Saucers, Space & Science - No 60

Magazine Overview

Title: SAUCERS SPACE & SCIENCE
Issue: no. 60
Volume/Year: 1971
Publisher: Saucerian Publications
Country of Publication: USA
Original Language: English
Cover Price: 75¢

This issue of SAUCERS SPACE & SCIENCE, number 60 from 1971, presents a diverse collection of articles and letters concerning UFO phenomena, Forteana, and related mysteries. The cover features a striking illustration depicting a figure in a spacesuit observing a desolate landscape with enigmatic structures and a shadowy figure, setting a tone of mystery and exploration.

Letters to the Editor

The issue opens with a section of letters from readers, offering various perspectives and reports.

• Riley Crabb of Vista, California, comments on the significance of the Hans Lauritzen article-letter, suggesting it reveals a fundamental question about humanity's status: "We are property! But the big question is: Whose property? The good guys or the bad guys."
• John Mullet from Goose Airport, Labrador, praises the magazine's UFO reports as among the best, noting their clear ufocabulary and contribution to genuine interest in ufodom.
• Rev. Guy J. Cyr, S.M. of Haverhill, Mass., shares an account from an elderly British couple who experienced their car being enveloped by a strange, yellowy-creamish mist while driving in Central Wyoming in June 1970. The couple was deeply frightened and refused to discuss the incident further.
• P.M.H. Edwards of Victoria, B.C., relates a similar incident in S.E. Argentina where a couple drove into a greenish mist and woke up in their car in daylight near Mexico City. The wife required hospitalization, and it is mentioned that she is now deceased, though this is unconfirmed.
• Jo Clark of DATA-NET, Ben Lomond, Calif., expresses interest in Forteana and its potential connection to flying saucer events.
• John A. Keel of New York, N.Y., reports a classic UFO hovering at low altitude over Central Park in New York City on September 5th, 1970, during an outdoor concert. He also recounts witnessing a spectacular aerial show of UFOs on September 7th in Delaware County.

News and Reports

The magazine features several news items and reports on UFO-related events and research.

• Cassius Clay Sees Strange Flying Objects: Boxer Cassius Clay and a United Press International sports writer reported seeing a bright light in the sky east of Manhattan on December 1st, 1970, which later streaked north. Clay stated that UFOs are always present and kept secret by the government.
• U Thant Interviewed on UFOs in Ottawa: In an interview at the International Congress of World Federalists, U Thant, the Secretary-General, responded hesitantly when asked if he was kept well-informed about extraterrestrial spacecraft visiting Earth and if the UN could officially study the phenomenon. He indicated that such a study would require a Member Nation to place the issue on the agenda.
• Editor's Notes: The editors express satisfaction with the magazine's ranking in a poll of UFO publications, placing fourth behind Flying Saucers, Flying Saucer Digest, and Flying Saucer Review. They encourage readers to subscribe and spread the word.
• The Truth About That Crashed Saucer on Spitsbergen: This article investigates the story of a crashed flying saucer allegedly discovered on Spitsbergen in 1952. Editor John A. Keel and investigator Brad Steiger were consulted. Steiger received information from Stein Kringler, chief of archives for a Norwegian newspaper, who found no facts to support the story. Kringler suggests it may be a hoax originating in 1952, possibly from a German periodical. Keel adds that a Finnish movie maker found the original newspaper credited with the story did not exist at the time, and research in Scandinavian directories found no mention of the named scientists or military officers.
• Objects Fall From Sky: On August 28, 1970, mystery metal objects fell from the sky in Pratt, Kansas; Beaver City, Oklahoma; and Adrian, Texas. The objects were identified by Vance AFB as part of a Russian Cosmos 316 satellite.
• UFO Formations Seen Over Toronto Island: On July 26, 1970, Mr. and Mrs. Matern observed a formation of two sets of elongated lights flying at high speed over Toronto Harbor.

Special Features and Columns

The issue includes several unique articles and columns.

