Saucer Forum vol 3 no 2 1965 04-06

Magazine Overview

Title: SAUCER FORUM
Issue: Vol. 3, No. 2
Date: April-May-June 1965
Editor: Jimmy Goddard

This issue of SAUCER FORUM delves into various aspects of UFOlogy, featuring an editorial, reviews of new publications, reader correspondence, and summaries of lectures. The magazine maintains a focus on UFO sightings, contactee claims, and the broader implications of extraterrestrial life.

Editorial

Editor Jimmy Goddard addresses the issue of personal attacks within the UFO community, stating a decision to no longer publish letters that attack other people or their viewpoints. He establishes a new rule: if one has something to say about UFOs, they should write to SAUCER FORUM; if they have something to say about another individual, they should contact that person directly. This policy aims to reduce unpleasantness and maintain a more constructive discourse.

Goddard also recounts a personal sighting on March 2nd, 1965, at 6:50 p.m. GMT. While observing the constellation Orion, he saw two star-like lights that were not usually present. These lights moved upwards within the constellation before leveling out and flying horizontally until they vanished. He heard no sound, which he attributes to potential traffic noise. He notes that the lights moved together, appearing as a single object, and were moving too fast to be a satellite. The sighting lasted for approximately one minute.

New Publications

The magazine highlights two recent publications of interest to UFOlogists:

1. Gene Duplantier's 1965 YEARBOOK: This publication compiles the best content from the first ten issues of the magazine *SAUCERS, SPACE AND SCIENCE*. It costs 75 cents (approximately 6/6) and can be obtained from Gene Duplantier at 17, Shetland Street, Willowdale, Ontario, Canada.
2. OMEGA by Lucius Farish: This book focuses on Fortean phenomena, drawing primarily from British newspapers of the 1800s. It costs $1.25 or 14/- and is available from Armand A. Laprade, 48, Great Brook Valley Avenue, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605, U.S.A.

Reader Correspondence

Several letters from readers offer diverse perspectives and reports:

• Eric L. Oliver (Gleason, Tennessee, USA), a member of NICAP, reports on a blinding white flash of light near Paris, Tennessee, on February 14, 1965. According to police officers, the light initially appeared dim, then peaked before fading out, with no accompanying sound. Oliver is investigating the incident and will report further findings.

• Allen Greenfield (Atlanta, Georgia, USA) comments on the ongoing debate within SAUCER FORUM concerning figures like Adamski, Steinberg, and Beckley. He notes that despite apparent controversies, these UFOlogists generally get along well in person, attributing this to their shared passion and strong opinions. He quotes Emerson: "We are of different opinions at different hours but we always may be said to be at heart on the side of truth."

• C. R. Yuille-Smith (Bedford, Bedfordshire, UK) questions the purpose of UFO appearances in straight lines, suggesting it might be a reconnaissance operation, a view shared by Dr. Olave T. Fontes and Mr. Gordon Creighton. He ponders the nature of a potential invasion, whether it would be for conquest or benevolent intervention, and considers the possibility of psychic rather than physical threats, referencing "Ashtar's statement."

• Peter Coleman (Hall Green, Birmingham, UK) discusses the subject of claimed contact with "space-people." He expresses skepticism about "contactees," particularly in the U.S., suggesting many are fraudulent. He considers George Adamski to be the best authentic American case but notes the lack of overwhelming evidence. He also mentions Howard Manger, Daniel Fry, and Truman Bethurum as other notable cases, though their accounts differ. Coleman questions why, if the purpose of contact is to provide understanding, the information remains unclear and contradictory. He advocates for focusing on the UFO mystery itself rather than cosmic philosophy.

BUFOR Meetings

Summaries of two lectures are provided:

• SAUCERS OVER THE MIDLANDS (30/1/65): Lecture by Gavin Gibbons. The lecture took place on the day of Sir Winston Churchill's funeral. Mr. Gibbons began by quoting Churchill's comment on flying saucers from 1954: "Other planets should be treated with the contempt they deserve." Gibbons then presented his own sightings, detailed in his publication "The Favoured Ones." He discussed the Cosford sighting, the Roestenberg family's experiences, and a ball of fire seen by UFO researcher Mr. Wilfred Daniels. Gibbons theorized that activity around the airfields of Seighford and Hixon suggested these fields might be used by UFOs for landing. He also spoke about rising public cynicism since 1945, linking it to the hydrogen bomb, and suggested that East and West ideologies were converging. Gibbons expressed his belief that space exploration would foster unity and a sense of wonder, leading to a realization of God. He encouraged looking forward to exciting future times.

