Saucer News - Whole Number 35 - Vol 06 No 02 - 1959 02-03

Magazine Overview

Title: SAUCER NEWS
Issue: VOLUME 6, NUMBER 2 (Whole Number 35)
Date: FEBRUARY-MARCH 1959
Publisher: Saucer and Unexplained Celestial Events Research Society (S.A.U.C.E.R.S.)
Editor: James W. Moseley

This issue of SAUCER NEWS, the official publication of the Saucer and Unexplained Celestial Events Research Society, announces a significant change in its publication schedule, moving from bi-monthly to quarterly issues starting in June 1959. This decision is attributed to the magazine being a hobby and a money-losing venture, with the editor's regular business commitments making it difficult to maintain the previous six-deadline-per-year schedule. The move to four issues per year is intended to ease the workload while aiming to maintain the total amount of material published annually, potentially resulting in larger, more substantial issues.

The cover story details a second mysterious incident of "Glass Pitting" at SAUCER NEWS headquarters, where the protective glass of the editor's television set shattered into thousands of tiny cracks. This phenomenon, similar to one reported in the April-May 1956 issue, occurred on January 16, 1959, with the editor being the only person present. The force of the explosion scattered glass fragments over three feet from the set.

Contents of this Issue

The issue features several articles and sections:

• Editorial Notes: Discusses the transition to quarterly publication, the financial challenges of running the magazine, and appeals for subscription renewals. It also mentions being short of specific past issues and offers back issues and other related publications for sale, including a booklet by Maria Reiche on the Nasca Lines, issues of the English magazine "Uranus", and the Air Force Project Blue Book Special Report #214.
• Feature Articles:
• "Screwing the Lid Down on 'Doctor' Williamson" by James W. Moseley and Michael G. Mann.
• "The Nature of the UFO Mystery" by Thomas M. Comella.
• "Do Flying Saucers Come from Mars?" by Justin Case.
• "ECM + CIA = UFO, or How to Cause a Radar Sighting" by Dr. Leon Davidson.

Feature Articles Analysis

Screwing the Lid Down on "Doctor" Williamson

This lengthy article, co-authored by editor James W. Moseley and Michael G. Mann (Director of the International Federation of Saucer Clubs), critically examines the academic credentials of George Hunt Williamson. Williamson, known for his involvement in the George Adamski case and his books "The Saucers Speak" and "Other Tongues, Other Flesh," is increasingly described in the press as a "professor" and "doctor." The authors investigate Williamson's claims, particularly his "doctor" title, which is not clearly substantiated in his books. They consult "Who's Who in America" (Volume 29), which lists him with an Sc.D. from "No. U., 1952." However, research indicates that "No. U." is likely "Northern University," an institution that cannot be located, or possibly Northwestern University, which he did not attend. Correspondence with the University of Arizona reveals that Williamson attended several institutions but was disqualified from the University of Arizona in 1951 for poor scholarship. The university registrar states that the B.A. degree listed in "Who's Who" from Arizona is untrue and that the Sc.D. degree from "No. U." is highly questionable, possibly referring to an unverified "Northern University." The article concludes that Williamson's claims of academic prestige are not supported by verifiable facts, and his use of these titles may be intended to lend undue credibility to his theories.

The Nature of the UFO Mystery

Thomas M. Comella, former editor of "The Flying Saucer News Service Research Bulletin," argues that a fundamental shift is occurring in UFO research, with investigators becoming less certain about the reality of flying saucers. He posits that the human mind's reliance on logic, which has been successful in other scientific endeavors, is failing to resolve the UFO mystery because UFOs may not conform to logical patterns or human understanding. Comella suggests that the universe might contain phenomena or beings that are inherently illogical or unintelligible to humans, akin to trying to force a square peg into a round hole. He proposes that the key to understanding the UFO mystery lies in recognizing that the universe may not be entirely logical by human standards and that humans must be open to possibilities beyond their current understanding. Comella concludes his investigative work on UFOs with this article, challenging readers to consider this new perspective.

