UFORUM - 1956 07 - Vol 1 No 05

Magazine Overview

Title: UFORUM
Issue: Number 5, Volume One
Date: July 1956
Publisher: Grand Rapids Flying Saucer Club
Price: 25¢

This issue of UFORUM, a publication of the Grand Rapids Flying Saucer Club, is a non-profit, educational organization. It welcomes all saucer sightings and experiences. The issue features a cover with a stylized title, an illustration of a flying saucer, and a futuristic building, along with the subtitle "Official U.S. Government designation for Unidentified Flying Objects."

Key Articles and Features

Buck Nelson to Return in July

This section details correspondence from Mrs. Sherman Lowery of Clarkston, Michigan, regarding her contact with Buck Nelson. Nelson had been in the East for several months. Mrs. Lowery recounts meeting Nelson in Detroit and later visiting him in Mountain View, Missouri, on October 4, 1955. She mentions that Nelson's cousin, 'Bucky,' had left a tape recording for her. Mrs. Lowery plans to visit Nelson again in late June, and Nelson will accompany her back to Michigan to speak to small groups in Grand Rapids and Flint. She asserts she has "a number of pieces of proof that Buck Nelson's story is true." She also reports seeing several UFOs, including one on May 13, 1956, and another on April 27, 1956, for which a tracing of a picture sent by Nelson is included. The article notes that Nelson's pension has been taken away by the government, possibly due to his activities.

Fanny Lovery adds a note that she will drive Mr. Nelson to Grand Rapids in early July and hopes to meet some of the local members. She requests that anyone writing to Nelson include postage.

Bucky's Christmas Message to the World

This section presents a transcript of a tape recording made on Christmas Day 1955, featuring 'Bucky,' described as a "distant" cousin of Buck Nelson, who claims to be from the planet Venus. 'Bucky' sends Christmas greetings and thanks Fanny Lowery for her card. He states that their ships have been torn apart for souvenirs and that they cannot yet exchange goods with Earth. 'Bucky' explains his presence is to urge humanity to give up atomic weapons and warfare, warning that the next war will be on American soil, leading to the destruction of America and then global civilization. He states they are observing whether Earth will use atomic power for peace or war, having witnessed another planet destroy itself. He concludes by reiterating the plea to abandon atomic weapons for peace on Earth.

The tape recording was made at Buck Nelson's Mountain View Ranch. The recording ends with 'Bucky' saying he will tell Buck much more privately.

"SIGNS IN THE HEAVENS?"

This is a description of a photograph taken by Buck Nelson on January 1, 1956, in Mountain View, Missouri. The photograph, a tracing of a tracing, depicts an object described as bluish-green, photographed with a reflex camera using TRI-X film. Nelson states the object was observed in the early evening, coming dark and cloudy. It was seen darting from side to side at terrific speed, then took off straight up. When it reappeared, gaining altitude, Nelson took the photograph. He describes the object as having a "very long, fiery tail and streaks of flame shot out on each side." A sketch of the fiery tail, shown as four times the length of the photograph, is also mentioned.

Venus and Flying Saucers

This article discusses the planet Venus and its potential confusion with UFO sightings. It notes that Venus reached its greatest brilliancy in spring 1955 and has since been dwindling. The author suggests that many UFO sightings are explained away as Venus, but some enthusiasts mistake the bright planet for a UFO due to a lack of astronomical knowledge. The article references a report from C.R.I.F.O.'s "ORBIT" (April 6, 1956) about an object reported in the Cincinnati "Enquirer" (March 22, 1956). The object was described as a bright beacon in the western sky, observed for 45 minutes. Through binoculars, it appeared as a compact galaxy of lights or a diamond brooch. It moved northwest and disappeared. Residents reported it was the third consecutive night the object appeared.

Stringfield, the editor of "ORBIT," was contacted by the "Enquirer." Dr. Paul Herget, director of the Cincinnati Observatory, stated that the planet Venus would keep getting brighter and that anyone looking at it would see a "Flying Saucer." He dismissed explanations of changing shapes and emerald-like appearances as spurious images due to poor observation conditions or binoculars. The "Enquirer" later refused to review CRIFO's analysis. The article mentions that an Air National Guard jet with General Edsel Clark aboard was sent to impress upon Cincinattians the Venus explanation. However, CRIFO felt that only 10 of the sightings were explainable by Venus, while six defied conventional explanation.

