Saucer News - Whole Number 16 - Vol 03 No 02 - 1956 02-03

Magazine Overview

Title: SAUCER NEWS
Issue: VOLUME 3, NUMBER 2 (Whole Number 16)
Date: FEBRUARY-MARCH 1956
Publisher: THE SAUCER AND UNEXPLAINED CELESTIAL EVENTS RESEARCH SOCIETY
Editor: JAMES W. MOSELEY

This issue of SAUCER NEWS, the official publication of the Saucer and Unexplained Celestial Events Research Society, delves into various aspects of the flying saucer phenomenon, including alleged extraterrestrial presence, government involvement, and scientific research into advanced propulsion.

Editorial Notes

The "Editorial Notes" section addresses several points. Firstly, it discusses the ongoing response to a questionnaire sent out with the previous issue, highlighting its helpfulness but noting that many readers have not yet returned their forms. The results are promised for the April-May issue. Secondly, it clarifies the policy regarding honorary memberships, explaining that while a few receive SAUCER NEWS free, paid subscribers are the essential backbone of the publication. Thirdly, the editor retracts a previous statement about the October 25, 1955 Air Force Report, now describing it as "purposely obscure and confusing" rather than a "thorough and honest attempt to solve the Saucer Mystery." However, the editor still maintains that the report supports the theory of Earth-made saucers. Finally, the section announces the availability of back issues of SAUCER NEWS and a special, more "hot" Newsletter for $1.00.

Letters to the Editor

This section announces that George Adamski is preparing a series of tape-recorded lectures, with the first one ready. These will be distributed on a non-profit basis, with copies available for those who send a request and cover postage.

Recent News

This section presents several brief news items:

• Saucer with Portholes Seen in Florida: On December 15th, Bradley D. Card of Punta Russa, Florida, reported seeing a circular, coffee-brown disc with portholes and a keel-like apparatus. He described it as turning slowly and flashing, with possible objects inside, before disappearing rapidly. Two jet planes were observed shortly after.
• Moon for Sale: A New York corporation, the Interplanetary Development Corporation, is selling plots of land on the Moon for $1 an acre. A Miami outfit, headed by Harry Hall, claims to have been selling Moon real estate since March 1955, offering 100-acre plots for the same price. Hall's claim is legally filed, and his company offers deeds including oil rights and roads, plus a reservation on the first rocket trip. The New York firm's deeds also include these provisions.
• Saucer Photographed in Canada: On December 6th, the Clark family of Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada, photographed a flying saucer. The object was described as round and black, traveling noiselessly, then making a right-angle turn. One photo showed a crescent-shaped object, lighter in the center and transparent, with no visible exhaust.
• Florida Man Reports Tingling Sensation from Saucer: On November 1st, C. F. Bell, a policeman in Williston, Florida, observed a fleet of six lighted objects. One object descended and hovered at low altitude, emitting bright, steady light and heat that caused a tingling sensation. The object was described as pure white, shaped like a wash tub, and had no marks or windows. It was in sight for about 45 minutes.
• New Saucer Book: A book by Gray Barker, tentatively titled "They Knew Too Much About Flying Saucers," is due out around April 20th. It is expected to contain unpublished facts about civilian saucer research, and there are rumors of efforts to stop its publication due to its sensitive content.

Feature Articles

The Al Bender Story

Authored by James W. Moseley, this article investigates the mysterious "hush-up" of Al Bender, the head of the International Flying Saucer Bureau (IFSB), one of the earliest civilian organizations investigating UFOs. In October 1953, Bender's magazine, "Space Review," published statements suggesting the saucer mystery was solved but information was being withheld by a "higher source." The IFSB was subsequently reorganized to focus on general matters, and Bender ceased his saucer investigations.

Moseley recounts his own attempts to uncover the truth, including an interview with Bender in November 1953. Bender claimed that three government agents in dark suits and homburg hats had warned him to stop his investigation for the good of the country. Bender's associates believed him, but Moseley initially suspected Bender might have had personal reasons for closing the club, such as financial difficulties or psychoneurosis.

Further investigation revealed similar incidents involving other researchers who had obtained saucer fragments and were subsequently visited by government agents, warned to cease their research, or had their work confiscated. These cases, including the IFSB's own experience with a saucer fragment, suggest a significant government interest in such materials.

Moseley also details a conversation with an official Air Force spokesman who acknowledged that such "hush-up" incidents "could have happened," especially in the early days of saucer investigations, and that investigators might have overstepped their authority. Despite further attempts to find out which magazine Bender submitted his article to, no confirmation was found. A second interview with Bender in December 1955 yielded little new information, as Bender still felt unable to discuss the matter freely.

Moseley concludes that Bender must have learned something important enough to warrant being silenced, possibly due to national security concerns. He remains curious about the nature of this information.

