Petr Sittek
Archivist & Historical Researcher
Petr Sittek is a Czech researcher and archivist who has uncovered and preserved key historical documents related to the Moonshaft legend. His archival work has surfaced rare primary sources, including materials from the 1970 APRO expedition planning and documents from the MUFON UFO Journal.
Key Contributions
- •Discovery and preservation of 1970 APRO expedition documents
- •Archival research in international UFO and paranormal research collections
- •Sourcing and sharing of primary documents with the research community
Research Updates
Letters 1970: Horák's Failed Expedition Correspondence
A Czech archive document with English translations of 1970 correspondence and stylometric analysis. The letters trace Tony Horák's attempt to organize a professional American expedition to find and document the Moonshaft cave discovered in October 1944, including requests for sketches, photographs, route details, a $200 compensation offer, and the Cold War pressures that left Jurek fearful of persecution and Slávek fiercely protective of the hidden cave.
APRO First Expedition Documents (1970)
A collection of correspondence from June–December 1970 documenting the APRO-organized expedition to investigate AntonĂn Horák's account. The documents detail the planning process, the involvement of Theodore Phillips and J. Allen Hynek, and the eventual cancellation of the mission due to political safety concerns following the 1968 Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia.
MUFON UFO Journal – Ted Phillips Profile (December 1998)
This December 1998 profile in the MUFON UFO Journal spotlights Ted Phillips — the foremost physical trace researcher in the world, according to the article's author Dwight Connelly. Phillips is directly connected to the Moonshaft search: he was among the experts assembled by APRO in 1970 to investigate AntonĂn Horák's account and plan an expedition to Czechoslovakia. A colleague of Dr. J. Allen Hynek, Phillips brought rigorous field methodology to the effort. The expedition was ultimately called off, but his involvement illustrates the level of serious, internationally recognised researchers who considered the Moonshaft claim worthy of investigation. Ted Phillips has since passed away; his work is continued by Thomas Ferrario.