UFO Sighter Vol 4 No 4

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO Sighter
Issue Date: Fall, 1965 (Volume 4, Number 4)
Publisher: UFO Sighter
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of the UFO Sighter magazine delves into various UFO sightings and related discussions, maintaining a stance of open inquiry and critical analysis.

Cover Story: UFO Sighting Here Reported

The cover story details a UFO sighting reported in Atlanta, Georgia, on a Saturday morning. A youth called the police to report an unidentified flying object hovering in the sky. Patrolman Robert Gentry responded, but he and other officers did not see the object, only shooting stars. Buddy Hubbard, 18, also reported seeing a bright, glowing object near the Valley View Nursing Home that moved slowly, returned, and then rapidly moved away without noise. Hubbard described the object as "Bigger than any house."

Congress Photos

Photographs from the 1965 UFO Congress are featured, showing attendees including Bill Witt, Mike Mann, Yonah ibn Ah-aron, Jim Moseley, Elmer Schutt, and Dave Halperin. Another photo shows James W. Moseley, Editor of Saucer News, giving a keynote speech.

Editorial: The Welcome Wagon

By Allen H. Greenfield, Editor

Allen H. Greenfield introduces the magazine's history and editorial policy. The UFO Sighter is presented as an independent journal of opinion on UFOlogy and peripheral subjects, aiming for a rational, scientific, and enlightened viewpoint. Greenfield criticizes the scientific establishment's handling of the UFO subject and calls for a radical change in attitude. While open to 'Contact' claims, the magazine has yet to find a case proven beyond doubt. The editorial traces the magazine's origins from the Teen Bureau of Flying Saucers (TBFS) in 1959, through various mergers, to its current independent status. Greenfield emphasizes the importance of open, objective investigations and criticizes censorship by the U.S. Air Force. He also quotes past editorials highlighting the need for public education, the potential hostility of UFOs, and the importance of meeting challenges head-on.

Letters to the Editor

Several letters offer feedback and opinions:

• Kathleen Thornton expresses enjoyment of the magazine and regret at missing the American UFO Congress.
• Steve Erdmann questions the 'Hoax' label for the Glassboro incident, citing evidence that would require significant effort to fabricate.
• Huey P. Beasley praises the publication and its editorial "In Defense of Orthodoxy," emphasizing the importance of clear terminology in distinguishing truth from falsehood, particularly in UFOlogy, where terms like 'Scientific' and 'Orthodox' are sometimes usurped.
• Eugene R. Steinberg critiques the approach of some UFO researchers, suggesting that ignoring proponents of certain theories might be more effective than engaging them. He also questions the justification for claims about 'physical evidence' in the Steve Erdmann article concerning the Maury Island incident, suggesting a lack of corroboration.

Articles and Reports

• Many Sighted But Not Reported: A report from the Arkansas Democrat quotes state representative Talbot Feild Jr., who believes UFOs are from outer space. He suggests that many sightings are not reported due to ridicule and the Air Force's past investigations, which may have discouraged open reporting.

• UFO is no laughing matter in England: This article details reports from Warminster, England, of a mysterious 'thing' causing fear and strange occurrences, including alleged soundwaves that paralyzed a child and killed pigeons. Various descriptions are given, from lights to cigar-shaped objects.

• Satellite Seen Over Henderson: Mrs. William Windhaus reported seeing a bright moving object over the Blue Ridge Mountains and later over Henderson, Kentucky, possibly a satellite.

• Flaming Object Sighted in Sky: Reports from Pueblo, Colorado, and Denver describe a bright flaming object, with authorities suggesting it was likely a meteorite.

• Letter from Vandenberg Air Force Base: An anonymous member of the 10th Aerospace Defense Squadron reports sighting a disc-shaped UFO on July 13, 1965, near Coast Road in G sector. The object was described as the size of a half dollar, with cabins and a soft light. The individual chose not to report it through official channels due to the investigation process but decided to share the sighting with the UFO Sighter.

• SERVOMECHANISMS OF THE MIND AND UFOs: The Maury Island-Tacoma Mosaic (Part IV): By Steve Erdmann. This installment critically analyzes the Maury Island incident, focusing on the theories of Tom Comella and Ray Palmer. Erdmann questions the reliance on 'psychic' explanations and argues for a more physical interpretation, potentially involving espionage or a deliberate hoax. He examines the accounts of Harold Dahl and Fred L. Crisman, suggesting inconsistencies and the possibility of planted evidence or manipulation. The article also touches upon Captain Smith's suspicious behavior and the potential for 'reverse-psychology' tactics.

