The Mammoth Encyclopedia of Extraterrestrial Encounters

by Story, Ronald

  “The crew leader had a very high forehead, a very long nose; his eyes were sort of sunken in, and they were round eyes like ours, except for their pupils…were sort of the form of a, I would say, like a cat’s eye. And their complexion was sort of a grayish-pink. I couldn’t see any hair or ears because they were covered by the form of the uniform over their head; there was like a small black box on the other side with a very small antenna sticking up out of it. The mouth was sort of a slit, and as he spoke to me, it came like a very deep tone of voice, like from deep within, and he didn’t move his mouth at all.

  “He said, ‘Watchman, come with me…’ and we went up to the craft; and as we got to the craft, he took me up into what I call the first level of it …and we’re standing there looking at these, like 55-gallon barrel drums in a big circle (in the first level), and had black cables being connected to each one of them. And then right in the center of the room, as we looked up, was like a half of a cocoon—and it was spinning, giving off bright colors like the rainbow. And he said, ‘Watchman, this is our power source: reversible electrical-magnetism.’ We moved over to where we came up in, and just kind of floated up into the second level—just zzzzz!—like you go up on an elevator. It was like red light inside, and this big cone was spinning, and there was all kinds of panels and computers and stuff like this; and there was a map on the wall, and there was this large screen, like a vision screen there…and he walked up and he pressed some buttons, and he pointed toward the stars and he said, ‘That’s where we’re from….’ There was writing on the map and I couldn’t tell really what it was—it was a map of a sun and six planets! They were from a nearby galaxy and that’s all he ever said…he never said exactly where they were from or anything…he just pointed at the map. They were observing us and had been observing us for a long time.

  “He said, ‘Watchman, the reason why we’re here is to get electricity,’ and they extracted electricity from one of the power poles there, which led to the main power source there in Ashland. And this sort of antenna that was on the edge of the ship kind of lifted down…this one was pressing buttons …and a bolt went out and hit the big transformer and bolted back; and the pole was burning, and it went like that for maybe a minute or so, and they shut it off.

  “In the top part of where we were was like an observation deck—there was panels and chairs and a big observation window there; and he told me…he said, ‘Watchman (and he pointed toward the stars), you yourself will see the universe as I have seen it.’

  “He said, ‘Watchman, come with me…’ and we went back and went straight down and outside and started walking toward the patrol car. And as we approached the car, he said, ‘Watchman, what you have seen and what you have heard, you will not remember. The only thing that you’ll remember is that you’ve seen something land and something take off….’ And that was it.

  The Condon Report concluded as follows: “Evaluation of psychological assessment tests, the lack of any evidence, and interviews with the patrolman, left project staff with no confidence that the trooper’s reported UFO experience was physically real.” Dr. Sprinkle expressed the opinion that “the trooper believed in the reality of the events he described.”

  The Schirmer case is a “classic” in more ways than one. (1) It is the quintessential composite of classic UFO lore. (2) The account is told with such exquisite naïveté on the part of the experiencer that no one doubts his sincerity to this day. (3) Likewise, while telling what he clearly believed to be the unvarnished truth, officer Schirmer reveals the primitive state of the average person’s knowledge of science and technology—especially astronomy—which earmarks the tale as a fantasy.

  Herbert Schirmer’s drawing of the crew leader

  More detailed information—which includes edited transcripts of “timeregression” hypnosis sessions by professional hypnotist Loring G. Williams—appears in two books by author-investigator Eric Norman (penname for Warren Smith): Gods, Demons and Space Chariots (1970) and Gods and Devils from Outer Space (1973).

  Eric Norman (Warren Smith) in the company of another famed author-investigator, Brad Steiger (penname for Eugene Olson), extracted a wealth of fascinating detail from Schirmer in their 1968 investigation. Though it doesn’t take much to improve upon the pseudoscientific techniques (consisting mostly of academic snobbery) of the so-called Condon Committee, Norman achieved what Condon’s “investigators” did not know how to do. Without fanfare, he simply obtained and communicated the relevant information. Through the hypnotic sessions conducted by Williams, Norman uncovered the following details.

