Tuesday, May 22, 2007

On The Road To Roswell 2007: A Discussion With Dennis G. Balthaser
- Part III -

Dennis at Aztec 06
By Tom Horn
Raiders News Network
5-21-07

Editors note: This is the third in a special series of Raiders News Network interviews focusing on the 60th Anniversary of the 1947 Roswell, New Mexico UFO Incident. Tom Horn is joined by Dennis Balthaser, a Certified Mutual UFO Network Field Investigator and full time independent researcher/investigator to the Roswell Incident, Area 51 and underground bases research. Dennis frequently lectures on these and other topics related to ufology.

Tom Horn SmlHORN: Dennis, as a young man you would look into the night sky and wonder at the secrets it held. You served 3 years ('59-62) with the United States Army in the 815th Engineering Battalion, and after 33 years in Civil Engineering, retired from the Texas Department of Transportation and moved to Roswell, New Mexico, to pursue your avocation: Ufology. Tell me more about your background and how this current field of interest came to be your life.

BALTHASER: I'm actually into my third career.

36 years in civil engineering work doing quality assurance and quality contol of materials used to construct highways and bridges in Texas, traveling to 37 states, Korea once, and South Africa 3 times for 3 months each time to inspect materials. Retired in 1996.

33 years as a country and western musician playing drums in the El Paso, Texas area, with many entertainers from Nashville, and most recently, for 20 years as a hobby and the past 11 full time as a Ufologist.

If you add them up that makes me about 89 I believe!!! Luckily the careers overlapped.

HORN: What is your relationship with the International UFO Museum and Research Center, and why did you stop working with them at some point.

BALTHASER: I was a 70 hour per week volunteer with the Museum from 1996 until 1998, involved with relocating the Museum to it's current location and actively involved with the 50th anniversary operations in 1997. I obtained information and displays for the Museum, and was on the Board of Directors for a year as the UFO investigator for the Museum. In 1998 I began doing my research as an independent researcher and no longer have any affiliation with the Museum due to the current leadership of the Museum.

HORN: Can you give us any insight as to why the city of Roswell took over the Festival this year?

BALTHASER: Basically the Festival has not been successful the past few years with low attendance and very little community involvement, under the leadeship of the Museum, so the Mayor decided the city should take it over for the 60th anniversary this year and has the community involved with family oriented activities planned in addition to an outstanding Ufology related schedule.

HORN: A little side note as a special interest to me. Is Merle Haggard coming back?

BALTHASER: Merle is not coming back this year. He had planned on making the Roswell Festival an annual event but problems arose from a previous Festival. This year the Alan Parsons project will be doing two concerts plus other musical groups, with a laser light show at each concert.

HORN: From what I've read over the years, people see you as genuine, a person who looks for certification and honesty from other Ufologists. Who in your opinion stands out as respected, qualified researchers in the field?

BALTHASER: I am very serious about my research, try to be thorough and factual when possible, and brutally honest. I only work with a very few researchers such as Stanton Friedman, David Rudiak, Frank Warren and Scott Ramsey, whom I respect. Many researchers in this field have tremendous ego's and agendas and the aforementioned have proven themselves to be honest, sincere and trustworthy. A quote I like to use is "Always Telling the Truth Means Never Having to Remember Anything".

HORN:What areas of Ufolody interest you personally, and why?

BALTHASER: I have limited my research to 4 areas: The 1947 Roswell Incident, Area 51, Underground Bases and the Great Pyramids of Giza. I found out long ago if you try to be knowledgeable in all areas of Ufology you can't be informed as well as concentrating on specific areas.

HORN: So what about Area 51, Dulce, and underground bases. Have you found anything that makes you feel anything extraordinary has happened in these areas?

BALTHASER: I found the research on Undergound bases interesting due to my engineering background, being curious as to what type equipment was used, where these facilities were located and for what purpose. We, as in other countries, have been forced underground for much of our secretive development due to satellites and the prying eyes of our adversaries.

Dulce remains a mystery to me due to the many rumors about what might be taking place there, however recently I have begun to think it might be a diversionary location to take attention away from a another location.

Area 51 is alive and well as I was there (at the gates, not inside) last May when I did lectures in the nearby town of Rachel, NV. The signs still say the "use of deadly force is authorized", and the "cammo dudes" still protect the entrances in their jeeps and pickup trucks, watching you with binoculars from their vehicles. Area 51 is vitally needed for developing new technology and testing aircraft as it has since 1955, when the CIA opened the base to test the U-2 aircraft. Rumors about 22 levels below ground, S-4 and alien and craft stories continue to fascinate us.

