Saucer News Non-Scheduled Newsletter - No 13

Magazine Overview

Title: SAUCER NEWS
Issue: NON-SCHEDULED NEWSLETTER #13
Date: June 20th, 1961
Publisher: THE SAUCER AND UNEXPLAINED CELESTIAL EVENTS RESEARCH SOCIETY
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of SAUCER NEWS reports on the controversial institutionalization of Major Wayne Aho, director of Washington Saucer Intelligence. The newsletter presents an "inside story" based on anonymous informants, suggesting that Aho may have been deliberately targeted and placed in a mental institution to silence him due to his outspoken criticism of the Pentagon's UFO policy and alleged subversion.

The Case of Major Wayne Aho

The newsletter details the events leading up to Major Aho's placement in a mental institution. It begins by referencing a previous report in SAUCER NEWS #43 (March 1961) regarding Aho's situation. The current report traces the events back to Datona Beach, Florida, where a group called Mark Age was producing strange space tapes. Gloria Lee, a known contactee, was associated with this group.

Norbert Gariety, editor of "S.P.A.C.E." magazine (published in Miami), reportedly found a subversive tone in these tapes and reported the matter to the FBI. Gariety also wrote an editorial in the October 1960 issue of his magazine, which the newsletter describes as "rather unusual." In this editorial, Gariety discussed individuals he termed "destroyers" or "termites" who, in his view, were systematically undermining American morality to soften the country up for Communism. Gariety praised Aho's stance against these "Dark Forces."

The editorial then allegedly stated a method used to deal with opponents: "A favorite way to get rid of those who oppose the 'termites' at work is to harass them into nervous breakdowns or troubles, have them examined psychiatrically, and then railroaded into mental hospitals for the rest of their days."

On March 25th, Major Aho, described as a former U.S. combat intelligence officer from World War II, gave a lecture in New York City. While some of his lectures had touched upon ideas from the right-wing book "The Pentagon Case," which alleged Communist infiltration in the U.S. Government, his topic for this particular evening was supposed to be prophecies. However, the newsletter states that Aho veered into a "weird religious theme," disappointing and surprising his audience, leading many to walk out. Eye-witnesses reported that Aho appeared to be "controlled" or under some form of hypnotic influence.

The following evening, Aho's hotel reported that he had checked out. His friends were unable to locate him and became alarmed. On March 29th, Aho was reportedly picked up by "men in white coats" and taken to the mental ward of Bellevue Hospital in New York. He remained there until April 20th, when he was transferred to Central Islip, Long Island, N.Y. As of the newsletter's writing, Aho was still detained there, although it was reported he had been given freedom of the grounds and was not considered dangerous.

Friends who had visited Aho recently claimed he was not his "old self" but was "reasonably rational." Aho himself reportedly believes he was drugged and railroaded into these mental institutions. Another version of the story suggests he was hit on the head.

Motivations and Implications

The newsletter emphasizes Aho's vocal criticism of the Pentagon's UFO policy and its alleged laxity towards subversion. It states that Aho had actively lobbied every Senator and Congressman in Washington to draw attention to UFOs, and his efforts to promote public hearings on the subject are well-documented, even being mentioned in Lt. Col. Tacker's book, "Flying Saucers and the U. S. Air Force."

The central question posed by the newsletter is whether Aho was institutionalized to silence him, or if he genuinely suffered a mental breakdown. The newsletter concludes that only time will reveal the truth of the "Aho case."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are government secrecy, conspiracy, the potential for suppression of whistleblowers or critics, and the controversial nature of UFO research. The editorial stance is clearly sympathetic to Major Wayne Aho, presenting the narrative that he was a victim of a deliberate effort to silence him due to his activism and critical stance on government UFO policy and national security concerns. The newsletter implies a connection between Aho's UFO advocacy and the "termites"/subversion narrative, suggesting that his institutionalization was a politically motivated act.