Flying Saucer Review vol 1 no 12

Magazine Overview

Title: FLYING SAUCER REVIEW
Issue Date: December 1955
Volume: 1
Issue: 12
Publisher: Civilian Flying Saucer Intelligence
Country: USA
Price: 30c

This issue of Flying Saucer Review is dedicated to "Eyewitness Reports of SPACECRAFT from Other Worlds," presenting a collection of accounts related to unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and alleged extraterrestrial encounters. The magazine's editorial stance, as stated by the editor, is to present the news of saucer activity without engaging in debates with official bodies like the Air Force, leaving the judgment to the reader.

Key Articles and Reports

Padre Island Contact

The lead article, "Contact With A Flying Saucer" by Ray Stanford, details an alleged encounter on the south end of Padre Island, Texas, on November 6, 1954. Stanford claims he made contact with a Flying Saucer (spacecraft) which was witnessed by ten other individuals, including a constable, a deputy constable, and a state highway patrolman. Initially, the names of these witnesses were withheld due to privacy concerns and potential legal issues, but controversy and pressure, including input from Desmond Leslie, co-author of "Flying Saucers Have Landed," led to the release of most names. The article addresses doubts about the witnesses' attire (overcoats) and the initial withholding of names, explaining the circumstances. The released witnesses include Ray Stanford and John McCoy of Corpus Christi, Texas, and John Brand, David Piller, Jerry Lee Steele, Uvaldo Champion Jr., Robert Colberge, and Jimmy Rutlege of Brownsville, Texas. The star witnesses identified are Texas state highway patrolman Don Hoyd and constable Steve Woods; the deputy constable's name remains unknown.

Spacecraft Abducts Jet Bomber

Reported by Eugene Metcalfe from Paris, Illinois, this account describes a strange air-born craft witnessed over the past three years. On March 9, 1955, Metcalfe observed a jet plane being "scooped" out of the sky by a craft with an opening. The abducting craft, described as shaped like the top of an ordinary call bell and large enough to carry several planes, hovered after the abduction before disappearing. The jet bomber was reported missing in the St. Louis area and was never found. Metcalfe emphasizes the incredible speed of these spacecraft, noting they traveled a distance in seconds that took jet planes three minutes.

Other Sightings and Reports

• Flying Saucers Over Kennett, Missouri, Again! Residents reported seeing saucer-like lights on October 5th, the second such sighting in four months. The objects were observed chasing each other in a counter-clockwise path.
• Air Force Veteran Says: Flying Saucers Visitors From Outer Space. An unnamed Air Force veteran with five years of experience tracking UFOs states that flying saucers originate in outer space and are not devices of any country on Earth. He suggests they travel at speeds up to 12,000 mph, carry human occupants, and may possess telepathic communication abilities. He believes they are scout craft launched from larger mother ships, some of which are estimated to be 7,000 feet long.
• Burning Object Falls From Sky. A fiery object was observed crashing into a vacant lot in Portland, Oregon, on October 16th, creating smoke and burning for several seconds.
• Flaming Ball Falls From Sky. A flaming ball of fire was seen plummeting to the ground at Cedar Falls, Iowa, on September 6th.
• Strange Object Seen By Hundreds. On October 12th, a strange, misty blue object circled over North East, Pennsylvania, for over an hour, startling many citizens. A witness at St. Marys College described it as the most unusual phenomenon he had ever observed.

Additional Content

The issue also includes a "Flying Saucer book review" and a listing of "Flying Saucer books" available. The magazine is noted as the official publication of Civilian Flying Saucer Intelligence, with subscription details provided.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are eyewitness accounts of UFO sightings and alleged extraterrestrial encounters, focusing on the physical descriptions of objects, their behavior, and the experiences of witnesses. The editorial stance is to present these reports without validation or refutation, encouraging readers to form their own conclusions. The magazine aims to be a platform for uncensored information regarding flying saucers, contrasting with official denials. The emphasis is on providing raw data from the public's perspective, including detailed incident reports and witness testimonies.

This document is a collection of UFO and Flying Saucer reports, likely from a magazine focused on such phenomena. The content spans multiple pages, detailing various sightings and incidents across different locations in the United States, primarily during the 1950s. The reports are presented as reader submissions or journalistic accounts of unexplained aerial events.

Reported Incidents and Sightings

Falling Object Burns House To Ground (Allegan, Michigan): On September 5th, a mysterious object fell on an abandoned house six miles northwest of Allegan, Michigan, igniting a fire that destroyed the house. Witnesses reported a "bluish" flash in the sky between 9 and 10 p.m., and the house burned down within 30 minutes of the object being seen.