Statement of Policy Regarding Letters

The UFO Sighter outlines its policy for letters to the editor, requiring them to be signed (with the option of withholding names), subject to editing for clarity and palatability, and reserves the right to print them in whole or in part. Shorter letters on UFO-related topics are prioritized, and unsolicited manuscripts are not returned.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the importance of open investigation into UFO phenomena, criticism of government secrecy and the scientific establishment's dismissive attitude, and the analysis of specific UFO incidents through a rational and critical lens. The editorial stance is one of advocating for public awareness, objective inquiry, and a departure from dogmatic or purely psychic interpretations of UFO events, emphasizing the need for evidence and logical consistency. The magazine positions itself as a platform for diverse opinions within the UFOlogy field, encouraging reader participation and debate.

This issue of "The UFO Sighter" from September 1965 presents a critical and in-depth examination of various facets of the UFO phenomenon, with a strong emphasis on organizational dynamics, evidence interpretation, and the ongoing debate between physical and psychic explanations. The magazine features multiple articles, including a multi-part series on NICAP, an exploration of the connection between Christianity and UFOs, and a review of Jacques Vallee's book "ANATOMY OF A PHENOMENON".

The Truth About NICAP (Part I of II) by Eugene R. Steinberg

Eugene R. Steinberg begins a series investigating the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena (NICAP). He notes a recent trend of attacks on NICAP in major UFO magazines and states his intention to present an impartial analysis of the available facts. Steinberg traces NICAP's origins to 1956, founded by T. Townsand Brown, and describes its initial ambitious plans, which were hampered by financial and logistical impracticalities. In January 1957, Major Donald Keyhoe was appointed director, scaling down operations and establishing NICAP as a non-profit scientific research foundation. The organization experienced a resurgence with wide press coverage and new memberships, aided by Lee Munsick as Associate Editor of "THE UFO INVESTIGATOR".

However, Steinberg details a decline in NICAP's effectiveness and a shift in its attitude towards other UFO groups. The publication of "THE UFO INVESTIGATOR" became infrequent due to economic issues, leading to Munsick's resignation. Richard Hall was hired as Associate Editor and Secretary, and Steinberg notes a significant change in his behavior and approach after joining NICAP, contrasting it with his earlier optimistic and open-minded stance as exemplified in a letter to "MYSTIC" magazine.

Steinberg criticizes NICAP's subsequent policy of overt hostility and covert subversion towards rival groups, aiming to establish itself as the sole authority in UFO study. He highlights NICAP's cessation of plugging other UFO groups, focusing only on APRO and CSI. The article also touches upon the expensive membership fees and the limited information available to non-members.

The Simonton "Space Pancake" Contact and NICAP's Response

The article details the Joe Simonton "space pancake" contact and the subsequent submission of an artifact to NICAP for analysis. Judge Frank W. Carter, a NICAP member, sent the artifact, expecting NICAP to pursue Congressional action on flying saucers. Steinberg questions NICAP's lobbying efforts, suggesting they were more interested in recognition than scientific investigation. He presents two potential outcomes of Congressional hearings: either a conclusive case for UFO reality or their burial under Air Force and scientific opposition.

Steinberg criticizes NICAP's reluctance to engage with the contactee claim, deeming their evidence "purely circumstantial." He highlights Richard Hall's dismissive response to Judge Carter, where Hall stated NICAP received the "cake" without advance notice and refused further publicity unless strong supporting evidence was provided. Hall's reasoning is described as illogical, and his use of terms like "fantastic sounding claim" is seen as unscientific and indicative of a deep-rooted skepticism towards contactees.

Despite Hall's denials, NICAP did arrange for an analysis of the "pancake" by chemist Alexander D. Mebane. However, the results were only superficially discussed in NICAP's publications, with Hall reportedly having misgivings about NICAP's involvement. Steinberg questions Hall's authority in misrepresenting NICAP's views and notes that Major Keyhoe was no longer the guiding force, with Hall effectively running the organization as "Acting Director."

Christianity and the UFO by Huey P. Beasley

Huey P. Beasley explores the potential connection between Christianity and the UFO mystery. He argues that while Christianity may not offer a direct solution, facts derived from its study are pertinent to understanding the mystery. Beasley emphasizes the importance of considering established facts, such as those from history, physics, and religion, much like one would dismiss a "Spaceman" who denied the Roman Empire's existence.

He outlines key facts from the Bible: the existence of a Supreme Being, a Creator; God's revelation through the Bible; the destruction of life on Earth at least once, possibly twice; the life, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus Christ approximately 2000 years ago; and the promise of a future resurrection and Christ's return as King. Beasley suggests these facts, along with others, could be valuable in evaluating UFO theories and contactee claims, without proposing a definitive solution.

