Magonia Supplement - No 23 - 2000 01

Magazine Overview

Title: MAGONIA Monthly Supplement
Issue: No. 23
Date: January 2000
Editor: JOHN HARNEY
Publisher: MAGONIA Monthly Supplement
Country: UK
Language: English

This issue of the MAGONIA Monthly Supplement, formerly ETH Bulletin, is dedicated to exploring the psychosocial hypothesis regarding UFO sightings, with a particular focus on how cultural influences, especially science fiction films, affect witness descriptions. The editorial highlights the contrast between proponents of the psychosocial hypothesis, who present evidence of cultural impact, and ETH (Extraterrestrial Hypothesis) proponents, who are characterized as offering 'cranky ideas' and complaining about skeptics.

Should Saucers Spin?

The main article, "SHOULD SAUCERS SPIN?" by Martin Kottmeyer, delves into the phenomenon of spinning saucers in UFO reports. Kottmeyer notes a significant inconsistency in how witnesses describe saucers spinning: some whirl madly, others rotate slowly, some counter-clockwise, some clockwise, and some exhibit complex movements with different parts rotating in opposite directions or at different speeds. This inconsistency is presented as puzzling, especially since spinning is often assumed to be related to propulsion.

Kottmeyer argues that the natural assumption of spinning for propulsion is challenged by the lack of spinning in many reports. He questions the purpose of spinning if saucers can function without it, suggesting that aliens emerging from a spinning craft would likely be disoriented and nauseous, bordering on slapstick.

The article traces the origin of the spinning saucer idea, noting that it did not directly stem from the Kenneth Arnold report of 1947. Arnold described a craft that travelled horizontally and did not mention spinning. However, spinning saucer reports immediately and repeatedly appeared in the 1947 UFO Wave, with about 4% of reports (37 out of 853) describing spinning, whirling, or twirling objects. Kottmeyer suggests this was likely not imitation but a natural generalization, akin to how a thrown plate or saucer is often spun to travel farther. Round objects like wheels and records spin, making it a natural association for discs.

The paradox of spinning saucers as intelligently piloted craft emerged later. Around two and a half years after the 1947 wave, a report described a craft with a stationary pilot cabin while the outer rim moved. This concept, seen in Dr. Craig Hunter's 1950 encounter near Penfield, Pennsylvania, was noted as being similar to a drawing in a speculative article by Commander Robert B. McLaughlin.

Kottmeyer then discusses a flashier elaboration: spinning saucers with jets or rocket flames emanating from the rim, resembling a pinwheel. This concept did not appear in the 1947 Wave but emerged later, with the earliest report coming from Russia in 1949. A German POW described disc-shaped missiles with glowing rims and sparks. This idea gained popularity in 1952, particularly after news of a Soviet-made saucer crash on Spitzbergen, which was described as having a stationary cabin and a rotating rim with 46 jets. The Oscar Linke report in Germany and the Herbert Long sighting in Pennsylvania also featured descriptions and drawings of pinwheeling effects.

Jacques Vallée is mentioned for showcasing other pinwheeling UFO cases in his early writings. Kottmeyer finds a 1963 case in Millersport, Ohio, particularly interesting from a psychosocial perspective, where witness drawings, though varied, showed similarities to earlier depictions, demonstrating the influence of cultural set on perception.

The article posits that pinwheeling saucers were a minor strand in UFO lore and have diminished with the decline of the secret weapons theory. Rocket and jet propulsion for saucers are now out of fashion, with magnetic drives being more evocative of alien forces. The Spitzbergen and Linke cases are considered most responsible for the recurrent character of pinwheeling saucers due to their publicity, with Linke's report appearing nationally and in the first UFO documentary.

Kottmeyer also addresses the 'mushroom configuration' of saucers, which began to appear with the rim moving upward before the stationary cabin, creating a mushroom shape. This innovation is possibly inspired by nuclear imagery and served as inspiration for Ray Harryhausen's saucers in 'Earth vs. the Flying Saucers' (1956). These saucers used magnetic propulsion and featured the mushroom launch configuration prominently.

The article lists numerous cases from various locations (Argentina, Brazil, Italy, Chile, USA, Australia) that featured mushroom-shaped craft, noting that these cases often lacked the pinwheeling flames seen in the Linke case, suggesting the influence of the 1956 film.

Kottmeyer refutes Larry Robinson's claim that disk-shaped UFOs were not generally reported to spin until after 'Earth vs. the Flying Saucers,' presenting evidence of spinning saucer reports from 1947 and subsequent years, arguing they were a minority but present before the movie.

He further examines the influence of cinema, noting that spinning saucers appeared in the Flash Gordon serial (1938), the Bruce Gentry serial (1949), and subsequent serials. 'The Devil Girl from Mars' also featured a spinning spacecraft. While acknowledging the potential influence of cinematic imagery on UFO reports, Kottmeyer states it has not been demonstrated to the extent of turning a rarity into a majority.

The article contrasts the kinematics of saucers in various films, from the non-spinning craft in 'The Mysterians' to the rapidly spinning ones in 'Battle of the Worlds' and the slow rotations in 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind.' He concludes that non-spinning saucers now outnumber spinning ones by at least 2 to 1, and modern saucers are more sedate.

Kottmeyer suggests that the recurrent character of spinning and mushroom saucers, due to their conceptual complexity and temporal distribution, points more towards imitation than genuine observation. He addresses potential counterarguments from ETH defenders, such as unmanned instrumental craft or misidentifications, but finds them lacking.

References

The issue includes an extensive list of 25 references, citing various books, articles, and catalogues related to UFO reports, abduction experiences, and historical UFO waves, including works by Thomas Benson, Ted Bloecher, Loren Gross, Robert B. McLaughlin, Jacques Vallée, Coral Lorenzen, and others.

Editorial Stance and Recurring Themes

The editorial clearly favors the psychosocial hypothesis, contrasting it with the ETH proponents' perceived 'cranky ideas.' The main article by Martin Kottmeyer strongly supports this stance by presenting evidence that cultural influences, particularly media like science fiction films, shape the descriptions of UFOs, including their physical characteristics like spinning. The recurring themes are the nature of UFO propulsion, the psychological and cultural factors influencing witness testimony, and the distinction between genuine sightings and media-influenced perceptions. The magazine appears to promote a critical, analytical approach to UFO phenomena, emphasizing rational explanations and the impact of human imagination and societal context.