2000 00 00 Oregon Historical Quarterly - Vol 101 No 2 - Bartholomew

Magazine Overview

Title: Oregon Historical Quarterly
Issue: Vol. 101, No. 2
Date: Summer, 2000
Publisher: Oregon Historical Society
Article Title: From Airships to Flying Saucers: Oregon's Place in the Evolution of UFO Lore
Author: Robert E. Bartholomew

This issue of the Oregon Historical Quarterly features an article by Robert E. Bartholomew that delves into Oregon's historical connection to the evolution of UFO lore, primarily through the lens of early aerial sightings and their cultural reception.

The 1896-1897 Airship Sightings

The article begins by recounting the "airship wave" of 1896-1897, a period when tens of thousands of citizens across the nation reported seeing mysterious airships. These craft were typically described as oval or cigar-shaped, with attached undercarriages, powerful headlights, and giant fans or wings. The sightings often occurred at night, and their existence seemed to outpace the technology of the era, predating the Wright brothers' first successful flight in 1903. While such reports were common elsewhere, Oregon newspapers largely dismissed them as hoaxes, attributing them to sensational California journalism and mass hysteria.

Sacramento, California, was a focal point for these sightings, with reports of illuminated crafts, voices, and music emanating from them. Descriptions included oblong masses propelled by fan-like wheels. The phenomenon spread to other states, including Oregon, though reports from Oregon were scarce and often met with skepticism. The article notes that the widespread belief in technological progress during this era contributed to the public's fascination with such reports.

Jules Verne's fictional works, such as "Robur the Conqueror" and "The Master of the World," are highlighted as influential in shaping public imagination regarding advanced flying machines. These stories, published years before actual heavier-than-air flight, may have primed the public to interpret unusual aerial phenomena as potential inventions.

The media played a significant role in shaping public perception. Publisher William Randolph Hearst, for instance, took contradictory stances, with his San Francisco Examiner dismissing the sightings as "fake journalism" while his New York Journal published sensational accounts. Other newspapers, like the San Francisco Call, pointed out this discrepancy. The article quotes an Oregonian editor defining "fake" journalism as "a lie well told; that is, a piece of pure fiction dressed with an air of probability and presented as truth."

Even mundane events, like aerial lights caused by trolley cars, were sometimes misinterpreted as airship sightings. The article also touches on claims of close encounters with airship pilots who spoke of advanced inventions, including anti-gravity devices and powerful weaponry. Some reports even suggested encounters with "Martians."

The 1947 Flying Saucer Episode

Fifty years later, in 1947, a similar wave of sightings occurred, this time involving "flying saucers." An Idaho businessman searching for a downed plane reported seeing nine "saucer-like craft flying in formation" at immense speed. This event, reported in the East Oregonian newspaper, marked the emergence of the term "flying saucer" into the lexicon and brought the phenomenon to national attention.

Oregon's Reaction and Media Influence

Oregon's response to both the airship sightings and the later flying saucer episodes is examined. The article suggests that Oregon's press, in contrast to California's, was more reserved, often labeling the events as hoaxes. This skepticism is attributed to factors like cloudy weather, responsible journalism, and a general resentment of what was perceived as California's avant-garde lifestyle. The McMinnville sighting in Oregon was considered an anomaly, and the Portland Evening Telegram noted the state's relative immunity to "airshipitis."

The article emphasizes the importance of understanding these perceptions within their historical context, noting the boundless faith in technology during both the late nineteenth and mid-twentieth centuries, which fueled fascination with unidentified flying objects.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the historical development of UFO lore, the influence of popular culture and media on public perception of unexplained aerial phenomena, and the specific role of Oregon in this narrative. The editorial stance, as presented through Bartholomew's article, is one of historical analysis, aiming to contextualize these sightings within their time periods and examine the interplay between technology, imagination, and media reporting. The article does not seek to confirm or deny the reality of the sightings but rather to understand how they were reported, interpreted, and integrated into the cultural landscape, particularly in Oregon.

