Civlilian Saucer Intellligence of New York - No 08

Magazine Overview

Title: THE FLYING SAUCER BLACKOUT

Issue: Publication no. 8

Date: December 9, 1955

Publisher: Civilian Saucer Intelligence of New York

Content Type: Condensation of a lecture given by Major Donald E. Keyhoe, U. S. Marine Corps (Ret.).

Lecture Summary

Introduction and Official Stance

The lecture, delivered under the auspices of Civilian Saucer Intelligence of New York, begins by contrasting the dismissive attitude of some military intelligence officers towards flying saucer reports with concrete evidence. Major Donald E. Keyhoe recounts an Air Force Intelligence Colonel's statement in 1951 that saucer reports typically come from 'religious fanatics, practical jokers, publicity seekers, or some other idiot.' Keyhoe then presents a counter-example: a report about a sighting over Japan on December 29, 1952, by a pilot described by his commanding officer as 'stable and thoroughly reliable.' This sighting involved an unidentified flying object with rotating red, green, and white lights, and three fixed shafts of white light, which was confirmed by radar. Despite such evidence, Keyhoe notes that at the time of the report's release, a shift in control within Washington led to a policy of telling the public nothing about these phenomena.

The Civilian Saucer Intelligence of New York Meeting

The meeting was opened by Alexander Mebane, Secretary-Treasurer of CSI of New York, who outlined the club's origin and purpose, drawing attention to exhibits of enlarged pages from the Air Force's October 25, 1955 report on flying saucers. These exhibits highlighted discrepancies and omissions in the official report, which claimed no authentic evidence of extra-terrestrial origin for UFOs. John DuBarry, a member of the Association of Aviation Writers and an associate of Major Keyhoe, introduced the speaker. DuBarry noted the press's poor record on UFO news but credited 'True' magazine for publishing Keyhoe's influential 1950 article, 'The Flying Saucers Are Real,' and ten subsequent articles on the subject.

DuBarry shared his personal investigation of an object sighted over North and South Carolina in 1950, which was seen simultaneously from towns 190 miles apart, suggesting a massive object at high altitude. Despite interviewing 26 people, he could not identify the object.

Major Keyhoe's background is detailed: a graduate of Annapolis, a flight-trained pilot, and an expert balloon pilot, giving him credibility in evaluating sightings. His military flying career ended after a crash, but he served in significant roles, including aide to Admiral Byrd and Lindbergh. He later became a magazine writer, specializing in aviation, and was affiliated with 'True' magazine.

Air Force Secrecy and Misinformation

Keyhoe criticizes the Air Force's document AFR 200-2, which permits reporting UFO sightings only when they can be explained as conventional aircraft or balloons, effectively suppressing 'unknowns.' He illustrates official silence with the case of Colonel Frank Milani, Director of Civil Defense at Baltimore, who challenged the Air Force to release its reports. Although initially offered access, Milani was unable to obtain any reports for six months.

Keyhoe recounts the case of Major Charles Scarborough, a Marine jet pilot who, on May 14, 1954, witnessed 16 saucers near Dallas, Texas. The objects evaded interception, and the pilots' radio conversation was overheard by a radio ham. Despite the Pentagon issuing orders for silence and the Navy and Marine Corps denying knowledge, Scarborough later confirmed the sighting to Keyhoe, though most pilots reportedly refuse to admit even this much.

Another incident involved sightings alerting the Air Defense Command east of the Mississippi in the summer of 1954, which were also kept from the public. Keyhoe describes the 'cover-up' at the Marine base at Quantico, Virginia, in late 1953/early 1954, where the Air Force allegedly staged an 'act' to explain sightings as an airplane, star, or weather balloon.

The Air Force also attempted to explain away foreign sightings, such as the BOAC sighting in June 1954. The Air Force claimed the BOAC crew and passengers saw a mirage, also seen by a Navy icebreaker hundreds of miles away, an explanation the BOAC captain flatly rejected as impossible.

