Saucer News - Whole Number 49 - Vol 09 No 03 - 1962 09

Magazine Overview

Title: SAUCER NEWS
Issue: VOLUME 9, NUMBER 3 (Whole Number 49)
Date: SEPTEMBER 1962
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, delves into the intricacies of UFO investigation, primarily focusing on the Air Force's role and procedures. The cover features a photograph of a rocket prototype at the Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio, linked to an exclusive interview with Lt. Col. Friend, chief of the Air Force's saucer investigation at Wright-Patterson Field.

Contents Overview

The issue includes letters to the editor, recent news stories, and several book reviews. Notable book reviews cover "The Great Flying Saucer Hoax" by Coral E. Lorenzen, "Loch Ness Monster" by Tim Dinsdale, "You Are Responsible" by Reverend George King, and "The Challenge of Unidentified Flying Objects" by Maney & Hall. Feature articles include "My Interview at Wright-Patterson Field" by James W. Moseley and an "Open Letter of Reply to Dr. Leon Davidson" by Brinsley le Poer Trench.

Feature Articles and Interviews

My Interview at Wright-Patterson Field by James W. Moseley

James W. Moseley recounts his persistent efforts to gain access to the Air Force's UFO files at Wright-Patterson, a process that began in 1954 and finally culminated in an interview in March 1962. He details interactions with various information officers, including Major William Coleman and Major Robert Hart, who facilitated his visit. Moseley emphasizes that the UFO files are housed in a building with highly classified intelligence work related to the Cold War, necessitating security clearances. He was granted an unclassified briefing by Lt. Col. Friend, who is in charge of the project at Wright-Patterson.

During the approximately six-hour interview, Moseley learned that the Air Force's saucer effort is under the Air Force Systems Command. The UFO project was formerly part of the Aerospace Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) and is now attached to a different sub-division. Lt. Col. Friend confirmed that the investigation and analysis are conducted at Wright-Patterson, while public information is handled at the Pentagon. A third department, legislative liaison, is managed by Lt. Col. Boland to answer congressional inquiries.

Moseley notes that from 1947-1961, Wright Field received 7,369 UFO sightings, but estimates the actual number of reports could be closer to 11,000, considering multiple witnesses per sighting and unreported incidents. The Levelland, Texas, phenomenon in 1957 generated the highest number of reports, around 200-300.

The article explains the reporting procedure outlined in AFR 200-2, which requires civilians to report sightings to the nearest Air Force base. Investigating officers are dispatched from these local bases. Moseley also discusses JANAP 146, a publication concerning CIRVIS Reports, which classifies information related to vital intelligence sightings and restricts its dissemination, thus limiting public knowledge of military pilot sightings.

Moseley highlights that Wright Field accurately files cases by date and location. Approximately 2% of cases are re-investigated by Col. Friend or other officers. He contrasts the Air Force's interests (potential Russian threats, scientific importance like meteorites) with those of civilian researchers (philosophical implications). He concludes that the Air Force would continue its UFO investigation regardless of civilian groups, due to its responsibility for national security.

Sir Bagby Comic Strip

A comic strip titled "Sir Bagby" by R. & B. Hackney is included, humorously depicting a character being advised to look for a "TOP SECRET" file, touching on themes of secrecy and public information.

Analysis of UFO Information Classification

This section, likely a continuation or related piece to Moseley's interview, discusses the classification of UFO information. According to Col. Friend, classified details include foreign report sources, radar scope clutter, sightings near sensitive areas, and the names of anonymous civilian witnesses. The author suggests that most military pilot sightings are also classified, and personnel are pressured to keep their sightings private. The Air Force prefers quiet investigation, and NICAP's efforts have made them more aware of the importance of public relations.

The article points out that the Air Force possesses advanced equipment and resources for UFO analysis, including photographic, chemical, and aeronautical labs, and access to classified flight and missile data. This gives them an advantage over civilian groups. The key question posed is whether the Air Force sometimes dismisses details that don't fit their explanations. While the Air Force says no, civilian researchers often disagree. The author believes the truth lies somewhere in between, and a full understanding requires the release of individual UFO cases and their solutions, not just statistical summaries.

