2006 11 00 Socialism and Democracy - Vol 20 No 3 - Horstemeier

Magazine Overview

This document is an article from the journal "Socialism and Democracy," Volume 20, Issue 3, published in November 2006. The article, titled "Flying saucers are real! The US Navy, unidentified flying objects, and the national security state" by Robert P. Horstemeier, explores the historical and socio-political context of the flying saucer phenomenon in the United States, particularly during the early Cold War era.

The Genesis of the Flying Saucer Phenomenon and Early Investigations

The article begins by recounting the Kenneth Arnold sighting in 1947 near Mt. Rainier, which popularized the term "flying saucers." This event triggered a wave of public sightings and media attention. The US Air Force's initial response was to investigate these reports through Project SIGN in 1948, followed by Project GRUDGE, which aimed to debunk the phenomenon. The author suggests that if this debunking effort had succeeded, flying saucers might have remained a mere folklore curiosity.

However, the article highlights a critical juncture in 1949 when members of the US Navy actively sought to influence public opinion in ways that countered the Air Force's intelligence requirements. This rivalry between the Air Force and the Navy is presented as a key factor in the development of the flying saucer mythos, with factional disputes and turf wars potentially taking on an "extraterrestrial dimension."

The Impact on the National Security Establishment

The idea of extraterrestrial visitors, popularized by science fiction, became a social reality that significantly impacted the US national security establishment. The Air Force's efforts to debunk UFOs are framed not just as an attempt to dismiss the phenomenon, but as a response to the potential threat that real flying saucers, if they represented a technology beyond US capabilities, would pose to American national security. The author argues that the Air Force's efforts to suppress belief ultimately contributed to the evolving mythos.

Air Force vs. Navy: Strategic Visions and UFO Advocacy

The paper aims to demonstrate how differing strategic visions between the Air Force and the Navy created a context of rivalry that emboldened Naval advocates to publicly challenge Air Force UFO policies. Both services were vying for dominance in US Cold War defense policies and sought to maximize their share of the military budget. The Naval advocates, by lending credibility to the flying saucer subject, made the claims of reporters more plausible and created challenges for intelligence agencies like the Air Force Office of Intelligence, the FBI, and the CIA, who were responding to public hopes and fears about contact with superior civilizations.

The Naval figures who promoted the idea of flying saucers as extraterrestrial spacecraft or advanced Naval technology effectively introduced science fiction into everyday life for the American public. This, the author contends, undermined public faith in the Air Force's ability to identify threats, provided a veneer of respectability for those claiming alien contact, and disregarded the concerns of intelligence agencies worried about the Soviet Union using UFO rumors for psychological warfare.

The "Believer/Skeptic" Binary and Cultural Interpretation

The article delves into the different ways flying saucer reports are interpreted, proposing a "believer/skeptic" binary. "Believers" generally adhere to the Extraterrestrial Hypothesis (ETH), while "skeptics" attempt to explain sightings through mundane occurrences, delusions, or hoaxes. The author notes that the term "skeptic" in this context refers to those who oppose UFO believers, rather than the classical philosophical definition of skepticism. The paper suggests that both believers and skeptics are interpreting reports rather than conducting investigations, and that a neutral approach is necessary to uncover buried political facts.

The author posits that the "flying saucer" is a cultural construct encompassing various phenomena, including misperceived conventional objects, natural events, and fictional narratives. The emotional compulsion to interpret these sightings as extraterrestrial artifacts is linked to the broader cultural acceptance of the possibility of extraterrestrial intelligence, influenced by figures like astronomer Harlow Shapley.

The Role of Science Fiction and Cold War Politics

Science fiction motifs played a significant role in making flying saucer beliefs more palatable to the public than New Age metaphysics. The article highlights that the "identification" of UFOs by Naval advocates introduced the concept of alien spaceships, which was perceived by non-Naval agencies (Army, Air Force, FBI, CIA) as a potential tool for subversion. The author suggests that aliens offering "socialist panaceas" might have been more persuasive than traditional communist propaganda.

