The UFO Enigma - 2000 05 - Volume 20 no 9

Magazine Overview

The UFO Enigma, Volume 20, Number 9, published in May 2000 by the UFO Study Group of Greater St. Louis, is a monthly publication dedicated to the investigation of UFO phenomena. This issue features a special report on the Brooklyn Bridge Abduction Case, an interview with Linda Cortile, and various UFO sighting reports from around the world.

Meetings and Events

The issue announces the May meeting of the UFO Study Group of Greater St. Louis, scheduled for Sunday, May 21st, at a new location: Alberto's restaurant at 8427 Gravois, St. Louis, MO. The meeting will include an open discussion and a screening of the video film "Have Aliens Ever Landed on Earth?" The group also promotes the MUFON 2000 International UFO Symposium, themed "UFOs in the New Millennium," to be held July 14-16, 2000, in St. Louis, MO, with a list of confirmed speakers including Stanton T. Friedman and Stan Gordon.

Special Report: The Brooklyn Bridge Abduction Case

This section is the second half of a special report that began in the April issue, focusing on Linda Cortile and her experiences. The report delves into her views on UFO debunkers, whom she finds both frustrating and amusing. She expresses anger towards certain debunkers who have tried to discredit her case and her family, even threatening legal action if they continue to harass them. Cortile reflects on how the criticism has paradoxically strengthened her.

The report also touches upon the impact of the abduction experiences on her family, particularly her sons John and Steve. She expresses concern for their well-being and normal development, noting that John, now 16, rarely discusses the experiences but may still be having them. Cortile recalls a "showdown meeting" where she and John addressed investigators and debunkers, with John handling the scrutiny well.

A significant part of the report details a post-hypnosis meeting with Marilyn Kilmer, another abductee, where they shared corroborating memories of a shared abduction experience involving John and a "Third Man." Cortile expresses sadness over Marilyn's apparent inability to cope with the trauma.

Cortile discusses her faith, stating that the abduction experiences have strengthened her Catholic faith, making her feel like a survivor rather than a victim. She contemplates the nature of God and the abductors, suggesting that if God created humans, He likely created them as well. She notes a surprising open-mindedness from some religious figures within the Catholic Church regarding UFO abductions.

Despite the passage of 10 years since the November 30, 1989 abduction, Cortile acknowledges that she may never find complete closure. She describes lingering, fragmented recollections and a decision to stop searching for new answers, preferring to leave things as they are. She finds the experience to have been important in a negative way and wishes it had never happened. She expresses a desire to continue helping other abductees through support group meetings.

UFO Roundup Reports

Silbury Hill Sighting, Wiltshire, UK

Clive Stevens reported seeing mysterious flashing lights forming a flattened oval, described as a "flying saucer," over Silbury Hill in the early morning of February 20, 2000. The lights were blue, green, white, and red, blinking in a pattern. Stevens, a keen military historian, doubted it was a helicopter or aircraft and dismissed the possibility of hoaxers due to the cold weather. The sighting occurred around 4 a.m. The landlord of a nearby pub reported telephone line faults around the same time.

Illinois Hovering Craft

On April 25, 2000, a witness in Wood Dale, Illinois, observed a huge, hovering, and slowly rotating craft near Chicago O'Hare National Airport. The object was described as much larger than a 747, well-lit, and shaped like a thin fuselage with long wings, but without visible engines. The witness felt it was futuristic but not necessarily a spacecraft, possibly a bomber or observation vehicle.

Missouri UFO Caught on Infrared Video

On May 8, 2000, John Colaw, Kansas Director of Skywatch International, reported a sighting with seven other witnesses in Kansas City. The object appeared as a pulsing star with brilliant, changing colors. Using a SONY Handy cam with Night Shot infrared, they captured footage of the object's infrared signature, described as a pulsing fog with a bright, spinning triangular nucleus.

Louisiana Abduction

Allen H. reported an incident that occurred about six months prior to the publication date. While driving home late at night in Central, Louisiana, his car radio experienced static, his pager went wild, and he saw a bright light. He then experienced a loss of time, with an hour and fifteen minutes unaccounted for. He also described recurring experiences of being unable to move or yell while his wife slept nearby.

Lake Michigan Sightings

Paul Willison reported that during a lunchtime gathering, four out of seven coworkers shared accounts of unusual sightings, particularly near the shore of Lake Michigan. A coworker who frequently watches the lake described seeing 20 or more strange lights in an evening, often traveling in formation, low to the water, and capable of shooting up at high speeds. These sightings are common along sparsely populated areas of the lake shore.

