CSI Publication

Magazine Overview

Title: CSI Publication # 0
Issue Date: April 23, 1954
Price: 10 cents

This document is a resume of a Civilian Saucer Intelligence (CSI) meeting held on April 23, 1954. It details the meeting's proceedings, including the announcement of new district heads and a presentation by naturalist Ivan T. Sanderson.

Meeting Proceedings

Ted Bloecher opened the meeting and reminded members of the upcoming May 14th meeting on Project One. He then announced the new district heads and their addresses for Long Island, Manhattan, Bronx, and Brooklyn.

Feature Presentation: Ivan T. Sanderson on the West Virginia 'Monster'

The main focus of the meeting was a presentation by Ivan T. Sanderson, a noted naturalist and reporter for the North American Newspaper Alliance. Sanderson has been investigating mysteries for twenty years and traces flying saucer phenomena back to ancient Chinese literature (2000 B.C.). He recommended reading the 'Proceedings of the Royal Society of London' for 1776. He also mentioned a September 1952 report of a large creature or its footprints (ten inches long, three toes) found in the Sutton, West Virginia area. Sanderson believes a species of giant penguin exists in the sea and noted the discovery of a 7-foot penguin skeleton in New Zealand.

Sanderson's investigation in West Virginia began after Ken Purdy, editor of True Magazine, contacted him about a report of a glowing monster 12 feet tall with blood-red eyes. Accompanied by his assistant, M. Schoenenberger, Sanderson traveled to West Virginia to investigate for the North American Newspaper Alliance. They spoke with the editor of the Braxton Republican and learned that the 'monster' had been seen in the Flatwoods Mountain area by a beautician, a 17-year-old National Guardsman, and several children aged 5 to 14. Sanderson found these witnesses to be sincere.

The Sighting on September 12, 1952

The sighting occurred on the evening of September 12, 1952. A group of children were playing football in a valley surrounded by the Flatwoods Mountains when a luminous red, pear-shaped object flew overhead, just above the hills. It passed over a nearby hill and sank slowly behind the ridge, remaining visible as a red, pulsing light. The boys, joined by the beautician, her children, and the National Guardsman, climbed the hill to investigate. As they approached, an overpowering stench invaded the area, and a mist floated on the slopes and in the fields. They saw the object resting on a slope, emitting a light described as 'like a neon sign' – not hot. A collie dog that followed them dashed into the mist, howled, and streaked back down the hill, later found dead.

A 14-year-old boy then spotted what he thought were raccoon eyes shining in an oak tree ahead. They became aware of a large 'figure,' about 10 to 12 feet tall, with its head under the oak branches. Pale blue beams emanated from a lens in its 'head,' which appeared blood-red. The figure seemed to float, with bushes obscuring its lower portion.

Suddenly, the blue beams turned towards the people, and the figure seemed to float towards them. They fled in hysterics. The Guardsman dropped his flashlight and, upon stooping to pick it up, his face entered the mist. He described the mist as having an 'overpowering, hideous, excessively sweet smell of molten metal - fire and brimstone.' He became violently ill and vomited. The others dragged him back down the hill, and he was sick for several days, partly due to shock.

Police were summoned, and a posse went to investigate the hill but found only mist and the foul odor, seeing nothing else due to darkness.

Sanderson's Investigation and Theory

Sanderson conducted a thorough investigation, interviewing witnesses extensively. He discovered dozens of visual sightings of pulsing red objects and deduced that at least five objects were involved in the same general area. One object was tracked to Texas. Another crashed into a hillside, mistaken for a flaming plane, though no plane was reported lost. Another report described a fireball bursting in the air, and a second crash occurred on a farm owned by two brothers. The alleged landing with the 'monster' was the final event in this series, all occurring just after sunset.

Dr. Sanderson's theory is that these devices entered a thick layer of carbon monoxide smog from nearby industrial plants. This polluted air affected the objects' operating parts, causing them to crash, land, or explode. Furthermore, the air was alien to the occupants' respiratory systems, causing them to black out, lose control, and dissolve. Sanderson believes both the saucer and its occupant disappeared similarly to how a disk of camphor evaporates in open air.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The publication focuses on UFO/UAP investigations, witness testimonies, and scientific or naturalistic explanations. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious inquiry into unexplained aerial phenomena, presenting detailed accounts and theories from experts like Ivan T. Sanderson. The emphasis is on gathering and analyzing evidence from credible witnesses and attempting to find logical, albeit sometimes speculative, explanations for observed events.