Conquest of Gravity is Aim of Top U.S. Scientists

This article, condensed from the New York Herald-Tribune (November 20-22, 1955), reports on the intensive gravity research being conducted by major U.S. scientific laboratories and research centers, including the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton, Princeton University, the University of Indiana, and Purdue University Research Foundation. Major aircraft companies like Glen L. Martin, Convair, Bell Aircraft, Sikorsky, and Lear, Inc., are also involved.

Scientists consider gravity to be one of the greatest unsolved mysteries, comparable to life itself. Solving it could revolutionize power, transportation, and aircraft design, potentially enabling aircraft and spacecraft to move swiftly into outer space without the strain of powerful rockets or the need to overcome Earth's gravity field. This could lead to vehicles capable of rapid acceleration and sudden course changes without subjecting passengers to G-forces.

Notable scientists involved include Dr. Edward Teller, Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer, Dr. Freeman J. Dyson, Dr. John A. Wheeler, and Dr. Vaclav Hlavaty. William P. Lear believes it's possible to create artificial electromagnetic fields that can cancel out gravity, making occupants unaffected by gravitational pull.

Eugene M. Gluhareff is mentioned for his theoretical designs of saucer-shaped vehicles for space travel, powered by atomic generators or electric power, using electron acceleration for propulsion. A scientist quoted suggests that if national survival depends on rapid space exploration, the answer to gravity control could be found quickly.

Comments by Justin Case on the Herald-Tribune's Gravity Series: Justin Case offers a critical perspective, suggesting the media coverage exaggerates the immediate progress in gravity research. He posits that the increased interest is driven by the potential implications for flying saucers, which he believes are real, extraterrestrial, and piloted by intelligent beings (citing William P. Lear's views). Other organizations may be pursuing gravity research for long-term scientific knowledge or to test Einstein's theories, particularly regarding the speed of gravitational propagation and the unification of magnetic and gravitational fields.

Book Reviews

• The Flying Saucer Conspiracy by Major Donald E. Keyhoe: Reviewed by James W. Moseley. This book is presented as an update on saucer developments since Keyhoe's 1953 book. Moseley praises Keyhoe's documentation and style, calling him the leading author in the field. The review highlights Keyhoe's chapter on new evidence for life on the Moon, including an artificial bridge and markings on Mars. It also discusses recent plane crashes potentially caused by saucers, including the mysterious disappearance of six Navy planes in 1945, which Keyhoe suggests were "spacenapped." Keyhoe also discusses anti-gravity devices and recently discovered natural or artificial satellites, which he believes are "mother ships" for saucer observation. Moseley notes an inconsistency in Keyhoe's approach: while rejecting "personal contact" stories and the idea of Earth-made saucers, he accepts the possibility of the Army bombarding the Moon and Mars with artificial meteors, suggesting a retaliatory response from "Moon people" or Martians.

• Flying Saucers Uncensored by Wilkins (Justin Case): This book is mentioned as being reviewed by Justin Case, but the review itself is not detailed on this page.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the mystery of flying saucers, the potential for extraterrestrial visitation, and the implications of advanced technology. There is a strong undercurrent of government secrecy and potential cover-ups related to UFO investigations, as exemplified by the Al Bender case. The magazine also highlights the cutting edge of scientific research, particularly in the field of gravity, suggesting a link between this research and the capabilities of flying saucers. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into UFO phenomena, while maintaining a critical perspective on sensationalized claims and acknowledging the possibility of government involvement and advanced, possibly extraterrestrial, technology. The publication seems to favor documented cases and scientific speculation over anecdotal personal contact stories, though it does engage with various facets of the UFO debate.

This issue of SAUCER NEWS, dated November 1955, focuses on the ongoing debate surrounding flying saucers, particularly the claims of conspiracy and the official stance of the U.S. Air Force. The issue features reviews of prominent books on the subject and an in-depth analysis of Air Force statements.

Review of 'The Flying Saucer Conspiracy' by Major Keyhoe

The article begins by addressing Major Keyhoe's new book, 'The Flying Saucer Conspiracy.' The author acknowledges Keyhoe's observations about contradictory and misleading official statements from the Air Force regarding saucer information. However, the primary objection raised is to Keyhoe's central theme: the assertion that a 'conspiracy' exists within the Air Force to suppress information from the public. The author feels that Keyhoe's personal observations regarding this alleged conspiracy are exaggerated and unjustified.

Specific objections are made to Keyhoe's statement that he was the only unofficial investigator to receive certain saucer sightings from early Project Bluebook Status Reports. The author points out that in November 1953, they were shown the Reports, which contained additional sightings not seen by Keyhoe. This is presented as a factual error that Keyhoe could have avoided.

