SPACE - No 26 - 1959 02

Magazine Overview

Title: S.P.A.C.E. (Saucer Phenomena and Celestial Enigma)
Issue: Bulletin No. 26
Date: February 1959
Publisher: Norbert F. Gariety
Location: Coral Gables, Florida, USA

This issue of S.P.A.C.E. magazine delves into various UFO reports and related scientific and technological developments. It features a mix of eyewitness accounts, news clippings, and editorial commentary, aiming to provide a comprehensive look at phenomena in the sky and beyond.

Key Articles and Reports

Irishman's Flying Saucer Tale Substantiated by Broken Tree

The lead story details an incident in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where farmer Joseph Bennett reported a large, black object that split a 30-foot-high oak tree in two. The event provided tangible evidence, as the tree was found cut cleanly. Terent Nonweiler, a lecturer in aeronautics, examined the tree and ruled out lightning, suggesting it was the first case in the UK with physical evidence. The report credits The Boston Herald and The Dallas Morning News.

Airline Pilots Tired of Official Silence

This section highlights a group of fifty airline pilots who have reportedly banded together. They claim to have seen UFOs and are instructed to report sightings, but are subsequently told they had hallucinations, sworn to secrecy, or threatened with mental examination. They intend to make their experiences public. The report originated from a Canadian newscast on December 24, 1958, and readers are asked for additional information.

Mysterious Flying Object Sighted by Two Couples

Four individuals in two cars reported seeing a mysterious, missile-shaped UFO in Marlborough. The object was described as icy blue with a rear white glow, and a bulge about one-third of the way back. Similar sightings were reported in New York City, prompting calls to Mitchell Air Force Base, which had no explanation. The object was also reportedly seen in Pleasantville, N.Y.

New Engine Developed for Space Travel

Scientists at the U.S. Naval Ordnance Test Station in China Lake, California, have developed a new rocket engine that could make space ships as easy to drive as automobiles. Douglas D. Crsdahl, head of the missile propulsion division, stated that a test vehicle is planned within six months. The engine can be controlled remotely by radio or a hand lever, allowing for precise control of speed and direction, enabling soft landings on celestial bodies and safe re-entry into Earth's atmosphere. An Air Force spokesman acknowledged awareness of the engine but declined to comment on its use in missile projects.

Astrophysicist Questions Newton's Law of Gravity in Space

Dr. Fritz Zwicky of the California Institute of Technology suggests that Newton's law of gravity may not apply to great galaxies, more than five million light years apart. This could necessitate a revision of Einstein's general theory of relativity and theories about the origin of the universe. Evidence comes from studies of distant galaxies, which appear randomly distributed, suggesting they are non-interacting.

Green Flash Seen in Sky

Reports from Rockford, Illinois, describe a mysterious object seen as a falling comet with a bright green appearance that seemed to explode in a green flash. CAA officials suggested it might be a navy balloon, but the Chicago Tribune reported pilots seeing a similar object with a green and golden glow. The article speculates if these 'green fireballs' are related to mopping up atomic fallout.

Pilot Sights Cigar Shaped UFO on New York to Miami Run

A co-pilot flying from New York to Miami reported seeing a luminous, cigar-shaped object at an estimated distance of 5000 feet. The object was brilliant yellow with silver outlines and traveled faster than any known aircraft. It climbed rapidly and disappeared. The co-pilot, a veteran pilot with extensive airline experience, noted that it could not have been a missile firing from Cape Canaveral due to its trajectory. He also recounted a similar sighting in November 1952 of a brilliant yellow object estimated to be 100 feet in diameter.

Red Submarine Activities No Fairy Tale

Newswriter Robert S. Allen reports that the U.S. and Canadian Navies have discovered large, steel radioactive devices, identified as 'position markers,' on the ocean floors within the three-mile limit. These are believed to be used by Soviet submarines for launching nuclear-armed missile attacks.

Family Disappears - Saucer Seen - Is There a Connection?

A family of five from Portland, Oregon, disappeared while driving to look for Christmas greenery on December 7, 1958. While searching for them, a flying saucer was reportedly sighted in the Cascade Locks area on the same day. Various possibilities for the disappearance are considered, including abduction.

Flying Saucers and the Straight-Line Mystery

This section discusses a new book by French author Aime Michel, which proposes a theory of an organized, intelligent plan behind UFO movements, based on meticulous mapping of sightings. The theory is supported by Gen. L. M. Chassin. The article contrasts this with a dismissive explanation given to a U.S. Representative regarding the Fitzgerald Case.

Cosmic Rays Originate Outside Our Galaxy?

An M.I.T. physicist, Dr. Bruno Rossi, suggests that cosmic rays with energies up to 10 billion billion electron volts originate outside our galaxy. This finding is linked to the work of Dr. George Hunt Williamson, who claims that the entire solar system is moving through an area of space with increased cosmic rays, which could affect life on Earth.

Classroom Somewhere Out in Space

A humorous fictional dialogue between a teacher and students at an 'Intercosmic College' about identifying planets and hearing voices from Earth.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently promotes the idea that UFO phenomena are real and often involve an intelligent, possibly non-human, source. There is a strong undercurrent of skepticism towards official explanations and a belief that governments are withholding information. The editorial stance is one of open inquiry, encouraging readers to share information and supporting the idea that UFOs are a significant aspect of the emerging Space Age. The magazine also highlights technological advancements, particularly in space travel, and touches upon broader scientific questions like gravity and cosmic ray origins, often linking them back to UFO theories or extraterrestrial intelligence.