Abstract
This report unveils new testimonial evidence and a document related to an alleged UFO incident that occurred on January 18, 1978. An Air Force Security Police sergeant at McGuire Air Force Base (AFB), referred to as "Jeffrey Morse" (a pseudonym), claims to have witnessed the aftermath of a fatal encounter between a supposed alien entity and a Fort Dix Military Policeman (MP). Morse provides substantive information about discovering the slain entity on an abandoned runway at McGuire AFB and reveals his subsequent involvement with various authorities following his discharge from service due to his disclosures. The investigation into this case continues.
Prologue: The Burden of Proof
Since Kenneth Arnold's 1947 sighting of unidentified flying objects (UFOs), the quest for proof has haunted UFO research. Despite numerous credible reports describing UFO encounters, the public domain lacks the tangible proof—such as a captured craft or alien cadaver—that scientific discipline demands. Affidavits, leaked government documents, and photographs often fall short, as they can be faked or offer insufficient evidence due to censorship or vague language.
The official stance has been one of denial, with military spokespeople asserting that UFOs do not exist. This secrecy raises questions: if there's nothing to hide, why enforce such stringent secrecy? Is it possible that governments are concealing something significant, perhaps even alien hardware or beings?
In this report, I address these problems by presenting new evidence related to Case A3, first published in Status Report III (1982).
The Evidence and Its Burden of Proof
Initial Contact
On September 23, 1980, I received a letter from Sgt. "Jeffrey Morse," stationed overseas. Written on official military letterhead, the letter described an extraordinary incident that occurred on January 18, 1978, at McGuire AFB, New Jersey. Morse claimed that a UFO incident resulted in the death of an alien entity on the base.
Initially skeptical, I scrutinized the letter for inconsistencies but found none. The letterhead was authentic, the military format correct, and the narrative was straightforward without embellishment. I responded to Morse on September 27, 1980, seeking more details and assuring him of confidentiality.
Communication Challenges
Morse did not reply promptly. On November 18, 1980, I sent another letter, expressing my interest and attempting to establish contact. Morse finally responded on November 27, stating he had not received any mail since August and was now out of the service. He expressed willingness to answer my questions but mentioned that he couldn't recall many names.
Despite continued efforts, communication remained sporadic. Morse's silence led me to question the authenticity of his account. In March 1981, I consulted with trusted colleagues, Dr. Peter Rank and Richard Hall, to evaluate the material. We agreed that establishing Morse's genuineness was crucial.
Richard Hall attempted to contact Morse via certified mail in April 1982, offering to meet and discuss the incident. Morse received and signed for the letter but remained silent for 17 months. Then, on September 27, 1983, he contacted Hall, expressing concerns about surveillance and offering to provide further information if contacted promptly.
Renewed Dialogue
I wrote to Morse on November 30, 1983, urging him to respond. On December 6, 1983, Morse called me, stating that he felt safe enough to talk. He disclosed that two days after the incident, he and others were summoned to Wright-Patterson AFB for interrogation and then transferred overseas. He promised to answer my questions and provided his phone number.
Over subsequent communications, Morse provided more details and even sent a copy of an Incident/Complaint Report (Form 1569) related to the incident. This report included names of personnel involved and corroborated parts of Morse's story.
The Incident
The Humanoid Entity
Morse described the entity as approximately four feet tall, with a large head, slender torso, thin arms and legs, and grayish-brown skin that appeared wet and snake-like. The being was hairless and unclothed. Morse observed the body from distances of 40 to 70 feet under the glare of truck headlights. He noted a strong smell of ammonia in the air.
UFO Activity
On the night of the incident, Morse and others witnessed bluish-green lights flying in tight formation over Fort Dix and McGuire AFB. The Incident/Complaint Report confirms that radar operators also observed these objects. Morse learned from a state trooper and his desk sergeant that one of the UFOs had flown at low level over a Fort Dix MP's patrol car, causing temporary radio failure.
Attempts to find additional UFO reports from that time yielded few results. However, a report from Montvale, New Jersey, on January 31, 1978, involved humanoid sightings, and a January 18 report from Kentucky described a large lime-green, egg-shaped UFO.
