1967 06 00 Mechanix Illustrated Otto Binder

Magazine Overview

Title: MECHANIX ILLUSTRATED
Issue: JUNE 1967

This issue of Mechanix Illustrated features a prominent article on UFO (Unidentified Flying Object) sightings, challenging official skepticism and highlighting the vast number of witnesses.

10,000,000 UFO Witnesses Can't Be Wrong!

By Otto O. Binder, this lead article presents a compelling case for the reality of UFOs based on witness testimony. A Gallup Poll reveals that 5 million Americans claim to have seen a UFO since 1947. Even after discounting 80% of these as ordinary objects like balloons, birds, or aircraft, a significant 1 million witnesses remain unsatisfied. The article extends this estimate globally, suggesting that over 10 million people worldwide have witnessed something extraordinary in the sky.

Binder criticizes the scientific community and established authorities for their reluctance to accept UFO phenomena, drawing a parallel to 19th-century scientists who dismissed reports of falling stones. He notes that UFOs are not exclusively an American phenomenon, with many countries experiencing 'saucer waves.' The French wave of 1954, for instance, was reportedly more significant than the widely publicized Washington sightings of 1952.

The implications of this vast body of evidence are staggering. Even with a highly conservative estimate, if 99.9% of claimed UFO sightings are explained by known phenomena, there would still be 50,000 'unknockable' sightings globally over a 20-year period. The U.S. Air Force, through its Project Blue Book, investigated over 11,000 detailed sightings but officially recognized only 659 as unknowns. However, former Project Blue Book chief, Capt. Edward J. Ruppelt, estimated that 180,000 saucer sightings occurred annually in the U.S., with the unknowns being ten times the Air Force's official figures.

The article emphasizes that multiple witnesses often report the same event. Several mass sightings are detailed:

• November 1896 to April 1897: A mystery airship was observed by an estimated 1 million witnesses across a dozen states in the U.S.
• July 1952: The 'Washington Attack' saw 67 UFOs detected visually and by radar, witnessed by approximately 250,000 people in the Washington D.C. area.
• August 1965: A fleet of UFOs was seen over seven states from North Dakota to Texas by 100,000 witnesses.
• Since 1965: Periodic sightings at Wanaque, N.J., involving police, officials, and an estimated 300,000 residents, are considered the greatest 'flap' in UFO history, with New Jersey reporting more UFOs than any other state.

International mass sightings include:

• September 1954: Thousands in Rome witnessed a half-cigar-shaped object maneuvering above the city for an hour, tracked by radar and pursued by jets.
• September to December 1965: USAF pilots and hundreds of thousands in Japan observed UFOs buzzing Mt. Yokohama.
• January 1966: About 10,000 people in Perth, Australia, saw a UFO, which was photographed in color.

The National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena (NICAP), headed by Maj. Donald E. Keyhoe, has documented many other photographed and radar-tracked sightings.

The article traces the modern UFO era in America to Kenneth Arnold's sighting on June 24, 1947. Arnold, flying near Yakima, Washington, observed nine bright, disc-shaped objects moving at an estimated 1,700 mph, far exceeding the speed of contemporary jets. His description of their movement as flying 'like a saucer would if you skipped it across the water' led to the popular term 'flying saucers.' Initially ridiculed, Arnold's story gained traction after his reputation as a reliable businessman was confirmed. The Air Force, unable to find a natural explanation, listed his sighting as one of its unknowns.

Several other baffling reports from reliable, science-minded individuals are mentioned. The Bellefontaine, Ohio incident on August 1, 1952, is highlighted as particularly well-substantiated. Radarmen at Wright-Patterson AFB tracked an object moving at 480 mph. Simultaneously, residents saw a round, metallic object. Two F-86 jets were vectored in, but the UFO eluded them at 40,000 ft. Maj. James B. Smith managed to film the object, and his plane's radar confirmed it was far beyond the range of known aircraft. The object accelerated and disappeared at tremendous speed. The ATIC report concluded the object was real, sighted visually and by radar, moved against thermal currents, and was not a balloon, astronomical body, or meteorological mirage. The conclusion was 'unknown.' Maj. Smith's film, though out of focus, showed a definite ball of light.

The article concludes by emphasizing that if even one sighting is authentic, it matters regardless of how many others are false. It also includes a small section on automotive topics and a subscription offer for Mechanix Illustrated.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine's stance is clearly in favor of taking UFO reports seriously, challenging official dismissals and highlighting the sheer volume of witness testimony. The editorial tone suggests that the evidence for UFOs is substantial and that the phenomenon cannot be easily explained away by conventional means. Themes include the credibility of witnesses, the limitations of official investigations, the global nature of UFO sightings, and the persistent mystery surrounding these aerial phenomena.