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Civlilian Saucer Intellligence of New York - No 13
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This document is a transcript of a public meeting held by the Civilian Saucer Intelligence of New York (CSI of NY) on April 28, 1956, at the Pythian Temple in New York City. The primary speaker was Frank Edwards, a prominent broadcaster and commentator known for his work on…
Magazine Overview
This document is a transcript of a public meeting held by the Civilian Saucer Intelligence of New York (CSI of NY) on April 28, 1956, at the Pythian Temple in New York City. The primary speaker was Frank Edwards, a prominent broadcaster and commentator known for his work on flying saucers. The meeting was opened by A. D. Mebane, Secretary-Treasurer of CSI of NY, who briefly described the organization's history and current status, noting its membership of 100 and its two years of existence. Mebane also directed the audience's attention to a wall display of enlarged pages from Project Blue Book Report No. 14, featuring critical commentary by the CSI Research Section.
Frank Edwards' Career and Introduction
Frank Edwards' career in broadcasting is presented as virtually encompassing the entire history of electronic communication. He was an aviator in the early 1920s and became one of the first radio announcers in 1923, remaining "on the air" ever since. From 1949 to August 1954, he served as the news commentator for the American Federation of Labor (AFL) on the Mutual network, reaching millions of listeners. His broadcasts were closely followed by UFO enthusiasts, who relied on him for fair accounts of events often omitted by newspapers. Edwards' abrupt departure from the AFL program, attributed to his refusal to submit to censorship, made him a well-known exponent of the reality of flying saucers. Since then, he has been appearing daily on television station WTTV in Indianapolis, continuing to report on UFO facts. The talk at CSI of NY was noted as his first in-person public lecture on the topic. His autobiography, "My First Ten Million Sponsers," includes a chapter dedicated to the flying saucer story.
Edwards' Lecture: "Flying Saucers - In, On, and Off the Air"
Edwards began by stating he is a reporter, not an expert on flying saucers, approaching the subject as any other interesting story. His interest dates back to the early 1920s when he flew an old Jenny 4 biplane. He recounted an incident in Colorado around 1922 or 1923 where he and other pilots observed three objects they called "flying manhole covers" that were about 3-4 feet in diameter and 6 inches thick. These objects circled their planes with ease, with one coming within 10 feet before all three zipped away. The pilots initially dismissed them as "go-devils."
Another early sighting mentioned was on August 5, 1926, by Nicholas Roerich in the Himalayas, who observed a shiny, metallic, disk-shaped object.
Edwards emphasized that these phenomena are not new, but the major "flying-saucer story" broke in June 1947. He recalled a sighting on June 23rd by a railroad engineer in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, who saw ten silvery disk-shaped objects flying in a string at an estimated 1000 mph. This report received minimal coverage because railroad engineers were not considered authoritative witnesses. However, the next day, June 24th, Kenneth Arnold, a veteran flyer, reported seeing nine similar objects, which made national headlines.
By the summer of 1948, friends in Alaska reported strange aerial sightings. Edwards traveled to Alaska to investigate and spoke with credible witnesses, including two jet pilots from Elmendorf Air Base. These pilots reported seeing a large shadow, like a "gigantic fish or a zeppelin," while flying at 30,000 feet over the Brooks Range. Upon ascending, they found themselves behind a B-29 fuselage-like object with no tail or wings, emitting flame from the rear. It was moving at approximately 400 mph and ascended rapidly, reaching an estimated 1000-1200 mph. The object had no visible windows or antennas.
Edwards recounted an encounter with two Air Force Intelligence men who, confidentially, confirmed that these objects were "very real" and a "secret development," suggesting they were timed to break before Congress considered military appropriations. However, Edwards later doubted this, believing the technology was beyond current capabilities.
He expressed his belief that flying saucers are real and substantial, citing statements from top physicists who described them as "unconventional and exceedingly high-speed devices, created and operated by intelligent beings of a high order, which do not originate on this planet."