Mystery Missile Blasts Lawn (Alhambra, California): On the evening of September 16th, an unidentified object flew out of the sky in a blue flash and exploded in front of a house in Alhambra, California. Witnesses found a scorched hole in the lawn, approximately 5 inches in diameter and an inch deep, with the object having disintegrated completely.

Glowing Saucer Over Crowley, La.: A witness recounts an experience from late October 1954, where a strange "rushing wind" sound was heard, followed by a brilliant glow in the sky. As the glow subsided, smoke was visible, and a "strange craft" was observed. The object was described as round, about the size of a two-car garage, with light coming from three or four openings resembling windows or portholes. It moved away, glowing and appearing to push through fire, with only the "rushing wind" sound audible. The object came from the south and headed north.

The Little Listening Post: This section advertises "The Little Listening Post," a publication from Washington, D.C., that surveys the fields of Flying Saucers, Space Travel, and Electronics. Four issues were offered for one dollar.

Metal Strips Rain On Farm (Harrisburg, Oregon): Recently, strips of metal foil rained down from the sky onto a farm near Harrisburg, Oregon, scattering over an area about one and a half miles long by one mile wide. Some areas had a double handful of foil in one spot. The event occurred during the night of September 6th or early the next morning.

11 Discs Over Ohio: On October 2nd, two women in Uhrichsville, Ohio, reported spotting Flying Saucers on two occasions. In the morning, one witness saw seven disc-shaped craft bunched at a high altitude. In the afternoon, three or four reappeared and vanished seconds later. The saucers were described as having a silver coating and whirling through the air in an irregular line at high speed. After they disappeared, the air filled with "fine silken-like silver cobwebs." A spokesman at the U.S. Air Force Base at Wright Field in Dayton stated he was unauthorized to comment but confirmed reports of "silver cobwebs" and flying saucers had been received.

Saucers Over Utica, Ohio: Between 8 and 8:30 p.m. on October 6th, several witnesses in Utica, Ohio, saw what resembled Flying Saucers in the southwest skies. They appeared one or two at a time for three or four seconds before disappearing. They were described as light-colored saucers traveling at high speed.

Corpus Christi, Texas Boils With Saucer Activity: Ray Stanford reports on ongoing saucer activity in the Corpus Christi area. On October 22nd at 6:14 p.m., he witnessed a Flying Saucer about 30 degrees above the horizon, moving slowly across the sky. It was brilliant white-orange. He called three other people who became skeptical but changed their minds upon seeing the object. He contacted the local naval base, where an officer confirmed seeing the saucer. The object performed maneuvers for seventeen minutes before moving over the horizon. Air traffic control and the weather bureau reported no unusual activity or explanations for the sighting.

On September 28th at 8:00 p.m., a glowing-white object was seen by several people over Corpus Christi, estimated to travel at around 2,000 miles per hour. It was round and very large, making no sound. This sighting occurred 57 minutes before another "tremendous" saucer was seen over Corpus Christi.

A "tremendous" saucer was seen over Mathis, Texas (northwest of Corpus Christi) on September 17th in broad daylight. It was described as whiteish-metallic, traveling about 100 miles per hour, making no sound, and floating like a balloon before accelerating rapidly and disappearing. The witness reported a strange feeling during the sighting.

Skeptic Sights Saucer: A self-proclaimed saucer skeptic reported seeing a round shiny object hurtling across the heavens on September 6th, changing his view on flying saucer tales.

We Must Learn Better Manners: Air Chief Marshal Lord Dowding (73) believes in Flying Saucers from other planets, despite never having seen one, stating "the evidence is overwhelming." He added that Flying Saucer operators are unlikely to land until humans have learned better manners.

UFO's Fill Skies Over Kansas: On September 9th, unidentified flying objects were seen over Salina, Wichita, Hutchinson, Topeka, Manhattan, and McPherson, Kansas. In Wichita, a large object hung in the sky over the city most of the day, moving slowly easterly. An E-47 pilot observed it up to 40,000 feet, noting its apparent size remained the same as from the ground.

Flying Saucers Seen Existing By Scientist: A scientist at Patrick Air Force Base believes Flying Saucers "actually exist" but stated the Air Force is reluctant to admit this for fear of inciting an Orson Welles-type panic. He mentioned the Air Force has information on Flying Saucers but is "loath to say what it has for fear of creating a worse panic than Welles." He believes they exist based on conversations with airline pilots.

