Saucer News - Whole Number 19 - Vol 03 No 05 - 1956 08-09

Magazine Overview

Title: SAUCER NEWS
Issue: Volume 3, Number 5 (Whole Number 19)
Date: August-September 1956
Publisher: The Saucer and Unexplained Celestial Events Research Society (S.A.U.C.E.R.S.)
Editor: James W. Moseley

This issue of SAUCER NEWS delves into various aspects of the flying saucer phenomenon, featuring a mix of eyewitness accounts, analytical articles, book reviews, and recent news. The magazine aims to keep its readers informed about the latest developments and theories surrounding unexplained aerial events.

Cover Feature: Jersey City Sighting

The cover prominently displays a photograph described as a 'saucer' taken by Michial Aurelio in Jersey City on April 6th, 1956. Aurelio allegedly captured the image through his home window before the object vanished. The article notes the photo's poor quality due to the circumstances of its capture but states that analysis suggests the object, if real, would appear much smaller if it were the sun or moon. The photo is credited to August C. Roberts.

Editorials and Notes

The "Editorials" section reports that no attempt has been made to shut down SAUCER NEWS following the previous issue's content. However, the planned additional information has been postponed. "Editorial Notes" announce the availability of the confidential "Newsletter," which contains material deemed "too hot to handle" for the main publication, available for one dollar. Back issues of SAUCER NEWS are also listed for sale at 35 cents each. The editors solicit material for future issues, seeking articles on new or previously unpublished aspects of the saucer mystery.

Letters to the Editor

This section includes correspondence from readers. Major Andrew J. Wood of the Air Force writes to inform that the Air Force would strongly object to the reproduction and sale of Project Blue Book Special Report #14, classifying it as 'official use only.' The Editor notes that while the full report won't be published, key parts appeared in a previous issue.

Laimon Mitris from Quebec questions the 'Earth Theory' presented in the previous issue, requesting concrete proof. Edward S. Schultz from Buffalo praises the June-July issue and the "Newsletter #2," expressing hope that the publication will not be intimidated by any "hush-up threat."

Adolph G. Dittmar from Ausable Forks, N.Y., discusses the possibility of "The Organization" being involved with interplanetary saucers and expresses concern about being "hushed" if his explanation is correct. William B. Nash from Miami, Florida, acknowledges the courage in discussing potential government secrets but believes the author will not face repercussions.

Book Reviews

"My First 10,000,000 Sponsors" by Frank Edwards (Ballantine): Reviewed by Frank Reid, this autobiography is noted for its discussion of how saucer news reporting allegedly cost Edwards his job. The review mentions that UFOs were used as a cover-up for censorship and highlights a chapter containing information about a disk report picked up by wire services just before the Kenneth Arnold sighting. The book also touches upon the inventor Nathan Stubblefield and his experiments with wireless messages and power in 1885.

"The UFO Annual" by M. K. Jessup (Citadel Press): Reviewed by James W. Moseley, this book is described as the first large-scale attempt to inform the public about saucer sightings on a yearly basis. It is organized by month for 1955 and includes quotations from newspaper clippings, saucer magazines, and personal correspondence, along with photographs. The reviewer questions whether public interest will sustain the annual publication.

A photograph is included, taken from a television tube during Gray Barker's appearance on the Herb Sheldon T.V. Show, advertising his book "They Knew Too Much About Flying Saucers."

An advertisement for "STRANGER THAN FICTION DIGEST" is also present.

Feature Articles

"Scientists and Saucers" by Justin Case: This article discusses the Air Force's early recognition of flying saucers as a scientific mystery in 1948 and their enlistment of experts from various fields. It notes the lack of scientific literature on the subject, with only Professor Menzel, Professor Wylie, and Herman Oberth offering significant contributions. The author attributes scientists' reluctance to engage with the topic to the Air Force's policy of ridicule, similar public attitudes, and security restrictions. The article argues that this lack of interest has hindered progress and allowed charlatans to exploit public demand with misleading books, bringing the phenomenon into disrepute. The author expresses hope for developments that will stimulate scientific interest.

"UFO's and Unnatural Clouds" by Frank Reid: This article examines several incidents linking unexplained aerial phenomena with unusual cloud formations. It begins with a 1930 plane crash near Aransas Pass, Texas, where witnesses reported the plane disappearing into a dark cloud before crashing. Experienced pilots suggested lightning or a pilot reaction to emerging from darkness. Another incident involves a German-made air-taxi crash in Kent, England, in 1930, also occurring after flying into a cloud. The article also references a 1954 plane crash in Calne, England, where a plane disintegrated after falling from a cloud.

