Flying Saucer News - No 02 - 1953 Summer

Magazine Overview

Title: FLYING SAUCER NEWS
Issue: Summer 1953
Date: Summer 1953
Publisher: FLYING SAUCER CLUB OF GT. BRITAIN
Country: United Kingdom
Price: 9d.

This issue of "Flying Saucer News" serves as the official journal for the Flying Saucer Club of Great Britain, published in the Summer of 1953. It highlights the growing international scope of the organization, with members spread across numerous countries. The publication aims to connect enthusiasts, share information, and investigate the phenomenon of flying saucers.

Linking Up and Overseas Members

The editorial expresses pleasure at the increasing number of overseas "Saucer organisations" with which the Flying Saucer Club is now in contact, noting five such groups. It suggests that close cooperation between these groups could accelerate the discovery of "the TRUTH." The possibility of establishing a World Headquarters is considered, provided it has the facilities to manage the vast amount of material being collected. The magazine proudly lists its international membership, spanning countries like Norway, Sweden, South Africa, Nigeria, Cyprus, Malaya, India, Australia, New Zealand, and the U.S.A. Several members are recognized as "Overseas Correspondents" for their efforts in sending in press cuttings and articles, which help to provide a comprehensive global picture of saucer activity.

You Can Help, Too

Members are urged to actively look for and send in any "saucer items" found in the press to the "NEWS." The editorial notes that the national press has largely ceased covering saucer reports, leaving this task to smaller local papers. This section encourages active participation from the readership in gathering information.

Saucer Articles

The magazine plans to share fascinating articles from American magazines that are too long for direct inclusion. A scheme is being considered to provide duplicated copies of these articles to members, with a potential cost of 4d to 6d per article. Interested members are asked to send a postcard to Headquarters to receive a list of available articles.

The F.S.C. "Contact Column" or Postal Saucerers

This section lists members who are seeking correspondence with fellow enthusiasts. It provides names and addresses for individuals in the UK (Geoffrey Cook, A.J.Haughey, Richard Barber) and overseas (A4871 A/C Bowden, G.C. from Australia, and P. Swindell from Singapore). Junior members are also listed, including Barry B. Taylor and J.G. McGuinness. The aim is to foster connections and information exchange among members.

A Science-Fiction Fan?

This is a promotional blurb for "ANDROMDEA," a fanzine for science fiction fans, available for 4d a copy, featuring reviews, stories, and poems. It is published by Pete Campbell of Windermere.

That Menzel Book

This section provides a review of Professor Menzel's book, "Flying Saucers." The review acknowledges that many press outlets, including "The Times Literary Supplement" and the B.B.C. (featuring Professor A.C.B. Lovell), have already reviewed it. The core of Menzel's argument, as summarized from "Science Newsletter," is that "Flying Saucers are real" but are caused by natural phenomena like mist, ice-crustals, or mirages. The "Flying Saucer News" review, however, contends that Menzel claims *all* saucers fall under his "Natural" explanation, and that this overlooks phenomena that cannot be explained naturally. The writers express their belief that Menzel either ignores or dismisses these unexplained cases. They also mention writing to Professor Lovell, who declined further comment but offered to pass on any reports he receives.

Big Events Predicted for August!

The magazine reports on predictions from "several sources" of a "World-shaking" event between August 20th and 26th, attributed to Nostradamus and written in the Pyramids. The prediction is also noted in astrological circles. The exact nature of the event is vague, but the article expresses hope it will not be a Third World War, preferring to think it might be related to saucers.

Another Forthcoming Saucer Book

This section discusses the upcoming book by Desmond Leslie, who has been making startling claims in the press. Leslie's investigation into flying saucers over two years, involving over two thousand sightings and ancient Sanskrit books, leads him to state:

1. Saucers are mostly interplanetary.
2. Earth has been visited by spacecraft throughout history.
3. Ancient Sanskrit books suggest a form of flying saucer was built on Earth, and interplanetary communion existed before a catastrophe around 9460 B.C.

Leslie also mentions a privately funded observatory in America that aimed to prove or disprove the existence of extraterrestrial flying saucers. After numerous attempts, a dozen telescopic photographs were taken, allegedly showing three distinct types of spacecraft that differ from anything built on Earth.

Leslie's book is expected to be published by Messrs. Werner Laurie & Co. in the Autumn. Mr. Charles Davy, Assistant Editor of "The Observer," has seen some photographs from the book, including one of a saucer that allegedly landed in California. Davy describes the object as a "solid, dome-shaped, metallic structure," and while acknowledging the possibility of a hoax, finds the evidence intriguing.

Are We Getting Physical Proff at Last?

This section presents evidence of physical phenomena associated with UFOs. It references an incident at OROLON, France, on October 17th, where a fleet of objects of diverse shapes and colours appeared, accompanied by a "rain of white threads" that disintegrated upon handling. Similar threads, described as fine and white like "candy floss," were reported in Ongaonga, New Zealand, in April. These substances were up to five feet long and disintegrated in the hand, having apparently fallen overnight.

