1954 09 25 Paris Match No 287

Magazine Overview

This issue of "Elles et Eux" (issue 62) focuses on the perplexing phenomenon of flying saucers and the possibility of extraterrestrial visitors. The cover headline, "LES SOUCOUPES VOLANTES POSENT UN NOUVEAU PROBLÈME : LES PASSAGERS DU CIEL," sets the stage for an exploration of sightings, alleged encounters, and the controversy surrounding the topic.

Witness Accounts and Early Cases

The article begins by detailing the experiences of individuals who claim to have had personal contact with the occupants of flying saucers. In Europe, Edith Jacobsen, Aasta Solvang, Antoine Mazaud, and Marius Dewilde are presented as witnesses. Dewilde reportedly felt a warm hand and saw three small beings flee into the darkness.

In the United States, the narrative shifts to the New Mexico desert in July 1947, where the army allegedly recovered a 30-meter diameter flying saucer containing the carbonized bodies of sixteen human-like creatures, described as wearing blue uniforms and measuring about one meter tall. These bodies were reportedly preserved in a secret Chicago laboratory. A subsequent account mentions the capture of a living extraterrestrial, kept in an incubator in hopes of establishing communication.

The article then discusses the controversial book "Behind the Flying Saucers" by Frank Scully, a former politician who claimed the government was hiding the truth about these encounters. However, reporter J. P. Calin investigated Scully's claims, exposing a supposed scientific authority, "Dr. G...", as a small radio parts dealer and revealing that a fragment of a flying saucer, claimed to be made of an unknown metal, was actually an aluminum alloy that melted at a low temperature. Calin successfully prosecuted Scully for fraud twice.

George Adamski and the Venusians

A significant portion of the issue is dedicated to George Adamski, presented as a leading authority on relations with extraterrestrial beings. His book, "Flying Saucers Have Landed," achieved considerable success. Adamski's accounts are described as more personal and sustained than Scully's. He claims to have met beings from Venus, who he describes as beautiful, tall (around 1.80m), with blond hair, and wearing close-fitting garments. Adamski states these "Venusians" communicate telepathically and are concerned about atomic explosions potentially damaging the solar system. He recounts traveling in a flying saucer, experiencing rapid ascent and descent, and being given a drink of "Venusian water" which he found noticeably heavier than Earth water.

Adamski's descriptions of the Venusians contrast with the supposed "Martians" described by Scully's sources, who are depicted as ugly. Adamski's Venusians are portrayed as advanced and concerned for humanity's well-being.

The Georgia Incident: A Monkey in Disguise?

The article recounts an incident from the summer of 1953 involving Edward Watters, a barber from Atlanta, and his companions Payne and Wilson. They reported seeing a flying saucer parked on the roadside and three small beings emerging. Watters allegedly hit one of the beings with his car, and his friends collected a corpse about 80 centimeters long. A zoology professor identified it the next day as a rhesus monkey. Watters was fined for cruelty to animals. Despite this, Watters and his friends maintained they had seen a flying saucer and an extraterrestrial, citing the strange red glow from the craft and the unusual, nearly hairless appearance of the monkey-like creature.

Shifting Sightings and Government Secrecy

A notable trend observed is the shift in flying saucer sightings from America to Europe during the summer of 1954, with increased reports from England, Norway, Germany, and especially France. The article contrasts this with a decline in American sightings that year.

Major Keyhoe Accuses the Pentagon

Major Donald E. Keyhoe, a retired Air Force officer and ufologist, is presented as a critic of government secrecy. He accuses the Pentagon of deliberately concealing information about flying saucers. The article details the establishment of the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in 1948 to investigate UFOs. Between 1948 and January 1952, ATIC received 2,000 reports, with explanations including weather balloons, aircraft, astronomical phenomena, and misidentifications. However, 14.3% of cases remained unexplained.

ATIC's official conclusion stated there was no evidence of extraterrestrial machines, a stance Keyhoe vehemently disputes, calling it an "official lie." Keyhoe claims to have reliable information that airline pilots have reported significantly more UFO sightings, and that astronomers have observed inexplicable lights and structures on the moon.

International Perspectives and Skepticism

The article touches upon the Soviet Union's perspective, with Vychinsky suggesting in 1947 that flying saucer stories were spread by the American military to fuel war hysteria. The article also includes a brief mention of the Russian explanation that they were related to Scottish whisky imports.

Albert Einstein's Enigmatic View

Finally, the issue includes a brief anecdote about Albert Einstein's response to a query about flying saucers. He wrote that the people had seen something, but he did not know what it was and had no desire to know.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the prevalence of UFO sightings, the alleged existence of extraterrestrial visitors, the debate between belief and skepticism, and the accusation of government cover-ups. The editorial stance appears to lean towards presenting the evidence and witness accounts, while also acknowledging the skepticism and official denials, particularly from the US government. The article highlights the controversial nature of the subject and the difficulty in definitively proving or disproving the existence of flying saucers and their occupants.