UFO Mail - No 181 - 2014

Magazine Overview

Title: Skandinavisk UFO Information
Issue Date: September 12, 2014
Issue Number: 181
Publisher: Skandinavisk UFO Information
Country of Publication: Denmark
Original Language: Danish

This issue of Skandinavisk UFO Information delves into the complex case of pilot William Schaffner's disappearance, exploring how UFO myths can arise and persist, often at the expense of truth and the families involved.

Når ufomyter har ofre (When UFO Myths Have Victims)

The main article focuses on the disappearance of American fighter pilot William Schaffner over the North Sea on September 8, 1970. Schaffner, flying an English Electric Lightning as part of an exchange program with the British Royal Air Force, vanished after allegedly attempting to intercept a UFO. For thirty years, this incident was shrouded in secrecy by authorities, fueling extensive speculation and the formation of UFO abduction myths, particularly spread online in the 1990s.

In 2002, Schaffner's family gained access to official information, revealing the truth behind the incident. His youngest son, Michael, shared the tragic story in an article for FlyPast magazine.

The Incident:
On a stormy night in September 1970, Captain William Schaffner, a 28-year-old pilot from Ohio, was on a mission over the North Sea. He was stationed in Binbrook, Lincolnshire, flying an English Electric Lightning, an aircraft designed for high-altitude interception of Soviet bombers. Schaffner was scrambled to investigate an unknown signal detected by British ground radar. Suddenly, his own aircraft's signal disappeared from radar.

A month later, Schaffner's Lightning was recovered from the seabed. The aircraft was remarkably intact, the cockpit was closed, and the ejection seat had not been deployed. Captain Schaffner himself was missing.

The RAF conducted a thorough investigation, producing a report in 1972. However, due to Cold War security concerns, the report was classified. The incident was officially presented as an accident, and Schaffner's family was told he had died in the line of duty.

The Whistleblower and the Myth:
In 1992, rumors of a UFO abduction intensified when two sensational articles were published in The Grimsby Evening News by journalist Pat Otter. The articles were based on information from a mysterious "whistleblower" who claimed to have been part of the recovery team and wanted to reveal the truth. The whistleblower alleged that Schaffner had pursued a cone-shaped object emitting a bright blue light, accompanied by a rugby-ball-shaped, glassy object. Schaffner's last words, according to this source, were: "Wait a minute, it's turning around... and coming right at me... I'm taking evasive action..."

This account suggested that Schaffner's disappearance was due to a dramatic encounter with an unidentified flying object, and that authorities were involved in a cover-up. The closed cockpit further fueled the mystery, suggesting Schaffner had been abducted.

Tony Dodd's Conspiracy:
In 1999, UFO investigator Tony Dodd, a former police officer, published the book "Alien Investigator." He claimed that multiple radar installations had detected Schaffner's UFO and that even NORAD was on high alert. Dodd alleged that President Nixon was involved and that American authorities insisted Schaffner, an American pilot, be the one to intercept the object. However, Dodd, like the previous whistleblower, relied heavily on anonymous sources, making his claims difficult to verify.

Dodd himself was an interesting figure, claiming to have witnessed a UFO in 1978 and subsequently writing about the phenomenon. He also spoke of being threatened by authorities for possessing sensitive information. He believed aliens were infiltrating humanity with sinister intentions, identifiable by their deformed hands. Critics noted similarities between Dodd's claims and the 1960s TV series "The Invaders."

Dodd died in 2009 from a brain tumor, which he claimed was given to him by the authorities.

The Official Report and the Truth:
In 2000, William Schaffner's sons discovered these claims online and were shocked, as their family had always believed it was a tragic accident. Through cooperation with the BBC in 2002, the British Ministry of Defence released the 1972 report.

The report contained photographs of Schaffner's Lightning with its closed cockpit and, crucially, an accurate transcript of Schaffner's last conversation with ground radar. This transcript revealed that the "whistleblower's" account, used in Otter's 1992 articles, was a complete fabrication.

The genuine transcript showed that Schaffner had observed "a set of lights," not a cone-shaped object. One light belonged to his wingman, another Lightning pilot, while the other light belonged to a Shackleton, an older four-engine propeller aircraft. The Shackleton was flying low and slow, and Schaffner, in his high-speed jet, struggled to maneuver. The report concluded that Schaffner had crashed into the sea, a conclusion supported by his wingman and the Shackleton crew, who had observed him flying dangerously close to the waves.

The Training Exercise:
The report further clarified that the mission was not a combat operation but a TACEVAL (Tactical Evaluation exercise). These exercises were designed to test pilots' abilities to intercept and track incoming aircraft, whether friendly or hostile. In this scenario, a Shackleton was used as a target, simulating Soviet Bear-class bombers, which frequently flew over the North Sea during the Cold War.

To maintain realism, pilots were kept in the dark about the exact details of the exercise. Thus, the Shackleton, as an "unidentified flying object" in the context of the exercise, could technically be considered a UFO.

Why the Secrecy?
The 30-year secrecy surrounding the report was primarily to protect British air force procedures and tactics from the Soviet Union, their main adversary during the Cold War.

The Report's Thoroughness:
The report itself is described as being over a thousand pages long, including witness testimonies, maps, and photographs. It details the faulty ejection seat discovered after the recovery. The crash at low altitude and relatively low speed explained the minimal damage to the aircraft, confirming the Lightning's robustness.

It is theorized that Schaffner, unable to eject, managed to open the cockpit and exit the aircraft before it sank. He likely succumbed to hypothermia or drowned, his body carried away by currents, a fate common to many sailors and pilots.

The report is publicly available at The National Archives in Kew.

A Learning UFO Story

This case serves as a valuable lesson, particularly regarding the dangers of relying on anonymous sources. The "whistleblower's" false information significantly contributed to the UFO myths surrounding Schaffner's death. The identity and motives of this source remain a significant mystery.

Tony Dodd's claims in "Alien Investigator," also based on anonymous sources, appear to be pure fantasy in light of the 1972 report. The article warns that the use of anonymous sources, especially in the age of digital manipulation, should be a red flag.

Furthermore, the story illustrates how conspiracy theories can be used to avoid providing rational explanations. The article suggests that authorities may have valid reasons for secrecy (like protecting military tactics) that do not involve hidden knowledge of aliens.

It also points out that UFO believers often dismiss information from official sources if it contradicts their beliefs. Tony Dodd, for example, stated that the RAF would never admit to a UFO being involved.

Finally, the article emphasizes that UFO stories have real-world consequences, keeping the grief of the bereaved alive, as Michael Schaffner noted regarding the impact of UFO rumors on his family.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine's stance appears to be one of critical investigation, aiming to debunk myths and uncover the truth behind UFO phenomena. It emphasizes the importance of verifiable evidence, official reports, and the dangers of unsubstantiated claims, particularly those from anonymous sources. The editorial stance is skeptical of sensationalism and conspiracy theories, advocating for a rational and evidence-based approach to UFO research. The article also touches upon the historical role of figures like Ray Palmer in shaping the public's understanding of UFOs, often through speculative and fictionalized accounts.