Title: Oregon Historical Quarterly
Issue: Vol. 101, no. 2
Date: Summer 2000
Publisher: Oregon Historical Society
Country: USA
Language: English
Cover Headline: From Airships to Flying Saucers

This issue of the Oregon Historical Quarterly delves into the historical context and cultural impact of unexplained aerial phenomena, specifically focusing on the 1896-1897 airship sightings and the 1947 flying saucer wave. The article, "From Airships to Flying Saucers" by Bartholomew, examines how public perception, media influence, and societal anxieties shaped the interpretation of these events.

The Airship Wave and Early Optimism

The article begins by referencing an early quote about an airship inventor revolutionizing society, setting a tone of technological optimism prevalent in late 19th-century America. It touches upon a claim from Campo, Texas, in 1862, involving a shipwrecked individual who encountered an immense airship with twelve-foot-tall creatures. This is contrasted with the more documented airship sightings of 1896-1897.

During the late 1890s, America experienced a period of immense optimism fueled by rapid advancements in science and technology. The idea of a heavier-than-air flying machine was seen as a potential solution to social problems, with figures like Octave Chanute expressing hope that such inventions would bring peace and good-will.

The 1947 Flying Saucer Craze

The post-World War II era in the United States saw a resurgence of this optimism, with a belief in "magical" technology. This zeitgeist fostered the emergence of the flying saucer as a powerful symbol.

The pivotal event that ignited the 1947 flying saucer wave was the sighting by businessman Kenneth Arnold on June 24, 1947. While flying near Mount Rainier, Washington, Arnold reported seeing nine glittering, saucer-like objects moving at an incredible speed, estimated at 1200 miles per hour, at an altitude of 9,500 to 10,000 feet. He initially worried they might be Soviet guided missiles.

Arnold's report was quickly picked up by the local newspaper, the East Oregonian, due to a fast-approaching deadline. Reporters Nolan Skiff and Bill Bequette filed a story that was subsequently transmitted by the Associated Press (AP). Bequette's emphasis on the "saucer-like" appearance of the objects, coupled with Arnold's description of their movement "like a saucer would if you skipped it across the water," led to the widespread adoption of the term "flying saucer."

The AP report was published on the front page of nearly every newspaper in the country by the following morning, creating a national sensation. The story was further amplified by Arnold's radio interview and subsequent reports from other witnesses, including a man from Ukiah who claimed to have seen similar objects.

Media Construction and Public Perception

The article highlights how the media played a crucial role in constructing the "flying saucer" narrative. While Arnold's initial description was varied, including "bat-shaped" and "half-moon shaped," the term "saucer-like" became the dominant descriptor. Herbert Strentz's research suggests that the term "flying saucer" was a collective product of headline writers, not attributable to a single person, but Bequette's AP report was the proto-article that cemented it.

The "flying saucer" story had significant effects, encouraging more people to report sightings and heightening fears of a Soviet attack. This was partly due to the public's recent memory of Japanese Fugo balloon bombs used during World War II, leading to speculation that flying saucers might be a similar Soviet tactic. The FBI was concerned that reports might be disinformation spread by Soviet agents.

Explanations and Hypotheses

The article explores various explanations for the sightings. One compelling hypothesis, proposed by science writer Keay Davidson, suggests that Arnold's sighting might have been a disintegrating meteor, similar to the Leonid meteor shower peak on November 17, 1896. Davidson noted that Arnold's description of glowing, pulsating objects aligns with the behavior of meteor fragments. Indirect evidence supporting this comes from Idaho Lieutenant Governor Donald Whitehead and Judge J. M Lampert, who described an object resembling a meteor contrail around the same time.

Another theory suggests that the sightings were influenced by the political landscape and anxieties of the time. The term "flying saucer" placed "seemingly inexplicable observations in a new category," reflecting a societal need to categorize the unknown.

The Global Wave and Later Developments

The 1947 wave was not isolated; mass sightings of mysterious aerial objects were also reported in Scandinavia and Europe, often described as "ghost rockets," which were linked to fears of remote-controlled German V-rockets being test-fired by Soviet forces.

By 1950, the missile motif in sightings had largely disappeared, replaced by disk- or saucer-like objects. Ted Bloecher's report cataloged over eight hundred sightings from the 1947 wave, with about two-thirds described as saucer-shaped. Interestingly, few believed the objects were extraterrestrial at this early stage; the focus was on secret weapons and the Cold War.

