The UFO Enigma - 1989 01 - Volume 9 no 5

Magazine Overview

The UFO Enigma, Volume 9, Number 5, published in January 1989 by the UFO Study Group of Greater St. Louis, Inc., is a newsletter dedicated to the investigation and reporting of unidentified flying objects (UFOs). Membership is $8.00 per year. The issue features updates on the Study Group's activities, upcoming events, book reviews, and discussions on various UFO-related theories and cases.

Editorial Staff and Officers

The editorial staff includes Ken Hanke as Enigma Editor and Helen Hanke as Assistant Editor. The 1988-89 officers are Joe Palermo (President), Frank Brown (Vice President), Spencer Wolling (Treasurer), Helva Hagenan (Corresponding Secretary), John Roppolo (Recording Secretary), Joe Palermo & Peggy Roppolo (Librarian/Historians), Walter Palmer (Chief Field Investigator), and Ken Hanke (Marshal).

UFO Study Group Meetings: Same Time, Same Place

By Joe Palermo, President, details the current meeting arrangements for the UFO Study Group. The group is relieved that their meeting place at the Farm and Home Savings and Loan is available through the end of May 1989, with efforts underway to secure an alternate location for September. Palermo emphasizes a 'rebuilding' year for the group, highlighting the Library Committee's progress in organizing materials. He stresses the need to activate a Finance Committee to raise $1,800 annually for monthly newsletters, an 'Incoming Only' phone service, and a 30-second commercial spot on channel 11. He encourages members to call him to assist with the Finance Committee and looks forward to the next meeting on January 8th.

Coming UFO Events

By Ken Hanke, this section announces the January meeting of the UFO Study Group of Greater St. Louis, Inc. The meeting will be held on Sunday, January 8, 1989, at 2:00 p.m. at the Farm and Home Savings and Loan community room in Webster Groves, Missouri. This location is available until the end of May. The June meeting will be the Annual Study Group Picnic, with no meetings in July and August. A new meeting place is anticipated for September. The January meeting will feature a review by John Schroeder.

Psychic Fair

The Third Annual New Year's Psychic Fair is scheduled for Saturday, January 7, 1989 (9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.) and Sunday, January 8, 1989 (10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.) at the Henry VIII Hotel. The fair will include psychic readers, clairvoyants, tarot, channeling, crystal balls, palmistry, handwriting analysis, astrology, and numerology, with continuous lectures. Admission is $4.00 per person.

Book Review: Dimensions: A Case Book of Alien Contact

Reviewed by John E. Schroeder, this section discusses Jacque Vallee's book 'Dimensions: A Case Book of Alien Contact,' with an introduction by Whitley Strieber. The book is described as interweaving mythological folktales into coherent scenarios of history and raising questions about humanity's relationship with time and space. Vallee, a French scientist and UFOlogist, is noted for his unconventional approach to extracting evidence of ancient alien contact. John Schroeder's book reports are praised for providing a thorough understanding of the subject matter.

Lecture Announcement: St. Charles UFO Research Committee

On Wednesday, February 15, 1989, the St. Charles UFO Research Committee will sponsor a lecture by amateur St. Louis astronomer Dave Rapp. The lecture, titled 'Our Solar System and Beyond,' will be a slide show trip through the solar system, explaining the differences between solar systems, galaxies, and the universe. Dave Rapp is the President of the McDonnell Douglas Astronomy Club. The lecture will be held at the Catherine Linneman Branch Library in St. Charles.

St. Charles Research Committee Meeting

Ralph Fromme, Missouri MUFON State Section Director, will discuss the Gulf Breeze Sightings at the next St. Charles Research Committee meeting on Tuesday, January 17, 1989, at 7:30 p.m. at the Bonanza Steak House in St. Charles.

