FLYING SAUCER NEWS

Magazine Overview

Title: FLYING SAUCER NEWS
Issue: Vol. 1, No. 5
Date: August, 1955
Publisher: James S. Rigberg
Price: 25c

This issue of Flying Saucer News delves into the multifaceted world of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and extraterrestrial encounters, exploring their impact on arts, science, and public perception during the mid-1950s.

Features and Articles

U.F.O. (or Flying Saucers) in the Arts

Blanche Grossman, an artist who creates oil paintings of flying saucers, discusses the growing body of literature on the subject. She notes the impact of books by authors like Frank Scully, Donald Kehoe, Gerald Heard, Donald H. Menzel, Adamski, and Wilkins. Grossman expresses a personal preference for the term UFOs and highlights Donald Keyhoe's "Flying Saucers From Outer Space" as a sober and factual account. She also mentions Orfeo Angelucci's "The Secret of the Flying Saucers" as particularly absorbing and thought-provoking. Grossman believes that the similarities in descriptions of extraterrestrial visitors and their craft across various writings are significant and suggest a reality that could pique public curiosity without necessarily causing panic.

New Trend in Space Travel

Authored by Max B. Miller, President of Flying Saucer International, this article, Part III of a series, explores the theoretical advantages of an "anti-gravity device" or "electro-gravitation field" for space travel. Professor Hermann Oberth is cited as believing flying saucers are extra-terrestrial and that their propulsion methods rule out known means, suggesting an anti-gravity device. The article mentions "Project Magnet," a Canadian government initiative headed by Wilbur B. Smith, aimed at developing a flying disc powered by electro-magnetic force. Smith reportedly stated a high probability that flying saucers exist and are extraterrestrial. The advantages of this new propulsion method include low cost, continuous acceleration without gravity strain, and the potential for tremendous speeds within the atmosphere, protected by a magnetic gravitational force-field that captures surrounding air. This field is also believed to shield the craft from ultra-violet and Cosmic radiation. Velocities near the speed of light and the possibility of "warping space" are also discussed. The article notes that the Gravity Research Foundation has been actively seeking a means of "harnessing" gravity, awarding $10,800 for essays on the subject over six years. It contrasts this with the historical development of aviation, noting the eventual obsolescence of Zeppelins and the skepticism of Thomas A. Edison regarding helicopters.

Who Believes In Flying Saucers?

This section, reprinted courtesy of BLUEBOOK, July 1955, presents anecdotal evidence and testimonies supporting the belief in flying saucers. It includes the story of a Civil Aeronautics Administration engineer who witnessed an Air Force Intelligence officer confiscate photographs of UFOs, despite dismissing them as "nothing." Frank Draper, a respected Civil Air Patrol spotter, recounts his sighting of three UFOs in 1952, noting that other witnesses in a local cafe also saw the objects. The article also mentions Daniel W. Fry's lecture in Chicago, where he claimed to have had three contacts with interplanetary visitors. At an Air Force Reserve Officers meeting, the conclusion was reportedly that "the Air Force had agreed, unofficially, that these saucers came from out of this world." Orfeo Matthew Angelucci, a Lockheed aircraft worker, shared his experience of being led by a "hazy, burgundy-colored glow" to a disc-shaped object, and claimed to have communicated telepathically with its occupants, who warned of a Russian invasion, which he believes was averted by US A-bomb tests. Despite initial skepticism, Angelucci's story was presented as fact by F. E. Rogers.

Saucery's Apprentices Scan Skies

By Dave Rosenbluth, this article explores the conviction of flying saucer enthusiasts, particularly James S. Rigberg, editor of Flying Saucer News. Rigberg believes that flying saucers are not just observed but have landed, and he offers free subscriptions to his magazine to any extraterrestrial visitors who visit his shop. He suggests these visitors are here for observation and assistance, not harm. The article references authors like Truman Bethurum, Dana Howard, and George Van Tassel, who have written about their alleged experiences with space travelers. Gilbert N. Holloway's hypothesis that saucers emerge from the fourth or fifth dimension is also mentioned, along with the concept of "Ashtar," a purported space intelligence expert. Rosenbluth notes that Rigberg believes extraterrestrials may resemble humans, potentially walking among us unrecognized.

Additional Features

Sightings: Several recent sightings are reported, including an object sighted on Coney Island by Joe Bober, described as bright and transparent. Miss Elva Just reported seeing a large, round, luminous object moving towards the East River from the 12th floor of Doctor's Hospital. Other sightings include a disc observed on August 19th, 1953, and another that remained visible for an hour on September 12th, 1954, witnessed by Miss Lydia Hellerad and Mr. John Calvin. Miss Christine Lane reported seeing three glowing, disc-shaped objects on June 9th, 1955, which disappeared by midnight. A U.S. Army serviceman, Kenneth Woodard, and his buddy, Orlando Martelli, reported seeing an unidentified flying object in Washington D.C. in 1952.

Aetherius Speaks: This section features a message from an extraterrestrial being named Aetherius, communicated through George King. Aetherius speaks of a great spiritual activity commencing May 28th, 1955, for seven weeks, urging readers to reduce material desires, sleep less, and meditate. He emphasizes that man is a God and that eating meat is a "foul crime." Aetherius states that 200,000 to 300,000 "carriers" are being sent to Earth to avert a coming disaster. He also mentions that some of the 1,350 planets in our Solar System are inhabited and that their vehicles are made of metal or "organic metal."

Flying Saucer Ether Ship Books: This section promotes four books by Franklin Hall, available for $1.00, with a coupon offering a fifth book and magazine free. The books cover topics such as flying saucers, space travels, the "Hell Bomb," and "God's Signs in the Heavens."

Books and Reviews: This section lists numerous books related to flying saucers, space travel, and related topics, with prices. Notable titles include "Flying Saucers From Outer Space" by Donald Keyhoe, "Aboard a Flying Saucer" by Truman Bethurum, and "I Rode a Flying Saucer" by George Van Tassel. Reviews are provided for "Flying Saucers and Space Ships" by Dr. Howard Brenton MacDonald and "My Flight to Venus" by Dana Howard. The latter describes an experience aboard a spaceship to Venus and a romance with a Venusian named LeLando.

Outer Space Messages Now Available: This section advertises messages from individuals who claim to have communicated with beings from Mars and Venus, offering "Vital Information of All People of the PLANET EARTH."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently promotes the reality of flying saucers and extraterrestrial visitation. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-mindedness, encouraging readers to consider the evidence and testimonies presented. There's a strong emphasis on the scientific and theoretical possibilities of advanced propulsion systems like anti-gravity, contrasting with conventional rocketry. The publication also touches upon spiritual and metaphysical aspects, as seen in the "Aetherius Speaks" section and the promotion of related books. The overall tone is one of disseminating information and fostering belief in the extraordinary, positioning itself as a source for the "latest facts about flying saucers."