SPACE - No 60 - 1961 12

Magazine Overview

Title: SPACE
Issue: No. 60 (Volume III)
Date: December 1961
Publisher: Norbert F. Gariety
Editor: Norbert F. Gariety
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of SPACE magazine, published monthly from Coral Gables, Florida, addresses the late delivery of the November and December issues due to the editor's workload. The publication aims to maintain a monthly schedule despite the challenges of earning a living. The magazine features a mix of UFO reports, scientific speculation, political commentary, and historical explorations.

STRANGE OBJECT LEAVES FILMY DEPOSIT ON GOFF FARM

This article, by John de Haes, details an incident on November 16, 1961, near Chadron, Nebraska. Theodore Goff reported seeing a strange, metallic object flying across the sky above his farm. The object, described as roughly four feet in diameter and rolling as it moved, broke off thin, silvery fibers that settled on his fields, trees, machinery, and power lines. Goff initially thought it was an airplane but couldn't identify it. The fibers were difficult to see except in direct sunlight, feeling like spider webs but much finer. Attempts to analyze the substance were made, with a hot cigarette causing one string to break but not burn. Local authorities and the Air Force were notified, with an investigating team expected from Washington D.C. Dr. Lyle Andrews suggested the fibers might be part of a military radar-jamming experiment, though he was puzzled by Goff's description of the object itself. Other witnesses reported seeing the fibers, but not the object.

SONIC BOOMS ROCK L.A., BREAK GLASS

This brief report from Los Angeles, California, dated December 2, 1961, describes three thunderous sonic booms that occurred at 2:25 p.m. on a Friday, causing widespread alarm. Numerous reports of shattered windows flooded in, and police and fire department lines were jammed. Buildings in downtown Los Angeles, including City Hall, shook from the booms, which appeared to be centered in the southwest.

MUSINGS

By Leslie Smith, this editorial muses on the motivations behind individuals who claim contact with extraterrestrials or travel to other planets. Smith suggests that while financial gain might be a factor for some, recognition and the desire for a more exciting personal life are significant drivers. The author contrasts conventional ways of gaining recognition with more unconventional methods, implying that some individuals may be seeking attention rather than reporting genuine experiences.

SPACE CREATURES MAY EXIST

This section reports on findings by Dr. Audrey Smith, a British medical scientist, who suggests that space travelers might find living organisms on the moon and other planets that have been dormant for millions of years. These organisms could potentially be revived. Dr. Smith's research into cooling and thawing animals indicates that clinical death can be distinguished from biological death, and that some tissues can be frozen indefinitely. She points to insects and shellfish that can survive extreme cold and drying, suggesting that life on other planets might have evolved similar survival mechanisms in extreme conditions.

REPORT 2 METEORITES HOLD TRACE OF LIFE

This article, citing a report in the magazine NATURE, states that Dr. George Claus and Prof. Bartholomew Nagy found evidence of living traces in meteorites. They identified five types of 'organized structures' resembling fossilized microscopic life forms. Four of these structures were similar to known earth species, while the fifth was unique. The findings strengthen implications from other recent discoveries and suggest that meteorite analysis will accelerate.

OTHER DISCOVERIES

This brief section notes that the identified structures resemble single-celled animals like dino-flagellates or chrysomonads, which live in water. It also mentions that the Orgueil meteorite (France, 1864) and the Ivuna meteorite (Central Africa, 1938) were examined. The article concludes that while no single piece of evidence is conclusive proof of extraterrestrial life, the prospect of discoveries has brightened.

BLINDFOLDED CHICKENS

This short, allegorical piece uses the fable of a fox and chickens to comment on President Kennedy's call for blind confidence in the administration. It suggests that those who blindly follow without questioning are vulnerable.

PATRIOTISM

This poem expresses a strong sentiment of patriotism, lamenting a perceived decline in national pride and a cynical attitude towards those who profess love for their country, linking such sentiments to Communism.

SAUCERS WITH TAILS SPOTTED

Reported from San Mateo, California, on November 14, 1961, this incident describes an unidentified flying object with two white lights and little white tails observed by a resident and a police officer. The object was flying in a southerly direction.

WOMAN REPORTS SEEING STRANGE FLYING OBJECT

From Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, dated November 10, 1961, this report details Mrs. Jean Dixon's sighting of a large, red-illuminated flying object moving slowly. She noted it was unlike the 'sputniks' she was accustomed to seeing and that there was no resemblance to a conventional aircraft.

DID A SCOUT SHIP TOUCH DOWN ON THE ISLE OF WIGHT?

By Leonard G. Cramp, this article investigates a UFO sighting on the Isle of Wight. Cramp interviews Mrs. Smith and her daughter, Mrs. Taylor, who described an object with five porthole lights and an orange glow. They identified sketches of the Darbishire and Adamski scout ships as resembling what they saw. The writer concludes that the witnesses observed a scout ship at close range. The article also mentions a friend of Mrs. Smith who saw bright lights and a whirlwind in a remote field the same evening.

THE CASE OF MAJOR MAYER

By Fulton Lewis, Jr., this piece discusses Major William E. Mayer, a neuropsychiatrist involved in a task force for rehabilitating American GI's brainwashed in Korea. Mayer had given an address on Communist brainwashing, which was described as scholarly. He was scheduled to speak at local colleges but canceled, leading to speculation of Pentagon censorship. The article quotes the Cincinnati ENQUIRER defending Mayer against accusations of being a fanatic.

5000 FRANCS

This anecdote tells of a French factory worker who joined the Communist Party after hearing that wealth would be evenly distributed, giving everyone 2000 francs. When asked why he lost enthusiasm, he revealed he had 5000 francs, implying the Communist promise was not as appealing when one already had more than the promised distribution.

UNDERSEA EXPLORER REPORTS "I'VE FOUND THE LOST CITY!"

This article reports on claims by German explorer Jurgen Spanuth that he has discovered a lost city that was part of Atlantis. Spanuth believes Atlantis stretched from Germany to Florida and that divers have found outlines of buildings on the North Sea floor. He has been researching Atlantis for decades, and his work is supported by the German government. The article mentions a Grecian tablet discovered 12 years prior, which described a rock fitting Spanuth's findings.

THE WHYS AND WHEREFORES

This commentary from National Review questions President Kennedy's foreign policy, particularly regarding the Berlin Wall and the Congo. The author argues that the US should not be afraid to take direct action and questions the US stance on supporting self-determination for others while seemingly opposing it for the Katangese. The piece also criticizes the potential admission of Communist China into the UN and questions why the US doesn't test nuclear bombs, suggesting a need for preparedness.

ANNOUNCING SOUTH FLORIDA'S ONLY AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION RADIO PROGRAM

This section announces 'THE NORB GARIETY PROGRAM' on WMIE 1140 kc, airing Saturdays and Sundays from midnight to 1:00 AM. The program is dedicated to God, the USA, freedom, and free enterprise, and is against socialism. It supports the FBI, the House Un-American Activities Committee, and the Senate Sub-Committee investigating Communist activities.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of SPACE magazine include UFO sightings and the possibility of extraterrestrial life, scientific inquiry into unexplained phenomena, and political commentary focused on anti-communism and critiques of US foreign policy during the Cold War. The editorial stance appears to be one of skepticism towards official explanations for UFOs, an openness to unconventional scientific and historical theories (like life in meteorites and the existence of Atlantis), and a strong anti-communist sentiment, aligning with the 'The Norb Gariety Program' advertised.