The UFO Enigma - 1988 02 - Volume 8 no 6

Magazine Overview

The UFO Enigma, Volume 8, Number 6, published in February 1988, is a newsletter from the UFO Study Group of Greater St. Louis, Inc. The publication is dedicated to the investigation and reporting of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and is not affiliated with any national society. Membership is $8.00 per year.

1987-88 Officers:

• President: John Roppolo
• Treasurer: Spencer Wolling
• Recording Secretary: Marjorie Sherrill
• Marshall: Joe Dowler
• Enigma Editor: Ken Hanke
• Vice President: Frank Brown
• Librarian & Historian: Joė Palermo
• Corresponding Secretary: Melva Hageman
• Chief Field Investigator: Walter Palmer
• Associate Editor: Helen Hanke

UFOs IN THE MEDIA! Topic For Next Study Group Meeting

The upcoming meeting of the UFO Study Group of Greater St. Louis, Inc. will focus on video tapes of television interviews concerning UFOs. These will include interviews with researchers like Budd Hopkins on abduction research, Stanton T. Friedman, and Phillip Klass. The interviews were conducted by personalities such as Sally Jessey Raphael, Ted Koppel of Night Line, Oprah Winfrey, and Geraldo Rivera. The meeting is scheduled for Sunday, February 14, at 2:00 p.m. at the Farm and Home Savings community room, located at 110 West Lockwood (corner of Lockwood and Gore) in Webster Groves, Missouri. The event is expected to be of interest to members and friends interested in learning more about media coverage of Unidentified Flying Objects.

FROM MEDUGORJE TO RADIONICS

By John E. Schroeder

This article details a presentation given by Larry Schultz to the Parapsychology Committee on January 6. Schultz linked the visions and revelations of "the Virgin Mother of Jesus" to six Medugorje children, comparing them to those given at Lourdes, Fatima, and San Domiano in Italy, as well as three sites in the Americas. A common message across these sites is the imminent end of the age, the need for repentance and conversion to the Christian faith, a heartfelt relationship with Jesus, and a desire for personal and world peace. Pilgrims at these sites reportedly observed strobe-like flashing and swirling coronas of the sun. One video from an Italian site showed eight minutes of the sun's gyrations, which could not be explained by natural phenomena. According to revelations at Fatima and another European site, "warnings of troubled times" would occur if repentance and return to Christ did not happen fast, potentially leading to rioting, World War III, and assassination attempts. In contrast, since 1982, crime and delinquency in Medugorje, Yugoslavia, have dropped significantly, with Christians, Moslems, Orthodox, and non-churched individuals cooperating peacefully.

The Parapsychology Committee thanked Mr. Schultz for his presentation. In a "sharing session," Tom Sinopole discussed his essay "Survivor" in the latest St. Louis Magazine, detailing how a UFO encounter led to emotional deterioration and a period of homelessness before his return to responsible citizenship. Sinopole believes that strobe effects at sites of supernatural visions, healings, and alchemy are imposed by UFOs against the sun. Norma Parker reported an apparent UFO overflight with parapsychological after-effects, questioning if her experimentation with a radionics frequency modulating device might have attracted the UFO's attention. Marjorie Sherrill sought advice on posing questions to a parapsychological contactee to enhance credibility with the scientific community. John Schroeder, Walter Palmer, and Alex Horvat suggested requesting verifiable scientific data, while Eleanor Schroeder recommended thorough background checks on the contactee. The next Parapsychology Committee meeting is scheduled for February 3, at 7:30 p.m., at the Schroeders' home at 4991 Miami Street. Norma Parker will demonstrate her radionics machine, which is said to modulate frequencies and affect the psyche.

WHAT'S NEW FROM MUFON

The Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) is hosting the 1988 MUFON UFO Symposium at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln from June 24-26. Speakers will include Budd Hopkins, Dr. David Jacobs, and Jerome Clark. Additionally, a MUFON Central Region UFO Conference will be held at the INN of the Ozarks in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, on March 25-26. Speakers at this conference include Major Dewey Fournet, Al Chop, Max Futch, and Curtis Fuller. Room reservations can be made by contacting the Inn of the Ozarks. For more information, individuals can contact Bill Pitts, Ed Mazur, or Bruce Widaman. Jim Speiser has initiated a computer bulletin board in Phoenix, Arizona, with the number (602) 837-0062.

Up In The Air - Down Under

This section reports on a UFO incident in Australia that occurred on January 18, 1988, at 7:30 a.m. on the Erey highway, approximately 750 miles east of Perth. Four people, a mother and her three sons, were traveling in a rugged, desolate area when they saw a light following behind their truck. The UFO made an abrupt u-turn and began following them. The UFO reportedly lifted the car off the ground and carried it a short distance, setting it down hard enough to cause one tire to blow out. About 350 miles down the same road, an airplane spotting for a tuna fishing boat observed a UFO flying and hovering. The story of the car being lifted off the ground is compared to a similar case in Eastern Missouri investigated by the UFO Study Group, where a car was also lifted and obtained a black ash-like residue.

