Flying Saucer Review vol 2 no 10

Magazine Overview

Title: FLYING SAUCER REVIEW
Issue: Vol. 2, No. 10
Date: October-November 1956
Publisher: Civilian Flying Saucer Intelligence (CFSI)
Country of Publication: USA
Price: 30¢ a copy

This issue, dated October-November 1956, presents itself as a report on "INTERPLANETARY SPACECRAFT" under the main headline "WE ARE NOT ALONE." The magazine is published monthly by Civilian Flying Saucer Intelligence, with its editorial and subscription office located at 5108 Findlay Street, Seattle 18, Washington. The stated policy of the Review is to disseminate news about 'flying saucers' to the widest audience at the lowest possible cost. The publication is noted as a C.F.S.I. Publication, Non-Fiction--Scientific, and was copyrighted in 1956 by Robert J. Gribble, Editor and CFSI Director.

The Brazilian Flying Saucer Review by Olavo Fontes

The lead article, "The Brazilian Flying Saucer Review" by Olavo Fontes, details a series of significant UFO sightings in Brazil during October 1954. Fontes recounts the Brazilian Air Force's (FAB) initial investigation into unidentified craft, noting their public announcement of investigation but also their assurance that there was "no ground for alarm but much for keen interest." He emphasizes the need for an open mind when analyzing evidence, as the situation was unprecedented and could not be fitted into known phenomena.

The article then meticulously chronicles specific incidents:

• October 12, 1954: An Air Force fighter pilot, Lieutenant Alexandre M. Penna, flying near Rio Grande do Sul, spotted a high, orange-lighted object with an apparent diameter of 20 centimeters, which remained motionless for twenty minutes before vanishing. Two other pilots in the same squadron also witnessed the object.
• Same Night: A similar object was seen over Pelotas, Brazil, by members of the Fire Department, described as "disc-shaped, large, luminous, noiseless, and moving at great speed."
• October 15, 1954: The UFO reappeared over Pelotas, again described as a "great luminous disc-shaped craft, flying noiseless at high speed."
• October 24, 1954: A significant event occurred at Gravatai Air Base near Porto Alegre, witnessed by one hundred military staff. This incident, previously detailed in the Review, reportedly prompted the FAB to classify orders and investigate all UFO sightings, imposing a security lockdown on bases.
• Same Night: Saucer-shaped glowing objects were observed over Torres City Beach and Porto Alegre.
• October 25, 1954: A civilian pilot reported a disc-shaped craft flying slowly over Osorio. An Air Force jet-fighter was scrambled but could not reach the object, which was hovering at an incredible height.
• October 26, 1954: The FAB issued a statement that was considered a major development, categorically dismissing conventional explanations for the strange craft. On the same day, over Porto Alegre, Captain Antonio P. de Andrade reported a gray, disc-shaped craft flying vertically at enormous speed. Later that night, another UFO, described as an orange-red glowing spherical object, was seen moving at great speed. Captain Pedro Neto also reported seeing a round, faintly luminous object hovering over the Guaiba River for fifteen minutes before vanishing with a bright flash.
• Same Night: Hundreds of kilometers away, over Vitoria, a bright, moving light, described as a continuous glowing white light, was observed. It moved rapidly, crossed the city, turned over the ocean, and returned. Observers in Cariacica corroborated the sighting.
• October 27, 1954: In Ibia, Minas Gerais, a "strange luminous object," described as cigar-shaped or conical-shaped, was seen crossing the sky at terrific speed.

Fontes notes that the FAB's serious attitude towards the UFO situation was evident through the implementation of a twenty-four hour air patrol over military installations in Rio Grande do Sul.

UFO Landing and Brazilian Skies

Fontes also mentions an incident on October 30th, 1954, near Tades, Rio Grande do Sul, which he describes as the "first UFO landing into this country," suggesting it was an event that even skeptics would find difficult to explain away. He also notes that on October 31, 1954, two more UFOs were reported: one over Lages, Santa Catarina, described as a "disc-shaped glowing object," and another over Porto Alegre, described as a "glowing, disc-shaped craft" emitting a very bright yellow light. Despite Air Force attempts to intercept, the craft remained elusive, eventually disappearing rapidly.