A letter from John Zeleny, dating back to 1896, describes a luminous, solitary cloud observed over Hutchinson, Minnesota, which caused a massive descent of insects. The author questions the source of the cloud's light and the selective nature of the insect shower.

The article explores the theory proposed by Michel and Plantier, suggesting that strange clouds might be by-products of a saucer's force field. It references reports of UFOs appearing with clouds above them, including a 1783 sighting. The author also discusses a 1953 case of a cloud shooting upwards and discharging a UFO, and a 1952 incident involving a "snow-plough-shaped cloud" observed by a Swedish Air Force pilot. The article concludes by posing the question of how these phenomena can be explained otherwise than as related to UFOs.

Recent News Stories

"I BELIEVE IN FAIRIES" SAYS FORMER BRITISH AIR CHIEF!: This short piece reports on Lord Dowding's recent spiritualist pronouncements about believing in fairies, who he claims have been photographed and possess an active sex life.

SAUCERS SEEN SIX NIGHTS IN A ROW IN PUEBLO, COLORADO: Reports detail consecutive nights of saucer sightings at a Ground Observer post in Pueblo. Sergeant Gilbert Nelson observed six objects, described as "dull, more or less fluorescent glows," moving fast. Five were triangular, and one was round. Nelson speculated the triangular ones might be birds, but the round one was harder to explain.

NUMEROUS SAUCERS SEEN BY AMATEUR ASTRONOMER IN WISCONSIN: This brief note mentions sightings by Rev. Charles Burmeister.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores the UFO phenomenon from multiple angles, including eyewitness accounts, scientific inquiry, and speculative theories. There is a clear interest in documenting sightings and investigating potential explanations, even those considered unconventional. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, encouraging reader participation and the submission of material, while also acknowledging the challenges posed by official secrecy and public skepticism. The publication seems to position itself as a platform for information that may not be readily available through mainstream channels, particularly through its "confidential Newsletter."

Title: SAUCER NEWS
Issue: October-November
Date: Not explicitly stated, but implied to be late 1956 based on the "California's 1956 Flying Saucer Convention" mention.
Document Type: Magazine Issue

Main Articles and Reports

UFO Sighting in Wisconsin

The issue details a sighting by Pastor Burmeister in Wisconsin on a specific evening. While observing planets through a telescope, he witnessed a group of five orange blobs in a shallow U formation moving westward at high speed. These objects disappeared over the western horizon in approximately five seconds. Burmeister estimated their height to be between 30,000 and 40,000 feet, and noted that no noise accompanied their flight. Within minutes, more objects appeared, with two more flashing across the sky, followed by nine more. The paths of these groups varied. Later, with his family, he observed one more object and then five or six. Single objects were again seen, bringing the minimum total for the night to 24. All were viewed with the naked eye. Burmeister, previously skeptical, stated that these objects could not be categorized as known astronomical phenomena like shooting stars or meteors. He ruled out the mirage effect of temperature inversion due to the clarity of the sky and the multiple sightings. Most objects had a bright glow, though later appearances were duller due to overcast conditions.

U.S. Navy Receives Radio Signals from Venus

The Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., announced on June 4th that it had been receiving radio signals from the planet Venus. Scientists were cautious about stating whether the signals were artificial. This contrasts with an earlier incident where similar signals from Jupiter were immediately deemed natural. The Venus signals were detected using a 50-foot radio-telescope and specialized electronic equipment operating at 10,000 megacycles. Three radio astronomers—Cornell H. Mayer, Russel M. Sloanaker, and Timothy P. McCullough—observed these "very weak" radio waves. This was the first time the Navy had pinpointed the location of the source of such extraterrestrial radio waves. Technicians at the Naval Research Laboratory hoped these measurements would provide new information about Venus, particularly its surface, which is obscured by thick clouds. A note indicates that later newspaper accounts suggested these signals were believed to be natural, with similar ones also received from the Moon and Jupiter.

Fortean Phenomena in England

Several items of a Fortean nature from England are reported, though noted as being "a bit out of date."

• March 8th: Two car windshields were shattered on the London to Portsmouth road, nicknamed "missile mile." One driver reported a "little pop" and a frosted windscreen, while another heard a loud bang and felt a shock.
• April 20th: In Weston-super-Mare, Mr. Brian Clout was blown across his room by a mysterious explosion while lighting a cigarette. A window was broken, floorboards caught fire, and part of the ceiling was blown down, but his wife in another room heard nothing. The cause was unknown.
• April 30th: A "mystery bang" shook London, rattling streets and windows. An Air Ministry spokesman stated it was not caused by any British supersonic aircraft.

