UFO Review - Issue 11

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO REVIEW
Issue Date: June/July 2005
Issue Number: 11
Cover Headline: Roswell - The End!

This issue of UFO Review presents a controversial re-examination of the Roswell incident, challenging the long-held belief in an alien crash. The cover features a young boy looking at a balloon with the caption "Darn! It was a balloon after all," signaling a departure from typical UFO narratives. The magazine's stance is that the truth about Roswell is not what many in the UFO community want to hear, suggesting it has been "cracked" by author Nick Redfern.

The Roswell Case Re-examined: Nick Redfern's Theory

The core of this issue is an extensive interview with author Nick Redfern, whose new book, "Body Snatchers in the Desert: The Horrible Truth at the Heart of the Roswell Story," is presented as offering the definitive explanation for the Roswell incident. Redfern's theory, while potentially shocking, is argued to be logical and well-supported. The editor notes that while the theory may not involve aliens, it is compelling and "makes sense." The implications of Redfern's findings are described as "very, very profound" for the field of ufology, potentially freeing it from the "albatross" of the Roswell mystery.

Redfern's case is built upon new witness testimony and documentation, presented in a way that is described as impressive. The narrative of how the story came to him is also highlighted as intriguing, originating from two separate strands separated by five years. The editor acknowledges that elements of this theory have surfaced before, with some publications coming close to the truth about fifteen years prior, and a "now much maligned author" also grasping the core principle in 1990, though missing the details.

Disinformation and Government Involvement

The interview delves into the origins of Redfern's research, tracing back to August 1996 when he was working on a BBC TV documentary series called "Out Of This World." During filming at the Public Record Office in the UK, he accessed early files on UFOs. Shortly after the show aired, he was contacted by an individual claiming to have inside information about British government involvement in the UFO subject. This contact led to a meeting where the individual, who worked at the Home Office, revealed information about crashed UFO stories known to the British government.

This source indicated that in the period around 1980/81, following the publication of Bill Moore and Charles Berlitz's "The Roswell Incident," there was concern within the U.S. military about the truth of the Roswell story being revealed. The U.S. authorities reportedly began a large-scale monitoring of UFO researchers and witnesses. It was suggested that the Americans then engaged in a disinformation campaign, including fake documents, which was incorporated into other cases, such as the Bennewitz story. This campaign aimed to confuse the issue of what truly happened at Roswell and the nature of government/alien collaboration.

British Government's Role and Suspicions

The Home Office source explained that the Americans realized liaison was occurring with British counterparts and were concerned about feeding disinformation to the British public. They consequently asked the British Royal Air Force, specifically the Provost and Security Services, to monitor the situation on the British side. The British were reportedly briefed that a UFO had crashed at Roswell and alien bodies recovered, but the public could not be told due to "sinister aspects." However, the British reportedly became suspicious of the American assertion that Roswell involved an alien spacecraft. They conducted their own investigations and came up with information suggesting that the Americans had been "buggering around with Japanese prisoners of war brought over at the end of the Second World War."

The Home Office source, who had a personal interest in UFOs along with colleagues, was advised by their superiors not to publicize their involvement, as the Home Office did not want to be tied to the UFO subject. Despite this, they spoke with various people and attended lectures out of personal interest. Later, they were briefed by American Intelligence and the MOD, who apologized for the "heavy handed approach" and reiterated that they should not discuss their interest in UFOs. This reinforced the belief that Britain was being deceived by the American Air Force and CIA regarding the truth of Roswell and was being enlisted to help keep it hidden.

The Unit 731 Connection and Oak Ridge Sightings

The interview also touches upon a separate strand of information Redfern received, related to sightings at the Oak Ridge installation in Tennessee in the late 1940s. A woman who had worked at Oak Ridge during that period contacted Redfern after reading his FBI Files book. She revealed that in the summer of 1947, a number of strange bodies were taken to the Oak Ridge installation, and later transferred to Los Alamos. Some of these bodies appeared normal but exhibited burns from severe air crashes, while others were physically handicapped with syndromes like Progeria and polydactylism.