Mars' "Canals" and UFOs

The issue includes a section titled "Maybe Mars' 'Canals' Are Railroads," by Wells A. Webb, a research chemist. Webb presents a theory correlating the patterns of Martian "canals" with Earthly patterns like spider webs, mud cracks, and railroad tracks. He suggests that the radiating patterns of Martian canals are similar to man-made intersections found in railroad networks, raising the possibility that these canals were created by intelligent beings. Webb, who is also the author of "Mars, The New Frontier: Lowell's Hypothesis," was interviewed in Boulder City, Nevada, about his research and his views on UFOs. He advocates for scientists to approach unexplained phenomena with open minds, considering Mars as a potential source for UFOs.

UFO Expert Interviews Educator On Recent Sighting

This section details Webb's interview with Elbert B. Edwards, a school superintendent who, along with his son Arthur and explorer John Goddard, witnessed a UFO in the Grand Canyon two years prior. Edwards described an enormous, cigar-shaped object, brilliantly lit, passing from north to southwest at an estimated altitude of 6,000 feet. Webb believes that careful analysis of such reports can lead to scientific explanations and that phenomena like UFOs should be viewed with open minds, as they could originate from other planets, with Mars being a likely candidate.

Spacecraft Will Hover Over Los Angeles, California

This section reports on claims from British UFO experts, Hon. Brinsley Le Foer Trench and Bernard Finch, who received information about a spacecraft scheduled to hover over Los Angeles on November 7, 1956. They claimed to have direct evidence of this event, which was described as a "friendly mission." Station KATY in San Luis Obispo reportedly agreed to go off the air to listen for a message from this spacecraft. The report also mentions U.S. electronic engineer Kenneth M. Keller, who allegedly played tape recordings purportedly made directly from a spacecraft hovering over San Francisco, detailing life on Mars and an interplanetary government.

Flying Saucer Crashes, Pilot Slightly Hurt

A brief report from Dayton, Ohio, details a "flying saucer" at Wright-Patterson Air Force base that was heavily damaged when it crashed on takeoff due to power loss. The pilot, First Lt. Paul L. Maier, escaped with only a bruised ankle.

More Saucers

A report from Tokyo, Japan, mentions Dr. Sukeyoshi Morikawa, a physics expert, predicting an increase in flying saucers the following year.

Man Wants To Buy Moon

An unusual anecdote from Washington, D.C., describes a man who phoned the Interior Department expressing a desire to buy the moon. The call was transferred through several departments, with officials doubting the caller had complied with land purchase regulations.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the investigation and reporting of UFO sightings, particularly focusing on the events in Brazil during 1954. There's a strong emphasis on the potential for interplanetary origins of these craft, with Mars being frequently mentioned as a possible source. The magazine also highlights the role of military investigations and the public's interest in these phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded inquiry, encouraging the collection and analysis of UFO reports, while also acknowledging the need for scientific rigor. The publication aims to keep its readership informed about the latest developments in the field of UFO research.

This issue of "SIGHTINGS" from August 1956 is a compilation of numerous reports detailing unidentified flying objects (UFOs) observed across various locations in the United States, Canada, and even Argentina. The magazine presents a chronological collection of these sightings, primarily focusing on witness descriptions, object characteristics, and the circumstances of the observations.

Key Articles and Reports

The issue is structured as a series of dated reports, each detailing a specific sighting. The reports are presented without extensive analysis, acting as a factual record of the events as described by the witnesses.

August 1, 1956:

• Warren, Maine: Reita Holden reported seeing multiple lighted objects flying south, followed by a plane flying north. She initially heard planes overhead before spotting three lighted objects, then two more, then three more, all heading south. A plane was then seen heading north.
• South Thomaston, Maine: Mrs. William Clement reported a yellow object in the sky accompanied by an airplane.
• Wichita, Kansas: Mrs. H.B. Karts described an object looking like "something afire" that moved east to north. It was egg-shaped, ragged around the edges, and not clear-cut like the moon.
• Near Amarillo, Texas: A man, identified as a former Air Force pilot, reported a mysterious craft maneuvering through a dark cloud, capturing photographs of the event which lasted two hours and fifteen minutes.
• Near Sheffield, Alabama: Miss Graves Rice observed a high-flying object that looked like a star encircled by a halo of light, changing from red to greenish-yellow and then to white. The object moved erratically before speeding off.

