UFO Encounters - Vol 02 No 01 - 1994

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO ENCOUNTERS
Issue: Vol. 2 No. 1
Date: 1994
Publisher: Aztec Publishing
Country: USA
Price: $3.50

This issue of UFO ENCOUNTERS, published bi-monthly by Aztec Publishing, focuses on the often-negative repercussions faced by individuals who report UFO sightings and encounters. The editorial emphasizes a shift towards active investigation rather than passive observation, with plans to explore the abductee phenomenon more deeply in future issues.

Key Articles and Features

See A UFO – Lose Your Job!

This lead article by Preston E. Dennett details the severe consequences many UFO witnesses face, extending beyond disbelief to outright prejudice that can cost them their jobs. The article cites famous cases such as Travis Walton, whose encounter led to him and his fellow woodcutters being fired, and Leah Haley, a UFO abductee who lost her job as an accountant due to ridicule and accusations of being crazy. It also recounts the story of Alan Godfrey, a police officer in West Yorkshire, England, who was pressured to resign after reporting a UFO sighting and being subjected to humiliation and demotion. Similarly, Deputy Sheriff Dale Spaur and Special Deputy W. L. Neff of Portage County, Ohio, faced significant personal and professional fallout after chasing a UFO, with Spaur's marriage failing and him resigning as sheriff. The article concludes that this prejudice against UFO witnesses, particularly abductees, is particularly harmful and likely contributes to many commercial pilots and police officers remaining silent about their sightings for fear of losing their jobs.

You Should Have Your Head Examined!

Written by Bufo Calvin, this article reviews a study published in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology concerning the psychological profiles of UFO reporters. The study, which compared UFO non-intense and intense groups with a general population and student group, found that UFO experiencers were not more prone to psychopathology, fantasy, or hypnotizability. In fact, the study suggested that UFO experiencers were actually 'better-adjusted,' less likely to view the world as hostile, and experienced less stress. The author commends the study's findings but suggests it could have explored physical explanations for sightings more thoroughly, noting that the study's references were heavily skewed towards skeptical viewpoints.

The "Anomalous Face In The Window" Videotape

John Carpenter reports on a peculiar incident in Southwest Missouri where a handheld video camera inadvertently filmed an unidentified face floating outside a farmhouse window. The face, described as roughly triangular with a greenish-grayish hue, ducked out of sight when it seemed to be noticed. The incident occurred during a period of increased UFO sightings and cattle mutilations in the region. Analysis of the videotape by imaging specialist Jeff Sainio could not identify the face or find evidence of trickery.

UFO Alert (The West Michigan Sightings and More)

This section likely covers recent UFO sightings, including those in West Michigan, as indicated by the title.

NASA's Response To Loss Of Mars Observer

This article discusses NASA's reaction to the loss of the Mars Observer spacecraft, potentially exploring whether UFOs or other anomalous phenomena played a role, or if it was a technological failure.

The Cognitive Interview

This article delves into the use of cognitive interviewing techniques, possibly in relation to UFO witness testimonies, aiming to improve the accuracy and detail of recalled information.

Air Force Attempts To Mislead Congress On UFOs

This piece investigates alleged efforts by the U.S. Air Force to mislead Congress regarding UFO phenomena, suggesting a potential cover-up or lack of transparency.

UFO Activist Questions CIA Director On Roswell Crash

This article reports on a UFO activist confronting the CIA Director about the infamous Roswell crash, likely seeking information or challenging official narratives.

Chairman Of The Senate Armed Services Committee Responds To Roswell Incident

This feature covers the response from the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee regarding the Roswell incident, indicating a level of official acknowledgment or discussion of the event.

Upcoming Events

This section provides information on future events related to UFO phenomena, such as conferences, meetings, or lectures.

So, You Want To Be A Writer

This article offers advice or insights for aspiring writers, possibly focusing on writing about UFO topics or the paranormal.

The Ural Murders

This refers to a case involving murders in the Ural region, possibly with a UFO or paranormal connection that is explored in the article.

New York State Crop Formation

This article details crop formations observed in New York State, a phenomenon often associated with UFO activity.

The Truth About The UFO Crash At Roswell

This piece likely presents new information or a particular perspective on the controversial Roswell UFO crash incident.

NASA SETI Update

This section provides an update on NASA's Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) program, detailing recent findings or developments.

Space and Technology

This article likely discusses advancements in space exploration and technology, possibly with a connection to UFO phenomena or the search for extraterrestrial life.

Classifieds

A section for advertisements, likely related to UFO research, books, or events.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the societal impact of UFO sightings, the prejudice faced by witnesses, and the psychological aspects of these experiences. The magazine appears to advocate for a more open and investigative approach to ufology, challenging skeptical viewpoints and highlighting cases that demonstrate the tangible negative consequences for those who come forward with their stories. The editorial stance is one of serious inquiry into UFO phenomena, seeking to validate witness experiences and explore potential explanations beyond simple misidentification or psychological delusion, while also acknowledging the scientific and psychological studies that attempt to understand the phenomenon and its reporters.