Operation Majestic 12: More Information From Stanton T. Friedman

By Ken Hanke

This article addresses the controversy surrounding the "Operation Majestic 12" (MJ-12) papers that emerged the previous year. It acknowledges the debate regarding their authenticity within the UFO community. The author states that The Enigma does not intend to make judgments on authenticity but aims to present information. The article highlights research by William L. Moore, Jaime H. Shandera, and Stanton T. Friedman. It includes a press release from Stanton T. Friedman refuting claims by CSICOP members Phillip Klass and Paul Kurtz, who called the MJ-12 documents "bogus" or "clumsy counterfeits." Friedman argues that CSICOP's claims are irrational and demonstrate inadequate research. He addresses specific discrepancies pointed out by Klass, such as a memo from General Robert Cutler, explaining them as easily resolved or irrelevant given the context of classified documents and the nature of the MJ-12 team.

Friedman counters Klass's claims about the September 24, 1947 memo from Truman to Forrestal, stating there is no evidence of forgery and that the memo's format is consistent with an "EYES ONLY" document. He also refutes Klass's assertion that the briefing paper implies Eisenhower was unaware of the 1947 flying saucer crash, noting that primary custody of such materials would have been with the President's office. Friedman emphasizes that the MJ-12 members were high-ranking scientists and intelligence officers, making Eisenhower's inclusion unlikely based on military achievements alone.

The article further discusses the detailed investigation conducted by Friedman and Moore, which included interviews with 92 people, confirming a saucer crash near Roswell in July 1947, a government announcement, a subsequent cover-up, the discovery of alien bodies, and the transfer of materials for analysis. It mentions that five people described strange symbols on the crashed saucers, which are also noted in the MJ-12 document. The article points out that the twelve named MJ-12 members all had high-level security clearances and interlocking activities, including Dr. Donald Menzel, an astrophysicist who had written anti-UFO books. Friedman's research suggests Menzel's involvement was logical due to his security clearances, association with intelligence agencies, and expertise in crypt-analysis and symbols.

Stanton T. Friedman also provided background on how the research evolved. He received primary stories about the Roswell incident, including the Lydia Sleppy incident in California. He was referred to her by her son, a forest ranger, who had also reported a UFO sighting. Friedman was also told about an experience by Jesse Marcel, who handled pieces of a crashed disc and observed strange bodies. This information was passed to Bill Moore. Moore found newspaper articles about Jesse Marcel, leading to a more detailed investigation and eventually the book "The Roswell Incident" by Moore and Berlitz. They have located about 90 people connected to the incident. Jaime Shandera received the film containing the 8 pages of the Eisenhower briefing document. While on a visit to Washington, D.C., in March 1985, Friedman learned that U.S. Force Group 341 was reviewing its classification at the National Archives. Moore and Shandera reviewed over 100 boxes of files and discovered the Cutler briefing of July 14, 1954, referring to the NSC/MJ-12 Special Studies Project. No contradictions were found with the MJ-12 briefing.

St. Charles Research Committee

By Bruce Widaman

This section introduces the St. Charles UFO Research Committee, a branch of the UFO Study Group of Greater St. Louis, Inc. The committee is described as a group of people interested in "age old mysteries of life, various scientific anomalies and the future of our planet." They meet on the third Tuesday of each month at the Bonanza Steakhouse Banquet Room in St. Charles, Missouri. Their charter emphasizes discovering facts, utilizing scientific methodology, and promoting credible public awareness. Meetings are open to the public.

Calender

• February 3 (Wednesday): Parapsychology Committee Meeting at the Schroeder home, 4991 Miami St., St. Louis, MO (7:30 p.m.).
• February 14 (Sunday): UFO Study Group Meeting at the Farm and Home Savings and Loan at Lockwood and Gore, Webster Grove, MO (2:00 p.m.).
• February 16 (Tuesday): St. Charles UFO Committee at the Bonanza Sirloin Pit, 1215 South Duchesne St. Charles, MO (7:30 p.m.).

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the intersection of UFO phenomena with media coverage, spiritual experiences (Medjugorje), and the ongoing debate surrounding government secrecy and alleged UFO cover-ups, particularly concerning the MJ-12 documents. The editorial stance, as presented through the articles, appears to favor the investigation of UFO phenomena with a critical yet open mind, emphasizing the importance of research, verifiable data, and challenging official narratives when evidence suggests it. There is a clear skepticism towards the dismissive stance of organizations like CSICOP and a dedication to presenting information that supports the authenticity of controversial documents like MJ-12, as championed by researchers like Stanton T. Friedman.