1952 09 06 New Yorker Lang

Magazine Overview

Title: THE NEW YORKER
Issue Date: September 6, 1952
Cover Headline: Going About Town

This issue of The New Yorker features a cover illustration by an uncredited artist depicting a still life with flowers and an open book, titled 'Going About Town.' The magazine contains a significant article titled 'A Reporter at Large: Something in the Sky,' which extensively details the U.S. Air Force's 'Project Saucer' investigation into flying saucer sightings.

A Reporter at Large: Something in the Sky

The article, written by an unnamed reporter who had been in touch with the investigation, begins by recounting the public's concern in mid-1947 over mysterious objects seen in the sky. The term 'flying saucer' was coined from a witness's description, and the phenomena led to fears of Russian invasion or extraterrestrial visits.

The Air Force, tasked with explaining these sightings, launched 'Project Saucer' on January 22, 1948. The investigation aimed to reassure the public, explore the possibility of interplanetary travel, or potentially cover up secret experimental aircraft. The project was based at Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio, and involved a multidisciplinary team including astronomers, psychologists, physicists, meteorologists, physicians, and F.B.I. representatives. Lieutenant General Benjamin W. Chidlaw initially commanded the project.

In December 1949, after reviewing 375 reports, the Air Force publicly announced its findings, stating that national security was not endangered. They concluded that the flying saucers were apparitions resulting from misidentification of conventional objects, hoaxes, or mass hysteria. However, the investigation was not officially disbanded.

Key Incidents and Witness Accounts:

• Kenneth Arnold (June 24, 1947): While flying his private plane near Mount Rainier, Washington, Arnold reported seeing nine 'saucerlike' objects flying in a chain-like formation at an estimated speed of twelve hundred miles per hour.
• Donald S. Whitehead (Idaho): Lieutenant Governor of Idaho reported seeing a comet-shaped object.
• Portland, Oregon (Four police officers): Reported seeing discs 'wobbling, disappearing, and reappearing.'
• Fort Richardson, Alaska (Two Army officers): Reported a spherical object flying at incredible speed with no vapor trail.
• Newfoundland (Fishermen): Saw aerial flashes, described as silver to reddish.
• Oregon (Lady): Reported saucers spelling out 'P-E-P-S-I.'
• Oklahoma City: A man saw a saucer described as 'the bulk of six B-29s.'
• Cascade Mountains, Oregon (Prospector): Saw six saucers in a group, described as 'round, silent, and not flying in formation.'
• Trenton, New Jersey (Fourth of July): One sighting was traced to a fireworks display.
• Captain Thomas F. Mantell (October 1, 1948): While flying over Godman Air Force Base, Kentucky, Mantell pursued a large, metallic, cigar-shaped object. He radioed that it was moving at high speed and directly ahead, then broke away from his formation to get a closer look. His plane was later found crashed, and he was presumed to have suffocated due to lack of oxygen. Initially, Project Saucer suggested Mantell might have chased Venus, but later theories considered the object itself.
• Lieutenant George F. Gorman (October 1, 1948): Flying an F-51 near Fargo, North Dakota, Gorman reported a dogfight with a puzzling light. He described it as a 'wingless aircraft,' about a hundred feet long, cigar-shaped, with a globular cabin and a bright interior. It exhibited extreme speed and maneuverability, pulling away from his fighter jet.

Explanations and Theories:

• Russian Involvement: Early fears suggested the objects were Russian reconnaissance craft.
• Extraterrestrial Origin: Some speculated they were spaceships from other planets.
• Secret U.S. Aircraft: Others believed the Air Force was testing new technology.
• Conventional Objects: The Air Force considered misidentification of known objects, including:
• Balloons: Numerous types, from small weather balloons to large clusters used for cosmic-ray research, were cited. Experiments were conducted to show how balloons could be mistaken for other objects, especially at night.
• Aircraft: Standard military and civilian planes.
• Atmospheric Phenomena: Meteors, St. Elmo's fire, lightning, comets, fireballs (bolides).
• Natural phenomena: Clouds, reflections, moonlit skies.
• Other: Birds, kites, paper debris.
• Psychological Factors: Dr. Paul Fitts, a psychologist attached to Project Saucer, emphasized the role of mass suggestibility and the human tendency to see strange things when looking at the sky for extended periods. He noted that pilots, trained to rely on instruments, might not always be superior observers.

