Australian Saucer Record - Vol 01 No 02 - 1955

Magazine Overview

Title: AUSTRALIAN SAUCER RECORD
Issue: Vol. 1, No. 2
Date: Second Quarter, 1955
Publisher: Australian Flying Saucer Research Society (A.F.S.R.S.)
Price: 2/-

Editorial: Flying Saucers and Science Fiction

The editorial posits a strong connection between the rise in popularity of flying saucers and science fiction in the twentieth century. It traces the lineage of modern science fiction back to pioneers like Jules Verne and H. G. Wells, noting how their works often anticipated scientific discoveries such as submarines, tanks, radio, television, the atom bomb, artificial satellites, and space rockets. The editorial suggests that as science fiction writers exhausted earthly themes, they turned to space for inspiration. It raises the question of whether the growing popularity of science fiction serves to prepare Earth's citizens for potential visitations from beings from other worlds, given the parallel increase in saucer sightings.

Dr. Albert Einstein

A brief tribute to Dr. Albert Einstein highlights his unique ability to work with abstract mathematical concepts and his groundbreaking work on unifying gravity, electricity, and magnetism. His philosophy is summarized by his quote: "The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true Science."

Press Cuttings

The A.F.S.R.S. appeals to its members and friends to send in newspaper and magazine cuttings of saucer sightings and related reports. These are crucial for the Society's exchange program with international organizations and for building a comprehensive record. Members are asked to clearly mark the newspaper name and date on each cutting.

A.F.S.R.S. Affairs

First Meeting in Rechabite Hall (March 8th)

The March General Meeting featured a discussion on whether saucers are man-made. The President cited reports of Russian and Canadian jet-propelled craft, but contrasted their performance with the much higher speeds (5,000-18,000 m.p.h.) and unlimited ceiling reported for true saucers, concluding the latter could not be man-made. The possibility of saucers being Russian was dismissed due to their consistent presence over the Western world for eight years without discovery of secrets.

Mr. Keith Cartwright presented methods for obtaining data on saucer positions and movements using cross-bearings and fixed points. The Society requested all newspaper cuttings related to saucer sightings.

April Meeting: The Evidence of Radar (April 5th)

Hon. Assistant Secretary P. Thomas discussed radar and its use in tracking saucers. He outlined radar's history and principles, explaining typical displays. He referenced reports of saucers tracked by radar, including those at Washington Airport in July 1953, which were attributed to temperature inversions. He also described a sighting from a B-29 bomber over the Gulf of Mexico and formations observed over England and near Nowra, N.S.W.

Membership cards were announced as available.

First Discussion Group Meeting (April 20th)

The first discussion group meeting was held at Mr. and Mrs. K. Cartwright's home. The topic was "Contacts with Beings from Other Planets," leading to extensive discussion.

Astronomical Evening (April 29th)

Mr. A. Cotton hosted an evening of astronomical observation and discussion at his home. Members were able to observe the Moon and Saturn through telescopes, despite initial cloud cover.

May General Meeting (May 3rd)

The President discussed theories about the occupants of saucers, differentiating between material and spiritual beings. He addressed Mr. Truman Bethurum's claim of meeting saucerians from the planet Clarion, explaining why such a planet hidden behind the Moon would be astronomically impossible.

Mr. K. Cartwright provided simple methods for estimating the apparent size of objects in the sky.

Overseas Magazines

The Society offers overseas saucer magazines for order, including "Flying Saucer News" (English), "Flying Saucers" (New Zealand), and "C.R.I.F.O. Newsletter" (U.S.A.).

Future Meetings

Future meetings are scheduled for the first Friday of each month at 8 p.m. in the small hall of the Rechabite Chambers, Victoria Square.

Personal Sighting Reports

The Society encourages members to submit personal sighting reports and interviews, requiring details such as name, address, date, time, location, movement, appearance, sound, size, weather, and witnesses. Reports are treated confidentially.

Life on Mars

Dr. Slipher's photographs of Mars reveal polar caps, frost areas, clouds, dust-storms, and at least two new canals. Some areas change with seasons, suggesting fertility. The report questions the existence of animal life due to lack of oxygen and water, suggesting lichen-like life or organisms not dependent on oxygen. It considers the possibility of advanced human-like life existing in super-glasshouses or sealed cities, possibly adapted to Mars' lower gravity and thinner atmosphere. The existence of "canals" is presented as evidence of vegetable life, possibly serving as pipelines. Dr. Robert S. Richardson's research is mentioned, suggesting that if canals lie along "great circle" paths, it would indicate intelligent design. The two Martian satellites, Phobos and Deimos, are discussed, with their orbits contradicting known laws, leading to speculation about their artificial origin. The author notes that Jonathan Swift's description of Mars' moons in "Gulliver's Travels" predates their telescopic discovery, suggesting ancient knowledge.

