Visitors 5

D! E T I S I V RE

FIGHTERS

IN THIS ISSUE Fantasy Versus the Fantastic... p. 3 Radar Fundamentals... p. 6 Ford Library UFO Materials... p. 10 Foo Fighters Revisited... p. 14 Red Dwarves... p. 22 Galena Conference Update... p. 24

Radar FUNdamentals... it’s not as hard as you think! 1

Director’s View

visitors

by Sam Maranto, State Director

T

here has been great change in the MUFON arena lately. At the international level Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies (BAASS) has ventured up with MUFON’s STAR Team Impact Project. This is a great opportunity for qualified field investigators to engage in CE2 and CE3 case investigations with both reasonable financial and significant scientific resources available to them. Illinois MUFON has agreed to cooperate and partake in this program. Interested individuals please contact me in a email at [email protected] This last year saw an increase of dedicated people becoming certified field investigators and we applaud them. Our objective is to put an additional 25 FI’s in the field this year. We are going to be hosting regular monthly meetings held around the state. Therefore, we are in dire need of participants to help in various capacities to execute these new programs. Some of the positions to be filled are local moderators and chapter coordinators. These in addition to a need of quality venues and other resources. Our “Out of this World UFO Conference and Golf Tournament” in Galena is quite an undertaking, so it’s going to be imperative to get more hands on deck. Anybody helping Illinois MUFONNFP,Inc. in making this a success will be awfully glad they did. This is a major UFO conference Samuel Maranto, Director right here in our own back yard. The combination of speakers, break-out sessions, venue, David Stockman, Deputy Director meals, exciting activities, and so much more, all at reasonable pricing, is incomparable Daniel Finnigan, Treasurer to anything else. In the event your calendar is clear, pencil it in for one or more days. To Frank Coffman, Editor/Public Relations pass up this magnificent event would clearly be a insult to one’s good sense. Bill Murphy, Staff Writer John B. Ringer, Staff Writer In the first weekend of May, I will be speaking at the Skokie Theater (www. Scott Waldyn, Staff Writer skokietheater.com). Al Curtis, a lifetime member of Illinois MUFONNFP and director Guy Richards, Contributing Writer of this beautiful and historical treasure, has been assembling an array of rather unique A one year subscription and membership to programs. From creative information assemblages on UFOs to vaudeville and anything Illinois MUFONNFP is available by sending that delightfully glistens in between. This tactfully assembled eclectic lineup is all under $20 to: one roof and a pleasure to experience on any given day. Though I ask you to join me May Illinois MUFONNFP 1st–3rd, make sure to attend more of these fine program. The likes of which you will only P.O. Box 2105 experience at the charming and historical Skokie Theater Music Foundation. Orland Park, IL 60462 Past State Director and State Archivist, Dave Marler, recently acquired the UFO or by calling: 708 460-7606 News Clipping Service which was for years the pride of our dedicated good friend Lou Design and format by JackRabbit Pix Farish. Dave will be posting a column detailing cases from the past and present that have come into the service from around the globe. Another column soon to arrive is the CUFOS Corner by none other than Dr. Mark Rodeghier who has accepted an Illinois MUFONNFP board position as Director of the Advisory Council. I’d like to thank Assistant State Director Paul Russell for giving a talk at a college in Springfield in my absence. Hope to see and hear more from this good friend and valuable asset of ours. With membership growing and good weather insight, let’s make the most of what we have been given. That being, the blessing of each other, the prospects of time, and beautiful places at which we can enjoy both. is the quarterly journal of Illinois MUFONNFP, Incorporated and is solely responsible for its content. Illinois MUFONNFP, Inc. is a state chapter of MUFON, the Mutual UFO Network (an international organization), dedicated to the scientific investigation of alien visitation. All of the views expressed in this publication belong to Illinois MUFONNFP, Inc. and are not necessarily the views of MUFON. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or any other storage and retrieval system, without obtaining permission from the editor by email at [email protected]

See you soon,

Sam

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Patterns & Connections

y s a t n Fa

by John B. Ringer, Historical Anomalist

e h t s Versu

c i t s a t n a F Would You Know a Klingon if You Saw One?

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he short answer, for millions of Star Trek fans anyway, is yes. And since I am one of those fans, images of the Klingons are etched, firmly, in my psyche. I can easily picture their ridged foreheads, their wild hair, and the fierce look they all had. I know about their home planet, Kronos, and something of their militaristic culture and code of honor. I know this because I’ve seen them on many television programs and in movies. I’ll even admit to a grudging admiration for their accomplishments. The fact that we can know so much about a race of beings that doesn’t even exist, a fantasy, is a testimony to human creativity and technology.1 Humans have always lived with fantasy figures. Whether they were various gods of nature, fairy folk, goblins, witches, werewolves, sea serpents, or ghosts in the attic, we have always had a rich imagination. In fact, the unseen world was sometimes more real to our ancestors than the sunshine of the day.

Patterns & Connections continued Those who spend time and energy explaining why neither UFOs or extraterrestrials exist like to call attention to this very trait. We are, they say, simply spicing up our mundane lives—just as our ancestors did. You have to admit, the argument makes some sense. What reasons do we have for believing that our current ‘out of the ordinary’ experiences are any more real than those of our ancestors? Can we be counted upon to separate fantasy from the fantastic? Let’s start by taking a look at the range of things humans have believed in—just beyond the sunshine world.

No list of fantasy creatures would be complete without mentioning witches, warlocks, alchemists, and other conjurers. While these beings were human, they were believed to be in touch with powers beyond the norm. Ordinary people feared them and either sought their help or banded together to destroy them. When particularly bad events happened, the local witches were usually in for a rough time. Apparently, someone had to pay for the community’s misfortune. People have also believed that special ‘others’ lived in the sky or clouds; that they lived underground—in caves or in hollow places in the Earth; that they had cities deep under the sea; that they traveled to Earth from the stars or the planets; or that they existed just out of sight in some other, near-by world. We have also thought that spirits inhabited ordinary things such as trees, lakes, and animals.4 There was much that early humans did not understand, and yet it was their nature to try to explain what was happening. Their beliefs about these largely unseen forces were, more or less, appropriate for their times and level of knowledge. Today, we view this with some amusement, but are we really doing any better? There are indications that we are.

A Brief History of the Non-Ordinary The list of our fantasy figures is long. For starters, there were/ are gods of all types, from deities who walked the Earth and demanded food and shelter (ancient Sumer), to a rather abstract creator of the universe who can not be directly perceived by humans (a common belief today). In the middle of these extremes are gods who were usually remote but who would intervene in human affairs occasionally—especially if we managed to hack them off—which wasn’t all that hard to do. On a somewhat more mundane level, we have always believed in a variety of ‘little people’ who were usually associated with nature. Fairies, elves, trolls and the like were mostly unseen, but they were always present, and one had to be careful not to insult them or otherwise incur their wrath. Fairies, in particular, seemed to live in both this world and one that was exclusively their own. There are tales of humans spending time with the fairies, only to find they had been gone not just a few hours but A snowdrop fairy days or years.2 For the adventuresome among our ancestors, dragons, sea serpents, and other frightening creatures were always a threat. The open sea was especially mysterious, with odd or dangerous creatures just beyond our sight. Greek epics, for example, are populated with monsters that would be a credit to the modern science fiction writer. And, many sources tell us that ‘giants’ lived among ordinary humans in those days.3 So much for the good old days.

