Saucers, Space & Science - No 01

Magazine Overview

This document is the first issue, titled "SAUCERS SPACE & SCIENCE," dated November 1957. It is presented as a collection of clippings of interest to everybody, compiled by Editor Gone Duplantier from Toronto, Canada. The publication aims to bridge the gap in UFO magazines in Canada by presenting information directly from newspapers and magazines, allowing readers to form their own conclusions.

Article: Plans for Space Ship Already Are On Boards Could Visit Planets

This article, sourced from the L.A. Examiner and reported by INS, details advance studies into building space ships capable of reaching speeds up to 100,000,000 m.p.h. North American Aviation's Rocketdyne plant is reportedly working on a nuclear-powered rocket named 'Snooper.' This ship would require a conventional rocket to reach the edge of Earth's atmosphere before launching into space, where it could cruise for about a year. The project began after North American Aviation signed a contract with the Air Force to study the feasibility of an ionic rocket propulsion system using an ion motor, which utilizes electrically charged particles traveling at the speed of light. Rocketdyne physicist Dr. R. Boden is involved, noting that while approaching the speed of light is possible, surpassing it would encounter Einstein's theory of relativity, leading to infinite mass and potential shifts into other space-time dimensions.

Article: Ancient Legends Hint of Saucers Traced To Days of Atlantis

Dr. George Hunt Williamson, after an expedition in Peru, suggests that legends of flying saucers date back hundreds of years, potentially to the days of Atlantis and Lemuria. He brought back photographs of Peruvian 'writings' that might reveal evidence of saucers from that era. In the Peruvian jungles, he found native tribes with legends of travel in 'highways of the skies.' On the Marcahuasi Plateau, massive stone statues, placed to be viewed from the sky, suggest the presence of people who could fly saucers. Dr. Williamson, known for his studies of North American Indians, also presented a mummified Inca soldier's foot. He believes that for ancient people, flying saucers might have been as common as airliners are today. He was scheduled to present his findings with color slides at a meeting sponsored by the Flying Saucer Council of America in Detroit.

Article: Are We Outer World's Spacemen?

Ottawa (Special) reports on the theory proposed by Federal Government engineer Wilbur B. Smith, who believes that life on Earth may have originated from extraterrestrial colonization. Smith, a radio communications expert and believer in flying saucers, considers this colonization theory more reasonable than other explanations for the origin of life. He asserts that humanity is not the only race in the universe and that intelligent races likely stocked the planet. He suggests this theory aligns more closely with Biblical accounts of creation than evolution. Smith views recent 'flying saucer' sightings as evidence of 'visitors from outside' monitoring human development. An experiment to record overhead passages of flying saucers at the government radio laboratory in Shirley's Bay, Ontario, yielded inconclusive results.

Article: Predicts Moon Climbs

Sir John Hunt, leader of the Mount Everest expedition, told the Alpine Club that conquering the moon's mountains will be the next challenge. Some lunar peaks are estimated to be 40,000 feet high, compared to Everest's 29,000 feet.

Article: Ottawa Engineer Thinks Canadian Descendants Were Born From Space

Wilbur Smith, a 47-year-old electrical engineer who previously operated a flying saucer observation center for the department of transport, believes Canadians might be descendants of beings from outer space. He suggests that spacemen may have colonized every planet in the universe and that Earthlings are their descendants. Smith, chief radio regulations engineer, has continued his vigil on objects from outer space and has interviewed witnesses of alleged spacemen landings, checking their credibility. He stated that spacemen wear conventional clothes and do not resemble 'little green men.' Smith believes that the possibility of life on other planets should not upset any religion, including Christianity, and that earthly existence is only a part of a larger cycle of progression and learning.

Article: Sighted Long Ago

Smith replied to the suggestion that flying saucers might be Russian spaceships by noting that sightings predate the USSR's existence, with a flurry in 1947 when neither the Soviet nor the U.S. had advanced aircraft. He also commented that seeing flying objects is now considered stylish since the launch of Sputniks. Smith believes advanced civilizations would not tolerate dictatorships, finding the two concepts contradictory. The article is by Angela Burke, Toronto Star Staff correspondent.

Article: Levitations Saint May Be Patron of Space Men

Rome (Reuters) reports that St. Joseph of Cupertino, canonized in 1767, is being considered as a patron saint for space travellers due to his numerous instances of levitation. A petition must be made to the Pope for this designation. St. Joseph was described as a classical example of levitation, though these manifestations were troublesome.

Article: Cosmic Capers

This section reports on mysterious objects seen in the sky across Ontario, described as 'egg-shaped and pinkish' to 'round and blood-red.' Reports included red lights, white lights, and shimmering lights, some mobile and some stationary, observed after 6:25 p.m. when Sputnik I was scheduled to pass. Specific sightings include a 'shiny white' object south of the moon, a 'yellow-pink light' going west, 'three blood-red lights,' a 'bright light' four times bigger than the North Star that turned amber and vanished in a red streak, and 'red and shimmering' lights. Gustav Bakos, an official at the David Dunlap Observatory, suggested the red lights could have been Venus setting. The article is from the Toronto Globe & Mail.

