Magazine Summary
FLYING SAUCER REVIEW
Summary
This issue of Flying Saucer Review from June 1956, titled 'WE ARE NOT ALONE,' focuses on reports of interplanetary spacecraft and UFO sightings. It details numerous witness accounts from various locations including Kansas, Maine, New York, Texas, France, and Alaska, describing objects with diverse shapes, colors, and behaviors. The magazine also reviews books on the subject, such as Gray Barker's 'They Knew Too Much About Flying Saucers' and Aime Michel's 'The Truth About Flying Saucers,' and includes a commentary on Donald H. Menzel's views on extraterrestrial life.
Magazine Overview
Title: FLYING SAUCER REVIEW
Issue: Vol. 2, No. 6
Date: June 1956
Publisher: Civilian Flying Saucer Intelligence (CFSI)
Country: United States
Price: 30¢
This issue of Flying Saucer Review, published monthly by Civilian Flying Saucer Intelligence from Seattle, Washington, presents a collection of UFO sightings and related information. The cover boldly states "WE ARE NOT ALONE" and "A REPORT ON INTERPLANETARY SPACECRAFT," setting the tone for the content within.
Editorial Stance and Publication Details
The magazine is published by Civilian Flying Saucer Intelligence (CFSI) with editorial and advertising offices at 5108 Findlay Street, Seattle 18, Washington. Subscriptions and correspondence should be directed to this address. The subscription price is $3.00 per year in the U.S., U.S. possessions, and Canada, with higher rates for foreign countries. The publication is copyrighted 1956 by Robert J. Gribble, Editor and CFSI Director, who grants permission to quote from the issue provided credit is given.
A section titled "Keep An Eye On The Sky--Report All Unidentified Flying Objects To CFSI" encourages readers to submit information about unusual phenomena. The editorial philosophy is hinted at in a quote: "The human mind likes a strange idea as little as the body likes a strange protien. If we watch ourselves honestly we shall often find that we have begun to argue against a new idea even before it has been completely stated."
Reported Sightings and Incidents
The issue details numerous UFO sightings from various locations:
Odd Craft Seen Hovering In Night Sky
- Coffeyville, Kansas (April 2, 1956): R. H. Smith reported seeing an illuminated, framework-less craft, approximately 30 feet in wingspread, hovering at an estimated 300 feet altitude before ascending.
- Coffeyville, Kansas (April 22, 1956): Richard Henry observed a spinning disc-shaped craft with a bright red glow, moving slowly and appearing about 1½ feet long, later showing tiny lights.
Burning Object Falls From Sky
- East Dexter, Maine (April 24, 1956): Frank L. Pullen and his son heard a roaring sound and saw fire and sparks falling from the sky. The next morning, they found four charcoal-like objects, the largest about 2 inches in circumference.
UFO's Over Bath, New York
- Bath, New York (Week of April 22, 1956): Mr. and Mrs. John Gerych Jr., Jay Hunter, and George Lewis reported seeing an unidentified flying object for two successive nights. It appeared bright, then greenish-blue, with red spots, and changed speed.
Past Sightings
- Corpus Christi, Texas (August 25, 1951): Ray Stanford reported an unidentified flying object, globe-shaped and emitting a yellowish glow, hovered stationary for two hours, estimated to be at least a hundred feet in diameter.
- Near an unnamed location (August 2, 1955): A neighbor reported seeing a brownish, cigar-shaped craft moving in a stable, vertical position at high speed against the wind.
- Corpus Christi, Texas (January 25, 1955): A resident sighted two unidentified flying objects at an estimated 10,000 feet altitude, described as red-orange and pulsating.
UFO Over Anchorage, Alaska
- Anchorage, Alaska (Two evenings): Mrs. Betty Kile reported seeing unusual objects in the sky on two different evenings, which gradually vanished.
UFO's Seen Flying In Sky In Colorado
- Pueblo, Colorado (May 7, 1956): Correspondent Mrs. Roy Atkinson reported six successive nights of sightings. Captain Vincent Fintery noted no interceptor aircraft were sent, but Sergeant Gilbert Nelson investigated, observing six appearances of dull, fluorescent glows, mostly triangular, moving at high speed.
UFO Seen In Skies West Of New Castle, Pa.
- West of New Castle, Pennsylvania (April 10, 1956): A conical-shaped UFO was observed from 8:26 p.m. until midnight, moving from the horizon and higher into the sky. Reports were forwarded to the Canton Filter Center, with an Air Force spokesman declining comment.
Spacecraft Over California
- El Monte area, California (April 24, 1956): R.M. Grace reported seeing an egg-shaped, brilliant white craft hovering at 1,000 feet, emitting no sound or flame.
Mysterious "Exploding Flash" Over Lubbock, Texas
- Lubbock, Texas (April 14, 1956): CAA officials and Air Force officers could not identify a mysterious "exploding flash" seen by a pilot and a farmer, described as a greenish light with a thin red streak.
Book Reviews and Commentary
New Books
- "They Knew Too Much About Flying Saucers" by Gray Barker: This book is described as a behind-the-scenes chronicle of civilian saucer research, starting with the Flatwoods "monster" and detailing Barker's three-year investigation. It highlights the closure of organizations and silencing of investigators, suggesting a cover-up. The book is published by University Books, Inc., New York, for $3.50.
- "The Truth About Flying Saucers" by Aime Michel: This review covers sightings from Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the United States. Aime Michel, a mathematician and engineer, presents extraordinary and baffling sightings and evaluates theories, including those of Professor Donald Menzel. The book also proposes a revolutionary theory about how these objects originate and break through the thermal barrier. It is published by Criterion Books, Inc., New York, for $3.95.
Menzel Speaks!