The flying saucer controversy coincided with heightened inter-service tensions, particularly during the "Revolt of the Admirals" hearings in 1949. Key figures in this revolt claimed that flying saucers were real and were spaceships from another world, directly challenging the Air Force's stance. The article traces the roots of this conflict back to World War II and the push for unification of the armed services.

Identification, Subversion, and Panic

The author intends to discuss flying saucers in terms of identification, subversion, and panic. The relationship between identification and panic is often taken for granted, but the link to subversion is less understood. The article notes that the militarization of balloons and the emergence of airship fantasies in the 19th century, followed by the development of science fiction, led governments to feel the need to identify UFOs. During the 20th century, bureaucrats recognized that the failure to identify UFOs could be used to panic populations, thus constructing an image cluster of saucers/panic/identity with potential subversive political uses.

The article outlines its structure: first, the Air Force-Navy struggle over the identity of flying saucers and the appropriation of science fictional imagery; second, the FBI's response to accusations of subversion among contactees; and third, the history of extraterrestrial expectations, fears, and the CIA's response to psychological warfare operations involving UFOs. It also promises to include examples of other military forays into science fiction realms.

Background: The Post-War Era and the Air Defense Problem

The flying saucer excitement began in June 1947, coinciding with the establishment of the US Air Force. The inability of the new Air Force to identify reported aerial anomalies became a point of criticism. The article suggests that the governmental concern over identifying unknown objects in the sky gave flying saucers the charisma to inspire public sky-watching. The post-war era, with its vulnerability to new weapons systems and the rise of the Cold War, transformed anomalous aerial reports from folklore into potential threats.

The article notes that unidentified flying objects have always been "identified" within social contexts, leading to an ambivalence in contemporary understanding. The process of "technicization" of UFO images, influenced by balloons, airships, and later "ghost rockets" and "flying saucers," culminated in the conflation of the acronym UFO with the term "flying saucer" in popular usage during the 1950s.

Conclusion and Recurring Themes

The article emphasizes that its use of the term "flying saucer" refers to a particular social construction of unknown aerial objects, without asserting their objective reality. The analysis focuses on identification, subversion, and panic, highlighting how these concepts became intertwined with political agendas and military rivalries during the Cold War. The author's stance is to suspend judgment and approach the topic neutrally to uncover the underlying political facts.

Recurring themes include the interplay between science fiction and military strategy, the role of inter-service rivalry in shaping public perception, the manipulation of public fear for political purposes, and the complex relationship between belief, skepticism, and the interpretation of evidence in the context of unexplained aerial phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be critical of how the flying saucer phenomenon was co-opted and utilized within the broader political and military landscape of the Cold War.

This issue of "Socialism and Democracy," identified as issue number 196 and dated approximately 1950, delves into the complex interplay between military inter-service rivalry, propaganda, and the burgeoning phenomenon of flying saucer sightings in the post-World War II era. The article, authored by Robert P. Horstemeier, focuses on how the US Navy and Air Force used the flying saucer narrative to advance their respective strategic interests and to undermine each other.

The Navy's Strategic Vision and the 'Revolt of the Admirals'

The article begins by detailing the strategic divergence between the Navy and the Air Force by the end of 1948, with both services investing heavily in expensive, complex weapons systems: the Navy's "Supercarrier" and the Air Force's B-36 bomber. This rivalry escalated into public rhetorical attacks on each other's weaponry. A pivotal moment was the "Revolt of the Admirals" in 1949, fomented by the cancellation of the Navy's flush-deck carrier program by Defense Secretary Louis Johnson. This event signaled the ascendance of the Strategic Air Command. In response, a document known as the "Anonymous Document" was drafted by Cedric Worth and Thomas D. Davies, alleging corruption in the B-36 program and implicating figures like Floyd Odlum and AF Secretary Stuart Symington. The use of press leaks by Navy factions to advance their agendas became a recurring tactic, particularly in countering Air Force propaganda about flying saucers.

The "Revolt" is presented as setting the stage for Americans' belief in and fear of flying saucers, as Navy advocates began to publicly disagree with the Air Force's skeptical stance, making Air Force debunking efforts appear as a cover-up.

