SPACE - No 31 - 1959 07

Magazine Overview

Title: SPACE
Issue: No. 31
Volume: July, 1959
Publisher: Norbert F. Gariety
Country: USA
Language: English
Price: $3.00 per year

This issue of SPACE magazine, published monthly from Coral Gables, Florida, focuses on UFO phenomena, extraterrestrial life, and related government and scientific investigations. The cover features the word "SPACE" prominently, with a graphic suggesting celestial activity.

Air Force Policy and UFO Activity

The editorial by Norbert F. Gariety suggests the Air Force employs a "containment" policy regarding UFOs. During periods of high activity, the plan is to deny, discourage, and ridicule sightings. Conversely, during lulls in activity, the Air Force makes positive statements and encourages speculation about life in space, even admitting to the existence of a "SAUCER OR TWO." The recent Las Vegas reports are cited as an example of this latter approach.

Las Vegas UFO Sightings

The issue details a series of UFO sightings over Las Vegas, Nevada, in June 1959. On June 17th, an unidentified object, visible to the naked eye but not radar, streaked across the sky. This was the third such sighting in three weeks. Witnesses included a sheriff's sergeant, control tower crewmen at McCarran Field, and Air Force personnel. An airman at the radar installation at Angel's Peak reported seeing an object, but radar could not track it. Earlier, Nellis Air Force Base reported four unidentified objects flying in formation at tremendous speed over the Black Mountains. Another object was sighted over the eastern horizon. The Air Force stated that none of these objects could have been planes.

Henderson, Utah Sighting

A correspondent in Las Vegas provided a report from the Las Vegas REVIEW-JOURNAL about UFOs spotted over the Vegas Valley. Ed Arnold, a security guard at Titanium Metals Co. in Henderson, Utah, sighted four strange objects flying east of Black Mountain. He described them as oval and silver-white, changing formation from circular to a straight line and back before disappearing. Arnold, a former anti-aircraft gunnery control officer and plane recognition officer with the U.S. Navy, noted the absence of any conventional aircraft indications. D. S. Haycock also witnessed the objects.

Speculation on Extraterrestrial Civilizations

An article discusses the question of why Earth has had no visitors from outer space. Peter G. Masefield, president of the Royal Aeronautical Society, suggests that advanced extraterrestrial civilizations may have destroyed themselves with nuclear power or become radio-activated to the point of extinction. He posits that life is abundant in the universe, but perhaps civilizations reach a self-destructive stage.

International UFO Reports

Brazil: Strange noises were heard near Governador Valadares city, State of Minas Gerais, described by witnesses as similar to teleguided missiles or supersonic planes. Hunters suspected a connection to flying saucers. In Sao Paulo, J. Escobar Faria reported observing a "green fireball" on June 12th, described as a beautiful, amazing green ball with a short fiery tail, estimated at 800 feet high, moving noiselessly and slanting.

Ireland: Capt. Harry MacFarland, a TWA pilot, reported sighting a huge, bubbling green stain on the Atlantic Ocean 200 miles west of Ireland. He observed steam rising from the stain and circled it for 20 minutes. He speculated it was caused by a volcanic disturbance, but the editor notes the unusual color and bubbling action.

A psychic 11-year-old girl from Miami offered an alternative explanation: a large fuel-propelled spacecraft had landed, leaving a thin film of volatile fuel that evaporated, creating the green stain.

England: A 24-foot diameter saucer-shaped craft was observed near Portsmouth, performing an amphibious landing demonstration. England plans to build a 40-ton model.

Ohio: An Air Force team collected pieces of an unidentified object that fell from an apparently airplaneless sky near Hamilton.

Missouri: A tractor driver reported a red-hot chain, consisting of 13 large links, falling from the sky and smashing into his tractor in Rock Hill.

Texas: Unidentified flying objects were reported over the University of Texas Tower in Austin for two consecutive nights. The objects were described as round, pink, moving at high speeds, and appearing about three times the height of the tower.

Government and UFO Investigations

The article "TAKE THE BLAME" suggests the Air Force may be deliberately accepting blame for mysterious sky quakes to avoid explaining them, possibly by sending up jets that break the sound barrier during UFO investigations.

NICAP and Congressional Interest

Donald E. Keyhoe is commended for his efforts to secure a Congressional investigation into UFOs. The article lists several Senators and Representatives who have made "Pro-Saucer" statements, including Senator Stuart Symington, former Secretary of the Air Force, who stated that the public deserves objective information not affecting national security.

Army Astronaut's Views on Moon Landings

Major Patrick Powers, an Army astronaut, suggested that beings from other planets might prevent humans from landing on the moon. He theorized that other planets might have life that could resent human intrusion, necessitating armed spacecraft.

"MEN OF OUTER SPACE" Essay

An essay by Danny Wilson, a high school student, argues that extraterrestrial beings are "probably not monsters" and that the fear of them is rooted in science fiction. He suggests that advanced civilizations would likely be peaceful and that communication could bring enlightenment. He also questions why the government conceals UFO reports.

The Case of Space Monkey Able

A controversial report from The National Enquirer claims that Space Monkey Able, who died after a space flight, was the victim of a "murder plot" rather than an accidental overdose of anesthetic. The motive was to gain knowledge through dissection, as Able was larger and showed signs of radiation, making her organs more comparable to human organs for study.

Skepticism and UFO Evidence

J. Escobar Faria addresses skeptics, arguing that the sudden disappearance of UFOs from the skies is evidence against them being mere meteorological phenomena. He contends that if they were atmospheric, they would not cease their displays for long cycles, implying they are controlled phenomena.

Realization Center

Information is provided about the "Realization Center," a private, non-sectarian organization dedicated to self-enlightenment through study and research in matters beyond the physical sciences. It operates through V.I.P. Services International and offers lectures, classes, and literature.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently promotes the idea that UFOs are real phenomena, often involving extraterrestrial intelligence. There is a strong undercurrent of skepticism towards official government explanations and a belief that information is being withheld from the public. The editorial stance is one of advocating for open investigation and public awareness of UFO reports. The magazine encourages reader participation by submitting news clippings and supporting organizations like NICAP. The recurring theme is the exploration of the unknown, questioning established norms, and seeking truth beyond conventional explanations, particularly concerning aerial phenomena and potential contact with beings from other worlds.