SAUCER NEWS

Magazine Overview

Title: SAUCER NEWS
Issue: Non-Scheduled Newsletter #24
Date: August 15th, 1965
Publisher: SAUCER AND UNEXPLAINED CELESTIAL EVENTS RESEARCH SOCIETY
Editor: JAMES W. MOSELEY

This issue of SAUCER NEWS is a non-scheduled newsletter, issued due to a "fantastic current flap" of sightings. It focuses on recent UFO/UAP events and includes a notice about the upcoming larger September issue and subscription details.

Truck Driver Chased by Flying Saucer

This article details a peculiar incident that occurred on August 4th, shortly before 2 a.m., approximately 25 miles south of Abilene, Kansas. Don Tennopir, a truck driver en route to Lincoln, Nebraska, reported that all his truck's lights suddenly went out. At that moment, a flying saucer passed directly over his truck, emitting a "sizzling or wind-like blowing sound" that greatly frightened him. The object was described as being only 20 feet above the ground and about 100 feet in front of his vehicle. Tennopir slammed on his brakes, fearing the UFO would land on the road. The object, approximately 15 feet in diameter and orange in color, then moved towards the south and west. It was observed to be shooting off reddish rays and appeared to be about two feet thick, with a four-foot-high hump or dome in the middle. Tennopir speculated that this protrusion might have contained a window, but he was too unnerved to be certain.

Scientist Refutes Air Force Claim That UFOs Are Stars

This section addresses unidentified objects detected by radar on August 2nd at the Wichita, Kansas, weather bureau, and other locations in the mid-west and west. The Air Force's official explanation attributed these sightings to the planet Jupiter or assorted stars. However, Robert Risser, Director of the Oklahoma Science and Art Foundation planetarium in Oklahoma City, strongly refuted this explanation. Risser stated that local residents could not have mistaken Jupiter or other stars for the objects they saw. He asserted, "This (statement by the Air Force) is as far from the truth as you can get. Somebody has made a mistake. These stars and planets are on the opposite side of the earth from Oklahoma City at this time of year." The sightings in question spanned several states, including Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Wyoming, and included numerous radar reports as well as sightings by private citizens and police. The Air Force's conclusion was based on what the article describes as a "very superficial investigation."

Ohio Children Witness Near-Landing

This report describes an incident that took place on the evening of May 22nd in Leroy, Ohio. Six children playing baseball in a residential neighborhood observed a saucer that appeared to almost land on a garage roof. The object then skimmed over the rooftops and disappeared behind a cluster of trees across the street. A distinctive "buzzing or purring noise" was heard emanating from the object, which also appeared to have windows. The presence of the object caused a nearby horse and dog to go into a state of panic. Neighbors also reported experiencing radio and television interference during the time of the incident.

Important Notice to Non-Subscribers

This section serves as an announcement to readers who are not regular subscribers to SAUCER NEWS. It explains that this special newsletter was issued to cover the "fantastic current flap." It then promotes the upcoming 32-page September issue, which is available for $2.00 for six quarterly issues. These issues are described as being crammed with current sightings, photos, illustrations, and other "unusual interest" material. For an additional dollar, subscribers can be placed on a special newsletter mailing list for an indefinite period, receiving material considered "too hot to handle" for the regular issues.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the direct observation of unidentified flying objects by credible witnesses (truck drivers, children), the perceived inadequacy and potential cover-up by official bodies like the Air Force, and the scientific community's role in either explaining or refuting these phenomena. The editorial stance, as indicated by the publication of these reports and the refutation of the Air Force's explanation, appears to be one that supports the reality of UFO sightings and is critical of official dismissals. The newsletter positions itself as a source for information that might be considered too sensitive for mainstream publication, emphasizing its role in disseminating potentially "hot" news to its dedicated readership.