X Descending (31 page)
John and I spoke a number of times and eventually, when a day came that I was going to be in Las Vegas, John invited me to visit him at his home. He owned a large beautiful house complete with a tennis court, a guesthouse, and a huge study, all very impressive. The wall behind his desk was covered with photos and mementos of his career, while another wall held a huge map of Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. This was when I first learned that John had once flown for the CIA as a pilot for Air America. His life story and his lifestyle was very impressive, even if there seemed to be a disconnect between his career and the John Lear I knew. On the one hand was a man with a famous name and a notable past, on the other, a man infamous for publicizing tales of aliens, underground bases, and many of what were the least credible and most sensational topics ever known in the realm of Ufology. However, during this visit he told me something that virtually assured I would have to end any association with him.
Sitting in his study, John told me a strange tale of a time when William "Bill" Cooper had been at his house giving an interview to a news crew. Cooper was another odd character who caused a sensation by claiming that during his years in the Navy, he had learned a great deal about UFOs and had seen a variety of classified documents on the subject. In the late 1980s, a bizarre document had begun to circulate which became known as the "Krill Memo". Allegedly authored by someone named O.H. Krill, it can still be found on the Internet. John went on to tell me that during the interview, Cooper had told the interviewer that while he was in the Navy, he had actually seen the "Krill Memo". This was apparently a big surprise to John, who told me that, during a break in the interview, he called Cooper aside and asked why he was claiming to have seen this memo long ago. Cooper stuck to his claim. At that point, John had confronted him, saying that he could not possibly have seen it years ago because John and another man had “made it up”! The name “O.H. Krill” was supposedly derived from “Original Hostage Krill”, a name I presume was meant to be a little bit of cleverness in referring to a captured alien entity.
Needless to say, I was stunned to hear John make such an admission! Almost in disbelief, I asked John about this, and he reaffirmed that he and a man with whom he was acquainted, had fabricated the Krill Memo. This other person had wanted to make a name for himself, or needed something to help him break into the UFO field, so he and John decided to create a document sure to be circulated widely. I confronted John, first with the fact that I could not believe he would fabricate documents, and second, that I could not believe he would stand there and boldly admit it to my face. I still cannot imagine why he did it. But it was clear that our reasons for having an interest in this subject were vastly different. After that admission, it was impossible for me to continue associating with him, at least in any way relating to UFOs. By his own admission he had participated in fabricating and circulating a false document that brought ridicule to a subject I have worked long and hard to have taken seriously.
John went on to make ever more bizarre claims in the years that followed. Many of his claims, bizarre as they were, generated confusion and wasted research effort very similar to that generated by the AFOSI operation against Paul Bennewitz. John was the first person I had ever heard say that he had met a woman who knew someone who had actually been stationed at the "Dulce base"—and had drawings of it! To this day, I recall the telephone conversation we had when he called to tell me about it. I told John that the kind of evidence he was describing did not constitute evidence, and that the drawings he hoped to receive from this anonymous man, through this woman, amounted to nothing I could possibly consider credible. John fostered the story anyway; a new angle on an underground base containing "vats with body parts", virtually identical to the tale told to Paul Bennewitz by Myrna Hansen. The later tales of a massive underground base at Area 51 with aliens running amok are not that different from these early renditions. To me it was as if John’s sole purpose was to add so much fuel to the fire that, when the smoke cleared, nothing would be recognizable.
John Lear proved to be one of the most infamous “big names” in Ufology in those days. He came onto the scene at just the right time, and, if only by the strength of his name, many people bought into what he was saying. He was something of a paradox to me, clearly considered sane and reliable enough to pilot commercial airliners across the Atlantic, but willing to go on a radio interview and spout information that was enough to make me cringe. He definitely had more licenses to pilot more kinds of aircraft than I had ever seen and, so far as I could tell, had a successful career with no apparent money problems. Why a man with so much going for him, who was relied on to display critical judgment and thinking in his career, would suddenly jump on this phenomenon and begin fabricating documents and making some of the most bizarre claims I have ever heard, was utterly incomprehensible. The only only way it ever made sense was to presume John had his reasons...and then study the outcome.
In my opinion, the overall effect of John Lear’s involvement was that some of the bizarre ideas Paul had been lead to believe were blown so far out of proportion and polluted with so much misinformation that anyone who did not already know better would probably never be able to separate the truth from the nonsense. From MJ-12 to Dulce, aliens to Area 51, and battles in underground bases to O.H. Krill…it all took on a life of its own until, today, it has become a permanent blot on the case of Paul Bennewitz.
Regrettably, many people now immediately identify Paul as the main character in these absurd tales rather than in light of the evidence he first obtained those winter nights watching from his rooftop. I believe that was the point all along.
One issue, still a source of turmoil and frustration for me to this day, has to do with John Lear’s personal contact with Paul Bennewitz. Paul was easily accessible and always seemed willing to talk to anyone who was interested. It was not my place to have any say at all about anyone who wanted to call or meet him. It was, after all, exactly how I came to know him. Still, I was hesitant about anyone using me as a stepping-stone to meet Paul, especially someone I had not known long and had my own doubts about. I did like John and he was always extremely friendly and interesting but, having known him for only a short time, I did not really know his intentions. Paul's friendship and the case revolving around him were very important to me, and not simply because it held the potential to break through some of the government secrecy surrounding this phenomenon.