Project Methodology and Challenges:

Major Jerre Boggs, chief liaison officer, explained the difficulty of proving a negative – that flying saucers do not exist. The project analyzed flight schedules, studied astronomical data, and consulted various scientific and military branches. They deliberately avoided pooling ideas among investigators to prevent group suggestibility. The investigation was described as exhaustive, involving up to two hundred people at its peak.

Dr. J. Allen Hynek, from the Emerson McMillin Observatory, considered objects of astral origin. The U.S. Weather Bureau and Air Weather Service examined their balloon reports. The Electronics Laboratory at Cambridge Field Station also contributed. Airline schedules and military flight charts were reviewed. Specialists in aerodynamics, propulsion, and human factors in aviation were involved.

Notable Quotes:

• Major Jerre Boggs stated, "First off," he said, "the Russians have nothing to do with these so-called saucers; I'll swear to that on a stack of Bibles, if you like. Second, we don't have any secret new types of aircraft that could have started all this commotion. Third, nobody, in our opinion, has spotted space ships from some other planet. Fourth, everything our investigators learned has been made available to the public."
• Major Boggs also commented on the difficulty of the task: "It would be different if flying saucers were known to exist. Then we could have collected evidence indicating the degrees of probability that such things were sighted and the reason for their appearance at a given place. But it is impossible to prove, logically and with finality, a double negative..."
• Dr. Fitts observed, "Our graphs show that saucer incidents always increase dramatically after publicity... The sky, you know, has been a source of exciting visions from time immemorial, and its attraction is particularly strong in our jittery moments."

Other Content

The magazine also includes regular sections such as 'The Theatre,' 'Going About Town' (a listing of events), and advertisements for various products and services, including clothing (Franklin Simon, Milgrim, Ship'n Shore, Nye-Wait Nylon Carpets), furniture (Kling, Union-National), and hotels (The Barclay, Park Lane). There are also mentions of musical performances by Vaughn Monroe and Mischa Borr at The Waldorf Astoria.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The dominant theme in this issue, particularly in the 'A Reporter at Large' section, is the serious, albeit ultimately inconclusive, investigation of unidentified flying objects by a governmental body. The editorial stance appears to be one of objective reporting on the Air Force's efforts, presenting both the witness accounts and the scientific and psychological explanations considered. While acknowledging the public's fascination and concern, the article leans towards rational explanations, highlighting the challenges of proving a negative and the potential for misinterpretation and mass suggestibility. The inclusion of various advertisements for consumer goods and entertainment suggests the magazine's broader focus on urban life and leisure in the post-war era.

Title: THE NEW YORKER
Issue Date: September 6, 1952
Volume: 28
Issue Number: 80
Publisher: The New Yorker Magazine, Inc.
Country of Publication: USA
Original Language: English

This issue of The New Yorker features a comprehensive exploration of the US government's efforts to investigate widespread reports of flying saucers and unidentified aerial phenomena during the late 1940s and early 1950s. The magazine delves into the details of "Project Saucer," examining specific cases, the methods of investigation, and the scientific and psychological analyses employed.

The Investigation of Flying Saucers

The article begins by recounting early incidents, such as Kenneth Arnold's 1947 sighting near Mount Rainier, where witnesses described objects resembling amoebas or vegetable crates. It details how fragments found after alleged sightings were often quickly identified as mundane objects like weather balloons (from Japanese incendiary balloons), remnants of military flares, or even pieces of paper caught in the wind. Examples include a case in Kansas where a farmer's 'saucer' was identified as a meteorite chunk, and another in Ohio where a 'flaming wheel' was found to be composed of standard military flare components.

The scope of the investigation widened, involving the FBI and Air Force Intelligence officers who interviewed witnesses using a standard questionnaire. This questionnaire aimed to gather details on the objects' size, speed, color, and maneuvers. However, many reports were dismissed as obviously false or trifling.

Case Studies and Misidentifications

Several specific cases are highlighted. A man in Phoenix, Arizona, reported a flat gray object spiralling at high speed, but Dr. Irving Langmuir concluded it was likely a piece of paper buffeted by wind, especially after a thunderstorm. In Seattle, a 'flaming disc' on a roof was identified as a hollow plywood affair with 'USSR' crudely painted on it, the flame caused by a turpentine-soaked cloth – a practical joke. A farmer in Illinois reported a crash-landed saucer that burned weeds, also deemed a prank.

