Topside - Issue 05 - 1961 March

Magazine Overview

This issue of The Ottawa Flying Saucer Club's publication, dated March 1961, is primarily dedicated to exploring various facets of the UFO phenomenon, blending psychological analysis with reported sightings and speculative future scenarios.

C. G. Jung's "Flying Saucers" Reviewed by Geoff Hoppett

The review begins by addressing a newspaper article that quoted C. G. Jung's book "Flying Saucers" as stating UFOs were collective fantasy caused by troubled times. The reviewer, Geoff Hoppett, admits to not having read the book initially and expresses a personal challenge to the idea of UFOs being solely linked to troubled times. After reading the book twice, Hoppett confesses to not fully understanding it, attributing this to the peculiar and technical language of analytical psychology.

Hoppett quotes Jung, suggesting that if one sees UFOs as mere phantasms, they deserve sympathy, as conscious and unconscious fantasy play a role in building up the rumor. However, Hoppett points out that the newspaper writer likely stopped reading at this point, as the subsequent paragraph offers a different perspective.

Jung, a famous analytical psychologist, is presented not as an enemy of "saucer enthusiasts" but as someone whose primary purpose was to treat UFOs as a psychological phenomenon. While acknowledging the physical reality of UFOs, Jung's focus is on their occurrence in fantasies of mentally disturbed people, modern and ancient painting, and dreams. Hoppett notes that Jung's work is not entirely orthodox, quoting him on the idea that humanity is nearing a great change, a transformation of the collective psyche, which has historically marked the end of eras and the beginning of new ones, such as the transition from Taurus to Aries and Aries to Pisces.

Jung anticipates a change when the spring-point enters Aquarius, describing these as symptoms of psychic changes that appear at the end of one Platonic month and the beginning of another. He suggests these changes involve the constellation of psychic dominants or archetypes that bring about long-lasting transformations of the collective psyche. Jung's reflections are described as unpopular and close to "turbid fantasies" of "world-improvers."

The book reviewed is a translation by R.P.C. Kull, published by Routledge & Kegan Paul in London, England.

Report Warns of Civilization Collapse from Alien Discovery

This section, sourced from Science Digest, March 1961, discusses a report prepared for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration by the Brookings Institution. The report recommends that mankind mentally prepare for the discovery of life on other worlds, warning that such a discovery could cause the earth's civilization to collapse.

While the discovery of intelligent life in the universe is not considered likely in the immediate future, it could happen at any time. The report suggests that an attempt to contact intelligent beings on other planets could lead to sweeping changes, potentially even the downfall of civilization. It draws a parallel to historical instances where societies sure of their own place disintegrated when confronted by a superior society, while others survived, albeit changed. The report concludes that understanding the factors involved in responding to such crises is crucial for preparedness.

"Phenomenon Proves Real Poser for Airmen"

This article from The Montreal Star reports on a spectacular flash of "aurora like color-play" witnessed by TCA Captain C. Ward and several other fliers over eastern Canada and New York State on a Saturday evening. Captain Ward first saw the phenomenon around 5:39 p.m. EST, and it lasted about 20 minutes.

While flying near Bagotville, Ward observed a circular, reddish aurora with a "diffuse white cloud formation" above it, which became brighter towards the center and radiated outward. He established contact with a Lufthansa jet, whose captain and officers corroborated his report. They also made contact with an unidentified CF 100, which substantiated the sighting. Personnel aboard a TCA flight over Albany, N.Y., also communicated that they saw the aerial display, though they described the center as orange, not red.

Further reports from the Quebec City airport tower confirmed the brilliant lights. Captain Ward described the original red center with flashing radiating rings that rippled for about two minutes, reaching two climaxes, before fading into a steady red glow that lasted for about 20 minutes. The substantiation by at least nine other people made the occurrence even more puzzling, as there had been no public report of it.

UFO Sighted Over Ottawa

A small, shiny, and silvery metallic object was observed flying at high altitude in "jerky" motions above the Experimental Farm on the outskirts of Ottawa, Ontario. The object was sighted between approximately 3:45 and 4:00 p.m. on October 10th, 1960. The observer was located near the intersection of Baseline Road and Prescott Highway, and the object was first seen in the east, traveling towards the northwest horizon.

Civil Authorities Can't Prove

Word from a German language newspaper, via Mrs. Ann Hard (Vice President and translator), indicates that legal action has been initiated in West Germany against UFO researchers and contactees. Following the Fourth International UFO Congress in Wiesbaden in October 1960, the office of the Attorney of State in Munich began an investigation to establish proof of the reality of UFOs and visiting space people. Charges of false pretenses and suspected fraud have been laid against Mr. Karl Veit, director of the German URO Study Group. The claims of Mr. Reinhold Schmidt and Mr. Carl Anderson of the U.S.A., who gave accounts of their space contacts at the congress, are also being investigated.

German researchers have called for anyone with proof of the reality of UFOs to come forward, raising the question of what constitutes acceptable proof in a court of law. The article humorously suggests that a saucer with a full set of operating instructions might be required, but even that might be regarded as further evidence of fraud.

Transformation of Earth into Saturn

This section, titled "Climatic Changes Through Spherical Dust Orbits in Space," discusses a proposal by a Russian scientist to alter Earth's climate. The scientist suggests conveying over two million tons of dust into a circular orbit approximately 1600 kilometers from Earth's surface. These dust rings, similar in appearance to those on Saturn, are intended to reflect additional solar energy to the Earth, with the reflection energy expected to be most powerful in the Arctic.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the psychological interpretation of UFO phenomena, as exemplified by the review of C.G. Jung's work. There is also a strong emphasis on credible UFO sightings, with detailed accounts and corroboration from multiple sources, including pilots and military aircraft. The potential societal impact of discovering extraterrestrial life is highlighted by the inclusion of the Brookings Institution report. Furthermore, the issue touches upon the legal and investigative challenges faced by UFO researchers, particularly in Germany, and includes a speculative scientific proposal for climate modification. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into UFOs, acknowledging both psychological and potentially physical aspects, while also considering broader implications for humanity and civilization.