Australian Flying Saucer Review - 1960 04 - vol 1 no 2

Magazine Overview

Title: AUSTRALIAN FLYING SAUCER REVIEW
Issue: Vol.1, No.2
Date: April 1960
Publisher: Queensland Flying Saucer Research Bureau

This issue of the Australian Flying Saucer Review delves into various aspects of the UFO phenomenon, focusing on government attitudes, scientific investigations, and eyewitness accounts from around the world.

Editorial Stance

The editorial highlights the puzzling attitude of world governments towards the flying saucer mystery, noting that while millions are spent on research, files are generally kept confidential. It contrasts this with the early days of UFO appearances when American Air Force authorities were more cooperative. The editorial criticizes the Australian government for "very serious prevarication" concerning UFOs, particularly the New Guinea sightings, suggesting a possible cover-up or incompetence.

Key Articles and Reports

New Evidence of Air Force Cover-up

This section details the Australian authorities' handling of UFO reports, particularly those from New Guinea in July 1959, investigated by Reverend William B. Gill. It notes that Australian UFO researchers tested the authorities' response, finding that the Department of Civil Aviation was told UFOs were "security matters" in 1952, and the Minister for Air suggested they were more a matter for psychologists in 1953. An Air Force conference in 1954 focused on the origin of UFOs. Despite an earlier admission that saucers could be interplanetary, the Air Force adopted a policy of silence. The article suggests that the Australian government may possess information that makes further investigation seem unnecessary, possibly as a "cover up".

Federal M.P. Probes New Guinea Sightings

Following the New Guinea sightings, Australian UFO groups distributed Father Gill's report to Members of Parliament, urging the Minister for Air for a statement on Air Force Intelligence's attitude. The project brought immediate results, with an MP asking the Minister for Air, who provided a general response without addressing the New Guinea UFOs. Air Force Intelligence later stated they were awaiting "depth of evidence". The article suggests that the Air Force's reluctance to investigate is alarming, as it could allow reconnaissance by unfriendly nations disguised as "saucers". It also notes that Australian authorities have been exchanging UFO information with British and American governments.

Air Marshal's Sighting

Former R.A.A.F. Chief Air Marshal Sir George Jones admitted seeing an unidentified flying object on October 16, 1957. He described a "brilliant white light at the bottom of a shadowy shape like a transparent balloon" travelling silently at about 400 miles per hour at a height of 1,500 feet. He expressed regret that he didn't have more witnesses and was hesitant to speak publicly for fear of being considered incompetent.

Venus: Old Theories and New Discoveries

This article explores the planet Venus, often called Earth's twin. While its thick atmosphere and carbon dioxide presence lead many astronomers to doubt life, recent discoveries of water vapour by U.S. scientists using high-altitude balloons have opened new possibilities. The article discusses conflicting views on Venus' surface, with some believing it to be a desert and others an ocean. It also mentions Professor T.Gold's theory that space travellers might leave microbes that could seed life on other planets, and the potential for radar to reveal Venus' surface characteristics.

Project Ozma

This section introduces Project Ozma, an initiative by U.S. radio astronomers led by Dr. Frank Drake to communicate with intelligent beings in outer space. Using an 85-foot radio telescope, they are searching for radio signals from specific solar systems. Dr. Drake expresses hope that contact with other civilizations would prove Earth is still in its "childhood" and asks what questions he would pose to cosmic beings, focusing on creative potential and peaceful cultures.

Space Men Have Landed

This article presents a Soviet theory by M.M. Agrest suggesting that beings from distant solar systems may have visited Earth in the distant past. Agrest's hypothesis is based on the origin of tektites and alludes to biblical stories as potential records of space visitations. The theory also proposes that the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah was caused by the explosion of surplus nuclear fuel from a spaceship, and suggests that the Baalbek Verandah might be a launching platform.

Two Cameras Film U.F.O.

A report details an incident on July 28, 1959, where four cylindrical unidentified flying objects were filmed over Corpus Christi, Texas, by both 16 mm and 8 mm cameras. A jet plane was involved in the incident. U.S. Navy and Air Force investigations found no conventional explanation for the films, which showed objects estimated to be up to 400 feet in length at an altitude above 30,000 feet.

The Space Ship That Crashed

This article revisits the theory by Soviet Professors A. Kazantsev and B. Lapunov that a space ship crashed in Siberia in 1908, known as the Tunguska Meteor. Unlike other meteorites, it left no crater but did leave radioactivity. The article discusses various hypotheses, including a collision with a comet or an attempt by extraterrestrials to bombard Earth. The Soviet theory suggests an atomic explosion from a space ship, possibly from Venus or Mars, explaining the phenomena observed, including a mushroom-shaped cloud and radioactive poisoning.

