UFO Sighter Vol 5 No 1

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO Sighter
Issue Date: Winter, 1966
Volume: 5, Number 1
Publisher: UFO Sighter (Published Quarterly in Atlanta)

This issue of UFO Sighter is dedicated to exploring various facets of the UFO phenomenon, with a significant focus on the activities and opinions within the UFO research community. It features a lead article by Eugene R. Steinberg titled "The Truth About NICAP" (Part II), which is presented as a personal account. The magazine also covers the Second Congress of Scientific UFOlogists, held in Cleveland, Ohio, in June 1965, detailing the events, discussions, and outcomes of this gathering.

Staff and Contributors

The staff for this issue includes Allen H. Greenfield (Editor), Eugene Steinberg, Steve Erdmann, Michael Dillon, Rick Hilberg, and Dale Rettig. The cover also credits photographers Martin Salkind and Allen Greenfield for the images presented.

"The Truth About NICAP" (Part II -- Personal Account) by Eugene R. Steinberg

This article, presented as a personal account, delves into the author's experiences and perspectives regarding NICAP (National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena). While the full content of this part is not detailed in the provided pages, it is presented as a continuation of a previous installment.

Editorial: The Hectic Months by Allen H. Greenfield

Allen H. Greenfield's editorial reflects on the year 1965 as a particularly active and rewarding period for UFOlogy. He recounts personal involvement in key events, including discussions in New York, a meeting in Washington D.C. concerning NICAP's support for a convention, and the 1965 convention in Cleveland. Greenfield highlights the significant UFO wave that occurred in July 1965, describing it as potentially the largest since 1957, with reports concentrated in the American midlands. He also touches upon administrative tasks related to the magazine and a meeting in Chicago with other UFO researchers.

Response to Universal Report

Greenfield addresses a new publication, UNIVERSAL REPORT, which he perceives as critical of the American UFO Committee (AMUFO) and himself. He clarifies AMUFO's stance on 'contactees,' stating that the organization does not have an official position that excludes them from study, contrary to what UNIVERSAL REPORT suggested. He emphasizes an open mind towards contactees but notes the lack of concrete evidence presented for their claims. Greenfield expresses a desire for constructive dialogue with UNIVERSAL REPORT and welcomes their response.

Letters to the Editor

This section features several letters from readers and researchers, engaging in debates and offering perspectives on various UFOlogy topics and personalities.

Letter from Eugene R. Steinberg

Steinberg responds to criticisms, particularly regarding his article on NICAP. He defends his position, suggesting that some investigations, like the Glassboro landing, may have been insufficient. He also addresses statements made by Ray Palmer and criticizes the perceived aversion to mysticism by some researchers, like Steve Erdmann. Steinberg reiterates his belief in maintaining an open mind and engaging in constructive criticism.

Letter from George W. Earley (President, NICAP Connecticut Affiliate)

Earley criticizes Steinberg's article, calling it "imaginative and totally unsupported conjecture" and a "fatuous attack on NICAP." He defends Richard Hall's position within NICAP, clarifying his promotion to Assistant Director. Earley also questions Steinberg's acceptance of the "pancake" story, noting that NICAP's analysis did not support the claim of extraterrestrial origin. He suggests Steinberg's "attack" stems from personal pique towards Dick Hall.

Letter from Steve Erdmann

Erdmann addresses Steinberg's criticisms, particularly concerning the Comella thesis, and defends the need to discuss and reconstruct points rather than ignore them. He also comments on Bob Berry's "crashed saucer" account, suggesting an assumption based on government "confiscation" history. Erdmann finds Steinberg's appraisal of NICAP's Part I to be largely accurate regarding Richard Hall, but notes that Hall's "cautiousness" is no longer appropriate and suggests Hall needs appraisal for the sake of NICAP.

Letter from Lucius Farish

Farish supports the idea of publishing a full account of the "Washington fiasco" to expose Richard Hall's methods, advocating for Hall's departure from NICAP for the organization to achieve its goals.

Letter from Vincent H. Gaddis

Gaddis offers his best wishes to the staff, highlighting the intriguing and awe-inspiring nature of the UFO phenomenon.

That UFO Convention by Allen H. Greenfield

This multi-part article details Allen H. Greenfield's experiences at the Second Congress of Scientific UFOlogists in Cleveland, Ohio, from June 22-27, 1965.

Arrival and Preparations

Greenfield describes his arrival in Cleveland and the initial preparations for the convention. He mentions coordinating with Rick Hilberg, the Administrative Director of the American UFO Committee, and attending to various logistical details. The event was held at the Pleasant Valley Auditorium.

