Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Cash-Landrum: The Second Testimony of Betty Cash

The second testimony:
Betty Cash’s handwritten account of the UFO incident 

Betty’s original account of the incident is very sketchy and lacks important details that surfaced later. This transcription was made of Betty’s handwritten notes as presented in John Schuessler's The Cash-Landrum UFO Incident on pages 253, 254.

Below, I've preserved the format, matching each line to a line of the original handwritten line, and retained the unconventional spelling and capitalization. There were some crossed through words, which are indicated with [Xed], and some words were written over, which I've attempted to identify in the bracketed line below it.





(Written on Parkway Hospital lined stationary)

PARKWAY HOSPITAL
233 W. PARKER ROAD - 697-2831 - HOUSTON TEXAS 77022



2-7-81
I, Betty Cash, was feeling fine the 
Monday of Dec. 29th, my friend & her 
grandson was going to play Bingo & on
our return Back home we were between
[“Back” appears to have been written over the word “From”]
New Caney & 1960 on the Huffman Crosby
F.M. Road, there was this Bright object
that made the Sky just split up & it
looked like the world was coming to
and End it was a very Bright Red.
As we kept Driving along it seemed
to have gotten closer to the ground.
Vickie told me I had Better stop
or we were going to run into it so I did,
her grandson was so afraid he was
screaming & pulling on his grandmother
Asking her not to get out. , she opened
the door & I got out to. [Xed] But he
[“look” appears to have been crossed out]
pulled her Back into the Seat she looked
out the glass But she said the
light Was to Bright for her to see very
much of the figure Because it was
Burning her Eyes. [Xed]  she got out of the Car &
[Word crossed out, “she" written above it]
stood with one Arm on the car door & one
arm on the Car top, but the light was
so bright & the heat was to much so
she [Xed]  only stood there a short time, the
[“I” appears to have been crossed out, “she” written before it]
object started Back into the sky & again
it had the whole sky(?) lit up & the
[“lit” appears to have been written over another word]
object Moved Upward at this time, I started
Driving Again the Inside of the car 
 Over to Page 
2. 


(Stamped at the bottom of page one)
CASH BETTY J  365 75
01 25 81 51FDW PR 02 10 29
SHENOY V MD RED MI
2404044 PKWY YS


PARKWAY HOSPITAL
233 W. PARKER ROAD - 697-2831 - HOUSTON TEXAS 77022


was so hot we had to turn on the
Air Conditioning, we got to the stop Sign
on 1960 & I counted 23 Helicopters’. As
I sat there looking at the object, I
Carried Vickie & Colby home let them out
it [Xed] took me almost 20 Minutes
[“Woud” appears to have been crossed out.]
to get home, By this time I had a
terrible headache. , lumps were all over
my neck & head, my face was Red
like it had been burned & my Eyes were
swollen Shut & later my Eye lids Bursted
After I was in the Hospital, My face
pilled off & most of my Hair is out &
it is Still Coming out I was Desperalty
sick within 30 minutes after looking
at the object, I stayed home trying to
get Better Until the 2nd Day of Jan. 1981
And I’m still here on Feb 6th 81
I Went home for 9 days But I was so
Sick Again with the Headaches & Lumps
on my head I had to return to the
Hospital and I’m still here, I know
I was not sick until this happed & I
know that is what is wrong with me.
[Ends here, photo of document cropped]

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

UFO Evolution: The Piney Woods UFO

    
  How I wonder what you are.     
Up above the world so high,     
Like a diamond in the sky.
-"The Star" by Ann and Jane Taylor

Initially, the two adult witnesses were unable to describe the object due to the bright light coming from it. The boy, Colby said it was "diamond-shaped".  As the coverage of the story progressed, the women began using the diamond description. Later, further details about the craft were revealed by investigators- completely new details.