• THE CASE FOR LITTLE GREEN MEN (27/2/65): Lecture by Lionel Beer. Dr. Doel, Chairman and Central Information Officer of BUFOR, introduced the lecture by detailing recent sightings, including one where a man's clothing was burnt by a UFO. Mr. Beer began by quoting an Encyclopedia Britannica article by Dr. Allen Hynek, which implied that UFOlogists merited "socio-psychological study." Beer then discussed folklore from various countries, such as Irish leprechauns, and how pilots in World War II referred to "gremlins" when aircraft malfunctioned. He speculated that "gremlin" might be a corruption of "green thing," suggesting a possible link to sightings of strange creatures. Beer presented reports of humanoid creatures, including a case where children died after appearing on the scene of a UFO event. He referenced Dr. Jessup's "Expanding Case for the UFO," describing an account of little green men with claw hands. He also mentioned the Leam Lane incident, the Flatwoods, West Virginia case, and the Desverges case.

Beer categorized the types of beings seen into three groups:
1. Little men: 2' to 2'6" tall, wearing space suits, usually avoiding contact. Some were 3' to 3'6" tall, wearing tight one-piece suits, sometimes with helmets. Others were up to 4'6" tall, often without suits, sometimes with a cape or cloak.
2. Normal men: Approximately 5' tall, some reportedly speaking the observer's language, others uttering unintelligible sounds. They usually wore one-piece suits. Adamski's first contact was placed in this category.
3. Tall men and monsters: Ranging from 7' to around 10' tall, with one case described as 13' tall.
Beer stated that the ratio of these sightings was approximately two 'normal men' and four 'little men' for every one 'tall man/monster.' He emphasized that all beings were humanoid in form, and bug-eyed monsters were not part of these classifications. Beer's opinion was that these beings were neither hostile nor friendly, but scientifically indifferent.

LIFE BEYOND THE EARTH (27/3/65): Lecture by Stephen Smith

Mr. Smith, from a UFO group in Cambridge, discussed the Tonnie Zamora incident in New Mexico, which had revived interest in contact claims. He spoke about the low probability of life evolving and outlined the requirements for life on a planet: a stable orbit around a star and a specific distance from it. Smith stated that Mars and Venus were the only planets in our solar system capable of supporting life, but concluded that life of sufficient intelligence to pilot UFOs could not exist on either. He estimated there are about 100,000,000 stars in the galaxy capable of having planets. Smith presented theories on the solar system's origin and suggested that observing stellar wobbles could indicate planetary systems. He raised the question of whether to listen for messages from extraterrestrials or transmit our own. Smith concluded that contact claims presented a significant problem requiring much sorting out. The question period covered topics such as whether life was random or planned, silicon life, lunar bases, Martian satellites, Jupiter's red spot, quasars, and the possibility of controlling cumulus clouds by thought. The speaker was occasionally heckled by individuals with esoteric beliefs.

Editorial Stance and Recurring Themes

This issue of SAUCER FORUM reflects a commitment to serious discussion and investigation of UFO phenomena, while also attempting to manage internal community dynamics by discouraging personal attacks. The recurring themes include:

• UFO Sightings: Personal accounts and reports of observed aerial phenomena.
• Contactee Claims: Discussions and skepticism surrounding individuals claiming contact with extraterrestrials.
• UFO Research: Mention of organizations like NICAP and BUFOR, and the work of researchers.
• Extraterrestrial Life: Speculation on the existence, nature, and intentions of potential alien visitors.
• New Publications and Lectures: Highlighting current resources and expert opinions within the field.

The magazine appears to encourage a balanced approach, acknowledging the complexities and controversies within UFOlogy while striving for a more organized and less contentious environment for discussion.