SPACE - No 66 - 1962 06

Magazine Overview

Title: S. P. A. C. E. (Saucer Phenomena and Celestial Enigma)
Issue: June 1962
Publisher: Norbert F. Gariety
Editor: Norbert F. Gariety
Country: USA
Date: June 1962

This issue of S.P.A.C.E. magazine, published monthly from Coral Gables, Florida, addresses a variety of topics related to unidentified flying objects (UFOs), space phenomena, and related scientific and political commentary. The editor apologizes for the lateness of the May and June issues, attributing it to business demands in the photography industry.

UFO Sightings and Reports

The magazine features several reports of UFO sightings:

• Irish Pilot Sighting: Capt. G. Pendleton of Irish International Airlines reported seeing a flying object about 35 miles southeast of Bristol at 17,000 feet. He described it as a large orb with irregular antenna-like protrusions, initially mistaken for a balloon. His co-pilot also witnessed it, but no one else on the flight was informed.
• Pennsylvania Sighting: Police Capt. John Holzinger of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, reported seeing a fiery object moving across the sky before dawn. Initially bluish-green, it intensified to a brilliant white before vanishing. Holzinger, a U.S. Air Force Reserve Major, described it as the brightest object he had ever seen.
• Long Island Reports: Two eyewitness accounts from Long Island are presented. One witness saw a large, luminous, shining object for nearly an hour before it shot up at terrific speed. This witness also noted unusual colors in the sky during a storm and speculated if it was the same object seen over Pennsylvania.
• Gardener's Account: A gardener in Lloyd Harbor, Long Island, reported seeing a very bright, luminous object streaking across the sky from the South, which then stopped, made a 'U' turn, and headed back South. The object was described as leaving a blue flame, like a twin exhaust.
• Train Crew Sightings: Two New York Central freight train crews reported seeing a fire-spewing object flash across the sky. One described it as looking like a rocket with a blue-and-white flame. Another crew saw a 'fireball' over northern Kentucky that appeared to be shedding.
• Australian Fireball: In Melbourne, Australia, a mysterious 'ball of fire' reportedly 'danced' into a backyard, causing a severe electric shock to one resident. It then jumped a fence, hit a house with a bang, and vanished.
• Nevada Sighting: Three women returning from a conference in northern Nevada reported sighting a bright, yellow-orange object, about the size of a beach ball, that hovered above the ground and followed their vehicle for 60 miles.
• Cincinnati Sightings: Residents of Greater Cincinnati reported seeing strange lights in the sky and hearing 'zooming, swishing noises'. The Federal Aviation Agency control tower reported no strange objects.
• Northern Ireland Sighting: The Belfast TELEGRAPH reported an object lighting up the sky for five or six seconds, described as a flame across the sky. A Carrickfergus pilot officer, policemen, and residents also reported the object, which was described as white in front, reddish at the back, with a 100-ft. long amber tail, moving like lightning.
• South African Mystery: The PRETORIA NEWS reported a dull orange object that appeared three times in the sky, puzzling observers. Staff-Sgt. J. P. du Toit described it as not being an aeroplane and making no sound.

Scientific Speculation and Discoveries

• Life on Other Planets: Dr. Carl E. Sagan of the University of California at Berkeley suggested a faint possibility of living things on Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, with Mars being the most likely abode of life. He noted that while lunar surface conditions are harsh, conditions might be milder below the surface. He also speculated that the primitive environments of other planets might be similar to early Earth, allowing life to arise.
• Meteorite Microfossil: The magazine discusses a tiny six-sided object found in a French meteorite from 1864. Biologists and researchers from Fordham University, Esso Research, and New York University Medical Center believe it looks like the fossil of a living organism, potentially indicating extraterrestrial life. However, some scientists, like Dr. Frank W. Fitch and Dr. Edward Anders, suggest it might be earthly contamination, though the six-sided object remains a mystery.
• Moon Emits X-rays: Scientists have discovered that the moon is a giant X-ray machine, emitting X-rays in response to bombardment from solar and cosmic radiation. This finding is significant for space missions planning to land on the moon.

Political and Social Commentary

The magazine includes a significant amount of political commentary, particularly concerning the John Birch Society and Communism:

• Critique of Media Portrayal: The editor expresses disappointment with Curtis Fuller of FATE Magazine for labeling certain articles as 'dangerous Fascist Right Wing'. The editor argues that the John Birch Society is not responsible for global issues like subversion, enslavement, or war, and that Communism is the true menace.
• Fuller's Letter: A quote from Curtis Fuller's letter expresses fear of both Communist and far-right dictatorships, stating that the greatest danger is from the far-right internal movement. The editor challenges this view, suggesting it aligns with a Communist strategy to attack anti-Communist organizations.
• Questions for the BANNER: The magazine poses nine questions to the Oceanside-Carlsbad, California BANNER newspaper regarding the John Birch Society, implying that the answers should lead to the conclusion that Communism is the real threat.
• Americanism vs. Communism: The editor concludes that the division should be between Americanism and Communism, not between factions of Americans regarding the John Birch Society.
• Humor on Law Day: A humorous anecdote from Congressman Harrison is shared, comparing Massachusetts' approach to medical care for the aged by hanging old women as witches.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO phenomena, the scientific search for extraterrestrial life, and a strong anti-Communist stance. The editorial stance is critical of media narratives that equate right-wing movements with Fascism, advocating instead for a clear distinction between Americanism and Communism as the primary ideological battleground. The magazine aims to present evidence and arguments that support the idea of UFOs and potential extraterrestrial life, while also engaging in political discourse that aligns with a conservative, anti-Communist viewpoint.