tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2019724693487670016.post5173013912443586544..comments2024-03-24T20:16:30.097-07:00Comments on The Big Study: OUT PROCTOR: a balloonist's fantastic, frustrating, fragmented tale.The Professorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07811807639219365621noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2019724693487670016.post-28892151354364099872009-12-16T20:16:13.010-08:002009-12-16T20:16:13.010-08:00To "the emperor": I'm going to disap...To "the emperor": I'm going to disappoint everyone by saying that I'm not going to pursue this [although everyone should free to do so themselves]. My reasons stem from my experiences with my UFO buddies who get themselves mired in these long, and impersonal, tantalizing claims and then do not get back to the work that they were trained to do best to push the field forward. In my case this is documents research and putting together what really happened in UFOlogy, particularly on the intelligence agencies [mostly USAF] side of the mirror. I'm an old man with only half my former energy and this blog takes a fair bit of that. Believe me when I say that no matter what happened in this case, it is of small significance compared with what I and the UFO History Team [the 12 of us] are putting together about the government's role in this travesty of information management. I can't get deflected from that, so if "Don Piccard" won't give me simple straight answers to simple straight questions on this site, then I can't use rare valuable time to make long-distance outreach. What this single issue needs is someone to meet with him personally and conduct a UFO history type interview. That's not me. Hopefully it's you.The Professorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07811807639219365621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2019724693487670016.post-47332556201070503962009-12-16T16:59:34.515-08:002009-12-16T16:59:34.515-08:00This is a fascinating story with the potential for...This is a fascinating story with the potential for the missing details to emerge (which is a chance often lost to us with older cases). It should be easy enough to clarify if he is who he says he is through his site and I'm sure I speak for other people when I urge you to pursue this. As well as the core incident I, for one, would be very interested indeed to hear more on "cover stories for what I assume were hot air balloon silent entry operator insertions behind enemy lines by clandestine operators" too if lines of communication are opened.<br /><br />Good luck and keep us informed of progress.Emperorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02761570379917202477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2019724693487670016.post-49756608310144185282009-12-12T17:44:04.367-08:002009-12-12T17:44:04.367-08:00Professor...thanks for the clarification wrt sourc...Professor...thanks for the clarification wrt source<br /><br />Don...thanks for engaging w/the Professor. Hopefully more "out proctor" comes of it.<br /><br />I'm not sure, but I think your book recommendation speak volumes (no pun intended) as to "psychological effect". I'll assume so unless otherwise corrected. Thanks for the heads up.Jonahnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2019724693487670016.post-87832236684259163542009-12-12T13:29:38.202-08:002009-12-12T13:29:38.202-08:00On a different vein, I would heartily reccomend th...On a different vein, I would heartily reccomend the new book "Empire of Peace" by Don L. Johnson, ISBN : 978-0-615-29674-6<br /><br />DonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2019724693487670016.post-37733774960621481482009-12-12T13:17:11.088-08:002009-12-12T13:17:11.088-08:00Prof.,
I can recall three meetings. at least, that...Prof.,<br />I can recall three meetings. at least, that I have had with the WLTAS at Akron. One was surely in 1963 when I was touring with a Raven S-40. One was earlier, probably when I was with Schjeldahl (Echo, Balloon, Ghost Balloons, Polaris Missle doors, etc.) before joining Raven and another was when we demonstrated a Piccard AX-6.<br />I think the UFO conversation was while I was at Raven and hence 1963 era. During that time there were cover stories for what I assume were hot air balloon silent entry operator insertions behind enemy lines by clandestine operators.<br />I am confident that the Raven sport balloon programe was to provide public press on hot air balloon work so that the government activities woould not attract attention. Some of the disinformation related to secret balloons uncovered being ascribed to UFO's, space aliens and the like to discredit the observers.<br />So it apparently went both ways: balloons called flying saucers and other things being called balloons.<br />As I have said, I did not have my security clearance while I was in charge of the sport balloon programe at Raven, but I did cooperate with other company employees that had other agendas. I do not feel at liberty to elucidate on those activities.<br /><br />I'd be glad to verify my identity and talk with you.<br /><br />DonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2019724693487670016.post-64638084087170058412009-12-12T12:38:36.586-08:002009-12-12T12:38:36.586-08:00hmmm...still don't know how to respond to this...hmmm...still don't know how to respond to this...would you be willing to affirm or deny that you made statements to McDonald about a strange experience that you may have had [his notes say you indicated late 1950s] which seemed to possibly involve an "on-board" experience, even if today you no longer believe that this actually happened to you and was perhaps some kind of strange dream or other ununderstandable circumstance? I'll happily agree to an earlier date [1963 or whatever] for a mention of the "event" to a group at Akron, which accidentally included Larry Moyers. That part of the story is not the crux of the matter. Also, Socorro has nothing to do with the post; it's never mentioned there so I have no idea why it's being brought up. Is the connection that you're making that 1) you misremembered and told McDonald the wrong date frame, and it was circa 1963 instead?; and 2) you suspect that the "event" was related to Socorro as some kind of precursor to what Lonnie Zamora saw [i.e. a balloon project unknown to the USAF operating in the NM desert] ? If that's what you're telling me, then how'd you get the impression that you "went on Board" if it was some hot-air balloon easily understandable, especially by you? I'm afraid that this still does not make sense to me. If you are really interested in clearing this up, maybe you could do so by having some responsible UFO researcher visit you for a real interview. At the least this would set aside the question of whether we're talking to the real Don Piccard, and I'm sure any good field researcher would be honored to meet you.The Professorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07811807639219365621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2019724693487670016.post-43301746544919897072009-12-12T11:10:59.358-08:002009-12-12T11:10:59.358-08:00To clarify: the meeting I attended at Akron was a ...To clarify: the meeting I attended at Akron was a meeting of balloonists, not UFO folks althoug there was a cross over and some UFO interested parties were there. Hence the discussion. I was prinarily there to demonstrate the new Raven sport hot air balloon. Hot air balloons were still a rarity at that time and we often were reported as UFO's. I think a prime function was to publicise the sport so that other activities could be passed off as sport. A lot of smoke and mirrors, maybe.