SPACE - No 01 - 1957 01

Magazine Overview

Title: SPACE
Issue: Bulletin No. 1
Date: January, 1957
Publisher: Norbert F. Gariety
Origin: Coral Gables, Florida, USA

This inaugural issue of SPACE, a monthly publication focused on "Saucer Phenomena and Celestial Egnima," presents a compelling report on a radar-detected mystery object and explores the broader implications of UFO sightings.

"Mystery Object Going 4,000 mph Eyed on Radar Here"

The lead story, by Milt Sosin of the Miami News Staff Writer, details an "alert" ordered at Homestead Air Force Base on November 8, 1956. Despite attempts to gain information, the base spokesman offered little, stating only that the alert was not related to current global defense tightening. The article highlights the difficulty in obtaining official information regarding such events, with the public information office citing security measures.

Following the base alert, the magazine recounts how Robert Cheney, President of the Miami Ham Radio Operators, contacted the editors with information from Tim Roper, a Radio Operator at Pan American Airways. Roper reported that on November 9, radar operators at Miami International Airport detected a strange "blip" (Target) on their scope.

The object was picked up at 11:15 AM, 65 miles southwest of Miami, at an altitude between 7,000 and 8,000 feet. It departed heading south-southwest at 11:35 AM, exhibiting extraordinary maneuvers. Notably, it reportedly stood still for 2 to 3 minutes and covered 20 miles in just 6 sweeps of the antenna, which rotates every 3 seconds. The editors calculate this speed to be in excess of 3600 miles per hour.

Homestead Air Force Base Alert Ordered

This section, attributed to Milt Sosin of the Miami News, details the frustrating experience of trying to ascertain the nature of the "alert" at Homestead Air Force Base. A spokesman confirmed an alert was in progress but refused to provide details, even when pressed about operational procedures like scrambling crews or taking off.

"MYSTERY OBJECT GOING 4,000 mph EYED ON RADAR HERE" by Bert Collier (Herald Staff Writer)

This article, published in the Miami Herald on December 13, 1956, provides a more detailed account from Donald Freestone, a Pan American World Airways radar expert. Freestone described picking up the UFO while testing weather radar equipment. Six colleagues confirmed the finding. Freestone stated the object was "four to five times larger than any aircraft observed in the past" and appeared "egg-shaped or oval-shaped" with a "double pattern resembling an hourglass or figure eight."

Freestone reported the object appeared at approximately 65 miles southwest of Miami at an altitude of 7,000 to 8,000 feet. It disappeared and reappeared several times. By adjusting the antenna tilt, it could be tracked. It disappeared at 70 miles and reappeared at 55 miles, then moved back to 70 miles. The speed was estimated between 550 and 650 miles per hour, but Freestone noted that when it moved 20 miles in about six sweeps, this indicated a speed of about 4,000 miles per hour.

The object was last observed about 100 miles from Miami, still moving south-southwest. It was watched for about 20 minutes by six other people. Freestone, initially skeptical, became convinced after researching the phenomenon.

Editorial Commentary and Analysis

The editor, Norbert F. Gariety, expresses frustration with the Miami newspapers for only reporting parts of the story, implying a lack of comprehensive coverage due to "Newspaper Protocol." He commends the Miami Herald and Bert Collier for their handling of the Radar Report.

Gariety then delves into the broader implications of UFO sightings, contrasting two possible conclusions for the prevalence of such reports:

1. A large segment of the population is experiencing mass psychosis.
2. People are genuinely seeing advanced spacecraft from other planets.

He argues that if the first conclusion were true, pilots reporting sightings would be grounded. Since they continue to fly, he concludes the second option is more plausible. He quotes Professor Hermann Oberth, a renowned rocket expert, who stated in 1954 that UFOs "DO EXIST, ARE VERY REAL, AND ARE VISITORS FROM OUTER SPACE."

Future Plans and Reader Engagement

The publication outlines future content, including a personally investigated story about "MYSTERIOUS METAL" found near Erie, Pennsylvania, sightings by airline pilots, and information on guided missiles and the satellite program. The editor encourages readers to become "REPORTERS" by submitting their own experiences with strange and unexplained phenomena.

The bulletin also includes several "DID YOU KNOW THAT-" facts, touching on topics such as an expedition for "Abominable Snowmen," the strategic importance of launching the first manned satellite, a prominent astronomer's resignation due to controversy over lunar observations, the enduring frontier spirit, and a professor's dismissal of UFOs.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue strongly advocates for the reality of UFOs as genuine phenomena, likely extraterrestrial in origin. The editorial stance is critical of official secrecy and media reluctance to fully investigate and report on sightings. The publication aims to provide a platform for such information, encouraging reader participation and promising in-depth investigations into future reports. The editor's personal conviction, supported by expert opinions, forms the core of the publication's mission to bring these "facts" to the public.