• Would You Believe? This section, by Armand Laprade, recounts two unusual accounts: one of George Mossop's encounter with a strange noise and hissing sounds in a swamp in Equatorial Africa in 1930, and another about the discovery of tracks belonging to a creature called the "PRENTY" in Central Australia, described by prospector Fred Blakeley.
• Giant Rock: James W. Moseley reports on the 17th annual Giant Rock Spacecraft Convention held in Yucca Valley, California, in October 1970. He notes a decline in attendance and a shift in the audience demographic towards a younger, more counter-culture crowd. The convention featured speeches by "contactees" and discussions about George van Tassel's "Integraton" machine, described as a "Time Machine."
• Omemee Mystery: John Cuneo reports on an incident in Omemee, Ontario, in 1964, where a high-pitched whining sound was heard, and a circular "burnt" area was found on the tin roof of a boathouse. The roof was later removed by men from Ottawa.
• Ore Boat Crew See Saucer: John J. Locko recounts a story from Edward (Sparkey) Sparks, who saw a large, circular, purple UFO hovering above an ore boat in Lorain, Ohio, in the spring of 1969. The object took off at tremendous speed.
• Evulon: This describes an unofficial "flying saucer" attraction at Philips' exhibition center in Eindhoven, Holland, featuring a model of a flying saucer and a rising platform.
• Flaming Meteor Lands in Lake Near Island: A large, flaming meteor was reported to have landed in Lake Ontario near Toronto Island Airport on August 7, 1970.

Product and Service Advertisements

The issue includes advertisements for various UFO-related books and services:

• For Sale: Listings for Phenomena Magazine, Probe Magazine, Controversial Phenomena Bullet N, UFO Investigator (NICAP), and several books including "Flying Saucers & the Straight Line Mystery," "Flying Saucers (Top Secret)," "Flying Saucers Have Landed," and "The UFO Annual."
• Artwork Services: Gene Duplantier is advertised for illustrations, cartoons, and cover designs for publications.
• UFOs YES! Sticker: A 5-color vinyl UFO car sticker is offered for sale.
• Book: "BEHOLD...THE VENUS GARUDA" is advertised, claiming to reveal evidence of alien cannibals plotting to enslave humanity.

New Technology and Media

• New Kodak Film Sees the Unseeable: Kodak has developed a film called 2484 Pan Film, capable of capturing elusive objects and phenomena, suggested for UFO photography.
• TV Has New Program Called "UFO": A British-produced series involving SHADO (Supreme Hdqs., Alien Defense Organization) is mentioned, focusing on Earth's protection from aliens.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of SAUCERS SPACE & SCIENCE reflects a strong interest in UFO sightings, alleged extraterrestrial encounters, and the broader field of Forteana. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting various accounts and investigations while maintaining a degree of skepticism, particularly regarding the Spitsbergen crash and the more sensational claims made at conventions. The magazine actively solicits reader contributions and encourages the sharing of information within the UFO community. There is a consistent theme of exploring the unknown, whether through eyewitness accounts, technological advancements, or historical mysteries.

This issue of SS&S (Saucers, Space & Science) No. 60, from 1971, features a prominent cover story titled "NIGHTMARE AT A LONELY SUMMER COTTAGE IN SPAIN," detailing a UFO encounter on July 6, 1969. The magazine covers a range of UFO-related topics, including witness accounts, photographic evidence, research group findings, and news from the UFO community.

The Aracena, Spain Sighting (July 6, 1969)

The main article recounts an incident involving three women (Mrs. L., Mrs. M., and Mrs. C.) and two young girls at two cottages near Aracena, Spain. The events began around 10:50 p.m. on a moonless night. Mrs. M. and Mrs. L., watching TV in Cottage No. 1, experienced screen interference, followed by a town-wide power outage. A tiny reddish rectangle appeared on their TV screen. Upon calling the Electric Power Station, they were informed of a breakdown. Ten minutes later, power was restored, and they heard Mrs. C. from Cottage No. 2, about 70 yards away, calling them in distress. Mrs. C. reported hearing a loud, violent noise and feeling a shrill, paralytic current when the lights went out, and felt unable to stay alone with her daughters.