August 5, 1956:

• Redondo Beach, California: Several residents and police officers observed a mysterious object moving across the sky. Police were alerted to a light hanging in the sky for about 45 minutes. Two investigating officers also saw the object but could not identify it. It was described as a flare or flickering light.
• Suffolk, Virginia: Occupants of a car at a drive-in theatre witnessed eight lights racing from the southeast at terrific speed, described as illuminated portholes.

August 7, 1956:

• Roseburg, Oregon: Mysterious colored lights were sighted around the KPIC television tower, described as "funny" green and red lights moving slowly and changing color.
• Durham, North Carolina: Mrs. J.C. Hilton found three circular patches of grass seared to a yellowish-brown, suggesting a hot object had fallen on the lawn. Two other reports from the same day mentioned a "ball of fire" falling in a neighbor's yard, leaving a burned patch of grass.

August 8, 1956:

• Durango, Colorado: Malcolm Dayton, a weatherman, described an object shaped "like a football with one side pushed in," giving off blue-red radiation. Mrs. Ethel Dunn described it as colorless and swinging. Some residents reported seeing Air Force fighters chasing it.

August 9, 1956:

• Near Crested Butte, Colorado: Joranson and Larry Mayor saw a reddish-orange object flying in a straight line, described as weaving and larger than a meteor.
• Peaks Island, Maine: Mrs. Henry Briggs watched a glowing orange object with a small tail traveling southwest and vanishing suddenly.
• Colchester, Ontario, Canada: Bright lights hovered over Lake Erie, described as white to the naked eye but red through binoculars, moving up, down, forward, and back. When approached by aircraft, the lights went out briefly.
• Tarrytown, New York: Police investigated a report of a mysterious light described as yellowish and several times the size of a star, moving in jerks.

August 12, 1956:

• Panama City Beach, Florida: Lt. John Hebert reported a visitor's account of a large light giving off sparks and a blend of colors, circling over the Gulf at about 30,000 feet.
• Parkersburg, West Virginia: Mr. & Mrs. Arch Roberts reported an object that appeared round with an orange-silver color, traveling at high speed with weird, un-aircraft-like movements.
• Aurora, Colorado: Police Sgt. Jim Mullins reported three white lights floating and bobbing northeast of the police station, appearing suspended from balloons.

August 14, 1956:

• Annapolis, Maryland: Three teen-age volunteers and a housewife reported seeing four silver discs with reddish overcasts, described as "little dishes" or "great big plates," hovering and flying in formation.

August 15, 1956:

• Kokomo, Colorado: A resident reported a strange shaft of light that moved across the landscape, described as a pale shaft of light, brighter at the base, with unusual course and motion.

August 16, 1956:

• Westbrook, Maine: Mrs. Grace Curtis saw a brilliant light that swayed and turned into a "chain of stars," with an orange color. Mrs. Beatrice Moschetto reported a bright disc of reddish-orange light.

August 17, 1956:

• Beaurepaire, Quebec, Canada: Operations officers at RCAF's St. Hubert Station investigated a report of a glowing object emitting a faint yellow light, streaking parallel to the earth at fantastic speed.

August 18, 1956:

• Buenos-Aires, Argentina: A luminous, disc-shaped object with external shapes of "two luminous spheres--huge and very bright--connected" was observed. It emitted greenish light flashes and moved at fantastic speed.
• Kennewick, Washington: Mrs. S.E. Moore reported a bright silvery object floating and moving slowly, which disappeared and then returned.

August 19, 1956:

• L'Avenir, Quebec, Canada: Mr. & Mrs. Donnelly saw a "long gleaming object" streaking across the sky at terrific speed, alternating directions before turning north and disappearing.

August 20, 1956:

• Minnehaha, Washington: Six residents observed a bright, moving object near the surface of the moon, described as a star-like object that moved in various directions, stopped, and changed color.
• Ketchikan, Alaska: An unidentified flying object caused excitement. Later, two local men hunting on a nearby mountain found a 75-yard furrow plowed down the mountainside, with a shattered boulder and broken trees.