Ulster Car Hijacking

On March 23, 2000, John H. from West Belfast, Northern Ireland, reported that his car was lifted off the ground by a UFO, resulting in six hours of "missing time." He was driving home from a long shift when he noticed an egg-shaped light. The object followed him, and he found himself driving towards Dublin against his will. He stopped the car, felt it lifting, and then had no memory until he was back on the road home, with 2:30 a.m. being his recorded arrival time.

Judith an Abductee Writes

Judith recounts her experiences of being abducted since childhood. She describes spaceships moving at high speeds and recalls seeing "grays" and aliens with computer monitors. She has experienced telepathic communication and instances where aliens have appeared in her home, sometimes with a sense of humor. She believes she has been given psychic gifts, such as knowing when a relative will die, and feels protected from accidents. She also mentions knowing the location of hidden police cars when speeding.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, alien abductions, missing time, and the challenges of belief and skepticism surrounding these phenomena. The publication, through its "UFO Roundup" section and the detailed interview with Linda Cortile, presents various accounts of unexplained aerial phenomena and personal encounters. The editorial stance appears to be one of open investigation and reporting, providing a platform for witnesses and experiencers while also acknowledging the existence of debunkers and the complexities of the subject matter. The UFO Study Group of Greater St. Louis positions itself as an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to gathering and disseminating information on UFOs.

Title: The UFO Enigma
Issue: Vol. 5, No. 20, Part 3
Date: December 16, 1999
Publisher: CNI News
Focus: Global News on Contact with Non-human Intelligence

Commentary: Why This Expectation of UFO Crashes?

This section features an opinion piece by attorney Peter Gersten of Citizens Against UFO Secrecy (CAUS). Gersten addresses the public excitement surrounding an object that fell to Earth in Australia, which was initially speculated to be an extraterrestrial vehicle but was later identified as a meteorite. He notes that despite technological advancements, there's a persistent belief in UFOs as physical objects that crash and leave evidence, a notion he refers to as the '1947 belief'.

Gersten argues that after fifty years of study, the physical evidence related to the UFO phenomenon is consistently inconclusive. He posits that whatever intelligence is interacting with humanity has complete control over our three-dimensional reality, including the ability to materialize and dematerialize, affect our senses, and program our 'organic software'. He considers it naive and egocentric to believe that we can understand this intelligence in any way other than consensually.

Furthermore, Gersten raises the question of whether it's time to seriously examine the numerous sightings of 'meteors' and 'fireballs.' He suggests that a scientific panel, similar to the one convened for 'Project Twinkle' which investigated the Green Fireballs of the late 1940s, should be established to study these continuous sightings and their implications.

Personal Accounts and Group Information

The issue includes a congratulatory note to Dawn A. Vohsen for passing the MUFON Field Investigator's Exam, with an expressed hope for future investigation reports.

A notable quote from Ronald Reagan, from 1974, recounts his experience as governor of California when he saw a white light zigzagging outside a plane window. He described following it for several minutes until it went straight up into the heavens. Reagan mentioned telling his wife Nancy about it but not filing a report because, at the time, people were considered 'nuts' for reporting UFO sightings.

Local Meetings and Organizations

The magazine also provides listings for local meetings of UFO-related groups:

• UFO Study Group of Greater St. Louis: Meets the second Sunday of the month at 2 P.M. Contact Spence Wolling (966-4955) or Walter Palmer (771-0173).
• MUFON Missouri-St. Charles, MO: Meets monthly on the third Tuesday at 6:30 PM at the Holiday Inn Select. Contact Bruce Widaman (946-1394).
• MUFON of Southern Illinois: Meets the third Sunday of the month at 2 P.M. at the Ponderosa Steak House in Collinsville. Contact Forest Crawford ((618)-345-0554).

Information is also provided for the UFO Study Group of Greater St. Louis, Inc., listing their 1999-2000 officers (President: Spencer Wolling, Vice-President: Walter Palmer, Treasurer: Margaret Myers, Secretary: Walter Palmer, Librarian: Spencer Wolling, Marshall: Frank Brown) and Board of Directors (Spencer Wolling, Walter Palmer, Margaret Myers, Frank Brown, John Schroeder, Walter Rogers, Arnold Pryor). Their mailing address is P.O. Box 31544, St. Louis, Missouri 63131.

The Fund for UFO Research, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to the research and investigation of UFOs, is listed with its address at P.O. Box 277, Mt. Rainier, MD 20712.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the nature of UFO evidence, the skepticism surrounding UFO crashes, and the potential for advanced, non-human intelligence. The editorial stance, as presented by Peter Gersten, emphasizes critical thinking regarding physical evidence and suggests a more open-minded approach to investigating unexplained aerial phenomena like 'fireballs.' The inclusion of personal accounts, like Reagan's, and the promotion of local study groups indicate a commitment to documenting and discussing UFO-related experiences and research.