True

Magazine Overview

Title: True
Issue: October 1952
Date: October 1952
Publisher: True Magazine
Country: USA
Language: English
Cover Headline: WE FLEW ABOVE FLYING SAUCERS
Document Type: Magazine Issue

Article: We Flew Above Flying Saucers

This article, written by 1st Officer William B. Nash and 2nd Officer William H. Fortenberry, details their extraordinary encounter with unidentified flying objects on the night of July 14, 1952. While ferrying a Pan American World Airways DC-4 airliner from New York to Miami, flying at 8,000 feet over Chesapeake Bay, the pilots and their crew of three, along with ten passengers, witnessed what they described as 'flying saucers'.

The sighting occurred around 8:12 PM Eastern Standard Time. The night was clear, with visibility unlimited. The pilots first noticed a red brilliance in the air beyond Newport News. They then observed six bright, circular objects streaking toward them at tremendous speed, appearing to be well below their altitude. These objects had a uniform red-orange color and appeared to be about 100 feet in diameter, larger than a DC-3 wingspan. They were flying in a stepped-up echelon formation, tilted slightly to the right.

The most astonishing aspect of the encounter was the objects' maneuverability. As they passed directly under and slightly in front of the airliner, the six objects performed an abrupt, 150-degree change of course almost instantaneously. They flipped on edge, with their glowing surfaces facing right, and then reformed into a tail-foremost echelon before darting off at a sharp angle. The pilots described this change of direction as being like a ball ricocheting off a wall.

Immediately after these six objects departed, two more similar objects emerged from behind and under the airliner, joining the first group on a closing heading. Suddenly, the lights of all eight objects blinked out, and then blinked on again as they sped westward, north of Newport News, climbing in a graceful arc. They disappeared by blinking out one by one.

The entire event, from the first sighting to the disappearance, was estimated to have lasted only about 12 seconds. The pilots were left dumbfounded and struggled to believe what they had witnessed, realizing that if either had seen it alone, they might have hesitated to report it. However, the fact that both witnessed it simultaneously made them certain of its reality.

Upon landing at Miami International Airport, they found that their dispatcher had noted that five jets were in the area at the time, a detail the pilots dismissed, stating the objects were not jets and numbered eight. They contacted Air Force headquarters on the airport to make a report.

The following morning, they were contacted by Air Force investigators and subjected to a lengthy interrogation. During the interview, they were told that their experience was not unique and that similar sightings had been reported. The pilots, both experienced flyers with over ten years of service, emphasized that they had never seen anything remotely resembling the objects they encountered.

They discussed the incredible speed and maneuverability, estimating that the objects traveled about 50 miles in 12-15 seconds, suggesting speeds of 6,000 to 12,000 miles per hour. They also noted the lack of clear visibility of the bottom surfaces and the unlighted edges of the objects when they were on edge, which appeared to be about 15 feet thick. The pilots concluded that the craft were intelligently operated and from somewhere other than Earth, stating that no earthly aircraft could withstand the forces and heat generated by such maneuvers.

They ruled out the possibility of secret guided missiles, deeming it illogical for such experiments to be conducted over populated areas and airways. They also expressed certainty that any science capable of such technology would have had intermediate steps become public knowledge.

The article includes a diagram illustrating the saucers' maneuver in stages and mentions that the Washington radar twice picked up unidentified objects on July 19 and 26, with a pursuing jet flier reporting being outdistanced by four disappearing lights on the latter date. The pilots admit they have no idea what the saucers were doing or where they came from, but are certain of their intelligent, non-terrestrial origin.

Advertisements

The issue also contains advertisements for various products, including:

• Wolverine Pigskin Gloves: Promoted for their toughness and comfort, with a free pencil offer.
• Langley Glass Rods: Advertised for their 'lightning response' in fishing.
• New Bulldozer Tractor: A toy tractor for children.
• Crosman 22 Cal. Pneumatic Rifle: A low-cost shooting option.
• Waltco Sportsman Pocket Hand Warmer: A flameless hand warmer.
• Galentine Novelty Co.: Offering trade-in deals on watches.
• Mellinger Co.: Promoting a mail-order business course for import-export.
• Consolidated Shoe System: Offering a shoe selling business opportunity.
• U.S. Gov't Surplus 'Bargain Book': Featuring savings on surplus items.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The primary theme of this issue is the reporting of unexplained aerial phenomena (UAP) or 'flying saucers' through firsthand accounts. The magazine appears to take a serious stance on such reports, presenting the pilots' testimony as credible and highlighting the implications of their encounter. The editorial stance seems to be one of open inquiry into unexplained phenomena, presenting evidence and expert opinions (like the pilots' own analysis) to support the idea that these objects are not easily explained by conventional means. The inclusion of Air Force investigation details and radar reports further suggests an effort to provide a comprehensive, albeit speculative, look at the UAP phenomenon of the era.