SUN 47 (Sept 1997)

Magazine Overview

This issue of the Skeptics UFO Newsletter, edited by Philip J. Klass, focuses on a critical analysis of the USAF's new Roswell Report, titled "The Roswell Report: Case Closed." The newsletter questions the report's reliance on "questionable witnesses" and its "dummy explanation" for the alleged ET bodies.

USAF Roswell Report Criticized

The lead article dissects the USAF's 231-page report, authored by Capt. James McAndrew. The newsletter argues that McAndrew's hypothesis, that alleged sightings of a crashed saucer and ET bodies were actually descriptions of high-altitude balloon launches and recoveries of anthropomorphic dummies, is based on "credulous conjecture." McAndrew, an Air Force Reserves officer, previously believed some witnesses were honest but had flawed memories. The newsletter points out that McAndrew's research was challenged by other researchers who had exposed some witnesses as "spinners of tall tales."

Gerald F. Anderson: A Discredited Witness

The newsletter highlights Gerald F. Anderson as a key witness for McAndrew's dummy parachute test hypothesis. Anderson, who was cited in the book "Crash At Corona," had previously been caught using counterfeit documents. McAndrew quotes Anderson's claim that the creatures lacked "little fingers," which McAndrew rationalizes as legs breaking off the dummies. However, McAndrew omits Anderson's statement that the creatures wore "one-piece suits" with "no zippers, no buttons," a detail contradicted by Fig. 14 in his report which shows a zipper. Furthermore, McAndrew omits Anderson's claim that one creature was alive and injured, and another was moving around.

Jim Ragsdale: Shifting Testimony

Another key witness cited by McAndrew is Jim Ragsdale. McAndrew quotes Ragsdale's original 1993 account, which suggested "dummies or bodies or something lying there." However, Ragsdale's 1995 sworn statement changed his testimony to "we saw four bodies..." in the craft. McAndrew also selectively quotes Ragsdale's account of USAF recovery vehicles, ignoring Ragsdale's later statement that they left before the vehicles arrived.

Vern Malthais and Barney Barnett

The newsletter also examines Vern Malthais' account of his friend Barney Barnett's crashed-saucer encounter. McAndrew cites Malthais' recollections, which seem to support the dummy hypothesis. However, Malthais first heard Barnett's story in early 1950, several years before the USAF began its anthropomorphic dummy tests.

McAndrew's Conclusions and TV Influence

McAndrew's conclusions suggest that UFO claims are better explained by documented Air Force activities like balloon launches and dummy recoveries. The newsletter notes that McAndrew made no effort to investigate similarities between witness tales and the "Unsolved Mysteries" TV program on Roswell, which aired in 1989-1990 and was seen by millions, including Gerald Anderson.

Mortician's Nurse/ET Autopsy Tale Challenged

The newsletter revisits the Glenn Dennis nurse/ET autopsy story, first reported in 1989. Dennis claimed a nurse-friend at the Roswell Army Air Field hospital confided in him about participating in the autopsy of three ET-like creatures and provided sketches. McAndrew's research, including "Morning Reports," revealed that none of the five Army nurses assigned to the hospital in July 1947 matched the description or name of "Naomi Maria Selff." Furthermore, no record of such a nurse being transferred overseas or killed in a crash was found. One nurse, Eileen M. Fanton, bore some resemblance but had a different transfer date and reason.

"Flawed Memory" Explanation

The USAF report offers a "flawed memory" option for the nurse/ET autopsy story, suggesting it might be related to a KC-97 aerial tanker crash in 1956 where bodies were autopsied. The report also suggests the story might be linked to an encounter with a "red-headed Colonel" or "red-haired Captain," with McAndrew identifying potential candidates who were present at the hospital years after the alleged incident.

UFOs as Secret Spy Planes

A recent 17-page report by historian Gerald K. Haines claims the CIA's involvement in the UFO controversy from the late 1940s. Haines erroneously states that USAF knew many UFO reports in the late 1950s and early 1960s were generated by U-2 and SR-71 spy planes but were falsely identified as "natural phenomena." The newsletter counters that Project Blue Book records show only a small percentage of UFO sightings were explained as "Mirages & Inversions" or "Clouds & Contrails," with most falling into the "unidentified" category.

Haines concludes that the UFO issue will persist due to the emotional appeal of not being alone and distrust of government. The newsletter notes that much of Haines' information was declassified in 1993-94.

"The Day After Roswell" and Philip Corso

The newsletter critiques Philip Corso's book "The Day After Roswell." A press release from Sen. Strom Thurmond states that he is "deeply disturbed" that his foreword was originally written for a different book and does not suggest that US success in the Cold War is attributable to UFO technology. Corso's book claims that Roswell debris included microchips and lasers, and that the US won the Cold War by "leaking" this ET technology to industrial scientists. The newsletter points out that the transistor was invented by Bell Laboratories in 1947, predating Corso's alleged involvement with Roswell debris.

Short Shrift: Various UFO News Items

This section provides brief updates on several UFO-related topics:

• Stanton Friedman vs. Philip Klass: Friedman claims Klass made "over 20 factual misstatements about Roswell" in his 1983 book. Klass counters by citing a passage from the Berlitz/Moore book "The Roswell Incident" that supports his claim about Eisenhower's lack of clearances.
• Kevin Randle's Past Stance: The newsletter highlights Kevin Randle's 1988 book "The October Scenario," where he stated there had been no extraterrestrial spacecraft in Earth's atmosphere except for a brief period in October 1973, contradicting his later "discovery" of Roswell.
• Roswell Silicon Chunk: A silicon chunk allegedly from the Roswell saucer was claimed to be "impossible for it to be from Earth" by chemist Russell VernonClark, but later conceded the evidence was "inconclusive."
• CNN's "Crossfire" Preemption: A scheduled "Crossfire" show discussing Roswell was preempted by live coverage of the Mars landing.
• USA Today/CNN/Gallup Poll: A poll taken shortly after the USAF report release showed 52% did not believe aliens landed in Roswell, but 64% questioned the USAF's explanation.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The Skeptics UFO Newsletter consistently adopts a critical and skeptical stance towards UFO claims, particularly those related to the Roswell Incident. The editorial stance emphasizes the importance of verifiable evidence, scrutinizes witness testimony for inconsistencies and potential biases, and favors prosaic explanations for alleged UFO phenomena. The newsletter highlights instances where official reports or witness accounts are challenged by factual discrepancies or lack of corroborating evidence. The editor, Philip J. Klass, appears to be dedicated to debunking unsubstantiated UFO claims and promoting a rational, evidence-based approach to the subject.