UFO Potpourri No 435

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO POTPOURRI
Issue: No. 435
Date: July 2000
Publisher: John F. Schuessler
Contact: E-mail: [email protected], Web Page: http://home.mho.net/schuessler/
Location: Morrison, CO 80465-0369

This issue of UFO POTPOURRI, published by John F. Schuessler, focuses on the potential of existing military technology to detect Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) and reviews historical radar-visual UFO cases.

Does a Navy System Detect UFOs?

The lead article explores the 'secondary system capabilities' of operational systems, suggesting that if properly applied, they might help resolve the mystery of UFOs. Currently, access to these systems is limited to the military and its contractors. However, the author proposes that a simple data stream to a private research organization could enable comparison of 'non-correlated' targets with UFO sightings.

The article specifically highlights the Naval Space Surveillance System (NAVSPASUR). NAVSPASUR is described as a radar system designed to detect orbital objects passing over the United States, capable of identifying objects as small as 10cm in diameter at altitudes up to 15,000 miles. It measures the positions and velocity vectors of these objects.

The system operates on a 216.98 MHz continuous wave frequency, utilizing three transmitting stations located at Lake Kickapoo, Texas; Gila River, Arizona; and Jordan Lake, Alabama. These transmitters create a narrow fan beam perpendicular to the Earth's surface. Six receiving stations, equipped with phased array antennae, are situated across the US in San Diego, California; Elephant Butte, New Mexico; Red River, Arkansas; Silver Lake, Mississippi; Hawkinsville, Georgia; and Tattnall, Georgia. These receivers define the point where an object passes through the detection beam.

Further details on NAVSPASUR's site locations, power ratings, and frequency range are available on the internet at http://www.zilker.net/~crossley/NAVSPASUR/index.html. The author states that NAVSPASUR is just one part of a larger proposal to use existing technology to resolve the UFO mystery.

UFOs on Radar for More Than 50 Years

This section delves into the history of UFOs being reported on ground radars, onboard aircraft radars, and in simultaneous radar and visual sightings. The author laments that these cases are often examined individually rather than as an integrated database, which diminishes their significance. When viewed as a class of sighting data, however, the results are considered quite significant.

The article then presents several historical examples:

• November 23, 1948: A UFO was observed visually and on ground radar near Furstenfeldbruck, Germany. It appeared as a reddish, star-like object, was tracked climbing to 23,000 feet in minutes, flying at 900 m.p.h., and eventually climbed to 50,000 feet, circling 40 miles south of Munich. (Referenced from Edward Ruppelt's 'Report on UFOs').
• August 1973: Over the Pacific Ocean, an intercontinental ballistic missile nose cone, descending at 22,000 feet per second, was being tracked by radar systems on Kwajalein and Meck Islands. At approximately 400,000 feet, radar experts detected an unidentified flying object next to the nose cone. This object was described as inverted saucer-shaped, 10 feet high and 40 feet long, and was observed to cross the warhead's trajectory before disappearing. Experts did not believe it was a natural phenomenon or common radar echo. (Referenced from The Trentonian, July 24, 1974).
• October 14, 1973: In Marion County, Mississippi, a UFO was observed on radar at Columbia and visually by Civil Defense Director James Thornhill. Witnesses reported bright blue lights on the object. The weather was clear. The object approached the airport and then became stationary about three miles away, causing the radar to 'completely jam.' (Referenced from The Times-Picayune, October 16, 1973).
• October 15, 1948: A USAF pilot and radar operator flying an F-61 night interceptor aircraft in Japan tracked a UFO on radar and observed it visually. It was described as being shaped 'like a rifle bullet.' The F-61 crew observed a silhouette 20 to 30 feet long at an altitude of 5,000 to 6,000 feet. The object was flying at 200 m.p.h. and, after six passes by the aircraft, accelerated to 1,200 m.p.h. (Referenced from Edward Ruppelt's 'Report on UFOs').
• August 1, 1965: In Wichita, Kansas, at 2 a.m., weatherman/radar observer John Shockley tracked objects to the south of town. These objects were described as the size of a Cessna aircraft and at an altitude of 6,000 to 9,000 feet. Visual sightings were also made by police officers Dave Lowe and Eddie Roberts, and Deputy Sheriff Everett Trucker. (Referenced from The Wichita Beacon, August 2, 1965).

The article concludes by stating that hundreds, perhaps thousands, of radar and radar-visual UFO cases exist, and even one such case should be sufficient to prompt extensive scientific investigation, with the rest providing further data for scientists seeking 'physical evidence.'

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this issue is the underutilization of existing technological capabilities, particularly radar systems, in the investigation of UFO phenomena. The editorial stance, as expressed by John F. Schuessler, is that technology already in place, such as NAVSPASUR, could be leveraged to demystify UFOs. The magazine advocates for a more integrated approach to analyzing historical UFO data, especially radar and visual correlations, to build a stronger case for scientific investigation and the pursuit of 'physical evidence.' The publication highlights the historical significance of radar detection of UFOs, dating back over 50 years, and implies a need for greater scientific engagement with this evidence.