Saucers, Space & Science - No 14

Magazine Overview

Title: SAUCERS, SPACE & SCIENCE
Issue: Number 14
Date: March 1960
Editor: Gene Duplantier
Publisher: N.B. Saucerzines
Country: Canada

An Unexpected Discovery

The lead article details a potentially remarkable observation made by a member of the S.U.F.O.I. organization in Denmark. A lady cycling near "Alykkegarden" farm witnessed a greenish, star-shaped object descend with great speed and land softly about 1.50 meters in front of her. The object, described as 20 meters in diameter and shining brightly, emitted no sound and left darkness after its light went out. Later, the farm hand discovered three dark, ellipse-shaped spots in the ground where the object had landed. These spots, forming an equilateral triangle, showed signs of unusual heating, with burned earth and small crystals. Stones and samples were sent to Karup Air Base, but no further information was received. The incident is compared to the size of the Godman UFO and the parting of the Red Sea during the Exodus. The article suggests that the objects might not have been visible to the naked eye but were picked up on sensitive film, a phenomenon discussed in an article by Trevor James & Assoc. in ROUND ROBIN. The magazine offers a Viewmaster Reel (No. B-6551) titled "VANGUARD LAUNCHING AT CAPE CANAVERAL" which allegedly shows a mothership and saucers. The article also references George De La Warr's theories on etheric axes and nodal points in relation to photography, suggesting that UFO photographs might be captured when a camera and object are critically rotated on such a node.

Can We Contact Other Beings?

Dr. Helen S. Hogg discusses Project Ozma, an ambitious attempt to detect radio signals from intelligent beings on planets beyond our solar system. The project, named after the queen of the imaginary land of Oz, utilizes the 85-foot radio telescope at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory. The article highlights the growing scientific consensus that planetary systems are common in galaxies and that life might not be unique to Earth. Dr. Frank Drake estimates that 10,000 stars are close enough for signals of comparable strength to be detected. The article explains that radio telescopes are crucial for this endeavor, as optical telescopes are insufficient for detecting signs of life at interstellar distances. The most likely frequencies for communication are between 1,000 and 10,000 megacycles, particularly around 1,420 megacycles (the fundamental frequency of neutral hydrogen). Signals would need to have a narrow bandwidth and exhibit a Doppler shift due to planetary motion. The powerful 85-foot telescope will initially be used to study TAU CETI and EPSILON ERIDANI.

Our Planet Is In Trouble

This section presents a quotation from Dr. Wilhelm Reich's petition to the U.S. Supreme Court, detailing his contact with luminous objects in the sky on May 12, 1954, during which stars faded out. The article asserts that people are increasingly aware of a "something is wrong up there" affecting the atmosphere and Earth, leading to drought and desert conditions. It criticizes the suppression of Dr. Reich's research, stating his books were destroyed and findings banned after his death in a U.S. federal penitentiary in November 1957. The author calls for attention to what is obvious but evaded by governments and scientific organizations, suggesting UFOs are interplanetary and causing planetary distress.

UFO Disappears In Haze

Lucille P. BensG of Phoenix, Arizona, recounts an experience in which she saw an object in two tiers, with one half obscured, against a clear sky. The object disappeared behind a thin haze and then vanished entirely. She speculates that the occupants might have projected a light-sky-blue vapor to hide. Doug Mapes is credited for this report.

To Moon & Back In Cabin For Two

A report from Washington (AP) states that Russians are working on a rocket designed to carry two or three passengers to the moon and back. The rocket would weigh 3,000 tons and be 260 feet long, utilizing a single-stage rocket with a thrust of 1,500,000 pounds. The project involves fabricating 20 such motors into a giant, five-stage rocket. The first three stages would propel the vehicle to the moon's vicinity in about two days, the fourth stage for landing, and the fifth for the return journey. This information was published in a Czechoslovakian publication.

Brief Bits

This section compiles various short reports of UFO sightings and related phenomena from late 1959 and early 1960:

• October 15/59: A French astronomer reports observatories in Western Europe receiving mysterious radio signals from a moving source in space, transmitting for up to 4 hours.
• October 25/59: Soviet astronomer Nikolai Kozyrev reports "unusual" activity in the central peak of the moon's Alphonse crater via spectrogram.
• November 22/59: Nanaimo, B.C., Canada: School board employees and a truck driver observed a "bouncing ball" object, the color of a star but with visible edges, rise and descend three times over Echo Mountain.
• November 25/59: Ridgetown, Ont., Canada: An aluminum-colored round object was seen speeding eastward over Lake Erie, appearing to be about two feet in diameter and 1,000-1,500 feet high.
• November 26/59: Cedar, B.C., Canada: Mr. and Mrs. Magner and a neighbor saw an object change color from amber to green to red.
• November 30/59: Kanazawa, Japan: "Angel Hair" fell, with some strands 2 meters long and others round-like, turning to silvery powder.
• December 2/59: Victoria, B.C., Canada: A sonic boom, initially denied, was believed to be caused by four USAF jet fighters.
• December 4/59: Toronto, Ont., Canada: Avro's 35 ft. diameter flying saucer underwent two wobbly five-minute tests.
• December 7/59: Bangor, Maine, USA: A Northeast Airlines plane experienced runway lighting failure and passengers were blinded by a mysterious flash of light.
• December 8/59: A British deep-sea research ship encountered a giant jellyfish-like creature with four food-sweeping organs.
• December 11/59: A "moonwatch" team observed a brilliant blue and white-tailed meteorite flash across the sky and vanish.
• December 11/59: Victoria, B.C., Canada: An earthquake centered in the San Juan Islands shook a wide area.
• December 15/59: Cedar Valley, Ont., Canada: Mrs. Gertrude Wilson noticed a bright star that moved horizontally and hovered.
• December 16/59: Halifax, N.S., Canada: The Liberian tanker Sweet Maria was damaged after colliding with an unidentified object 30 miles east of Yarmouth.
• December 22/59: Wallop's Island, Va., USA: Canadian and American scientists launched a rocket to record signals from stars.
• December 28/59: Adelaide, Australia: A convention on the scientific, spiritual, and psychic aspects of flying saucers opened.

