SPACE - No 56 - 1961 08

Magazine Overview

This issue of SPACE, published monthly from Coral Gables, Florida, by Norbert F. Gariety, is dated August 1961 and carries the identifier "Bulletin No. 56." The cover prominently features the statement "MY AMERICAN ANSWER TO THE COMMUNIST" alongside a Gadsden flag-like graphic with the slogan "DON'T TREAD ON ME," indicating a strong political stance.

Editor's Desk and Reader Mail

The "Editor's desk" section notes that recent issues of S.P.A.C.E. have generated significant comment, both positive and negative. Gariety states that the mail has been "right interesting" and that the response has been overwhelmingly in favor of continuing the current format. However, he acknowledges dissenting opinions and plans to address them.

Letters from Readers and Editor's Defense

Two letters are presented. The first is from Jim Moseley of SAUCER NEWS, dated July 12, 1961. Moseley praises S.P.A.C.E. but criticizes Gariety for injecting political opinions, particularly concerning the John Birch Society and General Walker, into the magazine. Moseley argues that political views are out of place in a saucer magazine and that Gariety's stance is "simplish childish."

Gariety responds to Moseley's points. He clarifies that his support for NICAP and Major Keyhoe has been long-standing and not sudden. He denies becoming disillusioned with contactees, stating he has always presented their claims with the caveat that he was not present to verify them. Regarding politics, Gariety asserts that political views are not out of place in American publications and quotes a letter of approval from Mrs. Idabel Epperson of Los Angeles.

Mrs. Epperson's letter, dated July 8, 1961, commends Gariety's editorial in Bulletin #53, feeling it is important to awaken citizens to a "crisis." She quotes a 17-year-old student who emphasizes the importance of engaging with government and teaching children about the potential consequences of apathy.

Gariety then addresses Herb Clark of the Vancouver Area Flying Saucer Club. Clark's letter, dated July 7, 1961, also expresses appreciation for S.P.A.C.E. but criticizes Gariety's "sticker" (presumably the Gadsden flag) and his political views, which Clark sees as part of the "cold war" that is "pauperizing the nations." Clark advocates for constructive action rather than "communist-bating" and suggests that the "official line" is often wrong, dictated by big business. He argues that the Soviets are building their economy while the West is focused on war, and that America is more likely to start a war than the Soviets. Clark also views the John Birch Society as a menace akin to communists.

Gariety responds to Clark by explaining the Gadsden flag sticker and its meaning. He defends his position on the John Birch Society, noting that condemnations have come from Communist sources like PEOPLES WORLD, Pravda, and RED STAR, implying that criticism from these outlets validates the Society. He addresses Clark's point about General Walker, quoting Paul Harvey to suggest that the "Overseas Weekly" was a "slime-mongering" publication that unfairly criticized Walker. Gariety also refutes the idea that Communism is inherently good, stating that only about 4% of Russia's population is Communist, and the rest hate the dictatorship. He uses the example of refugees fleeing East Germany to West Germany to illustrate the lack of freedom under Communism.

Clark's second letter, included by Gariety, asks for his opinion on President Kennedy's speech on Berlin. Clark found the speech unsatisfactory, stating it was merely a restatement of the Western attitude and failed to recognize the views of 180 million Russians and 75 million Germans who do not support the current stance. He urges that this alternative viewpoint must be recognized.

Gariety answers Clark's question about Kennedy's speech, classifying it as "moderately satisfactory" but wishing it were stronger. He reiterates his view that Khrushchev's stance does not represent the majority in Russia or Germany, and that only about 4% of Russia's population is Communist, with the vast majority hating the dictatorship. He argues that nations betrayed into the Communist conspiracy are essentially colonies of Russia, and that Russia's complaints about Western colonialism are hypocritical given its own expansion.

UFO Reports and Incidents

The issue includes several UFO reports:

• Southwick, Mass. (July 4th): A large, fat, cigar-shaped UFO with blunt ends was observed poised stationary in the early morning hours.
• Cincinnati, Ohio (Evening of July 4th): Four witnesses saw an uneven circle of light, larger than a star, hovering over Mt. Airy. The object moved upward and then south.
• Munger, Minnesota (July 15th): A UPI report about a "man from Mars" who was supposed to land, drawing a large crowd.
• Springfield, Massachusetts (July 25th): A high school freshman reported a "greenish-white glow" descending into a field, followed by a hiss and a thud. His parents corroborated the account.

The "Meteorite" Incident

A significant portion of the latter half of the magazine is dedicated to the "meteorite" incident reported by Albert Pietruszak. Albert and his family witnessed a "greenish-white glow" and heard a hiss and a thud. They found a rough, pock-marked stone weighing about 2 pounds, with veins of maroon and yellow, emitting a "strong odor of petroleum." The stone was hot to the touch. Experts, including Frank D. Korkosz of the Springfield Science Museum and Raymond I. Robert of the Connecticut Valley Mineral Club, identified the object as "slag iron," theorizing it was part of a load of fill. However, they could not explain the glow, hiss, or heat, which they noted pointed to a meteorite.

Albert's father also heard the noise, and the youths later found a flattened and fused soda bottle neck nearby. Alden S. Fowler, a UFO investigator, suggested the slag iron was the remnant of a flying saucer that had "blown up high above the earth." Fowler also noted that slag iron does not glow green and cited historical instances of slag falling from UFOs.

Gariety, in his "Ed. Note," criticizes the "experts" for arriving at the answer (slag iron) first and then arranging facts to fit it, implying they are calling the witnesses and landowner liars. He argues that the experts operate on a false premise and twist facts, while he believes such phenomena have happened many times and that the experts are ignorant of them.

He relates a similar personal investigation of a "hot rock" in August 1956 near Erie, Pa., which laboratory analysis proved was neither meteoric nor furnace slag. He keeps a piece of that material as a souvenir, implying it holds more value than the experts' conclusions.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue strongly reflects Gariety's editorial stance, which blends UFO reporting with assertive political commentary, particularly concerning Communism and the Cold War. He defends his decision to include political viewpoints, citing reader interest and a perceived need to address a national "crisis." The magazine's perspective on Communism is highly critical, viewing it as a destructive force, and it expresses skepticism towards official narratives. The debate with readers like Moseley and Clark highlights a tension between those who want a purely UFO-focused publication and Gariety's desire to integrate broader socio-political issues. The magazine also champions the idea of independent investigation over reliance on conventional "expert" opinions, especially in the context of UFO phenomena.