Nexus - Whole No 05 - Vol 01 No 05 - 1954 11 00

Magazine Overview

NEXUS, Volume 5, Tome 1, published in November 1954, is a monthly magazine focused on flying saucers and unexplained celestial events. It is the official publication of the Saucer and Unexplained Celestial Events Research Society (S.A.U.C.E.R.S.) and is based in Fort Lee, New Jersey. The issue features a cover illustration depicting a lake scene with an island and hills, and includes a table of contents listing various articles and features.

Table of Contents

The table of contents indicates coverage of current news stories, editorials, letters to the editor, and feature articles. Key articles include "Analysis of the Lubbock Incident" by James W. Moseley and "Flying Saucers: Fact and Fiction" by John P. Bessor. It also lists "Last Minute Bulletins."

Cover Story: Ontario Landing

This month's cover depicts a scene related to a July 2nd, 1950 landing in Ontario, Canada. According to eyewitness reports, a saucer landed on a lake, and several strange figures, approximately 3.5 to 4 feet tall, emerged. After a few minutes, the figures returned to the saucer, which then tilted into the air and disappeared.

More Landings!

The magazine reports on additional saucer sightings. One account from Coldwater, Kansas, describes a twelve-year-old boy who claimed to see a small man with pointed ears and nose climb into a flying saucer that was hovering about five feet from the ground. The saucer then took off at high speed. The boy's father and the sheriff investigated the scene and found peculiar, pear-shaped footprints. The sheriff could not explain the footprints, though he suggested the boy might have been mistaken about the saucer.

Editorial

In the editorial, the editor apologizes for not being able to present "irrefutable documented evidence" promised in the previous issue, stating the documents are no longer in his possession and he is not at liberty to discuss why. He cautions researchers to be extremely cautious. The editorial also outlines a change in NEXUS's policy due to increased circulation. The magazine will now abandon its emphasis on humor and focus on articles with serious factual or speculative treatment of flying saucers. It will also print articles of merit regardless of the editor's personal agreement, taking personal responsibility only for articles appearing under his name. All articles are checked for authenticity and interest, and criticisms will be addressed in the "Letters to the Editor" column.

Airborne Monsters in Portugal

A brief report mentions a story from Lisbon about a landowner who claimed to see a "flying cup" with "two eight-foot giants clad in pocketless metallic suits."

Letters to the Editor

This section includes questions concerning the October issue and government discs/missiles, such as why they are tested over populated areas and how aeronautical advances relate to UFO sightings. It also questions the persistence of "little men" and monster stories, referencing the Sutton, West Virginia monster story. Another letter references a statement by Ruppelt (former head of Project Saucer) that scientists concluded there was no evidence of violating U.S. air space. A reader named Paul A. Rear comments on a design for "The SAUCERIAN." Another letter, translated from French newspapers, suggests that flying saucers are machines made in the United States, possibly pilotless airplanes or guided missiles, with speeds exceeding five thousand kilometers per hour.

Analysis of the Lubbock Incident

This feature article by James W. Moseley provides a detailed analysis of the Lubbock Lights incident, one of the most publicized saucer sightings. It draws on official Air Force reports from Projects Grudge and Blue Book, as well as personal interviews. The incident began on August 25, 1951, when four Texas Technical College professors observed a group of 20-30 blue-green lights flying in a semi-circle pattern at high speed. Similar sightings occurred over three weeks. The professors attempted to measure the object's altitude and speed but were unsuccessful. They noted the lights appeared at about 45 degrees from the horizon and disappeared similarly, without gradual appearance or disappearance. The article notes a similarity to a "flying wing" type aircraft sighted nearby. On August 31, 1951, Carl Hart Jr. photographed these lights, showing V-shaped formations. Moseley critically analyzes the Air Force's report and Hart's photographs, suggesting the photos might be clever misrepresentations, possibly due to Hart's desire for newspaper attention. He argues that the lights seen by the professors were too dim to be photographed and that Hart's ability to take multiple clear shots in rapid succession is questionable. Moseley concludes that the Lubbock Lights were either an unknown natural phenomenon or solid craft, and he personally believes they were a radical new type of flying wing aircraft.