Her story indicated that these bodies were brought over from Japan in 1945. The context provided is the end of World War II and a skirmish in the Pacific involving a scientific medical laboratory allied to the notorious Japanese Unit 731. Unit 731 was known for horrific human experimentation, including amputations, exposure to extreme pressures and temperatures, and infection with plagues. Following the war, similar to Operation Paperclip for German scientists, a massive amount of documentation and potentially survivors or bodies from Unit 731 experiments were brought to the United States. The Oak Ridge witness suggested that the bodies she saw might have been related to this transfer, with the British wanting to cover their backs in case the story of these experiments came out.

Publication and Controversy

Redfern explains his delay in publishing this information, stating that he filed it away until he wrote his book. He was initially cautious, considering the possibility that the Home Office source might have been trying to mislead him or that the story was part of a disinformation program. However, he was able to verify the source's identity and position. The source indicated that post-retirement, he had no issue with his story being published, as people within the Home Office would likely recognize him anyway.

The editor anticipates controversy and potential mockery surrounding Redfern's conclusions, acknowledging that many individuals have dedicated their professional lives to the Roswell narrative. However, he believes Redfern's account, despite potential minor inaccuracies, is robust. The interview also highlights that the British suspected Roswell did not involve an alien spacecraft but rather a dubious experiment from the post-war era, possibly related to Japanese POWs. The British aimed to cover themselves in case the story broke, particularly concerning potential war crimes investigations.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue strongly emphasizes the theme of government disinformation and cover-ups, particularly concerning the Roswell incident. The editorial stance is that the conventional UFO narrative surrounding Roswell is likely a fabrication designed to obscure more mundane, albeit disturbing, truths related to military experiments and political maneuvering. The magazine promotes critical thinking and encourages readers to investigate Redfern's claims themselves. The overall tone suggests a shift from extraterrestrial explanations to human-driven deception and the complex geopolitical implications of post-war scientific and military activities.

This issue of UFO Magazine delves into the complex and often hidden history surrounding the Roswell incident, exploring its potential connections to post-World War II Japanese biological warfare experiments (Unit 731), advanced balloon technology, and a sophisticated U.S. intelligence disinformation campaign.

The Radiation Experiments Scandal and Unit 731

The discussion begins by referencing the radiation experiments scandal that surfaced in the mid-90s, involving extensive experimentation on U.S. citizens from 1944 through the mid-70s. It is revealed that a number of experiments were undertaken from the White Sands missile range in New Mexico from May to July 1947. These involved high-altitude balloon experiments where people were placed in gondolas with little to no protection, purely to observe the effects. Other experiments included prototype ejection capsules, both ground-based and high-altitude, designed to shoot people out at high speeds.

Crucially, the issue posits that Japanese Unit 731 personnel and documents were brought to the United States to continue their research. This connection is suggested as the origin of legends about strange bodies and unusual aircraft found in desert crash sites. The Americans, it is claimed, were continuing the war crimes the Japanese had committed, using their personnel on American soil. These experiments included high-altitude balloon tests, ejector capsule tests, and radiation experiments at Los Alamos, using bodies kept on ice to study radiation effects.

The Roswell Incident and Associated Tales

The narrative links these experiments to tales of crashed UFOs and strange bodies in the desert. It explains that during the May to August 1947 period in New Mexico, multiple incidents were occurring simultaneously. When interviewed years later, witnesses would recall different aspects of these events, leading to confusion and conflicting accounts about crashes, locations, and the number of bodies seen. This confluence of events, the issue suggests, answers why some people reported seeing three bodies, others four, and why sceptics might dismiss the accounts.

The issue distinguishes the Roswell story from other incidents, such as the Barney Barnett story, which involved something else crashing 150 miles away. The Roswell incident itself is attributed to a man from the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA). The story, as understood by the narrator, traces back to the Second World War and the Japanese Fugo balloons.