Edwards detailed his experience on the television program "Author Meets The Critics" in October 1953, debating Willy Ley. He showed Ley a letter from a "very important center for the government's super-secret activities" signed by well-known physicists, which concluded that flying saucers do not originate on Earth and possess capabilities far beyond Earth-made craft.
He also discussed his experience with the "Author Meets The Critics" broadcast, noting that although it was on the Dumont network, it was only carried by one station in New York City, with the program inexplicably removed from other stations.
In the winter of 1949, while broadcasting from Indianapolis, Edwards broke the story of Major Donald Keyhoe's article "The Flying Saucers Are Real" in True magazine, contacting the editor, Ken Purdy, to get permission to use the story. This led to national news coverage.
In January 1950, while in Washington D.C., Edwards covered numerous saucer sightings. He operated under an agreement with AFL President William Green, which allowed him journalistic freedom. While flying saucers constituted only about three percent of his broadcast time, exceptional stories could receive a minute or so, contributing to his program's success.
The 1952 Washington D.C. Sightings and Secrecy
During the summer of 1952, flying saucers were observed circling Washington D.C., including over the National Airport, the White House, and the Washington Monument. These sightings were confirmed visually and by radar. Edwards noted a shift in policy at the Pentagon towards secrecy following these events. He mentioned that on August 13, 1952, 68 unidentified objects were observed over Washington in a two-and-a-half-hour period, but this event was kept secret, with no mention in the papers. The Civil Aeronautics Authority's Technical Development Report No. 180, issued in September 1952, attempted to explain away radar sightings, suggesting phenomena like "small, sharply defined radar mirrors," but Edwards found this explanation inadequate.
Edwards criticized a false Air Force statement on June 1, 1954, claiming only 87 sightings for the year, when he himself had reported 127. He cited Lt. Col. John O'Mara of the Air Force Intelligence Center at Wright-Patterson Field, who reportedly stated that 1954 was the "biggest year we've ever had, we're getting 700 a week."
Edwards discussed his departure from the AFL program in August 1954, stating that George Meany, the new AFL president, imposed censorship. Meany reportedly dismissed the flying saucer mail as uninteresting and called Edwards "too pro-labor."
Notable Cases: Hopkinsville and Bedford
Edwards then detailed two significant cases he had investigated.
The first was the Hopkinsville, Kentucky incident on August 21st of the previous year (1955). Eleven people reported being besieged by "goblin-like creatures" from a flying saucer. The creatures were described as small (about 3 feet tall) with large heads, glowing eyes, long arms, and metallic bodies. Despite being shot at, the creatures appeared unharmed. Edwards noted that the initial newspaper reports about "little green men" were sensationalized, and he suspected a hoax was involved in the investigation, with some newspapermen trying to trick him. However, he maintained that the Kelly landing itself was real and unexplained.
He also mentioned the "Flatwoods Monster" case in Sutton, West Virginia, on September 12, 1952, which involved similar descriptions and subsequent questioning by individuals who appeared to be gathering information for an agency.
The second case was a tragedy that occurred on January 8, 1956, at Bedford, Indiana. Five flying saucers were spotted circling, and similar objects had been reported earlier over Lafayette and south of Bedford. Edwards recounted the incident involving Colonel Lee Merkel, a National Guard pilot, who was chasing an unidentified object in a P-51 Mustang. Merkel reported seeing a glowing, blinking object climbing ahead of him. Shortly after, his plane exploded at low altitude, scattering wreckage over a wide area. Edwards found it difficult to believe that the gasoline explosion could have caused such a powerful blast, suggesting a parallel to the 1948 death of Captain Thomas Mantell, who was also chasing a UFO when his plane crashed. He noted that while Merkel's initial chase in November 1954 made headlines, his fatal mission months later did not.
Discussion Period and FAQ
The talk was followed by a question-and-answer session.
Q: Is there any evidence that any of these objects have crashed?
A: Edwards expressed uncertainty but mentioned a report from 1947 in New Mexico where a farmer saw something strike a mountainside and crash. Troops surrounded the area for five days, and the official explanation was a crumpled kite with aluminum foil.