German Engineer's Story

The West German newspaper "Die Welt" reported an interview with a German engineer who claimed that the Nazis had developed prototypes of Flying Saucers as secret weapons before the end of World War II. The engineer, George Klein, stated he witnessed a test flight in Prague in February 1945, where a piloted saucer reached 38,000ft in three minutes and achieved 1,350 mph in level flight. This saucer was described as non-rotating, 140ft in diameter, and built by secret weapon expert Miethe. It is also reported that one of Miethe's experimental saucers fell into Russian hands in Breslau.

"Saucers Cause Tempests" Says Swiss

A Swiss mathematician and weather expert, Professor Nicolet, believes that World War III might be waged by Flying Saucers using thunderstorms and hurricanes. He theorizes that saucers cause turbulence in the atmosphere, which intensifies and affects the earth. He predicts that saucers could be used to prevent atomic bomb-carrying planes from leaving their airfields.

Other Saucer Groups - Here and Abroad

This section details several other organizations involved in UFO research:

• Civilian Saucer Investigation (New Zealand): Comprises technical experts investigating local reports. They publish a 14-page cyclostyled publication, "Flying Saucers," which notes blue and green discs.
• International Flying Saucer Bureau (Bridgeport, Conn., U.S.A.): With Capt. E.L. Plunkett as the British Representative, they publish "SPACE REVIEW." Meetings in Bristol involve discussions on UFOs, parapsychology, and the occult, including seances. Membership is 5/- annually and includes a subscription to "SPACE REVIEW."
• Flying Saucers International (Los Angeles, U.S.A.): An active group that has issued releases and a photolith publication called 'SAUCERS.' They are organizing the World's First Flying Saucer Convention in Hollywood, California, from August 16th-18th.
• Australian Flying Saucer Investigation Committee: Includes civil, electronic, and electrical engineers, industrial chemists, and a former R.A.A.F. Flying Officer. The Secretary is L.T. Whitney.
• "OURANOS" - A Flying Saucer Magazine in English and French: Described as an excellent, letterpress-printed magazine with a decorative cover. It is partly in English and partly in French and is printed in England by Mr. E. Biddle. The magazine is seen as complementary to "F.S.NEWS."

Latest British Sightings

This section details several recent UFO sightings in the UK:

• Saucer Seen Over Sheffield (April 20th): Three youths reported a saucer observed for 25 minutes, noting its slow flight, ability to hover, dive, stop, and start at will. The newspaper's impression of speed was deemed incorrect. The object banked, showing a circular shape, and left a trail of flame ending in black smoke.
• Lowestoft Sighting (April 21st): An object resembling a plastic lighter-fuel container was seen moving south-west then north-east for about 30 minutes. It was observed through a telescope with 200x magnification by members of the Royal Observer Corps.
• Lowestoft Sighting (Same Evening): Spectators at a football match saw an object described as "like the evening star" moving from east to south-east.
• Saucer Over Dunoon (June 21st): A perfectly round, spinning object appeared from the clouds, hovered, then ascended rapidly, leaving a black trail. It was described as a dull object.
• Edinburgh (May 5th): A rocket-like object with a brush-like tail was seen travelling north at high speed for five minutes.
• Birmingham (May 11th): A silvery object moving slowly above the clouds was observed but could not be identified by the Edgebaston observatory.
• Manchester (June 18th): A pale green brilliance with a dim vertical ray and two orange-red lights emerged, travelled south-west, converged, and disappeared without sound.
• Windermere (June 25th): A metallic grey disc was sighted at approximately 2,000 ft, travelling at less than 60 mph, leaving a trail of vapour. Tropical storms and flooding descended on the district the following afternoon.

Theories and Comments

This section features letters from readers offering their perspectives on flying saucers:

• A.F. (Birmingham): Responding to "Miss Wake," suggests that humans may resist the idea of a superior race due to ego blow.
• M.B. Miller (Los Angeles, U.S.A.): Challenges the claim that Mars and Venus are the only planets capable of supporting life, citing recent discoveries about the universe's vastness and potential for life on the moon.
• Arne Friberg (Tyringe, SWEDEN): Believes saucers are from another planet, powered by magnetism and using rockets for flight maneuvers.
• Geoffrey Cook (Halton, Leeds): Proposes a theory that saucers travel through space by revolving on a vibration or wave-pattern, allowing them to move along a "channel" and cover vast distances quickly.
• F.X. Gruber (Albany, New York, U.S.A.): Argues that saucers must be extraterrestrial due to their advanced nature. He suggests Mars and Venus could send observation ships and that they might use planetary gravitational pull for travel, potentially achieving speeds of 440,000 m.p.h. He hopes they will be friendly and advance human knowledge.