Fugo Balloons and Advanced Aircraft

In the closing stages of WWII, the Japanese began flying Fugo balloons, some carrying bombs, designed to drift to the U.S. and descend over time. Later, a more ambitious plan involved larger, advanced balloons with sophisticated gondolas piloted by small Japanese men, intended for biological warfare deployment. These were described as 'death-defying' missions, verifiable in 1945 publications.

The DIA source revealed that the Unit 731 people were working with the Fugo balloon project on another initiative: a huge balloon array with a swept-back flying wing aircraft attached. This aircraft, designed by the Horten brothers of Germany, was similar in design to the Stealth bomber and bore resemblance to Kenneth Arnold's initial drawings of UFOs. The plan was for the pilot to detach the aircraft over a target area and glide down.

The Roswell Crash and Cover-Up

In July 1947, a test of this balloon array and aircraft was conducted. The experiment was dicey and flimsy, with the aircraft suspended below the balloon. It began spinning, detached from the balloon array, and crashed. The bulk of the aircraft and part of the balloon array came down near the Brazel ranch, killing the pilots and crew. The military recovered the aircraft and bodies, but a nine-foot section of covering material and one body were missing.

The issue highlights the recovery efforts, emphasizing that recovering the aircraft and bodies was paramount to prevent public discovery of Japanese pilots in America. The missing piece of debris and the body were eventually found by Mac Brazel. The Roswell army air field released a story about a "flying disc," which the DIA source suggests was an honest mistake, as they had no prior knowledge of such craft and had not launched weather balloons. The story was released ten days after the Kenneth Arnold sighting, when the concept of flying saucers was new.

Disinformation and Intelligence Operations

The narrative then shifts to the role of U.S. intelligence in creating and spreading faked UFO stories. The DIA source explained that his job involved spreading faked UFO stories to the Russians, including pilot encounters, radar reports, and crashed UFO accounts, to gauge their reaction and potentially mislead them.

This disinformation campaign is linked to the Aztec crash story, attributed to Silas Newton, who allegedly admitted to U.S. intelligence that the story was bogus but was encouraged to continue spreading it. Another example is the Spitzbergen crash story, which the NSA identified as a "Plant" in their documents.

The issue suggests that this disinformation strategy, which began around the time of Roswell, was continued and expanded to hide other sensitive projects and events. The goal was to create a subtle narrative that swamped the public with UFO information, reinforcing an "alien angle" while simultaneously dismissing it as "garbage," thereby burying more controversial truths.

Materials and Intelligence Motives

The recovered material from Roswell, particularly the "memory metal," is discussed. It is suggested to be polythene coated with aluminium, exhibiting some memory metal properties. The DIA guy's involvement stemmed from his work in intelligence operations, including spreading faked UFO stories to the Russians. His job was to ensure these operations ran smoothly, without knowing the ultimate purpose.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently suggests a pattern of deception and cover-up by government and military intelligence agencies. The editorial stance appears to be one of uncovering these hidden truths, linking seemingly disparate events like experimental aircraft, biological warfare, and UFO sightings into a cohesive narrative of manipulation and secrecy. The issue emphasizes the difficulty in discerning truth from fabricated stories when intelligence agencies actively work to control information flow and public perception. The use of historical events and personnel, such as Unit 731 and the Horten brothers' aircraft designs, adds a layer of plausibility to the speculative claims about intelligence operations. The overarching theme is that the Roswell incident, and many subsequent UFO narratives, may have been deliberately shaped or manufactured for strategic purposes, particularly during the Cold War era.

This issue of UFO Review features an in-depth discussion, presented as an interview between 'SM' and 'NR' (Nick Redfern), exploring various facets of the UFO phenomenon, with a strong emphasis on disinformation, government cover-ups, and alternative explanations.