  According to Schirmer, the spacemen were from a nearby galaxy, but had bases on Venus, Jupiter, and other planets of our solar system. Their purpose in coming to Earth was to obtain electricity from our power lines. Their saucer, which was made of 100 percent pure magnesium, operates on the principle of “reversible electromagnetism” (whatever that means) and traveled at a speed of 150,000 “something” (Schirmer wasn’t sure whether it was miles per hour, miles per second, or what—but it flew pretty darned fast). The spacecraft was 102 feet in diameter, Schirmer was told, and in addition to using measurements in “feet,” the aliens also carried standard 55-gallon drums interconnected by cables for some unknown purpose (maybe for the storage of electricity). One is struck by the absence of miniaturization, which is one of the hallmarks of our own advancing technology. The space travelers also had buttons, dials, and gauges on their control panels—another throwback to our own 50s technology—which raises the greatest mystery of all: with this kind of backward technology, how did they ever get here—from another galaxy, no less—in the first place! A ladder was used to enter the “observation ship,” as it was called, which sat upon tripod legs.

  A large “vision screen” (just like in Star Trek) inside the saucer enabled its occupants to see outside. The saucermen were, of course, outfitted with ray guns (which they carried in belt-mounted holsters) and wore one-piece coverall suits which included radio transmitters built-in to their skullcap type “helmets.” Schirmer likened the aliens’ uniform to “…a flight suit you buy at the Army surplus stores….” Inasmuch as the aliens were said to have telepathic abilities, one wonders why they would still need primitive “walkie-talkie” devices with little antennas sticking out.

  Again, this is one of the hallmarks of 50s science fiction, and in fact Schirmer’s description closely resembles “The Man from Planet X,” from the 1950 film by the same name. Coincidentally, “The Man from Planet X” also had mind-control abilities as did Schirmer’s aliens.

  Yet another mystery is why intelligent space-faring aliens would establish a base on a planet like Venus—with an atmosphere of sulfuric acid, crushing atmospheric pressure, and a surface temperature high enough to melt lead. Perhaps the aliens are not quite as intelligent as we thought.

  Schirmer also said that the spacemen “…had a program called ‘breeding analysis’ and some humans had been used in these experiments.” This tidbit anticipates the current genetic-hybrid trend that dominates the new UFOlogy.

  One last point should not go unmentioned. While under an hypnotic trance, Schirmer produced a drawing of an emblem the UFOnauts all wore on the upper-right chest portion of their uniforms. It was a serpent with wings. Eric Norman reminds us that this “…was an accurate depiction of the feathered serpent” which had been documented throughout our history in ancient Aztec lore, Chinese legends, and all over the world. Norman then posed the question: “Could the UFOnatus and their emblem of the winged serpent be connected with the story of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden? Was the ‘snake’ merely a symbol of UFOnauts?”

  We now come to the crux of the issue. Does the same symbolism appear in UFOlogy and ancient mythology because extraterrestrials have influenced—or even created—us, or do we project our distinctly human archetypes and culture onto them?

  —RONALD D. STORY

  References

  Blum, Ralph and Judy. Beyond Earth: Man’s Contact wit
h UFOs (Bantam Books, 1974).

  Gillmor, Daniel S., ed. Scientific Study of Unidentified Flying Objects. (Bantam Books, 1969). “Final Report of the Scientific Study of Unidentified Flying Objects” Conducted by the University of Colorado under contract to the United States Air Force, Dr. Edward U. Condon, Scientific Director.

  Kottmeyer, Martin S. Unpublished notes and personal correspondence.

  Norman, Eric. God’s Demons and Space Chariots (Lancer Books, 1970).

  ———. Gods and Devils from Outer Space (Lancer Books, 1973).

  Story, Ronald D., ed. The Encyclopedia of UFOs (Doubleday, 1980).