Keyhoe outlines the Air Force's policy: 'explain away,' then 'ridicule,' and finally 'keep still.' He notes that since 1953, no unsolved saucer reports have been released to the public, except for a few presented in Special Report No. 14 to suggest there was nothing to the phenomenon.

Analysis of Air Force Reports and Public Perception

Keyhoe critiques the Air Force's approach, comparing Special Report No. 14 to a 1949 Rand Corporation analysis that concluded sightings were hallucinations, birds, balloons, or light reflections. He points out that while the Air Force claimed the project was closed in 1949, investigations continued, and by 1952, it was admitted to be ongoing with new consultants. He highlights that Special Report No. 14 claimed only 12 sightings were unexplained, while Table A-1 stated 689 reports remained unexplained, referring to 434 objects. The Air Force then focused on these 12 'cream of the crop' cases to create a 'working model,' but Keyhoe argues most were weak cases, contrasting a report from two tobacco farmers with the Blakeslee report.

He defends private observers, encouraging them to report sightings without fear of ridicule.

Omitted Cases and Official Silence

Keyhoe asserts that the Air Force report omitted over 300 cases from credible observers, including pilots, radar men, engineers, and high officials. He mentions the Gulf of Mexico case, where a saucer traveling at 5240 mph and estimated to be 1000-1500 feet long was tracked on radar, yet had no explanation and was omitted from the report.

He questions the competence of pilots and radar control men who allegedly cannot distinguish between saucers and weather phenomena, yet notes that no accidents have occurred at airports managed by these individuals.

Since 1953, no unsolved saucer reports have been released. Keyhoe details his attempts to obtain these reports by calling Captain Robert White, the official Air Force spokesman, who consistently denies the requests.

The Possibility of Secret Weapons and Anti-Gravity

Keyhoe discusses Air Secretary Quarles' hint that saucers might be American secret weapons. He recalls asking Admiral Delmar Fahrney about US progress in guided missiles, finding no technology comparable to saucers. Fahrney stated that if such a weapon existed and was fired over a city, the responsible person would be court-martialed.

Despite this, some investigators believe saucers are American devices. Keyhoe considers the possibility that 'foo fighters' from WWII were US secret weapons. He theorizes that starting in 1947, the US began deploying advanced, controlled devices globally, potentially violating foreign sovereignty. He suggests this was driven by industry's desire to continue producing expensive conventional aircraft, making these 'superweapons' obsolete.

Keyhoe cites incidents where US devices allegedly caused terror by flying low over foreign cities and nearly hitting airliners, such as the Brazilian airliner incident in November 1954, where 19 objects were encountered. He questions why the US would send such devices over Brazil or Africa, suggesting the possibility that the US Navy was testing flying saucers off Capetown, South Africa, at 1278 mph.

He raises the question of how saucers operate, their ability to make fantastic turns at high speed and accelerate rapidly. The answer, he proposes, might be 'G-field action' or anti-gravity.

Anti-Gravity Research and Interplanetary Possibilities

Keyhoe references articles by Ansel Talbert, military and aviation editor of the New York Herald-Tribune, and notes that universities and research labs are now working on gravity-free propulsion. Prominent aircraft manufacturing officials have stated that devices operating free of gravity at tremendous speeds are imminent. Hermann Oberth, a German rocket designer, believes saucers use this principle, explaining their silence, turns, and speed.

William Lear of Lear Aircraft is mentioned as being involved in anti-gravity research, stating that saucers are interplanetary and that the world is being mapped. Keyhoe also notes that many astronomers and astrophysicists believe the universe contains millions of inhabited worlds, some with superior life forms.

He contrasts this with Dr. Menzel of Harvard, who considers flying saucers to be mirages, an explanation rejected by the ATIC (Air Technical Intelligence Center). Menzel, however, also acknowledges the existence of millions of worlds with beings equal to or superhuman.

Wild Reports and Unexplained Incidents

Keyhoe mentions 'wild reports' of mysterious creatures emerging from saucers but states he does not accept them. He refers to a case at Pearl Harbor in August 1953, involving a pilot who screamed 'I saw him' before being interrogated and held incomunicado, with the incident kept secret. He heard about it from an outside source and later obtained confirmation from six different, independent sources, suggesting something significant occurred.

