Saucers, Space & Science - No 16

Magazine Overview

Title: SAUCERS, SPACE & SCIENCE
Issue: Number 16
Date: August, 1960
Editor: Gene Duplantier

This issue of "Saucers, Space & Science" delves into various UFO sightings, expert opinions, and related phenomena from the late 1950s and early 1960s. It presents a mix of eyewitness accounts, skeptical scientific viewpoints, and theories about government secrecy and extraterrestrial intelligence.

Key Articles and Reports

"FLYING SAUCERS ARE REAL"

This section recounts an unusual sighting experienced by Mr. Al Bielek in Nashville, Tennessee, around October 1953. While reading Donald Keyhoe's book, Bielek felt watched and went outside. He observed a vague saucer-shape object above his motel unit. As he headed toward the highway, a blazing ball of light appeared, moving along power lines. When the object exploded overhead with a bang, all lights in the motel and neighborhood went out, remaining off for fifteen to twenty minutes. Bielek was unable to move during the event.

"BALL OF FIRE" QUAKE COINCIDE

A UPI report from New York details how shock waves from a distant earthquake registered seismographs at the same time a "huge ball of fire with an incandescent tail issuing smoke" plunged into the South Pacific Ocean, approximately 300 miles southeast of Suva, Fiji Island. Fordham University seismologists found no apparent connection between the two events.

METEOR FLASHES OVER OKANAGAN

This report from Kamloops, British Columbia, describes a flaming meteor seen across the southern interior of the province on a Tuesday night. Lieutenant Ronald Derbyshire of the United States Air Force radar station at Mount Lolo stated the meteor was traveling at tremendous speed in the tropopause, about 65,000 feet up. It glowed brightly but was not close enough to burn up. Gordon Stinson of Penticton observed it as yellowish and appearing low, breaking up as it moved.

MOON FLIGHT SAID POSSIBLE

Penticton, B.C. reports that Canada's top astronomer, O.S. Beals of Ottawa, stated that a flight to the moon is possible but questioned the enormous expenditure involved. Speaking at the opening of the Dominion Radio-Astrophysical Observatory, Beals expressed uncertainty about the scientific value of a moon flight at present but believed people could achieve it if they invested enough money. He was not optimistic about finding life on other planets but thought it possible in other solar systems.

LIGHT IN SKY ROUSES NEWTOWN

An account from Newtown describes excitement after about 200 residents sighted a bright light in the sky. Roy Taylor, acting police chief, confirmed it was a bright object with colored lights, visible despite an overcast sky. Some stars were visible, and the light was first seen at about 10:30 p.m., darting south by 2:30 a.m. The Weather Bureau and Cincinnati Moonwatch Team noted Jupiter's brightness.

RIDDLE AT LACKLAND FIELD

This section presents a statement attributed to "United States Air Force Personnel" suggesting that living intelligences from Mars are studying Earth and its inhabitants. The statement claims that due to prolonged secrecy and censorship by the USAF, the public was unprepared for an admission about space visitors. The "Silence Group" was forced to continue censorship to prevent panic, fear, and economic crisis. The material was reportedly from a script sent to NICAP by Robert C. Balsey of Lackland.

Following this, two incidents are detailed:

1. Oklahoma City, August 28, 1954: A formation of fifteen flying saucers approached Oklahoma City, was picked up by radar at Tinker Air Force Base, and was pursued by jets. The formation broke into a semicircle and vanished westward.
2. Brazilian Airliner, November 21, 1954: A Brazilian airliner flying at 8,000 ft. over the Paraiba River encountered a strange glow, and a formation of nineteen round machines, each over 100 feet in diameter, appeared. The glowing objects approached at supersonic speed, passing beneath the plane's wings and causing passengers to panic. The Brazilian Air Force is reportedly concerned and wants countries to pool UFO information.

The article references Donald E. Keyhoe's book "FLYING SAUCERS, TOP SECRET" and mentions "Joint Army Navy Air Force Procedure #146 and Air Force Regulation 200-2," which allegedly imposes fines and imprisonment on military, naval, and airline pilots for reporting UFOs, and also muzzles Defense Department personnel and others involved with CIRVIS (Communications Instructions for Reporting Vital Intelligence Sightings) reports.

"SEE? RIGHT UP THERE! AH, YOU MISSED IT!"

Written by B. A. Tobin, this article discusses the variety of UFO sightings reported since the public began receiving them. Objects have appeared in various colors, shapes (saucer-like, cigar-like, bullet-like, disc-like, spherical, cloud-shaped, tear-drop-shaped, indeterminate), and sizes, from small enough to hold little men to large enough to hold a city office building. They fly singly or in groups, and Tobin suggests they adapt to the viewer's imagination. He notes that while thousands of sightings have been reported and checked by US or Canadian Air Force authorities, a few remain unexplained and are dubbed UFOs. Tobin implies that the term UFO is now used broadly for anything that cannot be identified, leading to the belief that every such sighting is a flying saucer.

Tobin contrasts the scientific approach with that of believers, suggesting scientists are busy with more promising work. He mentions an itinerant philosopher who claimed to have been taken aboard a saucer and lost fused sand from its take-off jets. The article also touches on the idea that some saucer people might be among us, unidentified. It criticizes authorities for allegedly hiding UFO information in secret files.

THREE SHINY DISCS SIGHTED ON FARM

This report details a sighting on October 23, 1959, by K.L. Jenkins and D.E. Miller of Bunker Hill, Indiana. Jenkins saw three UFOs over a timber patch, appearing disc-shaped and tilted upward. The middle disc seemed larger, with a brighter underside. The objects were approximately 1 mile at their farthest point and less than a mile at their closest, not over 200 feet off the ground. Miller also saw three bright lights in the west, initially mistaking them for jet exhausts. Jenkins noted the discs hovered and moved back west, but not north or south. There were no visible protrusions, and surfaces were smooth. Jenkins, operating a combine, could not detect any noise.

