SUN 57 (May 1999)

Magazine Overview

Title: SKEPTICS UFO NEWSLETTER
Issue: SUN #57
Date: May 1999
Publisher: Philip J. Klass

This issue of the Skeptics UFO Newsletter critically examines claims that new documents, particularly a "doctored" CIA letter, provide definitive proof of the existence of the MJ-12 group. The newsletter, edited by Philip J. Klass, takes a skeptical stance, scrutinizing the evidence presented by UFO proponents and highlighting inconsistencies and potential fabrications.

"Doctored" CIA Letter Hailed As New Proof That MJ-12 Exists

The lead article focuses on a CIA memo from April 12, 1949, allegedly from Director Hillenkoetter, which proponents claim shows file distribution to a CIA Top Secret control file and to MJ-12. This document, released via FOIA, is presented by Dr. Robert Wood and his son Ryan in the MUFON UFO Journal as "unambiguous evidence." However, the Skeptics UFO Newsletter suggests this memo has been "doctored," with the designation "FILE DIST:/CIA Top Secret / MJ-12" added to the lower left. The newsletter notes that the left-hand margin of this addition is slightly smaller, indicating it was added after the original typing.

The article questions why such a document would be sent to MJ-12 if the group existed and notes that the memo is a response to a JIOA memorandum from May 25, 1948. The newsletter points out that neither Tim Cooper nor the Woods have provided a copy of this original JIOA memo, which supposedly discussed crashed saucers and MJ-12 matters. The newsletter also questions the need for the Bureau of Mines to have a "need-to-know" for such sensitive information.

Meet Tim Cooper, Who Provided The "New MJ-12 Documents"

Tim Cooper is identified as the source of over a dozen "new" MJ-12 documents, including the Hillenkoetter memo. Cooper has a long-standing interest in crashed saucer claims and government coverups. He claims to have received the documents from a Thomas Cantwheel. Cooper was previously a major source for Leonard H. Stringfield's reports on crashed saucers. The newsletter notes a "curious coincidence" where Cooper's provided documents, such as the "INTERPLANETARY PHENOMENON UNIT SUMMARY," align with terms previously used by Stringfield.

One Cooper-provided document, purportedly the "First Annual Report" of the "Majestic Twelve Project," suggests Cardinal Francis Spellman consulted with the Vatican and the President about the implications of ET visits. It also lists Maj. Gen. Luther D. Miller, the Army's chief chaplain, as a member of the MJ-12 panel, which the newsletter finds odd given the panel's objective of investigating captured alien craft.

Another Cooper-supplied document, allegedly from Lt. Gen. Nathan Twining dated September 19, 1947, mentions a crashed saucer recovered in Missouri in 1941. This aligns with a story in Stringfield's 1991 report about a grandfather's tale of a 1941 crash near Cape Girardeau, Missouri, involving "not-human" bodies.

MJ-12 REPORT OF 1952 CITES "UFO MYTH" OF 1960s - 1970s AS FACT

The "First Annual Report of MJ-12," though undated, appears to have been prepared in the fall of 1952. The newsletter argues that this report cites incidents that only became part of "UFO mythology" in the 1960s and 1970s, suggesting it was created after the fact. For example, it cites the disappearance of five Navy TBM-3 torpedo bombers (Flight 19) on December 5, 1945, claiming the Navy Board of Inquiry was unable to determine the cause. The newsletter, however, states that its own editor reviewed the investigation transcript and found the Board concluded the disappearance was due to faulty judgment by the flight leader. The newsletter also notes that the alleged radio message, "they look like they're from outer space," did not appear until the late 1960s.

OTHER Ridiculous CLAIMS IN COOPER/WOODS' MJ-12 DOCUMENTS

The "First Annual Report of MJ-12" is further criticized for other claims. One states that debris found on July 2, 1947, by rancher Brazel might have been from a mid-air collision with an X-plane or another unidentified object. The newsletter comments that MJ-12 seemingly couldn't determine if one of their own experimental aircraft was involved, despite the incident occurring five years earlier. Another claim suggests that from 1949 to the late 1950s, there were several crashes of B-36 bombers carrying atomic bombs, with no crews found and the bombs unrecovered. The newsletter dismisses this as a "ridiculous claim" with no supporting evidence.

WAS THE SAME TYPEWRITER USED TO CREATE DIFFERENT MJ-12 DOCUMENTS?

The newsletter investigates the possibility that the Cooper-supplied MJ-12 documents were typed on the same machine. By examining the "crud" that accumulates in the typeface of typewriters, the newsletter notes that the circular portions of lowercase letters like "p," "e," "d," and "o" in both the "First Annual MJ-12 Report" (1952) and the 1947 Twining report show similar "crud." Similar "crud" is also noted in the lower-case "p" in the Einstein/Oppenheimer report and the Interplanetary Phenomenon Unit Field Order of July 4, 1947.