The Role of Science Fiction and Early UFO Publishing

Before Navy figures actively promoted the reality of spaceships and flying saucers, the concept was largely confined to science fiction. The article highlights Ray Palmer, editor of *Amazing Stories*, as a key figure who, in 1947, married spaceships to the New Age in the public consciousness. Palmer had previously featured Richard Shaver's stories about subterranean beings, blurring the lines between science fiction and fact. Kenneth Arnold's 1947 sighting report further fueled interest, and Palmer's subsequent ventures, including *Fate Magazine*, became early newsstand sources for flying saucer information, with pulp-style illustrations shaping public imagination. Palmer is credited with "inventing" flying saucers in the public eye.

Despite the decline of saucer reports in 1949, individuals like Robert McLaughlin and Donald E. Keyhoe, leveraging their Navy affiliations, presented a more plausible case for the spaceship hypothesis, challenging the Air Force's preferred narrative.

Naval Developments and Air Force Investigations

Navy advocates continued to assert the reality of spaceships and flying saucers, countering rhetoric from figures like Strategic Air Commander Curtis LeMay. The Army Air Force also made public statements about protecting its high-flying "spaceships" or "airockets." In 1948, the Air Force established Project SIGN to investigate flying saucers. A faction within SIGN concluded that saucers were likely alien spaceships, but this hypothesis was rejected by AF chief of staff Hoyt Vandenberg. By early 1949, SIGN became GRUDGE, and the Air Force adopted a policy of debunking UFO reports. They enlisted Sidney Shalett of the *Saturday Evening Post* to "play down the UFOs" in a two-part article, which, according to Capt. E.J. Ruppelt, backfired by drawing more attention and making the debunking effort seem feeble.

Navy Propaganda and Key Figures

Cmdr. Robert McLaughlin emerged as a key Navy flying saucer propagandist. In April 1949, scientists at White Sands Proving Ground tracked a 105-foot disc. Later, McLaughlin reported seeing a flying saucer during a missile flight and conducted a missile test where two small discs outstripped the missile. He shared these reports, despite attempts by Army PIO Capt. Edward Detchemendy to suppress them due to inter-service rivalry. McLaughlin's story was published in *True* magazine in March 1950. The Navy itself lent support to McLaughlin's article, ensuring its official clearance for publication.

Donald E. Keyhoe, a Marine major, published "Flying Saucers Are Real" in *True* in December 1949, a seminal work that defined the flying saucer phenomenon. Keyhoe, with Pentagon connections, was hired by *True*'s editor Ken Purdy to investigate the saucer story. Keyhoe became a staunch advocate for the extraterrestrial hypothesis, lobbying the government about an alleged alien invasion cover-up. His work helped distinguish "serious" (secular) UFO advocacy from more "silly" (religious) New Age beliefs, making flying saucers believable on a secular basis for young people in the 1950s.

Keyhoe also ghost-wrote for Admiral Arthur Radford, a leader in the "Naval insurrection." Informally, Keyhoe acted as a conduit for Navy opinion, promoting views like those of Delmer Fahrney, director of the Navy's missile testing station at Point Mugu.

The Kimball Incident and the Tremonton Film

In 1952, Secretary of the Navy Dan Kimball reported an encounter with a flying saucer while being flown from Guam to Hawaii. His pilot claimed the plane had been circled twice by a saucer, a claim corroborated by the staff plane following behind, which included Joint Chiefs Chief of Staff Arthur Radford. Kimball ordered the Office of Naval Research to reinvestigate Navy/USMC cases and retain reports given to the Air Force, believing the Air Force and CIA feared the Navy revealing knowledge of alien presence. The project was reportedly ended due to Air Force complaints.

Around the same time, Navy petty officer Delbert Newhouse filmed what appeared to be a group of flying saucers near Tremonton, Utah. Analysts at the Naval Photo-Interpretation Center believed the film provided scientific evidence, but the Air Force suspected the objects were birds. The Tremonton film became significant for flying saucer believers. Kimball's efforts to influence Air Force UFO policy were curtailed by the election of Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Navy as a Source of 'New Weapons' Propaganda

Walter Karig, a public relations officer for Kimball, continued the publicity battle for flying saucer realities. He published an article in *American Weekly Magazine* about the Tremonton film, contradicting the Air Force's claim that the objects were birds and asserting that UFOs were solid, accelerated beyond human capacities, and intelligently controlled.