Disinformation and Soviet Moles

The discussion begins with a tactic used by the Army's Foreign Technology Division (FTD) to identify a Soviet mole. They created four distinct scenarios, feeding specific details to four suspected individuals. One scenario involved the FTD obtaining pieces of a crashed UFO, with a piece of Nitinol (shaped memory metal) being given to one suspect. This ruse, intended to reveal intelligence leaks, ironically led to genuine belief within American intelligence circles that crashed UFO materials had been recovered.

Fort Knox and 'The Wings of a Flying Saucer'

Philip Corso is mentioned in relation to the FTD's activities. The narrative then shifts to the storage of Hungarian natural treasures, including the Crown of St. Stephen, at Fort Knox under the 'Klondike' operation after WWII. To maintain secrecy and deflect attention, guards were allegedly told that the boxes contained 'The wings and the engine of a flying saucer,' a story that has since appeared in UFO literature.

The MJ12 Documents and Disinformation Campaigns

The conversation highlights the Silas Newton diary and NSA declassified documents as sources that confirm some UFO-related cover stories, including the infamous MJ12 documents. However, the prevailing view presented is that the MJ12 documents are entirely bogus, created by the military and intelligence community to keep certain truths hidden. Bill Moore and Jamie Shandera are discussed in relation to their work on these documents, with the assertion that they were fed disinformation. The strategy was to keep researchers like Moore and Bennewitz busy with fake material, thus diverting attention from genuine secrets, such as medical experiments, classified aircraft, and mind control.

The Nature of UFO Phenomena: Beyond Physical Aliens

Nick Redfern posits that the UFO phenomenon might not be about physical aliens visiting Earth. He suggests that the changing descriptions of UFOs and aliens over decades—from flying saucers and benevolent space men to bug-eyed aliens and greys—indicate a more fluid, perhaps psychological, phenomenon. He introduces the concept of 'tulpas,' a Buddhist idea of thought forms that can gain independent awareness and manifest based on collective belief and cultural motifs. This theory suggests that intelligence interacting with us adapts its appearance to fit our expectations, whether it's fairies from 500 years ago, gods from ancient times, or the greys of modern UFO lore.

Rendlesham Forest and Historical Parallels

The Rendlesham Forest incident is examined, with Redfern suggesting that the UFO sighting in 1980 might be the same phenomenon that has manifested in different forms throughout history in that location, such as sightings of black cats, black dogs, and the 'Shug Monkey.' The argument is that the UFO presentation in 1980 was simply the culturally acceptable manifestation of this phenomenon at that time.

The 'Alien Autopsy' Film and Progeria Theory

The controversial 'Alien Autopsy' film is discussed, with a theory suggesting the body depicted might be a person with Progeria, a rare genetic disorder. The discussion also touches upon potential connections to Unit 731 experiments and the possibility of government involvement in human experimentation in the 1940s, particularly concerning radiation experiments in China.

Government Knowledge and Paranormal Phenomena

Redfern expresses his personal opinion that while a genuine paranormal phenomenon exists, the government may not fully understand it but uses it as a cover for other activities. These activities could include hiding medical experiments, classified aircraft flights, and mind control. He suggests that some individuals who believe they were abducted might have been subjected to military medical tests or similar procedures.

The Arnold Sighting and Prototype Vehicles

Regarding the Arnold sighting, Redfern clarifies that Arnold described the objects as flying like a saucer skipped across water, not necessarily as 'flying saucers.' He suggests these might have been prototype vehicles, possibly based on technology from the Horten brothers, which were then presented as alien craft to influence public perception.