Another strange aerial phenomenon was reported near Newcastle, Wyoming, about February 1, 1960. Seen by Wm. C. Lamb, the object rose from a cloudbank, was about 400 feet long and 200 feet in diameter, dark red with a yellow flame, and traveled about 1 mile per second before vanishing.

Joseph Whitney Answers "Are flying saucers an optical illusion?"

In his newspaper column, Joseph Whitney presents Dr. R.P. Youtz's theory that many unexplained flying saucers are after-images. Youtz, a Barnard College psychologist, suggests that descriptions of flying saucers could match after-images, with size and speed depending on distance. The article concludes by stating that no report mentions them, no eye sees them, and no government reveals them, expressing a desire to see a flying saucer and join the ranks of scientific observers.

TELL SECRETS ON SAUCERS EXPERT SAYS

Leonard Stringfield, a flying saucer expert from Cincinnati, believes the U.S. could gain a space spotlight advantage by opening secret UFO files. He suggests that international cooperation on UFO information could ease world tensions. Stringfield, who heads Cincinnati's Unidentified Flying Object Society, believes UFOs are from outer space and controlled by intelligent beings observing Earth, with no hostile intent. He theorizes they use planets in our solar system, including the moon, as bases. He claims U.S. Air Force secret files contain evidence of extraterrestrial origin but are kept secret to prevent panic. He also states that foreign governments possess similar evidence.

ASTRONOMERS SEE MYSTERY OBJECT

A Reuters report from Madrid on May 23rd describes a mysterious triangular object sighted by astronomers at an observatory on the Spanish island of Majorca. The object spun on its axis, did not deviate from its path, and appeared the size of a quarter moon. It was visible for two minutes and could not have been the Soviet spaceship as it was traveling ESE to WNW.

SEES UFO & VICE VERSA

Louisa Hendrickson of Hollywood, California, reported seeing a flying saucer object in April or May 1946. She described it as black and round like a shallow bowl, with an elliptical, bulging eye. The object descended towards her, then lifted, enlarged, and went southwest. She felt the object was trying to take her.

ODD OBJECT VAPOR TRAIL IN SUN?

This section discusses a cigar-shaped glowing object seen in the northwest sky, which the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory suggested was a vapor trail from a high-flying jet. It was visible for nearly four minutes before being obscured by clouds.

Melville, Saskatchewan Incident

A search in Melville, Saskatchewan, failed to uncover anything unusual after a farmer, Frank Morris, reported seeing a large flaming object fall to earth. The object, described as torpedo-shaped with a round head and flapping material, landed about 400 yards from him and gave off a shower of bright fragments.

Letters to the Editor

Letter from Richard S. Shaver: Shaver asks Gene Duplantier to create a "racket" to alert Canadian "ray-people" about being trapped and murdered for their "ray equipment" and "Shaver wool." He claims these murderers are interested in Mantong and ancient writings, drawing people in with promises of revelations, only to kill them. He suggests making an unusual racket or going to a busy Toronto location (Yonge & Queen, Bay & King) to attract attention.

Letter from Douglas Марев: Марев confesses that his previous letter (May 8, 1959) and everything after it was a hoax, primarily due to financial straits, not his wife's influence. He states that all his prior reports were true and releases all confidential material. He apologizes for wasting Gene's time and for lying, requesting his confession be published and confirming he will no longer interfere in UFO matters.

Letter from Wm. B. Cunningham: Cunningham expresses the need for an active UFOlogical group in New England and outlines plans for a round-the-clock skywatch, a weekly bulletin, and a professionally printed "Saucerzine." He welcomes inquiries and members from outside the six-state area, seeking correspondents worldwide.

Letter from N. R. Ouelleto: Ouelleto reports a broadcast heard on the "Italian Hour" on November 9, 1959, about six "saucer people" captured near Rome by army troops, along with two captured saucers. He questions if this could be a hoax.

Coming Events

Announcements for a SPACE AGE CONVENTION in Chicago and a SCIENCE-FICTION CONVENTION in Pittsburgh.

George Van Tassel Excerpts

Excerpts from summaries of the 1960 Giant Rook Convention feature George Van Tassel. He predicts that in the next six months, the U.S. will see "another Korea, only on a larger scale." He states that the economy controls world politics and predicts millions will die from starvation or war in the next four years. Regarding contactees, he claims about half are in contact with "spooks" rather than spacepeople. Van Tassel suggests the Korean conflict was to bolster the economy, and that world leaders are working to solve economic issues. He notes that U.S. possesses over one hundred advanced H-bombs, capable of destroying the Earth, and that England and Russia also have stockpiles. He compares Earth's crust to an eggshell concerning contemplated sub-atomic tests in the Antarctic. Van Tassel claims to know of high-ranking officials who have made contacts but not publicized them, and that the Air Force has material proof of saucers.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently presents a fascination with flying saucers and UFO phenomena, featuring a wide range of eyewitness accounts from various locations. There is a clear tension between those who believe UFOs are extraterrestrial craft and those who offer scientific explanations. The issue highlights concerns about government secrecy and alleged cover-ups of UFO information. The editor, Gene Duplantier, appears to be a proponent of UFO research, as evidenced by his willingness to publish diverse accounts and his role in facilitating communication among researchers. The inclusion of letters from individuals like Richard S. Shaver and Douglas Mares, despite the latter's confession of hoax, indicates an openness to exploring even controversial or sensational aspects of the UFO phenomenon. The overall stance leans towards investigating the possibility of extraterrestrial intelligence and questioning official narratives, while also acknowledging skeptical viewpoints.