However, not all Navy-backed propaganda supported the extraterrestrial hypothesis. ABC radio broadcaster Henry J. Taylor and *US News and World Report* publisher David Lawrence presented flying saucers as science fiction made fact through US Navy genius. Lawrence's narrative, published in *US News*, linked flying saucers to an unstable elliptical craft developed by Charles Zimmerman in 1942, describing them as 105-foot discs with jet nozzles capable of impossible maneuvers. Lawrence posited that these were Naval developments designed for air cover and vertical take-offs from combat ships. This narrative was linked to the House Armed Services Committee hearings, which revealed an "iron wall" between Air Force and Navy R&D.

A chorus of denial followed Lawrence's "disclosure," with Truman's office and the Defense Department refuting the claims. Believers interpreted this denial as corroboration. The "good news" narrative was presented during the Congressional defense appropriations season as part of a Pentagon public relations effort to maximize budgets, with "New Weapons" (some non-existent) presented in futuristic SF terms.

Subversion and the FBI's Involvement

On July 9, 1947, Brig. Gen. George Schulgren of Air Intelligence contacted the FBI, concerned that Communist sympathizers or Soviet agents might be precipitating "hysteria and fear of a Russian secret weapon" related to flying saucers. J. Edgar Hoover agreed to participate, but stipulated that all evidence be shared. The FBI's investigation, however, concluded in September when Hoover learned that the service was being fed nonsensical hoaxes, leading the FBI to withdraw from Air Force UFO investigations.

Despite this, the FBI and UFO communities continued to interact, often when suspicions of Communist infiltration arose. George Adamski, a leading "contactee," was one such figure who espoused left-wing politics. The contactee movement believed in contact with alien pilots and their superior wisdom, drawing on ideas from Theosophy and New Age movements. Adamski's Venusians, however, combined New Age philosophy with an SF mentality, and he began proselytizing for aliens in 1952. The FBI opened a file on him.

Other contactees, like Orfeo Angelucci, also received attention. Angelucci, who worked with Lockheed, had aliens who professed a Manichaean metaphysics. He questioned his contact about the "creeping menace of Communism," receiving a reply that framed Communism as an "evil" masking the "spearhead of the united force of evil."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the intense inter-service rivalry between the US Navy and Air Force, the strategic use of propaganda, the blurring lines between science fiction and perceived reality, and the government's complex and often contradictory approach to investigating and disclosing information about unidentified flying objects. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical analysis, highlighting how military and political agendas shaped the public discourse and perception of flying saucers during the early Cold War period. The article emphasizes the Navy's role in promoting the secular, extraterrestrial hypothesis of UFOs as a means to challenge the Air Force's dominance, thereby contributing significantly to the widespread belief in flying saucers.

This issue of 'Socialism and Democracy' (Volume 206, October 2014) features an article by Robert P. Horstemeier titled 'Socialism and Democracy' which delves into the complex interplay between UFO phenomena, Cold War anxieties, and the influence of science fiction on public perception and government response.

The Political Ideologies of Early Contactees

The article begins by examining the propaganda surrounding extraterrestrials, particularly focusing on George Adamski's accounts of Venusians. Adamski's Venusians are depicted as having a highly structured, elite-ruled society with a 'führerprinzip' and a contempt for Darwinian evolution, aligning with certain contemporary right-wing Christian views. However, the author contrasts this with other contactees like Truman Betherum and Daniel Fry, whose accounts were more apolitical, focusing on utopian societies free from troubles, taxes, and conflict. Fry, in particular, is noted for his work with the military-industrial complex.

Adamski's aliens are described as advocating for a Marxist-like system of 'from each according to ability, to each according to need,' and condemning divisive ideas of race and nation. This socialist message, delivered in 1955 during the McCarthy era, is compared to the Christ-like figure of Klaatu from 'The Day the Earth Stood Still,' who also offered salvation and dismissed earthly conflicts as 'squabbles.'

