SPACE - No 50 - 1961 02

Magazine Overview

Title: SPACE
Issue: Bulletin No. 50
Volume: February 1961
Publisher: Norbert F. Gariety
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of SPACE magazine, published monthly from Coral Gables, Florida, delves into a variety of unexplained phenomena, with a particular focus on UFO sightings and related events reported in late 1960 and early 1961. The cover prominently features a quote from Capt. Edward J. Ruppelt questioning the definition of 'physical evidence' for UFOs, setting a tone of critical inquiry.

UFO Reports and Sky Phenomena

The magazine compiles numerous reports from various locations:

California Sightings

• Oxnard: In January 1961, unusual high surf and damage to seawalls were reported, with a witness noting a 35-foot wave over a two-story house. This was accompanied by reports of giant fireballs. The same area experienced a significant sonic boom on January 27th, which rattled buildings and overwhelmed police switchboards. Reports of sonic booms are often linked to an increase in UFO sightings.
• Los Angeles: On January 17, 1961, hundreds witnessed a brilliant, multi-hued fireball described as red, green, and white, causing widespread alarm and triggering panic buttons. Air Force officials discounted rumors of satellite burn-ups. The timing of the sighting raised questions about how a meteor could be visible over different locations with a time difference.
• Long Beach: On January 27, 1961, an unexplained blast or 'sky quake' was felt across a wide area, cracking windows and causing a flood of calls to emergency services. Both Los Alamitos Naval Air Station and El Toro Marine Air Base denied having planes in the area.
• Torrance: A witness reported a tremendous sonic boom on January 17th, affecting an extended area and causing panic calls, though not felt directly by the witness.

Other US Sightings

• Akron, Ohio: A "nerve-shattering" experience involving an unidentified flying object was reported by the James Pulliam family. The object, described as 30-plus feet in diameter, hovered and illuminated a cove. The UFO Research Committee of Akron criticized the Police Department's dismissive attitude towards the report.
• Missouri: On December 5, 1960, two unidentified objects, described as black with golden and silver streaks and resembling lava, dropped onto a farm near Maitland. Sheriff James Tucker noted they were heavy, burned, and had a peculiar odor.
• Kansas City, Missouri: On January 30, 1961, a circular and oval object with glowing colors was observed drifting across the sky.
• Florida: A report mentioned a giant bird with a 55-foot wingspan seen in the Florida everglades, where such large birds are not typically found. Another report described a large, vulture-like creature with a wingspan of about 55 feet seen near Miami.

International Reports

• England:
• Boreham Wood: On August 28, 1960, a witness reported a vibrating noise and saw a spinning top-like object emitting sparks, hovering at an estimated 1400 feet. The object moved parallel to a railway line.
• Coventry: On December 2, 1960, a glowing white cylindrical object, about four times the size of a big airliner's fuselage, was sighted and observed for about five minutes.
• Deepdale: At a soccer game, 11,000 spectators reportedly saw a gleaming mystery object hover in the sky.
• Sudan: Four villages in western Sudan reported seeing a city flying through the air, complete with high buildings and trees.
• Ceylon: Strange musical sounds, described as fish 'singing,' were reported coming from a deep lagoon, with the sounds varying in rhythm and pattern.

Soviet Union and UFOs

The magazine contrasts the Western approach to UFOs with that of the Soviet Union. According to the Soviet newspaper Pravda, flying saucer reports are dismissed as "fantastic fairy tales" and attributed to "self-deception or intentional falsification of facts." The article notes that despite Russian censorship, citizens are aware of UFOs, supposedly learning about them from the American press, raising questions about information control.

ESP and Parapsychology

Dr. J. B. Rhine, head of Duke University's parapsychology laboratory, is featured discussing the growing interest in ESP. He states that the Defense Department has made "tactful, cautious and judicious" inquiries into the field, exploring its potential for "long range applications." Rhine believes ESP is being taken seriously and that its applications are limitless if controllable. Westinghouse and other large corporations are reportedly investigating the field quietly.

A case is also presented of Nancy Briggs, who had a premonition of death before her plane crashed, highlighting a connection between ESP and tragic events.

Scientific Anomalies

• Radio Star Research: A celestial object cataloged as 30-40 in England's Cambridge University's third catalog is described as an "odd-ball." It is a radio source, but its nature and distance are unknown, and it doesn't fit known categories of celestial objects. Cal-Tech's study of 30-48 has revealed "conditions that astronomers have not yet fathomed," with no hydrogen present in the area.
• Mystery Metal: A report from Erie, Pennsylvania, details the discovery of 50 lbs. of material resembling furnace slag, which chemical and laboratory analysis failed to identify. The elements found included Calcium, Aluminum, Iron, and various trace elements. This find occurred during a period of intense UFO activity in the region, leading to speculation that it originated from a UFO.

Notable Figures and Events

• Capt. Edward J. Ruppelt: The magazine notes the death of Capt. Ruppelt, author of "The Report on Unidentified Flying Objects," regretting his passing and acknowledging his contribution to the subject's respectability.
• Major Wayne S. Aho: Information is provided about lectures by ex-Army Combat Intelligence Officer Major Wayne S. Aho in Miami.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the prevalence of unexplained aerial phenomena (UFOs, fireballs, sonic booms), the skepticism and official denials often surrounding them, and the exploration of related fields like ESP. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting various reports and questioning official narratives, while also acknowledging the need for rigorous investigation. The magazine highlights the global nature of these reports and the challenges in obtaining definitive answers, particularly when contrasted with official statements or differing international perspectives.