Some of the key illustrations of the UFO most closely associated with the original witnesses:


Colby & Vickie Landrum March 1981
MUFON Journal April 1981

MUFON Symposium Proceedings 1982

Colby Landrum early 1981

APRO Bulletin Sept. 1981

Betty Cash Aug. 18, 1981 (Bergstrom AFB interview)

MUFON Journal Nov. 1981

The Unexplained 1982

The UFO Phenomenon Time-Life Books 1987


UFO Cover Up? Live  Oct. 1988

Unsolved Mysteries February 6, 1991


The Cash-Landrum UFO Incident 1998


UFO Hunters Alien Fallout episode aired January 14, 2009

Monday, April 2, 2012

Saucer Smear editor Jim Moseley on the Paracast


Jim Moseley was the featured guest in the first episode of Gene Steinberg's show, The Paracast, and was and invited back many times over the years. Jim was the publisher of Saucer News and later, Saucer Smear, active in ufology from 1953 up until his death in November 2012. Below is Gene's tribute to Jim published January 21, 2012, followed by Jim's Paracast appearances linked in chronological order.

Jim MoseleyThe UFO Field’s Enduring Treasure by Gene Steinberg


The Paracast Show Archives: James W. Moseley Episodes

Explore the personality side of the world of UFOs with Jim Moseley, editor/publisher of Saucer Smear; prolific UFO and paranormal author Brad Steiger

Conspiracy theory expert Kenn Thomas, publisher of Steamshovel Press, talks about the real conspiracies and the ones that don't pass the logic test. In addition, controversial "Saucer Smear" editor/publisher Jim Moseley discusses the "Culture of Ufology."

Conspiracy theory expert Kenn Thomas, publisher of Steamshovel Press, talks about the real conspiracies and the ones that don't pass the logic test. In addition, controversial "Saucer Smear" editor/publisher Jim Moseley discusses the "Culture of Ufology."

Spend an evening with the inimitable James W. Moseley, editor of Saucer Smear and his designated replacement, cultural anthropologist and UFO researcher Christopher Roth. This is going to be one rollicking session that will focus on UFOs in popular culture.

Meet UFO researcher Philip J. Imbrogno, an expert on UFOs and psychic phenomena in New York's Hudson Valley. Also don't miss a special appearance by Jim Moseley, the always-irreverent editor of "Saucer Smear."

Veteran UFO/Paranormal Researcher Roundtable featuring Jim Moseley, editor of "Saucer Smear," and T. Allen Greenfield, author of "Secret Cipher of the UFOnauts" and "Secret Rituals of the Men In Black." During this session, travel through 50 years of UFO history.

We present a special three-hour tribute to the late Fortean author, John Keel, author of "The Mothman Prophecies" and other books. The all-star guest list of UFO and paranormal researchers includes Tim “Mr. UFO” Beckley, Jerome Clark, Loren Coleman, Jim Moseley, Brad Steiger and Curt Sutherly.

 We feature veteran UFO researcher Jim Moseley, editor of Saucer Smear, and contactee/abductee David Huggins, who is featured in the book “Love in an Alien Purgatory: The Life and Fantastic Art of David Huggins.

 Co-host Greg Bishop presents filmmaker Bob Wilkinson, director of “Shades of Gray,” a documentary about the amazing life of UFO researcher and provocateur Gray Barker. Along for the ride are two of Gray’s close friends, Jim Moseley, editor of Saucer Smear and T. Allen Greenfield. And don’t miss a special cameo from co-host Paul Kimball.

 Co-host Christopher O’Brien presents the UFO field’s famous “trickster” himself, Jim Moseley, editor and publisher of “Saucer Smear,” a thought-provoking publication that emphasizes the unique personalities in the field, and their eccentrics.

 Gene and Chris are joined by the irrepressible Jim Moseley, Editor/Publisher of Saucer Smear, who will discuss the fakes and the outright frauds he has discovered, and sometimes exposed, in the UFO field since the 1950s.

 Gene and Chris are joined by the irrepressible Jim Moseley, Editor/Publisher of Saucer Smear, who will discuss the fakes and the outright frauds he has discovered, and sometimes exposed, in the UFO field since the 1950s.

