1966 10 04 Look John Fuller Aboard A Flying Saucer Lagrange scan

Magazine Overview

This issue of LOOK magazine, dated October 4, 1966, features a prominent cover story titled "Aboard a Flying Saucer," detailing the alleged UFO abduction of Betty and Barney Hill. The magazine also highlights Elizabeth Taylor on its cover, posing a question about her performance in a Shakespearean role. The issue includes a variety of other articles, including a piece on the case for small colleges, an exposé on bribery in New York, and previews of upcoming content.

Aboard a Flying Saucer: The Adventures of Two "Kidnapped" Humans

The lead article, written by John G. Fuller, presents the account of Betty and Barney Hill, who claim to have been abducted by humanoids in a spacecraft on September 19, 1961, during a drive through New Hampshire. The couple experienced a period of missing time and disturbing memories, which led them to seek help from Dr. Benjamin Simon, a renowned Boston psychiatrist and neurologist with extensive experience in hypnosis.

Dr. Simon treated the Hills through individual psychotherapy and time regression under hypnosis. Their recorded testimonies, along with Dr. Simon's analysis, form the core of the article. Dr. Simon initially approached the case with skepticism but, after extensive sessions, concluded that both Betty and Barney Hill were telling what they believed to be the absolute truth, even if the experience itself remained unanswerable and unproven.

The article details the Hills' drive, their initial sighting of a bright, moving object, and their decision to stop the car to observe it. Barney Hill's initial explanations ranged from a satellite to a commercial plane, but Betty's insistence and the object's unusual behavior led him to reconsider. The object, described as cigar-shaped and later like a glowing pancake, displayed blinking lights and hovered near the car. Barney Hill reported seeing figures in black uniforms inside the craft and described their unusual physical characteristics, including large craniums and eyes that wrapped around their heads.

Following the encounter, the Hills experienced a period of amnesia, with approximately two hours of their lives unaccounted for. They also reported physical sensations like tingling and a strange daze. Upon returning home, they discovered their watches had stopped and their best shoes were scuffed. Betty Hill also experienced nightmares for five days.

Walter Webb, an investigator for NICAP (National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena), also interviewed the Hills. Despite his initial skepticism, Webb was impressed by the consistency and apparent honesty of their account, concluding that they were telling the truth.

Dr. Simon's therapeutic approach involved hypnosis to penetrate the amnesia and uncover the repressed memories. The article describes the process of hypnosis and its potential dangers, emphasizing that it accesses the patient's subjective truth. Barney Hill's sessions involved time regression, where he relived the events, and he reported no pain when subjected to a needle-like instrument during hypnosis, despite skin penetration.

Other Articles and Features

Beyond the main UFO story, the issue includes:

• "A Case for the Small College": An article advocating for the importance and benefits of smaller educational institutions.
• "Bribery in New York": An account of one woman's fight against a corrupt New York City system.
• Elizabeth Taylor: A feature questioning whether Richard Burton could successfully portray Katherine in Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew" as intended.
• "63 Years of Yanks at Oxford": A look at the history of American students at Oxford University.
• "Emmett Ashford: Ultra Ump": A profile of an umpire.
• Humor and Fashion: Sections dedicated to lighthearted content and the latest in fashion, including "Bonnie Cashin's One-World Fashions."
• Food: An article on "Oceans of Cream."
• Modern Living: A piece on "Sculptured Furniture."

Previews and Departments

The magazine also includes a "Letters to the Editor" section and previews content for the next issue, including "The Twisted Marriage of Somerset Maugham" and "Part Two: Aboard a Flying Saucer," which promises an "abducted" woman's further description of her experience.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of LOOK magazine appears to embrace a wide range of topics, from serious social and political issues to personal experiences and entertainment. The editorial stance on the UFO story seems to lean towards presenting the witness testimony and expert analysis seriously, acknowledging the strangeness and lack of definitive proof while respecting the subjective truth of the individuals involved. The magazine's approach to the Elizabeth Taylor feature suggests an interest in celebrity culture and the arts. The inclusion of diverse articles indicates a broad appeal to a general audience interested in current events, human interest stories, and cultural commentary.

