Friday, November 26, 2021

The Passing of Eric Carlson




I received news from James Carlson that his father Eric Carlson passed on Aug 8, 2021 at the age of 84. Most of the readers that frequent this site are aware that Capt Carlson was the crew commander at Echo Flight during the all-flight missile shutdown event on 16 March 1967.  I'll not rehash the details, but those interested can use the blog's search system to find the various posts listing Eric Carlson.

James was kind enough to provide a summary of his father's career. "As his military career went, he started out enlisted and worked his way up to officer eventually CAPT. as a missileer. During the latter part of his military career, he served in Okinawa with the 498 TMG, then Thailand and S. Korea. I'm not positive what commands he served at in Thailand and S. Korea, as we were living in Louisiana at the time -- they were unaccompanied tours..."

Of historical note, Capt Carlson was a crew member assigned to the 10th Strategic Missile Squadron, the first operational Minuteman ICBM missile squadron.  The 10th's Alpha Flight was JFK's "Ace in the Hole" during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, thus earning the squadron moniker, "The First Ace in the Hole."

James further added, "Upon retiring, he went back to school to get his degree, and became a psychologist.  He eventually worked as a counselor for violent men, later retiring from his second career."

I want to again, extend my heartfelt condolences to James and his family.


Note to reader:  James Carlson provided photo of his father.

Tuesday, October 26, 2021

Cold Cases!

 I've been thinking this over for the past week, re-looking at certain cases.  I know that the old UFO case seem rather...old, but they are still interesting none the less.  The Navy, Tic-tac's and the Pentagon's past and current UFO...excuse me...UAP interest dominates the current discussions, but I'm not interested in that area.  What is it?  Oh, yes, Back to the Future.  We had Project Blue Book in the past only for it to "succumb" to the government's desire to get out of the UFO business.  Now we all are finding out that the UFO/UAP business was doing well all along...this time business being done under the table.  Oh well, c'est la vie!   

So on with the show.  Projects upcoming when ever that is or promises made, promises broken.

1.  Re-looking at Robert Salas Oscar Flight claims.  Yes, I heard a collective groan from what's left of my readership.  I watched the last National Press Club presentation this past Tuesday and was taken back at the sparse participation as compared to 2010.  As Salas stated in his opening remarks some could not make it this time around and some have passed on.  I have a soft spot for old crew dogs regardless of what I written in this blog.

I'm attempting to reach out to Mr. Salas and will see how that goes.  This will allow me to bring in the 1967 Belt, Mt UFO sighting which I've been woefully negligent by not giving this particular case it's due consideration as it happened on the same day that Mr. Salas says that his flight (Oscar) lost strategic alert status due to UFOs or something else.  Project Blue Book investigated this incident, or at a minimum information was sent to them via the base UFO officer, LtCol Lewis Chase.  I'm going to see if this old crew dog can drag this case across the finish line.  Well, I'll try to advance it as far as I can. Certainly nothing to lose. Who knows, I might get a participation trophy for my efforts.  

2.  David Schindele has an interesting observation/story circa September of 1966 while on the crew force at Minot AFB, ND.  This is very similar to that of the late David Schuur's observation roughly about the same time while on alert at Minot, AFB.  There is a PBB investigation that occurred roughly during the same timeframe.  This should be interesting.

3.  This one is no big deal, but it was a bone that I attempted to provide to Robert Hastings some years back, but as is/was his custom he became a self righteous ass hole so I kept it from him.  As to his last comment about me via an article of his and I paraphrase, "Tim, I have 150 former military members that say differently than you and they are brave enough to..."  Well, I kept two observations from two highly respected former Ellsworth AFB missile wing FSCs that I was well acquainted with...Robert could have had 152... 

These two guys were with me back at Vandenberg AFB in the same missile crew training class, ILCS-26 back in the latter end of 1980.  Both were assigned to Malmstrom with me but in different squadrons.  They might corroborate some of the Minuteman Ellsworth AFB, SD UFO sightings around 1974. 

4.  And finally, I will redo the 1968 Minot case.  I'm starting from scratch as the last effort was a piss poor effort for my part.  My work will be done in silence and will only be posted when completely done to my satisfaction...let me repeat...my satisfaction.  I will provide no updates.  No more distractions this time.  I had a sound methodology last time but I deviated, no, worse, I took a detour and wound up way off the beaten path slowly drifting with a blown gasket up to some off the road version of a dilapidated Stuckeys selling crappy trinkets.  Not this time.

And when I'm done:

a.  One third of you will praise my brilliance and temerity.  Tim Hebert is the "bringer of clarity!"

b.  One third of you will say, "meh, he gave it a shot."

c. One third of you will clutch your fake pearls aghast at my efforts.  "My God, Tim Hebert is stating that witness lied and that they were dopers taking hits from bongs while watching UFOs in the nights sky.  And worse he alluded that they beat their dogs when they returned to base."  Yet it will all be self pleasuring rubbish.  No one will be branded as liars.  All will be taken at face value and treated with respect. They all witnessed something.  That is a fact.  Yet the Greek chorus will sing on and on as they are the keepers of truth.

Until next time...

Wednesday, October 20, 2021

A quick review of Robert Salas presentation at the National Press Club, 19 Oct 2021

 Last night I reviewed the contents of Robert Salas' press conference.  I was taken back by the lack of participation as compared to the 2010 presser. Salas did state that some of those individuals had passed on.  Notably missing was Robert Hastings, but I do recall that this was solely put together by Salas.  Awhile back he had alluded to that he would have four new witnesses regarding the Oscar Flight incident...there were none mentioned in the presentation.

Based on what I saw and heard there was nothing new presented that advanced any of Salas' claims regarding Echo and/or Oscar Flights at Malmstrom back in 1967.  Again, missing is any collaborating information from other personnel that would have been present on 24/25 March 1967. 

Mr. Schindele provided his experience, but unfortunately he has nothing personally to back up his claim as far as documentation, ie maintenance reports and up channeled reports to various HQ units.  Most importantly, Schindele was not on alert when the alleged incident happened.  He, like most of the launch officers, heard about UFOs from others, yet saw nothing themselves.     But with that said, Mr. Schindele has a Blue Book report that documents a UFO report in the Mohall and Velva vicinity on 2 March 1967.  Schindele's time line for his incident, as he stated in the press conference, was Sept of 1966 which was six months earlier than the Blue Book reported case.  As of this time, I am not aware that anyone who was manning Schindele's Launch Control Facility has come forward to strengthen his claim.  On the other hand, the late David Schuur's story may correspond to Schindele's timeline.

Mr Jamison and Mr Jacobs provided nothing new in their respective presentations.  Tim Printy had provided an article on the Big Sur story in his SunLite webzine regarding Jacobs' claims.  I've provided my opinion on Jamison's claims on this blog.

Note to reader:  I'll provide more information should the need arise.


Thursday, October 14, 2021

Looks like a sequel...Nukes and UFOs ...Another National Press Club Reunion

 I came across this info a few days ago via theufochronicles.com .  Robert Salas and gang will be holding a panel discussion at the National Press Club on October 19, 2021.  There appears to be a You Tube link to view the event.

Will have to see if anything new is presented or if this will be a rehash of the same stories.  Regardless, I will post an update later next week after watching the event.

It's good to be back!