 Gene and Chris welcome back the inimitable Jim Moseley, Editor/Publisher of "Saucer Smear," an irreverent look at the entire UFO scene. Jim will come onboard to present not only his solution to the Roswell UFO crash, but answers to many questions from our loyal listeners. This is one episode you won't want to miss!

February 12, 2012 -- Kevin D. Randle and Jim Moseley  Gene and Chris will be flies on the wall for this episode, featuring a "great debate" on Roswell, the Roswell "Dream Team," UFO abductions and other topics featuring Kevin D. Randle, author of such books as "Reflections of a UFO Investigator," and Jim Moseley, Editor/Publisher of "Saucer Smear."

Gene and Chris present a special "Voices of the Past" episode featuring Jim Moseley, Editor of Saucer Smear, and long-time broadcaster Bob Zanotti. We will revisit the active UFO and occult scene of the New York area in the 1960s, and present long-forgotten show excerpts featuring such researchers as August C. Roberts, Dominic Lucchesi, John J. Robinson, and Yonah Fortner. For a change of pace, we'll also present two of the more outrageous contactees of the period: Andy Sinatra, "The Mystic Barber," and Alexander McNeil.

Jim Moseley passed away on Nov. 16, 2012, and was memorialized in a Paracast episode. 

Gene and Chris remember Jim Moseley, the UFO field's court jester and editor of "Saucer Smear," who died on November 16. His close friends join us with their anecdotes about Jim's amazing life.
. . .

Gene Steinberg launched the site jimmoseley.com to remember the life, work, and merriment of James W. Moseley.







































Monday, February 13, 2012

What is this?

What is this?
Could it be a glowing UFO blasting flaming exhaust across the ground?

It's a CH-47 at twilight. Imagine the effect in total darkness on a country road in Texas.

The picture is a still frame from the clip below found at about 2:40.
Mute the sound to avoid irritating music.

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

100 helicopters- Robert Grey airfield, came in, for effect



George Sarran

On the UFO Hunters episode "Alien Fallout", Bill Birnes questioned Colonel George Sarran about the following entry in his notes:
  
- 100 helicopters- Robert Grey airfield, came in, for effect

Colonel Sarran was unable to explain the entry. The implication was that he'd uncovered a massive helicopter operation and then buried the evidence. A bit of digging reveals the probable source for the helicopter notation. 

According to October 1982 issue of the MUFON Journal article written by John Schuessler:
On 19 March 1982 I was called by Lt. Col. George Sarran from the Department of the Army Inspector General office in the Pentagon. Col. Sarran explained that his office had received the inquiry from the Air Force Liaison Office because the Air Force had concluded their units were not involved. He explained that his interest was in the possibility that Army helicopters were involved. He would be investigating that allegation. He stressed that the U.S. Army had no opinion about the unidentified object or UFOs in general.

Lt. Colonel George Sarran made these notes, in March or April 1982, probably during a phone conversation with UFO investigator John F. Schuessler in preparation for their first meeting in May. The "100 helicopters" notation seems to be just a recording of Schuessler’s comments. Compare them to earlier published statements by John Schuessler:
One significant helicopter operation took place at Gray Air Force Base near Killeen, Texas, where more than 100 helicopters came in from the field “for effect.” 
-The Spectrum of UFO Research: The Proceedings of the Second CUFOS Conference (Sept. 25-27 1981, book published 1988
(Published first in UFO Report Winter 1981 Vol. 9, No. 4: Texas UFO Trauma by John Schuessler)
 The unit operating out of Ellington AFB in Houston had landed before the sighting time. Robert Gray Field had 100 helicopters come in from the field at one time "for effect," but claimed to have avoided the Houston area. Hence, no one claims the helicopters that filled the Huffman area sky that winter night.
"Cash-Landrum Radiation Case" by John F. Schuessler -MUFON UFO Journal November 1981 pg. 6: 
 Update: Another clarifying entry found:
At the Robert Gray Field near Fort Hood a spokesman said they might have 100 helicopters from the field home at one time "for effect", but he claimed they avoided the Houston area.
"Blind Terror in Texas" by John F. SchuesslerThe Unexplained (UK magazine) 9(107) 2121-25, (1982)
Update: On a site hosting a video of the UFO Hunters episode, one of Col. Sarran's co-workers spoke on his behalf:
Author exitpleasantrealty    The characterization that Mr. (Former Colonel) Sarran was lying is quite incorrect - - you have to know Mr. Sarran as I do and have for six (6) years - - he literally (even after retirement and becoming a businessman) writes down notes copiously. As soon as we saw this episode we knew someone had mentioned "100 helicopters" and he had merely wrote it down...........if they had shown all the notes instead of just that line you would have probably seen more info - - this man doesn't lie. 
It made for a "gotcha" moment on the UFO Hunters show, but in this case, the charges are false.




