FANTASTIC UNIVERSE SCIENCE FICTION

Magazine Overview

Title: FANTASTIC UNIVERSE SCIENCE FICTION
Issue: MAR.
Price: 35c
Date: 1957-03
Publisher: ICD

Article: SHAPES IN THE SKY by Civilian Saucer Intelligence

This extensive article, prepared by the Research Section of Civilian Saucer Intelligence (CSI), delves into the phenomenon of "radar angels" – unexplained radar echoes that are often invisible to the human eye and exhibit unusual flight characteristics.

The Nature of Radar Angels

The article begins by referencing Charles Fort's writings on "hosts of unknown bodies" seen in the skies. It then introduces the concept of "radar angels" as described in a Science News Letter article from September 14, 1957, defining them as spots on a radar screen caused by something unknown in the atmosphere. Unlike typical "saucer" sightings, these "angels" are characterized by their slow, "horse-and-buggy speeds" and their invisibility or difficulty in being seen by the human eye. The U.S. Air Force's Project Blue Book reportedly classified these as "of no significance whatsoever."

However, the authors argue that these "angels" do not necessarily lack interest, even if they don't suggest metallic spaceships. They note that some of these slow-moving objects might be capable of high speeds when inclined.

Historical Sightings and Examples

Early Reports and Foo-Fighters: The article traces the origins of "radar angels" back to 1944, when radio engineers at Bell Telephone Laboratories, the Signal Corps Laboratory, and the Naval Research Laboratory first reported and dubbed these phenomena "angels." This coincided with the appearance of "foo-fighters" – luminous, intelligently maneuvering spheres seen by bomber pilots over Germany and later over the Pacific.

Nansei-Shoto Incident (1945): A dramatic account from Keyhoe's "The Flying Saucer Conspiracy" describes a radar sighting during the Navy's attack on Okinawa in the spring of 1945. A dense formation of 200-300 "bogies" (unidentified aircraft) was detected 120 miles northeast at 12,000 feet, approaching at 700 miles per hour. Despite fighter planes being scrambled, the objects remained invisible to the human eye.

England Sightings (1954): In the fall of 1954, remarkable sightings of invisible radar angels occurred in England. A U-shaped formation of blips appeared on radar, flying westward at 12,000 feet, consisting of forty to fifty objects covering a large area. The formation changed shapes, including to a "Z" or "N," before disappearing, all while the sky appeared empty to human observers.

Washington D.C. Sightings (1952): The most detailed section focuses on the events in Washington D.C. in July 1952, which gained significant media attention.

• July 20, 1952: Harry Barnes, an air traffic controller, and his crew observed seven radar blips appearing suddenly, moving slowly and erratically. Some airport personnel reported seeing orange lights, and other radar systems confirmed the presence of these objects. They were seen flying over sensitive areas like the White House and the Pentagon.
• July 26, 1952: Eight objects reappeared, and commercial pilots reported seeing lights that matched the radar targets. Interceptor jets were dispatched, but the objects disappeared when the jets approached, only to return after they left.
• July 29, 1952: A large formation of objects passed over at high speed, but no visual contact was made. This incident, occurring before a press conference, was reported in the papers.
• August 5-6, 1952: Another procession of objects was observed.

Explanations and Debunking Attempts

The article critically examines various explanations offered for these phenomena:

• Radar Mirages: This explanation, favored by the press and Captain Roy James of ATIC, suggested that the sightings were ground targets reflected by atmospheric temperature-inversion layers. However, the article strongly refutes this, citing radar experts like Barnes who state that such phenomena are recognizable and distinct from the observed "angels."
• Clumps of Water Vapor: Proposed by Baldwin, this theory was experimentally disproved by Crawford, who found that steam clouds did not produce intense radar echoes and were practically invisible on radarscopes.
• Birds: The theory that echoes could be from birds was revived by Bonham and Blake. However, ornithologists pointed out that the observed flight patterns and locations (e.g., over the Atlantic in mid-June) made migratory land birds and even gulls unlikely. While birds can be detected at close range, this is deemed irrelevant to the "angel" problem.
• Insects: Similar to birds, insects can be detected at very short distances but are not considered a plausible explanation for the "angel" phenomena.

Scientific Investigations and Remaining Mysteries

The article highlights the work of Herbert Goldstein, a radar specialist, who published a competent discussion of "angels" in 1951. Goldstein noted that these echoes had a "distinctive appearance" and moved irregularly at speeds up to 20 mph, sometimes seen at distances of 20 miles, particularly after sunset.

