Saucers, Space & Science - No 02

Magazine Overview

Title: SAUCERS SPACE & SCIENCE
Issue: Number 2
Volume/Date: January - 1958
Publisher: SAUCERS SPACE & SCIENCE
Country: Canada
Language: English

This issue of 'Saucers Space & Science' from January 1958 is a special bulletin dedicated to reports of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and alleged extraterrestrial encounters. The cover prominently features the headline "SPACELEN VISIT WOLLAN BUT NEIGHBORS WALK OUT," detailing a sensational account from Birmingham, England.

Key Articles and Reports

Spacemen Visit in Birmingham

The lead story recounts the experience of Mrs. Cynthia Appleton, a 27-year-old mother of two from Birmingham, England, who claimed to have been visited by two spacemen. She described them as "tall and blond - like Greek athletes." The first spaceman appeared alone, followed by a second visit where he brought a companion. Mrs. Appleton stated the spacemen claimed their people were "willing to come to earth but with only one objective in mind...to raise the standard of our civilization." She reported they wore "domes on their heads and wore tight fitting costumes." Two Church of England clergymen and her husband, Ron, reportedly believed her story.

Compendium of UFO Sightings (Late 1957 - Early 1958)

The majority of the issue is dedicated to a chronological listing of UFO sightings reported across various locations:

• November 30, 1957 - Fairbanks, Alaska: Approximately 50 witnesses observed a flaming object southeast of the city. Scientists from the University of Alaska, including Al George of the Geophysical Institute, saw an "intensely bright, slightly greenish object shaped like a light-bulb" fall at 3:30 p.m. Some scientists concluded it was a fireball or meteor.
• November 30, 1957 - Alaska Highway & Lethbridge, Alberta: The British Columbia Ground Observer Corps reported six "good" sightings of a UFO described as a fireball at about 30,000 feet, lighting up the St. Elias mountain range. A similar report came from Skagway, Alaska.
• November 30, 1957 - Fort Greely reservation, Alaska: The U.S. Army reported a brightly glowing object plunging to earth.
• December 1, 1957 - Hattiesburg, Mississippi: An inspector for the Mississippi Highway Patrol reported seeing a "ball of fire" fall west of Hattiesburg.
• December 1, 1957 - Montana: Witnesses reported a "terrific explosion and a green ball of fire and a white flash" that momentarily blinded motorists.
• December 1, 1957 - Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan: Frank Cushing of the Moose Jaw Astronomical Society received 30 reports of a fireball with a horizontal path that sloped towards the earth near Rouleau. The phenomenon lasted 2-3 seconds and illuminated objects up to 1.5 miles away.
• December 4, 1957 - Timmins, Ontario: Several persons observed a flaming red ball crossing the sky in an east-west line, close to the horizon.
• December 5, 1957 - Timmins, Ontario: A similar occurrence was reported again at approximately 6:45 p.m.
• December 6, 1957 - New Glasgow, Nova Scotia: An object fell from the sky, burning and causing a fire. Two youngsters found a round object, about 2 inches in length, which showed "terrific heat" but had no markings.
• December 8, 1957 - Snertingdal, Central Norway: A UFO reportedly exploded and fell near Oslo. However, two 19-year-old farm boys later admitted they had launched an old German flare rocket for fun.
• December 8, 1957 - Northern Ontario: Residents saw an object streaking through the sky. An Ontario Northland railway conductor reported seeing it 53 miles north of North Bay. It appeared to head for the train, then veered away, leaving a streak of fire. It was described as greenish. A Trans Canada Airlines pilot stated it was not a star, and one observer noted "8 spikes protruted from the object."
• December 9, 1957 - Toronto, Ontario: A large yellow-orange light appeared in the sky and then faded. Weather officials offered no explanation.
• December 12, 1957 - Blenheim, Ontario: A Trans Canada Airlines pilot, two Provincial Police constables, and two farm families reported seeing a glowing object over the Lake Erie shoreline. It moved over the shoreline, disappeared, and reappeared. Mrs. Robert Moore, Sr., described it as having a "whitish to blue light." The TCA pilot, flying at 12,000 feet, stated it was unlike any meteor he had seen.
• December 27, 1957 - Toronto, Ontario: Hundreds of residents saw a "red ball of fire" cross the sky. Malton airport noted a jet plane at 40,000 ft. at the time, but witnesses also saw the object.
• December 1957 - Berne, Switzerland: A bright, luminous object disintegrated in a shower of sparks.
• December 1957 - Capetown, South Africa: An explosion in the sky was followed by a fall of glowing fragments.
• December 1957 - Hamburg, West Germany: Farmers reported a glowing object crashed into a field, creating a roar and gouging a hole in the ground.
• January 3, 1958 - South Western Manitoba: W.T. Manser, an amateur astronomer, reported a light "so brilliant and with an odd bluish shade" streaked across the sky, awakening him. Its path was described as more perpendicular than a meteor's, leaving a trail of white light.
• January 3, 1958 - Island Falls, Manitoba: Jack Barkwell, Glenn Craig, and Lowell Christenson saw a bright object falling almost straight down, passing east by north about 20 degrees above the horizon. They noted its tail became very bright and a large section appeared to break off and burn out.
• January 3, 1958 - Trenton, New Jersey: Mrs. Robecca Brovak saw a shining ball with a little tail fall in the southern sky.
• January 7, 1958 - Asahikawa, Northern Japan: A piece of equipment, identified as a radiosonde from a Russian rocket or Sputnik, fell on a farm.
• January 8, 1958 - West Vancouver & Kerrisdale, British Columbia: Several residents reported a brilliantly-lighted object hovering over the gulf islands. Miss Jane Peddler described it as the size of a football, appearing oval and fiery at one end.
• January 19, 1958 - Owen Sound, Ontario: Several reports indicated an object brighter than any star, possibly a weather balloon.
• January 20, 1958 - Ottawa, Ontario: A mysterious object lit up the western skies. It was described as too big and too bright to be Sputnik. S.W. Sellars described it as having a tail of flame about 300 yards long, stopping in mid-air for 3 minutes before vanishing.