The Retrieval Operation
After the shooting incident at Fort Dix, McGuire AFB was placed on alert. Morse was ordered to Gate 5, where a state trooper requested access to the base but was denied. An unfamiliar team of personnel, wearing blue berets and lacking insignia, cordoned off the area where the body lay on an abandoned runway. Morse and other regular security personnel were kept outside the perimeter.
The team sprayed the body with a substance from a portable tank, covered it with a white sheet, and placed it into a large silver metal container. Before daybreak, a C-141 aircraft arrived from Wright-Patterson AFB. The container was loaded onto the plane, which then departed.
Two days later, Morse and three others were flown to Wright-Patterson AFB for interrogation. The interrogators, including high-ranking officers and a silent civilian, questioned them individually about the incident. They were reminded of their duty to maintain secrecy and signed documents binding them to silence.
After returning to McGuire AFB, Morse and the others were debriefed and reassigned overseas. Morse was sent to a new Security Police Squadron in Okinawa.
Challenges and Verification
Surveillance and Interference
Morse believed his mail and communications were monitored. Letters between us often went missing, and he reported being warned and threatened by authorities. In one instance, he mentioned that government cars were near his home, and his phone experienced repeated issues.
Attempts at Verification
I sought to verify Morse's claims by checking the names of officers involved. Richard Hall accessed Air Force registers and confirmed the existence of several officers named by Morse, although specific assignments were not always available.
Morse attempted to contact other personnel involved in the incident but was largely unsuccessful. One individual refused to cooperate, fearing repercussions.
The Ellsworth Case Comparison
The report compares the Ft. Dix-McGuire incident to the Ellsworth Case, an alleged UFO encounter in South Dakota in 1977. Investigated by Robert Pratt of the National Enquirer, the Ellsworth Case was determined to be a hoax due to numerous discrepancies and errors in the report.
In contrast, Morse's account remained consistent, and efforts to verify details added credibility to his story. Morse was open to investigation and cooperated with requests for information.
Personal Assessment of "Jeffrey Morse"
Morse appeared amiable, articulate, and consistent in his recounting of events. He did not exhibit behavior typical of someone fabricating a story. Richard Hall met with Morse in January 1985 and found him credible, noting his calm demeanor and lack of obsession with the incident.
Morse was not a UFO enthusiast and had limited knowledge of the broader UFO community. He expressed disdain for authorities due to his experiences but did not appear to have an agenda.
Summary Comments
While the incident remains unproven due to the lack of tangible evidence, Morse's testimony and the supporting Incident/Complaint Report present a compelling case. His willingness to engage with investigators and the consistency of his account lend credibility to his claims.
Morse's experiences highlight the challenges faced by individuals who come forward with extraordinary stories. Surveillance, interference, and personal repercussions are significant deterrents to disclosure.
Conclusion
The Ft. Dix-McGuire case stands out among UFO encounter reports due to the alleged fatal encounter and subsequent retrieval operation. While definitive proof remains elusive, the detailed testimony of "Jeffrey Morse" warrants serious consideration and further investigation. The case underscores the persistent burden of proof in UFO research and the complexities faced by those seeking answers.
Notes
For previous related incidents and issues of credibility, see Status Report III (1982), pages 40-41, and articles in MUFON UFO Journal, December 1980 and September 1981.
The Rendlesham Forest incident, also known as the Bentwaters Case, involved reported UFO sightings near a U.S. Air Force base in the UK. See "Sky Crash" by Brenda Butler, Dot Street, and Jenny Randles (1984).
Dr. Peter Rank and Richard Hall provided support and critical assessment for this investigation.
The classification of "Unfounded" in the Incident/Complaint Report referred to the limited information available to the security police squadron, not necessarily to the incident's validity.
For descriptions of similar entities, see Case A7 in Status Report II (1980).
Dr. J. Allen Hynek, a prominent UFO researcher, was considered as a possible identity for one of Morse's interrogators but was ruled out.
Disclaimer: This case study presents an alleged incident based on testimonial evidence. While efforts have been made to verify details, the information remains unproven and should be considered with appropriate skepticism.