SPACE - No 13 - 1958 01

Magazine Overview

Title: S. P. A. C. E. (Saucer Phenomena and Celestial Enigma)
Issue: Bulletin No. 13
Date: January 1958
Publisher: Norbert F. Gariety
Location: Coral Gables, Florida

This issue of S.P.A.C.E. delves into a variety of UFO sightings, alleged extraterrestrial contacts, and related phenomena, reflecting the growing public interest in the subject in late 1957. The publication aims to present firsthand accounts and news clippings, often questioning official explanations and highlighting unexplained events.

Key Articles and Reports

The Air Force and Physical Evidence

The issue opens by quoting Captain Edward J. Ruppelt, former Chief Investigator for Project Bluebook, who questions the Air Force's definition of 'physical evidence' for UFOs. He poses rhetorical questions about what would constitute undeniable proof, suggesting that even radar detection and pilot sightings might not be considered sufficient.

UFO Photographed Over Disneyland

This section details a sighting by Ed Leadford, a young amateur photographer, who captured a photograph of a UFO over Disneyland Park around midnight. Leadford described the object as having a 'vivid pinkish red light' and appearing like a 'weird gaseous mass.' He reported that the object disappeared and reappeared, eventually vanishing. Disneyland's public relations director stated that no balloons or other airborne objects could account for the sighting. The Air Force Counter Intelligence office reportedly requested Leadford's negatives and prints for analysis. Bert Klein of the Garden Grove Ground Observer Corps also reported continuous sightings of a large, orange colored ball in the same area.

West Virginia Sighting

A detailed account from Braxton County, West Virginia, describes an incident involving at least nine witnesses, including the Mollohan family. Hank Mollohan, Jr., described seeing an object about 40 feet long, shaped like a 'hot dog bun,' with portholes from which fire was emanating. The object appeared to be having trouble and dived out of sight without noise. Later, a man was seen near where the object had descended. The witnesses contacted State Police, who investigated but found no signs. Hank Mollohan, Sr., described the object as cigar-shaped with a division in the middle, while Ed Mollohan noted a rod on top resembling a radar device.

Contact Claims and Personal Experiences

Several individuals shared their experiences:

• Edmund Rucker (El Cajon, California): Rucker claims a direct physical contact experience, describing a peculiar roaring sound and a strange helicopter-like craft descending into his backyard. He reported seeing 'little green men' with large heads and bulging eyeballs, who claimed to be from Venus and gathering scientific data.
• Everett Clark (Knoxville, Tennessee): A 12-year-old boy reported that two men and two women emerged from a grounded cigar-shaped object and attempted to take his dog. An imprint in the field was found by reporters.
• Richard Kehoe (Long Beach, California): Claimed contact with two medium-sized occupants of a landed saucer.
• John Trasco (Everittstown, New Jersey): Reported seeing an egg-shaped object and a three-foot-high being with a putty-colored face and frog-like eyes.
• Malvan Stevens (near Meridian, Mississippi): A truck driver claimed to have seen four small characters near a grounded UFO.
• Mr. & Mrs. Beverly Potter (South Lee, Massachusetts): Reported a 'floating thing' hovering with a whining sound, and saw three dark figures.

Swedish Officer's Report

A report from a Swedish officer described a shining object traveling on a spiral course toward the moon, observed for 20 minutes. The object was described as a flattened sphere with a flickering glow. The Swedish defense staff suggested it might be related to Russian satellite experiments, but the magazine's editor expresses skepticism about the spiral trajectory and the Russian explanation, suggesting it might be an attempt to avoid admitting the possibility of extraterrestrial origin.

Mysterious Holes in Alabama

Sheriff J. Stratt Byars reported mysterious holes and a trench appearing in a farmer's pasture near Red Bay, Alabama, after a 'long explosion.' A barbed wire fence was also found snapped and appeared melted.

UFO Sightings and the Moon

The issue speculates on the current rash of UFO sightings, questioning if they are a result of 'Sputnik-itis' or an increased interest from extraterrestrials observing Earth's space exploration efforts. It raises the question of whether the Moon might be a base for intelligent beings from other parts of the universe.

Angel Hair Falls in Japan

Reports from Japan describe a tadpole-shaped object followed by the fall of 'angel hair'—a spider-web-like substance—in Ichinoseki City and Toba City. Samples were being analyzed.

Political Commentary and Defense Concerns

Several sections touch upon political and defense matters:

• Legion Plea to Reinstate Nickerson: The American Legion asked President Eisenhower to reinstate Colonel John C. Nickerson, who was removed from a key missile development post after being convicted of leaking confidential information.
• Arthur Godfrey's Fears: Arthur Godfrey expressed concern that President Eisenhower is ill-informed and that 'penny pinching' with the Armed Forces, particularly the Air Force, is weakening the nation's defense, potentially making it vulnerable to Soviet attack by mid-1959.
• Senator Smathers' Statement: Senator Smathers criticized the Administration for consistently underestimating the Soviet Union and concealing facts from the public, suggesting that President Eisenhower was poorly advised on military matters.

S.P.A.C.E. Takes to the Airwaves

The magazine announces its expansion into radio with a new program called 'THE SPACE STATION,' airing on Saturday evenings on WMIE in Miami. The success of the program is dependent on public acceptance and advertiser sponsorship.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of S.P.A.C.E. include the persistent mystery surrounding UFO sightings, the alleged physical and psychic contacts with non-human intelligences, and a critical stance towards official explanations, particularly from the Air Force. The editor frequently expresses skepticism about government cover-ups and promotes the idea that Earth is not alone in the universe. There is a strong emphasis on firsthand accounts and witness testimony, often presented without extensive filtering. The publication also connects UFO phenomena with broader scientific and political developments, such as the space race and national defense concerns. The editorial stance is one of open inquiry, encouraging readers to consider possibilities beyond conventional explanations and to actively participate in reporting sightings and supporting related media like the radio program.