Flying Saucer Review vol 2 no 2

Magazine Overview

Title: FLYING SAUCER REVIEW
Issue Date: February 1956
Publisher: Civilian Flying Saucer Intelligence
Headquarters: P.O. Box 441, Seattle 11, Washington
Price: 30¢

This issue of *Flying Saucer Review* is the official monthly publication of Civilian Flying Saucer Intelligence. It features an article by August Roberts titled "I Saw and Photographed A Flying Saucer," an editorial discussing recent Air Force denials and urging reader action, and several reports on mysterious explosions termed "Sky Quakes."

Editorial

The editorial notes a decrease in ground sightings due to weather but an increase in aircraft sightings, suggesting a "calm before the storm." It highlights predictions of significant UFO activity and potential breakthroughs in lifting censorship that has allegedly "held back news of the Saucers for the past eight years." The editorial warns readers about a new Air Force announcement that will claim their new delta-wing, vertical-rising, jet-powered aircraft are being mistaken for flying saucers. This is seen as a "sham" to counter the impact of Major Donald Keyhoe's book, "The Flying Saucer Conspiracy," which has reportedly opened the eyes of skeptics and led to thousands of letters demanding information from the Pentagon. Readers are urged to write to the Air Force demanding information on Saucer activity, lunar activity, and findings of the Mars committee. The editorial emphasizes that the Air Force is the only military agency with records of aircraft sightings of Saucers, and an increase in these sightings might precede a new mass survey, thus necessitating another denial.

I Saw And Photographed A Flying Saucer by August C. Roberts

August C. Roberts recounts his initial interest in flying saucers stemming from a lack of information and the conflicting explanations offered by the media versus the U.S. Air Force. He reviews several well-known cases:

• Kenneth Arnold's sighting (1947): Nine flying discs in Washington State.
• Tacoma affair: Two men killed in the crash of a B-25 Bomber carrying parts of a flying disc.
• Captain James Mantell's incident (January 7, 1948): While investigating a strange object near Goodman Air Force Base, Kentucky, Mantell was killed and his plane demolished. The Air Force explained it as chasing the planet Venus, but Roberts notes Venus was not in that vicinity.

Roberts then details his own experiences and observations:

• New Jersey pilot: Fired guns at a flying disc with an unknown outcome.
• Eastern Airlines Captain and co-pilot: Witnessed a huge, wingless, tube-shaped craft with a red-orange exhaust flame traveling at tremendous speed, rocking their DC-3.
• Lieutenant George Gorman: Chased a mystery light for 20 minutes at high speeds, outmaneuvering him.
• William A. Rhodes (July 10, 1948, Phoenix, Arizona): Took two photographs of a disc. The FBI reportedly confiscated the negatives, claiming they were lost.

Roberts joined Civil Defense as a ground observer in Jersey City, hoping to see a disc. He describes his experiences in June 1952, when the Jersey City Ground Observation Post began a 24-hour active duty training. On July 19, 1952, he learned that Mrs. Josephine Hetzel of Staten Island had spotted five flying discs. His post had also seen them five minutes prior. Observer Leo Murphy reported seeing four discs in a line with another following.

Roberts visited Mrs. Hetzel, who described five colored discs with dark red rims, the size of dinner plates, flying directly overhead. Her neighbor, Frank Gonder, corroborated the sighting. Mrs. Hetzel, initially a skeptic, became convinced.

When the Jersey Journal reported on "Operation Skywatch," Roberts, with his camera, was mentioned. On July 24, 1952, George Gonger spotted a disc described as a "shiny new dime" heading for New York. Detective Ray Blascak was called but missed seeing it.

Roberts interviewed George Conger, who described the object as round, the size of a dime, tilted, with no sound or vapor trail, and moving at tremendous speed. Conger, a qualified aerial observer, stated it was unlike any known aircraft.

Roberts recounts several night watches with fellow observers Leo Murphy and James Leyden. On the night of July 27-28, 1952, while it was raining and Roberts had left his camera, they witnessed an object at 12:11 a.m. Leyden described it as a "ball of light" in the east, orange with a dark brownish rim, very bright and flickering, not resembling a plane. An Air Force officer questioned Leyden, noting three other reports from the area. Roberts managed to take a second photo as the object moved upwards. Conger observed a searchlight trying to catch it. Roberts used binoculars and described a reddish-brown dot in the center and a glowing metal rim. The object moved southeast and disappeared into a cloudbank.

They contacted the New York Daily News, which had received two reports but was not interested. Roberts suggested recording the event in the logbook. The next shift arrived and regretted missing the sighting.

Roberts developed the film using Kodak Super XX 120, noting difficulties with handling the roll film and potential fogging due to overdevelopment and proximity to the safe light.

