Saucers, Space & Science - No 40

Magazine Overview

Title: SAUCERS, SPACE & SCIENCE
Issue: Fall Issue No. 40
Year: 1965
Editor: Gene Duplantier
Location: WILLOWDALE, Ontario, Canada

This issue of 'Saucers, Space & Science' presents a collection of UFO reports from around the world, reflecting a period of heightened interest in unidentified aerial phenomena. The magazine features a mix of eyewitness accounts, official statements, and photographic evidence, exploring the question of whether these sightings represent genuine extraterrestrial craft or misidentified natural phenomena.

Cover Story: 'Is It or Isn't It?'

The cover prominently features a photograph of a 'flying saucer' taken in Rouen, France, listed by the NATIONAL Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena, Chicago chapter. This image serves as the central visual for the issue's overarching theme of questioning the nature of these sightings. The accompanying text notes that the NICAP chapter is one of several groups that maintain extensive records of UFO sightings and evaluate observer testimony.

International Sightings

Buenos Aires, Argentina: The issue details a surge in 'flying saucer' fever following sightings of unidentified flying objects. Camermen captured photographs of objects described as squat straight lines of light, with one appearing to change shape. Objects were reported to hover for extended periods before disappearing at high speed. The newspaper 'Cronica' published photos of a hazy luminescent oval and a lemon-shaped light source.

Portugal: Reports from Portugal describe strange objects moving through space, with one incident near Oporto involving a luminous, flattened balloon-like object that later resembled an overturned plate with orange coloring and green rays. This object reportedly caused electromagnetic interference, stopping clocks at the Villa do Porto weather bureau. The object was observed moving slowly northeast at high altitudes.

Antarctic Sky: Military and scientific personnel in the Antarctic reported observing a curious celestial body glowing with white light, moving in a northeast-southwest direction at high speed. The object exhibited zig-zagging and hovering behavior, and was described as yellow and green at times.

France: In Valensole, France, gendarmes investigated a farmer's report of a mysterious aircraft taking off from his field, leaving tracks. The craft was described as a large rugby ball with four metal legs, and a small human form was reportedly seen with it. The craft then disappeared into the sky.

Japan: An international group of scientists, the International Unidentified Flying Object Observer Corps, sent a team to Japan to investigate reports of a mysterious luminous object sighted by Japanese airline pilots over the inland sea.

South America: Six persons in Uruguay reported spotting a UFO on a deserted beach, following numerous sightings over Buenos Aires.

Australia: A mysterious glowing object hovering near Canberra airport has baffled experts. Six members of the traffic control tower crew reported the object hanging suspended for 40 minutes, becoming visible when the sun glinted off it. It disappeared when an air force plane was sent to identify it.

USA - Texas: A newsman and a policeman in Sherman, Texas, witnessed a bright red and green object hovering in the sky for almost three-quarters of an hour, making violent movements. Air Sea Rescue was notified, but the object could not be tracked on radar.

USA - Florida: A marine scientist exploring the Gulf Stream reported detecting a moving object on the bottom of the warm-water stream. Photographs were taken of a pear-shaped object moving at approximately 3.5 knots, exhibiting constant direction and speed.

Official Investigations and Explanations

USAF Stance: The U.S. Air Force announced a "preliminary conclusion" that reports of flying saucers over Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Kansas were likely astrological in nature, possibly referring to planets like Jupiter or bright stars such as Rigel, Capella, Betelgeuse, or Aldebaran. They stated that initial studies indicated the observations were astrological and supported by azimuth and elevation data.

Air Force Investigations: The Air Force has investigated 9,130 cases since 1947, with 667 remaining unexplained. A spokesman stated that investigations have found explanations for most cases, often attributing sightings to natural phenomena, balloons, or meteors. However, the National Investigation Committee on Aerial Phenomena (NICAP) countered that the Air Force's inability to find patterns in reports was unrealistic. Richard Hall of NICAP suggested the Air Force was overlooking obvious patterns.

• Specific Cases:
• A Japanese airline pilot reported an unidentified object flying alongside his plane for 55 miles, which "violently" affected the plane's air direction finder.
• British and Argentine scientists reported an object in Antarctica that sent geomagnetic instruments wild.
• A Westford, USA, housewife reported seeing a cigar-shaped object with four windows and a red light, followed by three smaller objects, which then disappeared. She also noted the presence of Air Force planes in the area shortly after the sighting.
• An Air Force weather observer in Oklahoma City described objects with a flat top and bottom, featuring rings, which were not a mirage.
• A photographer in Junction City, Kansas, captured eight black dots in a photograph of a skydiver, which were not visible to the naked eye.

