UFO Newsletter (Richard Nolane) - No 24 - 10 avril 1999

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO NEWSLETTER
Issue: N°24
Volume: 10
Date: April 10, 1999
Publisher: Olivier Raynaud (for subscriptions), Richard D. Nolane (Editor)
Country: France
Language: French

Editorial

Richard D. Nolane, the editor, explains his recent silence due to his relocation to Canada. He is uncertain about the future of the newsletter beyond issue 30, as it depends on his available time. He assures readers that his other publication, 'Le FOO-FIGHTER', will continue, with its second issue about to be released in a slightly different format due to North American paper sizes. He confirms that the APT address remains valid for correspondence and extends belated New Year wishes for 1999.

Cover Story: "Between These Covers, 40 Years of Blindness in the Service of the Scientist Sect"

This section critiques the magazine 'Science & Vie' for what the author perceives as a belated and superficial engagement with the UFO phenomenon. It notes that 'Science & Vie', which had previously featured Aimé Michel in 1958, is now, over a year late, discovering the scientific interest in UFOs following a US conference. The article expresses skepticism about this newfound interest, suggesting it might be a superficial shift rather than genuine scientific inquiry, especially in light of the SETI program.

Article: "Mysterious Crash at Kecksburg, USA, December 9, 1965"

This detailed article revisits the 1965 Kecksburg UFO crash, an incident that remains controversial after more than three decades. Stan Gordon, a leading American researcher on the case, provides an update on the ongoing investigation. The event involved a brilliant object seen crossing the sky and crashing in the woods near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Media attention focused on a young boy who witnessed the object fall. Numerous reports from the public, police, and media outlets flooded in.

Gordon's investigation has uncovered more witnesses, including military personnel from the Army and Air Force who arrived at the scene. Journalists also arrived to cover the event, but the area was cordoned off, preventing access to the crash site. Civilians and journalists were kept at a distance, with some attempting to infiltrate the woods only to be turned back by the military. Later that night, a military truck was seen transporting a large, covered object away from the scene.

The local newspaper, the Greensburg PENNSYLVANIA TRIBUNE, reported the crash with headlines like "Unidentified Flying Object Crashes Near Kecksburg" and "Army Isolates the Zone." However, the main edition of the same newspaper stated that "Search Teams Did Not Discover the Object." Officially, no object was found, and the brilliant celestial object was suggested to be a meteor. However, rumors of a military recovery operation persisted.

Over the years, Gordon has received testimonies from individuals claiming to know details about the event, many of whom wish to remain anonymous. Some witnesses have faced personal attacks and ridicule. Key witnesses have since passed away.

According to witness accounts, a large, acorn-shaped metallic object, partially buried in the ground, was discovered before the military arrived. The object was large enough for a person to stand inside and was described as being made of a single piece of bronze-colored metal, without rivets or welds. Jim Romansky described strange markings on the object's base, resembling ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs. Romansky, a mechanic, believed the object was cast from a single mold.

John Murphy, the director of WHJB radio in Greensburg, was reportedly one of the first journalists on the scene and communicated with his ex-wife, describing the object in the woods. Gordon has received information from individuals connected to the government or military who are not yet ready to reveal their identities. Anonymous tips have also guided his research.

Before the "Unsolved Mysteries" episode on Kecksburg in 1990, Gordon was contacted by a former Air Force policeman who claimed to be part of the unit that guarded the object after its arrival at Lockbourne Air Force Base near Columbus, Ohio. This individual stated that the object was only in transit and was then transported to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, where it was reportedly stored in a building.

Despite years of searching for official documents, the only relevant report found was within the Project Blue Book files, which mentioned an investigation into an object that caused a fire. While indicating interest from various agencies, the report concluded that the searches yielded nothing.

Gordon is convinced that an object did crash and was recovered by the military. He considers two main possibilities for the object's origin: a human experimental space probe or an extraterrestrial craft. He notes that a malfunctioning Soviet Venus probe, Cosmos 96, reportedly fell in Canada on the same day, but the Kecksburg incident occurred hours later, and the Russians confirmed Cosmos 96 was not involved.

Gordon has also heard from NSA members who allegedly examined the object and concluded it was of Soviet origin. Other sources, including former military personnel, suggested an extraterrestrial origin for the object. Witness accounts suggest the object slowed down and maneuvered before landing, explaining its intact condition and minimal damage to the surrounding trees.

Gordon questions why the military would act in such a manner for a meteorite crash, citing instances of soldiers aiming rifles at civilians and a businessman's account of being intercepted by soldiers while trying to approach the site. He produced a 92-minute documentary, "KECKSBURG: THE UNTOLD STORY," in 1998, featuring testimonies from key witnesses, some of whom suggest a disinformation operation was involved. The documentary includes excerpts from a 1965 WHJB radio broadcast, "Object in the Woods."

