Flying Saucer Digest (ICARF) - Vol 1 No 2

Magazine Overview

Title: FLYING SAUCER DIGEST
Issue: Vol. 1 No. 2
Date: December, 1958
Publisher: Gene Duplantier
Price: 35¢ a copy

This issue of the Flying Saucer Digest, published by Gene Duplantier, serves as the official organ of the Inter-Continental Aerial Research Foundation (ICARF). It focuses on UFO sighting reports, primarily from October and November 1957, aiming to provide a cross-section of UFO news that may not have reached all readers.

Introduction to Sighting Reports

The editorial states that reports already covered by most newspapers are not being repeated. Instead, the focus is on less widely reported incidents to offer a broader perspective on UFO activity. Credit is given to the Aerial Phenomena Research Group and their publications for contributing material to this issue.

Sighting Reports (October-November 1957)

October 1957

• October 2, 1957 - Lancaster, Pa.: A woman reported a white, disc-shaped UFO with a tail hovering over the downtown area, appearing to revolve.
• October 3, 1957 - Near Las Cruces, New Mexico: An El Paso couple witnessed three glowing, oblong objects that disintegrated with a large glare, illuminating the countryside. They reported no noise or heat. State Police officer Robert Gilliland of Anthony also reported fiery objects and a bright flash the same night, and a deputy sheriff confirmed seeing a similar object.
• October 7, 1957 - Pharr, Texas: A red UFO was observed being chased by at least two jet planes. The UFO glowed brightly and moved ahead of the jets. It was visible from 8:30 p.m. until it disappeared south by 8:45 p.m., leaving vapor trails.
• October 7, 1957 - Ketchikan, Alaska: A blue-green fireball was seen crossing the sky at high speed, moving in a westerly direction. The witness described it as being about the size of a quarter held at arm's length and possibly moving parallel to the earth.
• October 9, 1957 - Scranton, Pa.: A UFO was sighted in the eastern sky at 7 a.m. by multiple residents and reporters. Three jet fighters were seen heading towards it before clouds obscured them.
• October 10, 1957 - Kendallville, Indiana: Bright objects were observed speeding through the skies during the afternoon and evening by Clyde Copeland and his musicians.
• October 10, 1957 - Near Enterprise, Mississippi: Members of a hunting party reported seeing a large fireball that hurtled over several western states.
• October 10, 1957 - Oelwein, Iowa: H.C. Nauholz reported seeing two shiny, round objects with two tails streaming out behind them. One was heading toward the ground, the other south.
• October 10, 1957 - Acworth, Georgia: A woman reported a bright ball of light flashing across the sky shortly after sunset, moving from south to north.
• October 11, 1957 - Southern Japan: The Far Eastern Network reported that two fighter aircraft chased an unidentified flying object over southern Japan. The object, estimated to be 250 feet in diameter and golden in color, rapidly outpaced the 800 MPH fighters.
• October 13, 1957 - Elkin, North Carolina: Mrs. Claude Yates and two others observed a long, unidentified flying object traveling south that glowed faintly. It made a 90-degree turn and headed west.
• October 13, 1957 - Near Corry, Pa.: A reddish object landed in a field about 50 feet from the road, observed by an auto carrying five men.
• October 15, 1957 - Covington, Indiana: Mrs. Robert Moudy reported her husband saw an unidentified flying object, described as flat and oval-shaped with a large ball of fire in the center, which caused his combine engine to die.
• October 18, 1957 - DeLand, Florida: Several persons reported seeing a golden ball in the sky moving from north to south east of Deland.
• October 18, 1957 - Hancock, Michigan: Numerous people reported a 'glaring night' descending slowly toward earth, described as a slow-falling meteor.
• October 19, 1957 - DeLand, Fla.: An observer reported a burning sphere, about the size of a softball, with a long, orange-blue tail, passing overhead.
• October 20, 1958 - Columbia, South Carolina: Four persons reported seeing strange objects in the sky during the afternoon and early evening.
• October 21, 1957 - Gaydon, Warwickshire, England: The Air Ministry reported an unidentified flying object seen over Warwickshire, spotted by a night fighter pilot and ground radar. It was described as moving slowly and showing six lights.
• October 30, 1957 - Galveston, Texas: Residents observed a UFO change colors from yellow to lavender and hang over the Gulf of Mexico for five minutes.
• October 30, 1957 - Carbonado, Washington: Twin brothers reported a "big and blue" flying object that made a strange buzzing noise, knocked out TV and radio reception, and caused house lights to dim and pulsate.
• October 31, 1957 - Lumberton, North Carolina: Bobby Jean Stokes and others saw a big fireball hovering over a road. They later saw a big red glowing object in the sky about 200 feet off the ground.