As Mrs. M. and Mrs. L. prepared to drive to Cottage No. 2, they observed a luminous object on the horizon, described as approximately 34 inches in diameter, white, bowl-shaped, and descending slowly and silently.

Inside Cottage No. 2, Mrs. C. explained that she had heard a noise from upstairs and felt a strange current. Mrs. M., waiting in the car, felt she was being watched by 'invisible presences' despite the headlights being on full strength.

Later, the witnesses used a telescope to observe the object. They spotted a "FOCUS light" (approximately 8 inches) moving obliquely along the road, originating from where the object had descended. This light proceeded to the front of Cottage No. 1 and stopped for about 20 minutes. Mrs. C. observed it through the telescope, noting it projected a blue beam of light, about 33 yards long and pencil-thin, which approached the cottage and dazzled her. The light then passed and moved on, releasing a white object. Terrified, they retreated inside. Mrs. C. attempted to communicate with the "FOCUS" by turning her own lights on and off. When they looked out again, the light had disappeared, but a "RECTANGLE of reddish light (about 65 feet in length)" was visible, blinking intermittently.

Around 3:30 a.m., a second, smaller "FOCUS light" appeared. Later, Mrs. C. and her younger daughter witnessed a huge "DOME"-shaped object near a mountain village, with a row of detached, alternate lights on its rim.

The report notes that all the dogs in the area howled all night but did not bark. The local inn had no knowledge of the events, and the night watchman, though hearing the dogs, did not investigate.

Diplomats See UFO Formation in Laos

This section reports on illuminated flying objects seen over Vientiane, Laos, on November 9, 1967, during a party attended by diplomats. The objects were described as three moving points of light flying close together, trailing smaller lights towards Thailand. Assessments of their size and distance varied, with one air force officer suggesting they were vast and travelling fast if distant, or 20 yards long if only a few hundred feet away. Opinions on their nature ranged from fireworks to debris from a space vehicle, or even a missile. The event was described as a powerful "mass hypnosis" by one observer.

Research Group Confirms Evidence of UFO (Matthews Case)

This article details a case from Alberton, South Australia, in 1968, where building contractor Matthews photographed what UFO experts believe to be an interplanetary spaceship. While filming scenic shots, Matthews noticed a small, bright object in the sky and filmed it with his 8mm Bolex camera. Upon processing the film in January 1969, he and his family observed a bluish flash of light on the screen, lasting about three seconds. Initially thinking it was film damage, closer examination revealed an object unlike anything he had seen. He showed the film to a local UFO investigating organization, which recommended he contact Captain Bruce L. Cathie in New Zealand. Cathie, a renowned UFO expert, analyzed 20 frames of the film and concluded it was an authentic photo of a nonterrestrial aerial vehicle, calling it the "most interesting photograph" he had seen in 17 years of UFO research.

The filmstrip was then passed to Major Colman VonKeviczky, founder of ICUFON (Intercontinental UFO Research and Analytic Network). VonKeviczky had the film enlarged 1,000 times, producing 8x10 prints. Mathematical and phototechnical analyses led him to conclude that the object was ring-shaped, without wings or propellers, radiating a bluish light, with a portion 'wiped out' on the left side. He stated it was unidentifiable with any known aerial vehicle and that its stationary nature for a fraction of a second ruled out meteors or satellites. The conclusion was that the filmed vehicle was "most probably of nonterrestrial origin."

Other UFO experts, including Karl L. Veit (Germany) and Harrison A. Hoffman (USA), concurred with the analysis. Ellis Matthews expressed hope that his film would help advance the solution to the UFO mystery.

The Silver Thread of Caldwell, N.J.

This report describes a mysterious "silver thread" observed over the home of Mr. and Mrs. A.P. Smith in Caldwell, New Jersey, since Sunday. The thread, described as rigid and silver when struck by sunlight, was suspended about 150 feet above the ground. It appeared to be limper and lower by Tuesday. Police attempts to trace it were unsuccessful. The article notes that the "silver thread" was visible periodically throughout August 1970. Dr. Berthold Schwarz and other investigators visited the site. On August 31, 1970, after a loud thunderclap, the "string-whatsit" fell to the ground. A specimen obtained proved to be nylon fishline, though it did not match typical kite strings and was described as stiff and translucent.