Saucers-Planetary or Interplanetary?

By Michael Bruce, this article argues that flying saucers are likely man-made, possibly by Britain, based on four reasons: the advantage of secrecy, the mention of a new type of compass shielded from gravity in 1942, a professor's 1944 success in altering gravity fields, and the appearance of flying saucers in 1948, four years after these experiments. Bruce suggests that these craft are gravity-screened airships whose weight can be altered. He discusses the potential for gravity plates to compensate for acceleration and deceleration. Bruce also addresses the thermal barrier problem and suggests that since few UFOs are seen over Communist territory, they might be a product of Western nations. He posits that smaller machines could be radio-controlled and equipped with self-destruction devices. Bruce also considers the possibility of building a base on the far side of the moon for secrecy and acknowledges the potential for visitors from other planets, citing historical reports of UFOs since 1860.

The Exodus, The Cloud & The Pillar

Arthur V. Sampsel compares the size of the Godman UFO (15,000 feet long, 500 feet in diameter) to the biblical account of the Exodus. He describes the parting of the Red Sea, where the waters stood up in perpendicular walls, and the cloud by day and pillar of fire by night that guided and protected the Israelites. Sampsel argues that this phenomenon, if occurring today, would be termed a UFO. He estimates the size of the cloud based on the number of Israelites, suggesting it covered between two and three million people, making the Godman UFO appear small in comparison.

Radio Transmitter Stands Even Moon Crash-Landing

Canadian scientists at the Canadian Armament Research and Development Establishment in Quebec have developed a miniaturized transmitter designed to withstand impact upon landing on the moon. Tested by being slammed into a 2" aluminum pipe with a force of half a million G's, the transmitter remained functional.

Space A Many-Colored Place, Soviets...

A Moscow Radio commentator describes outer space as a dazzling vision of multi-colored brightness, not a black void. This is attributed to interplanetary gas shining with a multi-colored light, interspersed with thousands of millions of stars, forming pinky gold or dazzling white shapes.

Angels In Flying Saucers?

Rev. Helmut Wipprecht of the United Church suggests that biblical messengers or angels could have been visitors from outer space traveling in flying saucers. He proposes that the Star of Bethlehem might have been a flying saucer and that Elijah's "chariot with horses of fire" could also be interpreted as a flying saucer.

Strange Mass Over Sea

The British liner Corinthic encountered a mysterious, honey-colored, soft, jelly-like substance floating on the sea for nearly 900 miles. Some pieces were several feet square, while most were fragments. A possible explanation offered is a large submarine upheaval.

What Next?

A blue-gray sea monster, approximately 13 feet long and 10 feet wide, weighing several tons, washed up at Cape Ferret in France. It resembled a sea elephant with large ears and webbed feet.

Ogopogo Again

Ogopogo, the elusive sea serpent of Okanagan Valley, has been reported spotted again in Okanagan Lake.

Report From Denmark

This section reiterates the Danish UFO landing incident, providing more details about the investigation by Roald Norskov and Poul Krog. They confirmed the observations of the lady cyclist and noted that a brightly shining object was seen in many parts of Northern Europe at the same time, leading meteorologists to believe it was a meteor that exploded over Funen.

Have Spaceships Landed In Russia?

A correspondent asked if spaceships had landed in Russia. The response stated that to their knowledge, no spaceship had landed in the Soviet Union. They mentioned a report of a meteorite causing large damage years ago, with theories suggesting it might have been launched from another planet, but no evidence supported this belief.

Mars Might Have People Reds Report

Soviet scientists have produced new data suggesting the possibility of life on Mars, as its physical conditions closely approximate those necessary for life, according to a Moscow Radio broadcast.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores the phenomena of unidentified flying objects (UFOs), extraterrestrial contact, and related scientific and speculative theories. There is a strong emphasis on reporting sightings, investigations, and potential explanations, ranging from the scientific (radio astronomy, space technology) to the more esoteric (etheric energy, biblical interpretations). The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded inquiry, encouraging readers to consider possibilities beyond conventional explanations, while also presenting critical viewpoints and scientific endeavors like Project Ozma. The magazine seems to advocate for taking UFO phenomena seriously and investigating them thoroughly, as evidenced by the detailed reporting of the Danish landing and the discussion of Dr. Wilhelm Reich's suppressed research.