SPACE - No 17 - 1958 05

Magazine Overview

This issue of S.P.A.C.E. (Saucer Phenomena and Celestial Enigma), published monthly from Coral Gables, Florida, and edited by Norbert F. Gariety, is dated May 1958. The cover prominently features a headline about a girl's camera capturing a hovering saucer, alongside an introductory statement questioning the definition of 'physical evidence' for UFOs by retired Air Force Chief Investigator Capt. Edward J. Ruppelt.

Girl's Camera "Sees" Hovering Saucer

The lead story details the experience of Sharon Hoag, an 18-year-old student from El Cajon, California, who captured a strange circular object on a time-exposure photograph taken for her school photography class. The object, appearing as a bright, saucer-shaped entity hovering at a 45-degree angle, was also noted to have a faint C-shaped vapor trail. Both the FBI and Air Force examined the negative and enlarged prints. An FBI agent reportedly found the object to appear 'more genuine' than other UFO material he had seen. The material was then passed to the Air Force and Army. A S.P.A.C.E. correspondent, Joe Cromwell, visited the Hoag home and reported that after viewing the picture, various organizations including the Air Force, Navy, and Convair, examined the evidence. The Navy reportedly confirmed it was a UFO, while Convair offered no comment. Sharon Hoag was reportedly displeased with how the Air Force handled her pictures.

Was Airman Silenced by the Air Force?

This section reports on Airman Richard Cooper, who had filed a UFO report with the Allegany, New York State Police. After his report was broadcast by Bob Barry, News Director of WMNS Olean, N.Y., Barry was allegedly contacted by an Air Force Sergeant intending to 'squash' the story. Cooper was reportedly scheduled to be in S. Dayton, New York, on furlough. The Air Force Sergeant visited S. Dayton on April 2, 1958, the same day Cooper was expected. However, by Wednesday night, Cooper and his wife had disappeared. Constable Ralph Butcher of S. Dayton confirmed their disappearance and expressed anger at the Air Force's alleged attempt to silence Cooper. Cooper's sister, Mrs. James Walters, stated that Cooper and his wife had left for his mother's home near Pittsburgh, Pa. Bob Barry later received a call from the Air Force Sergeant, who apologized and claimed he thought Barry was playing an April Fool's joke. Barry recounted his attempts to get information from the Canton, Ohio Filter Center and the Air Force Base at Lockport, New York, which were met with the usual 'blank walls and closed doors.' The editor speculates that Cooper was likely 'requested' to spend his furlough elsewhere to avoid further issues.

Search Due for Loch Ness Monster

This article reports on a planned hunt for the Loch Ness Monster by five Scottish skin-diving clubs. At least 30 amateur frogmen were to participate in mid-June. The monster, known as Nessie, has been reportedly seen by over 2,000 people in the last 25 years, though only from a distance. The British Broadcasting Corp. and the Admiralty were also planning to use television cameras in Loch Ness. A frogman named H. L. Cockreli intended to search with a knife and explosives. The article describes Loch Ness as a large, deep body of water connected to the North Sea and the Atlantic, suggesting it could be a habitat for various ocean creatures.

Monster Polar Bear Frolics in Arctic

Reported from Point Barrow, Alaska, this piece details sightings of a monstrous polar bear, described as at least 30 feet in length. Eskimo seal hunter Raymond Kalayauk claimed to have seen the giant animal twice, describing its head as reaching five to six feet in length and its hide as dark. Other hunters, Nathaniel Neako and Raymond Ipalook, also reported seeing the bear. When asked why they didn't shoot it, the hunters replied, 'ARE YOU CRAZY?', implying the danger involved. The editor, in an 'Ed. Note,' questions whether increased cosmic ray bombardment might be causing genetic mutations, leading to unusual species, and references the coelacanth fish as an example of a species thought extinct but later found.

