Saucer News - Whole Number 43 - Vol 08 No 01 - 1961 03

Magazine Overview

Title: SAUCER NEWS
Issue: VOLUME 8, NUMBER 1 (Whole Number 43)
Date: MARCH 1961
Publisher: THE SAUCER AND UNEXPLAINED CELESTIAL EVENTS RESEARCH SOCIETY
Country: USA

This issue of SAUCER NEWS, dated March 1961, is the official publication of The Saucer and Unexplained Celestial Events Research Society. The cover features a photograph of a man holding a picture, with the headline "IS LEE MUNSICK A CONTACTEE?" The issue includes a table of contents listing letters to the editor, recent news stories, a book review, and a feature article.

Cover Story: Is Lee Munsick a Contactee?

The cover story introduces Lee R. Munsick, described as a conservative saucer researcher and former director of the North Jersey UFO Group. A letter from Munsick to Michael G. Mann, dated May 11th, 1959, claims Munsick took a picture of a "real live Martian" on a recent trip to Mars and also has a picture of a Venusian. The article questions whether Munsick was being facetious and, if not, why he hasn't shared this information more widely.

Letters to the Editor

This section features several letters from readers:

• Eric Biddle of Ludlow, Shropshire, England, comments on an article about Extraterrestrialism, relating it to the biblical story of Eve and suggesting it might be a distorted scientific fact about twin formation.
• Maude Kapreilian of Kingston, New York, critiques an article titled "Proof by Ignorance," accusing the author of repeating logical errors.
• Max B. Miller, Executive Editor of "Saucers," announces his extensive collection of UFO slides, available to those interested.
• David Jones of Cheltenham, Glos., England, writes about a 1762 observation of a huge object in space, attempting to calculate its distance and size.
• Frank Reid of Chicago, Illinois, discusses the longevity of UFO sightings, suggesting that if the same types of UFOs seen today have been observed since the 1890s or 1920s, it indicates a "decrepit, fossilized culture" rather than an advanced one.
• E. R. Lee of Minneapolis, Minnesota, expresses hope that SAUCER NEWS will continue its reporting and notes that the new U.S. Administration might be more cooperative regarding UFO disclosure.
• Eugene B. Nowosad of Coulter, Manitoba, Canada, a former R.C.A.F. officer, believes that the U.S. is ahead of the Russians in space flight due to flying saucers and that rocket failures are a diversion.

Book Review: Flying Saucers and the U.S. Air Force

Reviewed by James W. Moseley, this section critiques Lt. Col. Lawrence J. Tacker's book, "Flying Saucers and the U.S. Air Force." Moseley states that while Tacker was the official Air Force spokesman on the subject, his book is not unbiased. Tacker's main argument is that most UFO reports can be identified as conventional objects if enough information is available, thus dismissing the idea of flying saucers as unknown objects or spaceships. Moseley uses the analogy of haunted houses to argue against Tacker's statistical approach, asserting that the statistical method is not applicable to the UFO subject. He points out that even if only a few cases remain unsolved, the mystery persists, and suggests that Tacker's conclusion that UFOs are not conventional objects is the only logical one, unless one assumes widespread deception.

Feature Article: The Aerial Phenomena Research Organization's "Physical Evidence"

By David Wightman, this article critically examines the Ubatuba Disc case, which involved alleged magnesium fragments from a crashed flying saucer. Wightman, the editor of "Uranus," states that the article is not an attack on APRO or Dr. Olavo Fontes but aims to show the work involved in investigations and the weaknesses in APRO's case. He suggests that alternative hypotheses, including a hoax or a conventional space probe, could explain the known facts. The article details the limited publicity the case received and the difficulty in tracing witnesses. It discusses the spectrographic analyses of the fragments, which showed high purity magnesium, and questions the A.S.T.M. standard of purity used by APRO. Wightman expresses suspicion about APRO withholding details and suggests that the case might be an elaborate hoax, possibly involving university students.