Gordon concludes by stating that many people likely still possess crucial information about the Kecksburg case and that it is time to reveal the truth, regardless of the object's origin.

Subscription Information for CNI NEWS:
To subscribe to CNI NEWS, send an email to [email protected] with the message "Try News" for two free trial issues. The subscription costs $12 for six months and $24 for one year, with two issues delivered monthly via email. CNI NEWS is described as essential for the genre.

Information on Stan Gordon's Video:
For details on ordering "KECKSBURG: THE UNTOLD STORY," consult the website http://www.westol.com/~paufo or write to Stan Gordon, PO Box 936, Greensburg, PA 15601, USA. The cassette is NTSC format and requires a compatible player.

"Project Blue Book" on Television

The article discusses the 1978/1979 NBC television series "Project: UFO," which explored UFO investigations based on declassified Blue Book files. It notes that Blue Book, established in 1952, was perceived by the public as an effort to debunk UFOs. The article mentions the Condon Report (1968) and the eventual shift of Dr. J. Allen Hynek, a scientific advisor to Blue Book, towards believing in the reality of UFOs. It suggests that while the US Air Force publicly disavowed interest in UFOs, other government services continued the investigations.

"Project: UFO," produced by Jack Webb, aimed for a "docu-drama" style, with Colonel William T. Coleman, a former director of Blue Book, serving as technical advisor. The series incorporated case file numbers, often including "Incident" in the title. The show followed fictional Blue Book investigators, Sergeant Harry Fitz and Major Jack Gatlin (later Captain Ben Ryan), as they investigated UFO cases across the USA. While some cases involved debunking, the series increasingly suggested extraterrestrial manifestations. The article notes that the show achieved surprising success, even surpassing other sci-fi series at the time, partly due to the impact of Steven Spielberg's "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." However, viewership declined in the second season, leading to the late-season airing of the final episodes. The series, though eventually forgotten, contributed to the idea of government conspiracy regarding UFOs.

"LUMIÈRES DANS LA NUIT" Changes Address

'Lumières dans la Nuit' (LDLN) has moved to a new address: LDLN, BP 1128, 86062 POITIERS CEDEX 9, France. Starting with issue #350, LDLN will adopt A4 format, making it more suitable for layout but potentially harder to file. Issue #350 features a 25-page dossier on the French UFO wave of summer 1998. The issue costs 49F, and a 6-issue subscription for France is 265F, payable to Lumières dans la Nuit.

Readers' Mail

Jean-Pierre Tennevin from Aix-en-Provence responds to a previous article on ufology in Spain. He expresses disappointment that some Spanish ufologists, whom he knew 20 years prior, have shifted from conviction to socio-psychological explanations and skepticism. He mentions the creation of "Fundacion Anomalia" and its publication "Cuadernos de Ufologia," which he criticizes for selectively including French researchers, omitting many significant figures. Tennevin concludes that "charlatanism" and a lack of open-mindedness persist in the field.

(Little) Corner of the Debunker

The author recounts his experience in Montreal, where he encountered "Le Quebec Sceptique," a magazine he describes as a "catch-all anti-everything" publication with an intellectually narrow perspective. He notes that the magazine dedicated a full page to debunking his book "LES OVNI" (published by Milan), accusing him of presenting a subject of charlatanism in a smooth and seemingly serious manner. The author takes this criticism as a compliment and hopes his accessible book will promote accurate information. He also points out that the magazine selectively focused on his hypothesis about the TWA Flight 800 crash in his book "OVNIS: une menace pour l'humanité," ignoring the other 200 pages. He mentions that this book is being translated into Portuguese.

Obituary: Betty Cash

Betty Cash passed away on December 29, 1998, on the anniversary of her encounter with a diamond-shaped UFO in Texas on December 29, 1980. She and Vicki Landrum suffered significant health problems, which they attributed to aggressive radiation from the UFO. They sued the US government, arguing that authorities were responsible due to the presence of unmarked helicopters following the craft. The government reportedly evaded responsibility by claiming it could not possess such a device. Betty Cash had to cease her business activities and experienced frequent hospitalizations. She was 69 years old.

Important Notice: Due to the author's departure for Canada, signed copies of his books previously offered are no longer available.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the persistent mystery of UFO crashes (Kecksburg), the role of government secrecy and potential disinformation campaigns (Project Blue Book, Kecksburg cover-up), and the critique of scientific skepticism that dismisses or rationalizes UFO phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical inquiry, questioning official narratives, and advocating for the open investigation and discussion of UFO evidence, while also acknowledging the challenges posed by debunkers and the complexities of the subject matter. There is a clear skepticism towards mainstream scientific institutions when they appear to dismiss or downplay the UFO phenomenon. The magazine also highlights the importance of witness testimony and ongoing research in the field.