Two specific incidents reflecting social paranoia are mentioned: a "saucer" set alight in Seattle, Washington, and the destruction of the Salmon River Bridge in Oregon, both investigated for potential Communist sabotage. The U.S. Air Force also considered the possibility that sightings were due to unconventional Soviet aircraft for reconnaissance or testing purposes.

The article notes a shift in public perception by 1950, with the extraterrestrial hypothesis becoming the leading explanation for UFO sightings. The McMinnville, Oregon, case of 1950, involving photographs of a "disk-shaped" object, became a focal point for proponents and was later analyzed in the Condon Report.

Human Perception and Cultural Context

The article concludes by emphasizing the unreliability of human perception, which is heavily influenced by mental set, popular consciousness, political events, and cultural expectations. Stars and planets can be misidentified, and early airship reports were often triggered by mundane objects like kites or fire balloons. The author suggests that while UFO sightings may not reveal extraterrestrial life, they offer insights into the human mind's creative capacity and its search for meaning, particularly in periods of rapid technological change and societal anxiety.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this article are the interplay between unexplained aerial phenomena, media representation, public perception, and societal context. The editorial stance appears to be one of historical and critical analysis, exploring various explanations from prosaic misidentifications and psychological factors to the influence of geopolitical events and media narratives, rather than definitively asserting the existence of extraterrestrial craft. The article emphasizes that these phenomena often reflect the cultural anxieties and expectations of their time.

This issue of the Oregon Historical Quarterly, titled "From Airships to Flying Saucers," published in Summer 2000, Volume 101, Number 2, explores the historical evolution of UFO sightings and their cultural impact. The article, authored by Bartholomew, traces the phenomenon from early 20th-century observations of airships to the emergence of the 'flying saucer' in 1947, examining how these sightings were reported in newspapers and influenced public perception.

Historical Context of UFO Sightings

The article begins by establishing the historical roots of aerial mysteries, referencing early works on UFOs and alien contact. It highlights that while disc-shaped objects were reported prior to 1947, the term 'saucer' gained prominence after Kenneth Arnold's sighting. A key incident cited is John Martin's 1878 observation of an orange object near Denison, Texas, described as 'about the size of a large saucer.' The issue also touches upon the 'Fugo balloon' incidents, including a tragic event in Oregon in 1945.

The Kenneth Arnold Sighting and Media Frenzy

A significant portion of the article focuses on Kenneth Arnold's pivotal sighting on June 24, 1947, near Mount Rainier, Washington. Arnold described nine crescent-shaped objects flying at high speed, comparing their movement to 'a saucer if you skipped it across the water.' This description, widely reported by the media, is credited with popularizing the term 'flying saucer.' The article details how newspapers across California and other states, such as the *Western Watchman*, *The Call*, and *Sacramento Evening Bee*, covered the event, with some instances of sensationalism and 'yellow journalism' noted, referencing works on media history.

Newspaper Coverage and Public Perception

The issue meticulously documents the extensive newspaper coverage of UFO sightings in 1896 and 1947, listing numerous publications from various cities in California, Nevada, Oregon, and other states. This detailed citation of sources underscores the widespread public interest and media attention given to these phenomena. The article also references surveys, such as George Gallup's 1947 poll, indicating that a significant portion of the public had heard of 'flying saucers,' demonstrating the rapid integration of the concept into popular culture.

Research and Skepticism

The article discusses various researchers and their contributions to the study of UFOs, including Jan Aldrich, Bruce Sargent Maccabee, and Jerome Clark. It also addresses skeptical viewpoints, referencing the work of Philip Klass and Robert Sheaffer, who questioned the validity of certain UFO cases, particularly the McMinnville photos. The role of scientific inquiry, exemplified by Donald Howard Menzel and Carl Sagan, in attempting to provide naturalistic explanations for UFO sightings is also explored.

Key Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of the Oregon Historical Quarterly positions itself as a historical examination of the 'flying saucer' phenomenon. It emphasizes the importance of primary source material, particularly newspaper archives, in understanding the cultural and historical context of UFO sightings. The editorial stance appears to be one of objective historical inquiry, presenting a range of perspectives from eyewitness accounts and research to skeptical analyses. The recurring themes include the evolution of UFO terminology, the influence of media on public perception, the challenges of eyewitness testimony, and the ongoing scientific and historical investigation into unexplained aerial phenomena.