SUN 70 (Winter 2001-2)

Magazine Overview

Title: Skeptics UFO Newsletter
Issue: #70 (Winter 2001-02)
Publisher: Philip J. Klass
Date: Winter 2001-02 (Cover date)

This issue of the Skeptics UFO Newsletter, published by Philip J. Klass, critically examines various UFO-related claims and reports from a skeptical perspective. It delves into the controversial statements made by Dr. Steven Greer, the alleged debunking of a UFO crash incident, the analysis of radar data from Newark Airport, and the extraordinary claims of author Phillip H. Krapf.

Greer Claims Release of UFO Secrets, Including “Anti-Gravity Propulsion,” Could Have Prevented Sept. 11 Terrorist Tragedy

Dr. Steven M. Greer, the leader of Project Disclosure, is featured for his statements linking UFO secrets to the prevention of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Greer claims to have over 400 military witnesses willing to testify about advanced energy and propulsion technologies that have been illegally kept secret. He asserts that if these technologies had been disclosed, they could have led to energy independence and enabled the interception of terrorists, thus preventing the tragedy. Greer's website message prior to his Oct. 26 conference stated, "We need your help to DISCLOSE THE SECRETS that could have PREVENTED THE SEPT. 11 TRAGEDY." The newsletter notes that no news media reports were found for Greer's Oct. 26 conference, but George A. Filer reported a successful Project Disclosure conference on Oct. 28 in Toronto, attracting around 700 people, with Filer himself as a featured speaker.

Filer, a retired USAF officer, claims direct involvement in an incident in early 1978 at McGuire AFB, N.J., where an extraterrestrial was allegedly shot dead. Filer is a strong supporter of Greer's project, calling it the "best UFO evidence anywhere." He claims the project reveals information from government insiders about alien life forms visiting Earth, with bases on the Moon and Mars, engaged in foraging, mining, and contact.

The newsletter also casts doubt on another Greer witness, Clifford E. Stone, whose military records reportedly show him trained as a "clerk/typist," contrary to claims of recovering crashed UFOs and ET occupants.

New Challenge To Wood's Cape Girardeau “Crashed UFO” Claim

This section challenges the claim promoted by Ryan Wood regarding a crashed saucer and three ET bodies recovered near Cape Girardeau, MO, in the spring of 1941. Wood's MUFON paper, titled "THE FIRST ROSWELL," relied heavily on the testimony of Charlette Mann, whose grandfather, Rev. William Huffman, was allegedly called to the crash site. Wood admitted he could not find confirmation in police or fire department records, suggesting secrecy. However, James Westwood, a former Navy officer, investigated the claim and found that Rev. Huffman and his family did not move to Cape Girardeau until November 1941, directly contradicting Mann's account of the spring 1941 incident. Westwood also noted that Mann's business card identified her as a "Spiritual Counselor, Meditation Instructor, Past Life Regression," suggesting interests beyond UFOs.

Woods Post Modified Version Of Hillenkoetter's Candid Letter

The newsletter discusses a modified version of a letter written by Vice Adm. R.H. Hillenkoetter (Ret.) to Dr. Donald H. Menzel in 1963. Hillenkoetter, who allegedly headed Majestic-12, wrote to Menzel, a UFO skeptic, to acknowledge his book "The World of Flying Saucers" and state that Menzel had effectively put to rest surmises about flying saucers being from outer space. Hillenkoetter also explained his resignation from NICAP, citing its degeneration into bickering over personalities. The version posted by "Woods" on their website, allegedly obtained from Timothy Cooper, differs significantly from the public version released by Menzel. The Woods' version is classified "Top Secret" with "CIA COPY" notations and includes a handwritten notation indicating copies were sent to L. Bovd, W. Wellman, and Adm. Hillenkoetter in 1965, two years after the letter was written. The newsletter suggests this modified version might be disinformation or psychological warfare, possibly implying Menzel was an MJ-12 member whose skepticism was part of a government coverup.

“UFO Lawyer” Gersten Creates New Group To Focus On Paranormal

Peter Gersten, known for his FOIA requests through Citizens Against UFO Secrecy (CAUS), has launched a new operation called "The Dorothy Network." Gersten believes reality is more than it appears and that truth lies "behind the curtain" with the paranormal and unusual, citing evidence of artificial artifacts and ancient structures. He also acknowledges UFOs, alien abductions, and crop circles as indicators of advanced technology. Gersten's primary interest shifted to astrology until meeting Lt. Col. Philip J. Corso, whose book he read. Gersten had planned FOIA actions to recover Army crashed-saucer files and fund a rocket to the Moon to photograph alleged ET structures, but these projects were not implemented. The newsletter highlights Gersten's belief in paranormal phenomena like psychics and numerology, noting his interpretation of the number 11's significance in the 9/11 tragedies.

NIDS's UFO Investigation Transcripts Provide Valuable Insights

The National Institute for Discovery Science (NIDS), founded by Robert Bigelow, is publishing verbatim transcripts of UFO witness interviews on its website. These transcripts sometimes reveal conflicting recollections. The newsletter focuses on the July 15, 2001, sightings near Carteret, NJ. While NIDS has interviewed about 20 witnesses, it has not yet concluded whether the incident involved numerous small lights or a single large craft. Eyewitness #3 (EW-3), a military special forces veteran, reported seeing 15-20 orange-reddish lights in a U-formation, moving slowly. Using night-vision binoculars, EW-3 observed the objects flare out with small puffs of smoke, resembling anti-SAM flares but remaining airborne for an unusually long time. EW-3 speculated they were "area flares" or a "pyrotechnic display" that malfunctioned. NIDS contacted the Earle Naval Weapons station but received no information. Another eyewitness, EW-10, reported a single, giant boomerang-shaped UFO that blended with the sky.

