uhr13

Magazine Overview

Title: U.F.O. HISTORICAL REVUE
Issue: NUMBER 13
Date: SEPTEMBER 2009
Editor: BARRY GREENWOOD

This issue of the U.F.O. Historical Revue, revived through digital technology, aims to continue the work of preserving and researching historical UFO phenomena and related government documents. The editor, Barry Greenwood, notes the passing of prominent researchers like John Keel and Richard Hall, emphasizing the need for new efforts to uncover and analyze existing information. The publication's original focus was pre-1947 aerial phenomena, but it now acknowledges that more recent times are becoming the 'distant past,' necessitating occasional coverage of late twentieth-century events.

The editorial stance is one of careful research and reporting without endorsing exotic theories due to a lack of adequate evidence, a problem that has plagued the UFO topic for decades. The publication seeks to present interesting and worthy investigations without forcing conclusions.

FBI ACADEMY RECORDS REVEALED

This section details the discovery of extensive UFO-related press clippings on microfilm at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. Jim Melesciuc, director of Mass MUFON, came across these records while exploring the library. The microfilm, compiled from 1978 to 1991, contains a wide range of subjects, including UFO secrecy, sightings, and personality features, with some articles critical of government UFO report management. The clippings were cut and pasted onto 8 1/2 x 11 sheets, with roll and frame numbers for locating specific items. Four sets of letter codes were used for subject categorization, including 'TRA' for 'TRANSPORTATION,' 'INT,' 'ENV' for 'ENVIRONMENT,' and 'SCI' for 'SCIENCE.' The origin of this collection and the reason for its preservation long after official investigations ceased are questioned.

CIA Documents Unveiled on UFO Reports

An article from the Phoenix Arizona Republic dated January 12, 1979, discusses CIA documents acquired through a lawsuit. These documents, from the early 1950s, reveal the CIA's concerns that UFO sightings could be mistaken for Russian air attacks or used for psychological warfare. The documents suggest that while it is 'against fact and logic' to believe UFOs are foreign spacecraft, a significant portion of the population is 'mentally conditioned to acceptance of the incredible.' The CIA worried about distinguishing between actual hardware and phantom sightings during an attack. The article also notes the absence of UFO reports in the Russian press, raising questions about official policy decisions and potential psychological warfare implications. The documents also include reports from US embassies and military personnel regarding UFO sightings worldwide, including a detailed report of a 1976 sighting in Iran where two F-4 Phantom jets pursued a UFO that emitted smaller craft, causing communication system failures in the jets.

RAMEY MEMO REDUX – LINE 5

This section revisits the ongoing discussion about the 'Ramey Memo,' a document held by Brigadier General Roger Ramey in a photograph taken on July 8, 1947, following the alleged Roswell UFO crash. The photograph shows Ramey, his chief of staff, and an Roswell AAF officer. The document itself is largely illegible, with attempts to enlarge it revealing only a few words. The author, who previously discussed the memo in March 2004, suggests it might be a teletype dispatch from a newspaper office rather than a top-secret military document. The author recounts a personal effort to decipher the text using a 3-D filter and image enhancement techniques. Through 'letter stacking' and comparison with contemporary news reports, the author proposes that a key line in the document reads: "....WARREN HAUGHT, PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER AT ROSWELL, SAID." This is linked to Lt. Warren Haught, the public information officer at Roswell Army Air Field, whose name was reportedly misspelled as 'Haught' instead of 'Haut' in some early press reports due to the rush to publish news about the Roswell incident. The photographer, J. Bond Johnson, initially testified that he had a flash AP wire dispatch from the teletype machine, but later recanted aspects of his testimony.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue consistently emphasizes a critical and evidence-based approach to UFO research. The editorial stance, as articulated by Barry Greenwood, is to 'note, research, and report' phenomena without endorsing 'exotic theories' lacking adequate evidence. The publication aims to fill the void left by deceased researchers and to leverage digital resources for historical investigation. There is a clear skepticism towards unsubstantiated claims, advocating for a grounded approach that acknowledges the interest and importance of UFO reports while avoiding premature conclusions. The recurring theme is the meticulous examination of historical documents and press coverage to reconstruct past events and understand the context of UFO phenomena and government responses.

This issue of UHR (presumably a publication related to UFO history) focuses on a detailed analysis of the Ramey memo, a document associated with the Roswell incident. It critically examines the memo's content, its potential origins, and visual elements, alongside presenting early journalistic accounts of the Roswell event from 1947.