The article also discusses Keyhoe's reference to a letter written by Al Chop, a former Pentagon public information officer, for 'Flying Saucers from Outer Space.' Keyhoe interprets this letter as an 'official admission' that saucers are from another planet. The letter states that the Air Force and Project Bluebook are aware of Keyhoe's conclusion and that the Air Force has never denied the possibility. However, the author emphasizes the crucial words 'some' and 'if' in the statement, arguing that it is not an official admission. The author believes that the Air Force will never officially admit that saucers are from another planet, agreeing with Keyhoe on the outcome but not the reasoning.

Despite these criticisms, the author concludes that Keyhoe's book is highly recommendable and the most important saucer book of 1955, urging serious researchers to read it.

Review of 'Flying Saucers Uncensored' by Harold T. Wilkins

This section reviews Harold T. Wilkins' second book, 'Flying Saucers Uncensored.' The reviewer, Justin Case, describes the book as consisting mostly of reports on flying saucer sightings and other unexplained aerial phenomena up to August 1955, along with the author's interpretations. The reviewer suggests that the book is suitable for those who believe every unidentified object is a flying saucer, do not mind fiction mixed with facts, accept newspaper reports and gossip as true, and believe housewives and children are accurate observers.

Two examples from Wilkins' book are presented. The first describes three flying saucers seen over London in 1952. The second is a personal sighting by Wilkins of a strange, large object on fire, described as flying horizontally at high speed. The reviewer performs simple calculations to show that Wilkins' estimates of distance, angle, and elevation in his own sighting are inaccurate. The reviewer concludes that Wilkins' 'remarkable sighting' was likely a nearby RAF plane reflecting the rising sun, not a space ship.

The reviewer criticizes Wilkins for accepting almost all reports without question, agreeing with Meade Layne's 'etheric, four-dimensional world' theory for some saucers. Wilkins also believes in hostile flying saucers from three-dimensional worlds. The reviewer finds it surprising that Wilkins, who refers to himself as a scientific historian, accepts so much doubtful material without question and fails to separate reliable from unreliable information. Wilkins' reliance on visual estimates and statements from the Borderland Science Research Associates is also questioned.

The Air Force and the Saucers: Part One - What Does the Air Force Deny?

Authored by 'Dr. D.', this article argues that a significant fact has been overlooked: the Air Force no longer denies that flying saucers seen since 1947 were actually American devices. The author contends that this fact undermines the argument of many writers who use Air Force 'denials' as proof that saucers are extraterrestrial.

The article traces the history of Air Force statements, noting that the initial explanation for saucers after Ken Arnold's 1947 sighting was that they were secret American devices, possibly guided missiles. It highlights Keyhoe's reliance on an Air Force denial that saucers were 'any plane, missile or weapon developed, or under development by the United States.'

The author points out that the bulk of Air Force personnel were caught unaware by the saucers in 1947. The article suggests that the Navy, unlike the Air Force, has never officially denied saucers were American, implying a potential inter-service rivalry or a Navy development.

By 1952, the Air Force had learned the true nature of the saucers and could not honestly continue to deny they were American. However, due to military tradition, they did not volunteer this information. General Samford's 1952 Pentagon press conference is described as a 'masterpiece of gobbledygook' where he evaded direct questions about whether saucers were a secret weapon. The official transcript and subsequent press release are analyzed, with the author claiming the press release contained an incorrect paragraph that denied the phenomena were US-developed.

In 1954, the Air Force issued a press release that omitted the denial of American origin, stating instead that 'No evidence has been received which would tend to indicate that the United States is being observed by machines from outer space or a foreign government.' This omission is questioned as being more than mere oversight.

The article further notes that the 1955 edition of the Air Force saucer news release also did not contain a denial that saucers were American devices. A review of the full 316-page 'Summary of the whole Air Force saucer "investigation"' (Special Report No. 14, Project Blue Book) also reportedly contains no denial of American origin.

The author concludes that it is an inescapable fact that the U.S. Air Force does not now deny that the circular and spherical objects seen between 1947-1952 were indeed secret American devices. The article encourages readers to write to the Department of Defense to ask about this.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the critique of sensationalism and unsubstantiated claims in UFO literature, the analysis of official government statements (particularly from the Air Force), and the exploration of the possibility that flying saucers are secret American technological developments rather than extraterrestrial craft. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical inquiry, urging readers to examine evidence carefully and to question prevailing narratives, even when they come from respected figures like Major Keyhoe. The magazine champions a more grounded, evidence-based approach to the UFO phenomenon, while acknowledging the complexity and potential for government secrecy or inter-service rivalry.

Publication Information

SAUCER NEWS is published every second month in Fort Lee, New Jersey, by the Saucer and Unexplained Celestial Events Research Society (S.A.U.C.E.R.S.). The editor is James W. Moseley, with Richard Cohen as Managing Editor, and Dominic Lucchesi, John Marana, and Fred Broman as Associate Editors. Subscription prices are listed as $2.00 for one year and $3.50 for two years, with back issues available at 35 cents each.