Why Worf Won’t Be Knocking on My Door I’m certain that Worf, the Klingon from Star Trek—The Next Generation, won’t be visiting me. I know this because Worf is a fictional character—one made up to help tell an interesting story. I don’t think a bevy of Greys will be visiting either—but I’m not certain about that. The difference? Worf was clearly a fantasy, but the Greys, given the preponderance of evidence, seem quite real. (The only reason I don’t expect to see the Greys is that I have nothing they are interested in, and Worf from Star Trek they haven’t dropped by yet.) My distinctions may seem a bit arbitrary, but they satisfy me. Most of us feel capable of distinguishing between fantasy and fantastic. Klingons are fantasy. Aliens in our bedrooms at night are fantastic, but for many, a too real fact. I am able to believe in Klingons, as a fictional race, and the Grays, as a likely reality, all without undue confusion. Since I am not exceptional in any significant way, this tells me that most humans can do the same thing. I also believe the liars and truly delusional among us can usually be identified.

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Simply Put, Are UFOs Our Current Fantasy?

Describing the Extraordinary—Not Easily Done

Have you ever wondered why people don’t report being abducted by Klingons? Well, they don’t, and I take some comfort from that. If ordinary people reported ending up in a Klingon war ship, we would disbelieve their stories. Those who write about abduction experiences usually pay close attention to the overall mental health of the people involved. Typically, the researcher describes the person as quite ordinary and apparently not seeking attention or prone to delusions. In other words, the abductees seem normal. Sometimes the memories are recalled spontaneously, and other times hypnosis is needed. In either case, abductees struggle to describe their experiences, which are clearly far beyond daylight reality. These people would no doubt struggle just as hard to describe human technology in 2109, if they could witness that. It’s the strangeness that makes it difficult. Just as there is no definitive way to prove or disprove the reality of our ancestor’s beliefs, there may be no way to prove or disprove the reality of today’s reported alien visitations. The stories are compelling, the patterns are clear, and the human costs are poignant. And, if there is some subtle benefit for humans to imagine these alien interventions, it eludes me. Civilian organizations like MUFON work tirelessly to develop hard evidence. Bless them and all those who so labor. Ufologists tend to chide scientists and their organizations because they refuse to get solidly behind these efforts, and we mutter dark suspicions about what our government isn’t telling us. And, we speculate. After reading, perhaps, thousands of reports of UFO sightings, hundreds of reports of abduction or close encounters, (and considerable peripheral material) it is hard or perhaps impossible for me to not believe that something quite extraordinary is going on. Of course, our distant ancestors may have just as convinced that their gods, goblins, and forest spirits were affecting their lives. It’s hard to be on the short end of the knowledge stick. Then, there is always the possibility that, ancient humans and modern folk alike, we were all telling it straight. Perhaps we have been visited by non-human beings since the dawn of our race. If that were so, then all the variety within our fantasies may just reflect our inability to see the big picture clearly. Perhaps we were just doing the best we could at describing the fantastic.

Philosophers, and occasionally quantum physicists, tell us that all we have is our perception of reality. We can never know what is real—only what our limited senses tell us is out there. And, if you believe various alien messages, we humans tend to miss a lot of information because we are limited in our perception. And, that is apparently true. Our brains are marvelous tools, but they have limitations. This unique organ is made up of neurons vibrating at 50 cycles a second, while the world, as it exists in reality, is made up of electro-magnetic radiation oscillating at 500 trillion cycles a second. Since our brains can’t begin to keep up with the ‘realness of reality’, they compensate by creating preconceived ideas about the various objects around them and then testing to see whether or not these objects are present. This means, in effect, that humans are unable to understand new information without the inherent bias of previous knowledge. In other words, the human mind can only contemplate that to which it has already been exposed. When objects are viewed without understanding, the mind will try to reach for something that it already knows, in order to process what it is seeing. The images or concepts from our past which most closely relate to the unfamiliar will make up what we see when we looks at things we don’t comprehend.5 Our literature is rich with examples of this process—from Biblical sightings of ‘chariots of fire in the sky’ to ‘saucers skipping across the water’. We do the best we can, drawing upon past experiences. Interestingly, when these quotations are looked at with the right technical understanding, they communicate much. I do know a Klingon when I see one, and I also know quite a bit about the Grays. Nothing in the research suggests that we should doubt our personal sense of what is fantasy and what is fantastic. Our growing body of knowledge regarding the fantastic shows patterns which are often quite clear, but as for the connections— well, for the present, they remain all too ambiguous.

ENDNOTES: 1 Klingon. Wikipedia.org. Accessed 11-29-2008. 2 Celtic Fairy Stories: An Anthropological Examination of the Evidence. Oaks.nvg.org Accessed 12-09-2008. 3 Titans and Olympians: Greek & Roman Myth. Duncan Baird Publishers, London, England. Published 1997. 4 Matthews, John & Caitlin, The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures. Barnes & Noble Publishing, New York, NY. Published 2006. 5 Perception. Wikipedia.org. Accessed 2-15-2009.

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Investigator’s Insights

L

by David Stockman, IL MUFON Deputy Director

earning the basics about radar is not as difficult as one might imagine if you just bear in mind that microwaves are similar to light—you turn on a flash light and the light reflects back to you—no different than radar. The term radar is an acronym for “radio detection and ranging” and is simply the electronic equipment used to send out and receive electromagnetic signals in microwave wavelengths. There are two basic types of radar used in aviation, one is primary radar and the other is secondary radar. Each of these radar types is used for different purposes and as with any electronic technology, the system is loaded with “techie”sounding terms. But if we break it down, the terms make sense and are easy to understand and remember.

RADAR FUNDAMENTALS

Primary Radar The most important and well-known radar type, primary radar, is when a very small amount of electromagnetic signal (a microwave radio pulse) is sent out and then reflected back by a mass or target to the radar site for conversion onto a radar display. The system uses four key components: a transmitter that creates the signal; an antenna that sends and recieves the signal; the receiver that analyzes the signal; and a display, for the operator to monitor. The signal is sent from the transmitter to the antenna which broadcasts the signal outward in a number of a small pulses. An object reflects part of the signal, the echo, back to the antenna, which then sends it to the receiver. The receiver processes the signal and sends it to the display for viewing.

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In the case of air traffic control (ATC), the primary radar signal that is shown on the radar display is modified by the MTI or “moving target indicator” which detects and measures range and velocity and allows it to discriminate between clutter and moving targets. It is sort of like averaging out unwanted parts of a signal. It does this by comparing the average Doppler frequency shifts of the original signals to a phase-reverse signal and digitally cancels out the clutter from the radar display. (Doppler is the effect of waves being compressed by something moving closer and being stretched out by something moving away.) This radar, however, works best when the Doppler frequency of the clutter is narrow and the antennas are designed for a defined wavelength, which usually limits their use to only specific types of targets. To detect targets, various wavelengths and frequencies are used in order to penetrate specific densities and distances. Temperature, air pressure, and moisture affect the signal and tend to slightly refract the signal downward and actually increase the signal speed. However, by using the proper signal band and strength, the radar signal can compensate for most of these meteorological factors. The greater the wavelength is, the farther into the atmosphere the signal can penetrate. In radar astronomy, for example, the wavelengths are extremely long, from centimeters to meters in length. In describing the types of radar being used, often a radar band determinator is included in the description. A UHF radar band signal, for example, would be used for a different type of target than a K radar band signal. Following are some of the common wavelengths and frequency bands for radar systems:

To understand why an object would reflect part of the radar wave back, simply look at the microwave pulse as similar to a ray of sunshine, and actually, they both are part of the same electromagnetic spectrum. A ray of sunshine will reflect off of a house and back to your eyes telling you what color and size the house is much the same as a microwave reflects off of a mass or airplane defining its size and distance to the radar display. Those rays that are not reflected, are absorbed and produce heat. Just as when sun rays produce heat on a dark object, so to, do microwaves produce heat, but absorbed microwaves produce negligible amounts of heat on an airplane in comparison to the heat produced by the concentrated microwaves in your microwave oven.

