Topside - Issue 15 - 1964 December

Magazine Overview

Title: Topside
Issue: Number 15
Date: December, 1964
Publisher: THE OTTAWA NEW SCIENCES CLUB, Box 2221, Postal Station D, Ottawa, Ontario, CANADA.

Editorial: The Christmas Message

The editorial section extends cordial greetings for the holiday season and the New Year. It reflects on the past few years, noting a world torn by strife and dissension, and emphasizes the urgent need for the 'Peace on Earth; Goodwill towards Men' message. The editorial poses the question of what an ordinary person can do, answering that individuals possess the 'Divine Gift of the Power of Thought'. This power, if used wisely, can overcome negativity, shed light in darkness, and create a better world. It urges readers to send out positive thoughts, maintain an optimistic outlook, and avoid being swayed by provocative news. The editorial concludes that past approaches of conflict have failed, and advocates for using the power of thought constructively to shape a better future, recognizing that average people are the majority and can influence global destiny.

A Christmas Story: LAMPS TO LIGHT THE WORLD

This poetic piece by Wilbert B. Smith contrasts the festive Christmas atmosphere with underlying global tensions. It describes a dark, cold winter day with store windows displaying merchandise and Christmas trees adorned with lights. Amidst the holiday cheer, a newsboy's headline about 'Atomic War' and 'Military readiness' highlights the paradox of impending destruction alongside the Prince of Peace. The poem critiques the use of 'Cosmic Energy' for destructive purposes ('evils yet untold') instead of for beneficial applications like 'atom power plants For Lamps to Light the World'.

SWEDEN SHOWS A WAY! A New-Age Educational Program for Youth.

This section pays tribute to Mrs. Edith Nicolaisen of Hälsingborg, Sweden, founder of PARTHENON. PARTHENON is described as a space-age educational organization dedicated to enlightening Scandinavian youth about new scientific concepts arising from the arrival of technically superior spacecraft from other worlds. Mrs. Nicolaisen is noted for her extensive work in maintaining contact with UFO groups and disseminating information.

A pamphlet from PARTHENON, titled 'OUR AIM', is included. It states that PARTHENON was founded in 1957 to promote peace and enlightenment and to awaken the Scandinavian people to 'epoch-making interplanatory occurrences'. The organization believes humanity is on the threshold of the Space Age, moving towards a four-dimensional world where traditional concepts will be replaced by a deeper understanding of cosmic laws. It asserts that numerous reports from esteemed individuals indicate visits from other worlds, and establishing contact with these 'fellow-space beings' is crucial for civilization's development. These beings are perceived to be at a higher spiritual, intellectual, and social level, possessing greater technical ability.

The pamphlet appeals to young people interested in science to focus on new energy sources that do not produce radioactive fallout. It stresses the importance of grasping the four-dimensional space-time structure to utilize cosmic energy for mankind's benefit. The hope is expressed that Scandinavian youth will join this work, fostering universal brotherly love and breaking down barriers of nationality, social status, creed, and philosophy.

PARTHENON's educational activities have two main objectives:
1. Publication of 'The New Age' literature related to 'real facts' to convey the New Age's message, and publication of information on significant global occurrences and inventions.
2. Assisting in establishing interplanetary and cosmological study groups with mutual contact among Scandinavian participants and with other international groups, and arranging lectures with visual aids.

PARTHENON's activities are strictly apolitical and non-profit. Any profits are to be used for educational work among Scandinavian youth, with financing dependent on literature sales and voluntary contributions.

RECENT OTTAWA SIGHTINGS

This section reports on recent UFO sightings in Ottawa, noting increased publicity in the local press. It details an article from 'The Ottawa Citizen' on October 20, 1964, which reported numerous sightings of 'mysterious' objects. Officials from RCAF and the Dominion Observatory offered conflicting identifications: an Air Defence Command spokesman suggested 'jets flying above 60,000 feet', while Dr. J.L. Locke of the Dominion Observatory suggested 'meteoric origin'.

• Several witnesses are quoted:
• Miss Karen Archer described an unidentified object as neither an aircraft nor a meteor, with a trail of 'red, green and yellow sparks'.
• A pilot reported an object 'moving at fantastic speed and leaving a bright orange trail', flying in line astern of his aircraft.
• Roy Russell, an employee of the National Defence Department, and his wife observed a 'big black cigar' with flame coming from the tail section, and three or more windows along the side. They estimated its size to be about 'two or three house-lots long'.

'The Ottawa Citizen' followed up on October 21, 1964, with an explanation from NORAD that the objects were likely the remains of Cosmos 31, a Russian test satellite. The article stated that while the main part of the satellite fell in the Northeastern United States, parts of the tail assembly may have 'burned out' as far north as Ottawa.

The NORAD official requested witnesses to report details such as exact time, location, sky section, elevation, and number of objects seen.

Topside Investigates: Mr. Roy Russell was interviewed and stated that while he received a letter from NORAD supporting the satellite theory, the details of speed, orbit, and direction did not fit his observation. He was certain the object was travelling in a south-southeasterly direction with an upward incline, suggesting it was a 'manned craft'. His wife corroborated the upward course impression. The object was described as a long, dark, cigar-shaped object with irregular yellow and orange lighted sections, and about three dimly lighted windows. It was flying slowly and silently at a low altitude over Champlain Towers.

