SPACE - No 22 - 1958 10

Magazine Overview

Title: SPACE
Issue: Bulletin No. 22
Date: October 1958
Publisher: Coral Gables, Florida
Editor/Publisher: Norbert F. Gariety

This issue of SPACE, a newsletter focused on "Saucer Phenomena and Celestial Enigma," presents a collection of articles, reports, and editorial commentary on UFOs and related topics in October 1958. The publication aims to cover current happenings and diverse viewpoints on the UFO mystery, acknowledging that its balanced approach may not fully satisfy all readers.

Editorial Stance and Reader Engagement

The editorial section emphasizes the newsletter's effort to present information to a broad audience, catering to both those who believe in contact stories and those who demand absolute proof. The editor encourages readers to share their ideas and opinions, promising to publish them if concise. Patience is requested due to the demands of running the business and other media commitments, including a weekly radio program and guest appearances on a TV program.

Mars Opposition and Space Exploration

A significant article details the upcoming Mars opposition on November 8, 1958, when Mars and Earth will be 45,000,000 miles apart. The U.S. Navy's Project Strato-lab will launch a 16-inch telescope via a giant plastic balloon to an altitude of 15 miles, aiming to observe Mars with unprecedented clarity. This mission is expected to help resolve long-standing debates about Martian "canals" and potentially provide evidence of life. The article highlights the technological advancements enabling such observations, including the use of infra-red light and spectrographic analysis.

UFO Sightings and Reports

The issue includes several reports of UFO sightings:

• Lights Seen on Sputnik's Path: Adolphus Crevier reported seeing three lights resembling tracer rockets moving faster than the Sputnik rocket on three occasions in late August 1958. Similar sightings of groups of lights were reported by neighbors and other observers.
• UFOs Over New York State and Pennsylvania: Bob Barry, a newscaster and Civil Defense Director, reported numerous sightings between August 9th and 16th, 1958. These included an object seen during a Sputnik watch and other sightings over cities like Olean and Eldred.
• Mysterious Object in Central PA. Skies: On September 29, 1958, Olmsted Air Force Base received reports from nine individuals describing a bright object shooting across the sky, emitting sparks and orange flame.
• Early Morning Sighting South of Miami: George E. Phillips reported seeing two stationary, blinking lights near Cape Florida on September 24, 1958. He described them as not being a plane or a star, maintaining a fixed position relative to the earth, not the stars.

The George Adamski Case and Air Force Secrecy

A lengthy section addresses the claims of George Adamski, who alleged seeing a UFO and conversing with its occupant near Desert Center, California, on November 20, 1952. Richard Carl Ogden of Seattle, Washington, investigated this case and corresponded with the Air Force's Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC). Ogden's correspondence revealed that the Air Force had a pilot's report from the vicinity on the same date but refused to release details, citing a policy of not releasing information on UFO investigations to protect privacy and potential military secrets. Ogden argues this secrecy is a contempt of the American people's right to know.

Congressional UFO Hearings

Representative William Ayres (Rep., Ohio) revealed that special, classified congressional hearings on the UFO problem have been held and are ongoing. The Air Force's policy of secrecy is contrasted with the need for public information in a democratic government. The magazine urges NICAP members to contact their representatives to advocate for open hearings.

NICAP and Reader Contributions

The publication strongly endorses NICAP (National Investigations Committee On Aerial Phenomena) and its director, Major Keyhoe, urging readers to become members to support their work against Air Force censorship. The newsletter also features a letter from A. P. Grams of Miami, Florida, who shares his conclusions after ten years of flying saucer research. Grams posits that UFOs are not inherently mysterious but that mystery has been attached to them by human perception. He suggests that advanced beings, possibly human-like, may be observing Earth but are hesitant to make full contact due to the planet's condition and potential hostility.

Dr. George Hunt Williamson and the Queen

The issue notes that Dr. George Hunt Williamson, an anthropologist who has written about UFOs, had an audience with Queen Elizabeth in Scotland. The Miami Daily News is criticized for ridiculing this event, with the magazine suggesting that such ridicule stems from an ego-driven need to escape the implications of advanced intelligences.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the persistent mystery of UFOs, the perceived secrecy and potential cover-up by the U.S. Air Force, the growing interest in space exploration and extraterrestrial life (particularly concerning Mars), and the importance of public access to information regarding these phenomena. The editorial stance is one of critical inquiry, advocating for transparency and encouraging active participation from readers in supporting organizations like NICAP that push for open investigation and disclosure.