prolately I now turn to a file that John called “Jessup-Allende.” It contains a number of documents about the so-called “Philadelphia Experiment.” I assume anyone who reads this site is familiar with the subject, but if not, the Wikipedia article provides the basic background. John’s file contains correspondence with Gray Barker about Morris K. Jessup and the “Varo Edition,” Barker’s own correspondence with several institutions about Jessup, and John’s correspondence with Carl M. Allen (aka Carlos Allende). (I posted a page of it here several years ago, but there’s much more.)
This letter to Gray Barker (March 20, 1968) also touches on reports of Men In Black and on Barker’s upcoming book on Mothman. The book, The Silver Bridge, became more novel than report; at any rate, here John offers to help Barker with it.
Didn’t John state in a preface to The Mothman Prophecies that he wrote it in response to Barkers book? Funny how John is offering to help Barker at this earlier time and then goes on to write one of his best works. It would be interesting to know about the men “from White Sands”; wonder what that was about? Thanks for posting this.
Comment by Clarence Carlson — November 28, 2021 @ 4:32 pm
Yes, in the Afterword to the Tor edition of The Mothman Prophecies (2001), John said, “Gray Barker did try to turn it into a celestial fairy tale, making me decide to write this book and tell the truth as it happened.” I think he remained on fairly good terms with Barker, and had no objection to the novel.
White Sands is home to a missile range and Air Force base, so I suppose a military connection is implied. But I don’t know the story of those White Sands men.
Comment by Doug — November 30, 2021 @ 7:53 pm
Don’t know if its relevant, but Daniel Fry’s contactee opus was called “The White Sands Incident.” Keel’s reference sounds more like military personnel though.
Comment by Paul B Thompson — December 1, 2021 @ 7:17 pm
I think there have been several UFO reports in the area, including the Zamora incident, but Fry was probably the first.
Comment by Doug — December 1, 2021 @ 9:31 pm