November 1957

• November 1957 - Novlesville, Indiana: Two men reported sighting a UFO near Noblesville.
• November 2, 1957 - Near Logansport, La.: Airman Basic James D. Childress and Airman 2/c Howard T. Green reported a bright object, the color of the setting sun, that stopped over a hill.
• November 2, 1957 - Shreveport, La.: A man and his wife spotted a glowing object, brilliant yellow, settling near the ground, then turning deep red.
• November 2, 1957 - Near Levelland, Texas: Newell Wright reported an unidentified object sitting on the highway caused his car's engine and lights to quit working. The object moved up and disappeared.
• November 2, 1957 - Near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Mr. and Mrs. E. Myer reported a flash that illuminated their car and the ground, making a clicking sound.
• November 2, 1957 - Amarillo, Texas: Two Civil Aeronautics Authority control tower workers saw a blue, gaseous object moving swiftly southeast of the city.
• November 2, 1957 - Midland, Texas: The Ground Observer Corps reported an unidentified mother and her two children saw a large object of bluish color flying west and very low.
• November 3, 1957 - Amarillo, Texas: A Navy pilot reported seeing a glowing object, described as brilliant, then dim, then high, moving swiftly, then slowly.
• November 3, 1957 - Palo Duro Canyon, Texas: A couple saw a glowing object on the road that caused their car's motor to die. The object was in the middle of the road, glowing brightly and surrounded by fog.
• November 3, 1957 - Leveland, Texas: Ronald Martin reported a mysterious UFO, light orange in color, moving at great speed, that landed on the highway and then took off straight up.
• November 4, 1957 - New Orleans, La.: Frank Manning and a group of ten persons spotted a brilliant UFO moving directly north at a high altitude.
• November 5, 1957 - Midland, Texas: Three members of the Ground Observer Corps viewed a glowing, "cigar-shaped" object with a white rim, which appeared to be about 25 miles away but was later determined to be about 5 miles southwest of the observation post.
• November 5, 1957 - McMinnville, Oregon: A strange type of airship, described as egg-shaped with an orange glow, hovered over Sam Kelchner's farm for nearly half an hour.
• November 5, 1957 - Corona del Mar, California: Mrs. Charles Weitzel saw an object like "an orange jack-o'-lantern" over the ocean that vanished quickly.
• November 5, 1957 - Sunbury-On-Thames, England: An object, ranging in size between a tennis ball and a football, narrowly missed a 3-year-old girl. British Museum experts examined a piece and stated it was "certainly not a meteorite."
• November 5, 1957 - Long Beach, Calif.: A trio of weather observers spotted six "saucer-shaped flying objects" at an altitude of about 7,000 feet. They were described as circular, shiny, and changing course instantaneously.
• November 5, 1957 - Los Alamitos, California: An unidentified flying object was observed flitting about the sky over the Naval Air Station almost continuously.
• November 5, 1957 - Near San Antonio, Texas: Lon Yarborough reported seeing an extremely bright, egg-shaped object settle in a ravine, causing his car's engine to stop and headlights to go out.

Flying Objects Discounted by Air Force

A report from Washington dated November 15, 1957, states that the Air Force attributed five "sightings" of unidentified flying objects shortly after the Sputnik II launch to either hoaxes or natural phenomena. The "big light" in Levelland, Texas, was described as a "weather phenomenon" like "ball lightning" or "St. Elmo's Fire," caused by stormy conditions. The editors note that "ball lightning" of the described size is not recognized and that weather conditions in the area were clear to partly cloudy. The Air Force investigation revealed only three witnesses, not dozens as reported. A report of stalled autos and radio fadeouts in Alamogordo, New Mexico, was also described as a "hoax." While no cause was determined for the stalled cars, electrical storms were suggested as a possible cause.

Technical Section: Mark 2 "Cartwright" Saucer Detector

This section details the assembly and function of the "Cartwright" Saucer Detector, as reported by the Australian Saucer Record. The device uses a magnetic compass needle that deflects from magnetic north when UFOs are in the area, completing a circuit that rings a bell. Instructions are provided for construction, emphasizing the use of materials like silver to minimize arcing and the importance of cleaning the needle pivot for good contact. The detector is noted to be sensitive enough to be set ringing by iron or steel objects, advising placement away from electrical equipment.

A personal report from Mr. A. J. Milliken of Robertown describes his experience on December 27, 1955, when the detector's bell rang. He went outside and saw a bright blue-white object shoot across the sky, appearing low and heading toward earth with a slight curve. It was described as similar to a sky rocket with a glowing tail, traveling at high speed. Just before burning out, it turned a greenish color, with no sound. Fifteen minutes later, people in Adelaide saw a cigar-shaped object giving off a red glow. A Mr. L.E. Grant also reported seeing an object at 10:30 p.m. with a smaller body detaching itself.

Club News Corner

The ICARF welcomes new Divisional Headquarters and directors, including Lee Hill (Colorado), Wayne Stanley (Manitoba), Lee McCormick (Florida), and Bob Carr (Ontario). Previous DHQs that were neglected in the last issue are also welcomed, such as Doug Mapes (New York), Joe Cangialosi (New Jersey), Jim Roddy (Massachusetts), Bob Lambeck (Connecticut), Rudy Orosz (Ohio), Louis Jarosch (Wisconsin), Bill Cote (Michigan), Chuck Throne (Illinois), Wayne Roberts (Texas), and Bob Stone (Missouri). Bob Ricke has taken over the full direction of the Amateur Radio Operators' UFO Tracking Network, and Bob Saur is temporarily operating the Minnesota DHQ.

The organization expresses gratitude to all new observer posts, research teams, and assisting members. Special thanks are given to Donna Heathcote for her work as director of the Ontario Filter Center. Warm wishes are extended to Wayne Stanley of the Manitoba DHQ on his upcoming marriage.

Sell and Swap

This section includes classified ads for selling or swapping items such as science fiction books, articles on space travel, and "SAUCERS, SPACE & SCIENCE" magazine. It also advertises the "FLYING SAUCER DIGEST" for sale at 35¢ a copy or 3 for $1.00, and offers 150 feet of black and white negative film.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the detailed reporting of UFO sightings from various locations, emphasizing witness accounts and descriptions of the objects' characteristics, behaviors, and perceived effects. There is a consistent effort to document these phenomena, even those that are later officially dismissed or explained as natural occurrences or hoaxes, as seen in the "Flying Objects Discounted by Air Force" section. The publication also highlights the role of amateur research organizations like ICARF and the Amateur Radio Operators' UFO Tracking Network, encouraging participation and information sharing. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into UFO phenomena, presenting the data and allowing readers to draw their own conclusions, while also acknowledging official explanations and skepticism.