Anatomy of a Scientist: A Look at Jacques Vallee by Allen Greenfield

Allen Greenfield reviews Jacques Vallee's "ANATOMY OF A PHENOMENON", a 209-page work on UFO literature. Greenfield finds the book remarkable for its constructive suggestions for investigators and its avoidance of unwarranted conclusions. He praises Vallee for challenging dogmatic scientists. However, he criticizes Vallee for falling into the "Harvard Syndrome," attempting to correlate modern UFO reports with ancient descriptions, and potentially exaggerating the importance of UFO occurrences in France.

Greenfield's primary quarrel is with Vallee's description of private UFO researchers. He agrees with Vallee's observation that the modern scientific community's reaction to UFOs is "emotional" and that official attention is denied for emotional reasons, not scientific ones. However, Greenfield finds Vallee unfair to private UFOlogists, sometimes wrong, and seemingly condemning them to ingratiate himself with an "Outside" readership. He notes Vallee's criticism of NICAP and APRO, agreeing that NICAP's "UFO Evidence" misses the point, but arguing that Vallee misses the point about UFO publicists bringing attention to the matter.

Greenfield also points out that Vallee is superficial in his description of UFOlogical metaphysicians and fails to identify Rabbi Y.N. ibn Aharon's key relationship to the extraterrestrialist theory. Despite these reservations, Greenfield considers the book "THE definitive book on UFOlogy" from a literary standpoint, calling it consistently readable and an indispensable addition for serious researchers.

Editor's Notes on This Issue

The editor notes that this issue is the biggest and most controversial yet, featuring contrasting opinions from Mr. Erdmann and Mr. Steinberg. The editor apologizes for minor proofreading errors, attributing them to the demanding preparation of the issue. They also address a policy change regarding reprinting material from "True Magazine," stating that due to "True's" copyright statement requiring permission, they will no longer reprint without asking first, emphasizing honesty.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the critical examination of UFO organizations, particularly NICAP, and the ongoing debate between physical evidence and psychic explanations for UFO phenomena. There is a clear editorial stance favoring rigorous, evidence-based investigation, while also acknowledging the potential relevance of historical and religious contexts. The magazine appears to be critical of organizations that prioritize public image or ideological purity over thorough investigation and open-mindedness. The editor encourages discussion and aims to present vital topics for consideration by their readers.

This document, titled "NICAP, The Space-Pan-Cakes, Perplexities," is an article by Steve Erdmann that critically examines the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena (NICAP) and its research practices, particularly in relation to the Simonton 'pancake' incident and other UFO cases. It features a quote from Dean A. Grennell: "Never trust a suspicious person...."

The Simonton Incident and NICAP's Role

The article begins by detailing the Joseph Simonton incident on April 18, 1961, where Simonton received three small "Pancakes" from a spacecraft grill. Instead of sending these to other UFO organizations, Simonton's associate, Judge Frank W. Carter, sent them to NICAP, believing in the organization's importance. However, Judge Carter reportedly felt his "Interest" and "Conviction" turned to "Perplexity" when NICAP did not give the matter the attention he felt it deserved.

Paul Foght's account in the August 1961 issue of FATE magazine is mentioned, noting a casual remark about NICAP facing difficulty. This was followed by a more critical piece in the June 1961 issue of Moseley's SAUCER NEWS, which launched a "blistering attack" against NICAP's "Violent anti-contactee attitude." Ray Palmer later contributed a "Men-in-black" editorial in the September 1961 issue of FLYING SAUCERS, contributing to an atmosphere where ufologists were seen as "devouring each other."

James Moseley is quoted as stating that NICAP would "probably have folded up" soon, attributing this to NICAP's "Violent anti-contactee attitude," late bulletins, a staff "Heavily laden with military men," Keyhoe's "Inability" to prove UFO origins, and the perceived non-selling of contactee books. Moseley also claimed Keyhoe "Refused to analyze" the pancakes, suggesting NICAP was "not an unbiased research group." The article notes that Moseley's editorial concluded with a plug for his own magazine.

Ray Palmer, in his September 1961 critique, is cited as saying that Keyhoe's aversion to "dirty his shirts" with "contactee" reports indicated a lack of specialization. Palmer suggested that Keyhoe's own theories were not noticed and that he had "high hopes" for legitimate evidence. Palmer also avowed that he possessed knowledge about saucers that, if revealed, would cause people to "Pack our bags, and head for the hills."

Critiques of Palmer and NICAP's "Mysticism"

The article questions Palmer's motives, suggesting he might want to broadcast his own theories. It posits that Palmer and others suspect NICAP of having "High hopes" in an inferior "Bigot" and questions why Palmer wouldn't share "Plain facts" if he had them. The author suggests that Palmer's approach is facismile to "Not having the facts." The situation is described as involving talk about "Mystical 'facts" and "THE SECRET," flowing from the space-pan-cake incident.