Recent News Stories

This section provides brief reports on various UFO-related incidents:

• New Jersey Hunter Almost Shoots Saucer: Earl Leeds and his grandson encountered a UFO near Atlantic City, described as saucer-shaped and about 60 feet in diameter, with a red glow that changed to purple. It moved vertically and then flew away.
• Saucer Briefs: Major Wayne Aho, head of Washington Saucer Intelligence, is under observation at a mental hospital. Contactee Reinhold Schmidt was jailed for grand theft, allegedly persuading women to invest in Alaskan crystal and gold fields spotted from a flying saucer, though later reports suggest inaccuracies.
• A peculiar report from San Luis Obispo, California, concerns a wedding ceremony attended by "HRH Prince Michel d'Obre-novic-Obilic van Lazar, Duke of Sumadija," who is linked to "George Williamson," an author and lecturer. This suggests a possible connection between a contactee and royalty.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the nature of UFO evidence, the credibility of witnesses and researchers, and the potential for hoaxes or misidentification. The magazine appears to maintain a critical stance towards official explanations and organizations like APRO, while also being skeptical of claims that lack rigorous proof. There is a clear emphasis on investigative journalism and a desire to uncover the truth, even if it challenges established beliefs within the UFO community. The editorial stance seems to favor a scientific approach, demanding evidence and questioning conclusions that are based on "The Will to Believe."

Title: SAUCER NEWS
Issue: 13
Date: July 1961
Publisher: Saucer and Unexplained Celestial Events Research Society (S.A.U.C.E.R.S.)
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of SAUCER NEWS delves into various aspects of the UFO phenomenon, featuring reports on sightings, contactee claims, and intriguing theories about government involvement.

Key Articles and Reports

John Otto's Lake Michigan Experiment John Otto, a saucer enthusiast, led an expedition on Lake Michigan to make contact with a flying saucer. Using Morse code and a flashlight, they reportedly received a flash of light in response to their beamed message.

Dr. Frank E. Stranges and NICAP Dr. Frank E. Stranges, author of "Flying Saucerama," has been removed from NICAP for allegedly using the organization's name in connection with his contact claims, including a claim of talking with a space man in the Pentagon.

Andy Sinatra's Failed Prediction Andy Sinatra, known as the Mystic Barber, had a prediction that the world would end on May 10th, 1960, published in SAUCER NEWS. When proven wrong, he clarified that the year was meant to be 2466.

Gabriel Green and the Space Age Candidate Gabriel Green, a presidential candidate, withdrew his race in favor of Kennedy, stating that an "extraterrestrial electronic brain" forecast a Democratic landslide. The "Space People" reportedly picked Kennedy as the winner but misjudged the electoral vote.

Orthoteny in Brazil Recent APRO bulletins highlight the phenomenon of orthoteny, where saucer sightings form straight-line patterns on a map. This has been discovered in Brazil and suggests it might be a worldwide phenomenon connected to the flying saucer mystery, as previously discussed by Aime Michel.

Edward J. Ruppelt's Passing Edward J. Ruppelt, author of "The Report on Unidentified Flying Objects," has died of a heart attack.

Reinhold Schmidt's "Edge of Tomorrow" Contactee Reinhold Schmidt has produced a documentary movie called "Edge of Tomorrow," detailing his personal experiences with space people. A review is planned for a future issue.

George Adamski's "Flying Saucers Farewell" George Adamski has published his latest book, "Flying Saucers Farewell," which focuses on the philosophy of the Space People and introduces a "revised Adamski solar system" with 12 planets.

Alien Origins of Scientists An American delegate at a German flying saucer convention claimed that over 800,000 people on Earth today originated from other planets, including many scientists who may have forgotten their origins.

Daniel Fry's Ph.D. Contactee Daniel Fry claims to have received a Ph.D. from St. Andrews College of London for the "scientific theories" in his book "Steps to the Stars," which were based on information from the Space People.

Gray Barker Ceases Publication Rumor has it that Gray Barker has stopped publishing his "Saucerian Bulletin."

Fireball Causes Near-Panic in California A brilliant fireball sighted on January 16th caused widespread panic in California, with thousands reporting the object and leading to false alarms about fires and falling debris.

News Briefs: Strange Falling Objects Unusual reports of falling objects include a fiery UFO near Colegrove, Pa., which started forest fires, and a ball of fire in Norco, California, that left charred circles. A missile in Ohio split into pieces of translucent rock.

Anaheim Sighting In Anaheim, California, two star-like saucers were observed, with one engulfing the other before disappearing.

Portland, Connecticut Sighting Mr. and Mrs. William Bastel of Portland, Connecticut, reported a flying saucer making erratic movements, described as a "dinner plate" with pulsating metallic lights.