Other Reports and Columns

• Allen Hynek Attends UFO Convention: Professor Hynek stated that 20% of reported UFO sightings remain unexplained and urged for more "hard core data."
• Fossilized Creature Found: A geology professor suggests a fossil found in Montana may be the missing link in vertebrate evolution.
• More UFO Censorship?: A letter suggests that UFO recordings were censored by governmental regulations in Argentina.
• How to Take UFO Photos From TV: Tips are provided for photographing UFOs from television programs.
• Humpy Black Thing in Loch Ness: Two women reported seeing the Loch Ness monster.
• Purple People-Eater?: Tracks of a mysterious beast, possibly the legendary "tjangara," were found in western Australia.
• Saucer Sighting Over New Zealand Farm: Mrs. F. Moreland reported seeing a strange circular flying object with jets around its edge hovering over her farm in 1959.
• Is it Still Happening? - YES! This section compiles numerous UFO sightings from December 1969 to May 1970 across various locations in the USA and Canada, including Nebraska, British Columbia, Florida, California, Pennsylvania, and Arkansas.
• Be wary of 'invaders': Joseph Hewitt discusses the concept of invisible alien "invaders" permeating society, drawing parallels to science fiction themes and the feminist movement.

Book Reviews

• OUTERMOST: Described as a new approach to UFOs, featuring theories and experiences from respected individuals in ufology. It includes a chapter on Mothman and a directory of UFO clubs.
• THE SILVER BRIDGE by Gray Barker: Reviewed as a difficult book to review due to Barker's unique style, it covers the Mothman creature and an encounter with an alien named Indrid Cold.
• UFOS OPERATION TROJAN HORSE by John Keel: Hailed as a must-read, this book is praised for its exciting style and comprehensive coverage of ufology.
• SCIENCE AND THE UFO: A document featuring a panel discussion on UFOs by six scientists, addressing the Condon Report.
• FROM RADICAL LEFT TO EXTREME RIGHT: A bibliography of controversial publications, including UFOs.
• RADIX by Bill Looney: Discusses enemy and friendly space beings and a cosmic war.
• UFOS OVER THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE by Michael Hervey: A documented history of UFOs in Australia and New Zealand.
• UFO MANUAL by Mike Campione: A guide for pilots and the public on UFOs, contacting, and defenses.

Other Sections

• SENTINEL: An advertisement for a publication covering UFOs, aerospace, and astronomy.
• FOR SALE: Offers for UFO photos, slides, books, and subscriptions.
• UFOS OVER THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE: A repeat mention of the book, highlighting its comprehensive nature.
• EYEWITNESS MAGAZINE: Promotes a magazine featuring UFO reports from Ohio.
• FANTASTIC OFFER!: Advertisement for UFO detectors and other related materials.
• Rare back issues: Offers for re-issued back issues of SAUCERS, SPACE & SCIENCE.
• QUEST-UFO REPORT: Information on a UFO magazine.
• OBJECT CROSSES MOON'S FACE: A brief report of an object seen crossing the moon's face.
• STRANGE ANIMAL AT LARGE: A report of an animal encounter in Illinois.
• SASQUATCH DATA FED INTO COMPUTER: News about a computer project tracking Sasquatch sightings.
• ANGEL HAIR FOUND IN OKLAHOMA CITY: A report of "angel hair" found in Oklahoma City, associated with a UFO sighting.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, unexplained aerial phenomena, and the ongoing investigation and reporting of these events. The magazine appears to adopt a stance of presenting various UFO-related accounts and research findings, encouraging readers to consider the evidence and the implications of these phenomena. There is a clear emphasis on documenting sightings, analyzing photographic evidence, and sharing information from researchers and witnesses worldwide. The editorial stance seems to be one of open inquiry into the UFO mystery, while also cautioning against sensationalism or unsubstantiated claims, as suggested by the "Be wary of 'invaders'" article. The inclusion of book reviews and advertisements for UFO-related publications further reinforces the magazine's focus on the subject matter.