Palmer is characterized as fitting into a niche where "IF THERE IS A REASON FOR SECRECY, then there MUST BE SECRECY!" The author suggests Palmer's views are intertwined with his "Mysticism," referencing the Shaver mystery and Oahspe. Palmer's "System" is described as based on "Free-thought" with "No system," and he is portrayed as believing the military is locked in an "ultra-conspiracy of mysticism."

Inconsistencies and the Socorro Sighting

The article points out that Palmer's letters to Keyhoe indicated another side to the story, and that while many avoided NICAP, Keyhoe himself could be spoken to. Two key facts are highlighted: 1) NICAP "obviously won't investigate anything that MIGHT conceivably result in a positive result for a contactee," and 2) NICAP "ignored both pancake and Judge Carter until he became annoyingly insistent." The author suggests that if NICAP were part of a "Psychic conspiracy" or "mundane military espionage," such inconsistencies would not occur.

The article then discusses the Zamora sighting of April 24, 1964, in Socorro, New Mexico. The July-August 1964 issue of THE UFO INVESTIGATOR is cited, stating that NICAP-Member Stanford was in Socorro, investigated the landing scene with Dr. Hynek, took measurements, photographed the area, and collected metal scrapings. Stanford sent detailed reports to NICAP Headquarters.

Stanford and "Contactees"

For those who believe NICAP is not involved with "Contactees," the article notes that Ray Stanford and his brother Rex authored a privately published book entitled "Look-up," which centered on contactee themes of benevolent space beings and communication. The author questions whether NICAP was aware they hired a "Contactee" for the investigation, but suggests that even if they were, it doesn't prove they were trying to substantiate the "Cult." The author criticizes "egotistical 'NICAP-mystizers'" for using this association to illustrate a NICAP "Conspiracy" or "Mistake," while overlooking the inherent "Contridiction" in their own arguments.

Socorro Analysis and Further Criticisms

The Stanford incident is presented as another "Inconsistency" for the "Mysticizers." Stanford picked up "Material" that looked like fragments of metal from the Socorro "Aircraft." NICAP had reported that these fragments would be analyzed. The September-October 1964 issue of THE UFO INVESTIGATOR reported that the shiny material was identified as Silica, according to a Washington laboratory. The article notes that these recent findings did not align with the earlier criticisms made by Moseley and Palmer regarding the Simonton incident, and that they did not receive similar editorial attention.

The author reiterates that critics like Moseley and Palmer "Live off the mistakes of others" and use "Pschological gimmick[s]" to hide their own shortcomings. While acknowledging mistakes on both sides, the author argues that the "Premise" used by "Egotists" to justify their actions and statements cannot be excused when they prove "Inaccurate."

Importance of Physical Evidence and Communication

The article explains the relevance of discussing the pan-cakes and NICAP at a later date due to the ongoing importance of "physical evidence" in the UFO mystery, as civilians have yet to capture a crashed saucer. The UFO mystery is also seen as involving the progression and building of "Investigating procedure" within a complex matrix of "confusing UFO 'Personalities'." The actions of "Egotists," who claim not to be egotistical, are deemed predictable.

A suggestion is made for a "Better office of communication," specifically designed to handle "intrinsic and complicated affairs of communication in UFOlogy," to avoid the "round-about, slanted-wording, and privately motivated involvement and confusion."

Finally, the article mentions that NICAP was investigating the "Pan-cakes" privately, through channels with "comparitively void of confusion and publicity," yet the results were disclosed anyway.

Press Time Notes and News Briefs

This section provides updates on various UFO-related activities and publications:

• Anyone in the Atlanta area interested in joining a local UFO group holding monthly meetings under the American UFO Committee should contact the Editor of The UFO Sighter, Mr. Allen H. Greenfield.
• Mr. Steve Diehl's CB Radio/UFO spotting network has been discontinued due to lack of support, but plans may be revived at the next Congress of Scientific UFOlogists in Cleveland.
• Raymond A. Palmer, editor of FLYING SAUCERS, SEARCH, and SPACE WORLD, announced the forthcoming publication of a bi-weekly magazine, RAY PALMER'S FORUM, with subscription details provided.
• Several changes are occurring in the UFO field: James Moseley's Saucer News has acquired the INS Report and the APIC Reporter. Controversial Phenomena Bulletin is to be renamed Probe. Allen H. Greenfield's book, UFOlogy: an informal survey, will be published by Rick R. Hilberg.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this article include the internal conflicts and criticisms within the ufology community, particularly concerning NICAP and its research methodologies. The author expresses a critical stance towards what they perceive as biased research, personal agendas, and a lack of objective investigation, especially when dealing with contactee claims and physical evidence. There is a strong emphasis on the need for transparency, unbiased analysis, and improved communication within UFO research organizations. The article highlights the perceived "mysticism" and "conspiracy" theories that plague the field, contrasting them with a desire for factual, evidence-based investigation.