August 21, 1956:

• Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil: Two luminous, disc-shaped craft emitted colorful lights and hovered over the city for fifteen minutes before disappearing. They were noiseless and moved slowly.
• Near Innerkip, Ontario, Canada: William Corbett reported being chased by an unidentified flying object for six miles. He described a strong white light emerging from a large hub.
• Seattle, Washington: Two boys saw a bluish-white object traveling at tremendous speed, faster than any plane, which disappeared leaving a cloud of smoke.

August 23, 1956:

• Fullerton, California: Three girls reported seeing a large, round object hovering, described as having a weird blue color with white trim.
• Las Vegas, Nevada: John Romero reported seeing two "shiny, hovering objects" heading south, one of which gathered speed and vanished quickly.

August 26, 1956:

• New Brunswick, New Jersey: Laszlo Latyasovszky took a picture of a UFO described as moving fast, which was later printed as a negative. The photographed craft was silver with a brilliant red cap.
• Fort Collins, Colorado: A round object that glowed bright red hovered for 37 minutes before moving slowly and silently to the eastern horizon. It was described as much larger than a star and moving, leaving a slight smoke trail.
• Lynn, Massachusetts: Eleven unidentified flying objects were seen "spinning around like mad and shooting blinding lights."

August 27, 1956:

• Fort Collins, Colorado: A round, red object, slightly cigar-shaped and glowing red, was observed for 10 minutes.
• Colorado Springs, Colorado: Two boy astronomers described a big white light, more elliptical than round, moving southeast rapidly. They thought they detected a faint trail of smoke.
• Pottsville, Pennsylvania: Residents reported a huge "ball of fire," twice the size of the sun, that lit up the area. It floated low, emitted flames, and dense smoke.
• Juniata, Pennsylvania: A woman reported a disc-like object that gave off a brilliant light, twirling like a top and rising rapidly. A cold wind seemed to come from it.
• Tetuan, Morocco, North Africa: Hundreds of Moroccans reported an unidentified flying object emitting green light mingled with red flashes along the coast.

August 28, 1956:

• Ogallala, Nebraska: Mr. & Mrs. Jack Stone and their son observed an orange "flash" that stabilized as an orange-colored ball, which grew brighter and brighter. Tiny white "dots" seemed to leave the ball.
• Cambuquira, Minas Gerais, Brazil: A luminous, disc-shaped object hovered for five minutes over the city, then moved northwest. It had an apparent diameter of about 30 centimeters and was noiseless.

August 29, 1956:

• High Point, North Carolina: Dr. Lackey spotted a "perfectly round object, something like a silver dollar" traveling eastward, then swerving and shooting straight up.
• Bradford, Pennsylvania: An object described as "two soup bowls" joined together hovered for a minute before shooting skyward with a corkscrew motion.

August 30, 1956:

• High Point, North Carolina: Two "large, round and silver like" objects were seen side-by-side, one larger than the other, flying southwest and west.
• Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Hundreds of people watched a UFO described as a "greenish glowing light, brighter than a star," that maneuvered over the city for 15 minutes before disappearing. It made abrupt turns and repeated amazing maneuvers.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this issue is the sheer volume and variety of UFO sightings reported within a single month. The magazine adopts a neutral, reportorial stance, presenting the accounts of witnesses without overt skepticism or endorsement. The focus is on documenting the observations, including details about the objects' appearance, behavior, and the locations and times of sightings. There is no attempt to explain the phenomena, beyond noting that some reports were attributed to natural phenomena or dismissed by authorities. The editorial stance appears to be one of cataloging these events for the public record, allowing readers to draw their own conclusions.

The issue highlights a widespread interest in UFOs during the mid-1950s, with reports coming from diverse geographical areas and involving a wide range of witnesses. The consistent reporting of unusual aerial phenomena suggests a significant level of public attention and concern regarding these sightings.

Title: UFO Report
Issue: Vol. 1, No. 2
Date: August 16, 1956
Publisher: UFO Report
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of UFO Report delves into public concerns about unidentified aerial phenomena and presents recent astronomical findings, particularly concerning Mars.

