Saucers, Space & Science - No 42

Magazine Overview

Title: SAUCERS, SPACE & SCIENCE
Issue: No. 42
Volume: SPRING
Date: 1966
Publisher: Gene Duplantier
Country: Canada
Language: English

This issue of SAUCERS, SPACE & SCIENCE, dated Spring 1966, is edited by Gene Duplantier and published in Willowdale, Ontario, Canada. The cover prominently features the headline "THE BIG BLACKOUT," suggesting a primary focus on power failures and their potential connection to UFO phenomena. Other featured articles include "Power Failures and the UFO," "Australia's saucer 'nests'," "UFO or copter...had them up in air," "Warminster's mystery 'thing'," and "Fireball Fragments Elude Search." The issue also includes sections on "HEADLINERS," "WHAT THEY'RE SAYING," and "SPACE SPOTS."

The Big Blackout: Power Failures and the UFO

The lead article, "THE BIG BLACKOUT," details the widespread power failure on November 9, 1965, which affected 80,000 square miles and lasted up to 13 hours. While official investigations pointed to a broken relay at the Sir Adam Beck plant, the article explores alternative explanations, including theories of electromagnetic disturbances caused by UFOs. It cites numerous other power failures across North America and Australia that occurred around the same time, suggesting a possible correlation.

One account from Weldon Ross, a pilot, describes seeing a huge fireball near Niagara Falls shortly after the power failure. Professor James E. Van Ness of Northwestern University is quoted suggesting that power blackouts could be caused by "oscillations or waves in electrical current." The article also references a prediction by Jeane Dixon about spasmodic blackouts testing missile devices.

Actor Stuart Whitman recounts an experience where he claims to have spoken with "little green men" in orange and blue flying saucers. He states they communicated in English and expressed fear of Earthlings, warning that they could stop the planet from functioning. Whitman interpreted the blackout as a "little demonstration of their power."

The issue also highlights a TIME magazine photograph of a UFO taken shortly after the blackout.

Flying Saucers & Power Failures by George D. Fawcett

This article by George D. Fawcett posits a direct relationship between flying saucers and power failures, noting that both were prominent news stories in 1965. Fawcett suggests that UFOs utilize an electromagnetic force field for propulsion, causing magnetic disturbances that affect various electrical systems and even physiological effects on witnesses. The article lists several specific instances of power failures occurring concurrently with UFO sightings, including an event in Uberlandia, Brazil, where a flying saucer reportedly caused automatic keys in a power plant to shut down.

UFO or Copter...had them up in air

This section reports on an unidentified flying object, described as a brilliant disc of light green and amber, hovering over the Wanaque Reservoir for over an hour. Police officers, the mayor, and civil defense director were among the witnesses. A spokesman for Stewart Air Force Base later stated that a helicopter with a powerful beacon was in the area around the time of the sighting.

Fireball Fragments Elude Search

Dr. Helen S. Hogg describes a brilliant fireball observed on December 9, 1965, over the Great Lakes region. The fireball, estimated to be brighter than the full moon, produced a smoke train visible for 20 minutes and was photographed. It burst into fragments, and several thunderous booms were heard in the Detroit area, with the shock recorded by a seismograph. The article notes that while the fireball's path was plotted, efforts to recover fragments were hampered by its short and precipitous flight over Lake Erie.

Australia's Flying Saucer 'Nests'

This report details the discovery of three "flying saucer nests" in the Tully district of Queensland, Australia. These nests are described as circular clearings of dry reeds surrounded by green reeds. The first nest was found by George Pedley, who reported seeing a vapor-like saucer take off from the spot. Two more nests were discovered by Tom Warren and Hank Penning. Police and local officials are baffled, as no traces of ground machinery were found. Mr. Pedley recounts seeing a blue-grey, spinning object rise from a swamp, move vertically, and then dive and accelerate away at high speed.