Reasons for Secrecy and Russian Involvement

Keyhoe addresses the reasons for secrecy, dismissing the idea of hostility. He once feared the Russians had an advantage, having acquired German engineers and the V-7, a jet-propelled device resembling a glowing disk. However, Professor Oberth stated that the V-7 is too noisy and lacks the speed and acceleration of typical saucers, making it an unlikely explanation.

Keyhoe concludes that if Russia possessed such advanced technology as early as 1947-1950, it would likely have been used to win the war.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this lecture are government secrecy surrounding UFO phenomena, the perceived unreliability and dismissiveness of official explanations, and the potential for advanced, possibly anti-gravity, propulsion systems. Major Keyhoe's stance is critical of the official narrative and advocates for greater transparency and public disclosure regarding flying saucer sightings. He consistently presents evidence of credible sightings that are either ignored, explained away, or actively suppressed by military and governmental bodies.

This issue of "Flying Saucers" magazine, dated October 1955, delves into the ongoing mystery of unidentified flying objects (UFOs), exploring potential geopolitical implications, scientific theories, and government responses. The content appears to be a transcript of a talk or lecture, followed by a Q&A session, likely featuring Major Keyhoe, given the references to his book "Flying Saucers from Outer Space" and his known advocacy on the subject.

Geopolitical and Military Context

The opening section frames the UFO discussion within the Cold War context, suggesting that if the Russians were to control the narrative about UFOs, they could dominate the world. The speaker posits that the US is working on anti-gravity devices not only to understand UFOs but also to counter potential hostility from outer space and to gain an advantage over the Russians in both conventional and advanced weaponry.

Sightings and Explanations

The magazine discusses numerous explanations for UFO sightings, including the possibility of landings and communications with 'spacemen,' though the speaker expresses skepticism about direct contact stories. However, radar sightings, such as those in London in September and October 1954, where saucers appeared in formations (U, Z, and parallel lines), are presented as potential attempts at communication.

UFOs as a Menace and Related Accidents

The issue addresses whether saucers pose a threat. While the Air Force's concern is noted due to associated accidents, the speaker suggests that these mishaps might stem from the close proximity of automatic devices rather than deliberate hostile actions. Three particularly serious incidents are highlighted:

• The Mantell Case (January 7, 1948): A famous case linked to saucers.
• The British Comet Incident: A plane struck by a heavy object near Calcutta, India, believed to be a UFO.
• The Kimross Case: An F-89 jet fighter pursued a UFO over Lake Michigan and disappeared. The radar tracked both the jet and the larger saucer, which merged and then vanished at high speed. The jet and its pilots were never found.

Several other cases are mentioned, including a recent incident in Texas where a round glowing object was seen near a crashing B-47, with the lone survivor reporting a strong impact.

Origin Theories and Mars Connection

A recurring theme is the potential origin of the saucers. The speaker notes a correlation between increased saucer reports and Mars's proximity to Earth over the past six years, with significant increases in 1950, 1952, and 1954. The Air Force's attempts to downplay these reports, such as the "Ho-Hum story" citing only 87 reports, are contrasted with earlier statements blaming the speaker's book for increased public awareness.

Astronomical Observations and Lunar Anomalies

Beyond Mars, the issue touches upon intriguing astronomical observations. In July 1953, an amateur astronomer sighted what appeared to be a bridge on the Moon, a phenomenon later confirmed by other astronomers and discussed by Dr. H. Percy Wilkins. The rapid appearance of this structure suggests it did not form naturally overnight.

Challenges of Investigation and Public Perception

The speaker acknowledges the difficulties in investigating flying saucers, including the risk of ridicule. Despite personal reservations about some contact stories, the significance of the phenomenon is emphasized, raising the question of humanity's place in the universe. A call to action is made for the public to pressure Congress to compel the Air Force to reveal the truth.