Q: Why don't they crash more often, since they are seen so frequently?
A: Dr. Hermann Oberth, a rocket scientist, suggested that these are interplanetary devices operating by distorting the gravitational field, making them immune to gravity and thus unlikely to fall. Collisions might happen, but the government would likely conceal such events.
Q: Why doesn't the government want people to know about this?
A: Edwards suspects the government fears public hysteria, citing the 1938 Orson Welles "War of the Worlds" broadcast as an example. He admitted to being panicked by it himself.
Q: How is the government able to keep saucer sightings quiet?
A: Edwards stated that the three major press services are dependent on the Pentagon and government agencies for their stories, making it easy to control information flow.
Q: Have there been sightings in Europe?
A: Yes, sightings in Europe have been more numerous than in the U.S., with France, Italy, and Spain experiencing near-mass panic in October 1954 due to reports of "little men."
Q: Are the European governments also keeping their investigations secret?
A: Yes, the British Government announced a year prior that it would not make public statements on its UFO investigation findings and ordered all military and government personnel not to discuss the subject.
Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance
The recurring themes in this document are the prevalence and reality of UFO sightings, the perceived government secrecy and attempts to suppress or explain away evidence, and the extraterrestrial hypothesis for the origin of these phenomena. Frank Edwards, through his extensive reporting and personal conviction, strongly advocates for the reality of UFOs and criticizes official obfuscation. The document highlights the tension between public observation and official denial, suggesting a deliberate effort by authorities to control information and prevent public panic or understanding of potentially advanced, non-terrestrial technology. The editorial stance, as presented through Edwards' narrative, is one of skepticism towards official explanations and a firm belief in the significance of UFO phenomena as a genuine, albeit mysterious, aspect of modern experience.
This document, appearing to be a transcript or Q&A from a magazine issue, focuses on the topic of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) and related phenomena. The content is primarily text-based, with no visible images on the scanned pages.
International Cooperation and Government Releases The issue begins by addressing whether other nations are cooperating with the United States on UFO matters. The response indicates that several countries, including Great Britain, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Italy, and France, are working closely with the U.S. government. The question of whether Russia is releasing information is met with a negative response, but the speaker notes that the U.S. Air Force has recently released films of UFOs taken in Tremonton, Utah, by Warrant Officer Delbert Newhouse in 1952, and in Great Falls, Montana, by Nick Mariana. These films, shot on 16mm color film, are described as obviously not faked and are admitted by the Air Force to show 'unconventional objects of an unidentified type.' These films are slated to be featured in a forthcoming semi-documentary movie titled 'Unidentified Flying Objects.'
Antarctica as a Potential UFO Base A significant portion of the discussion explores the possibility of Antarctica serving as a base for UFOs. The speaker suggests that part of the U.S. government's interest in the Antarctic might stem from a 1950 incident where Commander Orrego of the Chilean Navy filmed thousands of feet of movies showing UFOs circling at low altitudes in the region. These objects are also frequently observed traveling north and south along the west coast of South America, leading to speculation that they might be originating from or traveling to the Antarctic. Commander Byrd's expedition is mentioned, noting that he discovered a warm lake in the Antarctic continent and observed 'great straight black lines that looked like blast marks' near it, as detailed in his report.
Descriptions of Alien Beings and Encounters The document addresses the question of whether a specific type of 'space man' has been discovered. While not confirming a discovery, the speaker notes that credible witnesses generally describe beings falling into one of two patterns: a small humanoid type or a vague grotesque monster. Examples of humanoid sightings are cited from Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Kentucky, Ohio, Kansas, and Georgia. A more grotesque type was reported at Sutton, West Virginia, and other locations. The speaker recounts receiving reports from a South American country about small humanoid creatures that had injured some people, particularly constabulary, who had interfered with them, indicating these beings could defend themselves.
Regarding the Hopkinsville creatures, the document states they displayed no hostility and carried no weapons or artificial implements, though they had long claws. In one instance, a creature reached down and grazed a man's hair when he looked out of a door.
