Grand Street

Magazine Overview

This issue of *Grand Street*, titled "Space," features the article "UFOs: Who Is Inside the Flying Saucers?" by Gerald Heard, originally published on August 17, 1953. The magazine was published by Jean Stein in Autumn 1995.

UFOs: Who Is Inside the Flying Saucers?

Gerald Heard's article begins by noting the renewed public attention to UFO reports after a period of waning interest. He highlights that for six years since the "saucer" phenomenon became front-page news in 1947, critical collectors of data have begun to consider a new question: "Are the saucers so dumb as they seemed?"

Heard outlines two main viewpoints among investigators. One group, described as "stern but open-minded critics," asserts that unidentified aerial objects exist, are typically disk-shaped, maneuver with great agility (likened to snipe or humming birds), and travel at meteor-like speeds, some timed at 18,000 m.p.h. This group also notes evidence of radioactivity associated with these objects, as indicated by Geiger counters.

The article then addresses the evidence for landings. It posits that if these disks are extraterrestrial, their occupants would be cautious, observing humanity before revealing themselves. This caution is attributed to the potential for explosive human reactions and inexplicable conventions.

Heard emphasizes the importance of maintaining an open mind and critically testing all evidence. He states that while the existence of disks is strongly supported by evidence, the question of who or what is inside remains speculative. However, he argues against the notion that there is no evidence of occupants or that none have ever been seen. With the possibility of space travel now established, Heard suggests that contact with another intelligent form of life, potentially more advanced, is a promising prospect that should be explored.

Photographic Evidence and Incidents

The magazine includes several photographs illustrating UFO sightings:

• Cruces, New Mexico, March 18, 1967: A New Mexico State University student photographed an unidentified flying object while on a geology class assignment. The object was reportedly silent and disappeared as the student changed camera plates.
• Paris, France, January 6, 1958: A photograph claimed to show "flying saucers" orbiting the Eiffel Tower was later identified as a hoax, being reflections of lamps and their shades in the window of the Palais de Chaillot.
• Wall Township, New Jersey, March 1966: A thirteen-year-old boy took a photograph of a UFO while walking his dog and subsequently turned the photograph over to the Army.
• Climax, Colorado, November 16, 1967: A field technician at a mountain laboratory weather station discovered an unidentified object on his negative after shooting a roll of film in the area.
• Amarillo, Texas (undated): A farmer from Loco, Texas, provided a Polaroid snap to a polygraph operator, claiming it showed an alien spacecraft 80 to 100 feet long.
• Taormina, Sicily, 1954: Four Sicilians were photographed gazing skyward at two UFOs.
• Cluj, Romania, September 1968: A tourist captured a photograph of an unidentified flying object over Romanian territory.
• Onomichi, Japan, October 11, 1974: A fifteen-year-old high school boy, Kazuhiko Fujimatsu, took a photograph of what he described as a hat-shaped flying saucer near Hiroshima.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue strongly focuses on the UFO phenomenon, presenting it as a significant mystery worthy of serious investigation. The editorial stance, as reflected in Gerald Heard's article, advocates for an open-minded yet critical approach to analyzing evidence. It acknowledges the existence of unidentified aerial objects and entertains the possibility of extraterrestrial intelligence and space travel, framing it as a compelling area for further study. The inclusion of various photographic examples, alongside discussions of their potential authenticity or fraudulent nature, underscores the complex and often controversial nature of UFO reports.