Public Demand for Transparency on UFOs

The lead story, dated August 16, 1956, from Westchester, New York, highlights a demand from prominent local residents for U.S. officials to disclose information about mysterious objects sighted in the skies. An unnamed official, who admitted to joining the movement, stated, "The people want to know what sives." He emphasized that the public desired common-sense action rather than classified information or a "filter center that's all tied up by politics, red tape, and a lack of know-how." When Air Force officials were questioned about an "object" reported at Terrytown, New York, they reportedly "passed the buck."

Army's Unsuccessful Satellite Search

A report from Washington D.C. on October 12, 1956, reveals that the U.S. Army had been searching for three years for artificial earth satellites but had failed to locate any besides the moon. The study, initiated by Army Ordnance, aimed to explore the possibility of small, unseen satellites orbiting the Earth at altitudes of 200 miles or more. Astronomer Clyde Tombaugh, who discovered Pluto, was conducting observations for this study at Army's White Sands, New Mexico, and later at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona. His final report was still pending.

Mars Bulletins and Astronomical Discoveries

A significant portion of the issue is dedicated to findings related to Mars.

Radio Waves from Mars

On September 3, 1956, the Navy announced the first detection of radio waves originating from Mars. This detection was made using a 600-inch radio telescope at the Naval Research Laboratory by the same team that had previously detected radio signals from Venus. The report credits Staff Correspondent George C. Wilson.

Life on Mars Debate

The issue revisits the long-standing debate about the possibility of life on Mars. Dr. Percival Lowell, who established an observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, specifically to study Mars, believed in the existence of intelligent beings based on his observations of "canals" on the planet's surface, which he felt indicated intelligent design. However, the article notes that in recent years, the existence of these canals has been challenged as optical illusions, diminishing the likelihood of "Martians." Despite this, phenomena observed through telescopes suggest the presence of vegetation. Dr. E.C. Slipher, an experienced observer, declared, "Mars is alive. It has to be," citing evidence of light and dark areas on the planet's surface that would be more uniform without vegetation to hold things in place.

Dr. Hubertus Strugold, Chairman of the Department of Space Medicine at the U.S. Air Force School of Aviation Medicine, is quoted asserting that it would be "rash to assert that life comparable to that on Earth is impossible on Mars."

Martian Icecap Observations

From London, England, on September 5, 1956, Russian astronomers claimed to have sighted snow on Mars. Moscow radio reported that "bright spots" observed during August were a "huge white icecap breaking up" due to the Martian spring season.

In Auckland, New Zealand, on September 3, 1956, astronomer R.A. McIntosh reported that a Martian icecap melted three months earlier than usual. He noted that the icecap was last visible from Auckland on August 22nd and had completely disappeared by September 3rd, with the area then covered by a "cloud of white rist." He added that historically, the icecap never vanished until the autumn equinox, and Mars was still 11 days away from its summer equinox.

Japanese Astronomer's Findings

On September 9, 1956, in Tokyo, Japan, a Japanese astronomer, Tsuneo Saegi, chief of the Mars section of the Toa Astronomical Association, expressed his belief that Mars is "inhabited by living beings." Saegi reported spotting over a dozen "canals" between the equator and the tropical zone, along with ten round "oases" where these canals intersected. He also observed scores of shining spots arranged in a rosary fashion on the eastern edge of the planet, which he stated supported the theory of life on Mars.

Vatican on Extraterrestrial Life

Sources from Vatican City, Rome, Italy, on September 8, 1956, indicated that Catholics have the freedom to discuss and hold opinions on the existence of life on Mars or other planets. Theologically, there is no definitive Catholic doctrine on the matter, and Catholic philosophers and scientists hold differing views.

Soviet Scientists on Martian Vegetation

In London, England, on September 10, 1956, Soviet scientists reportedly "reaffirmed the existence of higher forms of vegetation" on Mars. G. Tikhov, an associate member of the Soviet Academy of Sciences, stated that scientific workers in the astro-botany section of the Academy have found evidence supporting this.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently focuses on unexplained aerial phenomena and astronomical discoveries, particularly those related to Mars. There is a clear editorial stance favoring open discussion and investigation into these subjects, urging transparency from official bodies and highlighting scientific findings from around the world. The publication appears to be a platform for disseminating information and fostering debate on topics often on the fringes of mainstream science and government reporting.