1949 04 30 Saturday Evening Post Shalett

Magazine Overview

Title: THE SATURDAY EVENING POST
Issue Date: April 30, 1949
Price: 15¢

This issue of The Saturday Evening Post features a prominent article by Sidney Shalett titled "WHAT YOU CAN BELIEVE ABOUT FLYING SAUCERS," which investigates the widespread reports of unidentified flying objects that emerged in 1947 and continued to cause public concern.

What You Can Believe About Flying Saucers by Sidney Shalett

Sidney Shalett's article addresses the persistent mystery surrounding "flying saucers" and the silence from official sources, noting that the phenomenon had already led to the deaths of three military pilots. The article begins by tracing the history of such sightings back to the eighteenth century but focuses on the "Great Flying Saucer Scare" that began in June 1947.

The Kenneth Arnold Sighting

The scare's origin is attributed to Kenneth Arnold, a flier from Boise, Idaho, who, on June 24, 1947, reported seeing nine shiny "disks" flying in a chain-like formation over Mount Rainier in Washington State. Arnold described them as "saucer-like disks" with no tails, moving at high speeds. His account, published widely, ignited public imagination and led to a flood of similar reports from across the United States.

Public Reaction and Military Response

Descriptions of the objects varied wildly, including disks, doughnuts, and flame-spurting teardrops. Speculation ranged from Russian missiles and secret U.S. military research to extraterrestrial visitors from Mars. The furor prompted the U.S. Air Force to establish a special project, dubbed "Project Saucer," to investigate the phenomena. This project collected reports on approximately 250 instances of "unidentified flying objects."

Key Incidents and Investigations

The article details several significant incidents:

• Muroc Air Field (July 8, 1947): Military personnel at this highly secure base reported seeing a "thin metallic object" behaving unusually.
• Portland, Oregon (July 4, 1947): Patrolmen and citizens reported seeing multiple "disk-shaped" objects flying at high speeds.
• Emmett, Idaho (July 4, 1947): Captain E. J. Smith of United Air Lines and his crew corroborated sightings of strange, thin objects.
• Godman Field, Fort Knox, Kentucky (January 7, 1948): This incident involved a "large, circular object" that led to a chase by Capt. Thomas F. Mantell, Jr., a highly experienced pilot. Mantell's P-51 fighter plane reportedly disintegrated at high altitude, killing him. Investigators later suggested possible explanations for Mantell's death, including chasing the planet Venus or a large plastic balloon.

Potential Explanations

Shalett, after extensive investigation and with the cooperation of the Air Force, found no concrete evidence to support the notion that the objects were of extraterrestrial or enemy origin. The article explores several logical explanations for the sightings:

• Astronomical Phenomena: Dr. J. A. Hynek, an Air Force consultant, estimated that about 25% of sightings could be attributed to planets (especially Venus), comets, and shooting stars.
• Balloons: A significant number of sightings were likely caused by weather balloons and cosmic-ray-study balloons, such as those used in the Navy's "Operation Skyhook." These large, translucent plastic balloons, when expanded in the stratosphere, could appear as enormous, glowing objects, especially at sunset.
• Experimental Aircraft and Missiles: While military authorities denied that their secret projects were responsible, the article acknowledges that sightings in areas like White Sands, New Mexico, and near Muroc Air Field could potentially involve experimental craft or devices, such as the Navy's discarded "flying flapjack" plane or test targets.

The Role of Hoaxes and Misinterpretation

The article also touches upon the possibility of hoaxes and the human tendency to misinterpret ordinary phenomena, especially when fear or excitement is involved. It notes that Kenneth Arnold himself continued to investigate saucer reports and maintained a belief in their unusual nature, even suggesting they might be "spacecraft from another world."

Other Articles

Besides the lead article on flying saucers, the issue includes an article by Joseph and Stewart Alsop on "How Our Foreign Policy is Made." Other content includes advertisements for Martin Motors outboard motors, Corning Double-Tough Tumblers, Black Flag Special Roach Spray, and Bostonian shoes. There is also a humorous comic strip titled "FRUSTRATION on FRONT STREET" and a section on "GROUNDS FOR DIVORCE" by Phyllis I. Rosenteur.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine's stance, as presented through Shalett's article, is one of cautious skepticism regarding the more sensational claims about flying saucers. While acknowledging the genuine fear and confusion surrounding the sightings, the article leans towards rational explanations, emphasizing the Air Force's findings that most phenomena could be attributed to known causes like balloons, celestial bodies, or experimental technology. The editorial tone suggests that while the possibility of the unknown cannot be entirely dismissed, the evidence gathered does not support the more extraordinary theories, such as extraterrestrial visitation or advanced enemy weaponry. The recurring theme is the public's credulity when frightened and the scientific community's effort to provide logical explanations for mysterious aerial phenomena.