Article: Those Sputniks You See Are Venus...

Professional astronomers often receive inquiries about Venus when it appears brightest in the western evening sky, with people mistaking it for a brilliant object. The article suggests that with the increased public interest in space due to Sputniks, more people are noticing objects in the night sky. The author has received calls and letters about phenomena, attributing most to bright fireballs or Venus.

Article: Flying Object Season Opens

At least 30 people in the Toronto area reported an object varying from bright white to deep red. Hundreds of residents also saw bright objects over Lake Ontario shortly before sunrise. Experts suggested these were high-flying jets leaving vapor trails that broke up into irregular balls, illuminated by the sun below the horizon. Near the Lakehead, a bright, egg-shaped object was reported flying at high speed. No official explanation was offered, and scientists were reportedly cool to most reports. The article is from the Toronto Telegram.

Article: Whatnik Reports Rouse Skepticism

Washington (UP-INS) reports a surge of flying object reports across the nation, met with increasing official skepticism. In Urbana, Illinois, two state troopers reported seeing and following a 'brilliant flying object' for 15 miles. The object changed color from white to amber to bright orange and was traveling at a 'terrific rate of speed.' The troopers' radio mysteriously went dead during the chase. Dr. Donald H. Menzel, director of the Harvard College of Astronomy, dismissed most sightings as 'another flying saucer scare.' A naval astronomer suggested a rash of 'Whatnik' sightings along the eastern seaboard might be the Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights.

Article: FCC Experts Can't Explain New Sound

New York (AP) reports a mysterious radio signal, not emanating from Russia or a new Sputnik, is baffling short-wave listeners and government officials. The National Broadcasting Co. stated the signal was heard near the satellite's frequency but had a different tonal pattern. The Federal Communications Commission initially classified information about the signal but later stated they did not know what it was. The signal was described as a long note of low pitch, followed by two short notes. The article is from the Detroit Times.

Article: Little Green Man Reported On Lawn - Police Play Jokenik

Windsor, Ont. (BUP) reports that a woman called police claiming a 'little green man' was on her front lawn. A patrolman, James Weston, played along, radioing back humorous descriptions. The woman who called was reportedly watching a TV news show and seemed upset.

Article: Red/Hot Egg-Shaped Ball Shocks Sputnik-Minded Schoolmarm

London (AP) reports a schoolmistress told the air ministry that a red-hot egg-shaped object crashed into her village school playground. The object, the size of a tennis ball, made a hole in the ground. A ministry man initially reported it was 'not of this earth,' possibly a meteorite. However, Dr. G. F. Claringbull, a meteorite expert, disagreed, calling it a lump of quartz and suggesting it might be a hoax.

Article: First Back From Moon Wins $140,000

London (Reuters) reports that a London Sunday newspaper offered a prize of £50,000 ($140,000) for the first man to reach the moon and return. The prize does not require landing on the moon, only circling it. The newspaper stated the offer was serious and open to all nationalities, requiring seven days' clear notice of attempt.

Article: Mysterious Sky Fireball - Cars, Radios Stalled

Seven reports of a strange flying object, described as 200 feet long and sometimes glowing with a bright light, are being investigated by the U.S. Air Force. Witnesses across the U.S. and in the Fiji Islands reported sightings. Several witnesses stated their auto engines, radios, and lights failed as the object approached. Radar units could not pick up the object, and it left no marks where it reportedly touched down. James Stokes described a brilliant colored egg-shaped object that stalled autos and extinguished lights near White Sands, New Mexico. The object's surface reportedly looked like 'glowing mother of pearl.' Allen D. Baker shot pictures of the object. Two separate military patrols reported sighting the object at a missile-testing range, describing it as very bright and hovering over the first A-bomb explosion site.

Article: Not Far Away

A sheriff and deputies reported seeing a similar object. Three policemen and a fireman in Elmwood Park, Chicago, saw a peculiar round glowing thing. Mrs. Ruby Haire in Martinsville, Va., reported a strange red glare. The Fiji government announced that a white clergyman and four natives reported sighting a dazzling object in the South Pacific skies, matching descriptions of the Texas object. Three separate sightings of a strange flying object were reported in Fiji the previous week. Four Fijian fishermen described a 'strange object white in color and circular in shape' descending from the sky, hovering 20 feet above the sea, appearing to revolve, and emitting a blinding light. The object then ascended rapidly. An official government report mentioned R.O. Aveling reporting a similar stationary object. Duck hunters and a physics professor reported sighting a spherical or rocket-shaped object falling into the Lawrence River near Quebec.

