 Leslie Watkins |
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Ballantine affair timeline
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Leslie Watkins documented the Ballantine affair as "Alternative 3", published in 1978.
Many, if not all of the names of the actual persons were changed. In Watkin's book, Tim Brinton's name was changed to "Simon Butler".[1]
"Harry Carmell", "Colin Benson", "Dr. Gerstein", and "astronaut Grodin" are also aliases, but of persons not identified. "Sceptre Television" is also an alias name for Anglia Television.
The name "Otto Binder" appears in Watkin's book to refer to a member of the NASA space team.[2] It was used in place of Alan Binder to protect his reputation; Otto Binder being a science fiction author who never worked for NASA.
Since none of the sources for the Ballantine Tape could be confirmed,[2] and the original tape went missing,[2] the entire Ballantine affair is considered hoax and the episode by which it aired on 20 June 1977, as a mockumentary.
Ten years later, Watkins was directed to make a written statement on 28 October 1989, that none of the names in his documentation were real, and that the aired programme was a hoax prepared for April Fool's Day.[2]
Alternative 3[]
A number of editorial changes were made to Leslie Watkin's book Alternative 3, that was published in 1978. Some of the edits are contrary to what the Ballantine Tape audibly acknowledged in the film: a lifeform indicated at the end of the clip.
A complete additional entry, not said on the tape:
- “We got air, boys...we’re home! Jesus...we’ve done it...we got air!” [3]
Then a small edit change at the end, contrary to the tape:
- “That’s it! We got it...we got it! Boy, if they ever take the wraps off this thing, it’s going to be the biggest date in history! May 22, 1962. We’re on the planet Mars - and we have
lifeair!” [3]
Three times, the word "air" was inserted in the book, whilst overriding what was actually said at the end of the tape:[3] "life". The agenda of Alternative 3 is to determine atmospheric conditions suitable for a human only. In light of Professor Stephen Manderson's statements, it has no interest in anything else (See agenda of Alternative 3).