Flying Saucers: Fact and Fiction

By John P. Bessor, this article discusses the "little men" theme in flying saucer lore. It traces the origin of this theme to a 1949 incident where prospectors claimed to see "little men" emerge from a saucer. Bessor critiques the story of a crashed disc and the "little men" found within, mentioning Mark Probert's trance declarations and Frank Scully's book. He also discusses other theories, such as those proposed by Hugh Randall-Stevens, who suggested saucers are "magnetic power generators." Bessor posits that "saucers" might be a form of living animal life, possibly extraterrestrial, forced to migrate due to solar or cosmic disturbances.

Flying Saucer Clubs - The Changing Scene

This section notes the disbandment of the Civilian Saucer Intelligence group on the East Coast and the organization of a new group, the Flying Saucer Club of Detroit. The Detroit club has held large meetings, with one attended by over 500 people.

Other Mentions and Theories

The issue touches upon other related topics, including a report of a red streak seen from a plane, and mysterious indentations appearing on Kenneth Arnold's furnishings. The editor discusses the "I rode a flying saucer tales" phenomenon, questioning the physics of returning to Earth from space. He also presents a theory of "homogenuity of opposites" where Earth both moves and remains still in a fourth-dimensional plane. The article notes the predominantly male gender of those claiming to have talked with "spacemen." The editor believes flying saucers land but does not believe in humanoids emerging from them, suggesting objects often dematerialize into a gelatinous substance. He theorizes that "saucers" represent forms of intelligent, attenuated "animal" life forced to migrate due to cyclic solar or cosmic disturbances.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the reporting of new UFO sightings and landings, critical analysis of evidence (particularly photographic), and the exploration of various theories regarding the nature and origin of flying saucers. The editorial stance clearly shifts towards a more serious, factual, and speculative approach, moving away from humor and sensationalism, while emphasizing the importance of critical evaluation of claims and evidence.

This document, comprising pages 11 through 14 of a magazine, focuses heavily on reports of flying saucer sightings and encounters, alongside a separate article detailing an expedition's findings regarding the 'Abominable Snowman'. The tone is investigative, presenting various accounts while maintaining a degree of skepticism or noting the lack of definitive proof. The publication appears to be from the early 1950s, with specific dates and locations of sightings provided.

Flying Saucer Reports

Aerial Phenomena and Routes The issue begins by addressing the idea that atomic explosions attracted flying discs, stating there is no evidence for this. It notes that strange objects appear to follow certain routes, with both US coasts being frequently 'haunted' by discs. Pennsylvania and New York are mentioned as less popular areas, with sightings there being rare and usually single objects. However, a zone extending from British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and into West Virginia is highlighted for its wealth of single 'saucer' sightings and formations.

The article criticizes the Air Force's handling of 'saucer' matters, deeming their concessions and denials foolish and stating the public has lost faith. It argues that suppression of 'saucer news' hinders honest aerial researchers. A specific sighting location is recommended: Brown Mountain, north of Morganton, North Carolina, where pinkish globes of light, sizzling green 'bars', or 'greenish lanterns' have been observed.

Mass Sighting in Rome A significant report details a mass sighting in Rome, Italy, where thousands of people observed a large, cigar-shaped object in the night sky. The object was also tracked on radar. It flew slowly at first, then accelerated rapidly, disappearing. It was seen at 3,000 feet elevation for several minutes along a 15-mile stretch of the Mediterranean coast. Observers at an airport reported the object dived toward earth, then rose at incredible speed and vanished. It was described as silvery on one side, red on the other, and emitted a trail of smoke.

