Flying Saucer Review - No 09 - 1954 03 04

Magazine Overview

This issue, #9, of Flying Saucer Review, dated March-April 1954 and printed on May 25, 1954, is published by Elliott Rockmore in New York, NY. The magazine's policy is to welcome the latest saucer reports and to copyright all typewritten copy, with reprint permission obtainable only through E. Rockmore. The publication aims to study authentic reports based on the factual premise that they are caused by extra-terrestrial craft, excluding impractical theories.

Contents and Editorial Stance

The magazine's editorial stance is clearly outlined in its policy section, which rejects theories involving conventional aircraft, balloons, littlemen, meteors, mirages, moonbeams, radar air inversions, and similar concepts. Instead, it commits to studying authentic reports that suggest craft from extra-terrestrial races. The issue is structured into four sections: a chronological listing of reports with comments, analysis of reports for behavior patterns, credit for clippings, and special features on reproduced photos, sketches, and landing reports.

Key Articles and Reports

Ottumwa Photographs Air Object

A significant feature is the reproduction of a photograph taken by Harold Fisher of an unidentified aerial object over Ottumwa, Iowa, on Wednesday, August 1, 1952. The newspaper picture, enlarged four and a half times, shows an object that appeared enormous and was moving very fast. Fisher described it as silvery and changing shapes, making no audible noise but leaving a dark trail. Don Robertson, a pilot, estimated the object's altitude between 6,000 and 10,000 feet. The accompanying article from the Ottumwa Daily Courier notes that the picture didn't fully capture the object's appearance when viewed directly.

Performance Standards of Conventional Objects

This section provides a comparative analysis of conventional aerial objects to help differentiate them from potential UFOs. Aircraft are described as T-shaped, not circular, with only a few flying wing types and helicopters capable of hovering. Balloons move slowly, at wind speed, and cannot maneuver sharply. Meteors are brief phenomena, rarely seen in daylight, and have a single path. Missiles have limited fuel, are tubular, and are not fired over civilian areas. This detailed comparison aims to establish a baseline for evaluating UFO reports.

Chronological Listing of Reports (March 1953 - April 1953)

The bulk of the magazine is dedicated to a detailed chronological listing of numerous UFO sightings from March and April 1953, along with comments and sources. Notable reports include:

• March 1, 1953: A large, round, silvery object circled over Coalton, Kentucky, and glided behind a hill. Another brilliant, soundless object was seen in Cold Spring, Kentucky.
• March 5, 1953: Over a dozen disk-shaped objects were observed by officers in Yuma, Arizona, flying at high altitude and hovering.
• March 8, 1953: A round flying object, lit up and emitting soft light, was seen at high speed in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Another cigar-shaped object with a bluish tail was also reported in the same area.
• March 12, 1953: A small, round white object was observed at 50,000 feet in Bremerton, Washington.
• March 13, 1953: A streak of fire, burning for several minutes, was seen over Yucaipa, California.
• March 18, 1954: A formation of soundless aircraft, moving at 85 mph, was detected by radar near Seoul, Korea.
• April 2, 1953: A large, bright object in Columbus, Ohio, appeared to flare into a horizontal bar of light. Later that night, a bright white object flashed red and green in Columbus.
• April 17, 1953: Several luminous objects were tracked by radar at supersonic speeds of 800 mph on the Korean War Front. A white, rounded delta-shaped object was also observed.
• April 20, 1953: A circular object leaving a trail of flame and black smoke was seen in Wincobank, England.
• April 21, 1953: An object resembling a plastic lighter-fuel capsule was observed near Lowestoft, England.

Each report includes the date, location (with coordinates), description, source, and the reviewer's comment, which often questions the report's authenticity or suggests alternative explanations like meteors or balloons.

Special Feature: Alleged Landing at Hasselbach, Germany (June 1952)

This section details a report from June 1952 concerning an alleged landing in Hasselbach, Germany, by Oskar Linke and his stepdaughter Gabrielle. They described a large, oval object with a conning tower, from which two figures in metallic suits emerged. The object reportedly landed in a forest clearing, leaving a circular depression. The review, however, casts significant doubt on this report, citing its detailed nature, dissimilarity to other 'featureless saucers,' and the possibility of it being manufactured propaganda from East Germany. The review notes that 'littlemen' reports are generally considered doubtful.

Credit Section and Newspaper Permissions

The magazine acknowledges newspapers that granted permission to reprint clippings, including the Ottumwa Daily Courier, Miami Daily News, Nana News Agency, Neosho Democrat, and Patterson Morning Call.

Overall Saucer Patterns and Conclusions

A concluding section attempts to summarize patterns based on daytime shapes and activity patterns by region. Saucers are categorized as cone-like, spherical, or cigar-like, with a significant number of reports lacking a specific shape. Activity patterns are broken down by geographical regions (Northwest, Southwest, Middlewest, Northeast, Southeast), with a notable concentration of reports in the Middlewest and Northeast.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the meticulous cataloging of UFO sightings, the critical analysis of each report to distinguish between genuine phenomena and misidentifications or hoaxes, and a strong skepticism towards reports involving 'littlemen' or those that appear to be propaganda. The editorial stance is one of rigorous investigation, prioritizing factual evidence and logical deduction while maintaining an open mind to the possibility of extra-terrestrial craft. The magazine consistently seeks to provide a platform for documented sightings while applying a critical lens to their interpretation.