Scientific and Speculative Articles

• Soviet Biologist Develops New Food for Spacemen: The issue mentions that Soviet biologists are developing a new food called chlorella (algae) that produces oxygen and satisfies hunger, thriving on carbon dioxide and exhaled human breath. Dr. Piotr Isakov is cited.
• Major Earle C. Shelley on Flying Saucers: Major Earle C. Shelley of Thamesford, Ontario, addressed Simcoe public school teachers, stating that flying saucers exist and that Venusians are "our guardian angels," quoting a message from "A-lan," chief scientist of Venus.
• Space Visitors Held Possible by Willy Ley: In an article adapted from the Montreal Star, Willy Ley discusses the idea of interplanetary origins for flying saucers. He acknowledges that most sightings can be explained as mistakes or natural phenomena but concedes that some remain unexplained. Ley critiques the logic used to statistically prove the existence of intelligent races elsewhere and argues that even if propulsion systems are advanced, any material body moving through the atmosphere at supersonic speeds should produce a shock wave, which is not reported. He suggests that "noiseless" phenomena might be research balloons or non-material reflections, or possibly ball lightning, which he describes as a rare electrical phenomenon.
• Madame Thebes' Prophecy for 1958: An article references Madame Thebes, a seeress from the 18th century, who allegedly made accurate prophecies about historical events. It states she issued a "greatest warning" for "1958," implying a tragedy is imminent.
• Communist China's Space Plans for Tibet: An article from The New York Post reports that Communist China intends to use Tibet as a launching site for spaceships, citing the clear skies and high altitude as ideal conditions.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently presents UFO sightings as credible phenomena, often highlighting the lack of official explanations. While acknowledging natural explanations like meteors and fireballs, the editorial tone leans towards the possibility of extraterrestrial origins or at least unexplained aerial phenomena. The inclusion of personal testimonies, such as Mrs. Appleton's encounter, alongside reports of physical evidence (though often inconclusive), suggests a belief in the significance of these events. The article by Willy Ley, while cautious, still engages with the possibility of interplanetary visitors, framing the debate around the unexplained cases. The overall stance is one of open inquiry into the UFO phenomenon, encouraging readers to consider possibilities beyond conventional explanations.