George Adamski and Other Witnesses The reliability of George Adamski is questioned. The speaker, a photographer with 30 years of experience, examined prints sent by Adamski and concluded they were not what Adamski claimed, suggesting Adamski might be a kind but misguided man. The speaker also read Adamski's books but would not report his claims as fact without more evidence, comparing his pictures to his prose as being on a similar level of reliability.
The experiences of Daniel Fry, Truman Bethurum, and Orfeo Angelucci are also discussed. The speaker expresses unwillingness to outright disbelieve them but classifies their stories as 'slightly incredible' from a reporter's standpoint, while acknowledging that past incredible claims have sometimes been based on fact.
Reasons for Unseen Landings and Changing UFO Behavior The question of why UFOs do not land openly is answered by analogy: if humans were to visit an inhabited planet, they would likely land at night in isolated locations to observe the inhabitants' capabilities first. This is presented as a possible strategy for UFOs observing Earth.
Changes in reported UFO appearance or behavior since 1947 are noted. As human aviation technology has advanced, UFOs have become more cautious. While earlier sightings (pre-1951) sometimes lacked lights, later sightings generally include some form of lights or glow, presumably to aid pilots in avoiding collisions. The speaker is unsure if this is intentional. Another significant change is the government's increasing secrecy regarding the subject.
UFOs and Atomic Explosions, Space Travel The potential link between UFO sightings and atomic explosions is considered. The speaker feels there may be significance, suggesting that some UFOs might have been attracted by the blast flashes. There is also a mention of similar phenomena observed on Mars, with a desire to investigate.
The effectiveness of U.S. rockets for space travel is questioned, with the speaker comparing current efforts to paddling a canoe compared to the Queen Mary, indicating that it's a beginning but requires much more development.
Martian Life and Lunar Mysteries Dr. Slipher's last Martian investigation is mentioned, with his conclusion that there is no doubt about life on Mars, though he stopped short of confirming intelligent life. His article appeared in the National Geographic, featuring pictures of Mars taken at Bloemfontein.
The 'bridge on the moon' is discussed in relation to Percy Wilkins' book 'Mysteries of Space and Time.' Wilkins' book does not describe it as metallic. Astronomers have looked for it and not seen it. However, unexplained 'white hemispherical objects,' described as gigantic halves of ping-pong balls, have been found on the moon. Approximately 200 of these have been located, and they were not observed until recent years.
Earth Satellites and Plane Disappearances Two satellites circling the Earth are considered unnatural due to their close proximity, suggesting they might be artificial. An Adler Planetarium report from the previous year is cited, mentioning an astronomer who located over a score of objects circling Earth at an altitude of about 475 miles, implying more such objects exist than realized.
The disappearance of six planes over the Caribbean, as described in Keyhoe's 'Flying Saucer Conspiracy,' remains unexplained. Furthermore, over 200 planes have disappeared in a large oval-shaped area of the Atlantic without any distress signals or wreckage being found, despite being equipped with radio.
The Kimross plane-disappearance case is also mentioned, with the speaker stating their knowledge is limited to what they and Major Keyhoe found during the writing of his book.
Skyquakes and Future Discoveries 'Skyquakes' are discussed, typically blamed on jets breaking the sound barrier, but often occurring when no jets are present. The speaker acknowledges this phenomenon is occurring worldwide and describes it as a 'terrific concussion at high altitudes.' Jets are under strict orders not to break the sound barrier near inhabited areas.
Regarding when UFO origins will be definitively known, the speaker believes this year might yield more information than ever before, especially as UFO sightings are most frequent when Earth is closest to Mars. A specific date, September 7th, is mentioned as a time of close approach to Mars, with the subsequent 90 days being a 'very significant period.'
It is noted that at least 20 nations are actively gathering information on UFOs, spending millions of dollars. Eventually, contact or duplication of UFO technology might occur. However, it's also possible that UFOs could simply disappear for extended periods, as they have in the past (forty to fifty years), perhaps finding humanity too primitive or hopeless.