Examples of an ATC radar screen (L) for aircraft and a naval radar screen (R)

During the operation of the system, the antenna, used for sending and also for receiving the pulsed signals, cannot do both simultaneously. So, the antenna’s connection is switched between the transmitter and the receiver devices by a duplexer. This critical back and forth switching by the dulexer must be precise to enable the system to pick up echoes, and is crucial for objects close by. The closer the object is, the faster the signal must be to capture it. This close range, which defines the nearest distance usable by the radar, is called the minimum range. The opposite, the maximum range of a signal, is the farthest region that a signal can detect an object, and is dependent upon other factors like frequency, power, receiver sensitivity, and the pulse rate. Also, the rate at which an antenna rotates affects the maximum detection range. The slower the antenna rotation is—the greater the range. Another important point of concern is the number of signal pulses per degree of revolution of the antenna. Targets in range can be missed completely if the pulses are too few for each degree the antenna rotates. The greater the number of pulses per degree, the more hits per scan the radar will display. So, the rotation speed of the radar antenna and the number of signal pulses must be matched perfectly to optimize the system.

RADAR BAND

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WAVELENGTH

FREQUENCY

(cm)

(MHz)

P

136.00 - 77.00

220-390

UHF

100.00 - 30.00

300-1000

L

30.00 - 15.00

1000-2000

S

15.00 -

7.50

2000-4000

C

7.50 - 3.75

4000-8000

X

3.75 - 2.40

8000-12500

Ku

2.40 -

1.67

12500-18000

K

1.67 -

1.18

18000-26500

Ka

1.18 - 0.75

26500-40000

Investigator’s Insights continued Traveling at the speed of light, the signal is measured in microseconds, and in one microsecond, a radar signal will travel 984 feet. Using simple formulas, distance measurements are calculated from the time the signal travels to and from the target. With today’s computers, these calculations take a fraction of a second. And, just like light rays, radar signals travel in a straight line and do not travel in an arc with the earth’s curvature. However, using atmospheric conditions and the proper radar band, a radar signal is capable of contacting an airplane beyond the line-of-sight and over the horizon by “bending” the signal around the curve of the earth. Radar system components vary depending upon the task. Some radar systems are for determining only the range and bearing of a target and these are known as two-dimensional (2D) radar while others are used to determine range, bearing, and altitude and are labeled three-dimensional (3D) radar. 3D radar systems need very narrow beams to pinpoint targets. Other radar systems can be active or passive, a signal might be broadcast in various shapes, and the design of the antennas often vary. Returned signals can determine more than just distance and velocity, however. The intensity of backscatter (the returned signal) can indicate the electrical characteristics of a target that can reveal its composition. For instance, the metal and moisture content of materials will affect reflectivity with a stronger echo. As is the case when metals, trees, or clouds reflect more than dry soil.

angular surfaces and surface coatings to practically eliminate the reflected signal. When viewing a radar display, operators take into consideration a number of other factors that effect the resolution of the target.

Secondary Radar Now we can look at the more simple, secondary radar in air traffic control. In addition to the primary radar signal sent from the ground-based radar system, a second signal is emitted originating from the airplane itself. This secondary radar signal is produced by a transponder that sends a four digit pin number signal to the ground radar system to identify itself and also can include additional information about the plane such as altitude, direction, or IFF (Identification Friend or Foe), used to identify the nationality of an aircraft. The secondary radar signal is usually sent on the L-band of radar in the 30–15 cm wavelength range (see the chart on the previous page.) This system is used widely in commercial and military aviation but is not required or found on all aircraft.

Directional Measurements Navigational terms are used in aviation in referring to the targets. In describing the location of a target relative to the flat plane of the earth’s surface, the angles of measurement are usually clockwise from true north, or in the case of a moving radar system, from the direction it is heading. This angle in the horizontal plane (earth’s surface) to the target is called the true bearing or azimuth angle. In the vertical plane, measurement angles are from the horizon up to the target and this is called the elevation angle. The distance to the target object is the range, and the actual direction from the radar system to the target is known as the LOS or lineof-sight.

UFO Research In UFO research, because of the complexities of radar, verification of a sighting can be confused. Aircraft that do not have secondary radar may not be tracked by some air traffic control radar and will not show up on the display. Additionally, echoes caused by flocks of birds, temperature inversions, mountains, precipitation, and insects can be mistaken for targets. Even the radar equipment itself can produce anomalous propagation showing phantom targets that do not actually exist, although skilled radar technicians can usually identify most erroneous targets. However, an investigator must also realize that the lack of radar confirmation does not necessarily mean that the object was not at a specific loca-

Military radar signal analysts can determine not only the location of an unknown aircraft, but also much more informaton about it, including the electronic emission signature of a particular jet engine or plane type.

Another important consideration is the angle of the reflective surface to the signal. The radar display will show various target sizes and shapes for the same object depending upon the angle the object is to the signal. Signals can also be distorted by the surface smoothness or adjacent surfaces. Stealth aircraft and naval vessels are designed to minimize the reflective characteristics of the

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Welcome

tion. Again worth repeating, the particular wavelength emitted by the radar system may not capture a target that is actually in its scanned air space. When investigating a sighting, it is important to know or find out what wavelengths or radar bands were in use at the time. Over the years many UFO cases have involved confirmation by radar visuals. A few of the more prominent cases are the Rendlesham Forest incident in 1980, the Vandenburg AFB missile launch of 1973, the Washington, DC UFOs of 1952, the Wright Patterson AFB/TWA UFO of 1950, the Lakenheath, Britain UFO of 1956, and the recent Stephenville, Texas sightings and the Belgian (1990) and Mexican air force encounters. In requesting information from a local ATC (air traffic control) facility, an investigator must submit the request immediately since the tapes that record the displays are ...an investigator taped over after two weeks due to costs. A formal FOIA must also realize that the lack of radar (Freedom of Information Act) form may have to be confirmation does submitted to ensure that not necessarily mean the ATC will respond to your request. By law, all FOIA rethat the object was quests must be answered not at a specific within twenty days. However, enforcing the law has location... not been successful in many cases. An example of this can be read by clicking on the following URL to read about a UFO case where an FOIA request was suspiciously delayed: www.ufosnw.com/sighting_reports/2002/washdc2002/ washdc2002.htm In the Chicago area to request radar information, contact the FAA via the FSDO (Flight Standards District Office) at 847 294-7900 or they may be emailed at [email protected] In the Springfield area, they can be contacted at 217 7441910 or emailed at [email protected] Near St. Louis, contact them at 314 890-4800 or the FAA can be emailed at [email protected] To proceed with a FOIA request, you should declare your category as a representative of a scientific organization. You may have to pay for duplication costs if the information is over 100 pages. Your request can be sent to: Ms. Lettie Perez, FOIA Coordinator, Federal Aviation Administration, Central Service Area, Air Traffic Organization FOIA Coordinator, AJO2C5, 2601 Meacham Boulevard, Ft. Worth, TX 76193

To our new members who have joined since October! Adam Baumgartner—Chicago Rob Brown—Palos Park Anthony Bruscato—Melrose Park David Buikema—Lockport John Chaffee—Belleville Taylor Cisco—Oak Park James Clarage—Homer Glen Robin Clark—Algonquin Kathy & Larry Coffman—Schaumburg Allan Curtis—Morton Grove Stacy Demas—Glenview Bill & Patti Dooley—Tinley Park Shane English—El Paso Denise & Mark Granzin—Algonquin Judy Harrison—Joliet Kathleen & Andrea Janota—Chicago Carl D. Jones, Jr.—Auburn John Joriatti—Fox Lake Sarka Kostalova—Elmwood Park Anna Mae Kozlowski—Orland Park Daniel Lauing—Naperville John Leatham—Naperville Douglas Lindeman—Spring Valley Shana Mastoon—Evanston Steve McCormack—Burbank David McDivitt—Springfield Armanda Menich—South Barrington Vito Misceo—West Chicago David Morefield—Bourbonnais Donald Quinn David Restko—Oak Lawn Paul Russell—Pekin Hector Salgado—Carol Stream Frederick Struts—Urbana Amy Suarez—Naperville Benjamin Tadena, Jr.—Schaumburg Harlene White—Lockport Cathy Woessner—Westchester

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Northern Lights

by Bill Murphy, Staff Writer

IN THE GERALD R. FORD PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY

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he Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library graces the Ann Arbor North Campus of the University of Michigan. Opened to the public in 1981, the Library houses 23 million pages of documents, 325,000 still photographs, 3,500 hours of video and 3,00 hours of audio, and 787,000 feet of motion picture film. The collection contains archival materials from President Ford’s Congressional years, as well as from his presidency, and these Congressional files possess a wealth of interest to ufology. House Minority Leader Ford’s 1966 call for a congressional investigation of UFOs and the Air Force response to them was pivotal in ufological history.