The Electromagnetic Explanation Revisited

By John Roppolo, this article critiques the PBS NOVA series program 'The Case For UFO's,' which is described as arguing against the existence of UFOs. Roppolo focuses on Dr. Michael A. Persinger, head of the neuroscience lab at Laurentian University, who proposed a 'tectonic strain theory of UFO generation.' This theory suggests a similarity between nocturnal lights and 'earthquake lights.' The article also discusses Persinger's experiments using a helmet to transmit electromagnetic waves to the temporal lobes, which he believed could induce mystical experiences or 'ME's' similar to abduction accounts. Roppolo criticizes this theory as a potential misinterpretation and a way to discredit abductees.

UFO Activity to Earthquake Activity

This section elaborates on Dennis Stacy's article in OMNI, 'Transcending Science,' which explores Dr. Michael Persinger's theory that 'mystical experiences' (ME's) can be produced by electromagnetic stimulation of the temporal lobes. Persinger theorizes that 'temporal lobe sensitives' are more prone to such experiences. The article details Persinger's helmet experiment, where subjects reported details common to abductees. However, the author criticizes Persinger's methodology, suggesting he may have 'led the witness' and that subjects' responses could be influenced by prior knowledge of abduction scenarios or stress from the electromagnetic current. The author concludes that OMNI's article is asinine and akin to a supermarket tabloid.

Will Extraterrestrials Rescue Us From Self-Destruction?

By John E. Schroeder, this article reports on the December 7, 1988, Parapsychology Group Meeting of the UFO Study Group. Walter Palmer shared an anecdote about Ernie Pyle's wartime experience involving an out-of-body experience. Bruce Widaman discussed newsletters and books, and shared details from abductees who attended a MUFON symposium. Ernie Joyce affirmed that Houston Jet Propulsion Laboratory seemed to accept UFOs. The article mentions the 'Cash-Landrum' case and the alleged cover-up regarding helicopters. It also references the 'Project Rainbow' and 'Project Winterhaven' experiments, linking Nikolai Tesla's work with electromagnetism and the concept of flying saucers. The host of a taped TV show suggests governments have extensive knowledge of UFOs and extraterrestrials. The article raises the question of whether extraterrestrials will rescue humanity from nuclear annihilation due to nationalistic aggression. The next Parapsychology meeting is announced for January 4, 1989, at the Schroeder residence, focusing on 'Associative Remote Viewing.'

Season's Greetings From St Charles Committee

By Jean Smith, this section summarizes the December meeting of the St. Charles Research Committee. Bruce Widaman discussed the 'Cash-Landrum' case and reviewed articles from OMNI, Discover, and Strange magazines. The Coynes offered advice on gaining public interest and support for UFO research, suggesting car stickers, talk shows, and phone calls. Shirley Coyne is seeking newsletter exchanges. The St. Charles Committee also reenacted a Sally Jessie Raphael show titled 'Alien Encounters.' The next meeting is scheduled for January 17, 1989.

Letter to the Editor

Joan H. Laurino raises a concern about the implications of UFO occupants taking body fluids from abductees, particularly in the context of the AIDS epidemic. She questions the potential for spreading the disease if abductees are unknowingly infected, especially in cases involving genetic engineering experiments.

Calendar

The calendar section for January 1988 (though dated January 1989 for the UFO Study Group meeting) lists several events: a Parapsychology Committee meeting on January 4th, the UFO Study Group meeting on January 8th, and a St. Charles UFO Committee meeting on January 17th.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the activities and meetings of UFO research groups, particularly the UFO Study Group of Greater St. Louis and the St. Charles Research Committee. There is a strong focus on investigating UFO sightings and abduction cases, with discussions of specific incidents like the Cash-Landrum and Gulf Breeze cases. The magazine also explores scientific and pseudoscientific explanations for UFO phenomena, critically examining theories like Persinger's 'tectonic strain theory' and questioning the objectivity of media portrayals of UFOs. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into UFO phenomena, while also maintaining a critical perspective on sensationalism and unsubstantiated claims, as seen in the critique of the NOVA program and Persinger's experiments. The issue also touches upon broader societal concerns, such as the potential role of extraterrestrials in preventing human self-destruction and the implications of UFO abductions in relation to public health issues like AIDS.