showed only faint images. Another witness, Greg Liss, reported seeing "a ring of lights...they sparkled like diamonds" and claimed it was the same UFO Ed Walters photographed years earlier. However, Maccabee himself did not make this claim.

Ed Walters was reportedly in Gulf Breeze during Maccabee's visit. The article notes that Bob Oechsler, another proponent of the Ed Walters UFO photos, also visited Gulf Breeze and saw a RUFO. Maccabee acknowledged Walters' presence but pointed out that Walters was out of town during earlier UFO sightings in June, seemingly to distance Walters from potential involvement.

The report states that Maccabee's September 16th sighting was his "first UFO sighting," but the newsletter reveals it was his second. His first occurred on September 2, 1984, in Baltimore, described as a small black object moving with the prevailing wind, which Maccabee conceded could have been a balloon, though he found it "exceedingly difficult to accept the idea that the object was a balloon."

Doubts Raised About Friedman's Star 'Crashed Saucer' Witness

This section scrutinizes the claims of Gerald Anderson, who alleges that 44 years prior, he and his family encountered a crashed saucer and four extraterrestrials in New Mexico. This story is central to a new book by Stanton Friedman and Don Berliner. Kevin Randle, co-author of "UFO Crash at Roswell," has raised doubts about Anderson's account. Anderson claims a vivid memory of the event despite the passage of time, stating he only recently considered it significant after seeing it dramatized on TV's "Unsolved Mysteries."

Anderson claims archaeologists, led by a Dr. Buskirk, were present. However, Dr. Winfred Buskirk, who matches Anderson's description and obtained his Ph.D. in 1949, denies being present on the claimed date and has a published alibi placing him in Arizona in early July 1947. Friedman dismisses this evidence, suggesting Buskirk is involved in a cover-up due to his Navy service. Anderson passed a polygraph test arranged by Friedman, answering "NO" to whether he had seen Dr. Buskirk since 1947. However, Randle's research indicates that Dr. Buskirk was Anderson's high school teacher in Albuquerque in 1957. Anderson had warned the school not to release his records, and his hypnotist, John S. Carpenter, provided records showing Anderson took sociology, not anthropology, in 1957.

SUN's editor wrote to Carpenter questioning the possibility of record alteration and suggesting an independent analysis, but received no response.

Friedman Harshly Attacks Randle/Schmitt Book

Stanton Friedman criticizes the Randle/Schmitt book and a CUFOS report as "fatally flawed" due to "pettiness, selective choice of data, false reasoning and serious errors of omission and commission." Friedman accuses them of using "tools of the propagandists" rather than investigative journalism. He expresses hope that a forthcoming book by Don Berliner and himself will be more accurate.

The article notes a clear division between CUFOS and MUFON. CUFOS had previously published papers skeptical of the Ed Walters photos, which MUFON's director, Walt Andrus, had endorsed. Jerry Clark, editor of CUFOS' International UFO Reporter, characterized the Walters tale and photos as a "hoax" and conceded that the MJ-12 papers, initially promoted by CUFOS, were counterfeit. This stance is seen as a "slap-in-the-face" for Friedman, who had accepted $16,000 from FUFOR to investigate the MJ-12 papers and concluded they were genuine.

Kevin Randle expressed disappointment with media coverage of his book, stating that "news anchors laughing at the story" indicated the press was participating in a cover-up, possibly influenced by government agencies.

UFO Abductions and the Atlantic Monthly

A brief summary of an article in the August Atlantic Monthly by Dr. James S. Gordon, a professor of psychiatry, is presented. Gordon, initially viewing abductees as having "interesting delusions," changed his mind after attending Leo Sprinkle's UFO investigation conference. He describes abductees as having above-average intelligence, being assertive and self-sufficient, and willing to think experimentally. The study mentioned was conducted by a woman who was abducted, and the data was collected by conference organizer Leo Sprinkle, who has had multiple close encounters.

SUN notes that Gordon is also the director of the Center for Mind-Body Studies and authored "The Golden Guru: The Strange Journey of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh."

Have UFOnauts Lost Interest in Abducting Canadians?

Dr. Richard Gotlib, a Toronto psychotherapist specializing in UFO abductions, reports a sharp decline in his business. He has had only three abductees contact him in the past four months, despite significant media attention. One client's suspected UFO encounter symptom turned out to have a conventional explanation.

Betty Hill, famous for her UFO abduction account with her late husband Barney, is retiring from the field after 30 years. She cited that "too many people with laky ideas, fantasies and imaginations are making UFO reports."

