1976 08 00 SAGA - John Keel - Ancient Astronauts Modern Mysteries

Magazine Overview

This issue of SAGA magazine, titled "ANCIENT ASTRONAUTS, MODERN MYSTERIES" and authored by John A. Keel, focuses on unexplained phenomena in the skies, particularly "PHANTOMS IN THE SKIES."

Haunted Airplanes

The article begins with a chilling account of a private pilot in North Carolina who encounters a mysterious, balding man in a gray suit in his rear seat, demanding to land the plane. After the pilot complies, the stranger vanishes, and he discovers his engine had thrown a rod, narrowly avoiding a crash. This anecdote introduces the concept of haunted airplanes, noting that such apparitions, unlike those in old buildings, have generally been friendly and helpful. The piece contrasts these with phantom hitchhikers who deliver messages and disappear, suggesting that similar phenomena are now occurring in aircraft.

The Gremlin Phenomenon

Keel traces the origins of the 'Gremlin' concept back to the 1920s, when pilots attributed inexplicable equipment malfunctions to these unseen beings. He links this to the rise of science-fiction magazines like "Amazing Stories," which popularized concepts of extraterrestrial beings and flying machines. The Gremlin myth gained prominence during World War II, becoming a shared experience for bomber crews facing the horrors of aerial combat over Europe. The extreme stress, sub-zero temperatures, and constant danger led some men to perceive 'little green men' interfering with their aircraft, wrenching metal, jamming guns, and sabotaging equipment. Keel posits that this was a complex psychological process, an alternate explanation for the damage caused by enemy fire and flak, a way for minds on the brink of insanity to process overwhelming trauma.

He notes that Gremlins were less prevalent in the Pacific theater, possibly due to the different nature of aircraft used (pressurized B-29s versus B-17s and B-24s). After the war, the Gremlin concept faded, but the idea of fictitious flying saucers from "Amazing Stories" became a reality for many in the late 1940s. Keel laments the lack of behavioral science studies on the Gremlin phenomenon and the flying eyewitnesses of the war, suggesting such research could have provided insights into the human mind under stress and the emerging UFO phenomenon.

Keel proposes that these warning phantoms in autos and airplanes might not be ghosts but rather manifestations of our own unconscious minds, generated by psychic instincts during times of stress. When sensing impending danger like a collision or engine failure, the mind constructs an entity to ensure the warning is heeded, as a simple 'hunch' might be ignored. These entities exist because our minds create reasons for them to exist.

The Airliner Ghost

The article then details a case reported by the Flight Safety Foundation in June 1974. A flight attendant on a jumbo jet saw the face of a deceased flight engineer, who had died months earlier in the Everglades crash of one of the airline's trijets. The apparition appeared in the oven window and warned, "Watch out for fire on this airplane." Shortly after, the same aircraft experienced an engine fire during takeoff from Mexico City. The crew managed to land safely with only one engine, a feat made more remarkable by the airport's high altitude. The Flight Safety Foundation newsletter questioned whether "unbelievable expertise" alone explained the safe landing, hinting that the warning might have played a role. Keel suggests that the crew, having seen the apparition of a known colleague, responded more effectively to the warning than they might have to a less familiar entity. The moral drawn is that we should listen when our unconscious minds attempt to communicate important messages.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue explores the intersection of aviation, the paranormal, and human psychology. It suggests that unexplained aerial phenomena, from Gremlins to phantom passengers, can be understood as manifestations of the human mind under stress or as genuine paranormal events. The editorial stance appears to be open to the possibility of paranormal occurrences while also exploring psychological explanations for these experiences, particularly in high-stress environments like aerial combat or emergencies. The article emphasizes the importance of paying attention to intuition and subconscious warnings.