Skywatch - No 38 - 1977 03-06

Magazine Overview

Title: Skywatch
Issue: No. 38
Date: March - June 1977
Type: Quarterly Magazine

This issue of "Skywatch" (No. 38, March-June 1977) announces a change in publication frequency from four to three volumes per year. This decision is driven by financial necessity, aiming to cover printing, paper, and postage expenses without increasing membership fees. The editorial emphasizes a desire for the magazine to be a combined effort of various groups and expresses gratitude to the Durban Secretary for their contributions. It also welcomes the new International Chairman, Mr. John Longhorn, and bids farewell to the outgoing Chairman, Dr. Cleary-Baker, who stepped down for health reasons. The magazine appeals to members in South Africa to submit news of Flying Saucer sightings for a research project.

The Confederation Tapes - A Second Report

This section, authored by Mike Viljoen, presents a second report on the "Confederation Tapes" phenomenon. The investigation proceeds with an interview with "Edwin," the original contactee, who was previously featured in the "FIRST REPORT." The report notes the complexity of the factors involved and criticizes "CONTACT" for not taking a more proactive stance in investigating the phenomenon when it first emerged in 1967. The "Contact" Committee apparently did not investigate the Confederation Tapes due to a perceived clampdown on information after an initial release to "Contact," with excuses consistently preventing meetings with Edwin. The report suggests that the validity of the recordings was accepted without thorough investigation, and that ridicule has allowed the transmissions to continue unchallenged, leading to the distortion of facts.

The report aims to maintain a cordial atmosphere despite contradictory statements made by Edwin. It acknowledges that the presented evidence tends to invalidate the phenomenon but refrains from reaching a final conclusion, leaving open the possibility of future transmissions and Edwin's willingness to undergo hypnosis.

Interview with Edwin (November 19, 1976)

The interview, conducted at Edwin's home, included Carl, his wife Geordie Tuck, and Mike Viljoen. Edwin appreciated CONTACT's open-minded approach and acknowledged the potential for hoaxes using simple transmitters and tape recorders. He admitted that the Confederation's reasons for involvement were baffling. The discussion covered:

• Verification of details from the FIRST REPORT and Frank van Vloten's Report.
• Establishing the rapport between Edwin and Philip Human, and examining Philip's article in Skywatch No. 3, 1967.
• Examining statements made by Gerrie Naude, a friend of Philip Human.

The First Report and Frank's Report

Edwin confirmed the accuracy of the FIRST REPORT regarding his experiences, correcting that he hails from the Transvaal, not Durban. He also confirmed that contact with the Confederation was lost on June 26, 1976. This contradicts Frank's report, which suggested a transmission was scheduled for July 21, 1976. Both Carl and Edwin denied giving Frank any reason to expect a transmission.

Philip Human's Article Versus Our First Report

This section contrasts Philip Human's 1967 article in SKYWATCH NO. 3 with the magazine's FIRST REPORT. Philip Human, a deceased UFO enthusiast, had a close relationship with Edwin from 1963 until Philip's death in 1974. Edwin had shared his experiences and tape recordings with Philip, trusting his discretion. However, discrepancies exist between Philip's account and the FIRST REPORT, which Edwin had previously confirmed as accurate.

• Philip's Account: In March 1961, Edwin and Henry O'Dank were fishing at Paterson's groyne, Durban, and saw/heard a circular UFO. Edwin had never heard of flying saucers before.
• First Report's Account: In 1960, George (alias Valder) joined Edwin's electronics firm. They became friends, and George demonstrated communication with his spacecraft via a radio instrument. The article emphasizes they were alone, and Edwin had never heard of flying saucers.

Further discrepancies arise regarding an Easter weekend trip to Richards Bay:

• Philip's Account: In the following year (presumably 1962), Edwin and Michael camped near Richards Bay. Edwin walked on the beach and witnessed a circular craft land, with a man visible in a port-hole. The craft then departed.
• First Report's Account: During Easter 1962, Edwin and George went to Richards Bay, where a spacecraft picked up George from a beach. Edwin was the only witness, and the event was unexpected.

The report notes that Philip's article suggests camping and an unexpected spacecraft appearance, while Edwin's account states they were at the Richards Bay Hotel, and George departed in the spacecraft.

Gerrie Naude and the Confederation

Gerrie Naude, a close friend of Philip Human, lives in the Transvaal and possesses all of Philip's tape recordings. Naude suggests a hoax but lacks solid evidence. Philip was deeply involved with the Confederation, receiving transmissions and typing out recordings. He underwent an initiation ceremony to become a member, receiving an emblem from Edwin. After Philip's death in 1974, the recordings went to Naude.

Questions were posed regarding Philip's involvement:

• Q1: Financial Reward: Edwin initially claimed the Confederation provided money for his house but retracted this after Philip's death. He later denied making such a claim, stating Philip expected a reward for his efforts, which the Confederation could not provide.
• Q2: Emblem: Philip reportedly destroyed the tape recording of his initiation and the emblem. Gerrie Naude claims to have the emblem, identified as an incomplete badge used by British Naval Officers.
• Q3: Confederation Music: Edwin recalled the Confederation using various earthly tunes as signature tunes but couldn't recall Philip specifically asking for Confederation music. Gerrie Naude claims to possess a cassette of such music.
• Q4: Change of Mind: Gerrie noticed a change in Philip after the initiation ceremony, with less frequent letters and a desire to discard the emblem. Edwin suggested Philip was disappointed by the Confederation's response to his request for material assistance, though their relationship remained cordial. Edwin also stated Gerrie Naude had been present at a transmission and wrote letters expressing interest in receiving more recordings.
• Q5: Dangerous Tapes: Gerrie believes the tapes contain "dangerous" information and libellous statements and fears their public release. Edwin stated Gerrie could do as he pleased with the tapes, but doubted Philip intended them to go to Gerrie.

Appendix - An Interview with Carl

On August 26, 1976, Carl explained why he expected no further communications from the Confederation for some time. Based on received communications, he outlined the following picture:

1. Our universe has an exact counterpart in an anti-matter universe containing the Confederation of Twelve Planets and the Outer Worlds, with whom the Confederation is in conflict.
2. These universes (and others) are characterized by opposite polarity, rotate in opposite directions, are in dynamic expansion, and are linked by a tenuous stream of magnetic flux. The Confederation travels between universes via disintegration, polarity change, and reintegration along this stream, which can break approximately every 20,000 years.
3. On June 26, 1976, this stream broke, trapping Confederation commander Ncola in our universe. Beings from a third universe rescued Valder and Taylandz from their universe and Ncola from ours. A transmission was received.
4. The Confederation has established a planet called Epicot in our galaxy, populated by Earthlings from pre-Q-base A-bases, to prepare for potential evacuation. A transmission was received from Epicot on July 16, 1976.

Carl has only witnessed 2-3 transmissions personally; others, including those mentioned, were received by Edwin when Carl was absent.

Notices of Meetings

Meetings are held at the usual venues. Correspondence should be addressed to the National Secretary, P.O. Box 743, Durban, 4000.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around UFO investigations, particularly the "Confederation Tapes," and the experiences of contactees. There is a strong emphasis on the challenges of verifying such phenomena, the discrepancies in witness accounts, and the potential for hoaxes. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded investigation, encouraging member participation and the sharing of information, while also acknowledging the financial realities of publishing. The magazine is actively seeking reports of sightings to build a comprehensive picture of UFO activity in South Africa. The detailed comparison of different accounts suggests a critical approach to the evidence presented.