Toledo, Ohio Weather Balloon Sighting A Trans-World Airlines pilot, Capt. J. R. Petrie, sighted a possible weather balloon near Toledo, Ohio, and took photos that were confiscated by officials and the Air Force.

John W. McCormack on UFO Hearings House Majority Leader John W. McCormack expressed support for Congressional hearings on UFOs, stating that the Air Force might be withholding information and that the objects show a high state of development.

Wisconsin Sighting by Boys Two eight-year-old boys in Hawkins, Wisconsin, reported a close sighting of a silver, spherical object making beeping sounds, which then disappeared rapidly.

Monaca, Pa. Saucer Sighting A couple in Monaca, Pa., witnessed two saucers hovering over their home, described as square with white lights and a red blinking light.

Glen Burnie, Maryland UFO Photos Donald Blevins took photographs of UFOs near Glen Burnie, Maryland, showing reddish and greenish bursts of light. One photo was published but lacked detail.

Air Research Command Spokesman A spokesman for the Air Research and Development Command suggested that UFOs might be the result of sunspots.

Monsters on the Loose Reports of strange creatures include the "Abominable Doughman" in West Virginia, described as a hairy, humanoid creature, and an eight-foot creature with three-toed tracks. In the Himalayas, Alastair Cram saw and photographed the Abominable Snowman's footprints. The Loch Ness Monster continues to be sighted.

Loch Ness Monster Investigation Scientists exploring Loch Ness believe animals thought extinct for 60 million years live there, estimating the monsters to be 30-60 feet long and capable of swimming 30 mph.

SAUCER NEWS New Headquarters SAUCER NEWS has opened new headquarters in New York City at Room 1009, 303 Fifth Avenue.

Richard Ogden's Theory on Major Keyhoe Richard Ogden proposes that the Air Force, while publicly denying interplanetary saucers, has secretly promoted figures like Major Keyhoe to publicize the idea, possibly to cover up a more frightening truth about UFO origins (Russia or an unknown Earth race).

John M. Cage's Anti-Gravity Gadget John M. Cage, an inventor, has created a gadget demonstrating anti-gravity, believing UFOs are electrostatic phenomena.

Idaho Sighting A detailed sighting near Montpelier, Idaho, described a bright, silver, metal object shaped like two dinner plates, estimated at 185 feet in diameter, with transparent bubbles.

Clarence D. Lemon's Flying Saucer Aircraft Clarence D. Lemon, an inventor in Clearwater, Florida, has developed a controlled flying wing aircraft designed to resemble a flying saucer.

Bermuda Sighting Mrs. Cecile Smith of Hamilton, Bermuda, reported a transparent, elliptical object flying at high speed, with a darker perimeter.

Lubbock, Texas Sign A sign reading "Caution Flying saucers landing on highways" mysteriously appeared near Lubbock, Texas, suspected to be a prank.

New Mexico and El Paso Sightings A wave of sightings in New Mexico and near El Paso, Texas, caused significant newspaper headlines.

Las Cruces, N.M. Green Light Sighting A green light seen at Las Cruces, N.M., was indicated by FAA instruments to be 37 miles above Earth, described as spherical with a square object inside and flashing lights.

Wisconsin-Ohio-Indiana UFO Reports Similar reports of a high-flying UFO veiled in mist with a fan-shaped tail or "headlight" came from the Wisconsin-Ohio-Indiana area.

Maine Sighting Flap A "flap" in Maine included a detailed report of a brilliant, spherical object, pea green and bluish, with a cone-shaped tail of sparks, seen on the Maine Turnpike.

Confidential Newsletters SAUCER NEWS offers irregularly-issued Confidential Newsletters for $1.00, detailing "behind-the-scenes" events, including the case of Major Wayne Aho being committed to a mental institution.

Back Issues and Clippings for Sale Back issues of SAUCER NEWS and a collection of over 6,000 saucer clippings from 1954-1961 are available for purchase.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently reports on UFO sightings, contactee experiences, and alleged encounters with strange creatures. There is a strong undercurrent of skepticism towards official explanations and a belief that governments, particularly the Air Force, may be involved in either covering up or subtly promoting the UFO phenomenon. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into these subjects, encouraging readers to consider various theories and reports, even those that are sensational or unverified. The publication actively promotes its own newsletters and back issues, suggesting a dedicated readership interested in detailed, often controversial, information.