  Schuessler, John F. (b. 1933). John Schuessler has been involved in the U.S. manned space program since 1962 and has been a UFO researcher since 1965. He is a founding member of the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) and as of July 16, 2000, its International Director. He has written numerous articles for Skylook and the MUFON UFO Journal and has been a featured speaker at eight MUFON symposia. He administers the MUFON Medical Committee, composed of consultants with medical degrees.

  John Schuessler

  Schuessler is currently a member of the UFO Research Coalition Board of Directors and a Center for UFO Studies (CUFOS) associate. He was a founding member and past President of the UFO Study Group of Greater St. Louis, Inc., and the Houston-based Vehicle Internal Systems Investigative Team (VISIT).

  He has appeared on numerous radio and television programs. In 1996 he cataloged his research in a book entitled UFO-Related Human Physiological Effects. In 1998, he published a book entitled The Cash-Landrum UFO Incident: Three Texans Are Injured During an Encounter With a UFO and Military Helicopters.

  Schuessler retired after 36 years in aerospace engineering with McDonnell Douglas and The Boeing Company, where he was involved in engineering for most manned space programs, from Project Mercury to the International Space Station. He held positions as Project Manager for Space Shuttle Flight Operations, Director of Engineering, and Director of General Support. In 1998 he was awarded the NASA Public Service Medal for his leadership of the NASA Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory project.

  Schuessler holds B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Houston Clear Lake. He is an Associate Fellow in the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), and a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA), the Society for Scientific Exploration (SSE), the National Space Society (NSS), the Planetary Society, and the World Future Society. He is a past member of the NASA Johnson Space Center Human Space Flight Awareness Council, University of Texas Department of Aerospace Engineering Industry Visiting Committee, Houston Ellington Field Airport Development Task Force, Clear Lake Area Economic Development Foundation Education Committee, National Contract Management Association, the Clear Lake Transportation Partnership and past-president of the Friends of the Freeman Memorial Library in Houston, Texas.

  Address:

  P.O. Box 369

  Morrison, CO 80465

  U.S.A.

  E-mail:

  schuessler@mho.net

  POSITION STATEMENT: After years of amassing information about Unconventional Flying Objects (UFOs) I have come to the conclusion that we are dealing with a very complex mystery on an international scale. While the time-tested ways of investigating this mystery are still useful and must be con tinued, new approaches must be tried as well.

  A basic problem is the lack of cooperation between individuals and groups. Whether or not this is caused by human nature in general or it is a part of some devious plan; it impedes progress, causes data to become obscured and questioned, and is usually harmful to the witnesses and investigators alike. I look forward to greater cooperation in the future through a loose federation of most of the UFO organizations in the world. I look at it as the United Nations of ufology. The power of a federation of this nature has outstanding ramifications for everyone involved.

  Another problem stems from the way UFOs are investigated. While it is important to continue to gather and record case information using well-established investigative practices, more must be done. The tools used today in UFO cases are much the same as those used 50 years ago. We need to find ways to tap the myriad of new electronic technologies now available in most government agencies for use in UFO investigations.

  The characteristics of the objects described in UFO reports appear to evolve over time to stay just beyond the state-of-the-art of technology as we know it. This presents the challenge to researchers to forecast where UFO technology is headed and to develop ways to detect and record the new data as the mystery evolves.

  While the quality of UFO investigations improves continuously, we have a tough job ahead. I approach that job with the following points in mind:

  • UFO reports worldwide continue unabated

  • The journalistic approach to resolving the mystery has failed. It has only created camps of believers and disbelievers

  • Debating whether or not UFOs exist is futile. As long as we have unresolved reports, UFOs do exist.

  • High quality UFO reports are inspirational to many individuals involved in science and technology. They want to know “what’s under the hood.”

  • Existing technologies, if properly utilized, could aid engineers and scientists in they quest to solve the UFO mystery.

  • Until governments decide to support their people with free and open channels of UFO information, the quest for truth will be a slow and difficult task.

  • Our future may depend on the ultimate outcome of UFO research.

