North Jersey U. F. O. Group

Magazine Overview

This document comprises several press releases and meeting minutes from the North Jersey U.F.O. Group, primarily dating from October and November 1955, with one meeting in January 1956. The content focuses on the group's activities, research, publications, and their perspective on official statements regarding unidentified flying objects (UFOs).

Key Events and Announcements

Meetings and Speakers:

The North Jersey U.F.O. Group regularly holds meetings. A significant announcement details a meeting on Thursday evening, May 24th, to be held at the Griffith Foundation Auditorium in Newark, featuring Gray Barker as a speaker. Barker, an author and educator, was set to discuss his new book, 'They Knew Too Much About Flying Saucers,' which reportedly details instances of investigators being silenced. The meeting was open to the public with an admission fee of 50¢ for members and $1.00 for non-members.

Another meeting was held on November 10, 1955, at the Paterson YMCA, with approximately 18 attendees due to inclement weather. Lee R. Munsick chaired this meeting, which involved balloting procedures for organizational matters.

A subsequent meeting, the 3rd General Meeting, took place on January 19, 1956, at Lee R. Munsick's home in Morristown, with about 40 people present. This meeting featured a review of Major Keyhoe's 'Flying Saucer Conspiracy' by Ted Collen and a presentation by Lex Mebane of Civilian Saucer Intelligence of New York, who reviewed the Air Force report and displayed related books.

Publications and Research:

Gray Barker is noted as the author of 'The Saucerian,' a magazine circulated worldwide for three years, and has recently published 'Saucerian Bulletin' and a 100-page book titled 'Saucerian Review.' The group itself has recently started publishing its own 'UFO Newsletter.'

The group's activities include investigating sightings, maintaining extensive files, and reviewing books on the subject of flying saucers. A new Technical Research Committee was established, headed by Edward G. Collen, to revise the group's published evaluations of books.

Organizational Structure and Membership:

The North Jersey U.F.O. Group has a Central Committee, which was later expanded to a five-member Executive Committee. The committee handles the group's business and is responsible to the members. The group is actively seeking new members and emphasizes the importance of membership for receiving updates, accessing resources, and participating in activities.

Key Figures and Their Roles:

• Lee R. Munsick: A member of the Executive Committee, Munsick serves as the group's spokesman for public relations, handling liaison with press, civilian, police, and military authorities. He is also the Executive Secretary of a non-profit organization involved in record collection and educational radio programs.
• Gray Barker: A prominent businessman and educator, Barker is an author and speaker who investigates UFO phenomena. He is known for his work on the 'Flatwoods Monster' incident and his book 'They Knew Too Much About Flying Saucers.'
• Edward G. Collen: Heads the new Technical Research Committee. He is a Project Engineer for an aircraft instrument manufacturer and has a background in rocket engine and jet propulsion.
• William J. Wilson: Directs the group's liaison with members and other research groups, managing the UFO files and maintaining contact with publishers.
• Lex Mebane: Secretary of Civilian Saucer Intelligence of New York, he reviewed the Air Force report and related books at a group meeting.
• Ted Bloecher: Research Director for CSI of New York, he was the main speaker at the January 1956 meeting.

Notable Incidents and Investigations:

The group investigated the 'Flatwoods Monster' incident in West Virginia in 1952, where seven witnesses reported a landed spaceship. This event was a catalyst for Gray Barker's three-year investigation.

Air Force Statements and Group's Response

Lee R. Munsick commented on recent Air Force statements, particularly those made by Air Secretary Donald A. Quarles. The group acknowledged that the Air Force stated work was being done at Avro Ltd. and Ryan Aeronautical Co. on jet-powered craft, but emphasized that their own investigations primarily dealt with non-jet or rocket-propelled objects. Munsick expressed hope that the government would succeed with electro-magnetic or anti-gravity propulsion but suggested this was not the case.

The group viewed the Air Force's statements as an attempt to quiet growing public interest in UFOs, noting contradictions regarding the continuation or abandonment of Project Bluebook. They stated their mail had been heavy, indicating significant public interest.

Regarding the Air Force's claim of 3% unexplained sightings, Munsick called it the lowest figure he had heard, but still significant given the large number of sightings.

Other UFO-Related Activities Mentioned

• Major Donald Keyhoe: His new book, 'The Flying Saucer Conspiracy,' was mentioned as being due for release.
• Desmond Leslie: A British pilot and author, also noted for upcoming publicity.
• M. K. Jessup: Author of 'A Case for the UFO,' was lecturing in the U.S.
• Captain Edward Ruppelt: Former head of Project Bluebook, his book 'Report on Unidentified Flying Objects' was reviewed and available for purchase.
• H. T. Wilkins: Author of 'Flying Saucers Uncensored,' also available at a discount.
• Civilian Saucer Intelligence (CSI) of New York: The group maintains close contact with CSI, which holds public meetings and conducts investigations.
• Project Bluebook: The Air Force's UFO investigating agency, its status was a point of discussion and confusion.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in these documents are the persistent public interest in UFOs, the active research and dissemination of information by civilian groups like the North Jersey U.F.O. Group, and a degree of skepticism towards official government explanations. The group positions itself as an independent, unprejudiced investigator, seeking cooperation from governmental agencies while also critically examining their statements. There is a clear emphasis on the importance of membership for continued engagement with the group's activities and resources. The editorial stance is one of dedicated, ongoing investigation into the UFO phenomenon, driven by public curiosity and a desire for factual understanding, often in contrast to what is perceived as official attempts at suppression or obfuscation.