UFO Encounters - Vol 01 No 10 - 1993

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO ENCOUNTERS
Issue: Vol. 1 No. 10
Date: 1993
Publisher: Aztec Publishing

This issue of UFO Encounters is packed with information on a variety of UFO-related phenomena, including alleged government cover-ups, mysterious sounds, and international research.

The Disappearance of The Mars Observer

The lead article, "The Disappearance of The Mars Observer: Is NASA Pulling a Fast One?" by Michael Norris, details the controversial loss of NASA's Mars Observer spacecraft. The article posits that NASA may have deliberately lost contact with the craft to conceal evidence of "intelligently designed structural artifacts" on Mars, particularly in the Cydonia region, which have been studied by Richard Hoagland of The Mars Mission. Hoagland claims to have inside sources suggesting NASA planned a "stealth Cydonia mission" to acquire and alter images of these structures before releasing them. The article highlights NASA's previous lack of priority in photographing Cydonia and their refusal to guarantee the release of images. It also mentions a report by Dr. Stanley V. McDaniel, who criticized NASA's handling of the Cydonia issue and accused them of disseminating false statements. The article further details unusual procedures, such as turning off the spacecraft's radio during a critical maneuver, which Hoagland believes were designed to prevent data collection and public scrutiny.

Mystery Sound Is Newest Addition to UFO Enigma

"Mystery Sound Is Newest Addition to UFO Enigma" by W. L. Garner discusses the phenomenon known as the "Taos Hum." This low-pitched, continuous humming sound has been reported by hundreds of people in Taos, New Mexico, and similar reports date back to the 1940s from various locations in North America and Europe. Scientists have been unable to identify or record the sound, which is described as irritating and can lead people to move away. Theories range from secret defense projects and power line harmonics to geological stress. U.S. Representative Bill Richardson suggested the Department of Defense might be involved, but DOD officials deny responsibility. The sound was even listed as one of Fate magazine's strangest occurrences.

MJ-12: The FBI Link

Nicholas Redfern's article, "MJ-12: The FBI Link," examines the controversial "MJ-12" or "Majestic 12" documents. These documents, which surfaced in 1987, allege that an extraterrestrial vehicle crashed near Roswell, New Mexico, in 1947, and that a secret committee was formed to handle the situation. The article details the FBI's involvement in 1988 when they received copies of these papers from the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI). The FBI initially considered launching an investigation but ultimately closed its file, deeming the documents bogus. Redfern questions how OSI could confidently dismiss the documents as fake without a thorough investigation. He suggests the documents may have been created with a threefold purpose: to discredit research into the Roswell event, to confuse the issue of the real Majestic-12, and to diffuse interest in the Paul Bennewitz case, who claimed to have intercepted classified, low-frequency electromagnetic emissions related to UFOs.

"AURA-Z" Or From Russia With Knowledge

Paul Stonehill's article, ""AURA-Z" Or From Russia With Knowledge," introduces the Russian Ufology Research Center "AURA-Z," founded in Moscow in December 1991. The center aims to research ufology, psychotronics, parapsychology, and alternative medicine, and plans on-the-spot investigations of alleged UFO landings. The article highlights the first issue of their quarterly journal, "AURA-Z," published in five languages. It features articles by Alexander Avshalumov, the center's founder, and Lev Chulkov, Ph.D., who discusses "UFO AND POLITICS" based on the history of Soviet ufology. The journal also reportedly contains documents from KGB archives and testimonies from Soviet military witnesses, shedding light on the intense interest Joseph Stalin had in UFOs and the persecution of Soviet ufologists.

Other Articles and Features

Other articles in this issue include "Area 51 Viewers Guide," reviewed by Dennis Stacy, and "What Was Flying Around Broome, Australia?" There is also a section on "Upcoming Events," listing various UFO-related conferences and symposiums. The magazine also includes "Strange Encounters," "Letters From The Mailbox," and "Classifieds."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of UFO Encounters revolve around government secrecy and cover-ups related to UFO phenomena, particularly concerning NASA and the Mars Observer mission, and the alleged MJ-12 documents. The magazine also highlights the unexplained, such as the Taos Hum, and explores international UFO research, specifically from Russia. The editorial stance appears to be one of skepticism towards official explanations and a strong interest in investigating alternative theories and potential conspiracies within government agencies and scientific institutions.