Letters to the Editor

The "Letters to the Editor" section features correspondence from several individuals:

• William T. Coleman, Jr. (Major, USAF): Corrects the record regarding his tenure as spokesman for Project Blue Book, stating it was nearly 12 months (March 1961-February 1962), not just over six months as previously stated.
• Robert Hart (Major, USAF): Expresses agreement with the magazine's stance on UFOs, particularly regarding the potential for future space exploration and the possibility of phenomena being misidentified. He also notes missing Moseley's visit to the Pentagon.
• Frank Scully: Comments on his 70th birthday and the acceptance of his book "Cross My Heart." He praises Desmond Leslie's letter in the June issue and compliments the magazine's offset printing.
• Thomas Roark (Director of C.O.R.A.P.): Congratulates the editor on the June issue and approves of the magazine's policy shift, aligning with his own theories about saucers originating from other planets.
• Mrs. O. L. Hiett: Requests to remain on the mailing list, acknowledging occasional disagreement but finding the comments important.
• Timothy Green Beckley: Criticizes the magazine for perceived attacks on Gray Barker and for giving too much space to Andy Sinatra, whom he considers a "faker" who has set back UFO research.
• Eugene R. Steinberg (Director, APIC): Acknowledges the influx of political views into ufology and commends the magazine for denouncing Norbert Gariety's right-wing views. He states that APIC believes no group can definitively judge the validity of arguments without impartial investigation.
• Harry Siebert: Seeks information about Lee Conway, a reported witness to a flying saucer contact in early 1960, last known to be at the Hotel Macambo in Hollywood, California.
• J. A. Tellefesen, Jr.: Thanks Moseley for a talk at Princeton University, describing it as interesting and unique, and noting that many attendees gained new perspectives on UFOs.
• Dr. Earl Douglass (Member, NICAP Board of Governors): Praises Moseley's presentation at Princeton University, calling it an excellent resume of recent sky phenomena.
• Desmond Leslie: Agrees with keeping politics out of UFO discussions and emphasizes his interest in human relations and dignity. He speaks of a spiritual crisis and a "Brotherhood" preparing for a "Coming of the Cosmic Christ," advocating for unity and the breakdown of barriers between people.
• E. R. Lee: Mentions astronomer F. Zigel's contention that Mars' satellites are artificial and were used as way-stations for secret visits to Earth, a view supported by Dr. Frank B. Salisbury.
• Steve Erdmann: Defends NICAP against accusations of being "men in black" and criticizes the idea of handing over files to the Air Force without assurance of honesty. He argues that NICAP members are individuals and that the Air Force has purged investigators who didn't align with their views.
• Rev. Guy J. Cyr: Proposes that God has preserved ancient organisms deep-frozen, which may thaw out and revive, relating this to the discovery of a 7-ton monster in Tasmania.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of SAUCER NEWS strongly emphasizes the official investigation of UFOs by the U.S. Air Force, detailing its procedures, challenges, and limitations. The editor, James W. Moseley, through his interview and editorial notes, appears to advocate for transparency and a more open approach from the Air Force, while also acknowledging the necessity of national security. There's a clear distinction drawn between the Air Force's pragmatic, threat-assessment-focused approach and the more speculative or philosophical interests of civilian researchers. The magazine also navigates the contentious intersection of ufology with politics, with several letters expressing a desire to keep the subject apolitical. The publication seems to position itself as a platform for diverse viewpoints within the UFO community, while maintaining a critical stance towards what it perceives as unsubstantiated claims or "fakers."

This issue of SAUCER NEWS, identified as issue number 11, focuses on the complexities and controversies surrounding UFO investigations, particularly the role of the Air Force and the nature of evidence. It features discussions on witness testimony, the analysis of physical evidence, and critiques of various theories, including the idea that the CIA is fabricating UFO phenomena.