Title: UFO ENCOUNTERS
Issue: Vol. 2 # 1
Date: 1994
Publisher: UFO ENCOUNTERS

This issue of UFO Encounters delves into various UFO phenomena, government involvement, and investigative techniques. It features reports on recent sightings, historical incidents, and critical analysis of official statements.

West Michigan UFO Alert

The article "UFO ALERT" by Sandi Malburg details a significant outbreak of UFO sightings in West Michigan during the week of March 8, 1994. The sightings, stretching from Ludington to the Indiana border, gained attention due to confirmation by National Weather Service Radar. On March 8th, around 9:30 p.m., a Holland, MI woman reported a globe-shaped object with slowly spinning green and red lights hovering over a farmhouse. A responding police officer also observed strange lights. Simultaneously, a radar operator at the Muskegon National Service Office reported seeing multiple objects, including three in a triangular configuration, moving at an estimated speed of 3,600 mph. Tower personnel at Muskegon County Airport and a newspaper editor also reported sightings of military aircraft and boomerang-shaped lights. The event is described as a "UFO flap" with many sightings reported.

Hampton, Georgia Sighting

"HAMPTON, GEORGIA SIGHTING" by Michael Norris recounts an event on October 13, 1993, where about a dozen school children waiting for a bus reported seeing a silent, disc-like craft. The object, described as hamburger or football-shaped with lights that changed color, hovered near a clubhouse and trees before ascending rapidly. Witnesses described it as about 30 feet in diameter and making no noise. The children's accounts were initially dismissed by their bus driver and school officials, but the fear in one girl's eyes prompted her mother to investigate further.

The Wilkins Video Case Update

An update on "THE WILKINS VIDEO CASE" by Michael Norris revisits a UFO videotape case from May 6, 1993. Jeff Sainio, a UFO photo and video analyst, digitized and enlarged frames from the tape, showing a silver, cereal-bowl shaped UFO with a domed top against a blue sky. The object was briefly lost sight of after the witness was distracted by a jet plane.

NASA's Response To Loss Of Mars Observer

This section briefly notes that a special review board at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory identified potential causes for the loss of the Mars Observer spacecraft. The findings are generally consistent with previous assessments.

UFO Investigations: The Cognitive Interview

"The Cognitive Interview: A Non-hypnosis Memory Retrieval Technique for the UFO Researcher" by C. Leigh Culver, Cl.H., introduces a method to enhance memory recall from witnesses. Developed by researchers, the cognitive interview uses four general techniques: reconstructing circumstances, reporting everything, recalling events in a different order, and changing perspectives. The article highlights that this technique elicited significantly more correct information than standard interviews and was comparable to hypnosis, but easier to learn and without the legal issues sometimes associated with hypnosis. Tables 1 and 2 illustrate the effectiveness of the cognitive interview compared to hypnosis and standard interviews in recalling facts.

Government Cover-Up: Air Force Attempts To Mislead Congress On UFOs

Ed Komarek, from Operation Right to Know, authors "GOVERNMENT COVER-UP," alleging that for 50 years the Air Force and other government agencies have provided false and misleading information about UFOs/ETs. The article critiques a recent Air Force response, written by Lt. Col. Thomas W. Shubert, which attempts to discredit Project Blue Book and its predecessors as the sole government UFO studies. Komarek argues that Project Blue Book was a cover for other, more extensive studies by the Air Force, Army, Navy, CIA, and FBI. The article suggests that the National Security Council holds ultimate authority on UFO matters and criticizes the Air Force's claim of possessing no other UFO records.

UFO Activist Questions CIA Director On Roswell Crash

This section details an interaction where an ORTK organizer, Elaine Douglass, questioned CIA Director R. James Woolsey on a radio program about the 1947 Roswell crash. Contrary to expectations, Woolsey was reportedly candid, acknowledging interest in the subject and promising to review previously denied Freedom of Information Act requests. The article suggests that the National Security Council and key members of Congress are responsible for the UFO/ET cover-up.

Chairman Of The Senate Armed Services Committee Responds To Roswell Incident

Reporter Jim Thomas of WRBL-TV sent letters to Senator Sam Nunn, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, inquiring about the 1947 Roswell crash and other UFO matters. The article includes Thomas's letter to Senator Nunn, asking about his personal knowledge of the Roswell incident and the U.S. Government's possession of disc-shaped aircraft. The response from Lt. Col. Thomas W. Shubert to Ms. Murray regarding the Roswell incident states that the Air Force possesses no records and is unaware of other governmental departments holding such records, except for the National Archives.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the persistent mystery of UFOs, the alleged efforts by government agencies to conceal information, and the importance of rigorous investigation and accurate reporting. The magazine appears to advocate for transparency and open inquiry into UFO phenomena, challenging official narratives and highlighting the experiences of witnesses and independent researchers. The editorial stance is critical of government secrecy and supportive of UFO investigation efforts.

