3rd August 2008

Philip Mantle lecture 2nd August 2008.
Phil Mantle’s Alien Autopsy Lecture Review

By Dave Hodrien


On the evening of Sunday 3rd August, BUFOG was privileged to welcome renowned UFO investigator Philip Mantle to the monthly meeting to give a talk on the infamous Roswell alien autopsy video. Although many of us had seen the footage before, very few had previously heard about the findings and events Phil had to divulge…

Phil started his presentation with a full showing of the main footage. I was one of the first to see the video when it was unveiled at the UFO Magazine Conference back in 1995, but even today it still has a creepy realistic quality. I spotted at least several people looking away at some of the more graphic moments. During the footage, Phil pointed out numerous things, including how accurate the surroundings and medical techniques were.

After the footage was over, Phil’s presentation took on a more negative view towards its authenticity. He explained in detail how, after years of research, they had managed to track down the people who helped create the video, and even some of the actors! He backed up all his claims with photographic evidence, and I think by the end of it pretty much everyone had the view that the alien autopsy footage was an elaborate hoax. The latest bombshell to be dropped regarding the video is a contact of Phil’s named Spyros Melaris. He claims that he was the one responsible for the design of the alien body, and assisted in perpetuating the hoax. However he was cut out of the loop, and unlike the owners of the footage did not end up much better off because of it. He thinks it is now time to let the world know the truth regarding the video. But the owner of the footage, Ray Santilli, claims (perhaps understandably) that Spyros is making it all up. Phil has done a lot of research into his contact’s credentials and seems satisfied he is the real deal. I know whom I believe!

Overall Phil’s presentation was both very interesting and informative. I’m sure everyone attending had a great evening. He followed it up with a Q&A session that started quietly but soon erupted into a constant show of hands. Phil was quizzed on not only the alien autopsy video, but also numerous other UFO incidents and related topics. He answered all our questions really well; his professional knowledge of the subject could easily be seen.
Any BUFOG members wishing to attend the annual UFO Data Conference in October will have the chance to listen to and speak with him again. If you’re reading this Phil, thanks for a great lecture and see you in a couple of months!
British author / co-author, publicist, lecturer, broadcaster and researcher of Unidentified Flying Objects. UFO research: Philip Mantle's interest in UFO research began in l979 when he joined the British UFO Research Association (BUFORA), and Yorkshire UFO Society (YUFOS). 1985: Nominated 'Investigator of the year’ by YUFOS. 1987: Appointed to Council of management of BUFORA. Subsequently acted as Press Officer, Conference Organiser, and Secretary to the National Investigations Committee l988: Appointed England's representative for the Mutual UFO Network’s (MUFON) l992: Awarded honorary member of the Research Institute on Anomalous Phenomena (RIAP), a science based UFO-study group based in the Ukraine l993: Appointed Director of Investigations for BUFORA. Although extremely active in the field of UFO research, Philip Mantle has relinquished his various appointed positions, due to professional commitments, with the exception of honorary membership of RIAP. Organisational publication credits include: YUFOS Journal, UFO TIMES, Enigma, California UFO, MUFON UFO JOURNAL, CENAP REPORT, OVNI PRESENCE, Awareness, The Wild Places, UFO Universe, UFO Brigantia and numerous others international publications Newspaper / Magazine publication credits include: Daily Star, The Independent, Today, Plus Magazine, The Guardian, The Mail on Sunday, The People, Daily Mirror, and numerous other local and regional newspapers and periodicals throughout the UK as well as international publications. Lectures and radio / TV broadcasts include: United Kingdom - BBC radio network and TV programmes such as Kilroy, Pebble Mill at One, TV-AM, GMTV, Central Weekend, Fantastic Facts, Wire TV, Schofield’s Quest, Motormouth, The Disney Club, Cool Cube, Good Morning with Anne and Nick, This Morning. International Radio / TV broadcasts - Norway, France, Germany, Austria, Italy, San Marino, Rumania, Switzerland, Israel, Japan, and the USA. Movie and Video Publicity / Promotions include: COMMUNION FIRE IN THE SKY ROSWELLCLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND. College Tutoring: In l990 I formulated, organised and tutored 3 ten-week college courses on UFO’s for the Adult Education Department of Wakefield College, West Yorkshire. Book Publications: WITHOUT CONSENT - Ringpull Press Ltd (UK) 1994 Co-authored by Carl Nagaitis this book deals entirely with UFO abductions in the UK and includes a variety of cases histories being published for the first time. This book has now been published in Italy and Rumania as well as the UK, and will be published by Marlowe & Company in the USA in January l999. Up-dated and republished in paperback by Fortune Books in the UK in 2003. BEYOND ROSWELL - Marlowe & Company (USA) 1997 Co-authored with German researcher Michael Hesemann, this was first published in 1997 by Michael O’Mara Books Ltd (UK). This book deals with the UFO crash at Roswell in l947 and the controversial alien autopsy film. This book has also been published in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. January l998 saw the release of this book in CD ROM format by Binary Media Works in the USA. Philip Mantle was a consultant on a series of books on the 'unexplained', published by Hamlyn Children’s books in l998. Two books are completed for Hamlyn, and titled ALIEN EVIDENCE and ALIEN CONTACT, were published in l998/99. Philip Mantle was also a consultant for THE SOVIET UFO FILES, which was published Quadrillion Publishing Ltd. This book was authored by Paul Stonehill of the Russian Ufology Centre, and was published in October 1998. Philip Mantle was a consultant on a book in 1999 for Quadrillion Publishing Ltd, titled ABDUCTION - ENCOUNTERS WITH EXTRATERRESTRIALS.
MYSTERIOUS SKY– Soviet UFO Phenomenon – PublishAmerica 2006.Co-author with Paul Stonehill. This book is a comprehensive look at UFO sightings and ufology in the former Soviet Union. Published in German in 2008 by Magazine 2000+. (www.publishamerica.com).
ALIEN AUTOPSY INQUEST – PublishAmerica 2007.This illustrated book is the complete research file of my work on the infamous Alien Autopsy Film released by London businessman Ray Santilli in l995. (www.publishamerica.com). On-going projects include: UFO-LINK, with journalist and public relations consultant Carl Nagaitis. UFO-LINK is a UFO consultancy aimed at working with and providing UFO material to the media. School lectures: In 2001 I have been actively involved with ‘The Mystery Club’ at Batley Boys High School, West Yorkshire. MAGAZINE EDITORSHIP & CONSULTANCY WORK: QUEST MAGAZINE: In January, l999 Philip Mantle became the Research & Commissioning Editor of Quest Magazine published by Top Events & Publications Ltd. Distributed in over 30 countries around the world this publication has been in print now for over three years. In May, l999, Philip Mantle was promoted to Assistant Editor of Quest Magazine. BEYOND MAGAZINE: In July, l999 Philip Mantle became the Research & Commissioning Editor of BEYOND magazine the sister publication of Quest Magazine published by Top Events & Publications Ltd. NB: I ceased working on QUEST and BEYOND in September 1999. BRITISH EUROPEAN ASSOCIATED PUBLISHERS LTD: Philip Mantle has been a consultant to B.E.A.P. from December 2000 to March 2001 on a new magazine project.
UFO DATA magazine: (www.ufodata.co.uk)Features Editor from 2006 to date.