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Ford’s activity helped make studying UFOs as respectable as it would ever be, raised the interest of the common American citizen for the subject, and provided perhaps the best hope ever for a full governmental accounting of what it knew about the phenomenon. Ironically, this same activity also helped set in motion a chain of events that led to the Colorado Project and the single greatest setback to ufology, a reversal from which it has yet to recover, now almost forty years after the publication of the Project’s findings. The UFO-pertinent material in the Ford Congressional Files constitutes part of a vast collection of press releases, interviews, news clippings, and correspondence between the Michigan Congressman and other governmental officials and constituents. At the instance of Ohio MUFON State Director Bill Jones, I have been studying the Ford collection since late 2007, copying a selection of more than 1050 pages, comprising over 500 documents, of the more than 2000 pages I have so far studied. The Ford correspondents may be classified into several major groups: the “Average Citizen”, UFO Investigators, Government, Official Military, Military/Blue Book, News Media and Entrepreneurs, and “Colorful”. All of these documents provide perspective on the workings of government and context for the matter important to ufologists. UFOs were only one of many concerns demanding peoples’ attention at the time, chief among them being the Vietnam War. But the sightings in Dexter and Hillsdale, Michigan of late March, 1966, and Congressman Ford’s subsequent call for more governmental openness on UFOs and the Blue Book effort, caused a flurry of activity within the UFO community and public-at-large. The Ford papers constitute a microcosm of the personalities and positions in ufology, displaying the full spectrum of opinions, passions, and passionate people who became enmeshed in the subject. In this article I will discuss my work todate on these materials, focusing upon what I call the “Average Citizen” correspondence. The correspondence between House Minority Leader Ford and “Average Citizens” has a great deal of charm, and is also interesting for the gamut of thoughts these people had on the cause of the Michigan sightings, the advisability of a Congressional investigation into the methods and findings of the Air Force and Project Blue Book, and on UFO phenomena in general. Most of the letters retained of Ford correspondents supported his positions. The remarks of an Air Force Captain typify this attitude: I am not satisfied with the explanation that somehow all of the pilots, all of the control tower and radar operators, all

of the law enforcement officers, all of the professional engineers, and all of the hundreds of other reliable persons who have seen UFOs, could all be wrong. The American public is mature enough to be entitled to the truth in this highly significant matter.1 People composed and sent petitions of support to Congressman Ford, included cartoons, some of their own creation, and wrote letters recommending Ford contact certain individuals or read certain books on the subject. Several letters from common citizens provided information on personal UFO sightings, some from many years previous. A 1925 sighting of a 100-foot long, fast-travelling, cigar-shaped object, with two to three rows of windows “and all lit up inside with blue light along bottom also red sparks flying from around front of it”, is reminiscent of the Chiles-Whitted sighting of a quarter-century later. The witness said the object looked like a large passenger boat passing in the night; it generated a heat wave and also a funny smell. Several letters provide an international element to the sighting reports. A young Quebec woman wrote an earnest letter to Congressman Ford, railing against “mister Allen Hyneck”, and telling her story of a sighting of ten days’ previous, concluding with “P.S. An answer will please me much, because maybee [sic] I will not be past [sic] for a fool from certain people to whom I tell my story.” And the Ford collection contains the account of William J. Kiehl, of a classic CEIII experience he claimed to have had in 1914 while working his way across Canada.

Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library in Ann Arbor, Michigan

The attitude of Ford’s staff was not always serious as they perused these letters. Handwritten quips were added to the margins of the first part of a July 13, 1966 letter. Next to the writer’s opening statement “During the last four weeks I have been

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Northern Lights continued reading books concerning unidentified flying objects,” someone wrote “good, fine”. To the following “My interest in this phenomenon was stimulated by these ‘objects’ in your home state, Michigan. Quite frankly, I have never been interested in this matter before”, the reader wrote “Well, we all develop new interests from time to time.” The beginning to the next typed sentence seems to have changed the Ford staff member’s attitude: “By profession I am a political scientist�.” The rest of the letter elicited no more light comments, but rather underscorings of the letter’s two major points, and an unusually long, detailed, and responsive return from Ford. Many people wrote to Ford for information on UFOs. A trio of Oneonta, New York boys started a UFO club, largely stimulated by material the congressman sent to one of them. The charming letter one of the other boys subsequently sent Ford Many letters dwelt asked for free information–espro and con upon the pecially pictures–the youthful enthusiast mentioning these suggestion that an desiderata more than once. He unprepared populace also apparently tried to “butter up” the House Minority Leader could experience with the statement that “I have panic... told lots of friends about how nice you are to send people information about UFO’s.” Many average citizens offered Ford assistance of various sorts. Several offered to testify before Congress. Some correspondents proffered explanations for the mystery, or help in solving it. A Missouri woman, based upon her interpretation of a remarkable experience she had had a few years previously, suggested that atmospheric mirages were responsible for UFO sightings. Her elaborate explanation was accompanied by a detailed sketch, showing how the reflected images of ships, airplanes, the domes of buildings, quonset huts, or grain bins might be “recast” by smoke, smog, and fog, towards the ground; it even took into account the possible contributions of swamp gas. She asked that Ford read her “article” and wanted him to have scientists or other interested persons look at her theory and let her know what they felt about it. An Arkansas man was sure he could tell where the machine that people were seeing was made and how it operated, but thought he should get a good job or a big reward for the information. A Texas oilman scoffed at the notion that swamp gas could explode without a spark, and offered his services to help resolve the mystery. If provided with living ex-

penses, he was willing to camp out near some of these marshes and was sure he could get to the bottom of the matter, which he thought was likely due to foreign intervention. One housewife wrote that, from personal experience, she thought UFOs were connected to dope rings that operated around colleges. She told of harassment she and her family had received for reporting the odd goings-on near her farm, and was afraid to sign her name “as I was scared to pieces before”. A Providence, Rhode Island, member of the “Saucer News”, who wrote Ford, asking how he could “do better research for the United States of America”, apprised Ford of his belief “that these flying saucers are intelligently controlled by a far superior race and they have been observing us for a long period of time. These saucers are interplanetary and the Holy Bible calls attention to U.F.O’s.” A Chicago man proposed an explanation for the recent reports of unidentified flying objects as “glimpses of the activities of another universe (or universes) temporarily unveiled by reason of the spectral distortions resulting from the many recent nuclear explosions.” This explanation had the merit of eschewing typical New Age conclusions about “vibrational planes”, but the mechanism explaining how atomic fallout somehow disturbs these “belts” was lacking. Other writers expressed concerns. A Washington woman wrote her support of Ford’s call for “a Congressional investigation of UFOs”, but also to express her unease about people firing guns at UFOs. “I believe that Congress should pass a law against individuals’ killing or attempting to kill any nonbelligerent [sic] creature in or from a UFO. I reason that if UFOs are from space, they are operated by creatures at least as intelligent as we, and certainly more scientifically advanced in at least one field. Aside from the moral issue, for us to attack such creatures might, at the worst, bring disastrous retaliation against us, and if not that, might destroy an opportunity for us to learn from them things that might be of great value.” That such concerns were not without merit is shown by a report of a Maine man who fired four shots from a pistol at a UFO on March 23rd, 1966, in the words of NICAP Assistant Director Richard Hall “a very foolish gesture, I might add, and one citizens ought to be warned against.” Many letters dwelt pro and con upon the suggestion that an unprepared populace could experience panic if suddenly confronted with a UFO landing. Some writers were concerned about the purported UFO occupants themselves. A specifically Christian religious dimension permeates some letters on the subject. A Muskegon, Michigan woman who said she belonged to a group “tutored by God Himself in THESE LAST DAYS OF TIME” claimed that “these things are not from ‘another planet’