Early Sessions and Discussions

The article recounts informal "bull sessions" among delegates, covering topics such as the Glassboro landing case and a trip to NICAP headquarters. Key figures present included Jim Moseley, Eugene Steinberg, Rick Hilberg, Dale Rettig, and David Halperin. Discussions touched upon the ethical code for UFOlogy and the coordination of UFO reports.

Ethical Code Debate

A significant portion of the convention was dedicated to drafting an ethical code for UFOlogy. The process involved debates and a proposed memo from Dave Halperin, which met with opposition, particularly from the SAUCER NEWS delegation. A compromise was eventually reached.

Public Session and Banquet

The Congress banquet-luncheon was held, and a new group from Baltimore arrived. A suggestion was made to invite Thomas Comella, who had written an unfavorable review of the previous year's Congress, to discuss his article, but the invitation was reportedly refused. The delegates then proceeded to the auditorium for the public session.

Public Session Challenges

The open session faced challenges, including lower-than-expected local attendance and technical difficulties with microphones and the slide projector. Despite these issues, the two-and-a-half-hour meeting, with Jim Moseley as the keynote speaker, was considered interesting.

Evening Skywatch and Party

Following the public session, a skywatch and party were held at a local resident's home. This event was described as the highlight of the convention, featuring discussions on UFOlogy and an unusual photograph taken by Greenfield showing a transparent man.

Final Session and Evaluation

The convention concluded with a delegates' breakfast, where plans for future congresses were discussed. Greenfield evaluates the congress as highly successful in promoting cooperation and understanding within the UFO field, bringing together numerous serious investigators and fostering positive interpersonal relations.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of UFO Sighter demonstrates a commitment to open inquiry within UFOlogy, as evidenced by the editorial's discussion of contactees and the letters to the editor, which engage in robust debate about research methodologies, organizations, and prominent figures. The magazine appears to champion a scientific approach while remaining open to various perspectives, encouraging constructive criticism and dialogue. The coverage of the 1965 UFO wave and the Congress of Scientific UFOlogists highlights the ongoing efforts to professionalize and expand the field of UFO research.

Title: CHRISTIANITY AND THE UFO
Issue: PART II
Date: Not specified
Publisher: Not specified
Country: Not specified
Language: English

This issue, the second part of a series, aims to provide readers with background information to evaluate contactee stories and UFO theories. It delves into the history of the planet and its inhabitants, questioning established scientific narratives and critiquing organizations involved in UFO research.

The Concept of Prehistoric Man

The author, Huey P. Beasley, challenges the widely accepted notion of "prehistoric man," asserting that there is no direct evidence for such a being. He cites The Encyclopedia Americana, which suggests the term 'prehistoric' designates a vague and hypothetical period with no positive, tangible record. Further, he references Stuart Piggrett's "Approach to Archaeology," claiming the idea of "prehistory" was developed to repudiate the Biblical record of mankind and to account for man's existence apart from God and the Bible.

Beasley addresses the existence of skeletal remains like Neanderthal, Java, and Cro-Magnon man. He argues that these skeletons are of definitely human individuals, possibly even superior to modern man, with larger brains in many cases. He contends that the scientific concept of these beings is often built on single skeletons or fragments, lacking representative evidence. Furthermore, he points out that skeletons of modern man (Homo-Sapiens) have been found in equally "old" earth layers, sometimes nearby these fragmentary remains, thus providing no evidence of "prehistoric" man.

Critiques of Scientific Dating Methods

The article extends its skepticism to scientific dating methods used for fossils and rocks, arguing that no method is absolute because all are based on certain assumptions. Beasley explains that if these initial assumptions are flawed, the method may be inaccurate, and that errors in one method often lead to similar errors in others. He uses the example of Uranium isotopes decaying into lead to date the earth, highlighting assumptions about meteorites, the presence of lead, and its composition.

The Potassium-Argon method is also mentioned as resting on similar assumptions. Beasley simplifies and abbreviates these examples to demonstrate that dating methods are, at best, working hypotheses, not facts, and are subject to revision.

Biblical Chronology vs. Scientific Evolution

Beasley states that the Bible does not specify the age of the earth or how long man has existed. However, he suggests that Biblical genealogies and chronologies of other ancient Near Eastern cultures indicate man was created around 8000 years ago. He emphasizes that the Bible clearly states man was "created" as man, not evolved from lower life forms. The author promises that in the next installment, he will present evidence that science, based on proven facts, disproves the concept of evolution and uniformitarianism.

