TRUE

Magazine Overview

This issue of TRUE, The Man's Magazine, from August 1950, features a cover story titled "REPORT FROM PARADISE" by Robert Ruark, along with contributions from Quentin Reynolds, Lucian Cary, Maurice Zolotow, Ken Purdy, and Roy Chapman Andrews. The cover illustration depicts a dramatic rodeo scene.

"117 and the Flying Saucer" by Donald E. Keyhoe

This investigative article details a significant sighting of a "Flying Saucer" by the crew and passengers of TWA Flight 117 on April 27, 1950. The DC-3 aircraft was cruising at 2,000 feet, ninety miles east of Chicago, when Captain Robert F. Manning first spotted a mysterious red light.

The Sighting

Captain Manning, with Captain Robert Adickes in the pilot's seat, observed the light climbing and closing in. It was described as a bright red, glowing object, unlike any conventional aircraft. The object, initially appearing as a round blob of hot metal, was seen to be spherical and was overtaking the DC-3 rapidly, despite the plane's speed of 175 miles per hour. Captain Adickes confirmed the object's presence, and the hostess, Gloria Hinshaw, was called to the cockpit to witness it.

Witness Accounts

Several passengers also saw the object. Clifford H. Jenkins and Dean C. Bourland, both Boeing Aircraft men, described it as a blur of windows lit with a queer red light. Samuel N. Miller, manager of Goodman Jewelry Company, described it as a disk-shaped object with a solid red glow, not flashing like a neon sign. Harold C. Weimer, who was in the rear of the plane, did not see the object, suggesting the blast-furnace explanation. Martin Nerat, an employee of Schwerman Trucking Company, was startled by the bright red glow and agreed with the pilots on its maneuvers.

Object Characteristics and Behavior

Witnesses estimated the object's size to be at least twenty feet in diameter, possibly closer to fifty feet. Its shape was described as spherical, disk-shaped, or like a row of windows blended into a solid red band. The object exhibited remarkable evasive maneuvers, sliding away when the pilots attempted to close in or get above it. When Captain Adickes attempted a direct chase, the object dived rapidly to 1,500 feet and sped off towards South Bend at an estimated speed of 350-400 miles per hour, eventually fading from view.

Pilot Testimony

Captain Manning, a former Air Force pilot with extensive flight experience, stated that the object was entirely different from any ordinary aircraft and was uncanny enough to startle anyone. Captain Adickes, initially a skeptic, became convinced of the existence of Flying Saucers after this sighting, confirming it was not an airplane or imagination. Both pilots dismissed explanations like St. Elmo's fire or reflections from clouds, citing their experience with night flying.

Investigation and Official Stance

Donald E. Keyhoe, the author, conducted a thorough investigation, interviewing the crew and passengers. He noted that while there were minor variations in witness stories, the overall account was consistent. The article highlights the Air Force's consistent denial of Flying Saucer existence, even when faced with credible reports from experienced pilots. The author suggests this denial might be a cover for secret American technology or a way to avoid public panic.

Other Sightings

The article also references previous "Saucer scare" incidents, including sightings by United Air Lines pilots over Idaho, Eastern Air Lines pilots over Alabama, Pan American Airways crew over Massachusetts, and a Golden North air freighter near Alaska. It also mentions a sighting by TWA pilots at Vandalia, Ohio, and reports from Mexico and other air-line routes. The author criticizes the Air Force's handling of these investigations, often dismissing them as illusions, meteors, or weather balloons, and notes that official reports are often classified.

Possible Explanations

Keyhoe discusses the possibility of the Saucers being interplanetary craft or advanced, long-range devices secretly developed by the U.S. He dismisses the latter due to the risk of testing such devices over populated areas. He quotes an Air Force statement suggesting that a civilization might be alarmed by Earth's development of atomic bombs and rockets, leading to visits.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of TRUE magazine strongly supports the reality of Flying Saucer sightings, emphasizing the credibility of pilot and passenger testimonies. The editorial stance, as presented by Donald E. Keyhoe, is that the evidence overwhelmingly points to the existence of these phenomena, whether they are extraterrestrial or advanced human technology. The magazine appears to advocate for greater transparency and trust in the public's ability to handle such information, criticizing official denials and secrecy. The article "Down With Women" on page 88 suggests a generally male-oriented perspective for the magazine.