1952 11 00 Coronet Elliot

Magazine Overview

This issue, presented as a 'Picture Story,' is titled "FLYING SAUCERS: MYTH OR MENACE?" and is authored by Lawrence Elliott, with illustrations by Ren Wicks. It explores the burgeoning phenomenon of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) primarily from the late 1940s and early 1950s, presenting various sightings, official investigations, and speculative theories.

Key Sightings and Incidents

The narrative begins with the seminal sighting by businessman Kenneth Arnold on a sparkling day in 1947. While flying his plane past Mt. Rainier, he observed a line of disc-like aircraft moving with incredible speed and in perfect formation, which he described as looking like flipped saucers in flight. This event reportedly led to the nation being deluged with reports of other unexplained aerial objects.

A significant incident detailed is the appearance over Madisonville, Kentucky, on January 7, 1948. State police alerted Fort Knox about a flying saucer heading their way. Shortly after, a lookout at Godman Air Base spotted a red glow. Captain Thomas Mantell was ordered to investigate, ascending to 18,000 feet and reporting the object as 'metallic... of tremendous size.' His last message was, 'I'm going up to 20,000 feet...' His shattered plane was later found near Fort Knox. The official explanation suggested he might have chased the planet Venus until he blacked out, but the article questions this, noting other officers had seen the 'thing' and that an experienced pilot would recognize oxygen blackout effects. The official report fifteen months later declared the object 'still unidentified.'

On January 22, 1948, the Air Force assigned technicians to investigate approximately 270 saucer-sightings. Lieutenant George F. Gorman pursued a light through the skies until it eluded him at 14,000 feet on October 1, 1948. On December 26, 1949, a balloon expert suggested that flying discs carried observers from the planet Venus. The following day, December 27, the Air Force concluded Project Saucer, attributing the sightings to 'a mild form of mass hysteria.' However, the very next day, residents of Hamlet, North Carolina, spotted another odd-shaped craft.

Theories and Investigations

The article explores various theories attempting to explain the phenomenon. One theory suggested that atomic explosions had disturbed a lost race of men living in Polar caves, who used magnetically controlled craft to investigate Earth. Another prominent theory, fueled by the question of whether the saucers came from Russia, involved inventor Leo Bentz, who claimed to have witnessed crude saucer-like craft demonstrations nearly 20 years prior. He speculated that the designer, George De Bay, might have gone to Russia before the war. This led to controversy, with some believing Russians were using saucers for espionage and others arguing they wouldn't risk flying them over the U.S. The consensus leaned against Russia possessing such advanced technology.

A more elaborate theory, proposed by the Borderland Sciences Research Associates, suggested that seven mysterious 'planes' traveled between Earth and Venus. One of these, named Etheria, was said to have attracted attention due to Earth's atomic blasts. These craft, made of a metal tougher than steel, allegedly flew along magnetic lines of force. Sightings were described as flashing fireballs of red and green by night and discs executing fantastic maneuvers by day.

Author Frank Scully, in his book "Behind the Flying Saucers" (mid-1950), presented what he claimed were facts, not theories. He described an encounter with a grounded saucer in the New Mexican desert with a crew of 16 occupants, all found dead. The craft was reportedly 99.9 inches in diameter with a 72-inch high cabin, featuring radios no larger than cigarette packages and no weapons, covered in heat-resistant metal. The unnamed scientist who reported this also saw three other similar craft, and was certain they came from Venus. The article notes that no one has disproved Scully's account.

On April 27, 1950, Captain Robert F. Manning, a veteran TWA pilot, and his copilot Robert Adickes spotted a fiery red ball. Their report was backed by 21 witnesses, a significant number. Nationwide sightings peaked, with reports of fireballs, discs, and projectile-like flames coming from New Mexico, Alaska, and Korea. Amateur photographers captured images, though many still dismissed these as manifestations of mass hysteria.

Presidential Statement and Further Theories

In the summer, reporters gathered at the White House at Key West, anticipating a statement from President Truman regarding revelations that flying saucers were advanced Navy aircraft. However, the press secretary stated, "Gentlemen, the President has asked me to tell you that he knows nothing of any flying saucers being developed by this or any other country. We know nothing to support these rumors." This led to a new flood of theories: if not ours, they must be from another planet, or perhaps weather balloons, or, as suggested by an astrophysicist, 'optical ghosts' caused by warm air displacement. The article concludes by noting that sightings are still being reported, even on radar screens, and that the answer to the mystery lies hidden in the skies, with the truth potentially becoming 'the greatest news story of all time.'

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the mystery and ambiguity surrounding flying saucer sightings, the attempts by official bodies like the Air Force to explain or dismiss them, and the proliferation of speculative theories regarding their origin and nature. The editorial stance appears to be one of presenting the evidence and theories without definitively concluding whether flying saucers are myth or menace, leaving the reader to ponder the vast, trackless sky for answers. The article highlights the tension between official explanations and eyewitness accounts, and the public's fascination with the unknown.