Worldgram

• This section provides brief news items related to UFOs:
• Flying Saucers Back in New Guinea: More sightings reported in the same area as Reverend Gill's.
• One UFO and Three Blasts: A cigar-shaped object sighted in Sydney, followed by mystery explosions.
• Life Molecules in Space: Discovery of primitive molecules in meteorites suggests the building blocks of life.
• A Giant Space Ship?: A Canadian radar sighting suggests a possible 10-mile-long space ship.
• Space Ships Started Life on Earth: Professor T.Gold suggests space travellers might have seeded life on Earth.
• Flying Saucer Photo Claim: A Vienna newspaper published a photo of a saucer.
• Qantas Chairman Believes in Intelligent Life: Sir Hudson Fysh expresses belief in intelligent life on other planets.
• Soviet Probe of Mars and Venus: Russia plans to aim rockets at Mars and Venus to search for life.
• It's the Constellation Bootes They Come From: An Indonesian officer believes saucers come from Bootes for scientific purposes.
• Planets by the Million: Astrophysicists suggest millions of life-bearing planets exist.
• U.S. 'Planet' to By-Pass Venus: A U.S. satellite launched to orbit the sun bypasses Venus.
• Huge Lighted Object Over Minnesota: A large UFO hovered for eight hours.

Miami Photo

A U.S. Navy technician took a colour transparency of five unidentified flying objects on a blue cloudless sky. The objects, one disc-shaped, were not identified by the U.S. Air Force or other authorities. The photograph was taken on the same day Commander Ross and Dr. Moore were studying Venus from a balloon.

Astronomer Sees U.F.Os.

Frank Halstead recounts a sighting of two large, torpedo-shaped objects over a California desert, described as solid, metallic, and controlled by an intelligence. The objects paced his train before disappearing at high speed.

The First Man in Space... Says a Russian

A Soviet candidate of technical sciences believes the first man in space will likely be an American, arguing that machines are more efficient and safer for space exploration than humans.

New U.F.O. Books

A list of recently published and upcoming books on UFOs and related topics, including works by Dr. Geo. Hunt Williamson and Brother Philip.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the persistent mystery of UFOs, the perceived reluctance of governments to disclose information, and the ongoing scientific and anecdotal investigations into these phenomena. The editorial stance is critical of official evasiveness and supportive of continued research and public awareness regarding UFOs. There is a strong undercurrent of belief in the reality of UFOs and the possibility of extraterrestrial visitation, often framed within the context of scientific inquiry and the potential for future discoveries.

Title: IR AUOCER
Issue: 1
Volume: 1
Date: July 19, 1952 (inferred from context of 'Sat.' and related news of the era)
Publisher: IR AUOCER
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of 'IR AUOCER' focuses on a wave of flying saucer sightings and encounters, seemingly spurred by the launch of America's orbiting satellite. The cover prominently features the headline "Flying saucers in wake of orbiting Atlas of America's four-and-satellite."

Key Articles and Reports

U.S. Pilot's Encounter

A significant report details a U.S. airline pilot's encounter with an unidentified flying object. The pilot described seeing an object that was "unidentified, glowing brightly, perform a series of violent turns, sharper than any known aircraft." The object was observed in front of the aircraft, and its behavior was described as significantly faster and more agile than conventional aircraft.

Air Mystery Over Canada

Reports from Canada indicate an air mystery involving an unidentified aircraft. Specifically, from Western Ontario, there were reports of an unidentified aircraft high in the skies that left a vapor trail and traveled at a speed estimated to be more than 1000 miles per hour. These reports were received on the same day.

Over Fiji

In Fiji, the government reported that a white clergyman and four natives had sighted a mysterious dazzling flying object. The object was observed at an altitude of approximately 10,000 feet before it disappeared. The incident was described as a "safety aircraft" sighting.

Priest Tells of Flying Saucers

From Brisbane, Australia, a report details flying saucers bathed in a blue light and carrying "illuminated men," as reported from New Guinea by an Australian.

Strange Object Puzzles Britain

In Britain, the Royal Air Force (R.A.F.) placed its radar stations on alert. The alert was issued to "Watch for unidentified objects," indicating a heightened state of vigilance regarding aerial phenomena.

Pilot Testimony on UFOs

Further details emerge from a veteran Pan-American DC4 plane crew who reported seeing two pilots waving at "flying saucers" flying in formation at an estimated speed of 1,000 m.p.h. near Norfolk, Virginia. The pilots, V. B. Nash and R.C. Fortenberry, were reportedly involved in the observation. Mr. Nash, who had extensive flying hours, described the maneuvers as requiring "centrifugal force that would be imposed on them" if they were human-piloted, suggesting extreme G-forces.

Object Characteristics

The descriptions of the objects include being "saucer"-shaped, glowing brightly, performing "violent turns," and exhibiting speeds estimated at over 1000 miles per hour at altitudes around 10,000 feet. A vapor trail was noted in the Canadian sighting.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this issue is the prevalence and mystery surrounding flying saucer sightings. The magazine appears to present these reports factually, highlighting pilot testimony, radar alerts, and eyewitness accounts from various global locations. The editorial stance seems to be one of reporting on these phenomena as significant events that puzzle authorities and the public alike, particularly in the context of advancements in satellite technology. The use of terms like "mystery," "puzzles," and "strange object" suggests an emphasis on the unexplained nature of these sightings.