SUN 39 (May 1996)

Magazine Overview

Title: Skeptics UFO Newsletter
Issue: SUN #39
Date: May 1996
Publisher: Philip J. Klass
Focus: Skeptical analysis of UFO phenomena, news, and research.

"SECRET" 1948 Papers Reveal Air Force Intelligence Official's Complaint About Lack Of Crashed Saucer To Help Identify UFOs

The lead article discusses declassified minutes from a March 17, 1948, meeting of the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board (AFSAB). Col. H.M. McCoy, chief of intelligence for the USAF's Air Materiel Command, stated, "I CAN'T EVEN TELL YOU HOW MUCH WE WOULD GIVE TO HAVE ONE OF THOSE [UFOs] CRASH IN AN AREA SO THAT WE COULD RECOVER WHATEVER THEY ARE." This statement is presented in contrast to the claim that the Air Force had recovered a crashed saucer near Roswell, New Mexico, less than nine months prior. The article notes that the AFSAB, composed of top scientists, was not presented with the Roswell debris as a high-priority issue. McCoy's discussion of UFOs, under the project name "Project SIGN," was brief, and he emphasized the need for physical evidence.

UFO researcher Dr. Bruce S. Maccabee questions McCoy's statement, offering two possibilities: McCoy was unaware of the debris, or he lied. The article points out that if debris was sent to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, McCoy would have been responsible for its analysis. McCoy's briefing mentioned only one recent captured item: a Russian IL-7 aircraft. The article also references a TOP SECRET memorandum from Maj. Gen. C.P. Cabell to McCoy requesting an "exhaustive study of all information" on UFOs, and McCoy's subsequent response emphasizing the lack of tangible physical evidence.

Mysterious Green Fireballs, UFOs, And The "Roswell Incident"

This section delves into Gen. Cabell's directive to increase efforts to determine the origin of UFOs for national defense. It discusses a rash of "green fireball" sightings in New Mexico in late 1948, which attracted Pentagon attention due to the area's military and nuclear research facilities. The article suggests that if the Pentagon knew about the Roswell crash, they might have feared ET weapons and precursors to an attack, prompting missile development. However, the opposite occurred: USAF projects for ground-based and air-to-air missiles were canceled around the time of the Roswell Incident.

The USAF suspected the green fireballs might be Soviet weapons. An investigation by Dr. Lincoln La Paz concluded they were "man-made" due to their horizontal trajectory, slow velocity, and lack of ionization trail, leading the USAF to classify the investigation "SECRET." Further investigation by Dr. Joseph Kaplan suggested they were a rare type of meteor. Other explanations included the high visibility in New Mexico and the presence of numerous security guards at military facilities.

The "Top Secret" 1948 "Estimate of the [UFO] Situation"

The article challenges Maccabee's claim that the "Estimate of the Situation" report, which proposed flying saucers were ET craft, was "quite probably" written by Col. McCoy. According to Capt. E.J. Ruppelt, the report was sent to the Pentagon in late September 1948. However, a letter from McCoy to USAF Chief-of-Staff Gen. Vandenberg, dated November 8, 1948, stated that "tangible evidence to support conclusions about such a possibility are completely lacking." Former Maj. Dewey Fournet confirmed that the report explicitly mentioned that "absolutely no artifacts had been recovered." Gen. Vandenberg rejected the "Estimate of the Situation" due to lack of proof. The article suggests several reasons why the Roswell crash might not have been mentioned in the report, including the possibility that the authors questioned Vandenberg's "Need-to-Know," forgot the incident, or feared the report falling into Soviet hands.

NOVA Rebuts Hopkins, Mack Criticism Of Abduction Documentary

This section reports on Denise Dilanni, producer of the NOVA documentary "Kidnapped by UFOs?", responding to criticism from Budd Hopkins and Dr. John Mack. Dilanni offered to have independent scientists examine physical evidence from abduction cases and perform radiological tests, but proponents declined. She cites an MIT physicist who stated there is "not one, single, independently confirmed piece of scientific evidence for an alien abduction." The article also recalls Dr. Richard M. Neal's challenge to Hopkins and David Jacobs in 1992 to provide evidence for their claims about missing embryos/fetuses, an offer that reportedly went unanswered.

A new A&E cable TV show, "Where Are All The UFOs?", is mentioned as likely to irritate Hopkins, Jacobs, and Mack by offering prosaic explanations for abduction tales, including the use of Dr. Michael Persinger's work on temporal lobe stimulation.