Q&A Session: Addressing Key Questions

The latter part of the magazine consists of a Q&A session, addressing specific concerns:

• Pentagon Secrecy: Reasons cited include fear of public hysteria, lack of complete answers, and potential danger.
• Personal Sightings: The speaker admits to not having personally seen a flying saucer but has seen radar tracks.
• Speed and Visibility: Objects traveling at high speeds (up to 5000 mph) can only be seen at high altitudes (around 60,000 feet) and can also hover or stop suddenly. Their disk shape is a common description.
• Gravitational Propulsion: The theory involves converting nuclear/atomic power to nullify gravity, allowing for high speeds without sonic barriers by creating an air cushion.
• Interplanetary Communication: The lack of communication is a mystery. Theories include invisible formations bending light, telepathy, or a lack of desire to communicate.
• Mars and W-Shaped Formations: Peculiar cloud-like formations on Mars, shaped like a 'W,' are discussed as potential signals or reflections from the ground.
• Mt. Palomar Observatory: Cooperation with the Air Force is confirmed, with photographic evidence of the moon bridge suggesting it is metallic.
• Air Force Response to Reports: The Air Force is seen as using ridicule to suppress the subject, often downplaying sightings while simultaneously blaming books for increased public interest.
• "Angel's Hair": This substance, possibly an exhaust product or related to G-field propulsion, has been analyzed with conflicting results.
• Florida Scoutmaster Case: Dismissed due to the witness's unreliable record.
• Dahl Case: Considered a hoax by the Air Force, with the B-25 crash deemed ordinary.
• "Out of This World" Radio Record: Strange sounds, possibly related to the analysis of "whistlers" or transmissions from stars.
• Code Messages: Claims of coded messages exist, and it's confirmed that UFOs have blanked out aircraft radios.
• Air Force Report (October): Viewed as a cover-up, selectively presenting weak cases to downplay the phenomenon.
• Earth Satellite Program: Expedited partly to observe objects orbiting Earth.
• High-Altitude Objects: Information on objects sighted 300-500 miles above Earth is suppressed.
• "Fighting Senators": Opposition exists within the government to revealing UFO information.
• President Eisenhower's Statement: Interpreted as a typical evasive answer when caught off guard.
• Russian Involvement: The possibility of Russia exploiting UFO sightings for propaganda is raised.
• Interplanetary Travelers: The speaker prefers the logical answer that UFOs are interplanetary, possibly due to increased H-bomb testing and space exploration.
• "Angel's Hair" Analysis: Confirmed cases exist, with a sample from Horseheads, New York, yielding conflicting explanations.
• Florida Scoutmaster Case: Dismissed due to the witness's poor record.
• Dahl Case: The Air Force declared it a hoax, and the B-25 crash was considered ordinary.
• "Out of This World" Radio: Strange sounds are noted, possibly related to "whistlers" or transmissions from stars.
• Alleged Code Messages: UFOs have been known to blank out radios when close to aircraft.
• October Air Force Report: Seen as a cover-up, focusing on weak cases.
• Earth Satellite: Its purpose includes observing objects orbiting Earth.
• High-Altitude Objects: Information is suppressed.
• "Fighting Senators": Some senators face opposition when trying to reveal UFO facts.
• Eisenhower's Statement: Seen as a standard evasive response.
• Russian Trickery: The potential for Russia to claim ownership of UFOs is mentioned.
• Interplanetary Theory: Preferred as the most logical explanation for UFOs.
• Other Solar Systems: The possibility of travel from other star systems is discussed, considering relativistic effects on time.
• Teleportation: Considered less plausible than invisibility via light-bending.
• Experimental Aircraft: The US does not possess hundreds of secret devices like those described, but is working to copy saucer propulsion.
• Fortean Theory: UFO events may have occurred for centuries, with increased sightings possibly linked to H-bomb testing and space exploration.
• "Angel's Hair" Analysis: Confirmed cases exist, with analysis yielding conflicting explanations.
• Florida Scoutmaster: Dismissed due to witness credibility.
• Dahl Case: Declared a hoax by the Air Force; the B-25 crash was ordinary.
• "Out of This World" Radio: Strange sounds are noted, possibly from "whistlers" or stars.
• Code Messages: UFOs have blanked out radios near aircraft.
• October Air Force Report: Viewed as a cover-up.
• Satellite Program: Aims to observe orbiting objects.
• High-Altitude Objects: Information is suppressed.
• "Fighting Senators": Face opposition when trying to reveal facts.
• Eisenhower's Statement: Considered evasive.
• Russian Trickery: Potential for Russia to claim UFOs.
• Interplanetary Theory: Preferred as logical.
• Other Solar Systems: Travel from other stars is possible due to time dilation.
• Teleportation: Less plausible than light-bending invisibility.
• Experimental Aircraft: US is copying saucer propulsion, not possessing similar craft yet.
• Crash Programs: Expedite moon rocket development, with a rocket expected before 1970.
• Scully's "Crashed Saucers": Sources are disreputable; no evidence of crashed disks or pickled "little men" found.
• Contact Stories: Many sound hysterical and mistaken, though some from Venezuela are noted.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently questions official explanations and government secrecy regarding UFOs. There is a strong implication that the Air Force and other authorities are withholding crucial information from the public. The editorial stance favors the extraterrestrial hypothesis, presenting scientific theories and witness accounts that support the idea of advanced, non-human craft visiting Earth. The speaker encourages active public engagement, urging readers to write to their representatives to demand transparency. The overall tone is one of urgency and a belief that the UFO phenomenon is a significant event that the public has a right to understand.