The Ramey Document: Textual Analysis

The article begins by discussing the challenges of interpreting journalistic teletype messages, noting that they can be refined and rewritten before publication, making exact matches difficult. The key determination in the analysis hinges on the word "HAUGHT," which the author believes can be seen in enhanced versions of the Ramey document. The author tests this interpretation with others and consults David Rudiak, a proponent of the Roswell-as-ET theory, who had previously called the author's work "totally bogus."

Rudiak's examination of thirteen versions of the Ramey document revealed various interpretations of its text. While some versions agreed on phrases like "AT ROSWELL" and "DISC," interpretations of other words, such as "GHT," varied. Rudiak himself interpreted "GHT" as "WRIGHT," relating to Wright Field, Ohio, but could not construct a coherent sentence. The author concludes that most interpretations of the Ramey document's phrases lack contextual sense and build broken phrases.

The author then ponders the significance of "WARREN HAUGHT" appearing in a classified, top-secret government teletype about flying saucers and alien bodies. The article contrasts this with the idea that the event is classified on par with the H-bomb. It questions why a top-secret document would draw information from a public relations officer at Roswell instead of intelligence on debris or technology, and why it would mangle names.

The Ramey Document: Alternative Interpretation

An alternative interpretation is proposed: if the Ramey document were not a classified message but a news wire, the secrecy scenario would be less problematic. The article summarizes that line 3 contains "...AT FORT WORTH, TEX.," line 4 has "..THE ‘DISC'..", and line 5 is best read as "...WARREN HAUGHT, PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER AT ROSWELL, SAID." This interpretation suggests that all these elements can be traced to journalistic news accounts rather than military/government documents.

Emblem Visible on the Ramey Photo

This section focuses on the upper left corner of the Ramey document, where a shape or emblem is visible. It is noted that this emblem resembles either a depiction of the Liberty Bell or an old-fashioned telephone. Speculation ranges from an old stamp to "Buy War Bonds" or a "You-Had-A-Phone-Call" type of message on memo paper. The article notes that features suggest something other than the Liberty Bell and that virtually nothing can be read in that area.

Figure 8 shows the upper left corner with the image of a telephone or Liberty Bell, credited to Victor Golubic. Figure 9 further analyzes the Ramey image in comparison to a Liberty Bell illustration, suggesting that the Ramey image's structures leading from the "base" to the "receiver" are more consistent with a telephone image than a Liberty Bell, particularly noting how the yoke is depicted.

Addendum: Early News Coverage of Roswell

The addendum presents several pages of sample news coverage of the Roswell incident from 1947, demonstrating that much of the phrasing found in the Ramey document is repeated in these early reports. The coverage indicates a focus on smaller debris, including sticks, foil, and rubber, with no mention of bodies.

"AAF Finds 'Saucer' But Wishes It Hadn't"

This article from The Boston Herald (July 9, 1947) reports on the Roswell incident. It details how Lieut. Warren Haught of the AAF public relations office at Roswell Field issued a statement about the discovery of a "flying disc." The announcement quickly led to reactions from generals in Washington. The story unfolded to reveal that the "disc" was found by a rancher named W. W. Brazell. The object was sent to General Ramey in Fort Worth and then to Wright Field, Ohio. The Army Air Forces headquarters was caught off guard, but Lt. Gen. Hoyt Vandenberg provided details. The article states the "disc" was discovered about three weeks prior by W. W. Brazell, who found it scattered over his land. He reported it to the sheriff, who turned him over to the Army. Col. Blanchard sent it to General Ramey. General Ramey believed it was the "remnant of a weather balloon and a radar reflector" and "nothing to be excited about." He allowed photographers to take pictures, and it was announced that the object would be sent to Wright Field for examination.

"'Saucer' Isn't AAF's 'Dish'"

This article continues the Roswell story, noting that the sheriff turned the find over to the Army. Col. Blanchard sent it to General Ramey. The object was described as "of flimsy construction," "something like a box-kite covered with tin foil." General Ramey stated it was badly battered and he couldn't tell its shape, that it didn't seem to have a motor, and wasn't big enough to carry a man. The story gained momentum, but skepticism grew. General Ramey cancelled and then reinstated a radio broadcast, ultimately stating that the flying saucers remained "way up in the middle of the air."