Other Phenomena and Anecdotes

Manipogo Park: The article discusses the lack of recent sightings of the 'Manipogo' lake monster in Manitoba, Canada, despite the park's popularity with tourists. Speculation suggests that unfavorable weather conditions (too much rain and wind) might be responsible, or that the monster is no longer necessary as the park is full.

Whitehorse Residents: Residents of Whitehorse, Yukon, reported seeing a bright object in the sky that traveled northward, stopped, and then headed south at increased altitude before disappearing.

Mysterious Light in Sky: RCAF search and rescue officials and several residents reported seeing an unidentified light hovering above Grouse Mountain, described as brighter than a star and airborne, but not a plane.

Amateur Scientist's UFOs: A 20-year-old amateur scientist in Vancouver reportedly caused weathermen to blush with his experiments involving homemade balloons that reflected city lights, creating the appearance of mysterious flashing lights.

Fireball Fragments: Meteorite fragments found by two trappers in the snow of central British Columbia were confirmed to be from a meteorite, linked to a fireball observed on March 31.

Mars Call: A humorous anecdote describes a telephone call made to Mars, with a 'Martian police chief' greeting the caller and mentioning that the town of Mars, Pennsylvania, was expecting calls since the Mariner IV spacecraft began photographing Mars.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently presents a stance that acknowledges the reality of UFO phenomena, even while reporting on official explanations that often dismiss sightings. The editorial tone suggests a belief that many sightings are genuine and warrant serious investigation, contrasting with the Air Force's tendency to attribute them to natural causes. The recurring theme is the persistent mystery of unidentified flying objects and the ongoing efforts by civilian groups and individuals to understand them, often in the face of official skepticism. The publication highlights the increasing number of reports and the variety of phenomena observed, implying that the 'fantastic' is becoming commonplace and that the existence of flying saucers is difficult to doubt.

This issue of "Flying Saucer" magazine, dated August 1965, presents a collection of UFO sightings and related news from around the globe, with a particular focus on reports from the United States, Canada, and South America. The magazine covers a wide range of alleged encounters, investigations, and theories surrounding unidentified flying objects.

UFO Sightings and Reports

The issue details numerous sightings, including:

• McAllen, Texas: A man reported seeing four burning objects fall onto a residential street, described as "hot coals, but ringed-shaped."
• Lima, Peru: A 23-year-old worker, Prospero Alva, described seeing a "flying saucer" that landed in a car park, likening it to "a huge piece of Swiss cheese." The object was reportedly 10 feet wide, full of portholes, with a revolving turret and arms that moved in various directions.
• Buenos Aires, Argentina: An Argentine newspaper reported on a supposed flying saucer base in the mountains, where several saucers allegedly converge nightly in a remote valley.
• Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Fisherman Joao do Rio claimed to have spoken to a dwarf from a flying saucer, who gave him a piece of "unearthly" metal. However, he later retracted the story, calling it a "fabrication of the newspapers."
• Midtown Toronto, Canada: Several people observed a circular object with lights moving rapidly and silently at approximately 300 m.p.h.
• Long Island, USA: Mrs. Dorothy Conway and about a dozen neighbors reported seeing a bright, high-flying object that made no noise and resembled a "ball of light" or "fluorescent light."
• Columbus, Ohio, USA: Thousands reported seeing an unidentified object or objects hovering high in the sky and moving slowly. Explanations ranged from weather balloons to the planet Venus.
• Windsor, Canada: The local weather office received numerous calls about fast-moving lights or UFOs seen in the sky, with weather balloons being a possible explanation.
• San Antonio, Texas: Residents reported a "mysterious, bright, red, flashing object" in the sky, with some suggesting it was a meteor.
• Prince George, British Columbia, Canada: A man and his family reported a strange object that appeared as two bullet-shaped sections joined by a dark area, moving from south to north.
• West Boylston, Massachusetts: Four boys described a saucer-shaped object with a bluish-white dome and a tail, which made a low humming noise and moved back and forth.
• Minneapolis, Minnesota: Police officers reported sightings of unidentified flying objects that "bobbed, dipped, hovered, stopped, jerked along and sped away."

