SPACE - No 06 - 1957 06

Magazine Overview

Title: SPACE
Issue: No. 6
Date: June 1957
Publisher: Norbert F. Gariety
Editor: Norbert F. Gariety
Location: Coral Gables, Florida
Document Type: Magazine Issue

This issue of SPACE magazine, subtitled 'Saucer Phenomena and Celestial Enigma,' focuses on the growing acceptance and respectability of flying saucer phenomena. The cover story, 'FLYING SAUCERS BECOMING RESPECTABLE,' posits that the decade since Kenneth Arnold's 1947 sighting has moved the subject out of confusion into a more serious light, citing the formation of NICAP and statements from figures like Admiral Delmer S. Farhney and Clyde Tombaugh.

Key Articles and Reports

Henry J. Taylor Affirms Belief in Flying Saucers

A significant news release from Washington, dated May 4 (UP), reports that Radio Commentator Henry J. Taylor, President Eisenhower's nominee for ambassador to Switzerland, stated that about 10 percent of flying saucer reports are 'very disturbing' and must be taken seriously. Taylor's testimony was given at a closed-door hearing by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which approved his nomination. He admitted that he had no idea what was happening regarding UFOs but found it difficult to deny that 'something is happening around us that we just don't quite understand.' The article highlights the political significance of Eisenhower appointing Taylor and the Senate's endorsement, calling it 'UNTHINKABLE' just five years prior.

Nightwatchman Granted Medical Compensation for Disability Caused by a UFO

This article details the case of Harry J. Sturdevant, a 66-year-old nightwatchman in Trenton, New Jersey, who claimed disability from a UFO encounter on October 2, 1956. Sturdevant described a red light that became a cigar-shaped object, about 60-100 feet long and 15 feet in diameter, moving at high speed. He reported a smell like sulfur or brimstone, which made him sick and caused him to lose his sense of taste and smell. The Herbert Elkins Inc. construction firm disputed his claim, suggesting imagination. However, the referee, Leonard B. Willits, upheld Sturdevant's claim for medical expenses, stating it was his duty to investigate everything within sight, smell, or hearing, including UFOs. This decision is presented as an admission by the state that flying saucers exist.

Supporting the Sturdevant case, the article mentions two other sightings in the Trenton area on the same morning: Peter Borza, a circulation route manager, saw a high-altitude object described as 'white' and about the size of the moon; and a five-year-old boy reported seeing a 'big lighted ball with a tail.' The article concludes that for the first time, a visitor from outer space has influenced the State of New Jersey.

Soviet Spies and UFOs?

An article reprinted from the New York DAILY NEWS (April 4, 1957) by Ben Gross explores the theory that Soviet Russian spies, or psychological warfare agents, might be behind the American excitement over flying saucers. Broadcasting personalities Long John Nebel and Ivan Sanderson are cited as believing this is a possibility. They suggest that alleged spacemen, who claim to come from other planets, preach 'brotherly love' and urge abandonment of atomic experimentation, while also giving 'secret instructions.' A suspicious element is how contacts identify these 'people from other planets' working among them, with hints of 'code words' or hidden identification methods.

Sanderson argues that if Russian agents are posing as spacemen, they would establish secret landing places, gain the services of credulous dupes, and subtly undermine the will to protect against nuclear weapons. He points to the possibility of advanced aero forms developed by the Russians that could evade radar. The article also raises questions about how these individuals are recognized as being from outer space if they look exactly like earthmen, with Sanderson suggesting an ultrasonic device.

The 4th Annual Space Craft Convention

The magazine briefly mentions the 4th Annual Space Craft Convention at Giant Rock, California, which drew 7,000 people. It notes that out of such a large crowd, 'some wild claims' are bound to emerge, which often get newspaper play.

Howard Menger's Contactee Claims

Howard Menger, a farmer from High Bridge, N.J., is featured as a speaker at the Twentynine Palms convention. He claims to have been talking to 'men in flying saucers' since 1931, describing them as 'warm and wonderful creatures' who are not monsters and have large appetites, recounting an instance where they ate all the ham and eggs at his farm. He stated that his wife, children, and neighbors had also seen these visitors.

Lest We Forget: The Kenneth Arnold Story

This section commemorates the 10th anniversary of Kenneth Arnold's famous sighting on June 24, 1947. Arnold, while searching for a downed Marine transport near Mt. Ranier, Washington, saw a formation of nine bright objects flying at tremendous speed. He described their movement as erratic and their shape as unlike any aircraft he had ever seen, likening their flight to 'speed boats over rough water' or a 'Chinese kite.' He estimated their speed at 1700 mph, later recalculating to 1350 mph. The term 'SAUCER' was coined from his description of how they flew, 'like a saucer would if you skipped it across the water.'

Wilson Doty's Sighting

Amateur astronomer Wilson Doty, a board member of the Gulfstream Astronomical Association, reports a sighting on May 22, 1957, at 10:30 PM EST in Coral Gables, Florida. While observing the star Vega with his telescope, he saw a dimly glowing, elliptical-shaped object emerge from behind a cloud. The object moved with incredible rapidity in a zig-zagging manner due east, shrinking in apparent size until it disappeared as a small speck about 150 feet above the eastern horizon. Doty estimated its visibility at 10 seconds and its initial apparent size as 10 minutes of arc. He calculated a minimum distance of 5000 feet, suggesting a real size of about 15 feet. He emphasized that the object was unlike any meteor or aircraft he had observed and that it was the second time he had seen such an unusual object.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently promotes the idea that flying saucer phenomena are becoming increasingly respectable and worthy of serious attention. The editorial stance is one of open inquiry, encouraging readers to consider the evidence and the implications of UFO sightings. There is a clear skepticism towards official denials and a belief that the public is being misled or kept in the dark. The magazine also entertains more speculative theories, such as the possibility of Soviet involvement, while grounding itself in witness testimony and documented cases. The publication aims to inform and provoke thought on the subject of UFOs, encouraging readers to share their own sightings and clippings.