"Ice Cream Cone On Fire!" by Ray Stanford

Ray Stanford reports on an incident on January 5, 1956, where a brilliant red, fiery object was sighted near Corpus Christi, Texas. The C.A.A. Combined Facilities Control Tower initially had no information but later suggested it might have been a high-flying aircraft. The news reported it as a "brilliant fireball" explained as a sun phenomenon from an aircraft's vapor trail. When Stanford inquired further, the News Director cited the Cliff Mauss Air Control Tower as the source. A local radio station initially confirmed receiving reports but then denied any, stating a conservative attitude to avoid public excitement. The police provided the contact of a witness, a ninth-grade English teacher, who, along with her three sons (ages 9, 15, and 19), observed the object.

The object was described as the size of a dime held at arm's length, shaped like an ice cream cone with the rounded end forward, and was visible for ten minutes. It moved north, changing course slightly east, maintaining constant brilliance and shape, and at one point appeared to stand still. There was no vapor trail. The witness, initially a skeptic, was "horrified" by the TV explanation and questioned whether the police officer or air controller had "slipped."

The air control tower reportedly identified the object as a B-57 Bomber, but later retracted, stating they could not definitively say what it was.

Sky Quakes

This section details several unexplained explosions or "Sky Quakes" that occurred in late 1955:

• November 27, 1955, East Youngstown, Ohio: An explosion shook houses in a six-block area. No jet planes were seen or heard.
• December 17, 1955, Auburn, Nebraska: A mysterious explosion was accompanied by a brilliant glow, described as a "ball of fire," and a noise that deadened the car motor.
• November 26, 1955, Guthrie, Oklahoma: Two mystery explosions occurred, with investigations failing to find a source. No jet planes were seen or heard.
• November 29, 1955, Quad-Cities (Davenport, Iowa; Bettendorf, Iowa; Rock Island, Illinois; Moline, Illinois): A sharp blast shook the area, felt as far as Muscatine, Iowa. Some reported one blast, others two. Windows were broken, and dishes rattled.
• Rock Island Sheriff's Office: Investigated a "bright flash" followed by a tremendous explosion near Andlausa. The blast was particularly strong in south Rock Island.
• December 15, 1955, Asbury Park, New Jersey: Rumbling explosions between 3:30 and 3:35 p.m. rattled windows. Military sources at Maguire Air Base stated their jets were in controlled flight at speeds up to 320 mph and could not have caused the noise by breaking the sound barrier. Captain Patrick Brown noted that breaking the sound barrier sounds like a lightning crack without thunder, unlike the rumbling noises reported.
• December 3, 1955, Roseburg, Oregon: An unidentified blast occurred at 9:50 p.m., shaking homes. Law enforcement found no specific cause. Some thought it was a speeding jet breaking the sound barrier, but the Portland Filter Center had no record of planes in the area. A resident described a "dull, muffled thud."

The magazine posits that these explosions are caused by the sudden acceleration of UFOs from hovering positions, creating a void into which air rushes at tremendous speed, causing an explosion similar to air rushing into a bottle neck when a cork is withdrawn.

Speeds And Maneuvers

This section discusses the "incredible and sometimes almost un-believable maneuvers and speeds of the Saucers while under complete intelligent control," suggesting they originate from outer space.

• December 21, 1954, Corpus Christi, Texas: A local businessman observed four dark objects streaking across the bay in a perfectly straight line. The objects then executed a maneuver where one rose upward and forward, followed by others in sequence, all while maintaining forward flight. A diagram illustrates this maneuver.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are eyewitness accounts of UFO sightings and photographic evidence, the perceived cover-up and denial of UFO phenomena by official bodies like the Air Force, and the mysterious "Sky Quakes" attributed to UFO activity. The editorial stance is one of skepticism towards official explanations, advocacy for transparency, and encouragement for public participation in reporting UFOs. The publication positions itself as a platform for disseminating information that is allegedly being suppressed by mainstream sources.

This issue, dated January 15, 1956, is titled "Flying Saucer Movie Shown" and is a bi-weekly publication of Borderland Sciences Research Associates. The publication focuses on UFO phenomena, sightings, and related speculation, with a strong emphasis on potential extraterrestrial contact and government secrecy.

Article: "Flying Saucer Movie Shown"

This section, written by August Roberts, details a friend's account of seeing an authentic movie of Flying Saucers on WABD-TV in Jersey City, N.J., on December 26, 1955. The friend inquired about the movie being shown again and received information about its content. The broadcast featured a film made in June 1954, which was only then released to the public. The film captured a strange phenomenon during a total solar eclipse: two shiny white discs appeared in the upper left corner of the picture, moving away to the left. These objects were calculated to be about twenty miles away, making them enormous in size. Fifty people reportedly saw them. The article concludes by stating that whether they were flying saucers or not, the film would start speculation.