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at all; but are demon spirits that are able to take just any kind of a body they desire NOW, and their purpose is to keep the people from seeking THE TRUE GOD in these times when time is soooo short”. These beings have built the UFOs out of thin air, and are the agents of Satan. The writer also predicted an all-out attack by the Russian and Chinese Communists on Christmas Day, 1966, remarking that “Some of us looked for them last Christmas, but we were not told which Christmas. Now it looks as tho it will be this next one.” Some average citizens were decidedly of the opinion that the purported occupants of the UFOs were friendly, in this belief echoing the thoughts of more prominent believers like Wayne Aho, Laura Mundo, Buck Nelson, and Madeleine Rodeffer. One writer opined that UFO’s “have the answer to many of our unsolved health problems and incurable diseases. We should try in every way to make Contact with the Beings operating them.” Another writer, who had apparently joined five UFO study organizations in his four years of personal interest in the subject, said: “Once the world accepts the extraterrestrial origin of these objects then we can work for a meeting between earth and this other planet, in the hopes of obtaining scientific information that will better the life on earth.” Many letters to Ford emphasized the respectability of many UFO witnesses, and the unfair treatment these people were being subjected to as a result of their coming forward. Some citizens found more sinister undertones to the Air Force’s tight-lipped policy on UFOs, a Lansing, Michigan couple observing that “The Air Force stifling of information on ‘UFO’s’ sounds like Russia.” A particularly literate letter came from Lockport, New York, in late April of 1966. Reacting to news reports that the Air Force had contracted with a group of scientists to investigate UFO sightings, the author opined that a proposed scientific investigation would be just a whitewash were it under Air Force direction: “Charging the Air Force with the responsibility of investigating UFO secrecy is like asking the Cosa Nostra to investigate the crime problem in the United States.” Expressing frustration at the lack of a better explanation for UFOs eleven months after the letter from Lockport, New York, a New York City writer suggested that “if a U.F.O. was to come down in Times Square, at high noon, and the Air Force was to say it is for fun lets [sic] say swamp gas, then Congress would agree with that explanation.” Not all of the letters sent to Ford were supportive. One letter from a Michigan citizen suggested that Ford would better spend his time checking the cost of automobile damage repairs, while

another concluded with the words “Yours in disgust.” Several writers, both pro and con, expressed other pressing concerns of the time in their letters. One Pennsylvania writer complained “While dire and important situations should be exploited, you come up with an idiotic U.F.O. investigation proposal.” He listed four more pressing issues from a voter’s standpoint for the upcoming campaign, and suggested four topics (besides UFOs) that Ford should shy away from. One individual asked Ford to “please let the subject drop”, since the flying saucers were not going to hurt anyone, and in fact the United States had invaded the privacy of an “intelligent people and a most ideal nation, beautiful in fact.” He chided Ford for letting the government dictate auto safety engineering standards, and also saw waste in Medicare and farm subsidies, which money could be better used in the war fund. And an apparent Miami Florida, correspondent said “This U.F.O. program is without doubt the most stupidious [sic] operation that our govenrment [sic] can do to show their [sic] ignorance in the subject of evading issues.” The March 1966 Michigan sightings naturally formed the subject or backdrop for many of the letters to Ford. Along with his April 6 letter to the Congressman, NICAP Assistant Director Richard Hall included a copy of two NICAP UFO sighting reports from Washtenaw County, Michigan, Deputy Sheriffs. The sober quality of these reports, as well as striking similarities between the object reported by these peace officers and the subject of the later April Portage County UFO police chase, still today provoke a sense of wonder in the reader, yet Colorado Project personnel chose not to study any of these Michigan sightings. The foregoing is only a sketch of the many different interests, attitudes, and interesting people whose thoughts and fears are contained in the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library material. Yet I think it provides a useful and interesting perspective to understand a pivotal period in UFO history.

ENDNOTES: 1 from a letter, D. Mullen to Ford, March 25, 1966, B 48-43 (Box B48), Ford Congressional Papers – Legislative File, Gerald R. Ford Library. For a list of references for the quotations, contact the writer at [email protected]

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For informtion concerning research procedures at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library, go to : www. fordlibrarymuseum.gov/library/ guideintro.asp or click here —

Foo Fighters REVISITED—ONCE AGAIN By John B. Ringer, Historical Anomalist

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s

ome topics are just classics. Like Roswell and the abduction of Betty and Barney Hill, the mystery of Foo Fighters continues to help us understand the UFO phenomena. The truths behind all these stories are both elusive and enormous. Our task of understanding has been complicated, perhaps in roughly equal measure, by the complexity of the data and our inability or unwillingness to share that data in meaningful ways. When I first wrote about Foo Fighters two years ago, I believed I had a pretty good handle on the “balls of light” which so bothered our pilots toward the end of World War II. It seemed these rather small, indistinct, fiery spheres would show up off the wingtip of some bomber and quietly follow along, no matter what evasive action the pilot took. They were seen primarily in Europe, and always at night. Despite the obvious alarm they caused, they didn’t seem to harm our planes. At the end of the war, they just stopped showing up. The case wasn’t actually solved—it just faded away. Perhaps it was just ‘war jitters’ after all. Well, not so fast. As that icon of radio, Paul Harvey, famously said so many times, “Wait until you’ve heard the rest of the story.”

When Did the Foo First Fly? According to Keith Chester, in his extensively researched and well written book, Strange Company, aerial phenomena much like the Foo Fighters of WW II were seen during the early 1930s. (Keep in mind the “Great Airship Mystery” of 1893 and 1894 as well.) Although oddities aloft were reported in both America and Europe, the later seemed to experience the majority of incidents. For example, in December 1933, the Swedish Air Force searched, in vain, for the aerial intruders that seemed to operate in the nighttime northern skies. What most baffled authorities was that these airplanes operated even in foul weather—something conventional planes could not do. The mysterious airplanes often circled quite low (again, at night), using powerful searchlights to examine the ground below. Strangely, this low level maneuvering was reportedly done in complete silence.1 Sightings continued into 1935, especially in Sweden, Norway, and Finland. All were thoroughly perplexed as to their origin. Eventually, some countries gave up the search, declaring that there was nothing to it, while others, including Norway, continued to investigate. It’s helpful to remember that this time period was fraught with political tensions. Russia was building up its military along its border with Finland, and Hitler’s Germany was starting to flex its military muscle. The region was understandably nervous to start with, and the mysterious over-flights by the elusive “grey spheres” only added to the tension.1

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Foo Fighters continued In the United States, people in Texas reported strange, vertical shafts of light that hung motionless in the night sky. Others, like Howard S. Behr in 1937, had more specific encounters. Behr was flying 3,000 feet, on his way to North Carolina, when he saw a craft 1,000 feet below him and moving across his flight path. He estimated its size at 30 to 40 feet, and he saw no sign of windows or propellers. He described it as looking, “...like a gondola, gun metal in color, with both of its ends turned up.” It was traveling around 150 mph.1 One quite telling sighting that same year occurred 500 miles off the U.S. coast. The British ship Ranee reported spotting an aircraft, or rather its lights. For an airplane to be that far from land was considered quite risky. Investigations turned up nothing, and prominent aviators of the time said knew of no one who could have accomplished the feat.1