Title: UFO ENCOUNTERS
Issue: Vol. 2 # 1
Date: January 1994 (inferred from Vol. 2 # 1 and article dates)
Publisher: Aztec Publishing
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of UFO Encounters presents a diverse range of articles, from unexplained mysteries and scientific investigations to astronomical events and updates on UFO research projects.

Letters and Editorial

The issue opens with a letter from Jim Thomas, News Anchor at WRBL-TV, to Sam Nunn, Chairman, inquiring about U.S. government involvement with UFOs, MJ-12, and extraterrestrial technology, specifically referencing the Roswell incident and a potential Air Force base at S-4 near the Nevada test site. Sam Nunn responds, acknowledging the Roswell incident and mentioning a GAO review of government file handling procedures. However, Nunn states he has no personal knowledge of the matters raised in Thomas's letter.

An editorial titled "So, You Want To Be A Writer" by Michael Norris encourages readers to submit articles to UFO Encounters. The magazine is presented as flexible, prioritizing accurate and relevant information over formal qualifications. Guidelines for submission are provided, favoring articles saved on floppy disks (IBM-compatible word processors) or typed on standard paper, with handwritten articles being typed by the staff. Writers are also encouraged to provide a short background description.

The Ural Murders

This exclusive story by Russian Correspondent Paul Stonehill details the mysterious deaths of ten tourists in February 1959 in the Ural Mountains near the 'Mountain of the Dead' (Kholat Syakhel). The official investigation concluded the tragedy was due to an 'invincible force of nature,' but evidence suggested a hasty evacuation from their tent, unusual bodily injuries, an unnatural orange color on the bodies, increased radiation levels in clothing, and scorched tree branches. A UFO theory is examined, suggesting the orange coloration resulted from radiation from a powerful, unknown energy source, supported by local testimonies of fiery orange spheres seen over the mountain.

New York State Crop Formation

Written by Jim Cormia, this article recounts the appearance of a crop formation in Herkimer County, NY, in July 1993. The formation consisted of four circles with connecting pathways, attracting significant media attention and investigators. The article details the dimensions of the circles, the flattening pattern of the oats, and the results of scientific analysis conducted by Dr. W. C. Levengood. Samples of oat stalks were analyzed for node bending, node splitting, seedling development, and alpha change (electrical conductivity). The results showed significant variability, particularly in samples from certain circles, suggesting an external energy source rather than mechanical flattening or wind damage. The NY State Police investigated and found no evidence of a hoax.

The Truth About The UFO Crash At Roswell

This is a review by Michael Fousse' of the book "The Truth About the UFO Crash At Roswell" by Kevin D. Randle and Don Schmitt. The reviewer agrees with the authors that the official explanation of a weather balloon was a cover story, citing decades of eyewitness accounts that contradict the government's narrative. The book is praised for its detailed compilation of life accounts and its rational, unbiased presentation of evidence, strongly suggesting an alien spacecraft crash. The reviewer notes that the book raises new questions, particularly regarding the described alien bodies and the continued classification of the event after almost 50 years.

NASA SETI Update

Michael Norris reports on the status of NASA's Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) project, now renamed the High Resolution Microwave Survey (HRMS). The project aimed to scan for artificial signals from space using large radio telescopes. Despite years of development, no repeatable signals were found. Senator Richard Bryan's amendment terminated funding for the HRMS project in October 1993. However, a portion of the project, the Targeted Search, will continue as "Project Phoenix," funded by private donations. The Sky Survey portion is deemed impossible to continue due to its connection to NASA's Deep Space Network. Project Phoenix will focus on about 1,000 nearby Sun-like stars and has gathered $4.4 million but needs an additional $3 million to meet its near-term needs. Major contributors include figures from Hewlett-Packard, Intel, and Microsoft, as well as Arthur C. Clarke. Norris expresses a personal view that focusing on distant stars is less important than investigating evidence within our own "back yard."

Space and Technology

This section covers two distinct topics:

A Nearby Cosmic Collision

This article discusses the impending collision of the Shoemaker-Levy comet with Jupiter on July 20, 1994, predicting an energy release equivalent to 200 million megatons of TNT. It notes that the comet had previously broken into chunks due to Jupiter's gravitational field. The Galileo space probe is expected to photograph the event, while Earth-based telescopes will observe the resulting turbulence. The article highlights the potential catastrophic impact such an event could have if it occurred on Earth.

