NEWS ADVISORY
FUND FOR UFO RESEARCH, P.O. Box 277,
Mt. Rainier, MD 20712
Don Berliner was
Stanton Friedman's co-author for the book
Crash at Corona. He has continued to be active as
a UFO researcher, and was the recipient of this installment of what collectively is called the
Majestic-12 Papers.
It is perhaps instructive that noticeably absent from the
signatories is Stanton Friedman.
This site does not have a copy of the SOM-01-1 Manual, but you can
view it in it's entirety at the
Majestic Documents site. |
RELEASE DATE MARCH 23, 1999
***WEB MASTERS PLEASE POST***
For additional information, contact:
Don Berliner, 703/684-6032 Richard Hall, 301/779-8683
JOINT STATEMENT ON SOM-01-1 MANUAL PURPORTING TO CONFIRM
MJ-12
The SOM-01-1 manual arrived in the mail to Don Berliner as a roll
of film from an anonymous source. This immediately raises
suspicions, since there is no identifiable source whose veracity and
reputation can be checked and no original documents that can be
subjected to forensic analysis. The manual has been carefully
examined by the undersigned parties, whose collective experience
includes military service in all three major branches; processing
and handling of highly classified military documents; analysis and
reporting on Government documents of various types; historical
scholarship; and extensive knowledge of military, government, and
UFO affairs. (See brief biographies, appended.)
We believe this to be a hoax document; a deliberate fake designed
to mislead the public and to plant false information in the UFO
research community by person or persons whose motives are unknown.
Deliberately planted false information ("disinformation") such as
this forces investigators to waste their time checking on its
validity rather than on more productive efforts. Our general reasons
for concluding that the manual is a hoax are outlined below (for
more specific details, contact the individuals):
- Documents and materials with high classifications have special
provisions attached to them to ensure the ability to trace them at
all times and to verify their integrity, until they are destroyed or
declassified. The security markings on the SOM-01-1 document do not
conform to required security procedures established for all agencies
by presidential executive orders. In some instances they are totally
contrary to established security procedures. No internal evidence
exists in the document to show that proper accountability was
exercised by the document's custodians.
- The inclusion of some accurate information has been cited as
proof of authenticity, whereas it could equally well be interpreted
as a cut-and-paste job to lend an air of authenticity. Partially
legitimate but altered UFO-related documents are already known to
exist.
- The content of the manual is strikingly inappropriate for it's
stated purpose. A field manual for dealing with crashed craft and
alien bodies would have no reason to include (a) information on UFO
history, (b) a chart of UFO types, (c)information concerning radar
detection of UFOs, (d) a list of natural and artificial aerial
phenomena which can be mistaken for UFOs.(4) Military manuals of
this type establish standards and define tasks which must be
performed to accomplish the mission. The manual fails to establish
such standards and is completely silent on personnel qualifications
and equipment requirements. Furthermore, the methods of recovery and
site security described in the manual are inadequate and tactically
unsound. Regulations, materials, and training publication references
cited are grossly (?)
The undersigned parties take UFO reports seriously and advocate
thorough scientific investigation. However, when it comes to
analysis of 2nd and 3rd and nth generation copies of documents,
forensic analysis is almost impossible. Content analysis already has
shown serious problems with MJ-12
related documents. The only way SOM-01-1 and other alleged
"documentary proof" of MJ-12 could conceivably be authenticated
would be by locating a documentary paper trail of certifiably
original documents in government archives, or in private papers of
important people. Even then, allegedly authentic documents would
need to be subjected to forensic examination to determine such
things as the age of the paper. And document experts would need to
examine them for internal accuracy and style. Given the track record
of fake documents and shoddy scholarship, rigorous peer review is
essential.
\signed\
Jan L. Aldrich, Master Sergeant, U.S. Army, retired. Intelligence
NCO (and Acting S-2) in European Theater; Security Manager, Top
Secret Control Officer, Cosmic Top Secret Control Officer,
Communications Security (COMSEC) Custodian, Classified Document
Custodian, and Nuclear Release Authentication System. Familiar with
protocols for establishing tactical bivouac areas with exclusion
areas, operational security, and nuclear weapon accident/incident
operations during field deployments. Fort Sill, Okla., Directorate
of Training Development, analyzing and developing training manuals
and materials.
Donald L. Berliner, aviation writer and historian. Chairman, Fund
for UFO Research. Former U.S. Air Force communications specialist
with "crypto" security clearance. Newspaper reporter-photographer,
and Capitol Hill correspondent for group of scientific newsletters.
Staff member, National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena,
1965-1968.
Thomas P. Deuley, Lt. Commander, U.S. Navy, retired. Served 14years
in the naval Nuclear Power and Naval Submarine Weapons program.
Seven years as a Naval Cryptologic Officer. One year as a
Communications Officer in charge of a 24-hour secure communications
facility. Six years as a Communications Security(COMSEC) Custodian,
Collections Officer, Analyst, and Auditor, and finally as a COMSEC
electronics engineer.
Richard H. Hall, writer and editor. Former Chairman, Fund for UFO
Research. Retired from Congressional Information Service; duties
included analyzing and abstracting government documents and reports.
Familiarity with Federal Government agencies and activities.
Extensive knowledge of all aspects of UFO history. Former Acting
Director, National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena.
Mark Rodeghier, PhD, sociology. Consultant in survey research,
statistical analysis, and research design. Scientific Director, J.
Allen Hynek Center for UFO Studies. Extensive UFO research
experience, including participation in investigation of the Roswell
case, and collection and analysis of government documents.
Note: Additional signers may be added at a later date.
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