British Involvement and Disinformation

The role of British intelligence services, including MI5, MI6, and GCHQ, is explored. It's suggested that the British were initially uncomfortable with the American explanation of the Roswell incident and began their own inquiries. In 1986, the same year Jenny Randles was approached with files on crashed UFOs and alien autopsies, the P&SS (Provost and Security Service) reportedly relaunched a disinformation program. The British, concerned about the implications of the Roswell incident and the Rendlesham Forest incident, considered using disinformation tactics, similar to the Americans, to divert attention from potential nuclear accidents or other explanations.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes throughout this issue revolve around the deliberate use of disinformation by governments and intelligence agencies to control public perception of UFO phenomena. The magazine questions the literal interpretation of alien visitations, proposing that the phenomenon might be more complex, possibly rooted in psychological or paranormal aspects, and manipulated by authorities. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical inquiry, encouraging readers to look beyond the surface narratives and consider alternative explanations for the persistent UFO mystery. The issue emphasizes that many widely accepted 'facts' within the UFO community, such as the MJ12 documents, are likely fabrications designed to obscure deeper truths.

This issue of UFO Magazine, presented as a transcript of an interview between 'NR' (Nick) and 'SM', delves into alleged government experiments and cover-ups from the 1940s and 1950s, focusing on Progeria, radiation, and UFO-related disinformation.

Progeria Experiments and Alleged Hoax The discussion begins with the surfacing of files detailing radiation experiments conducted in the summer of '47 on individuals with Progeria. These files emerged after a film surfaced in 1995, allegedly showing a strange body filmed in '47 with Progeria symptoms. NR suggests that if the film was a hoax, it was an 'orchestrated hoax' because the timing of the file release was coincidental. He posits a theory that the film might have been faked to look like what happened, allowing the government to dismiss any real story as a fake film.

NR clarifies that the experiments documented in the files were legitimate medical research aimed at understanding thyroid gland diseases, not sinister attempts to harm individuals. However, he finds the timing of these radiation-based experiments in the summer of '47 intriguing, especially given that the Nuremberg trials' recommendations against human experimentation were coming into effect.

Project Sunshine and Body Snatching A significant portion of the interview focuses on 'Project Sunshine,' initiated in 1953. This project involved the government stealing bodies for radiation experiments. NR quotes a Doctor Kulp from Columbia who stated that 'human samples are of prime importance' and that there were established 'channels' to obtain bodies from various locations like Vancouver, Houston, and New York. Colonel Maxwell of the Armed Forces Special Weapons Project was also mentioned as having secured 'specimens' from Japan and Formosa. This project is presented as a separate confirmation of government involvement in unethical practices, distinct from the whistleblower information.

NR explains that the body snatching often involved obtaining parts of bodies, such as a shinbone, to test radiation absorption, rather than whole corpses. He notes that relatives were not informed, and in cases of death, an autopsy was not performed if the body was disfigured or damaged.

Government Cover-Up and Disinformation The interview touches upon the elaborate lengths the American government allegedly went to cover up the Roswell incident. NR believes that the number of people in the know in the 40s and 50s was significant, but very few would know the details now. He mentions that most interviewed individuals stated that files, bodies, and photographs were destroyed years ago, with the explanation that after projects were cancelled, there was no need to keep evidence of balloon and glider experiments.

NR suggests that the present American administration likely does not have a straight record of what happened at Roswell. He discusses the 'Mogul balloon story' as a potential cover-up, but also as the Air Force's best guess given the lack of records. He theorizes that shredded balloon debris or crashed gliders would have been destroyed to hide the paper trail, leading to the creation of fake stories.

Project Twinkle and Dr. Lincoln Lepaz Dr. Lincoln Lepaz, a professor at the University of New Mexico in the 40s and 50s, is introduced. He was involved in 'Project Twinkle,' an operation designed to monitor and understand 'weird green fireballs' seen in New Mexico, particularly around atomic energy installations. The initial theory was that these were not UFOs but possibly Russian projection devices. Lepaz was also reportedly involved in Roswell, which, combined with his UFO undertones in Project Twinkle, led to suspicions of a UFO angle to the Roswell incident.