Article: By George! Has Proof in Picture - Also Some U.S. Official Anti-Spy Fingerprints

Ed Leadford, a 19-year-old amateur photographer from Anaheim, California, claims to have photographic proof of a strange object. He described seeing a cigar-shaped, orange-red object flickering like a railway flare, hanging in the air. He parked his car and photographed it. The object hung in the sky and glowed, not moving like a satellite or meteor. Astronomers later estimated its angle from the horizon at 65 degrees. Ed stated that USAF counter-intelligence people took his film and later returned it with fingerprints all over it. He expressed doubt about believing in flying saucers himself but acknowledged something was up there.

Article: Accused of Faking

Some people accused Ed Leadford of faking his photograph, but he questioned why he would do so, as he doesn't believe in flying saucers. He stated he would not take another picture if the object landed in his lap, but he is keeping his camera handy.

Article: Canadian Offers U.S. Moon Ship

Vancouver (CP) reports that inventor Alex Johnson claims to have offered the U.S. Government a revolutionary flying-saucer-type aircraft that he says will outdistance Sputniks. Johnson's design uses a new 'energy' motor and can reach a speed of 9,000 miles a minute with a full crew, staying airborne for 15 days. He believes a trip to the moon could be possible within a year. The United States government is reportedly interested.

Article: Glencoe Woman Sees Star-Shaped Object

A Glencoe woman, Mrs. Harold Alderman, reported seeing a star-shaped object appear in the sky while driving. She described it as about six inches in diameter with a two to three-foot tail. The 'flying machine' reportedly landed briefly on the road before taking off eastward at high speed. It is assumed the object was on a short reconnaissance flight.

Article: Car Engine Died

Scottsbluff county sheriff Steve Warrick revealed that Reinhold O. Schmidt, a salesman, was a former convict who claimed to have chatted with four men and two women in a transparent 'space ship' in Kearney, Nebraska. Schmidt's story, which involved his car engine dying when he approached the object, stirred excitement. Police examined impressions and oil stains on the ground. Schmidt described the ship's interior as having a maze of dials and instruments. The 'spacemen' spoke English and German and wore conventional clothes.

Article: Spaceship An Earthly H-O-A-X

Washington (AP) reports that the U.S. Air Force has dismissed five recent reports of mysterious lights and flying objects as 'hoaxes.' The Air Force report described these stories, which circulated after Soviet satellites were launched, as exaggerated or misunderstood natural phenomena.

Article: Thousands Dying of Radioactivity Scientist Claims

Vienna (Reuters) reports that Prof. Otto Hahn, a German scientist who discovered nuclear fission, stated that thousands are dying yearly from radioactive rays. He also noted that major powers have produced enough B-bombs to 'wipe out the human race.'

Article: UK Finds Strontium Increasing

London (AP) reports a definite but small increase in quantities of strontium-90 deposited in the bones of humans and animals.

Article: Toronto Doctor Found "Death Ray"

Papers and records left by the late Dr. James Cotton of Toronto, a diagnostician, may explain car-stopping and extinguishing phenomena. Dr. Cotton was reportedly conducting final experiments with a mysterious 'death' ray, identified as microwaves, produced by complicated electrical apparatus. He claimed the rays could stop car engines, extinguish lights, and kill small animals through brick walls. He also claimed to use the rays for medical treatments from arthritis to cancer. His widow, Mrs. Ruby Cotton, stated that no one listened to her husband's research, and he died with his secret. She feels scientists connected with the U.S. armed services may have studied his patents and continued his experiments.

Article: Top Secret Report

This report claims Russia is ready to launch an 18-ton earth satellite for refueling a moon rocket. It states the Red Army is ten times the size of the U.S. Army, the Soviet Air Force is twice the size of the American Air Force, and the Soviets have six times the submarines. They also possess atomic subs capable of launching a 1200-mile guided missile with a hydrogen bomb warhead. The U.S. project for a similar missile-carrying craft is not expected until mid-1961. The report alleges the Soviets have 'several thousand' missiles stockpiled that could reach New York City in 26 minutes or Washington, D.C. in 29 minutes, with the U.S. having nothing comparable.

Article: Cobweb-Like Strands Fall From Sky

Portales, N.M. (AP) reports that cobweb-like strands, up to 50 feet long, are falling from the sky, causing a nuisance. Explanations range from the Russian satellite to giant cobwebs. An engineer at Sandia base suggested dust particles in the atmosphere rub together, creating a static charge that causes them to cling together in gossamer strands.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the mystery of unidentified flying objects (UFOs), the burgeoning field of space exploration, and the potential for extraterrestrial life and contact. The editorial stance, as expressed by Editor Gone Duplantier, is one of open inquiry and information sharing, aiming to present various reports and theories without definitive judgment, encouraging readers to form their own opinions. There is a clear interest in early UFO sightings, ancient legends related to space travel, and scientific speculation about life beyond Earth, alongside skepticism from some official sources. The publication also touches upon the Cold War space race and potential technological advancements.