1950 03 00 True Commander McLaughlin

Magazine Overview

Title: TRUE
Subtitle: THE MAN'S MAGAZINE
Issue Date: March 1950
Publisher: Fawcett Publications, Inc.
Cover Headline: NAVY SCIENTIST CONFIRMS FLYING SAUCERS

Article: Navy Officer Tells How Scientists Tracked a Flying Saucer

This article, written by Commander Robert B. McLaughlin of the US Navy, details his conviction that flying saucers are real and interplanetary. He recounts an incident from April 1949, where a detachment of Navy men and scientists at White Sands Proving Ground tracked a flying disk. Using a theodolite and stop watch, five observers monitored a weather balloon when a strange object crossed its path. The theodolite operator followed the object, and a scientist took over tracking.

Commander McLaughlin, an expert in naval ordnance and guided missiles, has been in charge of a Navy unit at White Sands for three years. His research into guided missiles began in 1939. He served as a gunnery officer during World War II, seeing action in the Pacific.

Key Observations from the Incident:

• The object was seen by everyone present.
• It was elliptical in shape.
• It was approximately 105 feet in diameter.
• It flew at an altitude of approximately 56 miles.
• Its speed was about 5 miles per second.
• It swerved abruptly upward, increasing its altitude by about 25 miles in 10 seconds, requiring a force of over 20 G's.
• The object was visible for 60 seconds.

McLaughlin is convinced the object was a Flying Saucer and a space ship from another planet, operated by intelligent beings. He dismisses conventional aircraft, meteors, and balloons as explanations due to the object's speed, maneuverability, and altitude.

He describes a second personal sighting in late May 1949, where he observed a white object moving slowly westward, which then rapidly accelerated and disappeared. This event occurred while observing the flight of an Army upper-atmosphere missile.

Further Incidents and Analysis:

McLaughlin also recounts an incident in early June 1949, where two small circular objects (about 20 inches in diameter) appeared and joined a Navy missile's upward flight, eventually accelerating past it. He later received reports from eleven men in five separate observation posts who had seen the same two objects perform as described.

He proposes a theory of a "radiation-pressure motor" for propulsion. This hypothetical motor would use a fluorescent lamp-like mechanism with fissionable gas and a fluorescent material, generating light that exerts pressure to propel the craft. He acknowledges that no known material can withstand the process and that shielding the crew from radiation is a major problem.

He also discusses a case reported by Sidney Shalett and Donald E. Keyhoe involving an Eastern Airlines DC-3 flight on July 24, 1948. Captain Clarence S. Chiles and Pilot John B. Whitted reported seeing a fast-moving, cigar-shaped object about a mile away, with glowing windows and a flame exhaust.

McLaughlin believes the saucers are piloted by intelligent beings, possibly smaller than humans, due to the high G-forces involved in their maneuvers. He speculates that they might originate from Mars, which he believes cooled off and became capable of supporting life millions of years before Earth.

He suggests that the frequency of sightings over the southwestern United States might be related to the position of Mars and the first atomic bomb test in New Mexico on July 16, 1945.

Regarding their behavior, McLaughlin notes that the saucers' operations have been peaceful, suggesting they are interested in observation rather than hostile action. He doubts they are launched by a foreign Earth power like Russia, as a crash would reveal advanced technology.

He explains why most people don't see them: the Earth's atmosphere is filled with moisture particles creating a "white sky," making it difficult to spot them unless atmospheric conditions are near-perfect, as they were at White Sands.

Conclusion:

Commander McLaughlin concludes that while his theories cannot be proven, they offer a plausible explanation for the observed phenomena. He feels there is nothing terrible, hostile, or dangerous about the flying saucers or their occupants, viewing their exploration of Earth as a natural extension of humanity's own fascination with space travel. He humorously notes, "So far, all I have suffered is a little hurt pride. They got here first."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine, TRUE, positions itself as a platform for controversial and groundbreaking information, particularly concerning phenomena like flying saucers. The editorial stance, as expressed by the editors, is that the official discontinuance of Project Saucer was premature and that the US government has likely continued its investigation under a different code name. TRUE believes that the 34 "unexplained incidents" acknowledged by the Air Force strongly support the interplanetary thesis put forth by Donald E. Keyhoe and now echoed by Commander McLaughlin. The magazine champions the idea that these sightings are not mere hallucinations or misidentifications but evidence of advanced, extraterrestrial technology.

• Themes:
• Confirmation of Flying Saucers
• Interplanetary Origin of UFOs
• Advanced Propulsion Systems (Radiation Pressure)
• Government Secrecy and Investigation (Project Saucer)
• Scientific Observation and Analysis
• Potential Extraterrestrial Visitors (Martians)

Tags: flying saucers, UFO, Commander McLaughlin, White Sands, Navy, rocket propulsion, radiation pressure motor, interplanetary, extraterrestrial, space ships, aerodynamics, astronomy, missiles, 1950, Project Saucer, Fawcett Publications.