The "Editor's Note" clarifies that the views expressed are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the Editor's responsibility or endorsement. All opinions are welcome.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the growing international community of UFO researchers, the ongoing debate about the nature and origin of flying saucers (natural phenomena vs. extraterrestrial craft), and the collection of eyewitness accounts and potential physical evidence. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious interest and investigation into the phenomenon, while maintaining a balanced and non-sensationalist approach, as indicated by the Editor's note in the "Theories and Comments" section. There is a clear emphasis on sharing information, fostering cooperation among groups, and encouraging reader participation in gathering and reporting sightings and related news.

Title: FLYING SAUCER NEWS
Issue: 11
Date: Summer, 1953
Publisher: BRITISH FLYING SAUCER BUREAU & FLYING SAUCER CLUB
Country: England
Language: English

This issue of FLYING SAUCER NEWS, dated Summer 1953, features a prominent "STAR LETTER" and a compilation of recent UFO sightings from around the world.

Star Letter: The Flying Saucer & the "Abominable Snowman"

The "Star Letter" is contributed by L. NOLAN from Bradford, Yorks. Nolan expresses a firm belief that flying saucer sightings are facts and that the objects come from another planet, criticizing the Air Ministry's dismissive explanations like 'smoke rings' and 'Met.balloons'. He presents his "pet theory" connecting flying saucers with the mystery of the "Abominable Snowman". Nolan posits that saucers may have landed in vast, remote areas like the polar regions and the Himalayan mountains. He suggests that the frequent sightings near mountain ranges indicate these peaks could serve as a base for extraterrestrial visitors. His theory is that the creatures known as "Abominable Snowmen" are themselves the visitors, observed wandering about. Nolan invites other members to share their opinions on this theory.

Following the letter, the publication notes that Mr. Nolan has received an award for his theory: a copy of Donald Keyhoe's book, "THE FLYING SAUCERS ARE REAL". The editors also encourage readers to send in their views, even if they already own the book, offering alternative awards such as club transfers, stationery, or a free subscription.

Short List of Sightings Since April

This section details UFO sightings occurring outside of Britain between April and June 1953:

• April 20th, Korea: A white, shiny, wingless object was observed moving at 60-80 mph, 100 feet above the ground, 25 miles east of Panmunjom. It was visible for 15 minutes and witnessed by 7 U.S. Officers.
• May 16th, Avontuur (South Africa): A round metal ball with a torpedo-shaped dome in front was seen travelling silently westwards, emitting sparks. Several witnesses observed the phenomenon in various areas.
• May 17th, Mackay (N.Queensland, Australia): A commercial airline pilot on a DC-3 reported sighting a "flying fishbowl" that crossed his path and "disappeared westwards at terrific speed." Control tower officials also reported the object.
• May 18th, Rockhampton (Australia): A silver, crescent-shaped object was sighted with a theodolite at the airport. Its size was estimated from a pin-head to the naked eye. It changed course several times. Later reports suggested this object might have been the planet Venus.
• May 20th, Brussels: A moon-like discus with a white ring around it was observed. It reportedly made a noise described as "like a vibrating sheet of tin, accompanied by explosions like a machine-gun." The object was photographed by a cameraman from "Le Peuple" near Charleroi.
• June 2nd, Darlington (Wisconsin, U.S.A.): An enormous blue-white light, likened to a "2nd moon," was seen moving across the southern sky at approximately 70 mph at 3:15 am. It paused for 15 minutes before moving off on a different course. No noise was reported, and its height was estimated at 4,000-5,000 feet.
• June 20th, Marble Creek (Calif.U.S.A.): Two miners requested permission from the Sheriff to shoot at a midget-manned Flying Saucer that was reportedly invading their diggings. The object had landed twice, and a "little man" was seen emerging to scoop water in a shiny pail and hand it to someone inside. A previous landing was noted on May 20th. The Sheriff advised them not to shoot but to "grab it" next time.

"BALL-FLASH" OR 'SAUCER'?

Two members of the F.S.C., D.W.Haspell and J.T.Osborne, reported observing a red ball in the sky on May 25th, at 5:06 pm, during a thunderstorm at Bakewell, Derbyshire. The object was moving and remained in sight for approximately 15 seconds. The report notes that they have not yet heard from Herr Walcher Eduard (mentioned in a previous issue), but suggests this sighting might be related to "Ball-flash lightning."

Publication Information

The publication is identified as a re-print edition published by the BRITISH FLYING SAUCER BUREAU & FLYING SAUCER CLUB, with Hon. Sec. W. E. Nicholas, located at 30 Melbourne Terrace, Newtown, Bristol 2, England.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the belief in the reality of flying saucers as extraterrestrial craft, the exploration of speculative theories connecting UFOs with other mysteries (like the Abominable Snowman), and the cataloging of recent sightings. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded investigation and encouragement of reader participation, as evidenced by the "Star Letter" feature and the call for opinions and alternative award offerings. The publication actively promotes the study of flying saucers and disseminates information on sightings and theories within its community.