1968 01 00 Mechanix Illustrated Otto Binder

Magazine Overview

This issue of Mechanix Illustrated features a prominent article titled "How Flying Saucers Can Injure You" by O. O. Binder, which explores the alleged physical and psychological dangers associated with UFO encounters. The magazine also includes other related content, such as reports on UFO sightings and their potential effects.

How Flying Saucers Can Injure You

The lead article details several incidents where individuals and animals have reportedly suffered harm due to proximity to UFOs. A dramatic account from Itaipu, Brazil, on November 4, 1957, describes two sentries experiencing intense heat and suffering first- and second-degree burns, with one sentry blacking out and the other feeling as if his clothes were on fire. This incident is presented as a significant example of physiological effects caused by UFOs.

The article explains that electromagnetic (EM) effects are commonly reported phenomena associated with low-level flying saucers. These effects are believed to stem from an energy field, possibly part of an electromagnetic propulsion system, extending 50-200 feet around the craft. These EM effects are credited with causing various disruptions, including killing car motors, blacking out radios and TV reception, magnetizing wristwatches, jamming radar, and disrupting electric power systems. The article speculates that the major power blackout in the Northeastern United States on November 9, 1965, might have been caused by 23 saucers sighted at the time.

More frightening are the physiological effects on humans. The article cites research from the USSR and the US indicating that high-power radar beams can cause thermal effects on the skin. However, the EM field of UFOs is described as having more serious consequences.

Several case studies are presented:

• March 8, 1967, Leominster, Massachusetts: Mr. and Mrs. William Wallace saw a large white light hovering over a cemetery. When Mr. Wallace exited his car, the engine stalled, the radio and lights went off, and he stood paralyzed for about 30 seconds. The UFO moved away, emitting a humming sound, and it took Mr. Wallace 15-20 minutes to recover full coordination.
• September 10, 1954, Quarouble, France: Marius DeWilde saw a dark shape on a railroad track from which two small creatures in "diving suits" emerged. He was blinded by a powerful light, felt paralyzed, and was unable to yell or move for a period.
• September 17, 1954, Cenon, France: M. Yves David experienced a prickling and itching sensation all over his body, leading to paralysis. He noticed a dark object parked nearby, from which a creature touched him and uttered a sound, after which he recovered the use of his limbs.
• October 16, 1954, near Dieppe, France: Dr. Henri Robert observed four discs flying in formation. One peeled off and swooped low over his car, causing an electric shock, engine failure, and headlight outage. He became paralyzed and could not move as the UFO landed and a small creature shone a light at him. After the UFO left, he regained mobility.
• November 10, 1957, Madison, Ohio: Mrs. Leita Kuhn stared at an acorn-shaped object for 30 minutes, experiencing eye pain. A few days later, she developed a rash and her vision was impaired. Her doctor noted her eyes looked as though they had suffered radiation burns.

Scientific corroboration for these EM effects is mentioned, with naval studies in the US reportedly proving that EM radiation can affect the brain and muscles, causing slowed reactions and partial loss of motor ability, and that eye tissue is particularly sensitive.

Animal Victims and Subtle Effects

The article also highlights the case of a horse named Snippy, found dead near Alamosa, Colorado. Rancher Harry King discovered the horse with all its flesh stripped from its head and neck, and nearby circular exhaust marks on the ground. A pathologist determined that the animal's brain, abdominal, and spinal cavities were empty, with signs of radiation present. The horse's owner, Mrs. Burl Lewis, found an object covered in horse hair near the carcass, which caused her hand to burn when she touched it.

Elsewhere, farmers and pet owners have reported cases of animals being killed and sometimes dissected by "saucermen." William Watson of Gallipolis, Ohio, found his German shepherd crushed flat within a perfectly circular imprint with no blood. A registered nurse in the same area, having witnessed saucers above pastures, ran out with a shotgun to confront a figure in white coveralls.

Beyond physical injuries, UFO investigator John Keel is quoted as saying that UFO observers are often described by friends and relatives as "changed persons" who tend to act detached, as if deeply shaken.

Further Incidents and Precautions

The article continues with more accounts, including a report from Twin Falls, Idaho, where three men saw a saucer descend and make off with a steer. Similar reports involve the disappearance of calves, dogs, and rabbits from various locations in the US and even South America and Italy.

An Italian scientist, Cazzamalli, is mentioned as having found that people subjected to EM fields tend to develop hallucinations. Soviet scientists list other adverse effects such as memory loss, migraine headaches, insomnia, dizziness, irritability, chest pains, and hand tremors.

Michael J. Campione, a UFOlogist, offers precautions in his booklet "Modern Manual of UFO Truth":

• Auto and Truck Drivers: If a UFO gets too close and your engine conks out, get out of the vehicle and use it as a protective barrier.
• Pedestrians: In wooded areas, get behind a large protective tree trunk. If near a building, enter it. If no shelter is available, lie on the ground, covering your head, face, neck, arms, and hands beneath clothing.

The article concludes by noting that it has not yet been proven that UFOs deliberately cause harm, suggesting that the unfortunate results might be accidental consequences of their powerful EM propulsion fields. Investigators recommend that personnel working with EM radiations, such as near radar installations, wear protective suits, including coveralls, gloves, boots, goggles, and helmets.

With an estimated six UFO sightings per hour in the US, over 50,000 people may spot UFOs annually. Even if only 7.3 percent are low-flyers or landers, this could mean almost 4,000 people suffering skin-burns, paralysis, or worse.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the potential dangers posed by UFOs, specifically focusing on the physical and psychological harm they may inflict through electromagnetic radiation and other unknown means. The magazine presents a stance that UFOs are not merely passive phenomena but active entities capable of causing injury, drawing on witness testimonies, alleged scientific findings, and expert opinions from UFO investigators. The editorial tone suggests a serious concern for public safety in light of increasing UFO sightings and their reported adverse effects.