The Pyramids of Giza and Underground bases are some of the most interesting research I've ever done, I think because they are physical things that one can grasp and try to understand, perhaps more so than UFOs. There is so much to learn and so little time.

HORN: Any comment on Bob Lazar and his allegations about S-4 (Sector Four), located near Groom Lake, Nevada, next to Area 51.?

BALTHASER: I don't believe him because his background (education, employment) can't be verified as correct as he has stated it. He has had some questionable situations in his personal life also that have created problems. Lazar and Lt Col. Corso (The Day After Roswell Book) are both individuals I'd like to believe but the documentation and verification for their claims is not there.

HORN: This year is the 60th anniversary of the Roswell UFO event. At a gut level, what do you believe really happened there in 1947?

BALTHASER: Factually something happened on a ranch northwest of Roswell in 1947 that is still covered up by the government and military 60 years later, even after we've been given 4 excuses by the Air Force during that time. I don't believe it was Russian nor belonging to the United States, which leaves the question "Whose was it?"

HORN: In January this year, National Geographic broadcast "The Real Roswell", a program you were involved with. Did they get the story right?

BALTHASER: Not even close. It was so biased in it's content and conclusion that Stanton Friedman and I both wrote articles sharing our disappointment with the National Geographic channel handling of the show. It was not based on factual information and apparently very little research had been done by them for presenting what was hyped as the "Real information" about Roswell. Typical of many documentaries that are based on ratings and profit rather than factual information.

HORN: What about the ABC-TV special with Peter Jennings a while back?

BALTHASER: Same as the National Geographic show mentioned above, with even more promotion, for a few minutes of factual information before being turned into just another ratings related biased take on the subject. You must understand that when these documentaries are being filmed, us researchers are expected to share all the knowledge we possess with no reimbursement for our years of research and absolutely no in-put for the editing or final version to be aired.

HORN: There have been some interesting UFO reports recently. The O'Hare Airport Sighting stands out. What other recent reports have you seen worthy of investigation?

BALTHASER: I don't investigate many such cases if they don't fall into the 4 categories I concentrate on, but I do maintain an interest in them such as the O'Hare sighting, the Phoenix lights years ago, Kecksburg and several others.

HORN: Last month scientists reported the discovery of Gliese 581, the most earth-like planet yet. What do you think about this?

BALTHASER: I'm not surprised with the discovery, but continually wonder why scientist insist that any life in the universe or other planet must mirror earth or us humans. We humans are very limited in our knowledge and most can't imagine anything that's not already known to us. I have no doubt that we ARE NOT the smartest kids on the block in this giant universe.

HORN: What about research some say points to artificial structures on Mars and other planets. Are you interested in this kind of related study, and what do you think the world's response would be to disclosure by NASA or the ESA that unnatural formations were found off planet?

BALTHASER: I have seen no evidence yet that artificial structures have been found on any other planets. Wishful thinking perhaps on the part of those that claim to see it. I'd be happy to see some with scientific proof and honesty from NASA. Incidentally, NASA stands for "Never A Straight Answer".

HORN: (Laughs) Do you expect "Official Disclosure" during your lifetime?
BALTHASER: Years ago I thought so, but I'm now 65 and doubt that it will happen in my lifetime, however if what serious researchers and myself do helps make it available for our children or grandchildren I'll consider it to have been worthwhile for all the frustration and expense over the years. I do think it's that important.

HORN: What will you be doing at Roswell this year? Any lectures you want people to attend?

BALTHASER: I was asked by the Mayor of Roswell to be on the planning committee since last October, and have promoted the Festival on 28 web sites world wide and done over 30 radio and other media interviews to promote it thus far. I will be speaking at the Art Museum (adjacent to the Convention Center) at 11am on July 5 doing my lecture entitled "The Roswell Incident: Then and Now". I will also have a vendors table in the convention center during the Festival.

HORN: How can people learn more about your research?

BALTHASER: My award winning web site is www.truthseekeratroswell.com and I'm associated with the pyramid research at www.gizapyramid.com

HORN: Thanks for joining us today. Roswell 2007 should be very interesting.

BALTHASER: Hope you and your audience can make it here for the Festival July 5-8, 2007.

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