Further investigation into Lepaz's background revealed his consultation on Japanese balloon bombs during World War II. His expertise on Fugo balloons and his proximity to Roswell made him a key figure in analyzing Fugo crashes and locations, suggesting a connection between these events and potential UFO activity.

NEPA Project and Nuclear Aircraft The interview also covers experiments conducted at White Sands on behalf of the NEPA (Nuclear Energy for Propulsion of Aircraft) project. This project aimed to determine if a nuclear-powered aircraft could be developed, facing challenges with shielding and reactor size. Simulations and tests were conducted, some involving technologies from Germany. The project was tested in mid to late '47. Following the Nuremberg trials, the NEPA project sought official permission to use US prisoners for experiments to determine the effects of reactor exposure on crew members, including how they would absorb or be shielded from radiation.

Personal Accounts and Research Methodology NR describes his interview process, emphasizing that the individuals he spoke with were often former intelligence or military personnel who had a vested interest or knowledge in the subject. He explains that the sources agreed beforehand to share their stories due to concerns about potential government repercussions. The interviews were conducted over a period, with some individuals initially hesitant to speak on record. NR also mentions using pseudonyms for some interviewees and verifying information through military records and photographs.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance The recurring themes throughout the issue are government secrecy, alleged unethical human experimentation, the potential for disinformation campaigns, and the difficulty in verifying historical events due to missing or destroyed documentation. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical inquiry, presenting evidence and testimonies to encourage further research and questioning of official narratives, particularly concerning UFO phenomena and classified government projects of the mid-20th century.

This document is an excerpt from an interview with author Nick Redfern regarding his book, "Body Snatchers in the Desert: The Horrible Truth at the Heart of the Roswell Story." The interview, conducted by SM, delves into Redfern's controversial theories about the Roswell incident and its broader implications for UFO research and government disinformation.

Redfern's Roswell Theory

Redfern expresses strong conviction that he has pieced together the Roswell mystery. He posits that the events in the vicinity of White Sands Missile Range in the summer of '47 involved multiple incidents, including high-altitude exposure experiments, ejector capsule tests, and crucially, a Japanese crew flying a Horten-inspired flying wing type vehicle attached to a huge balloon array. He believes this theory is correct because different witnesses provided distinct aspects of the story, rather than a uniform, rehearsed account. He likens this to multiple witnesses of a car accident offering unique perspectives. Redfern is convinced that witnesses recall their involvement to varying degrees, and when combined with file research, these recollections help explain the intricacies of the Roswell mystery, including why there might be accounts of aircraft, bodies, and debris in different locations.

He suggests that the common narrative of a crashed UFO and alien bodies at Roswell might be a misinterpretation, possibly conflating it with other events or deliberate disinformation. Redfern argues that the idea of a crashed UFO and alien bodies is a significant, perhaps the biggest, angle within the UFO subject, alongside abductions.

Implications for UFO Research and Cold War History

Redfern believes his findings have enormous implications for the UFO research community, challenging how much of the subject is genuinely UFO-related versus manipulated or fabricated to hide other truths. He also sees implications for Cold War history, drawing parallels to Operation Paperclip and the bringing over of Nazi scientists, but with a Japanese angle. He suggests that if Roswell is not a genuine UFO crash, then the existence of MJ12, alien autopsies, and back-engineering of alien craft become questionable. This, he argues, could mean that the entire crashed UFO mythology has been created by the intelligence community to conceal more down-to-earth, controversial phenomena like classified aircraft with advanced propulsion systems.

He acknowledges that this doesn't mean unusual bodies haven't been autopsied or that strange things aren't happening at Area 51, but rather that the overarching narrative might be a fabrication.

The Role of Disinformation and Cover-ups

Redfern discusses how the government might have used the UFO question extensively for counter-intelligence and disinformation. He believes that the Roswell narrative, if debunked, removes a key 'crutch' for Ufology as an intelligence tool. He asserts that the primary reason for these disinformation campaigns was to prevent the Russians from uncovering the truth and to control media narratives. He points to the Bennewitz story as an example of disinformation directed at the public, where a member of the public was fed faked tales. He also suggests that people receiving MJ12 documents might be targeted to distract them from the larger picture of what's being hidden.