UFOLOGY: A PLEA AND A WARNING by M. K. JESSUP

This article by M. K. Jessup defines Ufology as the study of flying saucers or Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs). Jessup notes that the term was coined by the U.S. Air Force and later abridged. He criticizes the field for becoming contaminated by hoaxers and misguided zealots, degenerating into subjective opinions and unverifiable claims. Jessup argues that the study of UFOs, when pursued logically, becomes a study of life itself, paralleling the study of mankind in science, religion, and philosophy. He states that while we know UFOs exist and come in various types, much remains unknown about their origin and purpose. The article then lists numerous theories about the origin of UFOs, including extraterrestrial sources (Moon, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Alpha Centauri, distant galaxies, etc.), other dimensions, etheric space, and even the spirit world. It also lists various proposed operators of UFOs, such as Russians, U.S. Pilots, Martians, Venusians, Jovians, Saturnians, and remote control systems. The propulsion methods are also varied, including rockets, atomic jets, anti-gravity, levitation, and thought control. The purposes attributed to UFOs range from exploration and mapping to studying humanity, cleaning the atmosphere, transporting resources, kidnapping humans, and even aiding in humanity's evolution or preparing for a second coming. Jessup also lists numerous descriptions of UFOs, such as space animals, balls of intelligent fire, and thought forms. He notes that UFOs are described as guardians, angels, or representatives of higher intelligences, and communication is believed to occur through various means, including radio, telepathy, and spiritual mediumship. Jessup concludes by issuing a plea for objectivity and cooperation within the field of Ufology to prevent it from descending into ridicule due to irresponsible hoaxing and self-aggrandizement.

Freedom - Civil Rights - and the Strange Treatment of Reinholt Schmidt

This extensive section details the case of Reinholt Schmidt, who claimed to have encountered a grounded UFO in the Platte River bed near Kearney, Nebraska, in December 1957. Following his claim, Schmidt was jailed for three days and committed to the Mental Institution in Hastings, Nebraska, for two weeks. The hospital doctors found nothing wrong with him. Schmidt subsequently filed a lawsuit against the State of Nebraska for violation of Civil Rights. The article recounts a radio interview Schmidt gave, which impressed the editor. A tape-recorded interview in Kalamazoo, Michigan, involving Major Wayne Aho, Rev. John Brinson, William Meyer, and Robert Lowell, provided further details. Rev. John Brinson vouched for Schmidt's reliability. Schmidt described the ship as being made of bright aluminum with no visible doors or windows. He claimed to have been stopped by a 'ray' and then invited aboard by two men who searched him for weapons. Inside, he observed an instrument panel and noted that the walls seemed like one-way glass. He was told that the ship used 'energy from the earth and the sun' for propulsion. The occupants asked Schmidt three questions related to potential alien contact and a 1957 plane disintegration. Schmidt's employers in California attempted to contact him, and upon arriving in person, demanded his release, which was granted within five minutes. The Director of the Hospital stated Schmidt was released as there was no further reason for keeping him. The article details Schmidt's financial losses, including the repossession of four corn pickers and shellers due to a misunderstanding about his commitment. Schmidt later claimed the same ship landed again, and he was invited aboard. He was asked about the 'brain impulses' used for tracking and the energy source of the craft. The article highlights the alleged mistreatment of Schmidt by local authorities, comparing it to the treatment of a juvenile murderer. The editor questions why legal authorities treated Schmidt, who allegedly violated no law, so harshly. The article concludes by thanking those who cooperated and directs readers to TAPE RECORDED UFO INFORMATION SERVICE for more details.

Other Reports

Brief reports include a bullet-shaped object seen flashing across the sky near Atlanta, Georgia, on April 21, 1958, which witnesses described as 'VERY BRIGHT, bullet-shaped, fiery red with a yellow tail' and emitting sparks. Pilots reported it was very high. Radio announcer Bob Martin in Rome, Georgia, also witnessed the event. The article also mentions the ongoing investigation by authorities at Dobbins Air Force Base.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores UFO sightings, alleged extraterrestrial encounters, and government investigations into these phenomena. It features witness testimonies, often from ordinary citizens, and includes reports on related mysteries like the Loch Ness Monster. The editorial stance, as articulated by M. K. Jessup and the editor's notes, emphasizes a desire for objectivity and a critical approach to the subject matter, while also acknowledging the potential for hoaxes and the need to distinguish between fact and speculation. The magazine appears to advocate for open investigation and reporting of UFO-related events, even when they challenge conventional explanations or lead to controversial situations, as seen in the Reinholt Schmidt case. The editor's notes often pose questions to the reader, encouraging critical thinking about the implications of UFO phenomena and their potential connection to broader scientific or societal changes.