  —JOHN F. SCHUESSLER

  Scully hoax Frank Scully’s book Behind the Flying Saucers caused a sensation when it was published in 1950. Scully told of three crashed saucers that he claimed were being investigated by officials and scientists of the United States government. According to the story, one flying saucer had crashed in Paradise Valley near Phoenix, Arizona, and the other two were found in the vicinity of Aztec, New Mexico. Thirty-four dead bodies were allegedly found inside the three “spacecraft.” The occupants were little humanoids, measuring between thirty-six to forty-two inches in height, and were charred brown, presumably from sudden decompression.

  In addition to their small size, there were a few other peculiarities: The little men had no cavities in their teeth, and they drank “heavy” water (about twice as heavy as normal drinking water). There was a food supply on board, consisting of little wafers that when dropped into a pail of water would swell up, causing the water to overflow. The heavy water and concentrated food, it was conjectured, might have been an aid to space flight.

  Their dress consisted of dark-blue uniforms without any insignia on their collars or caps to give a clue as to where they might be from (although it was somehow determined that the little fellows hailed from Venus).

  Also found on board the disabled saucers were a tiny radio which operated on some unknown principle, some small disks of an unknown metal, a strange fabric, and what appeared to be navigational booklets written in a pictorial type of script.

  Scully’s chief source of information on the crashed-saucer story was an old friend, one Silas M. Newton, who got the story from a mysterious “Dr. Gee,” identified in the book by Scully as “the top magnetic research specialist of the United States.” It was said that Dr. Gee and seven other scientists were called in by the U.S. Air Force to examine the spaceships and their contents. It was never made quite clear why Mr. Newton, an oil man, filled the role as spokesman for Dr. Gee. But no matter, the entire incident was exposed as a hoax by True magazine in its September 1952 issue. An investigative reporter, J. P. Cahn, traced Scully’s sources to the pair of culprits who made the whole thing up.

  Silas Newton, it turned out, had been involved in some other hanky-panky having to do with fraudulent stock practices. Cahn was also able to trace the identity of “Dr. Gee” to one Leo A. GeBauer, the propriet
or of Western Radio & Engineering Company, a radio and television parts supply house in Phoenix, Arizona. Scully admitted to Cahn that Mr. GeBauer was indeed “Dr. Gee”; and the book Behind the Flying Saucers was confirmed as a hoax.

  In 1974, the Scully rumor was revived again by a professor Robert Carr, who was at the time promoting a Flying Saucer Symposium to be held in Tampa, Florida, on November 1-3 of that year. Carr stated at a press conference that, according to his secret sources, the U.S. Air Force was hiding a downed saucer and its twelve deceased occupants at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio. The professor, who reportedly taught mass communications at the University of Southern Florida, said that an autopsy performed on one of the “little men” revealed that its genes and chromosomes were compatible with those of Earth women. To find out more, one could attend the symposium for the nominal fee of $37.50.

  The “little men” stories began surfacing again in 1978. In a lecture given by veteran UFO researcher Leonard H. Stringfield, at the annual Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) Symposium, this one held (appropriately enough) in Dayton, Ohio, on July 29, he said that: “Now, for the first time, sufficient data have been amassed to lend support to some of the old retrieval claims.” But the “new” claims—which harken back to the late 1940s and early 1950s—are essentially the same stories told over and over again: The site of the crashed saucer is usually given as Arizona or New Mexico. The military somehow finds out about it first and, under the strictest secrecy, recovers the undamaged craft and its occupants. Top scientists are brought in, who pronounce the find genuine and not of Earth. The descriptions of the occupants are also remarkably consistent: They are small—from three to four feet tall—with a disproportionately large head (with many intricate convolutions in the brain, of course), grayish or tan skin tones, diminutive ears, nose, and mouth; the bodies are hairless or nearly so and are attired in one-piece suits, sometimes with skullcaps of World War I vintage.

  In other words, they are patently naïve accounts, not befitting the most unimaginative science fiction writer, and a virtual repeat of Scully’s false claims. Stringfield himself admits: “I do not possess a single affidavit to prove that any one of my informants has seen a retrieved craft or its occupants. I have only their names and their testimony. Unfortunately, I cannot use these names. Anonymity has been requested and will be respected.”