<br /><br />DonDon Piccardhttp://www.piccard.infonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2019724693487670016.post-23795856528044490672009-12-12T11:02:13.130-08:002009-12-12T11:02:13.130-08:00Sorry about my sloppiness. Your picture of McDona...Sorry about my sloppiness. Your picture of McDonald looks familiar. I recall that there was at least one non member actually at the Akron meeting, but you are probably correct that I did not meet McDonald in person - just by phone. But I am sure it was either 1963 or 1964 while I was still working for Raven as I passed by Akron with a Raven S-40 hot air balloon. Raven had a civilian sport balloon program. I am quite sure they also had some sort of clandestine operation but my work was civilian and my security clearance that I had at Schjeldahl was not transferred or maintained, naturally. So while I may have been a cover foil and may have operated for the benefit of the cover operations I really don't know the basis or reasons for much that was done. I was not part of the operation at Soccoro regardless of any stories at the time.<br /><br />Don Piccard, www.mesAsphere.comDon Piccardhttp://www.mesasphere.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2019724693487670016.post-78579242979509773672009-12-11T09:05:35.217-08:002009-12-11T09:05:35.217-08:00Jonah, my source is a first copy of those notes an...Jonah, my source is a first copy of those notes and two other references in different places in the McDonald/Arizona archives. I, plus Loren Gross, Jan Aldrich, Jerry Clark [three UFO heavyweights] read the originals ourselves when we made a team expedition to read every page of McDonald"s files. I mention this here not as braggadocio but to indicate to all the folks reading that I am trying to give you solid information based on the best primary documentation available whenever I can. I'm taking my duty to "you-all" very seriously. Having said that, please continue to tell me about possible good information and resource areas--I very much appreciate that. You would probably be pleased to see what my basement resource center, what I call "The Cave of the Mysteries", contains, and it's a shame that I can't welcome all of you true seekers into it so you could explore on your own.The Professorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07811807639219365621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2019724693487670016.post-31435678247710713642009-12-10T20:41:35.140-08:002009-12-10T20:41:35.140-08:00I'm not sure if the notes you are referring to...I'm not sure if the notes you are referring to Professor relate to the paper included in the McDonald collection at ASU entitled 'Psychological Effects: Don Piccard'. If not, it might be a worthwhile read. Googling the paper's title should take you to the archives page it's listed on.<br /><br />FWIW, Piccard's email and phone # can be found at the www.N6US.com link. I would sure like to hear "The rest of the story..."Jonahnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2019724693487670016.post-69083430814714367342009-12-10T19:58:29.631-08:002009-12-10T19:58:29.631-08:00To: Trueoriginal--thanks. I hope we get accurate i...To: Trueoriginal--thanks. I hope we get accurate info somehow too. -------------------------------------------------------------To: "Don Piccard". Forgive me if I remain "open-minded" as to who this is who has commented here. What would be more interesting is a straight up commentary on the story as related in the post. For example, McDonald says he did not personally meet Don Piccard about this but only phoned him. And the date stated [1963] is all wrong. Both Zamora and Socorro are misspelled. I'm willing to "forgive" a lot in a witness due to the passage of many years, but if this is not THE Don Piccard, please don't mess with the rest of us--it is not really funny. The anomalies have a very difficult time acquiring accurate data and the workforce is small and the hours are few. If you are the great balloonist, then I honor your life's work, and would only ask for some detailed clarification of your encounter as alleged.The Professorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07811807639219365621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2019724693487670016.post-54640829119031510922009-12-10T19:38:48.587-08:002009-12-10T19:38:48.587-08:00P.S. My visit to Akron and meeting McDonald was i...P.S. My visit to Akron and meeting McDonald was in 1963, before Zamorra saw the balloon at Zoccoro. I always wondered if he was put up to it and who would have. Don Piccard www.N6US.comDon Piccardhttp://www.measphere.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2019724693487670016.post-36905072279613135572009-12-10T18:06:25.763-08:002009-12-10T18:06:25.763-08:00The man in the picture with me, sitting in the RAV...The man in the picture with me, sitting in the RAVEN S-40 hot air balloon seat, is a writer for Popular Science or Popular Mechanics, NOT the late Ed Yost. If it is of interest, I could look up the magazine. It is from about 1963. That was just before my "Mirror" encounter with the WLTAS members in Akron referred to.Don Piccardhttp://www.n6us.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2019724693487670016.post-64164681044029231702009-12-10T16:55:43.534-08:002009-12-10T16:55:43.534-08:00I guess I should have explained my comment about &...I guess I should have explained my comment about "follow up". I'm hoping that someone with further information comments here.<br /><br />I know a James McDonald buff, I'll inquire.<br /><br />Change 'buff' to 'fantatic'.Atrueoriginallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17754487232993372983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2019724693487670016.post-82037483738469977062009-12-10T16:51:47.459-08:002009-12-10T16:51:47.459-08:00That was entirely refreshing. Geez, haven't s...That was entirely refreshing. Geez, haven't seen a UFO related article this good in a very, very, very long time. Anxiously awaiting a follow up.Atrueoriginallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17754487232993372983noreply@blogger.com