Some Recent Sightings

• Queensland (March 13th, 1955): Mrs. S. Anderson reported an orange, ice-cream cone-shaped object with a ring, hovering, spinning, and emitting glows.
• Adelaide (April 17th, 1955): Several people saw a small red ball moving slowly across the sky.
• Honduras (December 17th, 1954): The Honduras Air Force reported a large, luminous object at 25,000 feet.
• South Africa (December 7th, 1954): An officer reported a white, half-circle object reflecting the sun, moving slowly then accelerating.

Saucers in "Practical Mechanics"

The magazine "Practical Mechanics" has shown significant interest in flying saucers, reviewing books like "Flying Saucers Have Landed" and "Flying Saucer from Mars." The magazine's criticism is considered valuable due to its journalistic and scientific expertise. While acknowledging the authenticity of Adamski's story is debated, it notes the lack of serious flaws pointed out. The review of "Flying Saucer from Mars" is skeptical, highlighting blurred photographs and suggesting the Martian could be an alien invader. Editor F. J. Camm maintains an open-minded stance, awaiting official, world-wide investigation results. A letter from Mr. K. E. Nicholls questions the assumption of telepathic communication with alien races.

Press Digest

• "Practical Mechanics" (Jan., 1955): The Canadian Minister of Defence stated that Canada spent £34,000,000 on a flying saucer project that never left the ground. The editor doubts any country possesses a flying saucer.
• "News Chronicle" (London, Jan. 17th, 1955): West Germany's first recruiting film depicts Martians commenting on Earth's progress towards peace and freedom.
• "News Chronicle" (London, Jan. 17th, 1955): A news item reports Marcel Faisant being fined for firing at two glowing discs, mistaking them for flying saucers.
• "Practical Mechanics" (Feb., 1955): An excerpt states that meteors do not change direction or play hide-and-seek, unlike reported saucer behavior.
• "Mail" (Adelaide, April 2nd, 1955): Jet aircraft technician Daniel Fry claims to have met a spaceship and taken a 30-minute joyride to New York.
• "Sunday Advertiser" (Adelaide, April 17th, 1955): An article suggests that visitors from Mars might not be the monstrous figures once imagined, with invisible walls and electro-magnetic force fields being part of the phenomenon.

Air Force Denies Saucers Are Theirs

A statement from the U.S. Defence Department (Feb. 16th, 1955) officially denied that the Air Force possessed any saucer-like craft. While acknowledging experiments with new aircraft and missiles might be reported as UFOs, the statement asserted that such craft do not exhibit characteristics like spinning discs, pulsating, glowing, dematerializing, changing color, instantaneous speed changes, or right-angle turns.

Letters to the Editor

Mr. C. J. McCarthy's letter, the winning entry, discusses the "mystical term 'flying saucer'" and urges people to consider facts rather than ridicule. He suggests humanity is in a critical evolutionary stage, similar to galaxies forming and expanding. He believes beings from Mars and Venus are here to help Earth through this period, communicating through selected Earthmen via books, radio, and television. He highlights Adamski's book "Flying Saucers Have Landed" and the spiritual message of Venusian footprints. McCarthy advocates for introspection and spiritual truth over destructive weapons, urging people to look to the "Lords of Creation" for guidance.

The A.F.S.R.S. Library

The Society's library is available to members, with books available for a 14-day loan period for a small fee. Books can also be purchased through the Society. A list of available titles includes "Flying Saucers are Real," "The Riddle of the Flying Saucers," "Flying Saucers Have Landed," "Flying Saucers from Outer Space," "Flying Saucer from Mars," and "Worlds in Collision."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the perceived link between science fiction and the UFO phenomenon, the investigation into the nature and origin of flying saucers, and the reporting of specific sightings from around the world. The A.F.S.R.S. adopts a stance of open-minded investigation, seeking evidence and evaluating reports critically, while distinguishing between potential man-made craft and those with seemingly impossible capabilities. The editorial stance leans towards the belief that saucers represent a genuine phenomenon, possibly of extraterrestrial origin, and that science fiction may have played a role in preparing the public for such a possibility. The publication also emphasizes the importance of scientific inquiry and the potential for spiritual insights related to the phenomenon.