European Landings and Encounters Several 'landing' stories from Europe are presented:

• France: In Quarouble, a steelworker named Maurice deWilde claimed a 'baby' flying saucer visited him, and two armless men in space helmets emerged. He described the saucer as a 'black mass' on a railway line, about 18 feet in diameter. Police found marks where it allegedly landed but no other corroborating evidence.
• England: A meeting was arranged via telepathy with 'Venusians' near West Kennet Village. About eighty people attended on September 19th. Although no saucers appeared, one attendee claimed telepathic communication, relaying a message that the 'Venusians' did not appear due to too much difference of opinion. A nine-year-old boy commented on the disappointment, while John Foster Forbes, who organized the event, felt it was spiritually uplifting.
• Germany: In Muenster, a movie projectionist named Franz Hoge reported seeing a flying saucer land and two 3.5-foot tall creatures in rubber-like clothing emerge. He was too afraid to approach closer than 200 feet.
• Portugal: From Castelibranco, men reported seeing two tall, aluminum-clad figures emerge from a grounded saucer. These figures gathered flowers and shrubs and invited the men to inspect their ship. When rebuffed, they boarded their craft and departed vertically.
• Belgium: A mail carrier in Huy spotted a saucer near the ground and saw two 'roughly human in shape' silhouettes aboard.
• France (Chatelerault): Yves David reported being touched by a creature in a space suit that spoke unintelligibly, caressed his arm, paralyzed him with a green ray, and then fled to his saucer.
• France (Bugeat): Monsieur Antoine Mazaud had a similar experience with a man described as 'normal looking' who kissed him, spoke unintelligibly, and entered a 10-foot long, cigar-shaped saucer.
• France (Amiens): A mason named Emile Renard and his assistant saw a saucer, about 30 feet in diameter, sitting in a field. It rose swiftly into the air when they approached.
• France (Drome): Madame Leboeuf reported a man in a plastic outfit approached her, frightening her. He then climbed into his saucer and took off vertically, making a sound like a musical top.
• France (Bressuire): Angelo Dinardeau saw a luminous machine parked on the ground with a 'being' in a 'diving suit' standing next to it. The being fled into the machine and took off.

The magazine notes the similarities in these reports are undeniable and significant, though it does not vouch for their accuracy.

Monster Story: Abominable Snowman Expedition

A separate article reports on a British expedition to the Himalayas, financed by the 'London Daily Mail', to investigate the 'Abominable Snowman'. After six weeks in Tibet, the expedition did not see the creature themselves but collected numerous first-hand accounts from local people. These accounts consistently described the 'Snowman' as a small, squat beast, about the size of a young boy, covered in stiff red-brown and black hair, with a flat face like a monkey, and normally walking on two legs. The scientists also found sets of man-like tracks in the snow that could not be matched with any known mammals. The expedition concluded that while they failed to capture or see the creature, a significant body of circumstantial evidence supports the existence of a remarkable ape unknown to science.

Last Minute Bulletins

Correction and Reorganization A correction is issued regarding a Civilian Saucer Intelligence story, stating it was incorrect. The club is reorganizing for the fall season, with a meeting scheduled for November 19th at Steinway Hall, New York City, to elect officers.

Additional Weird Tales

Two unrelated 'weird tales' are presented:

• Glasgow, Scotland: Hundreds of school children, armed with sticks and stones, stormed a cemetery in search of an alleged vampire that had reportedly strangled and eaten two small boys.
• The Bronx, New York: An eight-foot tall, ghost-like creature was reported to have terrorized a neighborhood for several days. It was described variously as a ghost, a space-man, and the Virgin Mary. The creature was eventually discovered to be nothing more than a cloud of marsh gas, presented as an anti-climax.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently presents reports of unexplained phenomena, primarily UFO sightings and encounters, with a focus on eyewitness accounts. While detailing these events, there is an underlying theme of questioning official explanations (like the Air Force's handling of the topic) and advocating for public access to information. The inclusion of the 'Abominable Snowman' story and the concluding 'weird tales' suggest a broad interest in mysteries and the unexplained, even extending into folklore and cryptozoology. The editorial stance appears to be one of reporting and encouraging investigation into these phenomena, while acknowledging the speculative nature of many of the accounts and the lack of definitive proof, as seen in the marsh gas anti-climax.