Saturday, January 28, 2012

It's Not My Job, Man...

In 1981, Betty Cash and Vickie Landrum were encouraged by Allan Hendry of CUFOs to write to their Congressmen to ask for the government to help with their UFO problem.

“When Betty and Vickie contacted their congressmen, their frustration was heightened. all they received in return was a form letter telling them about the now defunct Air Force project ... and a suggestion they contact a cult group in California.”
- UFO Report Winter 1981 Volume 9, Number 4, "Texas UFO Trauma" by John Schuessler

The Air Force project is obviously Blue Book, but what is being characterized as a "cult group", and who was the party sending this form letter?

After Project Blue Book closed, the Air Force answered UFO inquiries with a form letter fact sheet and a list of organizations that were investigating aerial phenomenon. The letter and resources were updated over the years, but here's a copy from around the right time of the Cash-Landrum incident.


Below is the text for entry for Frank Stranges' NICUFO:
NATIONAL INVESTIGATIONS COMMITTEE ON UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS
7970 Woodman Ave.. Suite 207, Van Nuys , CA 91402, Phone: (213)781-770
"Individuals Interested in investigating "the truth concerning UFOs and associated phenomena." Probes UFO reports and relates findings to governmental agencies and the general public via the press, radio, television and newsletters. Holds seminars produces and distributes books and cassettes. Bestows awards. Maintains library of 1700 volumes."
So the best match for the "cult group" seems to be Frank Stranges' NICUFO, leaving the question of who sent the form letter. This quote clenches it all:

“Congressman Charles Wilson didn’t reply until July and then all he did was recommend that they contact Ufologist Frank Stranges.” 
-The Cash-Landrum UFO Incident  pg. 121

  Charles Wilson, aka "Good Time Charlie," member of the U.S. House of Representatives from the 2nd district of Texas.







Sunday, January 15, 2012

Cash-Landrum: Phone report of UFO to NUFORC

Vickie Landrum, 1985 AP photo
Here's a true rarity. Wendy Connors presents recording of Vickie Landrum's initial UFO incident report to NUFORC (the National UFO Reporting Center). She cleaned it up for audio quality, editing out only address and phone numbers. Here's the original announcement for it:

Wendy Connors 16 Feb 2005 07 Subject: Big Doings On SDI Saturday Night

"Big doings on Strange Days... Indeed - this week. Errol and I will be presenting new audio clips of importance to the field of Ufology....
Later, we'll play Vickie Landrum's first call for assistance to Bob Gribble at NUFORC, about a month after she and Betty Cash became ill from the effects of a UFO they encountered near Dayton, TX. This is the first time this recording has been publicly aired and is unknown to the vast majority of researchers."

The Cash-Landrum portion begins at about 1:20.50:
"Yes sir, this is Vickie Landrum from Dayton, Texas..."
Vickie Landrum's UFO report to NUFORC, Feb. 2, 1981
(Opens link to audio in new window)

The NUFORC recording in a video slideshow on YouTube

Transcript of Vickie Landrum’s call to Robert Gribble at NUFORC Feb. 2, 1981
as presented by Wendy Connors on the program “Strange Days Indeed” program # 439 Feb. 19, 2005. (Edited only to remove contact info.)

“RG” indicates Robert Gribble of the National UFO Reporting Center in Seattle Washington.
(Note- Betty Cash was treated in Parkway Hospital, not Parkview)


Yes sir, this is Vickie Landrum from Dayton, Texas.