Navy Vet Tracks "Ball Of Fire" With Telescope: On October 9th, a navy veteran in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, observed an elliptical ball of fire moving in an arc in the sky. He followed it through a 40-power telescope, noting it made no noise and was not an airplane or meteor. Two other people also saw the object.

Flying Saucers Have Nothing On This Door (Columbus, Ohio): A business man heard a thump and found a 10-foot square steel door, weighing about 300 pounds, lying on the flat roof of an adjoining concrete warehouse. No one saw the door go up, and the owner suspected a strong gust of wind.

Shiney Saucer Reported Over Dothan, Alabama: On October 15th, a woman and her son stopped traffic in Dothan to watch a "shiney metal" object sweep across the sky. They watched it for five to ten minutes as it moved at a steady, moderately fast speed, turning so the sun shone off it, confirming it was metal.

Reader Reports... Saucer Activity Over St Louis, Missouri: On October 19th, a witness and his wife heard a loud humming sound and saw a silver object that appeared round or diamond-shaped. It performed "fantastic maneuvers" before speeding north and disappearing. Later, a four-engine jet bomber passed overhead. The object witnessed earlier was described as "tremendous" in size and twice as high as the bomber, moving much faster than the jet. The day also included sightings of two objects traveling north, another flashing from the west, and what appeared to be "lacey fuzz" and an object with a "whispy tail."

Glowing Object Roars Over City (Carthage, Missouri): On October 20th, a mysterious object zoomed across the sky over Carthage, Missouri, described as shaped like a huge banana and aglow as if in flames, with an audible roar. It traveled from north to southeast at high altitude before vanishing.

Saucer Over Hagerstown, Maryland: On October 10th, something resembling a Flying Saucer was reported roaring across the southern sky over Hagerstown, Maryland, appearing to move rapidly.

Silver Lights Over St. Petersburg, Florida: On October 9th around 7:45 p.m., a woman witness reported five "silver lights" flying very low over her house. They made no sound, looked silver, and were plane-shaped, flying in a V formation with one leading.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this collection of reports are the widespread nature of UFO sightings across the United States, the variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and behaviors attributed to these objects, and the often unexplained nature of the phenomena. There is a consistent focus on eyewitness testimony, with many reports detailing the observations of ordinary citizens, motorists, and even a navy veteran. The publication appears to present these accounts without overt skepticism, allowing the reports to speak for themselves. The inclusion of a quote from Lord Dowding and a scientist from Patrick Air Force Base suggests an underlying belief in the reality of these phenomena, possibly with an implication of official reticence or secrecy.

This document is a segment from an issue of 'FLYING SAUCERS UNCENSORED' by Harold T. Wilkins, dated September 1954, with page number 20. It is an official publication of Civilian Research, Interplanetary Flying Objects (C.R.I.F.O.), directed and published monthly by Leonard H. Stringfield from Cincinnati, Ohio, with a subscription price of $3.00 per year.

Government Suppression Allegations

The issue opens with a provocative question: 'WHY! Did Six Different Governments Suppress These Facts?'. It introduces Harold T. Wilkins' 'courageous new book' which allegedly breaks through a 'world-wide "hush-hush" conspiracy' to reveal the most recent and astounding flying saucer actions.

Eisenhower and the Fourth Dimension

A key event cited is President Eisenhower's visit to the Edwards Air Force Base in California on April 17, 1954. During this visit, he was reportedly informed about a recent investigation into the materialization and subsequent dematerialization of some Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) into a fourth dimension. This story, however, allegedly leaked out and never appeared in any newspaper.

The Firing of Frank Edwards

In September 1954, Frank Edwards, described as the only American newscaster reporting all the facts about Flying Saucers, was suddenly fired. The text suggests that his continuous revelations and efforts to alert the public to the 'truth about Saucers' incurred the displeasure of his sponsors and other influential people.

Municipal Alarm and Investigation

On October 27, 1954, municipal officials in a major city east of the Mississippi became alarmed by frequent sightings of silent, unidentified objects over their rooftops. They called in a scientist from Washington, D.C., to investigate, yet 'not a word has been uttered to the public' about the matter.

The 'Fireballs' Event of October 14, 1954

The publication then details a significant event referred to as 'Gulf States Showered With "Fireballs"'. This phenomenon occurred shortly after 10:00 a.m. on October 14th, affecting states including Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida, and extending over the Gulf of Mexico.

Witness Accounts and Official Explanations

Thousands of people witnessed these 'blazing "fireballs", dozens of them, started falling over the gulf states'. While some claimed the objects exploded, the weathermen in the affected areas attributed them to 'meteors'. However, the article questions this explanation, pointing out that meteors do not typically travel in zig-zag courses or remain visible for more than a few seconds, whereas witnesses reported observing the fiery objects for 15 seconds or more.