These items were contributed by correspondent Bryan Essenhigh of Kent, England.

Air Force Confirms Saucer Sightings in Kansas

On May 27th, the Air Force confirmed multiple flying saucer sightings that occurred in Pratt, Kansas, two and a half weeks prior. Approximately two dozen witnesses were interviewed. The unidentified objects, described as resembling "two saucers back-to-back," were seen three times on the night of May 8th-9th. The first sighting involved four objects in formation at 8:30 p.m. on May 8th, observed by people at a drive-in theatre and the local Ground Observer Corps post. A single saucer was seen at 12:30 a.m. on May 9th, followed by a pair at 1:30 a.m. The objects were described as glowing pink, with shadings of orange and green, and reportedly left Pratt heading northeast.

News Briefs

• Abominable Snowman: British scientists calculated the weight of the "Abominable Snowman" of the Himalayas at approximately 3,000 pounds, based on tracks measuring 12 inches long, 6 inches wide, and 11 inches deep. Another report mentioned a corpse preserved in an ice crevasse, which explorer Peter John Webster plans to investigate.
• Launch Joyita Disappearance: A New Zealand Parliament report from April 14th stated that the disappearance of all persons aboard the 70-ton launch Joyita is inexplicable. The yacht set out for Apia, Western Samoa, on October 3rd, 1955, and was found wrecked and flooded on November 10th, with all 9 passengers and 16 crew members missing.
• Deep Ocean Currents Study: An Associated Press story from May 28th reported that a study of deep ocean currents would be conducted during the International Geophysical Year to assess how much radioactive waste could be safely dumped at sea, given the expected increase in radioactive substances from the development of peaceful atomic energy uses.
• H-Bomb Test "Points of Light": An early edition of the Buffalo Courier-Express mentioned mysterious and unexplained "points of light" seen seconds after an H-bomb test on May 21st, speculating they might be instrumentation dropped from a B52 bomber. Significantly, later editions omitted this detail.
• New Sea Monster: A 45-foot, white-spotted sea turtle with 15-foot flippers was sighted in the North Atlantic off Nova Scotia, prompting a Coast Guard warning to ships.
• Bridey Murphy Solved: A Chicago minister and reporters concluded that the Bridey Murphy mystery was solved. The housewife, Mrs. Virginia Tighe, allegedly confused her own childhood experiences with stories told by a flesh-and-blood Irish woman named Bridey Murphy.

Saucer Briefs (Continued)

• North Jersey U.F.O. Group Meeting Failure: The latest newsletter from the North Jersey U.F.O. Group reported that a meeting with Gray Barker as guest speaker was a failure, with only 40 people attending a hall meant for 400. This resulted in debt for the group, and suspension of their newsletter and meetings.
• "Smallwood" Identity Revealed: In an interview, Laimon Mitris of Rouyn, Quebec, revealed that he is the man known as "Smallwood" in Gray Barker's book "They Knew Too Much About Flying Saucers." Mitris also stated that Barker's account of an incident involving a saucer fragment was written without his permission.
• "Flying Object at Three O'Clock High": A fictional television play with this title aired on June 20th, which was entertaining but bore little resemblance to actual saucer mystery facts.
• Kenneth Arnold Injured: Kenneth Arnold was injured in a plane crash in New Mexico.

Miscellaneous Notices

• Personal: A request for the name and address of a sender of $1.00 from Benham, Kentucky, for back issues and an Air Force release.
• Important: The October-November issue of SAUCER NEWS was expected to mail around November 1st, potentially arriving two to three weeks later than usual.

Advertisement

An introductory offer for UFO fans to receive a free copy of "Stranger Than Fiction Digest" by mailing names and addresses of two or more friends, along with 3¢ postage.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently reports on UFO sightings, radio signals from space, and unexplained phenomena (Fortean events). The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting various claims and witness accounts, while also offering skeptical commentary or clarifications where available (e.g., Ruppelt's denial of Mantell's quote, the explanation of the Bridey Murphy case). There's a clear interest in debunking or providing rational explanations for some phenomena, while remaining open to the possibility of genuine mysteries. The inclusion of news briefs on diverse topics like sea monsters and scientific studies suggests a broad interest in the unusual and unexplained. The magazine also engages with its readership through personal notices and updates on its own publication schedule.