Flying Saucer News - No 01 - 1953 Spring

Magazine Overview

This issue of FLYING SAUCER NEWS, published in Spring 1953 by the FLYING SAUCER BUREAU & FLYING SAUCER CLUB, is the official journal of the FLYING SAUCER CLUB. Priced at Sixpence, it covers a wide range of UFO sightings and related discussions from around the world, with a particular focus on reports from New Zealand.

Quickening Pace?

The lead article, "QUICKENING PACE ?", highlights the growing interest in investigating the 'Saucer' phenomenon. It notes the formation of two new organizations dedicated to this purpose: one in New Zealand, as reported by the 'Auckland Star', and a 'Department of Flying Saucers' established by the French Ministry of Information. This follows a report of five officials from Le Bourget airport sighting a flying saucer streaking at 800 mph over Paris. The article emphasizes the need for more organizations to solve the mystery but cautions that many sightings are attributable to 'natural' causes. It contrasts original sightings, like those by Kenneth Arnold described as 'shiny metallic discs' seen in daytime, with the majority of current reports which are 'nocturnal lights'. The author, R.H., suggests a new name for these night objects to distinguish them from daytime phenomena, noting that some have been known to chase fighter-planes.

Tito's Saucers

A brief report details 'Flying Saucers' flown over Belgrade, Yugoslavia, shortly before Marshal Tito's visit to Britain. These 'saucers' were reportedly built by the Yugoslav Air Force Construction Institute as an experiment, measuring 40 inches across and weighing 4 lb. They were controlled by radio and could reach speeds of 31 mph, though their power source was not disclosed.

India Suggests a Space Station

An article discusses a report from Madras, India, where a luminous nocturnal object, described variously as 'the moon's younger sister', 'Flying Saucer', or 'Space Station', was observed between December 4th and 10th. The object was blue-green with orange sparks and moved horizontally. Its reported size, 'half as big as the moon', led to speculation it might be a space station 7,000 to 8,000 miles above Earth. The magazine questions the colossal size required for such an observation.

It's Soap-Suds Now!

This section humorously presents a theory from 'The Lancet', a doctors' journal, suggesting that soap-substitutes forming deep suds in sewage farm aeration tanks could account for some 'saucer-scares'. When disturbed by a breeze, these suds could become airborne, creating a saucer-like appearance.

The Avro-Canada 'Saucer'

Reports from Canadian newspapers about a projected 'Flying Saucer' fighter-plane design have generated interest. The 'Toronto Daily Star', reprinted by R.A.F. FLYING REVIEW, describes the design as nearly circular, about 40 ft in diameter, with a rotating housing for the power-plant at the rear jet orifice. This rotating mechanism is said to impart gyroscopic stability and allow for spectacular directional control, potentially enabling 'lightning about-Turn' maneuvers.

News From America

Texas has "Arrowhead" Saucer

On January 6th, over Dallas, Texas, a bright object described as 'Green, orange and red, with a nose which gave out a white light' was observed for two hours, producing a whizzing noise. Official observers included police and airport control tower personnel. The object, shaped like an arrowhead, appeared to move at speeds of 2,000 mph and climbed from 30,000ft to about 100,000ft.

Saucer "Scoop"?

A report from the 'Santa Fe New Mexican' on January 10th suggests that 'fantastic strides in guided missiles and rockets' might explain some strange sky object sightings. It mentions a special Guided Missile Demonstration scheduled for White Sands, hinting at the development of 'unmanned craft capable of maneuverability, range and speeds heretofore undreamed of'.

Cameras on the Trail

Major John Samford, Chief of U.S.A.F. Intelligence, states that 200 special cameras are being used to identify saucer phenomena. These cameras are equipped for spectro-analysis to determine the physical constituents of photographed objects.

