Civlilian Saucer Intellligence of New York - No 05

Magazine Overview

This document is a set of meeting minutes from the Civilian Saucer Intelligence of New York, dated June 3, 1955. The meeting was held at 113 West 57 Street, New York.

Meeting Proceedings

Opening and Announcements

The meeting was opened by Secretary-Treasurer Marty Meyerson. He requested that members going on vacation inform Ted Bloecher of the Research Section if they were willing to investigate saucer sightings in their vacation areas. Meyerson also suggested donations for a clipping service subscription for the summer months, similar to the previous year. Ted Bloecher briefly spoke for the Research Section, acknowledging receipt of member reports and reminding them about the available Check List for making reports.

Presentation: Warren Siegmond UFO Sighting

Ted Bloecher introduced Warren Siegmond, who presented details and photographs of a UFO sighting on May 15 from the roof of 7 West 15 Street, Manhattan. Two of these pictures were published in the World-Telegram and Sun on May 23. Miss Jeanine Bouiller, another witness, was also present. Siegmond stated he had filed a complete report with Air Intelligence and received correspondence from several people, including professors from Brooklyn College and Dofianco College. The story and pictures were also picked up by wire services in South America and the U.P. in the U.S. LIFE magazine found the pictures "very interesting," while editors of the New York Journal-American suggested a "spot of water on your lens." Siegmond took 10 exposures in about a minute and a half, but five negatives were lost by the developing company, including some that he believed showed the object closer.

Regarding the sighting itself, Miss Bouiller first noticed a brilliant light in the western sky. Both witnesses watched as it dimmed and took the shape of a bright oval, as seen in the first photograph. No estimate of size was possible, but the object was described as "certainly not small." Siegmond, a former anti-aircraft gunner, was familiar with judging aircraft sizes. The object had no landing gear or portholes. It hovered for several seconds at an estimated altitude of about 450 feet in the WNW sky, at an estimated distance of 7000 to 8000 feet.

The object then moved north in a graceful arch, described as a "pingpong ball bounce," and remained motionless in the northern sky at a 45-degree elevation. During this movement, its brightness diminished, and it became darker, showing a distinct disk shape. The pictures suggested either a hollow center or a light source on the underside, though this was not observed directly. The object remained stationary for a few more seconds before arching back to its original position, then moving up and away to the north, apparently above the Empire State Building. At no time did the object appear lower than a 45-degree elevation, and it was estimated to have moved through approximately 35 degrees of azimuth in 3 to 4 seconds.

Siegmond noted the absence of confirming reports, suggesting that other witnesses might have reported the object to various agencies like airports, the Ground Observer Corps, or the weather bureau. A later check with several of these agencies yielded no further reports. The sighting was brief, silent, and few people in the city were looking at the sky.

Presentation: J. Gordon Vaeth on Space Flight

Marty Meyerson introduced J. Gordon Vaeth, an aeronautical engineer from the Special Devices Section of the Office of Naval Research, who has worked on rockets and high-altitude flight. Vaeth's talk was titled "Space Flight by Man - How Soon?" He emphasized that his views were personal and not necessarily those of the Office of Naval Research.

Vaeth explained two types of space flight: orbital flight, where an object circles the Earth like a moon, requiring a speed of 18,000 mph at an altitude of 200-300 miles. Deep space flight involves traveling away from Earth until its gravitational pull is negligible, requiring a speed of 7 miles per second, or 25,000 mph, known as "escape velocity."

He noted that the fastest speed achieved so far was 5100 mph in 1949, with limited progress since. The highest altitudes achieved were 114 miles (V-2 rocket) and 158 miles (Viking XI). A WAC-Corporal rocket reached 250 miles, and a third stage of a rocket could achieve the speed needed for orbital flight.

Vaeth proposed that orbital space flight should first be attempted without humans. The first unmanned satellite, possibly the size of a basketball and called MOUSE (Minimum Orbital Unmanned Satellite of the Earth), would be sent to 200-300 miles to collect and transmit data. It would eventually slow down due to air resistance and fall back to Earth.

An editors' note mentioned that on July 29, President Eisenhower announced the U.S. would launch small unmanned satellites as part of the International Geophysical Year (1957-58), inviting comparison with the MOUSE concept.

Vaeth stated that this satellite development is the first stage in space conquest. Simultaneously, manned rocket planes are flying higher, exceeding 85,000 feet. He outlined problems for high-altitude flight, including the effect of cosmic rays (nuclei of hydrogen, helium, and iron) on pilots, with differing opinions on whether they would cause harm or severe injury. Another issue is the intense ultra-violet radiation above the Earth's atmosphere.

He predicted that high-flying planes and unmanned satellites would merge, with planes eventually achieving orbit. The ultimate goal is a "space station" within about 50 years.

Discussion and Further Questions

During the question and answer period, Vaeth addressed arguments about the military advantage of a space station, stating he believed it would be built for scientific reasons. He estimated manned moon landings might occur in 100-150 years, presenting significant physical and psychological challenges. Travel to Venus and Mars could follow a century or two later. He suggested the program could be accelerated if fully committed.

Vaeth also shared personal experiences with flying saucers. He reported a daytime sighting in July or August 1954 of three globular objects, one of which vanished abruptly. He also mentioned other peculiar sky events, including a report from a Navy meteorologist about a vertical "cloud" becoming horizontal in 90 seconds, and an incident at White Sands in 1948 where a white ellipsoid was observed visually and on radar at a slant range of 1 million feet.

Regarding "green fireballs," Vaeth mentioned the possibility of "contra-terrene matter" and noted Dr. Lincoln LaPaz's theory that the 1908 Siberian "meteorite" might have been a contra-terrene explosion. Vaeth himself had seen this type of fireball twice, once over Maryland and again in October 1954 over New Mexico, where he saw a bright white object flare into brilliant green.

He discussed the visibility of balloons, stating a 60-foot balloon might be seen at 35 miles, while the large Skyhook balloon was visible at 17 miles.

In conclusion, Vaeth speculated about saucer occupants, their origins, appearance, and the effects of different planetary conditions (like cosmic rays and gravity) on life. He suggested experiments for the Navy, such as hatching an egg or rearing fruit flies in a satellite to study environmental effects.

Adjournment

Marty Meyerson thanked J. Gordon Vaeth for his talk, and the meeting adjourned.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine, through the activities of the Civilian Saucer Intelligence of New York, focuses on the investigation of UFO sightings and the scientific exploration of space. There is a clear interest in documenting eyewitness accounts, photographic evidence, and official reports related to unidentified aerial phenomena. Concurrently, the organization and its members are keenly interested in advancements in aerospace technology and the potential for human space travel, viewing it as a scientific endeavor. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into UFOs, coupled with an informed and forward-looking perspective on space exploration, drawing on expert opinions and scientific principles.