Saucers, Space & Science - No 03

Magazine Overview

Title: SAUCERS, SPACE & SCIENCE
Issue: Number 3
Date: March 1958
Editor: Gene Duplantier
Publisher: Not specified
Country of Publication: Canada
Language: English

This issue of SAUCERS, SPACE & SCIENCE, dated March 1958, is primarily dedicated to reporting numerous sightings of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and strange aerial phenomena, with a significant focus on the Galt-Kitchener area of Ontario, Canada. The magazine also includes articles on related scientific and speculative topics concerning space exploration and extraterrestrial life.

Galt-Kitchener Area Sightings

The issue highlights several compelling sightings from the Galt-Kitchener region in 1957. An article by Area Reporter Homer Schaefer details an incident on Monday evening, August 12, 1957, where two Preston police constables, R.L. Sneath and James Hewitt, along with fireman William Toleff, observed a strange flying object hovering over Preston and Kitchener. The object was described as "huge, shining object, circular in plan and appeared to have fire jetting out of the front or back." Constable Sneath noted its unusual maneuverability, stating, "It definitely was not an airplane because no plane could move in spurts as this did. It would speed away, then stop dead and hover over the city maybe 5 minutes, then dart up and away at tremendous speed." The object remained visible for close to half an hour.

Residents in Galt also reported sightings. A woman from Elmwood Avenue claimed to have seen a "strange thing" five times, noting its ability to vanish and reappear, and that passing aircraft crews did not seem to notice it. On Saturday, September 14, 1957, multiple witnesses in Galt reported seeing silvery, pear-shaped objects in the twilight sky. Reporter Roy Francis detected vague shapes of two objects, one about 5 or 6 miles away and another about 10 miles. Over the next half hour, at least six more objects were seen, some appearing as distant pinpoints.

Further reports include Dr. Harold Mason, Customs Collector Harold Simmons, and Bruce Light witnessing a "fiery object" on November 30, 1957, which they agreed was not a falling star, meteor, or plane. It was brilliant, changed color from orange to red, and travelled from south to north. Mr. Light described it as "controlled," moving back and forth before racing off into the distance.

Edward Clark of Galt reported seeing strange objects about 12 times over the past few years. He described one sighting in July where a round object hovered, went dark when a mail plane passed, then reappeared with lights and sped off. He noted the lights were plain, not colored, and the object was solid-looking with a tail that gave some light, exhibiting a variety of brightness shades.

Other Notable Sightings and Incidents

On August 13, 1957, two Preston girls, Corleen Weiler (16) and Diane Kloepher (15), reported a "very brilliant light" hovering above the Bank of Montreal. Colleen described it as "round and the light was blinding," and it would spurt away and return. They felt it was "really scary and so close to us." The object followed them part of the way home.

• Other sightings reported include:
• A "greenish-blue object" seen by Mr. and Mrs. Alex Watt in Kitchener on October 15, 1957.
• A "saucer-like object" with red flashing seen by a mother and her three daughters in London, Ontario, on December 4, 1957. Henry Schack also examined a similar object that day.
• A small silver sphere seen by John Tabaczynski in Kitchener on December 4, 1957.
• Percy Shoemaker and Mrs. Arthur Hoy reported seeing diamond-shaped and blue-orange colored objects in Kitchener on December 5, 1957.
• A piece of equipment believed to be from a Russian rocket or Sputnik fell on a farm near Asahikawa, northern Japan, on January 7, 1958.
• Several residents reported a brilliantly-lighted object hovering over the Gulf Islands on January 8, 1958, described as football-sized and oval-shaped.
• Strange balloons were reported appearing high in the sky over Soviet territory above the Arctic Circle, described as "very large" and almost stationary.
• Reports of persons sighting an object in the sky of Owen Sound, Ontario, on January 19, 1958, described as brighter than any star.
• A mysterious object lit up the western skies in Ottawa, Ontario, on January 20, 1958, described as too big and too bright to be Sputnik.
• Mrs. Lorne Johannes saw a smaller, round silvery object flying much higher than a plane on August 1, 1957.

Scientific and Speculative Articles

The issue also touches on broader themes related to space and technology:

• Design of Space Plane Released: The X-15, designed by North American Aviation, is detailed as the first airplane intended to penetrate outer space, capable of flying a mile a second at altitudes above 100 miles. It is scheduled for test flights the following year.
• Soviet Space Food: Soviet biologists are reportedly developing a new food for spacemen called chlorella, which produces oxygen and feeds on carbon dioxide.
• Flying Lamseries?: An article from The New York Post suggests Communist China intends to use Tibet as a launching site for spaceships.
• Time and Space Theories: Dr. Murray Gell-Mann, a Cal-Tech theorist, suggested to Congress that time might be "reversed" over very short intervals, proposing the concept of "anti-time."
• Roman Catholic Church on Extraterrestrials: The Church has formed a committee of theologians to study the duties toward potential inhabitants of outer space, questioning if they have a need for salvation and if original sin applies to them.
• Mars Atmosphere: Four U.S. scientists found that the water vapor on Mars is equivalent to that found in a box of earthly air.
• Soviet Electronic Cars: A Soviet scientist proposed electronic cars powered by high-frequency waves.
• Telepathic Communications: George King, a London doorman, claimed to be a "primary terrestrial mental channel" for Martians and Venusians and has received about 300 telepathic transmissions.
• Spacecraft Music: Composer Dimitri Tiomkin proposed including classical and popular music scores in America's first rocket to the moon.
• Radiation Resistance: Lt. Col. Sam Hill stated that insects can survive 100 times the amount of radiation that humans and animals can.
• USAF Space Projects: An observation and missile-firing satellite was added to U.S. Air Force space projects.
• Howard Hughes' Spaceship: Rumors suggest Howard Hughes is building a spaceship for a flight to the moon.

Magazines of Interest on Newsstands

The issue lists several magazines and books available, including "I Flew Aboard a Flying Saucer" by Prof. Joao de Freitas Guimaraes, "U.S. Has Flying Saucers" illustrated, "Flying Saucers Terrify Europe" by Leroy Thorpe, and "We'll Never Catch Them" by Ivan T. Sanderson. Walt Disney's "Mars and Beyond" and "Man in Space" are also mentioned.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, the possibility of extraterrestrial life, and advancements in space technology and aviation. The editorial stance appears to be one of open reporting and investigation of UFO phenomena, presenting witness accounts and scientific speculation without definitive conclusions. The magazine aims to inform researchers and enthusiasts about ongoing developments and reports in the field of saucers and space science.