FBI Surveillance and Cold War Paranoia

The article details how Adamski himself became a subject of FBI investigation, with a file opened under 'SECURITY MATTER.' An FBI informant reported Adamski's belief that the FCC had discovered extraterrestrial governments, possibly Communist, which the US government was concealing. Adamski predicted a Russian Millennium and a thousand years of peace following world domination, and claimed knowledge of a Russian hydrogen bomb test. Despite his ambivalence about openly espousing Communism, he was 'spotted as a Communist' by the FBI.

By 1959, concerns grew that Adamski's 'space brothers' were subtly spreading Russian propaganda, particularly after a letter implied their assistance to the Soviet space program. This led to alarm among his supporters, who re-examined his books for signs of 'pink' ideology.

The Detroit Flying Saucer Club and Government Scrutiny

The Detroit Flying Saucer Club (DFSC) promoted contactees, including Adamski, through lectures. While the FBI did not formally investigate the DFSC, they kept files under 'ESPIONAGE-X,' gathering information from anti-Communist volunteers. Memos highlighted suspicions of subversion, with Adamski seen as following the line of the Soviet Peace Offensive. Informants expressed concern that the flying saucer scare could be used for political propaganda and that organizations like the DFSC could serve as a cover for subversive activities.

The 'War of the Worlds' and Mass Hysteria

The article then shifts to the phenomenon of 'panic' and its connection to flying saucer reports. Orson Welles's 1938 radio adaptation of H.G. Wells's 'The War of the Worlds' is presented as a key event that shaped public consciousness regarding alien invasion and the potential for mass hysteria. This was followed by a UFO panic five years prior, in 1942, when Army radars at Los Angeles detected unidentified aerial targets, leading to a blackout and public confusion, with conflicting reports from military officials about the nature of the threat.

Cold War Tensions and Martian Speculation

Following World War II, the US-Soviet tensions intensified, and the 'War of the Worlds'-based paranoia became linked to flying saucers. Hadley Cantril's 1940 study of the 'War of the Worlds' panic was re-examined by Cold War strategists who saw it as evidence of American susceptibility to mass hysteria, potentially exploitable by the Soviets. The article also discusses Percival Lowell's influential, though scientifically speculative, theories about an ancient, intelligent civilization on Mars, which contributed to a public fascination with Martian life and fueled extraterrestrial expectations.

Government Response to UFOs and Psychological Warfare

The government's response to UFO sightings evolved from initial military concern to a focus on psychological warfare. The CIA, in particular, became involved in evaluating the implications of UFOs for national security. A 1952 briefing report noted that many Americans were 'mentally conditioned to acceptance of the incredible,' posing a 'danger point' in international tension. The CIA and Air Force agreed to avoid public acknowledgment of their interest in UFOs to prevent further public alarm.

A key development was the formation of the Robertson Panel, which supported the analysis that flying saucers posed a potential psychological warfare threat. The panel recommended a public education program to 'defuse' perceived threats and calm public anxieties, drawing on mass psychologists and advertising experts. Tactics used in World War II for aircraft recognition were considered for debunking UFO cases.

Science Fiction, Disinformation, and Naval Involvement

The article highlights the role of science fiction in shaping perceptions of UFOs and advanced technology. Disinformation campaigns during the Cold War, both in the US and Russia, are discussed, with some originating from individuals and factions within government rather than official policy. The Navy's involvement in promoting 'science fictionalization' is noted, including its interest in the Piri Reis map as evidence of ancient astronauts and the 'Philadelphia Experiment.' The Navy also reportedly engaged in trance mediumship to communicate with aliens.

Anti-Gravity Research and the Blurring of Lines

During the early Cold War, stories about breakthroughs in anti-gravity research, often conflated with ufology, were prevalent. Keyhoe's count of projects aimed at gravity conquest is mentioned, despite the lack of understanding of anti-gravity itself. The article suggests that the government's attempts to suppress the idea of flying saucers inadvertently fueled public paranoia. The narrative of a 'phantom double' or 'ghost-like weaponry' emerged, blurring the lines between science fiction and potential military developments.