12 in a row, not the typical “V” formation. Their speed was a little faster than Japanese planes. Brickner couldn’t make out any tails or wings, and the objects seemed to wobble slightly, showing the sun’s glint on their highly polished silver skins when they did. The formation moved out of sight, without doing any damage. He described it later as the most awe-inspiring yet frightening spectacle he had seen in his life.2 A third fact is that Foo Fighters were reported in both the European and Pacific theatres. Late in the war, Captain William A. Mandel, an antiaircraft specialist, was scanning the skies from a hill on Okinawa. The weather was clear, and the sun was low in the sky. He spotted a single plane approaching, just a few hundred feet above the island. He assumed it was a Navy Corsair returning for a routine landing. Soon enough, he realized the craft had no markings or visible openings, except in the rear. It seemed about 35 feet in length, and he saw that it appeared metallic. As it passed over The Phenomena Evolves him, he knew it was neither a Corsair nor a Japanese Zero, Given the scope of what we now know of World War II and its speed barely broke 100 mph. After the cigar-shaped sightings, we can only hit some highlights in this article, with object passed, it continued down the coastline, disappearing a focus on what isn’t widely known. in the direction opposite to its appearance. He decided not First, these strange aerial encounters date to the early to report the incident.1 years of the war and not just the last two. The first I know of occurred in September, 1941. Two sailors on board the S.S. Pulaski spotted a “strange globe glowing with greenish light, about half the size of the full moon.” The object, now seen by others on the ship, followed them over the next hour.2 The second thing to know about Foo Fighters is that they were not all ‘balls of fire’. One lengthy, early account is mind-boggling in its portent. Stephen J. Brickner, After the cigara sergeant with the First Marine Division, heard the shaped object alarm and promptpassed, it continued air-raid ly slid into his foxhole on down the coastline... Tulagi, one of the Solomon Not just orbs—many kinds of Foo Fighters have been reported. Islands. The date was AuFinally, the official reporting of strange sightings aloft gust 12, 1942, and all, inwas hampered by a variety of factors. For starters, there cluding Sgt. Brickner, were understandably nervous. While was no established terminology for such events, so these lying on his back, he saw a formation of silvery objects high anomalies were described by a variety of names. Even the overhead. He was puzzled because they didn’t sound like term ‘Foo Fighters’ came along late in the war. No doubt this the high-pitched “sewing-machine” drone of the Japanese lack of appropriate terminology contributed to the delay in formations. Instead, he heard, “...a mighty roar that seemed recognizing the various sightings for what they really were. to echo in the heavens.” They were flying very high above the Also, there is no way to know how many such sightings went clouds, too high for a bombing run. Their formation was huge, unreported. Pilots and their crews often faced ridicule and perhaps over 150 objects, and they flew in straight lines, 10 or

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disbelief when they reported something strange. Lastly, Allied forces had a tremendous respect for German technology; so many odd sightings were attributed to some aspect of exotic Nazi weaponry. (I can’t imagine how the intelligence community explained away the fact that not a single Allied plane was downed by Foo Fighters. That would not reflect well upon the vaulted German technology would it?)

Post War Jitters After a long and terrible world war, everyone wanted to start rebuilding their lives, their cities, and their countries. They very much wanted to put the past tensions of the prior decade behind them. For the folks in Sweden, however, this proved difficult. Reports of ‘ghost rockets’ overflying the countryside came in large numbers throughout 1946. The government and military became so concerned that it formed a “ghost rocket committee”, comprised of scientists and military personnel.2 A typical sighting occurred on May 31. “A giant, wingless, metallic cigar was seen on the eastern horizon at 11:43 Purported ghost rocket photographed by photographer Eric A.M. It traveled swiftly at Reutersward in 1946. 1,000 feet altitude, leaving a rumbling sound as it executed a turn toward the west.” In July, a meteorologist studying clouds through a telescope noticed a luminous object on the horizon. Within 10 seconds it had come into view. It was, he said, at least 90 feet long. The body was torpedo-shaped and shinning like metal. It had a tapered tail that spewed glowing blue and green smoke and a series of fire balls.”2

A Concept Crystallizes Perhaps the greatest contribution from the Foo Fighter era is the way it ties together the quite different periods that came before and after. The airships of the 1890s were, by today’s standards, large, clumsy, and just barely advanced from our

own technology. The flying saucers which made their apparent appearance in the late 1940s were sleek, silent, and very fast. Again, we are capable of speculation as to their technology. Foo fighters were something in the middle. And again, the technology displayed was not so far advanced that we couldn’t get our minds around it. There is undeniable evidence that the strange objects we see in the sky are evolving on a path roughly parallel to our own technology and sophistication. We have no way of knowing if this pattern is the result of changes made by whatever owns the alien objects or if it simply reflects our own growing ability to understand and thereby ‘see’ more fully. In either case, the pattern is clear. Time and again while I was researching this topic, investigators ventured the opinion that if the words “flying saucer” had existed during the 1930s or during and right after WW II, people would have used the term when describing their sightings. However, the world didn’t have the concept or the term, and so we read about “balls of fire”, “blimp-like craft”, “silver gondolas”, “flares”, “rockets”, “balloons”, “meteorites”, and so on. Witnesses were doing the best they could, given the mental images available to them at the time.

The Smooth Transition that Wasn’t Another striking lesson from the Foo Fighter era is how disingenuous the government really was. We know that during the war, dozens if not hundreds in the military and in Washington were following Foo Fighter activity closely. At least some of these bright people had to realize, after all the intelligence was considered and we had interrogated both German and Japanese pilots, that these strange craft probably did not have a human origin. Then, American military undoubtedly followed the development of Europe’s ‘ghost rockets closely’, and they had to be impressed by the total lack of results. Yet, just a short time later, when Kenneth Arnold brought the public’s attention to his “nine, bright saucer-like objects”, the government played dumb and down played the whole thing. Based upon the military’s accumulated experience, that doesn’t make sense Another pattern that began to emerge about this time was the clumsy way our government managed its public relations, although, one can think of explanations other than conspiracy easily enough. For example, in January 1948, Captain Thomas Mantell crashed his F-51 while chasing a bogey.

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Foo Fighters continued In his last radio contact, Mantell said the target “...appears to be a metallic object...tremendous in size...directly ahead and slightly above...I’m trying to close in for a better look.” The Air Force’s preliminary verdict was that Mantell died chasing the planet Venus. Both the media and the public were outraged.3

have perceived these flying anomalies in different ways. The sheer complexity of the situation is reflected in the fact that we are still struggling to understand both the scope of and the reasons for their presence. In the meantime, I believe it will be helpful to look for patterns and connections in the data and continue to learn what we can.

Legacy

ENDNOTES: 1

The patterns between Foo Fighters and flying saucers are clear, and the connections, for those who study them, are equally clear. I wonder if we will ever know just when our government realized what they were dealing with, but I’m not hopeful. Once a cover-ups starts, it’s very difficult to discard. Lying and obscuring become ingrained and accepted as the only way to do business. It’s doubtful those honorable men of World War II and the immediate post-war years ever understood what they had started. One man who did seem aware of unintended consequences was departing president Dwight D. Eisenhower. In his farewell speech of 1961, this, in part, is what he had to say: Until the latest of our world conflicts, the United States had no armaments industry...But now, we have been compelled to create a permanent armaments industry of vast proportions—The total influence—economic, political, even spiritual—is felt in every city, every Statehouse, every office of the Federal government—we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex... We must never let the weight of this combination endanger President Eisenhower our liberties or democratic Click to hear part of his processes.4 farewell address.

Chester, Keith, Strange Company. Anomalist Books, San Antonio, TX. Published 2007.

2

Thompson, Keith, Angles and Aliens: UFOs and the Mythic Imagination. Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Inc., New York, NY. Published 1991.