The issue includes a commentary on Donald H. Menzel's article "Other Worlds Than Ours" in the November 1955 issue of Atlantic magazine. While acknowledging Menzel's discussion of life on other planets, the commentary notes his avoidance of the term "flying saucers." The article concludes with Menzel's speculative theory about the plurality of planets and the existence of life, which the reviewer suggests indicates a change of mind for Menzel.
Classified Advertisements
Several sections offer books and publications related to flying saucers and related phenomena:
- Flying Saucers International: Offers a list of books by authors like Edward Ruppelt, Harold Wilkins, Donald Keyhoe, George Adamski, M.K. Jessup, O. Angelucci, Leonard Cramp, Dan Fry, Frank Thomas, Truman Bethrum, and Frank Scully. It also lists "The Books Of Charles Fort." A 10% discount is available on orders totaling $10.00 or more.
- W.C.G. RESEARCH BULLETIN: A monthly publication from the Waukegan Contact Group, covering twelve different subjects related to flying saucers, including photos. Issues are $2.00.
- Flying Saucer News: A monthly publication from New York, with a subscription of $2.00 per year.
- TELONIC RESEARCH BULLETIN: An official publication from the Telonic Research Center in Prescott, Arizona, published quarterly for $2.00 a year.
- COSMIC NEWS: Described as the "Hottest Paper Of Its Class," available for $1.35 per year.
- Borderland Sciences Research Associates: Offers books such as "The Coming Of The Guardians," "The Mystery Of The Etherships," and magazines like "Round Robin" and "Clips, Quotes & Comments."
Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance
The recurring themes in this issue are the reporting and investigation of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and the possibility of interplanetary spacecraft. The magazine actively encourages reader participation in reporting sightings, suggesting a belief in the reality of these phenomena and a desire to document them. The inclusion of book reviews and commentary on prominent figures like Donald Menzel indicates an engagement with both popular and scientific discourse surrounding UFOs. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry and a challenge to skepticism, as suggested by the cover headline and the introductory quote.
The human mind likes a strange idea as little as the body likes a strange protien. If we watch ourselves honestly we shall often find that we have begun to argue against a new idea even before it has been completely stated.
Key Incidents
R. H. Smith reported seeing an illuminated, framework-less craft with a wingspread of about 30 feet, hovering at an estimated 300 feet altitude, then gliding and ascending.
Richard Henry spotted a spinning disc-shaped craft with a bright red glow, moving slowly and appearing about 1½ feet long, later showing tiny lights.
Frank L. Pullen and his son reported hearing a roaring sound and seeing fire and sparks falling from the sky, later finding four charcoal-like objects.
Mr. and Mrs. John Gerych Jr., Jay Hunter, and George Lewis reported seeing an unidentified flying object for two successive nights, described as bright, then greenish-blue, with red spots, and changing speed.
An unidentified flying object, globe-shaped and giving off a yellowish glow, hovered stationary for two hours, estimated to be at least a hundred feet in diameter.
A neighbor reported seeing a brownish, cigar-shaped craft moving in a stable, vertical position at high speed against the wind.
Two unidentified flying objects, estimated at 10,000 feet altitude, were seen as red-orange and pulsating, making no sound.
Six appearances of dull, fluorescent glows, mostly triangular but one round, were observed between 9 p.m. and midnight, moving at high speed.
A conical-shaped UFO appeared near the horizon and moved higher in the sky, visible until midnight.
R.M. Grace reported seeing an egg-shaped, brilliant white craft hovering at 1,000 feet, with no sound or flame.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the publication frequency and price of Flying Saucer Review?
Flying Saucer Review is published monthly. A single copy costs 30¢, with a subscription price of $3.00 a year in the U.S., U.S. possessions, and Canada, and higher for other countries.
What types of UFO sightings are reported in this issue?
This issue reports sightings of disc-shaped crafts, glowing objects, cigar-shaped craft, conical UFOs, and egg-shaped craft, with descriptions of their behavior, speed, and altitude.
What books are reviewed or mentioned in this issue?
The issue reviews 'They Knew Too Much About Flying Saucers' by Gray Barker and 'The Truth About Flying Saucers' by Aime Michel, and lists other related books available for purchase.
What is the stance of the magazine regarding UFO reports?
The magazine encourages readers to report all unidentified flying objects to CFSI and welcomes information about sightings, holding names strictly confidential unless otherwise instructed.
In This Issue
People Mentioned
- Robert J. GribbleEditor and CFSI Director
- R. H. SmithWitness
- Richard HenryWitness
- Frank L. PullenWitness
- Wendell PullenWitness
- Mr. and Mrs. John Gerych Jr.Witnesses
- Jay HunterWitness
- George LewisWitness
- Ray StanfordCorrespondent
- Betty KileWitness
- Mrs. Roy AtkinsonCorrespondent
- Vincent FinteryCaptain, Air Force Air Defense Filter Center
- +5 more
Organisations
- Civilian Flying Saucer Intelligence (CFSI)
- The International Flying Saucer Bureau
- Elmendorf Air Force Base
- 4602nd Air Intelligence Service squadron
- Air Force Air Defense Filter Center
- Ground Observer Corps
- Canton Filter Center
- Municipal Airport
- Reese Air Force Base
- Atlantic magazine
- University Books, Inc.
- Criterion Books, Inc.
- Borderland Sciences Research Associates
- Waukegan Contact Group
- +1 more
Locations
- Seattle, United States
- Coffeyville, United States
- East Dexter, United States
- Maine, United States
- Bath, United States
- New York, United States
- Corpus Christi, United States
- San Antonio, United States
- Villacoublay, France
- Oloron, France
- Gaillac, France
- Bocaranga, French Equatorial Africa
- New Castle, United States
- Pueblo, United States
- +5 more