This document is page 21 of an unidentified magazine issue, likely focused on UFO phenomena. The content consists of a question-and-answer format, discussing various aspects of UFO sightings, government involvement, and public perception.

Key Topics and Discussions

Personal Beliefs and UFO Contacts

The interviewee expresses a cautious stance on UFOs, stating, "I don't set myself up as a judge of these things, because you'd have to go and talk with the person involved. There may be little men, that's possible; I just don't believe the people who have said they saw them." While acknowledging the possibility of contacts, the interviewee has not encountered a story that would lead them to accept the phenomenon without reservation. They speculate on the potential appearance of extraterrestrial visitors, suggesting they could be similar to humans if their home planet has comparable size and gravity, or identical if relying on religious interpretations rather than evolution.

Celestial Phenomena and Sightings

Questions arise regarding reports of flares on the moon and peculiar lights on Mars. The interviewee confirms seeing reports of moon flares, which some interpret as meteor impact flashes. They believe definitive answers about these phenomena will only be obtained through space exploration or direct communication from extraterrestrials.

Government Secrecy and JANAP 146

A significant portion of the discussion revolves around government secrecy and the directive JANAP 146. The interviewee is aware of penalties imposed under this directive for individuals who disclose too much information. While not aware of any private citizens being penalized, they note that the directive has instilled fear. The interviewee recounts a personal experience where, after reporting sightings made by airline pilots, they were advised by Colonel Bloomer of Air Force Intelligence that they were "walking on a tightrope" regarding the use of a CIRVIS report, leading them to avoid further risk.

CIA Involvement and Policy Continuity

It is confirmed that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is involved, as CIRVIS reports are sent to them under JANAP 146. The interviewee states that the change in administration in 1952 did not alter the policy regarding saucers. This issue is described as one of the "factional fights within the Air Force" that had been ongoing since the beginning, with some advocating for the release of facts and others opposing it.

Alleged Radio Contacts and Hidden Information

Regarding alleged radio contacts, the interviewee mentions "odd radio transmissions that they never identified" and a linked "radio silence." While acknowledging that much of this evidence is not conclusive, they suggest that "something is being hidden," and it is "not a secret weapon of the United States." The interviewee expresses a desire for the truth to be revealed, even if it means confronting adversaries like Russia.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this excerpt are government secrecy surrounding UFO phenomena, the role of intelligence agencies like the CIA and Air Force Intelligence, and the public's struggle to obtain verifiable information. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical inquiry, acknowledging the existence of unexplained phenomena and government efforts to control information, while maintaining a degree of skepticism and a desire for transparency. The interviewee's personal account highlights the risks involved in pursuing and disseminating information about UFOs within official channels.