SPACE - No 51 - 1961 03

Magazine Overview

Title: SPACE
Issue Date: March 1961
Publisher: Norbert F. Gariety
Publication: Published Monthly from Coral Gables, Florida
Focus: UFOs, Saucer Phenomena, and Celestial Enigma.

Lead Story: Mysterious Flying Objects Over Urfahr

The cover prominently features a German newspaper headline, "Mysteriöse Flugkörper über Urfahr gesichtet!" (Mysterious Flying Objects Sighted Over Urfahr!), from the "NACHRICHTEN furden SONNTAG" of Linz, Austria, dated January 28, 1961. The article details a UFO sighting and photograph taken by an amateur photographer on August 3, 1960, at 8:45 p.m. The photographer, who had recently acquired a robot star camera, initially skeptical, observed a light moving slowly from East to West with a wobbling motion. He managed to photograph the object, which appeared shining white during exposure but turned violet as it moved away. The sighting lasted only a few seconds. The article also mentions a similar sighting on July 29, 1960, near Linz, where an object the size of the full moon was observed, and another on September 19, 1960, at Wegscheid, where four people saw a peculiar object resembling a moon behind clouds with a fuzzy fringe.

Air Force Stance on UFO Evidence

The issue opens with a quote from Capt. Edward J. Ruppelt, former Chief Investigator for Project Bluebook, questioning what constitutes proof of UFO existence. He highlights the Air Force's claim of having no "PHYSICAL EVIDENCE" and poses rhetorical questions about whether a UFO landing near the Pentagon or being detected by radar and intercepted by jets would be considered proof.

UFO Sightings Across the USA

Kansas City, Kansas: On January 8, 1961, police officers and residents reported seeing a strange, multi-colored object moving slowly from west to north, then disappearing rapidly. The object was reportedly kept under surveillance by Richards-Gebaur Air Force base for two hours. Similar reports were received from Nebraska and Oklahoma. The Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) was compiling reports.

Hollywood, Florida: On March 2, 1961, Richard Bombard, 16, and his friends reported seeing a star-shaped figure change from white to bright red, and later a white light traveling south-southwest. The object was observed over Hollywood.

Southeastern Ohio: On March 3, 1961, a blue-white, lightning-fast object with a long, narrow tail was observed moving south to north. Observers described it as a red ball of fire, unlike meteors, and noted its speed.

Santa Cruz, California: Reports of an unidentified flying object were received, though the planet Venus was at its brightest and had been mistaken for UFOs previously.

Buffalo, New York: A search was conducted for a "shining object falling into Lake Erie" on February 12, 1961, but nothing was found. Area military installations and the FAA had no reports of missing aircraft.

Jefferson County, Indiana: On January 14, 1961, a witness described a huge white light, resembling a kitchen stove with two exhausts, seen through tree branches.

Other Strange Reports

Mermaids: The Isle of Man claims to have mermaids, with plans for a mermaid hunt. Several islanders reported seeing them, and one Wing Cmdr. Roy MacDonald described seeing two red-haired mermaids moving at about 12 knots.

Loch Ness Monster: Alexander Campbell reported that 50 school children and 3 adults claimed to have simultaneously sighted the Loch Ness monster.

Manipogo: A Canadian professor of Zoology is investigating reports of a strange hump-backed creature called the Manipogo in a Manitoba lake.

Time Travel Anomaly

A story from the Cleveland PRESS details an investigation by the FAA into a pilot's report of colliding with a Laird biplane, an aircraft of ancient vintage, in January 1960. The pilot later found a Laird biplane in a barn with aluminum and paint matching his Cessna. An FAA spokesman expressed skepticism about the timeline, questioning whether the Cessna went back in time or the Laird appeared in 1960.

Editorial: The "Termites" and Subversion

The editorial section, likely written by Publisher Norbert F. Gariety, expresses strong concerns about "Termites" (subversives) infiltrating American society. It criticizes Hollywood for producing films that glorify "unwholesome sex and violence," contributing to juvenile delinquency and crime. The editorial claims that "New York publishers" and their writers are pawns in schemes to undermine America. Washington D.C. is described as honeycombed with subversives in various government departments. The editorial links these "Termites" to a plot to undermine the government, religions, and morality, and suggests they use "messages from advanced intelligences" in UFO contactee claims to disseminate their subversive ideas. The publisher states his belief in flying saucers but is wary of contact claims that align with these subversive goals.

Dr. Hibbs's Analogy of Human Evolution

Dr. Albert R. Hibbs, Chief of Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Division of Space Sciences, uses an analogy of a house to explain the vastness of time and the potential for extraterrestrial life. He scales the universe down to a 500-year-old house. In this analogy, human evolution is compressed into the last few minutes, with science and philosophical thought emerging very recently. He suggests that if intelligent beings exist, they may have been observing Earth for a long time, and it's important to consider their potential disposition before attempting contact.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently focuses on UFO sightings, unexplained phenomena, and alleged government cover-ups. There is a strong undercurrent of skepticism towards official explanations and a belief in the reality of UFOs. The editorial stance is highly critical of perceived moral decay and subversion within American society, linking these issues to a broader conspiracy. The publication encourages readers to submit interesting news clippings and items related to UFO reports. The overall tone is one of alerting the public to hidden dangers and unexplained events, urging critical thinking and awareness.