Astronomers' Views

Three papers presented at the OPTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA's 37th annual meeting discussed flying saucers. Prof. D.H. Menzel of Harvard College Observatory suggested most sightings could be explained by atmospheric phenomena like mirages or reflections. A. Hynek of Ohio State University concluded that only 'hovering nocturnal lights' were not readily explainable astronomically. U. Liddel of Bendix Aviation Corporation stated that no evidence exists for phenomena not explicable by standard physical concepts.

Book Note

Professor Menzel's book, "Flying Saucers", is soon to be published in the UK by Putnams, and a review is anticipated in the Summer edition.

African Sightings

Several photographs of a strange sky object seen at Bulawayo, South Africa, have been published. One photo shows what appears to be a collection of closely spaced vapour-like trails, possibly from an aircraft in tight circles. Reports from Capetown mention a bright stationary object with flashing lights. In Bulawayo, five saucers were sighted at 600-700ft. A 'MYSTERY OBJECT', a hollow metal cylinder with a multi-coloured flash and swishing sound, reportedly landed and was found to be warm. Another photo from Aberdeen, Cape, shows an object resembling a car headlight beam.

The magazine notes that nearly all photographs of saucers are accompanied by claims of examined negatives, but expresses skepticism about the methods of faking pictures.

Haifa: Saucers, Then "Cigar"

Two saucers were observed over Mount Carmel, Israel, at 9:55 pm on December 30th, 1952, described as 'gleaming white discs' flying at 30,000-40,000ft. The report also mentions a CIGAR-SHAPED object seen between 4.5 and 4.12 pm on January 4th, moving at great speed with three bright lights.

Telescopic Eyesight?

An extract from 'Dawn' in Karachi, Pakistan, describes a solitary shining object, about 12 inches in diameter, flashing across the Peshawar skies at 3:30 pm on January 24th, 1953. It was seen revolving on its axis at a height of about 15,000 feet. The magazine questions the ability to determine such details from a distance, criticizing the report as 'sheer journalese'.

More "Little Men"?

A report from 'PREDICTION' for April 1953 mentions an Italian gentleman claiming to have seen a saucer only thirty feet from the ground, with an occupant speaking in an unknown language.

And From Tokyo...

On February 21st, the U.S.A.F. in north Japan disclosed sightings of 'Rotating clusters of red, green and white lights' tracked by radar. A fighter pilot reported a close encounter with a small metal disc-shaped object that performed a controlled sweep pass, caught up with his Thunderjet, hovered, and then shot out of sight, moving with a 'flipping' motion.

Austrian "Ball-Flash" Theory

'The Observer' has featured a debate on flying saucers, including a theory by Herr Walcher Eduard of Austria suggesting that nocturnal lights are caused by 'Ball-flash' lightning. The magazine has written to Herr Eduard for more details.

New Zealand's Bumper Crop

This section details a significant number of sightings from New Zealand newspapers, focusing on 'Nocturnal Light' category objects. Reports cover various dates in late 1952 and early 1953, including:

• Plimmerton (Dec 6, 1952): Bright green luminous sphere with brighter dots, moving south, hissed faintly.
• Palmerston North (Dec 6, 1952): Green ovoid object moving SE with faint hissing, joined by a blue object.
• Christchurch, Kyeburn, Invercargill, Waipahi (dates unspecified): Blue disc with hissing, estimated speed of 600 mph.
• Napier (Dec 16, 1952): Six yellow dirigible-shaped objects in a line, moving northwards.
• Gisbourne (Dec 16, 1952): Luminous blue object with a lighter spot, moved erratically and fast eastwards.
• Napier (Jan 6, 1953): Large, bright, circular object fading to a reddish glow.
• Te Kuiti (Jan 6, 1953): Brilliant orange light with reddish tail, moving west to east, sighted from an aircraft.
• Paporoa (Jan 6, 1953): Bright orange light, moving SE-NW.
• Whangarei (Jan 6, 1953): Object 'slightly smaller than full moon, with comet-like tail'.
• Whangarei (Jan 6, 1953): Object like a 'lighted porthole' emitted flame, accelerated, and disappeared.
• Auckland (Jan 6, 1953): Luminous cigar-shaped object with orange flame at the rear.
• Karori (Jan 8, 1953): Two discs, one blue above a green one.
• Mosgiel (Jan 8, 1953): Triangular, brilliant reddish glow, fading and reappearing, with a small white light.
• Koburn (Jan 8, 1953): Bright disc on a circular course at 2,000 feet, with a reddish tail and sparks.
• Christchurch (Jan 9, 1953): 'Dull disc of light', yellow-orange, almost circular, observed for thirty minutes.
• Otago (Jan 14, 1953): Blue light with reddish-gold rim, moving SW at 500 mph, visible for 10 seconds before shooting upwards.
• Sockburn (Jan 18, 1953): Bright yellow object shaped like a sting-ray fish, with flames shooting from its tail.