Redfern emphasizes that the use of UFOs as a cover was most prominent during the height of the Cold War. He notes that post-Cold War, there are fewer whistleblowers discussing similar disinformation tactics, though some argue the ongoing emergence of MJ12 documents suggests otherwise. He believes that some MJ12 documents may have been created by U.S. Intelligence decades ago to confuse the Soviets, and later used in the 80s and 90s to bait individuals in the stealth industry for secrets.

Other UFO Phenomena

Redfern addresses other UFO phenomena like Foo Fighters and Ghost Rockets. He notes that declassified UK National Archives files discuss Foo Fighters during WWII, referring to them as German secret weapons. Regarding Ghost Rockets, he suggests they could be the Russians test-flying captured German missile technology or genuinely unexplained phenomena, with British Air Ministry files indicating they were considered Nazi vehicles.

He also discusses the Kingman UFO crash story from 1953, proposing it was likely a drone aircraft carrying chimpanzees that crashed during nuclear bomb tests in Nevada. The 'UFO crash' angle, he suggests, was used to hide the true nature of the event.

Abductions and Biological Warfare

Redfern touches upon alien abductions, noting that while he doesn't believe the military is directly responsible for all cases, he finds it puzzling that experiments in '47 involving fitting handicapped people with black eye lenses (making them look alien-like) coincide with the common description of aliens having large black eyes. He raises the possibility of ongoing experimentation or cover stories.

He also explores the connection between cattle mutilations and biological warfare. One theory suggests that cattle mutilations are linked to secret sampling programs to monitor the spread of biological viruses within the food chain, possibly from escaped experiments. He references Colm Kelleher's book "Brain Trust," which links Alzheimer's disease to Creutzfeldt Jakob disease and suggests cattle mutilation epidemics might be related to monitoring Mad Cow disease spread. Redfern also found files from 1948-49 detailing U.S. government concerns about enemy nations crippling the American food chain through deliberate infection of cattle herds with viruses, suggesting UFO scenarios could be used as a cover for such activities.

Bob Lazar and Research Credibility

Redfern discusses Bob Lazar, suggesting that Lazar may have been set up, possibly by being fed information about alien history alongside technical details of alien technology. He believes this was done to indoctrinate Lazar into the alien narrative. Redfern stresses that his motivation is not to discredit researchers but to encourage deeper investigation into cases, even if it challenges long-held beliefs. He believes that good researchers approach cases with an open mind.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The interview consistently returns to the theme of government disinformation and the potential for UFO narratives to be used as cover for classified projects or other activities. Redfern's stance is that while he is convinced a UFO mystery exists, he is not convinced that a UFO specifically crashed at Roswell. He advocates for rigorous, open-minded research and suggests that many accepted UFO narratives may be fabrications designed to conceal other truths, particularly those related to military and intelligence operations during the Cold War and beyond. The book aims to spur further investigation rather than discourage it.

This issue of UFO Review, dated July 1997, features an in-depth investigation into the Roswell incident, titled "ROSWELL PLUS 50." The article, by Jim Wilson, revisits the event fifty years later, presenting new evidence that challenges conventional explanations and suggests a terrestrial origin for the crashed object.

Previous Attempts and the Fugo Balloon Theory

The issue begins by referencing a March 1990 issue of Fate magazine, which first publicly proposed the theory that the Roswell mystery was related to the original Fugo balloons that drifted over the Pacific during World War II. This theory is presented as a prior attempt to explain the incident.

The Popular Mechanics Investigation

The core of the issue is an article that "has got the closest before," published in Popular Mechanics. This investigation delves into declassified documents, particularly a 1955 Air Force briefing paper titled "Report On Project Silver Bug." This report, prepared by the Joint Air Technical Intelligence Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, aimed to update intelligence experts on flying saucer technology and assess Soviet advancements.

