SPACE - No 54 - 1961 06

Magazine Overview

Title: S. P. A. C. E. (Saucer Phenomena and Celestial Enigma)
Issue: Bulletin No. 54
Date: June 1961
Publisher: Norbert F. Gariety
Location: Coral Gables, Florida, USA

This issue of S.P.A.C.E. magazine delves into a variety of topics related to unidentified flying objects (UFOs), space exploration, and political commentary during the Cold War era. The cover prominently features the word "SPACE" in large, stylized lettering.

Editorial Stance and Key Themes

The magazine's editorial stance appears to be critical of official explanations regarding UFOs and supportive of investigations into unexplained phenomena. It champions the idea that there is a significant amount of secrecy surrounding UFOs and encourages readers to seek the truth. Themes include government secrecy, the space race, potential extraterrestrial contact, and political critiques.

Featured Articles and Reports

"Once Upon a Time in the Space Age"

This section presents a narrative about a man who witnesses a bully attacking an old lady and intervenes. The story serves as an allegory, drawing a parallel between the friend's actions and those of Major General Edwin A. Walker, who is described as a "loyal, patriotic American" removed from his command by President Kennedy.

Political Commentary on Major General Edwin A. Walker

The magazine strongly defends Major General Edwin A. Walker, criticizing President Kennedy for removing him from command. Walker had implemented an "Pro-Blue" program within his division, which included books like J. Edgar Hoover's "MASTERS OF DECEIT" and "THE LIFE OF JOHN BIRCH" to educate his troops about Communism and subversion. The article argues that it is sensible for military commanders to alert their troops to enemy tactics and questions why this is acceptable for the head of the FBI but not an Army General. It criticizes the "Overseas Weekly" (referred to as "OVERSEXED WEEKLY") for its alleged "tirade of abuse" against Walker, accusing him of "brainwashing" and consorting with "Super-patriots."

The article urges a Congressional probe into the incident and encourages readers to write to their Senators, Congressmen, and the President to defend Walker. It posits that if generals are not allowed to "fight this War" (referring to World War III) due to criticism from a "slime-mongering, girlie-stripping scandal sheet," then winning the war is unlikely.

The story of the bully is concluded, with the bully insisting his desire was "PEACE" followed by a list of territories he desired. The friend who intervened is described as being on the "torture rack," similar to General Walker.

Gagarin's Flight and Stamp Discrepancies

This section questions the official narrative of Yuri Gagarin's space flight, noting that stamps from Iron Curtain countries, bearing Gagarin's image and celebrating his earth-orbiting flight, were released on April 22, 1961, only 10 days after the supposed flight. Victor Kaufman, a philatelist, argues that it is impossible to produce such multi-color stamps in such a short time. He suggests that either the Russians rocketed an empty spaceship and credited Gagarin, or the stamps were pre-planned to coincide with the flight, raising the question of how the Soviets were so sure of Gagarin's success.

UFO Sightings and Reports

Several UFO sighting reports are detailed:

• Mystery Down on the Farm: Charles Donhouser of Wyandale, USA, reported seeing a large gray ball in the sky. Afterward, the door of his machinery shed was found torn off, suggesting a powerful suction or whirlwind might have been involved, possibly caused by the UFO.
• Strange Satellite Watched: Reports from Cambridge, Mass., indicate that satellite tracking stations were asked to track a "suspected, unpredicted bright satellite" spotted at Juniper, Florida. While it was suggested it might be a known satellite or rocket body, the possibility of something unknown was raised.
• Mystery Signals in Outer Space: Unidentified signals were picked up by the Jodrell Bank telescope in England on a frequency used by Russia's rocket to Venus. Professor Sir Bernard Lovell noted that tape recordings were being sent to Moscow for assessment, as they were the only ones who could determine if the signals were connected to the Venus rocket.
• Flaming Object Sighted by Texans: Residents of Tyler, Texas, reported seeing a "long flaming object" in the sky, followed by an explosion. The object was described as having yellow and orange flames.
• Bird? Plane? Superman? ....Maybe Just a Balloon: A large triangular-shaped object was observed over Nashville, Tennessee, causing a stir. Authorities, including the Weather Bureau and FAA, could not identify it, with the prevailing guess being a balloon, despite its unusual shape.
• Object over Nashville: Further details on the Nashville sighting describe the object as "like a fatty triangle, looks like it's made of aluminum," and moving east/northeast. Astronomers deduced it fell into Earth's shadow. Walter Draughon reported it dangled a long cable with an instrument package. Another observer described it as a "plastic pyramid."

Unexplained Plane Incident

A report from Ft. Bragg details an "erroneous report" of an overdue Army cargo plane from Ft. Benning, Ga. This led to speculation of a crash, with a farmer reporting a "ball of fire." However, officials later stated the plane landed safely, and the "ball of fire" was attributed to the reflection of the sun on a weather balloon.

"Friendly Ghost" at the Dent Place

The Arnold W. Barnett family of Bryantown, Md., believes their house is haunted by a "friendly ghost" of Anne Dent Bean, who died in 1839. The family has seen the apparition monthly for about a year and is not afraid.

The Mystery of the Missing Avengers

This section revisits the mystery of December 5, 1945, when five Navy Avenger bombers and a PBY amphibian vanished during training missions off Florida. The discovery of an engine cylinder by a dredge in the Banana River is mentioned, but it was not from the missing aircraft.

Nikola Tesla and Early Space Communication

An article discusses Nikola Tesla's claim in 1901 that he had picked up signals in 1899 that he believed were from an intelligent extraterrestrial source. L. I. Anderson of Minneapolis highlights that such ideas, once ridiculed, are now taken more seriously. Tesla's announcement was met with harsh criticism, and he never produced detailed information. The article suggests that Tesla's papers, housed in Belgrade, might contain information that could help in understanding these early findings.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

Throughout the issue, there is a recurring theme of questioning official narratives and advocating for transparency, particularly concerning UFO phenomena and political events. The magazine champions the work of NICAP and its director, Major Donald E. Keyhoe, positioning them as key figures in the fight for truth. The editorial emphasizes the importance of conservative investigation in the face of confusion and urges readers to support NICAP financially by becoming members. The definitions of "Liberal" and "Conservative" are presented, with a clear endorsement of the latter as the safer and saner approach in the current times. The magazine expresses a strong belief in the need to investigate UFOs thoroughly and to challenge what it perceives as government secrecy and misinformation.