SPACE - No 16 - 1958 04

Magazine Overview

Title: SPACE
Issue: No. 16
Volume: 1
Date: April 1958
Publisher: Norbert F. Gariety
Country: USA
Language: English
Cover Headline: BRAZILIAN NAVY DECLARES IGY PHOTO AUTHENTIC

Main Articles and Reports

Brazilian Navy Declares IGY Photo Authentic

The issue leads with the confirmation of a UFO photograph taken during the International Geophysical Year (IGY). The photo, published by the Rio de Janeiro newspaper O Jornal, was taken on January 16, 1958, by Mr. Almiro Barauna, an expedition member aboard the Brazilian ship Almirante Saldanha near Trinidade Island. The object was also seen by ship personnel and residents of Trinidade Island. The investigation by Navy officials confirmed that the photographed object was the same one observed. Despite initial reports that Navy authorities refused to comment, the Navy General Staff was reportedly concerned, and the picture was later circulated worldwide by INS, with Brazilian Navy authorities pronouncing it authentic.

Air Force Stance on UFO Evidence

An excerpt from Capt. Edward J. Ruppelt, former Chief Investigator for Project Bluebook, questions the Air Force's claim of having no 'physical evidence' of UFOs. Ruppelt poses rhetorical questions about what constitutes proof, such as radar detection leading to an intercept, or a pilot locking onto a UFO that then streaks away at phenomenal speed.

Dr. George Hunt Williamson and Adamski Claims

Dr. George Hunt Williamson reportedly saw the original copy of a letter sent to George Adamski from a branch of the U.S. Government. This unsolicited letter, dated December 6, 1957, from Washington D.C., stated that the sender had 'a great deal of confirmatory evidence' supporting Adamski's claims, which are described as controversial. While public confirmation is not possible, the letter encourages Adamski's work. The magazine notes that while the idea of extraterrestrial visitors was once scorned, recent developments like satellite launches have made people more receptive to the concept of space flight and potential visitors from other worlds.

Portuguese Pilots Meet Saucers

This section details an incident originally reported in the Portuguese newspaper DIARIO ILLUSTRADO and released by Portuguese military authorities. On September 4, 1957, four Portuguese jet planes commanded by Capt. Lemos Ferreira encountered a gleaming object near Granada. The object reportedly emerged from a 'Mother Ship,' followed by three more saucer-shaped craft. The parent craft and saucers then dived towards the jets, causing the pilots to panic and lose formation. After regaining formation, the saucers had disappeared. The pilots had observed the objects for 40 minutes.

US Plan for Moon Conquest and Space Race

President Eisenhower is quoted stating that equipping for a moon landing and return could cost billions. A scientific advisory committee suggests landing instrument carriers on Mars and Venus might be easier due to their atmospheres. The President believes this could happen within 10 years. The magazine speculates that man's adventurous nature will eventually lead to space exploration. The article also highlights the 'Moon Race' between the US and Russia, with the magazine hoping the US reaches this target first. It notes Russia's progress, citing an article by Erik Bergaust in MISSILES AND ROCKETS, which suggests Russia is pushing hard for a moon rocket. Despite some Russian scientists' concerns about the difficulties of orbiting the moon, the general sentiment is that Russia may achieve a moon rocket before the US.

Human-like Animal Caught in Sumatra

A Reuters report from The Hague details the capture of a strange, human-like animal near Pabamulih, South Sumatra. The female creature, estimated to be 17 years old, was covered in short hair. Scientists have long known of a creature resembling a man in the dense jungles of South Sumatra, with the former Netherlands administration having offered a reward for its capture.

Sonic Boom or Earthquake in Dallas?

Dallas residents reported hearing and feeling rumblings and quivering, initially thought to be an earthquake. However, it was later attributed to the sonic boom of an airplane. Mrs. Borries comments on the experience, noting it was not a sonic boom and expressing frustration with 'incorrect sensation reactions' and the inability to identify what is seen.

Tracks Seen on Floor of Arctic Sea

Columbia University scientists, while photographing the ocean floor in the central polar region, discovered mysterious tracks approximately 7,000 feet below the surface. These tracks, described as 'chicken tracks,' have no known origin. Dr. Kenneth Hunkins, a geophysicist, stated they do not know what they are. The photographic method involved a camera with its own light source lowered through a hole in the ice.

UFO Sighting in Allegany, New York

State Police in Allegany, NY, received a call from a man reporting red, green, and white lights in the sky. The report, investigated by Bob Barry of radio station WMNS, details Richard Cooper, an off-duty US Air Force member, witnessing a bright green light that changed colors and hovered. Constable Ralph Butcher and others also viewed the object. Cooper described it as 'like a beacon.' The object disappeared as a B-47 aircraft approached.

Space Value Exaggerated, Says Defense Official

Donald Quarles, deputy secretary of defense, stated in a televised interview that the value of controlling space has been exaggerated, though he cautioned against neglecting the field. He believes there is little danger of someone else gaining control of space at this time.

"Bridey's" Dad Still Skeptical

Leonard E. Kord, father of a Kentucky housewife who claimed to be a young Confederate soldier in a past life, remains skeptical despite 75% of his daughter's statements checking out during an investigation in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Air Force Attempts to Silence UFO Report

Bob Barry reports that a US Air Force Sergeant was ordered to find the Air Force man who released the UFO sighting story to the press and to 'squash' the story. The Sergeant was informed that there is a special agency for all incoming UFO reports, but the question of outgoing reports remains.

"Late Flash" and Adamski Letter

A 'Late Flash' reports that George Adamski has authorized the release of a US Government letter signed by Mr. R. E. Straith of the Cultural Exchange Committee. However, a 'Late Late Flash' indicates that checks in Washington D.C. reveal no such person or committee in the State Department, suggesting a potential trap for Adamski.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently promotes the idea of UFOs and extraterrestrial visitors, often framing official denials as cover-ups or a lack of understanding. The editor, Norbert F. Gariety, expresses a belief that the public will eventually be told the truth about UFOs, possibly as a result of increased space travel forcing governments' hands. There's a recurring theme of skepticism towards official statements and a trust in eyewitness accounts and alternative sources. The magazine also emphasizes the growing public interest in space and the possibility of life beyond Earth, suggesting that current human knowledge may be limited in comparison to potential extraterrestrial intelligence. The editorial stance is pro-UFO investigation and critical of what it perceives as attempts to suppress information.