Other Planets Exist!

Dr. Alexander Wolszczan of Pennsylvania State University has confirmed the existence of two planets orbiting a pulsar 1,300 light-years away in the constellation Virgo. These planets, estimated to be 2.8 and 3.4 times the mass of Earth, were detected through irregularities in the pulsar's energy pulse pattern caused by their gravitational pull. Wolszczan's data also suggests the presence of a moon-sized object and potentially more orbiting bodies, describing it as a "full-blown planetary system."

Mars Observer Mission Failure

This section, continued from page 14, discusses the findings of a NASA-appointed review board regarding the failure of the Mars Observer spacecraft. The JPL board identified several potential causes, including a breach in the propulsion system, electrical power loss due to a short, loss of computer control, or failure of the transmitters. The report also made general observations and recommendations for future spacecraft design. The article notes that the spacecraft had turned off its transmitter as a precautionary measure before pressurizing its propellant tanks, and ground controllers never received a signal afterward.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around unexplained phenomena, government secrecy, and the search for extraterrestrial life. The magazine consistently questions official explanations for events like Roswell and presents evidence that supports alternative, often more extraordinary, theories. There is a strong emphasis on eyewitness testimony and the importance of investigating such claims. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded inquiry into UFO phenomena, encouraging public participation and the sharing of information, while also acknowledging the scientific and technological aspects of space exploration and research.

Title: UFO ENCOUNTERS MAGAZINE
Issue: Vol. 2 # 1
Date: Undetermined, but likely early to mid-1990s based on content and pricing.
Publisher: Aztec Publishing
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of UFO Encounters Magazine, Vol. 2 # 1, presents a diverse collection of information related to UFOs and related phenomena. The cover, with the headline "Who Puts It All Together?", features a central illustration of an alien figure surrounded by keywords and images associated with the UFO subculture, such as "Area 51", "Roswell", "Alien Abductions", "Crop Circles", and "MJ-12".

Featured Content

Abduction Research and Support

The magazine highlights the work of a forensic (investigative) hypnotist from Georgia and his wife, Lynne, a hypnotherapist. They have been researching the abduction phenomenon for two years and have recently established a support group for individuals who have experienced abduction phenomena. Contact with them is facilitated through the publisher.

The Urals Incident

A section continues from page 22, discussing a UFO-related tragedy in the Urals region of Russia. The incident is described as being the "talk of the Urals," with Russian ufologists actively trying to solve it. The author has sent available information regarding the 1958 tragedy to prominent Russian UFO publications and is awaiting updates. Paul Stonehill, Director for the Russian Ufology Research Center, is mentioned as a contact for this information and can be reached at his Tarzana, California address.

Classified Advertisements

A significant portion of the page is dedicated to classified advertisements, offering a variety of UFO-related resources:

• "Almanac of UFO Organizations & Publications, 3rd Edition": This directory lists over 400 organizations with contact details, descriptions of activities, and publication information. It is available from Phaedra Enterprises in San Bruno, California.
• GULF BREEZE UFO VIDEOS: Offers raw UFO footage (two hours for $39.95 postpaid), UFO newsclips (two hours for $29.95), color UFO photos ($2.00 each), and UFO T-shirts ($16.95 each) from Hawkins Independent UFO Research Center in Gulf Breeze, Florida.
• UFO NEWSCLIPPING SERVICE: Provides UFO-related articles from global newspapers and magazines, including a special "forteana" section. This service is run by Lucius Farish in Plumerville, Arkansas.
• Video/Audio Tapes ON UFOs: The Eclectic Viewpoint in Dallas, Texas, offers tapes on UFOs, crop circles, aviation mysteries, near-death experiences, and the "Face on Mars" phenomenon. A free tape list and sample newsletter are available.

Subscription Offer

The magazine actively promotes its subscription, offering "ONE EXCITING YEAR FOR ONLY $19.95!" and billing itself as "THE WORLD'S LEADING SOURCE FOR UFO INFORMATION". The subscription form requests name, address, city, state, and zip, and can be mailed to Aztec Publishing in Norcross, Georgia. Foreign subscriptions are priced at $36 (U.S. funds).

Back Issues and Advertising

Information is provided regarding the availability of back issues of UFO ENCOUNTERS. Classified ads are priced at $15 for the first 50 words, with additional words costing 30 cents each. Display advertising is also available upon request for a rate card.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine appears to cover a broad spectrum of UFOlogy, including alleged sightings, research into phenomena like abductions, historical incidents, and the organizations involved in the field. The editorial stance seems to be one of active engagement with UFO information, providing resources and a platform for discussion and research, as indicated by the subscription drive and the variety of classified offerings. The emphasis on "Exclusive Interviews" and "Forensic Hypnosis" suggests a commitment to exploring different facets of the UFO mystery.