Do Flying Saucers Come from Mars?

Justin Case examines the possibility of flying saucers originating from Mars. The article reviews known facts about Mars, including its size, gravity, thin atmosphere, lack of oceans, and the presence of white frost caps and dust clouds. It mentions Professor Slipher's 1954 photographs, which suggested primitive vegetation and "canals" on Mars. Case argues that the conditions on Mars are extremely unfavorable for life, especially intelligent life capable of developing space travel. He notes that while the planet is dying, the unfavorable conditions have existed for thousands of years, making it unlikely that any intelligent Martians could have developed the technology for space travel recently. The article concludes that it is highly improbable that flying saucers are intelligent visitors from Mars, suggesting that further knowledge will only come from future space exploration.

ECM + CIA = UFO, or How to Cause a Radar Sighting

Dr. Leon Davidson proposes a provocative theory that some "authentic" radar sightings of flying saucers might be artificially created through the combination of Electronic Countermeasures (ECM) and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The article explains ECM as technology developed by 1945, initially using aluminum foil strips and later evolving into sophisticated systems that could amplify radar impulses, modify them, and send them back to create false targets on radar screens, affecting range, speed, or heading. By 1950, ECM was standard on advanced bombers and was being developed for missiles, with systems capable of generating simulated targets for training radar operators. Davidson links this technology to the CIA, describing it as the chief foreign intelligence arm of the U.S. that wages psychological warfare and operates with significant, often undisclosed, funding. The article suggests that these technologies could be used to create simulated UFO radar contacts, potentially for purposes of deception or psychological operations.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the critical examination of UFO-related claims and the scientific investigation of the phenomenon. The editorial stance is one of skepticism towards unsubstantiated claims, particularly regarding academic credentials (as seen in the Williamson article), and a commitment to rigorous, logical, and scientific inquiry, even when it challenges conventional beliefs (as in Comella's article). The magazine also explores speculative theories, such as the Martian origin of UFOs and the possibility of artificial radar sightings, while maintaining a grounded approach based on available evidence and scientific reasoning. The shift to quarterly publication signals a dedication to continuing the publication despite financial and logistical challenges, emphasizing the importance of the subject matter to the society and its readers.

This issue of the "UFO Investigator" (Vol. 4, June 1958) focuses on the alleged role of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in creating or influencing flying saucer sightings. The publication, associated with NICAP, presents a controversial theory that many radar sightings, particularly those involving unexplained phenomena, are not evidence of extraterrestrial craft but rather the result of deliberate psychological manipulation and the use of classified Electronic Countermeasures (ECM) technology by the CIA.

The CIA's Alleged Role in UFO Sightings

The central argument of the issue is that the CIA, since 1951, has orchestrated or sponsored saucer sightings for its own purposes. The author contends that "normal" events, including military ECM operations unknown to radar observers, have been manipulated to appear as convincing evidence of extraterrestrial UFOs. This manipulation is presented as a means to foster public belief in "interplanetary" machines.

Case Studies and Analysis

The "Invisible" Saucers

The article delves into the case of the "Invisible" Saucers, described in Donald Keyhoe's "The Flying Saucer Conspiracy." This incident involved a radar signature of multiple UFOs appearing in a U-formation, then changing to parallel lines and a Z-formation over England in September 1952. The objects were reportedly invisible to the human eye, even in clear daylight. Keyhoe's Washington contact, "Paul Redell," suggested a connection to similar events and highly classified research. The author proposes that this case could have been a demonstration of ECM, accounting for the radar returns without visual confirmation.

Washington Airport Sightings (July 1952)

The well-known Washington National Airport radar sightings of July 19th and 26th, 1952, are discussed. General Samford, Director of Air Force Intelligence, stated that radar could play tricks and that the sightings were not of material objects but "radar ghosts." A Washington Post article cited a Navy officer suggesting they were "ghosts of Nansei-Shoto," possibly caused by "electronic noise." The author suggests that the movement of jet interceptors away from Washington during this period was a deliberate maneuver to facilitate an ECM hoax. Furthermore, Ruppelt was allegedly prevented from gathering facts, and information that could have debunked the visual confirmations was suppressed.