Cooper's Sworn Statement Denies He Created "New" MJ-12 Documents

Tim Cooper has provided a notarized statement dated March 8, 1999, in which he denies being a "document hoaxer, forger, or fabricator." He also states that he did not solicit or encourage Dr. Robert M. Wood and Ryan S. Wood to make the alleged Majestic documents public for monetary gain. Cooper further denies creating the person known as Thomas Cantwheel or fabricating the meeting with him. He states he and others are actively trying to locate and identify Cantwheel and can provide correspondence from individuals chronicling Cantwheel and the documents. Cooper is willing to undergo polygraph examination and appear in court to proclaim his innocence.

What Maj. Marcel Really Said In Gen. Ramey's Office On July 8, 1947

This section revisits the Roswell incident, focusing on statements made by Maj. Jesse Marcel on July 8, 1947, shortly after the event. The information is based on a tape recording by Bob Pratt and a longer article from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. The article describes the debris found by rancher W.W. Brazell as a "weather balloon-kite" made of tinfoil, wooden beams, and synthetic rubber, flown to FWAAF from Roswell by B-29. Brig. Gen. Roger M. Ramey and Col. Thomas J. Dubose identified it as a "weather device." Warrant Officer Irving Newton, a forecaster, described it as a "ray wind (sic) target" that looks like a star when rigged up and flies like a kite, used for determining wind direction at high altitudes. The device was silvery due to tinfoil and was followed by radar. The remains were flown to Fort Worth for observation. Maj. Marcel, the intelligence officer who brought the device to FWAAF, recounted hearing about "silver flying disks" from Brazel. The article details Brazel's discovery, his report to the sheriff, and Marcel's subsequent investigation of the ranch area. It notes that the debris was identified as a Rawin machine, and the flight to Wright Field was cancelled.

Brazel's July 8 Account Confirms Marcel's July 8 Account; Both Corroborated By Photos Of Debris In Ramey's Office

The article compares Brazel's account given to the Roswell Daily Record on July 9 with Marcel's account from July 8. Brazel stated that what he found was not a weather observation balloon, despite having found two previously. The newsletter refutes claims that Brazel was held "incommunicado" by presenting evidence that he was interviewed by the local newspaper and radio station, and even stayed overnight with the radio station's owner.

Recent Effort To "Decipher" Message On Paper Held By Gen. Ramey

UFOlogists are attempting to "decipher" a faint message on a piece of paper held by Gen. Ramey in photos from July 8, 1947. The USAF's National Photo Interpretation Center (NPIC) was unable to read the message in 1994. A group called "Roswell Photo Interpretation Team" (RPIT), led by Ron Regehr, is using new software. Dr. Donald R. Burleson, a computer specialist, is also involved, but notes significant uncertainties in interpreting letters and numerals. Despite these difficulties, Burleson predicts that "the cover-up is over."

"UFO Messiah" Firmage Plans 20-City Lecture Tour

Joe Firmage, a multi-millionaire software expert who believes he has discovered a link between UFOs and Biblical miracles, plans a 20-city lecture tour to promote his book "The Truth." He will privately fund 100,000 hardcover copies. Firmage's International Space Sciences Organization also sponsored a full-page advertisement in USA TODAY promoting UFOs and "The Truth," featuring out-of-context statements by former presidents and UFO proponents. The ad included a quote from Gen. Twining stating the phenomenon is "real and not visionary or fictitious," but omitted Twining's statement about the lack of physical evidence. The article also quotes Hillenkoetter, former CIA director, on the need to learn where UFOs come from, but notes that he later expressed skepticism about flying saucers being from "outer space" after reading Dr. Donald Menzel's work.

SHORT SHRIFT

• Joe Firmage to speak at MUFON conference: Firmage is scheduled to speak at MUFON's 1999 conference, and the newsletter will observe the reaction from more traditional UFO movement leaders.
• Stanton Friedman's silence on "new" MJ-12 documents: Friedman, a supporter of MJ-12, has been silent on Dr. Robert Wood's endorsement of Cooper's documents, despite having previously indicated in his book that some of Cooper's documents were counterfeit.
• Richard Hall skeptical of "new" MJ-12 documents: Long-time UFOlogist Richard Hall expressed skepticism, stating that conclusions about the documents' authenticity were made before adequate peer review.
• NBC-TV's UFO special attracted 11 million viewers: A two-hour NBC-TV special on UFOs drew over 11 million viewers.
• Asteroid named "Klass": Asteroid 7277 has been named "Klass" in honor of SUN's editor, Philip J. Klass.
• Back copies of SUN available: Older issues of Skeptics UFO Newsletter are available for purchase.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this issue is the critical examination and debunking of claims related to the MJ-12 documents and the Roswell incident. The editorial stance, clearly articulated by Philip J. Klass, is one of skepticism towards UFO phenomena and the evidence presented by proponents. The newsletter actively seeks to expose what it views as hoaxes, fabrications, and misinterpretations within the UFO community, emphasizing factual accuracy and logical reasoning over unsubstantiated claims. The focus is on dissecting the evidence, questioning sources, and presenting alternative, more rational explanations for alleged UFO events and documents.