Title: LOOK
Issue Date: October 4, 1966
Volume: 30
Issue: 10-4-66
Publisher: Cowles Communications, Inc.
Country: USA
Price: $0.25

This issue of LOOK magazine features a prominent article titled "FLYING SAUCERS," continuing a narrative that delves into the experiences of Barney and Betty Hill. The cover highlights this topic, and the issue includes the first part of "The Interrupted Journey," detailing Barney Hill's account of a UFO encounter and alleged abduction.

Barney Hill's Account Under Hypnosis

The core of the article is the transcript of hypnosis sessions conducted by Dr. Simon with Barney Hill. Barney recounts an experience where he and his wife, Betty, encountered a flying object while driving. Initially, Barney tried to rationalize the object as a plane, specifically a Piper Cub, but its unusual flight characteristics and persistent following led him to believe otherwise.

During the hypnosis, Barney describes stopping the car to observe the object more closely. He notes its strange shape, like a "big-pancake," with curving rows of windows and a single large light. He also claims to have seen a figure in the object, whom he initially perceived as a friendly "captain" or "redheaded Irishman," but later described as having "slanted eyes" and an "evil face," like a "German Nazi" with a black scarf.

Barney's narrative reveals intense fear and panic during the experience, leading him to seek a "weapon" (a tire wrench) from his car. He describes the beings' eyes as particularly striking, with an unusual intensity and appearance. He felt a telepathic communication, with one being telling him, "Don't be afraid. I'm not a bunny. I'm going to be... I'm going to be safe." He also felt a coldness in his groin and a sensation of being examined or operated on, though he stated he did not want to be operated on.

Memory Block and Recovery

A significant aspect of Barney's account is the memory block he experienced regarding the events at "Indian Head." The hypnosis sessions aim to recover these forgotten details. Barney describes feeling weak and disoriented, with his feet dragging, as he was assisted out of his car by a group of men. He felt a strange sense of calm despite the unusual circumstances and a strong directive to keep his eyes closed.

He recalls being taken into a room that felt like a hospital operating room, but with a pale blue hue and spotless conditions, unlike his previous tonsillectomy experience. He felt he was lying on a table and that something was being placed around his groin. He then experienced a sense of relief and a feeling of being "greatly relieved," as if he had emerged from a harrowing situation.

The Return Journey and Aftermath

Upon returning to his car, Barney found it had moved and the motor was not running. He describes a feeling of elation and happiness shared with Betty, and they observed a bright orange, "huge ball" object moving away. Betty asks if he believes in flying saucers now, to which he initially denies it, but later admits he believed they had witnessed something extraordinary.

The narrative also includes a strange phenomenon of beeping sounds emanating from the car, which Barney tried to replicate by driving erratically. He discusses his fear of being harmed or kidnapped but concludes he was not harmed. He examined himself for marks but found none. The experience left him and Betty with a pact not to tell anyone about what happened.

Dr. Simon's Perspective

Dr. Simon, while initially skeptical, begins to believe that a UFO incident may have contributed to Barney Hill's emotional distress. He is particularly intrigued and baffled by the "abduction" part of the story and hopes that Betty Hill's account, to be detailed in the next issue, will provide further explanation.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The article focuses on the detailed recounting of a UFO encounter and abduction through hypnotic regression. It presents Barney Hill's subjective experience, emphasizing his fear, confusion, and eventual relief, as well as the recovery of suppressed memories. The editorial stance appears to be one of presenting a case study, allowing the reader to draw their own conclusions, while acknowledging the potential significance of the event in Barney Hill's psychological state. The recurring themes include the mystery of UFOs, the nature of memory and amnesia, and the psychological impact of extraordinary experiences. The article sets the stage for Betty Hill's account in the subsequent issue, promising further revelations about the "interrupted journey."