#### Corpus Christi, Texas Sighting

One detailed witness account from Corpus Christi, Texas, describes seeing a bright crimson object, about the size of a baseball, descending rapidly around 10:03 a.m. The object was initially thought to be a flare, but its fast descent and the fact that flares are not usually released in daylight contradicted this. The object was estimated to be at an altitude of six to seven thousand feet, descending at about 350 mph in a straight line. At an altitude of about 5,000 feet, it appeared to take on a rocket shape with a flame-colored fringe and emitted black smoke. Its nose then lit up with a brilliant glow, pulsating three times with a blinding flash of light. As it descended to within 200 feet of the ground, it broke up into two or three smaller pieces before disappearing. Peculiarly, a vapor stream formed in the atmosphere between four and five thousand feet and remained for about 30 minutes, which the witness stated was definitely not formed by any aircraft.

#### Discrepancies in Reporting

The weather bureau in Corpus Christi reported the object as a meteor that flashed northward from Brownsville, Texas. However, the timing provided by witnesses indicated a discrepancy: the object was seen at Brownsville at 10:08 a.m. and passed over Corpus Christi at 10:03 a.m., suggesting it was not the same object.

#### Other Gulf Coast Sightings

Another witness off Corpus Christi saw the fiery object from a boat, describing it as metallic and passing very close. In Galveston, Texas, observers reported a giant 'fireball' exploding with a roaring noise and leaving a black smoke trail around 10:05 a.m. Another witness saw a fiery object about seven miles out in the gulf.

Sightings in Other Locations

In Brownwood, Texas, hundreds of 'whiteish-filmy' objects were reported floating over the city concurrently with the 'fireballs'. A witness flying from Gulf Port, Mississippi, to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, saw a tremendous flash of light, thought to be a Flying Saucer, which came alongside their plane at high speed, slowed down, and exploded in sparks.

#### Radar and Military Reports

Foster Air Force Base officials reported picking up one of the fiery objects on their radar. In Mobile, Alabama, two tower control operators at Brookley Air Force Base saw a 'fireball' explode on the edge of the military reservation. Pilots of three military aircraft near Mobile reported seeing a red 'rocket' around the same time.

#### Houston and New Orleans Accounts

A woman in Houston, Texas, saw a shiny, flaming object that passed over her and exploded. Another witness driving in Houston described a light brighter than a plane on fire, moving east very fast, which they watched for about half an hour before it broke up and disappeared. In New Orleans, Louisiana, witnesses reported a 'fireball' about four feet long with blue fire from the rear, which suddenly went out and dropped near the Chrysler plant.

#### Austin and Belville/Sealy Sightings

In Lucy, Louisiana, a burning object at about 5,000 feet left a vapor trail for 45 minutes. Austin, Texas, experienced a mysterious event where the airport tower received a radio call from an unidentified pilot asking for help, yelling 'Mayday', and then going off the air without further details. A witness driving between Belville and Sealy, Texas, saw a fiery object with a 50-foot tail that was so brilliant it blinded them, and it disappeared in the air. This witness was so unnerved they pulled over, fearing people would think they were crazy. The same witness later encountered a hysterical woman who had driven her car off the highway into a ditch and hit a fence after seeing the 'fireball'.

Flying Saucer Books

Pages 26 and 27 list books available for purchase related to flying saucers. Books can be obtained postpaid from Flying Saucers International in Los Angeles, California, with a 10% discount on orders over $10.00. Titles include 'The Case For The UFO' by M. K. Jessup, 'The Secret Of The Saucers' by O. Angelucci, and 'Flying Saucers On The Attack' by Wilkins. Another list provides books available from Borderland Sciences Research Associates (BSRA) in San Diego, California, including 'Coming Of The Guardians' by Meade Lane and 'The Mystery Of The Etherships'. Magazines like 'Round Robin' and 'Clips, Quotes & Comments' are also offered.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are government secrecy and suppression of information regarding UFOs, the alleged cover-up of flying saucer phenomena, and the presentation of numerous witness accounts of unexplained aerial objects. The editorial stance is clearly pro-disclosure, aiming to expose what the publication views as hidden truths about flying saucers, challenging official explanations like 'meteors' and highlighting the perceived efforts by authorities and influential figures to silence reporting on the subject. The inclusion of book advertisements reinforces the publication's focus on promoting literature that supports these themes.