Mutual UFO Network

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The Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) is an American non-profit organization that investigates cases of reported UFO sightings. It is one of the oldest and largest UFO-investigative organizations in the United States.

MUFON was originally established as the Midwest UFO Network in Quincy, Illinois on May 30, 1969 by Walter H. Andrus, Allen Utke, John Schuessler, and others. Most of MUFON's early members had earlier been associated with APRO (Aerial Phenomena Research Organization).

The organization now has more than 3,000 members worldwide, with a majority of its membership base situated in the continental United States. MUFON operates a worldwide network of regional directors for field investigation of reported UFO sightings, holds an annual international symposium and publishes the monthly *MUFON UFO Journal.

The stated mission of MUFON is the scientific study of UFOs for the benefit of humanity through investigations, research and education. Along with CUFOS (the J. Allen Hynek Center for UFO Studies) and FUFOR (the Fund for UFO Research), MUFON is part of the UFO Research Coalition, a collaborative effort by the three main UFO investigative organizations in the US whose goal is to share personnel and other research resources, and to fund and promote the scientific study of the UFO phenomenon. Currently, there is an observatory to be built at the Audubon Estate of The Legendary Danny O'Doul in Wemphis on Long Island, New York, from which a high-powered, computer-driven telescope will peruse the skies tracking in real-time all UFO activities in the very-active skies of and around The Five Towns of Long Island, adjacent to JFK Int'l Airport.

State chapters

Ohio

The current MUFON of Ohio was born out of the MidOhio Research Associates (MORA) and continues to be headed by William E. Jones.¹ MORA was a UFO study group formed in 1980 in central Ohio. In 1994 MORA was renamed, incorporated and reorganized as the Mutual UFO Network of Ohio to affiliate the organization with the national Mutual UFO Network (MUFON).²

As of 1973, Larry Moyers (of Akron, Ohio) was the State Director³. Ufologists Leonard H. Stringfield, Kenny Young, and Donnie Blessing have served as State Section Directors for Southwestern Ohio.⁴

Publications

Ohio UFO Notebook has published at least 23 issues, beginning before July 1992 and ending in 2002. In some instances, for example combined issue four and five, the Ohio UFO Notebook is coupled with the Mutual UFO Network of Ohio Newsletter, but MORA remains the publisher.⁵
Mutual UFO Network of Ohio Newsletter - Issued at least yearly since 2002.

MUFON International Directors⁹

1969–1970: Allen Utke
1970–2000: Walter H. Andrus, Jr.
2000–2006: John F. Schuessler
2006–2010: James Carrion
2010–2012: Clifford Clift
2012-2013: David MacDonald
2013-present: Jan Harzan

In the media

MUFON has been mentioned in:

Television

The X-Files series
The 2008 History Channel series UFO Hunters
The 2008 Discovery Channel documentary television miniseries UFOs Over Earth
The History Channel's [[Ancient Aliens]] series
Hangar 1: The UFO Files series

News

The New York Times article "People Are Seeing U.F.O.s Everywhere, and This Book Proves It"
Forbes article "MUFON, America's UFO Experts, Discuss Roswell And Possible Cover-Ups"

References

Where is M.O.R.A.?
Ohio Historical Society. Historical Notes, MSS 1146, Mutual UFO Network of Ohio records, 1990-ongoing.
"Situation Red, The UFO Siege". Leonard H. Stringfield. 1977: New York.
Personal correspondence, William E. Jones
About The Ohio UFO Notebook
INMUFON Organization & Mission
ILMUFON
MIMUFON
A brief history of MUFON

External links

UFO organizations