Sometime in 1987, or possibly 1988, John Lear went to meet Paul at Paul's home. I found out later that John spent several days there, though to the best of my knowledge it was the first time they had met in person. A few days after John's departure, I got a call from Paul. He was extremely angry about something involving John and, from the strong words he used, it was very clear that he did not care to see John again. What Paul said gave me the impression that John had either promised him something or offered to help in some way that was clearly very important to Paul. but something else happened. Whatever it was left Paul angry and resentful. It was all I could do to stress to Paul that introducing John had never been my idea, nor did I have anything to do with John's recent visit him. I had told Paul before he ever met John that I had not known John long and was unsure of his motivation. Nevertheless, Paul must have opened his door to John and then later felt he had been misled or disrespected in some way. To this day, I do not know exactly what happened.
A few days, later Linda Howe called unexpectedly to ask if I had spoken to Paul in the last few days. She said she had heard Paul's home telephone number had been changed suddenly to an unlisted number. I immediately tried calling Paul and found to my dismay that Linda was right. At that point, I felt certain Paul would call again soon and I would be able to find out the rest of the story, but his call never came.
I wrote Paul several times over the next few years trying to reestablish contact, but never got a reply. That final angry telephone call was the last time I heard from him. Whether or not this had anything to do with John Lear, or was simply the result of personal or family issues, I do not know, and likely never will know. I can only say that the only time I ever heard Paul angry about anything, very angry to be sure, it had something to do with John Lear. Within days of that Paul was unreachable.
I did call one of his sons several years ago to ask how Paul was doing and whether I could get a message to him. His son was very polite, but said that it was Paul's choice whether to answer or not and all I could do was to trying writing again. I had the greatest respect for Paul and I believe that he knew it, neverthless, when I lost touch with him, my hopes for what could have been accomplished with his evidence vanished. It has been difficult not knowing what happened.
While writing this book, I sent a last letter to Paul's wife and made a final phone call to his son hoping for some insight and some help. Perhaps it will come some day.
Even now, on reaching the conclusion of this book, I am sure things are far from over. My greatest hope is that this book will inspire serious and informed interest among the public and in the scientific community. With a change in attitude—if not beliefs—the benefits of the technology demonstrated in the films of Paul Bennewitz and Ray Stanford might more quickly be brought to the world at large. In the short term however, those who have an interest in the UFO phenomenon as exemplified in this book should focus their efforts on public and official awarness of the facts presented here. If history is any indicator, I do not expect the status quo to change easily.
As of this writing, I have already heard a few words of warning about what might come from publishing this book and telling what I know of these two films and the people involved. My intention to write about what I know did cause some strain in my friendship with Ray Stanford but, it only lasted a short while, and our friendship has endured. As for anyone else, this is simply my story, my opinions, and the truths I discovered. For the most part I was a bystander who watched things happen. I wish I had done more at the time.
Perhaps the most difficult questions I have dealt with, more matters of conscience that anything else, are these: When is the truth important enough that it must be told, whatever the repercussions? Is the fact that there are people who will dislike what I have to say reason enough to remain silent? Or, with an issue as potentially profound as this phenomenon, is there an ultimate responsibility to speak up?
The decision becomes easier when I ask myself what I would think if I learned that someone else had known this information and kept quiet? What about those who have experienced clear and compelling encounters with the UFO phenomenon, as Paul Bennewitz and Ray Stanford have, and suffered ridicule or worse because they spoke out about their experience—or could not speak out? Who speaks for them?
I have faith in science as the path to truth, though "faith" may seem like an ironic choice of words. But the proof that my faith is well placed, is clearly demonstrated by men like Leik Myrabo. Many times I have said to Ray Stanford that the only people who will fully understand the significance of the evidence he has are those who are willing to go and see it. I have plenty of respect for those who are secure and open-minded enough that, knowing there is evidence to be seen, they go see it for themselves.
To his credit, Leik Myrabo (and some others) had the courage to go and see what Ray could show them. Hopefully, I can inspire you to go and see for yourself. Is it naive idealism to imagine anyone will care or that anything will change? Carl Sagan once referred to science as a "candle in the dark"…perhaps the best I can hope for is that the information in this book will offer some small light that will help you realize even greater discoveries.
While I have no doubt that Paul Bennewitz witnessed and filmed four brilliant elliptical vehicles demonstrating an exotic technology, is there any way to prove irrefutably that the vehicles were, or were not, the product of government or military scientists working in secret, relying solely on their own ingenuity? At the moment, no. Nevertheless, based on how, when, and where these exotic craft were filmed, there is no denying the possibility that they were either government owned and operated, or were known and permitted to be there—whoever owned them.
What Paul Bennewitz saw and filmed may well implicate the government and military in collusion to hide knowledge of an incredible technology. The potential benefits of that technology, and the ancillary benefits that always derive from technological breakthroughs, could bring changes that might never occur under the constraints of military purposes. If this technology is being reserved for only military uses—who is making that decision? Our political and social leaders need to be made aware of the evidence so the can demand answers to questions that have gone unanswered for so long. It has been over thirty years since Paul Bennewitz took his films. How long is long enough?