Title: UFO ENCOUNTERS
Issue: Vol. 1, No. 11
Date: November 1993
Publisher: Aztec Publishing
Country: USA
Theme: UFOs, UAPs, paranormal phenomena.

Russian Ufology and UFO Journal Contents

The issue begins with an examination of the contents of the "AURA-Z" Journal, a Russian publication focusing on ufology and related topics. The author expresses confidence in the journal's documents, citing genuine places and dates that correlate with their own findings. Three photographs taken by Nikolay Nilov at a Russian airfield in 1990 are highlighted for their realistic depiction of "unknown objects" caught by the camera during test flights of an IL-96 plane.

An article by Lev Vyatkin, a former pilot, details his 1967 encounter with a UFO described as having "solid rays." The author urges researchers like Dr. Richard F. Haines to contact Vyatkin for his detailed account. Another significant article is "UFOS UNDER THE MICROSCOPE" by Yury Simakov, a biologist and zoologist. Simakov's article presents a detailed scientific analysis of soil samples from alleged UFO landing sites, including microscope photographs and diagrams.

The journal also features articles on remote psi-influence, analyses of energo-forms captured by cameras, prevision, foresight, dowsing, scientific research of Relict Hominoid (Bigfoot) Phenomena, reversal of aging processes, and visual hallucinations captured on film, as well as the physics of quantized space and time. The author of this section has agreed to become the U.S. coordinator for the Moscow Centre, expressing enthusiasm for cooperation and keeping American and Western ufologists informed.

Crop Circle Update

Project Argus, a 1992 scientific analysis of crop and soil samples related to crop circles, is documented in a new study titled, "Report on the Results of Project Argus: An Instrumented Study of the Physical Materials of Crop Circles." Initiated by The North American Circle (NAC) and The Centre for Crop Circle Studies (CCCS), the project involved physicists, biologists, and engineers. Scientific laboratory tests, including electron microscopy, were used to examine plant cell walls. While no definitive "smoking gun" was found, the research revealed interesting results, such as a higher incidence of microscopic "blisters" on plants and unusual molds and cellular damage. However, no evidence of anomalous radioactive traces was detected in the plants. The report also noted complex lay patterns on the ground, including plant braiding, and that some formations appeared to have formed during or immediately after wet weather, complicating hoax theories.

The 115-page Project Argus report is available for purchase from Michael Chorost. Prominent crop circle investigator Colin Andrews has collected over 70 eyewitness accounts of crop circles forming, varying from reports of "shimmering columns of mist" to "beams of light" associated with orange balls of light. A specific case from Milestone, Canada, in 1992, describes a farmer finding two 15-foot circles with stalks cut off about 10-12 inches from the ground, with the severed tops missing.

Australian Research Into The Abduction Phenomenon

This section, authored by Keith Basterfield, outlines research into Australian abduction cases. It examines potential explanations such as psychopathology, fantasy proneness, or altered states of consciousness. Early work in 1976 by the author and Bill Chalker compiled abstracts of 36 local CE3 events, none of which were abductions. By 1980, a more definitive study had identified 104 CE3 cases, several of which fit the general definition of an abduction, including the 1973 Maureen Puddy incident.

Between 1980 and 1987, more accounts emerged, and by 1987, Thomas E. Bullard's compilation included 14 Australian abduction events. In response to an upsurge in abduction cases elsewhere, UFO Research Australia (UFORA) initiated a search for previously unreported abductions in Australia. A letter to the editor campaign yielded no abductee contacts, but subsequent broader outreach through regional newspapers and radio stations brought several previously unknown cases to light.

The debate surrounding abduction reports centers on their reality: are they caused by the human mind or are they actual events? Health professionals often attribute them to psychopathology, but studies by Dr. Aphrodite Clamar (1981), Elizabeth Slater (1983), and Ring and Rosing (1990) found no common pathology or psychopathology in abductees. A 1991 study by Rodeghier et al. also found no overt pathology in a sample meeting strict CUFOS definitions.

Alternative explanations like fantasy proneness were explored by Robert E. Bartholomew and others, but studies by Ring and Rosing, and CUFOS, concluded that fantasy proneness was not a differentiating factor for abductees. Dissociation was also investigated, with studies suggesting it might be implicated in the psychological profile of abductees.

