SPACE - No 27 - 1959 03

Magazine Overview

Title: S. P. A. C. E. (Saucer Phenomena and Celestial Enigma)
Issue: Bulletin No. 27
Date: March 1959
Publisher: Norbert F. Gariety, Editor and Publisher, from Coral Gables, Florida.
Content Focus: This issue of SPACE Magazine delves into UFO phenomena, reporting on mysterious events and sightings from various locations, with a particular emphasis on detailed eyewitness accounts and analysis.

Mystery Blasts in Texas and Arizona

The issue opens with a report on mysterious blasts and tremors that shook the Texas Panhandle and southeastern New Mexico on February 11, 1959. Witnesses in the Amarillo area described houses swaying and hearing unusual noises. A similar event occurred in Flagstaff, Arizona, approximately 15 hours later, where homes bucked and swayed, and drivers reported their windshields icing over. Seismographs at Texas Tech College registered a slight motion, while one at Southern Methodist University did not. Dr. Eugene Herrin, observatory director at SMU, suggested an atmospheric disturbance as a possible cause. The magazine's editorial note dismisses earthquakes and sonic booms as explanations, suggesting either a meteor explosion or a 'skyquake' caused by spacecraft.

Airliner Trailed by "Saucers"

A significant report details an incident on February 24th involving an American Airlines DC-6 passenger plane. Captain Peter Killian reported that three mysterious objects, described as shining saucers, accompanied his plane for 45 minutes on its flight from Newark, N.J., to Detroit. Killian, a pilot with 15 years of experience, stated he had never seen anything like it before. Other crew members and 35 passengers also witnessed the objects, which appeared to move in formation and glow brighter at intervals.

UFO Incidents in Brazil

The magazine then shifts focus to Brazil, highlighting reports from correspondents J. Escabar Faria and Dr. Olavo Fontes. Dr. Fontes, Chief of the Gastroenterological Section at the National School of Medicine in Rio de Janeiro, provides detailed accounts of five UFO incidents that occurred in the Ponta Poran region between December 1957 and February 1958.

Incident No. 1 (December 21, 1957)

This incident involved a car traveling near Ponta Poran being chased by two spherical, luminous objects. The objects emitted intense light and performed peculiar maneuvers, including a 'dead-leaf' descent. Witnesses described them as spheroid-shaped with a ring around the equator, similar to the planet Saturn, with a fiery red upper half and a silvery-white glow. The objects followed the car for two hours.

Incident No. 2 (February 19, 1958)

This incident occurred on the same road near Ponta Poran. A reddish light was sighted, which rapidly approached and grew in size, becoming a huge spheroidal object with a bright red glow. It performed a 'dead-leaf' descent and stopped motionless, appearing to wait for the car. The object was described as identical to those seen in the first sighting. When the car attempted to pass, the UFO blocked its path, exhibiting a purposeful maneuver. The object later climbed sharply and followed the car, eventually stopping over the Brazilian Army headquarters.

Incident No. 3 (February 19, 1958 - Evening)

Following the previous day's events, a group of reliable individuals organized an expedition to meet the UFOs. They stopped their car and blinked their headlights, attracting the attention of a UFO. However, the object refused contact and exhibited an 'angry, almost hostile' behavior, showing little sense of humor.

Incident No. 4 (March 3, 1958)

This incident involved a car being followed by a bright object that hovered over a thicket. The UFO then dived at high speed toward the road ahead, blocking the car's path. It was described as larger than a car, shaped like a round ball, and emitting a red light. The object followed the car at about 9 feet from the ground for 15 minutes before disappearing.

Incident No. 5 (February 24, 1958)

This case, reported with minimum detail, involved a car stopping on a road between Nazare and Salvador City. A large luminous silver blue light was sighted hovering overhead, which then descended vertically and performed maneuvers, including a tight circle and a tilt. The object was estimated to be 60 to 75 feet in diameter.

Dr. Olavo Fontes' Comments

Dr. Olavo Fontes analyzes the five incidents, noting common characteristics: UFOs chased cars, the same type of craft was involved, and four incidents occurred in the same general area. He emphasizes that these reports were not published at the time but months later, and all witnesses were interviewed separately and reliably. Dr. Fontes highlights Incident No. 3 as unique, where people actively sought contact and were met with a hostile response. He observes a change in UFO operating methods, with increased landing, car chasing, and interference with people, suggesting that UFO entities are not superhuman but possess human-like attitudes and behaviors.

Dr. Fontes believes that the UFOs' behavior indicates they are studying Earth's military organization and that their actions might be a 'false pattern' due to human ignorance. He concludes that the possibility of a UFO attack cannot be excluded, and Brazil is preparing for such a contingency to avoid panic. He also notes the similarity of some UFO shapes to the planet Saturn, with a rotating ring, a type first seen in France in 1952.

Editorial Notes and Publisher's Comments

Norbert F. Gariety, the editor, provides editorial notes and comments throughout the issue. He expresses skepticism about official explanations and highlights the significance of multiple witnesses to an event, suggesting it makes 'hush-up' efforts more difficult. He also thanks Dr. Fontes for his contributions and notes that S.P.A.C.E. is published monthly and offers a subscription rate of $3.00 per year. The magazine also promotes a UFO club membership card and a discount at the DEE & BILL BOOK SHOP for UFO books.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the unexplained phenomena of mystery blasts and UFO sightings, with a strong emphasis on detailed eyewitness accounts. The magazine appears to adopt a critical stance towards official explanations and military secrecy regarding UFOs, advocating for open investigation and public awareness. The editorial stance leans towards presenting evidence and witness testimony, allowing readers to draw their own conclusions, while also offering analysis and commentary from experts like Dr. Olavo Fontes. There is a clear interest in international UFO reports, particularly from South America, which are presented as being more open and detailed than those in the United States.