Other Reports and Articles

• Warminster's Mystery 'Thing': This section likely details a specific sighting or event in Warminster, though the details are not fully visible on the provided page.
• UFOs Space Teens? by David Balcon: This article speculates humorously about the motivations and appearance of extraterrestrial visitors, suggesting they might be teenagers from other planets exploring the galaxy.
• 'Bright Flash' Over Strait Unexplained: A report from Pictou, Canada, describes a mysterious flash lighting up the sky, accompanied by falling particles, which could not be explained by local authorities or astronomers.
• Saucer talk: Tourists from space set poser: This article from Los Angeles discusses a convention of flying saucer enthusiasts, highlighting their belief in extraterrestrial visitors and their interest in direct contact or telepathy.
• The Flying Saucers are back in the news by John Gale: This piece discusses a sighting by Miss Jacqueline Wingfield in Ireland, describing a solid-looking, rounded object flying in silence with a trailing plume. The photograph of the object is reportedly locked away for examination.
• Gravity Research: This section delves into the potential connection between UFOs and anti-gravity technology, suggesting that such propulsion could explain the observed flight characteristics of UFOs. It also touches on the historical prevalence of UFO sightings and the possibility of advanced extraterrestrial civilizations.
• UFO or Copter...had them up in air: This report from New Jersey details a sighting of a brilliant disc hovering over the Wanaque Reservoir, witnessed by local officials.
• Letters to the Editor: Includes a letter from Colman Vonkeviczky proposing a UN network to observe flying saucers and communicate with extraterrestrials.
• New Saucer Magazines, etc.: A listing of various UFO-related publications available to readers.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the unexplained phenomena of UFO sightings and their potential correlation with widespread power failures. The editorial stance appears to be open to the possibility of extraterrestrial visitation and actively encourages investigation into these phenomena, as evidenced by the editor's own publication and the inclusion of various reports and speculative articles. There is a clear effort to connect seemingly disparate events, such as blackouts and aerial sightings, under the umbrella of UFO research. The magazine also features a mix of factual reporting, eyewitness accounts, and more speculative or humorous pieces on the topic of flying saucers.

This issue of SS&S magazine, dated March-April, focuses heavily on unexplained phenomena, particularly the mysterious 'Thing' that plagued the town of Warminster, UK. The magazine presents a collection of witness accounts, journalistic reports, and scientific inquiries into UFO sightings, unusual sounds, and alleged alien encounters.

Warminster's Mystery 'Thing'

The central narrative revolves around Warminster, a town that was unexpectedly thrust into the national spotlight due to a series of strange occurrences. The phenomenon, dubbed the 'THING,' divided local opinion, with some attributing it to the Army or RAF, while others believed it was something more extraterrestrial. Reports detail an 'intensive vibration' and the sighting of a UFO.

Several individuals recount their experiences. Mr. Rump, the local Postmaster, described overwhelming vibrations and noise that seemed to lift tiles off his roof. Mr. and Mrs. Marson were awakened by a loud sound and later experienced a distinct humming and a brilliant white light. Despite investigations, including soil samples from the Marson's garden, the vibration remained unidentified.

UFO Sightings and Encounters

The magazine documents multiple UFO sightings in and around Warminster. On June 3rd, the Vicar of Heytesbury's wife and family witnessed a cigar-shaped object over Heytesbury that appeared to shorten and then disappear. The 1st Btn. Welch Regiment at Knook camp also experienced an unusual noise on Christmas 1964, described as a chimney falling over.

Further afield, pigeons were reported to have dropped dead in flight, with a naturalist suggesting they were killed by ultra-sonic sound waves. Similar noises were heard by two ladies in West Ashton in 1962, one of whom became sick. The sound phenomenon was first recorded in 1954 by a man named Jessup. Luminous objects and sounds were also reported in Gillingham, Dorset.

