SPACE - No 18 - 1958 06

Magazine Overview

Title: SPACE
Issue: June 1958
Volume: Bulletin No. 18
Publisher: Norbert F. Gariety
Country: USA
Date: June 1958

This issue of SPACE magazine, published monthly from Coral Gables, Florida, focuses on the concept of 'physical evidence' related to UFOs, questioning the official stance of the Air Force and presenting various accounts and theories.

Physical Evidence and Air Force Policy

The issue opens by quoting Captain Edward J. Ruppelt, former Chief Investigator for Project Bluebook, who questions what constitutes 'proof' for UFOs, suggesting that even radar detection and pilot sightings might not be considered sufficient evidence by the Air Force. A correspondent from San Antonio, Texas, R. A. Mathews, shares a newspaper clipping about Major Warren Akin, an active duty Air Force Officer, who made public statements suggesting a potential shift in Air Force policy or a personal risk for Akin.

Holloman Test Range Sighting

An article details a sighting on October 16, 1957, by Miss Ella Fortune, a welfare nurse at the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation. While driving near Tularosa, New Mexico, she observed an object to the northwest for at least 10 minutes. She described it as solid with white material streaming from its south side. The object did not move. Miss Fortune, familiar with local cloud formations, stated it was not a lenticular cloud. Mathematicians and analysts at Holloman reportedly could not identify it. The report is credited to Coral Lorenzen, Editor of the A.P.R.O. Bulletin.

Major Akin's Speculations on Extraterrestrial Visitors

The San Antonio Express reported on May 16, 1958, that Major Warren Akin, chief of education planning at the Officers Candidate School at Lackland AFB, Texas, speculated that intelligent visitors from Outer Space may have already visited Earth. He suggested that man might soon travel to neighboring planets at the speed of light using a radical new type of spaceship based on anti-gravity or electro-gravitic principles. Akin stated that conventional rockets would be inadequate for interstellar travel. He believes that if manned vehicles have come from space, they likely originated from outside our solar system, as other planets are not conducive to life, possibly coming from Alpha Centauri. He also posited that the universe formed in an orderly fashion with millions of suns, many potentially having Earth-like planets.

Telescopic Observations of Mars

An article from the May 1958 issue of MISSILES AND ROCKETS discusses telescopic observations of Mars. It suggests that Mars has a thin atmosphere, with small amounts of water and oxygen, possibly making it difficult for life as we know it to breathe. The article notes that spectroscopic tests have yielded inconclusive results regarding Martian atmospheric gases, leading to lower estimates of quantities like oxygen and carbon dioxide. It raises questions about the delicacy of spectroscopic tests and suggests that stronger bands might occur farther in the infrared, requiring high-altitude balloon or satellite-mounted spectrographs. The author speculates on the possibility of life on Mars and the limitations of our current observational methods.

The UFO of Trinidad Island

Following up on a previous issue, this section provides additional information from Senor J. Escobar Faria, Editor of the UFO CRITICAL BULLETIN in Sao Paulo, Brazil, regarding a UFO sighting and photograph from Trinidad Island. Capt. Jose Teobaldo Viegas, a retired Brazilian Air Force officer, first alerted others to the UFO. Barauna photographed the object six times. The UFO was described as a disk shining with a phosphorescent light, approximately the size of a full moon, and disappeared over the horizon at an estimated speed of 700 mph. The negatives were developed onboard a ship, and the resulting photographs were compared with an official US photo, found to be almost identical. Col. Adil de Oliveira, head of the Brazilian Air Force's UFO investigation bureau, stated that the existence of flying saucers is currently impossible to doubt and that he saw no reason to deny the authenticity of the photographs. The photos were reportedly delivered to the press by order of the Brazilian President and sent to the Pentagon for study. The article addresses skepticism about the photos, emphasizing the involvement of the Brazilian Navy and the impossibility of a hoax. It also mentions a report that all ships' engines abruptly stopped when the UFO was sighted.

Dr. Castro Neves of the Sao Paulo Government expressed that while he had not witnessed UFO sightings, he admitted the possibility of life on other planets. Dr. Chaves Amarate also believed in flying saucers due to the evidence. The article praises Brazil for its freedom in discussing saucers, contrasting it with a perceived evasion of truth in Washington D.C.