German Saucer Projects and the Horten Brothers

The "Silver Bug" report described ongoing U.S. saucer projects with phenomenal flight specifications, including a craft weighing 26,000 pounds capable of reaching 36,900 ft. and an operating ceiling of 80,600 ft., with a cruise speed of Mach 3.48. The investigation traced the origin of these aircraft to Germany. Contrary to some UFO literature, the documents suggest the Germans were not reverse-engineering alien craft but were developing vertical-takeoff-and-landing (VTOL) aircraft due to Allied bombing of runways.

The article highlights the search for German engineers Walter and Reimar Horten, who were believed to have persuaded German leaders to construct saucer-shaped bombers. While U.S. military historians acknowledge the Horten brothers' work on circular and flying-wing aircraft, they dismissed them as having no military value. However, the Popular Mechanics investigation found that the Horten brothers had been found and allocated to the U.S. via "Operation Paperclip" in November 1946.

Operation Paperclip and Secrecy

"Operation Paperclip" is described as a secret and ethically controversial project to employ former Nazi scientists and engineers. The secrecy was maintained because the laboratories where these scientists worked were also associated with Nazi slave labor and death camps, and the advanced technology they possessed was deemed too sensitive to reveal to the American public, given the nation's war aims.

German Designs and Roswell

Further probing revealed that the Horten brothers were working on a new generation of circular-shaped VTOL aircraft just prior to their capture, with specifications similar to those in the "Silver Bug" report. Models of these designs were reportedly tested at Wright Field. The Air Force acknowledges German work on flying discs but claims they were unstable, citing examples like the failed Avro flying car and a deteriorating Horten wing. However, declassified records suggest these were shills to disguise more potent flying machines, such as Project Pye Wacket, designed as a missile launch platform.

Despite this information, the article notes two discrepancies with the Kaufmann account of the Roswell crash: the recovered craft was described as a lifting body, not round, and the absence of fire damage is unlikely for a jet-powered aircraft.

A Japanese UFO and the Mogul Balloon Explanation

The investigation also points to forthcoming documents that might explain other Roswell curiosities, such as a radar-deflecting pattern and the "dead alien" bodies with Oriental features. These documents are expected to reveal a Japanese counterpart to Operation Paperclip, investigating a suicide-piloted version of the Fugo incendiary bomb. These balloons were launched to start forest fires in the Pacific Northwest. The article speculates that the Japanese may have attempted to build a guided Fugo generation.

The article suggests the Roswell craft could be a U.S. attempt to re-engineer a second-generation Fugo or a hybrid craft using Fugo lifting technology and a Horten-inspired lifting body. It posits that Japanese engineers and pilots brought to the U.S. after the war could have been the "dead alien" bodies. Such a balloon, equipped with a radar-deflecting underside, could have conducted reconnaissance and air sampling experiments before returning to friendly territory.

Conclusion and Further Resources

Fifty years after the event, the article concludes that explanations requiring an extraterrestrial presence are highly implausible. The investigation favors the explanation of a "Made In Japan" flying disc. The issue provides links to the Popular Mechanics article and the Air Force's "REPORT OF AIR FORCE RESEARCH REGARDING THE 'ROSWELL INCIDENT'" from July 1994. It also mentions "Roswell Report Case Solved" by Captain Jim McAndrew and notes that Kevin Randle, Bill Hamilton, and Stan Friedman have also written on the topic. Information accompanying a book can be found at a provided URL.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme is the demystification of the Roswell incident through a rational, evidence-based approach, drawing on declassified documents and historical context. The editorial stance clearly favors terrestrial explanations, specifically those involving advanced German and Japanese wartime and post-war aviation technology, over extraterrestrial hypotheses. The magazine emphasizes the importance of critical analysis and the investigation of government archives to uncover the truth behind UFO phenomena.