A particularly tragic incident involved two residents of Tacoma, Washington, who claimed to have found fragments of a flying disc near Maury Island. Their story, initially sold to a Chicago adventure magazine, led to an investigation by Air Force officers. Tragically, the plane carrying these investigators crashed en route to Hamilton Field, killing the officers. The Tacoma men later confessed they had fabricated the story, using fragments from an unusual rock formation.

An FBI agent in Denver reported seeing a strange light over the airport, which was later identified as a weather balloon.

Scientific and Psychological Analysis

The article discusses the scientific approach to the problem, involving physicists, aerodynamicists, and electronics experts. Dr. Fitts, a psychologist, pointed out the fallibility of human perception and the mechanics of optical illusions and vertigo. He suggested that many sightings could be explained by psychological grounds, questioning how observers could estimate size and speed without knowing distance.

Other scientists, like Dr. George Valley, explored more speculative theories, including the possibility of extraterrestrial animals visiting Earth. However, the performances of reported saucers were often deemed to surpass current scientific and fictional capabilities. The idea of interplanetary craft was also largely discredited due to their presumed size and unwieldiness, and the logistical challenges of carrying sufficient fuel for such journeys.

Astronomers considered the possibility of life on Mars and whether such beings could build space ships. They also speculated about Venus as a potential launching site, but its atmosphere was thought to preclude astronomical observation. The vast distances to other stars with potential satellites made interplanetary travel seem highly improbable, with even the nearest star, Wolf 359, requiring eighty years for a spaceship traveling at one-tenth the speed of light.

Government Response and Public Reaction

As reports continued, the Air Force expanded its investigation, ordering commanders to assign intelligence officers and solicit help from municipal police. The FBI also assigned agents to interview witnesses.

Despite the efforts to explain sightings, a residue of around twenty percent remained 'unidentified.' These included reports from military pilots, commercial pilots, and even physicists at Los Alamos. The caliber of informants led Captain Ruppelt to take these claims seriously.

In February 1951, Dr. Urner Liddel proposed that 'skyhooks'—Navy balloons used for cosmic ray studies—were the solution. This was disputed by Dr. Anthony O. Mirarchi, former head of the Air Force's Atmospheric Composition Bureau, who had assisted in diagnosing Project Saucer reports.

Transition and Continued Monitoring

After two years, on December 27, 1949, the Air Force announced the disbandment of Project Saucer, stating that its principal objective—to satisfy the public that the air was free of unexplainable things—had been accomplished. However, the investigation didn't entirely cease. It was reorganized, with one Aerial Phenomena Officer stationed at Wright Field tasked with investigating reports from qualified observers like pilots, scientists, and engineers. Information gathered was passed to authorities at Wright Field.

Captain Edward J. Ruppelt, who later took charge of the investigation, noted that even after the official announcement, reliable reports of objects in the sky continued to come in, with no month passing without reports seeming worth investigating. He found that many people who had seen these phenomena regretted it, as it challenged their previous beliefs.

Radar Sightings and Public Agitation

The article highlights a significant radar incident on July 21, 1952, when a Senior Air Traffic Controller at the National Airport's Air Route Traffic Control Center in Washington reported picking up ten unidentifiable objects on radar. These objects, described as pale-violet spots, behaved unusually, moving at speeds between 100 and 130 miles per hour and sometimes clustering together. Technicians confirmed the radar equipment was functioning correctly.

This incident, along with others, particularly the dispatch of jet interceptors over Washington, heightened public agitation. The Air Force was inundated with letters and calls. Some airlines even equipped their crews with cameras.

The 'Unidentified' Residue

Despite extensive efforts, a portion of sightings remained unexplained. Captain Ruppelt noted that while most cases could be attributed to balloons, planes, meteors, or other known phenomena, about twenty percent wound up in the 'Unidentified' category. Examples included a report from a Civil Aeronautics Administration inspector at Terre Haute and a commercial pilot near Battle Creek who spotted oval-shaped silver objects.

Speculation and Theories

The article touches upon various theories, including the possibility of missiles from foreign countries or even extraterrestrial visitors. The question of life on Mars and its implications for space travel was also considered. The difficulty of achieving interplanetary travel due to vast distances and the limitations of rocket propulsion was acknowledged.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the persistent mystery of unidentified flying objects, the government's attempts to rationalize and explain these phenomena, and the public's enduring fascination and concern. The editorial stance appears to be one of objective reporting, presenting the facts of the investigations, the scientific skepticism, and the lingering questions. It highlights the challenges of definitively identifying unknown aerial objects and the psychological factors that can influence perception. The article implicitly suggests that while many sightings have mundane explanations, the possibility of genuinely unknown phenomena cannot be entirely dismissed, even as the official government investigation winds down.