Air Force UFO Project and Witness Testimony

The articles discuss the challenges faced by both civilian researchers and official bodies like the Air Force in understanding UFO sightings. It is noted that Air Force officers, like other humans, may be tempted to solve cases, potentially by overlooking details. Civilian researchers, conversely, are sometimes accused of preferring unsolved cases to support their own theories. A key point raised is the difficulty in accurately estimating the size, speed, and distance of unknown objects, suggesting that many estimates are subjective and influenced by familiar objects like airplanes.

The issue details a visit to Col. Friend at the Air Force UFO project, where the "junk file" of physical evidence is described. This file contains hoaxes and honest mistakes, including items with Russian writing and American devices. The article also touches upon the Simonton "space pancake" case, which the Air Force deemed not a physical reality despite the witness's sincerity.

Evidence and Documentation

The publication examines the reliability of photographic and film evidence. While hundreds of still photographs have been submitted, they are generally considered to prove nothing. The existence of six motion picture strips is mentioned, though not seen by the author. The case of the Ralph Mayher film from Miami Beach in 1952 is highlighted as a significant piece of potential evidence that was given to the Air Force for analysis but never returned, leading to speculation of it being lost, ignored, or suppressed.

Critiques of Theories and Organizations

A significant portion of the magazine is dedicated to refuting the theory that the CIA is responsible for the entire UFO phenomenon. The author argues that such a theory implies an impossibly powerful and omniscient CIA, capable of manipulating public perception on a global scale. The article suggests that this idea might be a deliberate attempt to discredit the serious study of UFOs by presenting it as a hoax.

The issue also discusses the role of organizations like NICAP and their differing views on UFO censorship. It is suggested that the Air Force's explanations for sightings might be influenced by a tendency to fit facts into existing frameworks, leading to a perception of suppressed information.

Book Reviews

Several books are reviewed, offering insights into the UFO literature of the time:

• "The Great Flying Saucer Hoax" by Coral E. Lorenzen: This book is praised for presenting new material, particularly South American reports, and for its effort to avoid commonly known sightings. However, it is noted that the book lacks scientifically acceptable proof and that the author may overstate her case, particularly regarding the hostility of UFO occupants. The review agrees with Lorenzen's view that there is no organized censorship, but rather an "invincible ignorance" within the Air Force regarding UFO evidence.
• "Loch Ness Monster" by Tim Dinsdale: This book is reviewed as a sober and sensible account of the Loch Ness Monster. It includes detailed sightings and photographic evidence, suggesting the creature may be related to sea serpents and is a survival of a prehistoric animal. The review concludes that the book presents a compelling case for something unusual occurring in Loch Ness.
• "You Are Responsible" by Reverend George King: This book is heavily criticized as absurd and fantastic. It details psychic messages and astral voyages, including a narrative involving Jesus Christ saving Earth and Mars from a planetoid. The review dismisses King's claims and his group, the Aetherius Society, as outlandish.
• "The Challenge of Unidentified Flying Objects" by Prof. C.A. Maney and R. Hall: This co-authored book is described as poorly printed and organized, with its content being a re-hash of existing material from Keyhoe's books and NICAP. While it offers some merit in its philosophical discussion of science and analysis of the Air Force's investigation, it is criticized for its bias against the Air Force and its hasty compilation.

Recent News Stories

Brief news items cover:

• High Altitude UFO Sightings: UFOs accompanying Russian and American orbital and high-altitude test flights, including sightings during X15 flights, are mentioned. While some are identified as ice flaking from the planes, the Air Force acknowledges the possibility of non-threatening, mysterious phenomena.
• Saucer Briefs: Gabriel Green, a contactee, is running for the U.S. Senate. Contactee Reinhold Schmidt faces legal troubles related to a movie production. The death of Ralph Holland, former editor of "A Voice From the Gallery," is reported. The publication of Albert K. Bender's book "Flying Saucers and the Three Men" is noted, with its delay attributed to its controversial nature.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the critical examination of UFO evidence, the perceived shortcomings of official investigations, and the skepticism towards sensationalist claims and conspiracy theories. The editorial stance appears to favor a more rational and evidence-based approach to UFO research, while acknowledging the persistent mystery surrounding the phenomenon. There is a clear skepticism towards claims of CIA involvement and a preference for well-researched, albeit sometimes flawed, investigative work. The magazine also shows an interest in related Fortean phenomena, as evidenced by the review of the Loch Ness Monster book.