Interesting Data From Newark International Airport (EWR) Radar

NIDS filed a FOIA request for Newark International Airport surveillance radar (ASR) data for July 14-15, 2001. A preliminary analytical report detailed unidentified flying objects without radar transponders detected in the airspace. The report highlighted a large number of objects lacking transponders, which are usually required for aircraft near airports. The newsletter suggests that EW-3 might be a traffic controller or FAA employee due to rapid access to information. NIDS data shows several "raw-radar targets" near the airport during the sighting, with speeds ranging from 50-70 knots to accelerating up to 200 knots before disappearing. A control study on a different night found no objects without transponders. The newsletter points out that over one-third of the reported blips behaved erratically or disappeared after several scans, suggesting they were anomalous blips possibly caused by temperature inversion conditions, a phenomenon previously linked to UFO blips in the 1952 Washington D.C. radar case.

Journalist's Claims Of Contact With ETs And Angel Is "Lot Of Krapf"

This section scrutinizes the claims of Phillip H. Krapf, author of "The Contact Has Begun" and "The Challenge Of Contact." Krapf's narrative includes meeting an angel named Paul, being beamed up to a giant ET craft on the Moon, and interacting with aliens called Verdants. He claims the Verdants have developed advanced technology, travel at immense speeds, and have colonized numerous planets. Krapf was allegedly chosen as a "Deputy Envoy" to help prepare for a planned Verdant-Earth summit, serving as their chief Earthling spokesperson and tasked with writing a white paper. Joe Firmage, from Silicon Valley, endorses Krapf's books, believing they provide evidence of ET visits and linking Krapf's prediction of a future city called "Genesis" to Biblical prophecies. The newsletter expresses skepticism, particularly regarding Krapf's claims of meeting an angel and the Verdants' concerns about Earth's global pandemic of violence, corporate greed, and moral decline.

Krapf Returns To ET Craft And Learns Of Summit Problems

Krapf's second book details an alleged meeting with an angel named Paul on April 4, 1999, who introduced him to another entity, "Chip," an "Ambassador." Their discussions covered topics like reincarnation, telepathy, crop circles, and cattle mutilations. Krapf learned that some government leaders might secretly oppose the ET contact, potentially by creating international strife. The Verdants had become concerned about Earth's state, citing violence, greed, hate, and terrorism, which raised doubts about humanity being ready for induction into the Intergalactic Federation of Sovereign Planets (IFSP). Despite these concerns, Krapf was designated the chief Earthling spokesperson for the summit.

Firmage Believes Krapf's Books Provide More Evidence Of ET Visits

Joe Firmage provides a strong endorsement for Krapf's books, suggesting they are more than fiction. He describes Krapf as a gentle, honest person who might be self-deceived. Firmage believes that the simplest explanation for many unidentified objects involves extraterrestrial spacecraft and that a select group of organizations are aware of this visitation. He finds Krapf's account compelling, particularly the correlation between Krapf's prediction of a city called "Genesis" and Biblical prophecies, attributing this link to Firmage's Mormon upbringing.

Short Shrift:

• Space Laser Program Suffers Congressional Cut: The Administration's request for its space laser development effort was significantly slashed, delaying its objective of launching an experimental laser into space by 2012.
• UFOlogist Bill Cooper Shot To Death: Milton William Cooper, known for his UFO coverup claims, was shot and killed by Apache County deputy sheriffs while they were attempting to serve him with an arrest warrant. Cooper had reportedly shot one of the deputies.
• MUFON Membership Suffers Sharp Decline: The Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) has seen its membership drop from over 5,000 to around 3,000, partly due to the availability of free online reports like "Filer's Files."
• Mercury Astronaut Denies Pro-UFO Claim: Astronaut Scott Carpenter flatly denied making any statement about astronauts not being alone in space due to constant UFO surveillance, calling the quote "absolute hogwash and a blatant lie."
• NIDS Debunks Key Claim By Lt. Col. Corso: NIDS debunks Philip J. Corso's claim in "The Day After Roswell" that an integrated circuit was based on advanced semiconductor technology recovered from a crashed UFO. NIDS cites numerous articles and patents dating back to the 1930s for early semiconductor technology.
• FUFOR Media Survey Indicates Scant UFO Interest: The Fund for UFO Research (FUFOR) received only 10 responses to a questionnaire sent to nearly 700 media outlets, indicating low interest in UFO topics.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the critical examination of UFO claims, with a strong emphasis on skepticism. Philip J. Klass, the editor, consistently questions extraordinary assertions, seeking verifiable evidence and logical explanations. The newsletter challenges claims made by prominent UFO figures like Steven Greer and Phillip H. Krapf, often pointing out inconsistencies, lack of corroborating evidence, or alternative explanations (such as temperature inversions for radar blips). The editorial stance is clearly that of a skeptic, aiming to debunk sensationalism and promote a rational approach to the UFO phenomenon. The newsletter also highlights the decline in interest and membership in UFO organizations, suggesting a potential shift in public perception or the effectiveness of alternative information sources.