A warrant officer named Irving Newton, a weather forecaster at the Fort Worth army station, examined the object and declared it was a weather balloon. Weather stations routinely send up such devices. The article mentions that the "discs" were paper pie plates and "flying saucers" sighted recently were propelled by jokesters from a tall building. It concludes that a "flying saucer" isn't the Army Air Forces' dish.

"Flying Disc Found By Air Corps Only A Weather Balloon"

This article from the San Francisco Examiner (July 9, 1947) reports that the Army Air Forces announced that an actual flying disc found near Roswell was a "box kite radar reflector of a weather balloon." The article details how the announcement caused excitement, but the "saucer" shattered on "hard fact." The Examiner telephoned Brig. Gen. Roger M. Ramey, who commanded the Eighth Air Force. Ramey expressed suspicion that it was part of a weather balloon and provided a description that matched radar reflectors. The article notes that the Army's announcement sent high brass scurrying for information, jamming telephone lines. Lt. Gen. Hoyt Vandenberg took charge of the AAF press section in Washington.

"Discovery Turns Out to Be Radar Reflector"

This section details the Roswell "disc" discovery. The Army Air Forces announced it was a "saucer-conscious Nation" yesterday with the announcement that an actual flying disc had been found near the cradle of the atomic bomb in New Mexico. Three hours later, it was revealed to be a "box kite radar reflector of a weather balloon." The Examiner contacted Brig. Gen. Roger M. Ramey, who believed it was the "remnant of a weather balloon and a radar reflector" and "nothing to be excited about." The object was sent to Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio, for examination. The article mentions that H. W. Gwyther, an expert on weather balloons, believed they explained many flying saucer sightings, as their flat, hexagonal or star shapes would look like discs when spinning and reflect light strongly due to aluminum foil.

Disavowal and Other Sightings

General Ramey issued a disavowal, stating, "There is no such gadget (as the disc) known to the Army -at least this far down the line." The article also mentions a report of hundreds of "flying discs" seen over San Leandro, California, which were identified as a weather balloon released at 7 p.m. and bursting at 7:24 p.m.

"Army, Navy Open Drive To Put End to 'Disc' Rumors"

This article from the Port Arthur Ta News (July 9, 1947) reports that the Army and Navy began a concentrated campaign to stop "flying saucer" rumors. Reports of saucers fell off sharply. The wreckage found on a New Mexico ranch was identified as a weather balloon. AAF headquarters in Washington reportedly rebuked officers at the Roswell base for suggesting it was a "flying disc." A 16-inch aluminum disc found in Shreveport, Louisiana, was declared the work of a prankster.

"Army, Navy Fight 'Disc' Tales--"

This continuation from the Port Arthur Ta News details further reports and official responses. U.S. Naval Intelligence officers investigated claims by Navy men who saw a "silvery colored, like aluminum, with no wings or tall" object over Honolulu, which they believed was not a weather balloon due to its speed and behavior. The article recounts the cycle of excitement: Lt. Warren Haught's statement, Brig. Gen. Roger B. Ramey's initial assessment, Warrant Officer Irving Newton's verdict that it was a target used for wind velocity, and reports of Haught being "shut up" by phone calls from Washington. It also mentions that Maj. Jesse A. Marcel told the finder that it "has nothing to do with Army or Navy."

Other finds are recounted, including a 6.5-inch steel disc found by Lloyd Bennett, who intended to claim the reward. The article reiterates that the wreckage found on the New Mexico ranch was from a weather balloon. It discusses the components of wind-sounding devices, including a synthetic rubber balloon and a kite-like device, which can reach high altitudes and explode, releasing instruments.

Weather Bureau officials and meteorologists are quoted, with some suggesting that balloons could be mistaken for flying saucers due to their visibility at high altitudes. The article notes foreign newspapers making light of the "flying discs."

UHR Expands

The editor announces the launch of a new website: http://www.greenwoodufoarchive.com/, which will feature bibliographic information on UFO history, including "Inventory" sections and runs of "Just Cause" and "UHR."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the critical examination of the Ramey memo, its potential origins in journalistic reporting rather than official government communication, and the analysis of its visual and textual components. The issue also highlights the early, official debunking of the Roswell incident as a weather balloon, contrasting with later, more sensationalized accounts. The editorial stance appears to be one of skepticism towards sensational claims and a preference for evidence-based analysis, particularly by tracing information back to its original sources and questioning official narratives when inconsistencies arise. The publication of early news reports serves to contextualize the Roswell story and demonstrate how the narrative has evolved.