This issue of "Saucer News" (issue number 21) presents a collection of intriguing and often bizarre reports related to unexplained phenomena, UFO sightings, and Fortean events from around the world. The content spans a variety of topics, from geological anomalies and strange animal discoveries to alleged encounters with extraterrestrial craft and paranormal occurrences. The magazine appears to be a periodical focused on disseminating news and accounts related to the study of flying saucers and related mysteries.

Contents

The issue opens with a brief mention of Kenneth Arnold, who coined the term "flying saucer," and his unsuccessful run for Lieutenant Governor in Idaho. The main body of the content is divided into "FORTEAN ITEMS" and "NEWS BRIEFS," along with a detailed schedule of activities for the "Saucer News Staff."

Fortean Items

Several unusual events are detailed:

• Earth Tremors: On June 6th of the previous year, a mysterious "storm" of earth tremors, occurring every 27 seconds for eight hours, was recorded by seismographs globally, with no explanation.
• Unexploded Ordnance: Harry Gee in Churt, England, dug up a World War I hand grenade in his garden while searching for a "pot of gold" after seeing a rainbow.
• Mutant Frogs: A large number of six-legged frogs were discovered in a pond near College Station, Texas.
• Hybrid Animal: In Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, a 730-pound animal, resembling a cross between a cow and a deer, baffled experts. Police laboratory tests showed it to be pure bovine, but it possessed a long forehead, nose, and horns, which it shed annually.
• Color Perception: An Italian scientist discovered that humans can distinguish colors in total darkness after an experiment where 21 men were kept in a pitch-dark cave for a week.
• Mysterious Fog: A radio broadcast from Bangkok, Thailand, reported a "fog" that broke into small pieces, which were sent for police analysis.
• Sea Monster: Fishermen in Marchfield, Massachusetts, encountered a live sea monster with an alligator-like head, a 12-foot tail, and a body shaped like a nail keg. It was observed gulping fish but ignored humans. A local historian noted records of a similar creature in the Gulf of California in 1849.
• Celestial Phenomenon: On Good Friday, nurses at St. Mary's Hospital in London and a lady feeding kittens saw an object resembling a cross shining behind the full moon at 5 a.m. Astronomers had no immediate explanation.
• Mysterious Deaths: Twin girls in North Carolina, admitted for emotional disturbances, died mysteriously on April 13th in separate hospital wards. No marks of violence were found, and the coroner stated there was "no demonstrable cause of death."
• Local Ghost: Villagers in Horningsham, Wilts., England, reported the "Longleat Spectre," a ghost said to be an ancestor of the Marquis of Bath. It was later identified as the Marquis picking up litter left by tourists.
• Telepathic Control: A report from the London Daily Telegraph described African natives in Tanganyika who allegedly used telepathy to control lions and terrorize villages. One incident involved the threat of lions attacking cattle if a jailed controller was not freed.
• Dead Sea Monster: A fisherman in Obihiro, Japan, discovered a dead sea monster over 45 feet long with a head about one foot in circumference, no eyes, nose, or mouth, and gray skin. Experts had never seen anything like it.
• "Wolf Boy": In Lucknow, India, doctors had almost given up trying to "humanize" Ramu, a boy found in 1956 who grew up among wild animals. At about 15 years old, he had learned not to eat raw meat but was considered too retarded to be a useful member of society.
• Firewalkers: In Buenos Aires, 30 believers in a cult of St. John the Baptist walked barefoot over 1,470-degree-hot coals before 15,000 spectators. Doctors and scientists present could offer no explanation for why the cultists were unharmed.
• Loch Ness Monster: The Loch Ness Monster was again in the news, with expectations that its existence might soon be proven. Lloyd's of London faced a potential payout of $100,000 from a policy taken out by a merchant. Two expeditions were planned to hunt for the creature, and a sighting occurred on July 12th when four visitors saw it surface for four minutes.