Title: THE NEW YORKER
Issue Date: September 6, 1952
Document Type: Magazine Issue

Main Cover Story: Air Travel and UFOs

The cover of this issue prominently features an advertisement for Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA), highlighting their routes to Canada, Europe, Bermuda, and the Caribbean. The advertisement includes a map of their service areas and an illustration of a TCA airplane, along with the tagline "fly TRANS-CANADA Air Lines to ALL CANADA and EUROPE...".

Article: Air Force Intelligence on Flying Saucers

This section details a press conference held by Major General John A. Samford, the head of Air Force Intelligence, concerning the ongoing investigation into flying saucer sightings. General Samford, accompanied by Major General Roger M. Ramey and Captain Ruppelt, presented a mixed stance, acknowledging the reports while emphasizing the lack of concrete scientific data. He stated that Air Force interceptors had made hundreds of responses to radar pips, often identifying them as birds, balloons, ionized clouds, or light civilian planes. However, he suggested that radar technology might offer possibilities for scientific observation beyond its original intent.

General Samford proposed 'temperature inversion' as a potential explanation for some radar anomalies, describing how a warm layer of air over a cool one can bend light rays and create mirages, even causing pilots to perceive objects on the ground as airborne. He recounted an incident where a pilot nearly crashed due to such a phenomenon.

Regarding the 'highest probability' for the nature of saucers, General Samford suggested they are associated with 'intellectual and scientific interests that we are on the road to learn more about.' He reiterated the difficulty in analyzing these reports due to the absence of measurable data that could be quantified for scientific study.

An Air Force officer known to General Samford had reported seeing a saucer in the Middle East but also failed to collect accurate measurements. General Samford denied any cover-up of secret Air Force experiments, stating that the reported performances of saucers would require a theoretical, unlimited power source if they were foreign technology.

Public Reaction and Further Sightings

Despite General Samford's reassurances, the nation's 'saucer-consciousness' remained high. Following the press conference, a Coast Guard photographer produced a picture of four lights over Salem, Massachusetts, taken on August 1st. This photograph was later dismissed as worthless by a Harvard astrophysicist due to the lack of scientific data. On August 6th, an Army physicist at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, reportedly created 'flying saucers' in a laboratory setting by manipulating ionized air in a vacuum. An authority on atmospheric conditions commented that no known atmospheric conditions could duplicate the experiment.

Captain Ruppelt, who began as a one-man agency, now leads a team of eight assistants. The Air Force is investing in specialized equipment, including a hundred new cameras and potentially photographic telescopes costing up to five thousand dollars each, to document the sky continuously.

After four and a half years and nearly two thousand reported sightings, the Air Force remains committed to investigating these phenomena, acknowledging the public's expectation for an answer.

News Story: Mrs. Fred White's Blueberry Picking

A brief item reprinted from Mexico City Excelsior describes an incident where Mrs. Fred White of Cochecton Center, New York, was picking blueberries on her property when she was disturbed by sounds, leading her to exclaim at a supposed trespasser.

Advertisements and Other Content

• Several advertisements are present:
• Pascall Fine English Sweets: Promoted as 'TRUE FLAVORS' and available at fine candy counters.
• PANDA Greeting Cards: Advertised as a 'gay, charming way to say "I'm thinking of you"'.
• Seymour Cafe and Dining Room: Located at the Hotel Seymour in New York, offering dinner services.
• KLM Royal Dutch Airlines: Advertises its 'Royal Route meals' and encourages booking through a travel agent.
• Sherbrooke All-Weather Fashions: Features a woman in a Sherbrooke coat, highlighting its flannel material, raglan sleeves, and 'milium' lining, available in various stores.

There is also a mention of Harvey Taylor's commentary in the Detroit Times regarding the importance of language in theater.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue reflects a strong public fascination with unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and the ongoing, albeit often inconclusive, efforts by the U.S. Air Force to investigate them. The magazine presents official statements from military personnel alongside reports of sightings and scientific experiments, highlighting the gap between anecdotal evidence and verifiable data. The editorial stance appears to be one of reporting on the phenomenon and the official response, without taking a definitive position on the nature of the sightings themselves, but acknowledging the persistent public interest and the seriousness with which the Air Force is treating the investigation.