Mrs. H.E. Hebdidge of Warminster reported sighting three unusual, cigar-shaped objects with bright, winking lights over the Longleat and Heytesbury areas in May 1965. On November 6, 1965, she saw a similar object over 'Cop Heap,' Warminster, which increased in brilliance before disappearing.

Other incidents include Eric Payne being beaten to the ground by cold, sharp blasts of air after hearing a low-pitched hum near Sutton Common. Mrs. Laura Curtis and her husband observed an orange ball hovering over trees at Calloway Clump. Mr. Terry Powel, a lorry driver, lost control of his vehicle after being dazzled by a 'huge crimson ball of fire' near Calloway Clump. Major Bill Hill's car abruptly stopped and jolted up and down with an unusual loud noise near Calloway Clump, an experience he described as his 'most fearsome moment.'

Mr. Shuttlewood and ex-flight Lt. David Warner claim to have found round plateaus used as landing sites at Calloway Clump and Sutton Common. Gordon Faulkner photographed a swiftly flying object, and S.B. Jones, an art master, along with eight pupils, observed a silver-grey object that 'leapfrogged' over two jets.

Abduction Case: Barney and Betty Hill

A significant portion of the magazine is dedicated to the abduction of Mr. and Mrs. Barney Hill of New Hampshire. Under clinical hypnosis, they recounted a night of terror and abduction by occupants of a spaceship. The UFO reportedly followed their car, landed in front of it, and the occupants took the couple into the ship for examination and questioning. The spacemen allegedly made the Hills consciously forget what had occurred before flying off.

Other UFO and Space News

David Brock of Brantford, Ontario, reported seeing a glowing object hovering over trees on his property, which he initially dismissed as a weather balloon but later questioned due to its return visit. The magazine also features a report on a patented flying saucer invented by R.M. Rabbidge, a research physicist in Canberra, Australia.

'Headliners' section provides brief news items, including Soviet advancements in nuclear reactors for space, a Canadian-British hovercraft test, issues with Gemini 7 windows, Russian publication of an Antarctica atlas, laser beam communication, Canadian radio reception records, an astronaut living in an underwater structure, a meteorite from primordial matter, movement of the North Magnetic Pole, the problem of satellite spin, China's largest meteorite, a breakthrough in energy sources by West German scientists, a large diamond found in the Ural Mountains, diamond deposits on the moon, a Boeing 707 round-the-world flight, the slow northward movement of Southern California, the discovery of a giant eel larva, RCA's advanced electronic components, mountain peaks discovered in Mexico, debris from Soviet spacecraft, and a chunk of rock identified as a meteorite in Ontario.

'Space Spots' section covers various astronomical and space-related news, including Halifax as a space age weather observing center, Mercury's rotation, the possibility of life on Venus, new flying vehicles like the M-2F2 and HL10, the discovery of a distant quasar, a new planetoid discovered by an East German astronomer, evidence of canals and oases on Mars, the existence of four 'corners' of the Earth, rocket launches for dust particle trapping, the reflectivity of the Trivium Charontis region of Mars, a radio map of the Milky Way galaxy, Canada's second major radio telescope, the first Canadian satellite launch, astronauts potentially carrying edible houses to the moon, a communication satellite thought dead, NASA data on solar wind velocity, and the suggestion of freezing cosmonauts for long space trips. Wernher von Braun foresees a Mars landing in 1982.

Publications and Organizations

The magazine includes advertisements and mentions of various UFO-related publications and organizations, such as Probe Magazine, Flying Saucer News, UFO Detector, and the International Committee for International Sky Scouts. It also lists upcoming UFO conventions.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, unexplained aerial phenomena, mysterious sounds and vibrations, and alleged alien encounters. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into these phenomena, presenting witness accounts and investigative efforts without definitive conclusions, often leaving the reader to ponder the possibilities. There is a clear interest in documenting and sharing information within the UFO community, as evidenced by the numerous mentions of publications, study groups, and conventions.