News Briefs

• UFO Frequency: Contrary to popular belief, saucer reports were not decreasing. A brief "flap" occurred in northern New Jersey on July 11th, with sightings in Clifton, the Oranges, and West New York. Mr. Robinson investigated a sighting by teenagers in West New York.
• Irish Airlines Sighting: On May 21st, an Irish International Airlines plane encountered a strange globe-shaped machine with antennae-like protrusions, confirmed by the First Officer.
• Martian Life Possibility: Dr. Frank B. Salisbury, writing in "Science," suggested a remote possibility of intelligent life on Mars and "highly probable" flourishing vegetation. He noted that Martian moons, initially undiscovered, were spotted in 1877 and suggested they might be artificial satellites launched by Martians.
• Nevada "Flaming Sword": A headline from Las Vegas on April 19th described a "tremendous flaming sword" flashing across Nevada skies, traveling horizontally.
• Utah Power Outage: A UPI report stated that a UFO landed near Eureka, Utah, causing a power outage. Jet fighters were scrambled from Nellis Air Force Base due to radar sightings.
• Ohio UFO Sighting: On May 23rd, four teenagers and a highway patrolman in Norwalk, Ohio, saw a UFO hover, change color from orange to blue to red, and disappear at high speed. This sighting may have been inspired by a similar one by Prof. Charles Maney.
• Siberian Bacteria: Bacteria revived after 650 million years in a Siberian salt deposit were reported to be unlike any known species.
• Argentinian UFO Wave: Early June saw a wave of dramatic UFO reports from Argentina, with cigar-shaped or saucer-shaped craft seen simultaneously over vast distances. Reports mentioned moving slowly from north to south, and a white beam seen on the ground that ascended.
• Life on Saturn and Jupiter: British chemists discovered it is possible for life to exist on Saturn and Jupiter, potentially through a combination of ammonia and nitrogen complementing oxygen and hydrogen.
• Tucson "UFOs": Sightings in Tucson, Arizona, late in June were revealed to be students using candle-carrying balloons for wind velocity studies.
• North Carolina Creek Sighting: Two women in Asheboro, N.C., heard a whizzing sound and saw an object settle into a nearby creek, where it made bubbling sounds as it sank.
• New Jersey Light Sighting: A woman in Bordentown Township, N.J., saw a small bright light moving around a nearby tree and then zoom into the sky.
• Russian Telepathy Research: Top Russian scientists were reportedly researching telepathy, believing it to be a largely lost human ability they were trying to recapture.

Saucer News Staff Activities

A detailed schedule outlines the Editor's and staff's activities from March through August, including interviews at the Pentagon, Wright-Patterson Field, and radio shows like "The Long John Show." Meetings of the "Saucer and Unexplained Celestial Events Research Society" are also listed, featuring talks on radiation and "little men."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the prevalence and diversity of unexplained phenomena, with a particular focus on UFO sightings. The magazine presents a wide array of anecdotal evidence, ranging from the mundane (a ghost identified as litter) to the extraordinary (life on other planets, telepathic control of lions). The editorial stance appears to be one of open-mindedness and a commitment to reporting on these events, often highlighting scientific or official investigations (or lack thereof) into the phenomena. The inclusion of the staff's busy schedule suggests an active engagement with the UFO community and related research.

The cartoon on page 1, depicting figures in a dome, offers a lighthearted, albeit slightly ominous, commentary on the nature of some observed phenomena, suggesting they might be perceived as harmless or even playful, yet led by an unknown "leader."