New Analysis of Walters' UFO Photos Reveals Suspicious Anomalies

William G. Hyzer, an optics specialist and certified photogrammetrist, conducted an independent analysis of Ed Walters' UFO photos. His findings suggest they are the result of multiple-exposure trick photography. Hyzer was recommended by a Polaroid Corp. official to pro-UFOlogist Jerry Black. Hyzer agreed to analyze the photos for MUFON on a pro bono basis.

MUFON did not provide some of the most suspect early photos (e.g., #3, #4, #6, #7, #8, #10), which showed blurred backgrounds despite sharp UFO images. The supplied photos were N-th generation enlargements, some enhanced. Hyzer's preliminary report did not unequivocally call the photos hoaxes but noted the UFO's "chameleon-like characteristics," matching the color of the surrounding sky. He offered three explanations: semi-transparency, color matching, or double exposures. The newsletter's editor, PJK, dismisses semi-transparency, noting internal illumination would light the entire body. The article explains how double exposures could create the observed effect, with a model photographed against a black background, then a blue-sky background.

Hyzer noted that in photo #9, the background was blurred, indicating camera movement during exposure, while the UFO image was sharp. He conceded this could be due to the UFO moving slightly while the shutter was open and the photographer tracked it perfectly, but suggested a double exposure with a tripod-mounted model is more likely. Hyzer's report concluded that while not proving the photos are hoaxes, the depicted phenomena are characteristic of multiple-exposure photography.

Walt Andrus of MUFON thanked Hyzer but noted his report was "incomplete" as it didn't analyze stereo photos or those taken with Walters' rig. Andrus later offered to publish the report in the MUFON UFO Journal, but Hyzer declined, hoping to publish in a scientific journal. Walters cautioned Hyzer against unauthorized use of his copyrighted photos. Maccabee has not publicly responded but has dismissed the analysis as "flawed."

Why Doesn't Ed Walters Ask 'Believer Bill' For His UFO 'Nege's'?

This section questions why Ed Walters does not seek out "Believer Bill," who allegedly provided the Gulf Breeze Sentinel with a triple-UFO photo similar to Walters' own. This photo was reportedly slipped into the newspaper's mail slot on December 22, 1987. "Believer Bill" also allegedly sent the camera used to take the photo. Two months later, "Believer Bill" wrote that he had taken his triple-UFO photo and eight others on December 22nd. The article questions how quickly he could have developed the film and obtained color prints. "Believer Bill" stated he would keep the negatives for his grandkids. The newsletter argues that if "Believer Bill" exists and his photo is authentic, his negatives could provide incontrovertible evidence for Walters' claims.

Ed Walters claims to know who "Believer Bill" is, describing him as a "well known person involved in hospital-type work." The magazine's editor confirmed Walters' quote. The article expresses surprise that "Believer Bill" has not come forward independently and questions why Walters, if he knows his identity, has not made it public. Possible explanations offered include Walters forgetting, or more sinister possibilities like abduction by a UFO or government agency.

Fox TV Network Airs UFO 'Humdinger'

The Fox TV network aired a program called "Sightings: The UFO Report" on October 18th, presenting "evidence" of ET visitors abducting humans for genetic purposes, killing livestock, and removing animal parts. The report claimed the U.S. government has known this for 44 years but covers it up. The article suggests that if even 10% of the presented evidence is factual, it offers numerous arguments for presidential candidates, particularly concerning "sexual harassment" and "child molestation" attributed to ETs.

The program was produced by Paramount Pictures and Henry Winkler. Winkler claimed that Presidents Carter and Ford were told to "mind their own business" when investigating UFO cover-ups. The program included a disclaimer about its controversial subject matter, but notably, no skeptical spokesmen appeared, leading to the possibility of viewers being "MIS-informed."

Outside Observer's Impressions of MUFON Conference

An article from NEW CITY--Chicago's news and arts weekly--by Dan Dinello, who attended a MUFON conference, is cited. Dinello described Friedman as resembling Abbie Hoffman and giving a "monumentally boring account" of his role in the Roswell case. Dinello quoted Mark Rodeghier of CUFOS as saying that "Klass (was) formerly credible... But he's become a mean-spirited man." Dinello also described Klass as "a charming guy who loves to talk."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are skepticism towards UFO claims, critical analysis of photographic and testimonial evidence, and the examination of the credibility of prominent UFO researchers and organizations. The editorial stance is clearly that of a skeptic, aiming to debunk or cast doubt on sensational UFO accounts and highlight potential hoaxes, misinterpretations, or deliberate fabrications. The newsletter emphasizes the importance of rigorous scientific investigation and questions the motives and methods of those who promote unverified UFO phenomena. There is a consistent effort to expose inconsistencies, provide alternative explanations, and challenge the narratives presented by pro-UFO groups and individuals.