RG: Yes.

Uh, a deal came down and it was like fire was coming from it

RG: Uh huh. 

It got ahead of us and we had to stop, and we got out of the car,
which I didn’t stay out but just a minute ‘cause I had my 
little grandson with me, which I got custody of and I got back in the car.
There was nothing happened to me but my but eyes is burned.
But, but Betty Cash that was with me that night,
knots started coming and she had a real terrible headache.
and so she’s been in Parkview Hospital over two weeks, 
I got her out she stayed two weeks and I had to put her back.
And all of her hair has come out.
They can’t find out exactly what is wrong with her, they keep saying
it could be this, or it’s a possibility of that.
But, instead of her getting better, she’s getting worse,
and could it have had anything to do with that thing that we stood and watched,
‘cause we were close enough to it that we felt a fire from it.

RG: How close do you feel you were to that?

Uh, I’d be safe to say it wasn’t more than maybe a block and a half from it.
It lit up the whole element, and I thought that the World was coming to the end, I really did.
I told my grandson not to be afraid, that if he saw something come out 
of it, that it would be Jesus.
I thought that way I could explain to him to keep him from going into [unclear] 
(a little failure? heart failure? or possibly hysteria?)

RG: Was this a fairly large object?

Yes sir!

RG: Would it be larger than your car?

Yes sir!

RG: and did it land on the ground?

No sir. It come down almost to the treetops, and then it went back up and went to the right of us.
And we counted 23 helicopters. It might have been more. 
Come in on 1960 over here...

RG: Uh-huh

We counted those helicopters up there, so there has to be somebody that knew about it.
It was because from that, I don’t want her to die, I want her to get better.

RG: What roadway were you on at the time?

We was on the cut-off road, something called New Caney and Huffman road.
My name’s Vickie Landrum and her name is Betty Cash and she’s in Parkview hospital. Now, one of the doctors believes that we might have got some
radiation, but he is not positive.
He taken her blood and it didn’t show up in any of her blood but, in less than two weeks time she has lost all her hair- except down there at the bottom. And she has- she had hair that you wouldn’t believe.
And I mean this is not a hoax- I’m not calling you for a hoax.
Call the Parkview Hospital and verify what I’m telling you.
I’m not putting you on. I wish somebody would go to the hospital- and see that lady.

RG: We’re going to see if we can’t get some help for you and they’ll call ahead of time and make an appointment.

I- I mean, I- I’ve been afraid to call- afraid that somebody would think I was- you know, that it was a hoax. But since she’s had to go back in the hospital for the same thing and she’s not getting any better.
I have to have help from somewhere, if don’t she’s going to die.

RG: Okay, we’re going to do everything we can to help
Okay, thank you a lot.

RG Thank you.
(Ends)

(Note; John F. Schuessler dates this call as taking place on Feb. 17, but Vickie makes reference to making more than one long-distance call to NUFORC, so he may have the date of a later call. No recording of any later calls are available.)

Please also see
Vickie Landrum's Phone Call to Report a UFO Encounter
for more details on this call and a video slideshow of  Vickie's call.

Acknowledgments:
Wendy Connors first presented the NUFORC recording on SDI.
Thanks to Giuliano Marinkovic, for preserving Vickie's report and enhancing the audio clarity.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Map of the Cash-Landrum UFO Sighting Location



This map below shows the location of the Cash-Landrum UFO sighting, subsequent viewing locations, and the placement of alleged secondary witnesses. Some placements are speculative and are subject to correction.
(Corrections and notations last made 11/9/16)

This may prove helpful to anyone studying the case and trying to pinpoint locations and examining the timeline. Please recall that the incident was not reported until almost two months after it occurred, and the additional witnesses came forward only after the case received publicity over the months and years that followed.

 

View Cash-Landrum Route in a larger map


Compare the marked map above with this vintage aerial map:
Select "show all roads" from the choice of overlays.


A big thanks to DPD11 for this vintage map!