1955 08 06 Saturday Review Mandel

Magazine Overview

This issue of "The Occult" features an article titled "The Great Saucer Hunt" by Siegfried Mandel, which critically examines the burgeoning literature surrounding flying saucers and alleged extraterrestrial visitors. The magazine's focus appears to be on esoteric subjects, as indicated by its title and the content of this particular issue.

The Great Saucer Hunt

Siegfried Mandel reviews ten books on the topic of flying saucers, noting a significant group of individuals who are dedicated to convincing the public that extraterrestrial beings from planets like Venus and Mars have landed on Earth. These proponents, often referred to as "saucerians," publish their ideas in various formats, including pamphlets, amateur magazines, newspapers, and books.

Mandel observes that these authors often capitalize on the anxieties of the time, offering simplistic solutions and fostering fears related to flying saucers. He points out a common characteristic among these works: a mutual referencing of authors within a self-created "admiration society." Furthermore, he notes the frequent citation of theosophical works, suggesting a link between flying saucer beliefs and theosophical doctrines, which claim special insight into divine nature through revelation and trace back to Oriental mystic teachings popularized by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky.

Key Figures and Their Claims:

• George Adamski: Described as a "saint-like person devoted to teaching 'the universal laws,'" Adamski gained prominence with his book "Flying Saucers Have Landed." He claims to have encountered a man from outer space, with witnesses present. His subsequent book, "Inside the Space Ships," details experiences aboard these craft. Adamski also claims to receive divine instructions from a "master" via spaceships, a concept similar to reincarnation doctrines espoused by theosophists.
• Cedric Allingham: This British author, who had experiences in a sanatorium and with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, wrote "Flying Saucers from Mars." He claims to have met a Martian friend and offers a blurred photograph as evidence. Lacking Adamski's telepathic abilities, his communication was limited to primitive signs and sounds.
• Harold T. Wilkins: Author of "Mysteries of Ancient South America," Wilkins shifted focus to "etheric worlds" in "Flying Saucers on the Attack." He compiles newspaper clippings and magazine articles, suggesting a hostile nature to some flying saucers from other planets.
• M. K. Jessup: An explorer and astronomy instructor, Jessup's book "The Case for the UFO" presents speculations about unidentified flying objects. His contentions include the idea of an unfathomable human antiquity, prehistoric atom scientists, and that UFOs are inhabited by spatial beings. He suggests they reside near the moon and speculates that Russia might have captured a UFO or been taken over by space people. He also posits that humans are kidnapped via levitation and teleportation, with their remains found in China and Nova Scotia.
• Leonard G. Cramp: A dissenting member of the Interplanetary Society of England, Cramp's "Space, Gravity, and the Flying Saucer" uses his psychic experiences, such as levitation sessions, to explain the anti-gravitational movement of saucers. He analyzes saucer photographs to find similarities in dimensions and characteristics, proposing a theory for interplanetary travel based on gravity-field propulsion.
• Cecil Michael: An automobile mechanic and gold prospector, Michael narrates his "Round Trip to Hell in a Flying Saucer," claiming it to be a true account of his encounter with flying saucers and a supernatural experience.
• Donald E. Keyhoe: A retired U.S. Marine Corps major, Keyhoe is convinced that extraterrestrial beings exist and navigate their crafts using radio astronomy. He believes they are monitoring Earth and hypothesizes they are planning an invasion, based on his contacts within the Pentagon and the Air Force.

Skeptical and Scientific Counterpoints:

• Donald H. Menzel: Professor of astrophysics at Harvard University, Menzel offers a scientific study titled "Flying Saucers." He uses photographs and diagrams to demonstrate that many sightings are explainable as meteorological phenomena, such as mirages, reflections, mock suns, halos, and radar mirages. He analyzes photographs of unidentified objects as freak images, deliberate hoaxes, or otherwise explainable occurrences.
• The United States Air Force: The Air Force, responsible for monitoring UFOs due to potential national security threats, has been accused of concealing information. However, a statement from the Department of Defense indicates that they have "never received any authentic information which would show that space craft have landed, or that they even exist." They believe that "each sighting can be explained in a natural and unsensational manner."

Mandel concludes that those who believe in flying saucers are often victims of wishful thinking. He suggests that if extraterrestrial beings are ready to reveal themselves, they will approach more reliable individuals than those who rely on psychic claims.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the phenomenon of flying saucers, the claims of interplanetary visitors, and the intersection of these beliefs with theosophy and other esoteric philosophies. The editorial stance, as presented through Siegfried Mandel's critical review, is largely skeptical of the sensational claims made by flying saucer enthusiasts. The article contrasts the fervent, often unverified, accounts of believers with scientific explanations and official statements, suggesting that the phenomenon is largely a product of psychological factors, misinterpretation of natural events, and a desire to believe.