3

Clarke, Jerome, The UFO Encyclopedia. Omnigraphics, Inc., Detroit, MI. Published 1998.

Eisenhower, Dwight D., Public Papers of the Presidents – 1960, p. 1035-1040. Accessed at http://coursesa.matrix.mus.edu/�hst306/documents/indust.html

4

Please... to renew! t e g r fo ’t n o D

of being a t fi e n e b e th • Realize Midwest ic m a n y d is part of th ation UFO organiz O research F U ty li a u q • Support t areness righ w a c li b u p d an e here at hom and subscription r u o y w e n e R at: hen notified w ip h rs e b m me m

Imagine the horror President Eisenhower would feel if he could be aware of such ‘black projects’ as the facilities at Groom Lake and Area 51. Some doubt that even our sitting President can gain access to these facilities, let alone control or manage them. For some time now, I’ve speculated that the UFO phenomenon, in all its guises, has been with us all along. Depending upon our level knowledge and sophistication, we 18

fon.co u m is o in ll .i www to:

or send it in hip NFP Members N O F U M is o Illin , IL , Orland Park 5 0 1 2 x o B . P.O 60462

Recent Events

UFO Reality...Beyond the Myth

W

illiam Rainey Harper College’s Wojcik Conference Center in Palatine was the site of a well-received presentation and luncheon sponsored by the Illinois Mutual UFO Network (Illinois MUFON). On Februay 21st, an enthusiastic audience heard talks from Dr. Mark Rodeghier, Sam Maranto, and (via telephone conferencing) Ted Phillips, all on the general topic of “UFO Reality... Beyond the Myth.”

The beautiful Wojcik Conference Center hosted the event using advanced communications services.

Participants attended the presentation in a comfortable state-of-the-art lecture hall.

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Recent Events continued

Rodeghier, Executive Director of the Center for UFO Studies (CUFOS) spoke on the topic “UFO Sightings and More.” Maranto, President of Illinois MUFON and lead investigator on the Tinley Park Lights case (featured in this season’s premiere of UFO HUNTERS on the History Channel) spoke generally on the subject of UFO cases in Illinois, including Tinley Park and the O’Hare airport sighting. Phillips, an associate of Dr. J. Allen Hynek and the leading authority on UFO trace evidence investigation talked to the audience in a technologically impressive two-way “Q and A” about the ongoing investigation of the frequently observed “Marley Lights” in Missouri. In addition to the talks, the event featured a fine luncheon with choice of entrees. Several attendees became members of either or both Illinois MUFON and CUFOS. All who attended were much impressed with the Wojcik Conference Center facility, both in its technological sophistication and general ambience and it is certain that future Illinois MUFON activities will be held at the site.

Presenters, Sam Maranto (left) and Dr. Mark Rodeghier (right)

Attendees during lunch enjoyed the expansive view and good food

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u o Y k n a h T l ia c e p S A s don’t happen? Who says miracle per nference at the Har co e th as w t in po A case in ter. College Wojcik Cen on in helming registrati w er ov an th ss le a With . One of battle the elements to d ha so al e w e, plac ar, accompanied ye e th of s m or st the worst snow and threatened to ea ar e th t hi , ds ous, by strong win ravel was treacher T . ce n re fe n co r ou this, shut down me. In addition to ho n ai m re to y an ed to forcing m fell ill and was forc rs ke ea sp e re th r one of ou cancel. on less entire presentation e th p m va re to d We ha 0 who e. Of the nearly 15 ic ot n r u ho 8 4 a than 0 arrived approximately 10 d, n te at to ed n an pl int was 150 paid. po en ev kea br r u O of new lifetime rm fo in d ve ri ar le day. A mirac imately saved the lt u is th d an ps hi members l. ve been so gratefu We could never ha y…mine will never or em m s t’ ar he e Gratitude is th lks. forget these fine fo Thank You, Julie A. Maranto Secretary

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Convergence

Red Dwarves by Guy Richards

N

o I don’t mean the little gnome guy with the red conical hat that advertises for Travelocity. I mean the star classification red dwarf, a star with less than half the mass of our sun. Since these stars are now generally accepted to be the most common type of star in the galaxy (some estimates as high as 90%) I thought it might be interesting to think about what life that evolved on a red dwarf star planet might look like. First, red dwarfs are red because they are smaller than our sun and therefore don’t have the gravitational compression to make the nuclear fires burn as hotly, hence red light instead of yellow like our sun. In fact the whole energy spectrum for a red dwarf is shifted toward the infra-red and the intensity is also way down. This means that the “Goldilocks Zone” (neither too hot nor too cold but just right) for a habitable planet is much closer in toward the star than earth’s orbit is. Just as with a roaring bonfire you can stand ten feet away to be warm you need to stand right next to a campfire to stay warm. The technical term for staying warm is the “habital zone”.

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The view from the habital zone planet circling a red dwarf planet would be a dim red landscape, a black sky and a dark red sun the size of a beach ball held at arms length. It would dominate the sky. The local vegetation would be black to our eyes but would likely have a range of colors in the red and infrared spectrum for our aliens. Because of the close in orbit of our red dwarf planet, it is likely that it is tide locked with the same face always toward the sun. This reduces the size of the planetary habitable zone to an area between the hot side facing the sun and the cold side facing space. This could lead to some very interesting weather as the hot side and cold side try to reach equilibrium. The size of our red dwarf planet would have to be large enough to have and hold an atmosphere, say the size of our Saturnian moon Titan, to perhaps twice as large as earth. Much bigger and gravity becomes a problem with mobility and physical structure. Water creatures are possible like our dolphins on a larger planet but then technology becomes problematic under water. Liquid water, by most students of life requirements, is necessary for life so it would have to be a planet with oceans. Also since the planet is very close in to the dwarf sun it would likely be geologically active from being pulled on by the sun. This means plate tectonics like earth, volcanos, mountains, rivers, etc. much like earth processes but more so, faster, more violent. Our alien adapted to an Earth size planet would have to have very large eyes to see in the red/infrared. It’s eyes would have to take in more light and be sensitive to the longer wave lengths of infrared, so large dark eyes. Probably two eyes because binocular vision would be useful and three eyes are redundant and evolutionarily wasteful. Carbon based life is also likely as it has the Earth proven wide range of environmental survivability and is the element that bonds readily with so many other elements in the chain like structures that make DNA and RNA helix’s and the innumerable variety of proteins that can be produced for creatures suited to many environments.

With life concentrated in the temperate band between the cold and hot side the competition for survival niche’s would be fierce. The strongest, fastest and smartest would be quickly selected for. With strong, fast and smart predators after them a burrowing omnivore would have an advantage with a place to run to and a safe haven from the weather while they scavenge protein and munch on plants or drink nectar from plants. A burrower with big eyes and smart means a large head with small features that don’t get clogged or interfere with movement in burrows.

RED DWARF

OUR SUN

JUPITER Comparative sizes between our sun, the planet Jupiter, and a red dwarf star.

As selection pressures continued our aliens might find social groups advantageous much like ants or termites with a series of classes of workers, tunnelers, breeders, warriors and overseers. The overseers would continue to evolve larger brains at the expense of body mass (small stature and thin limbs) and be fed on a specialized nectar tailored to a minimal digestive system and optimum efficiency. Eventually technology would develop and the other classes would atrophy and disappear leaving only the overseers with their large heads, large dark eyes, short stature, no ears, small mouth and minimal nose. Hmmm, there’s something familiar about a creature like that but I can’t think what it might be.

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Upcoming Events

Out of This World UFO Conference and Golf Tournament Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa—Galena, Illinois May 28th–31st

Guest Speakers:

STANTON FRIEDMAN, RICHARD DOLAN, KATHLEEN MARDEN, TED PHILLIPS, JESSE MARCEL, JR., KEVIN RANDLE, DONALD SCHMITT, AND SAM MARANTO Our first annual “Out Of This World Golf Tournament” will kick off the event on Thursday. This is your chance to play “the General” a renown premiere course that is as much a challenge as it is beautiful. Attendance fees vary depending upon the number of activities, days, and presentations attended. The Lectures Only Package for all three days is $137. (Please go to www.illinoismufon for more info.)