It also mentions the work of R. C. Borden and T. K. Vickers, who published a detailed report in 1952 summarizing 18 radar and 17 visual observations from the Washington area. Their work indicated that "angels" were frequent at some locations like Cleveland and Chicago, sometimes causing a "nuisance problem."

Despite various attempts at explanation, the article concludes that a "residuum of observations" remains that cannot be accounted for by conventional theories. The authors pose the question: can any other theory be devised to escape the conclusion that these "angels" must be some sort of Unidentified Flying Objects?

Cover Story: Rendezvous with Destiny

The cover also features a new novel by John Brunner titled "Rendezvous with Destiny." Additionally, it lists stories by Avram Davidson, Theodore Pratt, and R. M. Williams.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The primary theme of this issue is the investigation of unexplained aerial phenomena, specifically focusing on "radar angels." The editorial stance is one of critical inquiry, presenting evidence and scientific observations while dissecting and often refuting conventional explanations. The magazine appears to lean towards the conclusion that these phenomena are indeed unidentified flying objects, challenging official explanations and highlighting the limitations of current scientific understanding in fully accounting for such sightings. There is a clear emphasis on presenting detailed case studies and scientific data to support the argument that these are not mere glitches or misidentifications.

This document, from page 89 of "FANTASTIC UNIVERSE," discusses the phenomenon of "radar angels" and critically examines a proposed explanation. The main focus is on refuting the Borden-Vickers theory and offering a more speculative conclusion about the nature of these aerial phenomena.

Radar Angels and the Borden-Vickers Theory

The article begins by detailing several sightings of "angels" (unidentified aerial objects) that occurred after an Air Force press conference, noting that these were not reported by newspapers. Specific sightings include three objects heading south at 60 mph on the 8th, two heading east on the 10th, sixty-eight objects heading southeast or south at speeds of 27 to 68 mph on the 13th, and a dozen objects on the night of the 15th-16th at speeds of 24 to 52 mph. The CAA report is mentioned but provides no further details.

The primary focus shifts to the 68 angels observed on August 13th-14th. For 16 of these, which were observed near a weather-balloon check of winds aloft, Borden and Vickers found a correlation. They proposed that these "targets" were not direct radar echoes but were "horizontal radar mirrors" or atmospheric masses that floated with the wind at an inversion level. These mirrors would reflect the ground image, causing the radar to perceive objects moving at twice the wind's actual speed (around 25 mph). This theory received significant newspaper publicity.

Refutation of the Borden-Vickers Theory

The article then systematically dismantles the Borden-Vickers theory. It points out that the theory breaks down when applied to the majority of the observed angels. Specifically:

• Four of the sixteen August 13th angels were southbound and would have to be interpreted as windborne mirrors at 2000 feet, an altitude where no inversion existed.
• Of the six August 15th angels, only one could be interpreted as a windborne mirror at the "inversion layer" (which was insignificant at 900 feet). The other five required assignment to different atmospheric levels.
• Crucially, on more than half of the occasions when radar angels appeared, no inversion at all was present.

The article also highlights two major drawbacks to the Borden-Vickers theory:

1. Lack of Atmospheric Basis: The authors argue that the inversion layer, which the theory relies on, has no demonstrable connection to the observed phenomena based on the evidence presented.
2. Theoretical Impossibility: As pointed out by Goldstein and experimentally demonstrated by Crawford, it is impossible to combine air and water vapor in a way that could create such a drastic effect on radar waves, regardless of assumptions made.

Alternative Explanation and Conclusion

The article concludes that no "normal" explanation for radar angels has yet been produced that can withstand serious examination, and it is unlikely one will be in the future. The authors then offer a more speculative, "simple-minded" interpretation: that these angels are, in fact, what they appear to be – "unknown, luminous-at-night, intelligently-moving aerial bodies." These bodies are described as being about a foot in diameter, possibly non-metallic, and not easily visible in daylight. They exhibit gregarious tendencies, traveling in pairs and swarms, showing interest in aircraft, and capable of outrunning jets. The article strongly suggests that these phenomena do not originate from the surface of this planet.

Finally, the article draws a parallel to a previous article on "angel hair," suggesting that these aerial "jelly-birds" might be the source of that phenomenon, implying a direct connection between the two unexplained occurrences.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme is the persistent mystery of unexplained aerial phenomena (UAP) and the inadequacy of conventional scientific explanations. The editorial stance is critical of sensationalized reporting and dismissive of theories that fail rigorous scrutiny. It leans towards accepting the possibility of non-terrestrial origins for certain observed aerial anomalies, presenting a speculative but open-minded perspective on the nature of these "angels."