Britain's Share

Reports from Britain include a brilliant ball of fire over Liverpool, an orange ball over Streatham, and a grey, oval object over Inverness that changed to a cigar-like shape and moved rapidly.

And One for Australia

A mysterious white object was witnessed over Geelong, Australia, which became bright yellow, grew in size, and left a phosphorescent trail. The magazine notes that reports from Australia were expected following atomic experiments, suggesting a possible connection between atomic explosions and saucer presence.

Star Letter

Miss M. Wake of Stannington, Northumberland, submits a 'Star Letter' discussing the question of interplanetary visitors. She argues that if spaceships are watching Earth, they would most likely come from another solar system, not Mars or Venus. She addresses the argument of immense travel distances by suggesting that civilizations in other systems could be millions of years more advanced, capable of such journeys. She concludes that we should not use our own achievements as a criterion for estimating what is possible for alien cultures.

The New Zealand Sightings (Detailed List)

This section provides a tabulated list of New Zealand sightings from December 1952 to January 1953, detailing date, time, location, object description, movement, and duration. These include:

• Plimmerton (Dec 6, 1952): Bright green luminous sphere.
• Palmerston North (Dec 6, 1952): Green ovoid object.
• Christchurch, Kyeburn, Invercargill, Waipahi: Blue disc, estimated speed 600 mph.
• Napier (Dec 16, 1952): Six yellow dirigible-shaped objects in a line.
• Gisbourne (Dec 16, 1952): Luminous blue object.
• Napier (Jan 6, 1953): Large, bright, circular object.
• Te Kuiti (Jan 6, 1953): Brilliant orange light with reddish tail.
• Paporoa (Jan 6, 1953): Bright orange light.
• Whangarei (Jan 6, 1953): Object like 'Slightly smaller than full moon, with comet-like tail'.
• Whangarei (Jan 6, 1953): Object like a 'lighted porthole'.
• Auckland (Jan 6, 1953): Luminous cigar-shaped object.
• Karori (Jan 8, 1953): Two discs (blue and green).
• Mosgiel (Jan 8, 1953): Triangular, reddish glow.
• Koburn (Jan 8, 1953): Bright disc with reddish tail.
• Christchurch (Jan 9, 1953): 'Dull disc of light'.
• Otago (Jan 14, 1953): Blue light with reddish-gold rim.
• Sockburn (Jan 18, 1953): Bright yellow, sting-ray fish shape with flames.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the increasing number of UFO sightings globally, the establishment of investigative bodies, and the ongoing debate between scientific explanations (atmospheric phenomena, advanced technology like guided missiles) and the possibility of extraterrestrial origins. The editorial stance appears to be one of cautious investigation, acknowledging the phenomena while also highlighting the need for critical analysis and distinguishing between genuine anomalies and misidentifications. There's a clear skepticism towards sensationalized reporting ('journalese') and a focus on presenting factual accounts and diverse theories. The magazine encourages reader participation, as evidenced by the 'Star Letter' and the anticipation of rejoinders to Miss Wake's theory.