Signals from Venus

This section reports on Navy scientists picking up radio waves from Venus, indicating it is too warm for life as earthlings understand it. Three civilians working for a naval research laboratory detected weak radio waves from Venus. Dr. John D. Kraus, director of Ohio State University's radio observatory, also reported receiving strong radio signals from Venus several times in May, described as crackling sounds similar to radio static. Navy scientists Cornell H. Mayer, Russell M. Sloannaker, and Timothy P. McCullough noted readings showing the temperature in Venus's cloud bank to be about 220 degrees Fahrenheit, attributing the emissions to heat around the planet. This is presented as an AP release.

"Saucers Are Real, Says V.I.P."

A review from "The Flying Saucer Review" of London states that an American VIP interviewed in Mexico revealed that saucers are manned by friendly visitors from another planet who are trying to find a way to survive in Earth's atmosphere before landing. When asked why the Air Force denied their existence, the VIP suggested the U.S. government wants people to concentrate on "Communism" as the real menace, distracting from outer space.

The Padre Island Saucer

Ray Sanford recounts an experience from the March 1955 issue of "SAUCERS" and the May 1956 issue of "FATE." On November 6, 1954, Sanford and John McCoy, along with others, went to Padre Island, Texas, to attempt contact with a flying saucer. They split into two groups, about two miles apart, and attempted mental contact. Sanford experienced a mental picture of a saucer, and a "white globe of great brilliance" appeared. Both groups received a mental impression and saw the light. They received a message that a "space ship would approach at 11 PM." At 10:55 PM, a glowing object with a dome and flat bottom appeared over the gulf but moved away as a car approached. The object repeatedly approached and retreated as cars appeared.

Later, a State Highway Patrol car arrived. After initial suspicion, Sanford explained they were trying to contact flying saucers and pointed to one hovering nearby. The patrolman observed the saucer for 15 minutes using 8X binoculars, describing it as having a dome on top and a flat bottom. The constable mentioned "secret government briefings" and secret photographs of such things. The patrol car and officers left around 1:30 AM. The story in "SAUCERS" included an affidavit from Sanford and McCoy, witnessed by a notary. The "FATE" article added affidavits from two policemen, Ray Hoyd and Steve Woods, and included a photo of two patrolmen. Sanford named his seven companions, but only McCoy signed an affidavit. The editor finds the "FATE" presentation convincing due to corroborating evidence.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of UFORUM strongly focuses on UFO sightings, contactee experiences, and the potential for extraterrestrial visitation. A recurring theme is the explanation of sightings as astronomical phenomena, particularly the planet Venus, with the magazine expressing skepticism towards such dismissals when evidence suggests otherwise. The issue also touches upon the geopolitical context of the Cold War, with 'Bucky' from Venus warning against atomic weapons and the U.S. government allegedly prioritizing anti-communism over UFO investigation. The publication appears to advocate for open investigation and belief in the reality of UFOs, presenting various accounts and scientific inquiries into the phenomenon. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of exploring and acknowledging UFO reports, often questioning official explanations and highlighting the experiences of individuals who claim contact with non-human intelligence.

This document, likely an issue of a UFO-focused publication, contains several articles and reports related to unidentified flying objects and related phenomena. The primary articles include a personal sighting report, coverage of a spacecraft convention, and an investigation into a mysterious monster sighting.

Saucer Sighting ??? This article, dated April 1955, describes an editor's personal experience of witnessing an unidentified object in the sky over South-East Grand Rapids. The object was characterized by a bright red glow, approximately three times as bright as Jupiter, and was the only visible part. It made no discernible noise, distinguishing it from jets or conventional aircraft. The object traversed the eastern sky, moved across the northern horizon, and continued across the western sky, completing a circular orbit around the entire city in an estimated minute. The author's conclusions were that it could not have been a jet due to the lack of noise and the nature of its orbit, nor a conventional aircraft due to the absence of noise and silhouette. It was also ruled out as a light reflection, balloon, bird, temperature inversion, meteorite, or hallucination, as four people witnessed it. The author concludes by posing the question, "Then what on earth was it?"