A&E's Loaded Panel of UFO "Experts"

The A&E show "Where Are All The UFOs?" is criticized for its panel of predominantly pro-UFO researchers, with only one skeptic, Curtis Peebles. The article highlights Mark Rodeghier's claim that the GAO investigation found no records on Roswell, which the newsletter refutes by referencing the GAO report itself. The report indicated that while outgoing RAAF teletype messages were destroyed, it was not illegal. The article also notes the absence of mention of the USAF's Roswell investigation or Project Mogul.

CUFOS Officials Endorse Authenticity of 1958 Trindade UFO Photos

Three CUFOS officials (Michael Swords, Jerome Clark, Mark Rodeghier) are quoted as characterizing the 1958 Trindade Island UFO photos as among the most impressive and evidential. However, the article contrasts this with Dr. Donald H. Menzel's analysis from 1963, which questioned the photographer's credentials and the number of witnesses, suggesting the photos might be a hoax. Menzel reported that the Brazilian navy's analysis revealed "several dubious features."

APRO Leaders Not That Impressed With Trindade Photos 30 Years Ago

In 1966, APRO (Associated Paranormal Research Organization) agreed to provide a list of credible UFO cases and photos but submitted photos from Barra da Tijuca, Brazil (1952), not Trindade Island. The Colorado University analysis spotted inconsistencies in the Barra da Tijuca photos, indicating a hoax. The newsletter questions how long it will be before CUFOS endorses the Billy Meier photos, which most researchers consider a hoax.

Alleged Roswell Crashed Saucer Fragment "Smells" Like A Hoax

A metal fragment submitted to the Roswell International UFO Museum is analyzed and deemed a hoax by the newsletter. The fragment, described as thin and triangular, was reportedly found by a soldier who recovered it from the Roswell crash site 49 years prior. X-ray fluorescence analysis showed it to be approximately 50% copper and 50% silver on the front, and 87% silver, 12% copper on the back. Dr. Charlie Moore, involved in Project Mogul, commented that the fragment was not related to his group's equipment. Hopes for isotopic analysis at Los Alamos National Laboratories are mentioned.

Any Claimed Crashed-Saucer Fragment From Brazel Ranch Is Suspect

This section dismisses claims of "recovery teams" sent to the Brazel ranch, citing the known facts. Rancher Brazel's account is detailed, including his discovery of debris on June 14, 1947, and his subsequent report to the sheriff. The article questions the logistics of a "recovery team" if one were dispatched after Maj. Jesse Marcel and Capt. Sheridan Cavitt visited the ranch, as there would be no one to guide them to the debris field. Neither Marcel nor Cavitt recalled such a visit.

All Quiet On The SCAM (Santilli Controversial Autopsy Movie) Front

This brief update notes the continued delay of an interview with the alleged cameraman for the "Alien Autopsy" movie and the emergence of "AAC imposters." The producer's interview is also on hold. The newsletter expresses skepticism about the authenticity of the film.

Short Shrift:

• High-speed blue flashing UFO reported near Roswell: A Feb. 5, 1996, sighting near Roswell was explained as a mobile irrigation rig with a flashing blue light, though some witnesses remained unconvinced.
• Roswell researcher Don Schmitt seemingly has short memory: The article criticizes Don Schmitt for alleged inconsistencies and a history of admitting to "spinning tall tales" and making "false or misleading statements," despite his continued self-appointment as "Director of Special Investigations."
• Are UFO Abductees "fantasy-prone" persons?: An analysis by Joe Nickell of 13 abductees featured in Dr. John Mack's book "Abduction" suggests they exhibit many fantasy-prone characteristics, such as "psychic experiences" and susceptibility to hypnosis.
• Why don't ETs abduct Japanese?: The article notes the widespread interest in UFOs in Japan but very few abduction claims, contrasting this with Western accounts. It speculates on sociological reasons, possibly related to Japanese traditions or Buddhism, or fewer fantasy-prone individuals.
• Quote from Dr. David M. Jacobs: "If the government possessed a crashed UFO, our technological capabilities would have taken some great leaps... There is not a shred of evidence to suggest that this has happened."
• United States UFO Information and Research Center: Clarification that this is a pro-UFO organization, not a U.S. government agency.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The overarching theme of this issue is skepticism towards UFO claims, particularly those involving crashed saucers, extraterrestrial origins, and abduction experiences. The newsletter consistently seeks to debunk sensationalized accounts by presenting factual analysis, historical context, and expert critiques. The editorial stance is clearly that of a "skeptic," prioritizing evidence-based reasoning and questioning the validity of claims made by pro-UFO researchers and organizations. The newsletter highlights inconsistencies, lack of proof, and potential hoaxes, while also acknowledging the ongoing interest in the UFO phenomenon. The focus on debunking and critical analysis is evident throughout the articles, from the examination of historical documents to the critique of contemporary UFO research and media portrayals.