A current research project by the UFORA network, in collaboration with CUFOS and BUFORA, is undertaking a major study of abductees across three countries, using questionnaires to explore psychopathology, fantasy proneness, dissociation, and lifestyle. The analysis aims to determine if these factors are more prevalent in abductees and will include a cross-cultural analysis.

"Area 51 Viewers Guide"

Reviewed by Dennis Stacy, this section discusses Glenn Campbell's "Area 51 Viewers Guide." The guide is praised for its detailed and entertaining content, aimed at those visiting the infamous Area 51 region, including Dreamland and Area S-4. Campbell, a former Boston software developer living in Rachel, Nevada, provides historical background, maps, and practical advice for visitors, including information on navigating security and finding supplies. The review notes Campbell's debunking of the "Old Faithful" myth and his exploration of "Freedom Ridge." The guide also includes a listing of sources for further research.

What Was Flying Around Broome, Western Australia on August 8, 1992?

This article by Keith Basterfield details a series of sightings in the remote town of Broome, Western Australia. The "West Australia" newspaper reported on August 15, 1992, an account from witnesses Chris Davis and Iella Bailey who saw a white crescent-shaped object flying vertically, enveloped in mist, with a faint droning sound. Further investigations by Sally Bennett located George Read, who described a bright, white-golden boomerang-shaped object. Other witnesses at Crab Creek reported a droning sound and a brilliant white object with gold edges. John Kernott reported a crescent-shaped yellow object moving fast. Norm Archer and others on Sunday Island witnessed a large, yellow, crescent Moon-shaped object with trailing horns, appearing low in the sky and moving along a hill contour before ascending rapidly and vanishing. Other sightings of a similar object were reported by Mrs. Sarah S., Joy Walker, and Pam Anthony, and a group at the Port Smith caravan park. The remote locality, duration of observations, and the unique description of a crescent, misty object made conventional explanations difficult.

Strange Encounters

This section details a series of incidents that occurred southwest of Monroe, Louisiana, on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1992. Two deputies investigating a bright light witnessed a very large object with two bright lights in front fly slowly and silently at tree top height before disappearing. Another deputy and a civilian observed a similar object, initially appearing as a bright ball but actually triangular when seen overhead, which passed slowly and silently before zipping away. For the next hour, numerous deputies and civilians observed one or more bright, multicolored objects over a wetlands area, exhibiting behaviors such as changing color, hovering, bouncing, and disappearing. An electronics technician captured a brief VCR tape of an object whose lighting characteristics were inconsistent with aircraft. In another incident, three deputies and civilians observed a boomerang-shaped object, larger than a football field, hovering silently at tree top level.

Letters From The Mailbox

This section includes correspondence from readers. One letter from Derek Sikes addresses George Knapp's remarks about his article on the "Ultimate UFO Seminar," defending his description of Robert Lazar's appearance and noting the upcoming feature film based on Lazar's story, for which Lazar reportedly received $500,000 for the rights.

Another letter from George D. Fawcett of MUFON North Carolina congratulates the magazine on its growth and professionalism.

A proposal for a "Federation of Independent Ufologists" is presented by an unnamed editor, suggesting a need for greater organization among independent ufologists to investigate, share information, and communicate with the media and public without the secrecy and politics of established organizations. Ideas for discussion include linking information networks, protecting sources, improving press access, building a database, and recognizing counterintelligence.

Classifieds

The classifieds section includes advertisements for books such as "INTO THE FRINGE: A TRUE STORY OF ALIEN ABDUCTION," a UFO newsclipping service, video/audio tapes on UFOs and related topics, and a subscription offer for UFO ENCOUNTERS magazine.

MJ-12 and Area 51 Updates

Updates on the MJ-12 controversy suggest that evidence for the Roswell event is mounting, and that a committee like MJ-12 might have been established. The FBI's release of MJ-12 papers with "BOGUS" written on them is noted. An update on Area 51 mentions a guide for the restricted zone in southern Nevada.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently covers a wide range of UFO-related topics, including sightings, abduction phenomena, crop circles, and government cover-ups. There is a clear interest in investigating and reporting on unexplained aerial phenomena from various global perspectives, with a focus on scientific analysis where possible, but also embracing eyewitness accounts and anecdotal evidence. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into the UFO phenomenon, encouraging reader participation and the sharing of information among independent researchers.