Third Annual Spacecraft Convention This section reports on the Third Annual Spacecraft Convention held at Giant Rock Airport, Yucca Valley, California, on April 28-29. Approximately 7,000 to 8,000 'space fans' attended. George Van Tassel opened the convention, emphasizing that 'space people are still people' and share a concept of a higher Deity with Earthlings. Reverend Morris Ludwig set a spiritual tone, urging participants not to force opinions but to point the way to right living. Mrs. Dana Howard spoke about people living in shells and being afraid to 'stick out their necks,' stating that saucer enthusiasts are seeking peace and contentment and trying to open avenues of space. Truman Betherum highlighted the Air Force's contradictory policy of denying UFOs while investigating them, suggesting that a shift from 'construction for destruction' to 'construction for production' might reveal UFO secrets. He believed 'space friends' would help humanity avoid self-destruction and advocated for electing intelligent leaders. Dan Fry discussed the relativity of reality, urging tolerance for those whose reality includes things beyond comprehension. George Van Tassel, the host, spoke about the scientific knowledge space people could share, including a 'free energy principle' that he claimed is suppressed by the current monetary system. He stated that discs generate their own fields and depend on planetary gravity and magnetic fields. Van Tassel also mentioned a Space Confederation of fifty-two solar systems and 601 planets, and that a single space-craft carrier can hold 25,000,000 people. Orfeo Angelucci urged spreading the message of space beings, linking belief in them with a rejection of destructive things, and suggested that accepting the presence of space beings could lead to cures for diseases and a Utopia within three years. Dick Miller noted increased public consciousness of the flying saucer story. Frank Scully compared knowing the truth about saucers to being too far ahead of a parade. Dr. Laughead spoke of entering a new phase in metaphysical work, with mystery schools disseminating ancient truths and a move towards a new time scale and 'Kingdom' on Earth. The convention also featured a film screening, "We've Seen The Saucers." Regrets were noted from George Adamski, Donald Keyhoe, Edward J. Ruppelt, and Frank Edwards.

Michigan Flying Saucer Federation News This section details activities and organizations within the Michigan Flying Saucer Federation. Laura Marxer of the Interplanetary Foundation in Detroit is mentioned for her cooperation and promotion of the movie "Unidentified Flying Objects." The Interplanetary Foundation scheduled a moonlight cruise and a lecture by M.K. Jessup. Mrs. Marxer reported 125 paid-up members and listed several pamphlets for sale, including lectures by George Adamski and Rev. John Miller. The Interplanetary Relations group invited Michigan Flying Saucer Federation groups to a state-wide meeting in Detroit in September 1956. The IR is opening a Saucer Reference Library and makes various publications available, including "Whirling Wheels" by Rev. John Miller, and issues by Geo. Adamski. It also lists other active groups in Michigan, such as the Kalamazoo Flying Saucer Study Club, Detroit Flying Saucer Club, Grand Rapids Flying Saucer Club, Flying Saucer Research Club, Plainwell Flying Saucer Club, and Battle Creek Flying Saucer Club.

The Mysterious Marshall Monster This article investigates a report of a 'hairy monster' seen in the Marshall area, drawing parallels to 'monsters' reported near flying saucers. The story, edited from the Marshall Evening Chronicle of June 14, 1956, recounts an incident where three young men—brothers Herman and Philip Williams and their friend Otto Collins—claimed to have encountered a large creature. While Herman searched for a shotgun, Philip and Otto were grabbed by the creature. They described it as having big green eyes, being around ten feet tall, and having hands instead of paws. The creature carried the boys down a dirt road. When Herman turned on the car lights, the creature veered, dropping Otto and then Philip. The boys described the creature as having a strong odor like spoiled meat. Sheriff's deputies reportedly searched the area for three nights but found no trace of the monster. The article notes that the boys' story remained consistent, and investigators found them sincere and genuinely scared. The Kalamazoo group also investigated the scene, noting the dense woods. The report mentions that similar odors have been associated with monsters in other saucer stories, referencing a tale from South America involving a monster encountered near a spaceship. The article concludes by mentioning Gray Barker, author of "They Knew Too Much About the Flying Saucers," who intends to investigate the matter.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, the potential for extraterrestrial contact, and the exploration of alternative or suppressed technologies like free energy. There is a strong undercurrent of belief in the existence of UFOs and the presence of advanced extraterrestrial civilizations. The convention coverage highlights a desire for peace, understanding, and a shift towards constructive endeavors. The inclusion of the 'Marshall Monster' story suggests an interest in phenomena that may be related to or associated with UFOs, blurring the lines between different types of unexplained events. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded investigation and reporting on these phenomena, encouraging readers to consider possibilities beyond conventional explanations.