UFOs and the Disproof of Evolution

The author connects these points to the UFO phenomenon, suggesting that understanding our past history accurately disproves claims made by "space men" who assert that man evolved and that there is no God. He cites examples from Albert K. Bender's "Flying Saucers and the Three Men," where alleged "space men" claim to have watched humans develop from sea creatures and suggest that the desire to worship something led to the creation of anthropomorphized ideas of God. Beasley dismisses these statements as materialistic propaganda, lamenting that such ideas are accepted and taught as fact in many colleges and universities.

The Truth About NICAP (Part II--Personal Account) by Eugene R. Steinberg

This section, written by Eugene R. Steinberg, offers a critical personal account of his experiences with the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena (NICAP) and its leadership, Richard Hall and Major Donald E. Keyhoe.

Steinberg begins by stating that Richard Hall, the executive head of NICAP, is intolerant of independent efforts by younger ufologists and seems to suppress free inquiry due to personal prejudice.

Steinberg recounts a visit to NICAP's office in September 1963 with his colleague Kenneth Alpert. He had hoped to meet Major Donald E. Keyhoe, whom he believed was running NICAP, but Keyhoe was not present. Instead, Steinberg spoke with Richard Hall.

Steinberg describes Hall as slight, with horned-rimmed glasses and thinning brown hair, often gripping a pipe and speaking softly with a Southern drawl. Hall expressed hostility towards James W. Moseley, editor of "Saucer News," and then focused on his new project, the "Youth Council." Hall admitted this council was an expedient to divert young researchers' attention towards supporting NICAP and to discourage their independent UFO activities and publications.

Steinberg found the "Youth Council" concept to be a concrete form of Hall's plan, designed to stifle free and impartial consideration of UFOs. He believed it aimed to indoctrinate young people to conform to NICAP's goals and dissuaded them from thinking for themselves. Steinberg felt this attempt was frightening and urged NICAP to encourage young people to form their own conclusions.

He notes that Hall's plan backfired because the "teen" researchers he targeted were no longer teenagers; many were in advanced education or had started careers. They recognized the "Youth Council" as a way to muzzle themselves and exert no real influence. Instead of joining, these individuals formed their own clique, producing an inferior publication, which Steinberg likens to the "worthless 'teen' UFO groups of the late '50's."

Steinberg then details a confrontation on April 12, 1965, where he, along with Allen Greenfield (editor of this magazine) and Martin Salkind, visited NICAP's office. Hall, upon seeing Steinberg, demanded his immediate departure, despite Steinberg being a paid-up NICAP member and a supporter of the organization. Steinberg felt this was a reaction to his association with a magazine that had opposed NICAP's policies.

Allen Greenfield explained that they were a delegation and that if one member was asked to leave, all were. Hall accepted this and asked them all to leave. Greenfield remarked that he would not have the opportunity to deliver a prepared statement about the Congress of Scientific Ufologists.

Martin Salkind was shocked by Hall's treatment of paid-up NICAP members. Greenfield and Hilberg agreed to contact Ray Palmer, editor of "Flying Saucers," and Greenfield prepared an affidavit about the incident. The threat of its publication and further action led Hall to mollify the delegation and offer an equivocal endorsement of the Congress in "The UFO Investigator."

Steinberg criticizes NICAP's history of failed ventures, including its network of affiliates, citing the New York City affiliate as an example of ineptly conceived and poorly conducted operations that eventually suspended. He suggests NICAP should recognize these failures and abandon the affiliates.

He also discusses NICAP's subcommittees, noting that while some have done good work, many present a dismal picture. Steinberg concludes that NICAP, in its current state, is the "decaying remnants of an organization that has never realized its full potential due to misguided principles." He calls for a drastic overhaul of NICAP to get it on the right track, emphasizing the need for a large national group with proper facilities for UFO investigation.

Steinberg urges readers who agree with his views to voice their protest against NICAP's policies, which he believes threaten to halt UFO research. He proposes a systematic study of NICAP's operations to identify areas for improvement. If NICAP continues its current course, he suggests it should stop wasting its membership's money and cease operations, which he believes would be the best thing for Ufology.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are skepticism towards established scientific narratives regarding human origins and dating methods, and a critical examination of UFO organizations, particularly NICAP. The editorial stance, as presented by both Beasley and Steinberg, is one of questioning conventional wisdom, advocating for empirical evidence, and promoting independent thought and research in the field of Ufology. There is a strong undercurrent of challenging materialistic and evolutionary viewpoints, aligning UFO phenomena with a more traditional or religiously-informed perspective, while simultaneously critiquing the organizational structures and leadership within the UFO community.