Soviet Reaction to UFOs

An article from Neues Europa, allegedly based on information from the Academy of Space Research in Moscow, suggests a different Soviet perspective on UFOs. Previously, Soviet astronomers like Prof. Kukarkin had dismissed UFOs as 'war-mongering psychosis,' and Victor Tomarev claimed stories were fabricated by the American press. However, this new report alleges that the USSR Academy of Space Research indicates UFOs are solid objects made of unknown material, with 90% believed to come from Venus. They predict landings on Earth in approximately thirty years, as Venusians adjust to Earth's gravity and atmosphere. The report also mentions space stations used for UFO trips, crashed saucers, and the use of unknown propulsion energy and space suits. Another German publication, Neues Zeitalter, reported a message allegedly received from a UFO in Irkutsk, Siberia, indicating a landing in 15 terrestrial years, with no intention of destruction, defense being useless, and peaceful colonization.

The editor questions the seriousness of these Soviet claims, wondering if it's genuine or science fiction, and expresses concern about a potential psychological defeat for the US if Russia were to reveal definitive proof of UFOs after years of soft-peddling the issue.

The Galt Saucer

This section details a UFO sighting on July 30, 1957, near Galt, Ontario, Canada, as reported by Gene Duplantier, who interviewed witness Jack Stephens. Stephens, then 15, saw a flying saucer land in a field. He described a humming noise and a bright light. The object hovered, then descended into a gully. It had a stationary dome and a spinning wide body with portholes emitting light. No doors or signs of life were visible. As it ascended, a glow or radiation came from the undercarriage. A radiation count in the area showed a slight increase. The landing left three-toed prints approximately 14'x15'x17' apart, and the area was scorched. Stephens reported that touching a print caused his hand to turn purple. The saucer was estimated to be 12 feet high.

Soil samples from the landing site were tested by Mr. S. J. Hartman. Tests on the burned grain stubble and ground indicated that grain grown in the affected area was healthier and sturdier, and ants in the scorched area were larger and stronger. These findings suggest a potential beneficial effect of the radiation or burned spots.

Mystery Beasts and Unusual Creatures

Several other unusual reports are included:

• Miami Monster: A creature that killed a dog and scared residents was identified as a type of neotropical toad (bufo marinus), native to the West Indies, South America, and South Texas. Dr. E. Morton Miller, a zoologist from the University of Miami, identified the toad, noting they are deadly if eaten but not aggressive.
• Atlanta Mystery Beast: Residents of Northwest Atlanta reported seeing a large, black, mean creature. Four-toed tracks were found, leading some to believe it was a panther, though patrolman Walt Jones suspected otherwise. The creature was reported to have left dead chickens, dogs, and pets in its wake.
• Michigan 'Blue Spaceman': In Bad Axe, Michigan, motorists reported a man dressed in a blue cape, blue boots, and blue underwear bounding in front of cars after dark. The individuals involved admitted it was a prank, with one fitting the description due to his underwear.

Otis T. Carr's Anti-Gravity Aircraft

This section introduces Otis T. Carr, a Baltimore inventor claiming to have developed a flying saucer-type aircraft operating on anti-gravitational principles. According to an advertisement in the BALTIMORE ENTERPRISE, Carr's spacecraft would resemble a flying saucer, with initial experimental models being large (40-100 feet in diameter) and costing millions. However, he anticipates developing family-sized vehicles (around ten feet in diameter) that would be affordable and capable of rapid travel. Carr claims his invention uses 'free energy' obtained from the air, which would revolutionize power sources and create new markets. He suggests this technology would bring prosperity and create millions of jobs, making cumbersome rockets unnecessary.

The article explains Carr's principle of 'axis rotation relative to its attractive inertial mass,' which he claims results in weightlessness and independent force activation. The editor expresses hope that Carr's invention might be as revolutionary as Einstein's work and notes that the U.S. has been working on anti-gravity projects, but Carr may have found the answer. The article concludes by thanking Gray Barker, editor of the SAUCERIAN BULLETIN, for the information.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue consistently explores the theme of unexplained phenomena, particularly UFOs, and challenges conventional explanations or official dismissals. The magazine highlights eyewitness accounts, photographic evidence, and speculative theories about extraterrestrial life and advanced technology. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, encouraging the reporting of sightings and investigations, while also expressing skepticism towards official narratives and advocating for greater transparency and acceptance of the possibility of non-human intelligence. The editor's closing remarks on the Soviet claims and the potential for a 'psychological defeat' underscore a concern for national perception and the handling of potentially groundbreaking information.