UFO Maneuvers and Characteristics

Several accounts describe the unusual capabilities of unidentified flying objects. One description details objects assuming a "wheel formation" and then reversing the maneuver to return to a straight-line formation. They could then move forward, stop in flight, hover, and disappear one by one. CFSI research files are mentioned as containing many cases of sudden disappearances. The text posits that the human eye can only register objects up to a certain speed, and anything faster would become invisible. This explains how a saucer moving at 5,000 mph could suddenly appear or disappear without being tracked, even if cameras could capture them when not visible to the naked eye.

Another common maneuver discussed is the ability to perform 90-degree turns at tremendous speeds. An account from Corpus Christi, Texas, in the winter of 1954, describes a white object streaking downward from the sky. It suddenly altered its course, executing a right-angle turn at what was estimated to be several thousand miles per hour. The force required for such a turn is described as terrific, challenging explanations like weather balloons.

Sightings and Reports

Silver Ball Sighted in Sky From GOC Post

Two members of the Creston, Iowa Ground Observer Corps reported sighting a silver ball on December 7, 1955. The object appeared below where a jet plane had been sighted. It changed shape from football-like to square-shaped and was visible for about three minutes before disappearing behind clouds and reappearing. It seemed to have nothing attached to it.

Past Sightings Reported

• Norway, March 1901: A former resident reported seeing a round silver object move at high speed in the sky, faster than jet planes, with no streak or sparks.
• 1852: A grandfather reportedly saw three round silver objects flying from west to east in the afternoon.
• Summer 1950: A salmon fishing troller near Point Roberts, Washington, observed a round, silver saucer stationary for some time before it took off southeast and disappeared over Mt. Baker.
• August 29, 1955, Cincinnati, Ohio: A shiny disc hovered over the Ohio River and shot away when an airliner approached. In the following nights, oval lights were seen in the perimeter areas, exhibiting hovering, square turns, swinging, and bouncing behaviors.
• September 20, 1955, Cincinnati, Ohio: A witness reported a bright green and red object sailing low and silently. Later, two large red objects were seen, one of which bounced like a ball. The objects changed from red to white and shot away when an airplane approached.

Censorship and Frank Edwards

An article reproduced from the January 15, 1956 issue of "Clips, Quotes and Comments" discusses censorship related to UFOs. It recounts an incident where Frank Edwards, during a broadcast on KHJ, spoke about recent sightings and heavy government censorship. He mentioned a book that provided complete information on the subject but was cut off the air before he could announce its title. The station's circuits were flooded with calls, and a Burbank operator suggested that keeping information about UFOs quiet was a good thing, as they might be here to attack.

Speculation on Future Events

By Ray Stanford, this section speculates on significant events possibly occurring in 1956. Stanford suggests that the world might be on the verge of a major event, possibly related to war or extraterrestrial contact. He mentions the discovery that Mars is alive and that its canals are artificial, but this information is allegedly being withheld by a "silence group." Mars is expected to come closer this year, leading to potential amazing findings. Stanford hopes that "powers that be" will release information, stating that "We Are Not Alone." He believes that when spacecraft are seen in large numbers, the files will have to be opened. He also discusses the possibility of space people making mass landings, but expresses hope that it won't be necessary, as the people of Earth are not ready for such an event, which he believes would be a catastrophe to prevent a greater disaster.

Stanford also mentions a rumor that by the end of the year, the Air Force might reveal that UFOs are extra-terrestrial. This would be preceded by a flood of sightings, possibly in the millions. He also heard that a planet previously invisible from Earth will become visible from behind the moon. He recounts a personal experience on November 6, 1954, at Padre Island, Texas, where he learned not to ridicule anything, implying a significant contact or event occurred there.

Individual Responsibility and Readiness

Stanford emphasizes that the future depends on individual actions and choices. He states that the decision to make Earth a safe or dead world rests with each individual, not governments. He believes that people are not ready for a spacecraft landing, and while it might prevent a greater disaster, it would still be a catastrophe. He suggests that visitors from other worlds will only land if each person on Earth is ready, except to prevent a terrible disaster. He urges readers to consider how they can welcome visitors from other worlds, implying that personal readiness is key for what 1956 might bring.

Publications

The issue includes lists of books available for purchase from "Flying Saucers International" and "Borderland Sciences Research Associates." These books cover a wide range of UFO-related topics, including "The Flying Saucer Conspiracy" by Donald Keyhoe, "Flying Saucers Uncensored" by Harold Wilkins, and "The Books of Charles Fort." Also listed is "Clips, Quotes & Comments," a bi-weekly magazine.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the advanced capabilities and unusual maneuvers of UFOs, the prevalence of UFO sightings across different times and locations, and the alleged suppression of information by governments. There is a strong undercurrent of speculation about imminent extraterrestrial contact, including the possibility of mass landings. The editorial stance appears to be one of advocating for transparency regarding UFO phenomena and preparing the public for the reality of extraterrestrial visitors, while also cautioning that humanity may not yet be ready for such a profound encounter. The publication actively promotes books and resources for further research into these topics.