The Gulf of Mexico Sighting (December 1952)

This case involved a radar training plane detecting blips moving at speeds of 5,000 to 9,000 mph. While visual confirmation was claimed, the description of a "blue-white streak" traveling from front to rear is deemed inconclusive, as such an appearance could be due to clouds or exhaust particles. The author suggests this incident might also have been related to ECM operations, either for training or demonstration purposes.

The Role of ECM Equipment

The article strongly emphasizes the potential role of ECM equipment in generating or influencing radar sightings. It argues that while not all radar sightings are caused by ECM, the cases discussed likely were not related to real objects moving at extreme speeds. Instead, they were possibly accidental or purposeful signal generation from ECM equipment. The author believes that ECM personnel may not have realized their operations were creating UFO reports, and that the CIA then used these events for publicity, promoting the idea of "interplanetary" saucers.

Other Reported Sightings and News Briefs

The issue also includes several brief news items:

• Mysterious "Thing" Splits Tree in Ireland: A saucer-like object reportedly cut an Irish farmer's oak tree in half on January 1st. The object was black, about seven feet across, and came within twenty feet of the ground.
• Leading Scientist Suggests Satellites to Clean Radiation Belt: Dr. Fred Singer proposed using satellites to clear dangerous radiation belts around Earth.
• Cigar-Shaped Object Frightens Motorists in Connecticut: On December 15th, two couples reported seeing a UFO with an "icy blue glow" that caused their car's electrics to fail.
• George Adamski's Claim: Adamski reportedly claimed to have been transported by saucer between lecture engagements.
• Douglas Hancock Observation: A saucerer named Douglas Hancock was placed under psychiatric observation.
• Gray Barker's Appearance: Gray Barker, associated with "The Saucerian," spoke at a Lions Club meeting, admitting his interest was profit-driven.
• Civilian Saucer Intelligence Meeting: A public meeting was announced for March 27th in New York City, featuring Major Donald Keyhoe and Long John Nebel.
• Great Lakes UFO Association Renaming: The organization changed its name to the Great Lakes Identified Flying Objects Association, believing they had identified the source of UFOs (Mars).
• Egg-Shaped Saucer Seen in Baltimore (October 1958): Alvin Cohen and Phillip Small observed a large, egg-shaped UFO that caused their car's electrical system to fail and emitted heat rays.
• Saucer Follows Train in Indiana (October 3rd): Five train crew members witnessed four UFOs pacing their train for over an hour, glowing white and red-orange.
• Earless Monster in California: Charles Wetzel reported a monster jumping in front of his car.
• News Briefs: Generator failures linked to a specific highway strip, strange lights, a burned-out hole in Alabama, and an unexplained plane crash are mentioned. A Fortean item concerns a baby eel possibly from a sea serpent. Residents of Riverdale, New York, saw a saucer. A Dover, New Jersey, inventor claims to have received information on saucer operation from space men and is building a 10-foot diameter saucer.

Conclusion and Recommendations

The issue concludes by reiterating that the Washington sightings were predicted by a CIA scientist, supporting the contention that the CIA sponsored them. The author urges researchers to study ECM to understand its potential role in explaining radar sightings. The article implies that many official reports of flying saucers are not what they seem and may be part of a deliberate disinformation campaign.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The primary theme is the potential manipulation of UFO evidence by government agencies, specifically the CIA, using advanced technology like ECM. The editorial stance is highly skeptical of conventional UFO explanations, particularly those involving extraterrestrial visitation, and instead promotes a technologically-driven, covert operations explanation. The publication seems to align with a perspective that questions official narratives and seeks to expose hidden government activities related to the UFO phenomenon. The use of citations from various UFO literature (Keyhoe, Michel, Ruppelt) serves to engage with the existing UFO research community while simultaneously challenging its conclusions.