The Enduring Appeal of UFO Beliefs

Ultimately, the article concludes that the idea of Earth having a special place in the universe, attracting attention from various alien races, has become a widely held belief for millions. Believers have constructed a 'science fictional world' in which to live, sustained by a complex edifice of UFO beliefs legitimized by various sources, including naval interest. The perceived threat of UFOs, initially seen as a potential Soviet threat, shifted to a psychological one, exacerbated by science-fictionally-minded individuals within the government, who ultimately provided a foundation for the contactee movement.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue consistently explores the intersection of political ideology (socialism vs. capitalism), Cold War paranoia, government surveillance, and the pervasive influence of science fiction and speculative ideas on public understanding of UFO phenomena. The editorial stance appears critical, analyzing how these elements were manipulated and perceived, often highlighting the role of propaganda and psychological operations in shaping public discourse and government policy regarding extraterrestrial encounters and advanced technologies.

This document is a bibliography from the journal "Socialism and Democracy," specifically issue number 215, with the page number 216. The bibliography is compiled by Robert P. Horstemeier and lists references related to the study of UFOs and 'Flying Saucers.' The content is entirely composed of citations, divided into two main categories: Unpublished primary sources and Published writings.

Unpublished Primary Sources

The section on unpublished primary sources details documents loaned to the author by Dr. Bruce Maccabee of the Fund for UFO Research. These documents were accumulated through Freedom of Information requests and include materials from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the FBI. Specific entries mention "Flying Saucers" briefing reports from the CIA in August 1952, a memo from H. Marshall Chadwell to the Director of Central Intelligence in September 1952, and a report from Frederick C. Durant concerning a Scientific Advisory Panel on Unidentified Flying Objects convened by the Office of Scientific Intelligence, CIA, in January 1953. Other entries include memos from Special Agents in Charge in Detroit, San Antonio, and San Diego, referencing FBI investigations into UFO-related matters, including espionage concerns and the activities of George Adamski. Transcripts from Henry J. Taylor's "Your Land and Mine" broadcast and a memo from Alan M. Warfield to FBI station chiefs are also listed.

Published Writings

The section on published writings is extensive, featuring a wide range of books and articles. Key authors and works include:

• George Adamski: "Inside the Space Ships" (1955) and "Flying Saucers Farewell" (1961).
• Orfeo M. Angelucci: "The Secret of the Saucers" (1955) and "Son of the Sun" (1959).
• Donald E. Keyhoe: Numerous works such as "Flying Saucers Are Real" (1950), "Flying Saucers from Outer Space" (1953), "The Flying Saucer Conspiracy" (1955), "Flying Saucers: Top Secret" (1960), and "Aliens from Space" (1973).
• Loren Gross: A series of self-published "UFOs: A History" volumes covering various periods from 1947 to 1952.
• C.G. Jung: "Flying Saucers: A Modern Myth of Things Seen in the Skies" (1959).
• Edward J. Ruppelt: "The Report on Unidentified Flying Objects" (1956).

Other notable entries include "The Invasion from Mars: A Study in the Psychology of Panic" by Hadley Cantril (1940, 1966), the screenplay for the film "The Day the Earth Stood Still" (1951), and articles from publications like "US News & World Report," "True," "New York Times," and "Saturday Evening Post."

The bibliography also includes references to historical accounts such as "Revolt of the Admirals: The Fight for Naval Aviation, 1945–1950" by Jeffrey G. Barlow, and "The Philadelphia Experiment: Project Invisibility" by William L. Moore and Charles Berlitz.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this bibliography is the study of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) and 'Flying Saucers.' The extensive list of references, particularly those from government agencies like the CIA and FBI, suggests a serious academic or investigative approach to the subject. The inclusion of works by prominent figures in the UFO field, such as George Adamski and Donald Keyhoe, alongside more critical or analytical perspectives (e.g., C.G. Jung's work on the psychological aspects), indicates a broad scope of research. The editorial stance, as inferred from the journal's title "Socialism and Democracy," might suggest an interest in the societal, political, or cultural implications of the UFO phenomenon, though this specific document is purely a reference list and does not explicitly state an editorial viewpoint.