CSI Quarterly - 1953 July

Magazine Overview

This issue of CIVILIAN SAUCER INVESTIGATION, Volume I, Number III, dated July 1953, is published by the QUARTERLY BULLETIN in Los Angeles, California. The cover headline asks, "WHO IS INSIDE THE FLYING SAUCERS?"

Who is Inside the Flying Saucers?

Gerald Heard, author of "Is Another World Watching?" and former president of Civilian Saucer Investigation, contributes an article suggesting that the hollow rings observed are remote-controlled instruments, not manned craft. He dismisses "little men" stories as largely fraudulent but cites two cases for investigation: one in West Germany involving Mayor Oskar Linke and his daughter observing a landed saucer with two human-like figures, and the Flatwoods, West Virginia case involving Gene Lemon and Neil Nunley who encountered a tall figure.

Heard emphasizes the need for an open mind regarding the existence of discs but cautions against definitive statements about their occupants.

The Largest Saucer Ever Observed

This section reports on numerous saucer sightings from Australia, including a significant one from Mrs. A. M. King in May 1953. While traveling on the S.S. Llandovery Castle in June 1947, Mrs. King observed a spectacular sighting around 11 PM. A bright star approached the ship, and a searchlight flashed on the water. An object, appearing to be made of steel and shaped like a cigar cut at the rear, appeared about 20 feet above the sea, traveling parallel to the ship. It then issued fierce flames from its rear, disappearing without sound. The object was described as very large, about four times the length and height of the ship. Mrs. King later found an illustration of a similar object seen by Capt. Bicknell over Mt. Kilimanjaro in 1951.

Giant Illipsoid Seen Over Cincinnati

Leonard H. Stringfield of Cincinnati, Ohio, a qualified observer with experience in the 5th Air Force Intelligence, reports a sighting on September 29th, 1952. He observed a giant ellipsoid object in a pitch black, cloudless sky, moving at high altitude. The object had a pale or milkish-blue luminescence with a multiple rib effect, and its behavior included listing or rolling before vanishing. Stringfield compares its maneuverability to the metallic monster seen over Godman Field in 1948.

Saucers Sighted 3500 Years Ago

This article discusses a translation of Egyptian hieroglyphics by Borris de Rachewiltz, published in "Doubt," which suggests the existence of flying saucers in ancient Egyptian times. A part of the Royal Annals from the time of Thuthmosis III (circa 1500 BC) describes a "circle of fire" in the sky, one 'rod' long and one 'rod' large, with a foul odor and no voice, which caused confusion among the army and the king.

What Saucers Are Not

The U.S. Air Force reaffirmed its declaration that saucers are not of U.S. origin. Lt. Col. Hugh A. Day of the Office of Public Information stated that these phenomena are not secret weapons or aircraft developed by the U.S., nor are they conducted by any government agency. The statement also indicated that there is nothing associated with material or vehicles directed against the U.S. from other countries or planets.

Strange Case of the Flying Flivver

Eva Rosacker recounts a unique ground sighting from 1935 in the desert of central Washington. A motorist saw an object resembling a car with one glaring headlight make a sharp turn from the highway and speed off across the prairie, rolling above the sage brush. The story brought forth similar accounts, though scoffers attributed the lights to natural phenomena.

Recent Sightings

1953 has been a disappointing year for saucer investigators, with sightings thinning to a trickle in the first part of the year, though activity increased in June and July. Central Ohio experienced a disproportionate number of sightings in the latter half of July, with reports on the 9th, 10th, 19th, 22nd, 23rd, and 24th, primarily over Columbus and its suburbs. An unusual sighting occurred in Sequoia-Kings National Parks, California, on July 29th, where park officials and residents observed a series of "weird flashes of bright yellow light" on four successive nights. E. T. Scoyen reported seeing a bright yellow ball, about 1000 feet in diameter, rise from the canyon near Moro Rock at tremendous speed.

Saucers Are Not Spaceships, Says Clarke

A. C. Clarke, chairman of the Journal of the British Interplanetary Society, proposes a new theory: flying saucers are not spaceships from other planets or secret missiles. He believes they are natural phenomena. Clarke cites two main facts against the spaceship hypothesis: the observed accelerations that no material body could withstand, and the absence of sound despite enormous speeds. He suggests that these phenomena, which have been observed in the same form for at least 150 years, are a natural occurrence, possibly akin to fireballs.

Clarke references the remarkable phenomenon witnessed by astronomer Walter Maunder at the Greenwich Observatory in 1882. During a magnetic storm, Maunder observed a great circular disc of greenish light that moved across the sky smoothly and steadily, appearing as an elongated ellipse or "cigar-shaped" object. This "torpedo" took less than two minutes to cross the sky and traveled at an estimated 10 miles per second at an altitude of 133 miles, with some observers estimating its length at 50 miles. Clarke argues that this proves a natural, unexplained phenomenon can produce extraordinary effects, and that if seen today, it would likely be mistaken for a spaceship.

CSI to Go on Stand-By Status

Civilian Saucer Investigation (CSI) is disbanding and will go on a stand-by status after the publication of its fourth (Winter) issue. This decision is due to slight progress in unraveling the saucer mystery and a sharp drop-off in sightings. The CSI Post Office Box will remain open for correspondence. No new subscriptions will be accepted. This issue is presented in mimeographed form to save money, as funds from subscriptions have been insufficient to finance printed editions. CSI plans to summarize its contributions and findings in a final edition of the Bulletin in the fall.

Discs Over Prescott

CSI received a report from the Prescott Evening Courier dated May 22, 1953, detailing "Flying Saucers Return to Prescott." The lead article describes eight disc-like objects maneuvering for an hour over Prescott on May 21st. Three witnesses, including pilot Bill Beers, Ray Temple, and O. Ed Olson, gave identical descriptions. Beers, who was previously skeptical, reported that the objects could not have been birds, balloons, or planes, judging them to be about 10,000 feet in the air. The objects were observed to hover, swoop, and move at speeds faster than a jet plane before heading toward Prescott.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the nature and origin of flying saucers, with a focus on distinguishing between potential extraterrestrial craft, secret human technology, and natural phenomena. The editorial stance, as represented by contributions from Gerald Heard and A. C. Clarke, leans towards skepticism of the "little men" and spaceship theories, favoring explanations involving remote-controlled instruments or natural occurrences. The magazine also highlights the historical aspect of UFO sightings, tracing them back to ancient Egypt and the late 19th century. The publication's own future is uncertain, with CSI moving to a stand-by status due to declining interest and financial constraints, reflecting a broader trend of reduced UFO activity in 1953.