Hotel/villa/home packages with our group rate vary depending upon occupancy, location, and range from $161.19 per night and up. (Please go to www.illinoismufon for more info.) 24

If you’re not attending our amateur tournament, venture into town. The shuttle leaves the resort at 11:00 A.M. and goes into historic Galena with its charming array of fine boutiques, galleries, eateries. You can visit the home of President Ulysses S. Grant or attend the Mystery & History Night Tour with a local ghost hunter and historian. And an Astronomy & Sky Watch Night is planned for Friday. Dobie Maxwell, professional comedian and radio personality, will add levity during many of our events. Lake Galena offers some great fishing and you can rent paddle boats and canoes or go on a nature walk. For gambling fun, Diamond Joe Casino is just over the Mississippi in Dubuque.

For more information go to : www.illinoismufon.com or call: 708 460-7606 25

Upcoming Events continued

Out of This World UFO Conference and Golf Tournament Speakers and Schedule Stanton T. Friedman An advanced nuclear and space systems physicist, Mr. Friedman has spoken at more than 600 colleges and over 100 professional groups in all 50 states and 16 other countries, and has appeared on hundreds of TV and radio programs. He is a world-renown UFO researcher and author of numerous books on ufology.

Richard Dolan A gifted historian, Richard is considered a foremost UFO researcher and is the author of UFOs and the National Security State. He studied at Oxford University before recieving his graduates degree in history and lectures around the country and in the media on the general topic of UFOs.

Kathleen Marden Kathleen, a certified hypnotherapist and educator, was a close relative of Betty and Barney Hill and authored Captured! The Betty and Barney Hill UFO Experience, coauthored with nuclear physicist/scientific ufologist Stanton Friedman. She lectures and is frequently seen on TV as an expert on UFO abductions.

Ted Phillips A co-worker and close friend of Dr. J. Allen Hynek, Ted is a physical evidence researcher who investigated over 600 suspected UFO landings. He has met with representatives at the UN and appeared on numerous TV and radio programs and documentaries. Ted is the director of the Center for Physical Trace Research.

Jesse Marcel, Jr. Jesse retired as a Colonel from the USAF after serving for 38 years as a flight surgeon. He is one of the few witnesses to the wreckage of the Roswell Incident and is often a guest on TV and radio programs on the subjects of UFOs and his father, Captain Jesse Marcel, stationed at Roswell AFB at the time of the UFO crash.

Don Schmitt Author of the best-seller, UFO Crash at Roswell, Don has continued his investigations into the incident, uncovering new evidence and coverups. He is also a frequent speaker in documentaries and TV programs and on the radio. He is a regular lecturer at Illinois MUFON conferences.

Kevin Randle Kevin was a former Army pilot and USAF intelligence officer. He has a PhD in psychology and is an author of over 100 books including many books on the UFO phenomenon. He appears as a guest on TV programs and documentaries and hosts his own UFO program on the radio. Sam Maranto Sam is the State Director of Illinois MUFON and the leading researcher into the Tinley Park Lights in Illinois. He has appeared numerous times on UFO Hunters and other TV documentaries and is heard discussing the subject of UFOs on many radio stations both statewide and nationally. 26

Conference Schedule THURSDAY, MAY 28 Explore Galena and OTW Golf Tournament 9:00 A.M. 11:00 A.M. 11:30 A.M. 1:00 P.M. 3:00 P.M. 6:00 P.M. 8:00 P.M.

Registration at the Lodge (Golf and General Registration) Shuttle to Historical Galena Departs from Lodge Luncheon at Spikes for Golf Tournament Contestants Golf Tournament Begins Shuttle Returns from Historical Galena Golf Tournament Ends Mystery & History Ghost Tour

11:30 A.M. 11:45 A.M. 12:00 P.M. 1:30 P.M. 2:45 P.M. 3:00 P.M. 3:15 P.M. 4:15 P.M. 4:30 P.M. 4:45 P.M. 6:00 P.M. 8:00 P.M.

FRIDAY, MAY 29

9:15 P.M.

Lectures, Reception, Dinner, and Sky Watch 9:00 A.M. 10:30 A.M. 11:00 A.M. 12:00 P.M. 1:15 P.M. 3:00 P.M. 3:30 P.M. 4:00 P.M. 5:30 P.M. 8:00 P.M.

Registration at the Lodge Don Schmitt (until noon) Shuttle to Historical Galena Lunch (on your own) Kevin Randle Don Schmitt and Kevin Randle (Q & A) Shuttle Returns from Historical Galena Announcements Reception Begins at Lodge Dinner Sky Watch and Star Gazing

SATURDAY, MAY 30 Breakfast, Lectures, and Speakers Dinner 8:00 A.M. 9:30 A.M. 9:45 A.M. 11:15 A.M.

Breakfast Buffet at Lodge Registration Opens and Introductions Richard Dolan Break

SUNDAY, MAY 31 Breakfast, Lectures, and Speaker Panel 8:00 A.M. 9:30 A.M. 9:45 A.M. 11:00 A.M. 11:30 A.M. 11:45 A.M. 12:00 P.M. 1:30 P.M. 3:00 P.M. 3:15 P.M. 4:00 P.M.

Scheduled programs are subject to change

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Richard Dolan (Q & A) Announcements Lunch Ted Phillips Break Ted Phillips (Q & A) Jesse Marcel, Jr. Break Jesse Marcel, Jr. (Q & A) Announcements Dinner with Speakers and Entertainment Evening Group Activity (to be announced) Mystery & History Ghost Tour in Historical Galena

5:30 P.M. 8:00 P.M.

Breakfast Buffet Registration Opens and Introduction Stanton Friedman Break Stanton Friedman (Q & A) Announcements Noon Luncheon Buffet Kathleen Marden Break Speaker Panel Closing Statements and Announcements Dinner in Historical Galena Mystery & History Ghost Tour

Upcoming Events continued

Spring

is officially here and so is our line up of activities starting with our General State Meeting at Starved Rock Lodge. On Saturday April 18th General State Meeting open to the public Starved Rock Lodge , Utica, Illinois Utica Room

10:00 A.M. 10:15 A.M. 10:45 A.M. 11:00 A.M. 11:10 A.M. 12:15 P.M. 1:30 P.M. 3:00 P.M.

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Opening Statement Illinois MUFON NFP Overview Discussion Break Case Overview and Presentation Lunch Reconvene Adjournment

Price $15.00 per person Illinois MUFON NFP Member $10.00 per person

On Sunday April 19th Board of Directors Meeting Starved Rock Lodge , Utica, Illinois Peru Room (the Board Room)

10:30 A.M. 12:00 P.M. 1:15 P.M. 3:30 P.M.

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Directors Meeting Lunch Reconvene Adjournment

Why do we have our meetings at Starved Rock Lodge in Utica, Illinois? It is the centrally located between all of the members in the state by volume and is the birthplace of Illinois MUFON NFP as well as the state itself. Historical, beautiful, and mutually inconvenient, yet it is always a wonderful experience. Never have I heard so much as a whimper of regret from anyone attending. This location is one of the state’s natural wonders with many waterfalls and canyons. This area is rich in history and embraced in natural splendor. Whether you venture off into the landscape or seat yourself to overlook one of the many scenic vantage points, you won’t be disappointed. So reserve some time to explore. Remember lodging is sparse, so we will be reserving a few rooms. Illinois MUFON members get a group rate. So, if you would like to stay at the lodge that weekend , email your request to: mufonsam @comcast.net

To pay in advance for the General State Meeting, go to:

www.illinoismufon.com 28