Official Investigations and Theories

The magazine highlights the U.S. Air Force's involvement in investigating UFO reports through "Project Blue Book." It is stated that the project has investigated over 9,118 reports since 1947 and has found no evidence to support the existence of extraterrestrial spacecraft. Explanations for sightings often include astronomical phenomena, satellites, and aircraft.

A theory proposed by Professor Robert L. Brown of Southern Connecticut State College suggests that moon dust, possibly stirred up by Russia's Luna V mission, could react with Earth's atmosphere to create luminous "unidentified flying objects."

UFO Congress and Events

The issue includes coverage of the "1965 UFO Congress," featuring photographs from the event and mentioning speakers like James Moseley and Lawrence Blazey. The congress aimed to discuss various phenomena related to UFOs and ESP.

Book Review and Publications

A new book titled "Flying Saucer Designs" by Kenneth Larson of Los Angeles is reviewed. The book, which is mimeographed and contains 200 pages and 50 drawings, explores UFO reports, the engineering of the Great Pyramid, religious records, and geographical sites. Larson theorizes that UFOs and sites follow a mathematical pattern related to Earth's creation.

The magazine also promotes other related publications, such as "PROBE" magazine and "C.P.L.I. Filmstrips" on UFOs.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the widespread nature of UFO sightings across different continents, the ongoing efforts by authorities to explain these phenomena, and the speculative theories surrounding their origins. The editorial stance appears to be one of reporting on these events and theories, while also acknowledging the lack of definitive proof for extraterrestrial visitation, as indicated by the U.S. Air Force's findings. There is a clear interest in documenting eyewitness accounts and exploring potential explanations, from the mundane to the extraordinary.

This document is a scan of a single page, likely from a newsletter or magazine, detailing a UFO seminar held in Ballarat, Australia. The primary focus is on the events, participants, and outcomes of this seminar.

UFO Seminar at Ballarat, Australia (Feb. 26-28, 1965)

The seminar was convened at Ballarat, Victoria, and sponsored by the Ballarat Astronomical Society. Delegates represented UFO research societies from across Australia and New Zealand. Each delegate presented a paper, and some used slides. A senior science research officer from the RAAF in Canberra attended to present the Air Force's official attitude and policy regarding UFOs.

Notable attendees included Rev. Canon Norman Crutwell and Rev. Father William Gill, known for their classic New Guinea sightings, and Mr. Charles Brew, who gained recognition for a remarkable UFO sighting over his dairy farm at Willow Grove, Gippsland, Victoria.

The seminar was described as very successful with good attendance. The local Ballarat "Courier" provided positive news coverage, but the Melbourne daily newspapers largely ignored the event, despite being invited.

The Ballarat Broadcasting Station invited five delegates and members to contribute short talks for a half-hour recording, to be broadcast in segments over the following week. Participants in this recording included Mr. Peter Norris, Mrs. Judith Magee, Mr. Colin Norris, Mr. Andrew Tomas, and Mr. Paul Norman.

Unification of UFO Societies

Air Marshal Sir George Jones, also present, strongly recommended greater unification of UFO societies. He suggested this would provide the necessary status for approaching government and other official bodies.

Formation of Commonwealth Federation

Following this recommendation, a commonwealth federation of UFO societies was formed at the conclusion of the seminar. A draft constitution was drawn up, with Mr. Peter Norris appointed as President and Mrs. Sylvia Sutton as Secretary.

UFO Activity in New Zealand

According to the information provided, there has been a recent spate of UFO sightings in New Zealand. The general population is reportedly becoming more aware of the phenomenon, although there is limited published information in the newspapers.

(Credit for the report is given to Mrs. Sylvia Sutton, Victoria, Australia.)

Correspondence and Postage

The page also includes return addresses for correspondence: one to Gene Duplantier in Willowdale, Ontario, Canada, and a printed matter section with a handwritten address to C. Olaf Holmquist in Läckeby, Sweden. Postage stamps are visible, including a Canadian stamp.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The document highlights themes of UFO research, inter-society cooperation, official government/military perspectives on UFOs, and the reporting of sightings. The editorial stance appears to be supportive of UFO research and the need for organized, unified efforts within the field, as evidenced by the reporting on the seminar's outcomes and the formation of the federation.