Mr. Russell remained unconvinced by the NORAD explanation. When asked what he thought it was, he humorously suggested a 'flying saucer'.

• On Friday, October 30, 'The Citizen' reported another sighting:
• Two women, Mrs. Jocelyn Isaacs and Mrs. Brenda Mazan, saw an 'orange crooked triangle with a rough edge on top' blinking on and off. The object later appeared to change shape to a crescent form, was much larger, and hovered at a low altitude. Mrs. Mazan felt it was only the 'lighted, bottom half of the 'aircraft'' and that it looked 'incomplete'. Her radio 'went dead' for several seconds when the object was closest.

Dr. J.L. Locke stated that due to an overcast sky, the phenomenon couldn't have been astronomical.

Change of Address and Important Notice

Communications regarding Topside or the Ottawa New Sciences Club should now be addressed to the new PO Box. An important notice clarifies that inquiries regarding the private sale of the late Mr. W.B. Smith's book 'The New Science' should continue to be addressed directly to his son, Mr. Jim Smith.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the exploration of unidentified flying objects and potential extraterrestrial contact, the promotion of New Age philosophies emphasizing thought power and universal brotherhood, and a general call for peace and a better world. The editorial stance is optimistic and forward-looking, encouraging individual empowerment through mental discipline and a positive outlook, while also critically examining official explanations for unexplained phenomena.

This document, titled "THE DEATH TRIANGLE AT THE BERMUDAS," discusses the mysterious disappearances of people and vessels within this region. It states that approximately 100 people have vanished without a trace in the past 20 years, with a history of similar incidents involving boats dating back over 100 years. The article is presented as a translation from a recent article in "Die Andere Welt" by Mrs. Ann Hardy.

The Bermuda Triangle and Its Enigma

The U.S. Navy's "Project Magnet" is actively investigating the atmospheric and magnetic conditions within the Bermuda or Death Triangle. This region is defined by a 1700-kilometer air line connecting Puerto Rico to a point between West Palm Beach and Orlando on Florida's east coast, with lateral lines extending to the Bermuda Isles. Within this triangle, vessels have been disappearing for over a century, and more recently, airplanes have also vanished without leaving a trace.

Documented Incidents

The article details several significant incidents:

• December 5, 1945: Five Avenger Torpedo Bombers, with a crew of 20, were lost. A Navy flying boat dispatched to search for them also disappeared 20 minutes later.
• January 1948: A passenger plane carrying 30 people, which had departed from the Azores for Cuba, was lost.
• January 17, 1949: A four-engine plane disappeared in the Bermuda Triangle.
• October 1954: A U.S. Super-Constellation with 42 people on board vanished, despite having two independent radio devices.
• November 9, 1956: A patrol plane of the U.S. Navy was lost in the region.
• January 8, 1962: A jet tank plane crossing the Death Triangle from Virginia to the Azores failed to complete its journey.
• February 2, 1963: A sulphur tanker with a crew of 39 sank en route from Beaumont, Texas, to Norfolk, Virginia, after weak but inarticulate signals were received.
• July 1, 1963: A fishing steamer with 40 men aboard went missing in the Bermuda Triangle, and even after a ten-day search, not a single piece of wood was found.
• August (Year unspecified): Two strato-tankers departed from Florida for an air tank exercise and were never heard from again after signalling their position before entering the Triangle.

"Project Magnet" and Scientific Findings

The establishment of "Project Magnet" is a joint effort by the U.S. and Canadian Navies to study the atmospheric and magnetic conditions of the region. Early findings, dating back to 1950 from Canadian Government experts during test flights, indicated the presence of "layers of reduced atmospheric binding." More recent measurements yielded unique data, suggesting "special magnetic forces which do not originate from the ground but from above." These forces are hypothesized to be the cause of sudden, inexplicable catastrophes affecting planes and vessels, which then disappear without a trace.

A Solitary Clue

One significant clue regarding the nature of these catastrophes comes from the last radio message of the squadron leader of one of the five torpedo bombers lost on December 5, 1945. His message, delivered with a "half-suffocated voice," stated: "We seem to have lost our way: everything goes wrong - strange! Even the ocean does not look like it should look." The connection was then severed forever.

Personal Observation and Speculation

The latter part of the document includes a personal account of observing an unidentified object. The observer initially mistook it for a satellite but noted it changed course to the southeast. The object then lost its luminosity gradually and disappeared within three seconds. Upon checking with a local observatory, the observer was informed that satellites do not behave in such a manner. The observer had the impression that the object was just starting to move when first seen and ventured the opinion that "we are, in all actuality, being watched by our space brothers."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme is the persistent mystery of unexplained disappearances in the Bermuda Triangle, affecting both air and sea travel. The article highlights the efforts of governmental and naval organizations to understand these phenomena, focusing on atmospheric and magnetic anomalies. There is an underlying tone of intrigue and speculation, particularly with the inclusion of the personal sighting of an unidentified object, suggesting a potential extraterrestrial or advanced technological influence. The editorial stance appears to be one of presenting documented facts and scientific investigations while also acknowledging the more speculative possibilities surrounding the events.