Friends remember that Leonard loved words, and loved to write. He was nicknamed "Webster" in high school, because he actually memorized the entire dictionary. Graduating in 1939, he joined the 5th Air Force out of Wright Field as soon as he heard of the attack on Pearl Harbor. He served in Australia, the Philippines and Japan, as a journalist and later in intelligence and counter-intelligence. Following the war, he worked for 31 years at the DuBois Chemical Company, where he created their art department and retired, in 1981, as Director of Public Relations.
But it was as a UFO investigator that Leonard Stringfield became genuinely famous. He started as director of the first world-wide UFO organization, known as CRIFO (Civilian Research, Interplanetary Flying Objects) and published their monthly newletter "Orbit" from 1953 to 1957. He worked cooperatively with the USAF Air Defense Command on UFO cases from 1954-57. On some occasions, jets were scrambled on his recommendation to intercept UFOs, but he was not allowed to see the resulting reports.
He served as Public Relations Advisor to NICAP (National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena) from 1957-70. He served on the Board of Directors of MUFON (Mutual UFO Network) and as an Associate/Investigator for CUFOS (Center for UFO Studies). He received MUFON's Award of the Year in 1981.
He published his first UFO book, "Inside Saucer Post 3-0 Blue" in 1957. Other books followed. His most famous, "Situation Red: The UFO Siege" was published in 1977 and subsequently translated into several languages. Later, he published seven reports on UFO Crash/Retrievals. The latest, "Status Report VII: Search for Proof in a Hall of Mirrors," was published in February 1994.
Leonard Stringfield is survived by his wife of 47 years, Dell, and by his daughters Collette Rhodes, Denise Sparks and Camille Reynolds. His pioneering work survives as well. Those interested in a complete list of Leonard Stringfield's publications may direct inquiries to: Mrs. Leonard H. Stringfield, 4412 Grove Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45227.
IN REMEMBRANCE OF LEONARD H. STRINGFIELD
Forensic artist Bill McDonald talked extensively with Leonard Stringfield in the last week of his life. Bill offered the following thoughts for inclusion in CNI News.
"Leonard was best known for his research into the government's cover-up of multiple crash-retrieval operations, most notably the Roswell case, where he had collected the autopsy notes and physical descriptions of five alien cadavers from the pathologists, hematologists and flight surgeons (under conditions of anonymity) who had examined and dissected them.
"Leonard maintained the highest historical and forensic standards in his research, and shared much of his most critical work with other researchers whom he deemed trustworth and professional in their approach to the UFO subject.
"Leonard was himself a witness to a 'Foo Fighter' formation at altitude while in flight near Iwo Jima near the end of World War II.
"A trained artist, journalist and charismatic manager, Leonard was unafraid to stand up for the phenomena he witnessed, or the incredible trends in the evidence he assembled over the years. J.Allen Hynek (founder of CUFOS) and Walter Andrus (co-founder and longtime director of MUFON) depended on Leonard for support in much of their own work.
"Leonard could have avoided me, sick as he was, but instead he took a call from a total stranger and not only cared enough to educate a young colleague many decades behind him, but he cared enough to make a friend and be a friend. In our extensive conversations, we collaborated on designing the Roswell aliens for an upcoming TV segment, for a model kit in development, and for new museum exhibits in Roswell, New Mexico. All this during his last four days on earth.
"Leonard also emphasized certain ethical priorities which we researchers must conform to:
1) Never violate the promise made to a witness to protect his/her identity from public disclosure.
2) Stand for the highest quality of work and research. Do not become complacent with the media, or with people who substitute their own belief systems for genuine research.
3) Maintain meticulous, organized research notes that can be passed along to the next generation of researchers.
"For me, Leonard Stringfield also illustrated one of life's most important lessons: how to face one's own death with dignity, openness to family and friends, and courage in the face of pain."
Original file name: .CNI - STRINGFIELD OBIT
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