UFORUM - 1957 04 - Vol 1 No 11

Magazine Overview

Title: UFORUM
Issue: VOLUME ONE, NUMBER ELEVEN
Date: APRIL-MAY 1957
Publisher: NORTH JERSEY U. F. O. GROUP
Country: U. S. A.

This issue of UFORUM, a publication of the Grand Rapids Flying Saucer Club, delves into extraterrestrial encounters and mysterious disappearances, offering insights into the burgeoning UFO phenomenon of the 1950s.

Howard Menger's Saucer Contacts

The lead article details the experiences of Howard Menger, who gained notoriety after being featured in LIFE magazine. Menger, a UFO investigator, shared his encounters with beings from other planets with a group of 80 investigators in Grand Rapids. He recounted childhood visions and sightings of discs, and a pivotal encounter in 1947.

In this 1947 encounter, Menger met a beautiful blonde woman he had seen as a child. She, along with two men, emerged from a metallic, bell-shaped craft that landed near High Bridge, N.J. The woman, who appeared to be around 25, revealed she was 500 years old. They informed Menger that many people were undergoing a 'trial period' and that he should keep his experiences secret until the summer of 1957. He was also told that space ships use 'aural analysis' to determine a person's nature by recording their aura's spectrum.

Menger further described a 1956 incident where a fire-ball landed, and within minutes, he was transported to Venus. He was shown images of the planet, noting its forests and streams but absence of streets. Venusians, he explained, use crafts similar to the one he saw, which hover without touching the ground. They live by the 'laws of the creator,' without war or conquest, and believe awareness to truth leads to a better life. Their spacecraft utilize natural forces, have a force field to deflect meteors, and operate without friction. The Venusians are telepathic and can read minds. They indicated that mass landings on Earth are unlikely due to potential panic, and that governments possess information about UFOs for specific reasons. Menger was told that humanity cannot leave Earth with hostility, as 'Love cannot predominate' while armies and navies exist; on Venus, only 'Understanding' is used.

Menger also shared a profound quote from the Venusians: "God is All...and each of us is a part of that All... When we realize that, we can perform miracles..." He was told that the story of Jesus in the Bible is accurate. Venusian ships can alter their frequency to become invisible and are operated manually in Earth's atmosphere but remotely in outer space. Their craft vary in size from 8 inches to miles long.

The Mysterious Disappearance of Harry Garvin

The magazine also features a lengthy narrative about the disappearance of Harry Garvin, described as a brilliant scientist and an authority on nuclear fission, who was part of the team that developed the atomic bomb. The story, originally published in the New Zealand Civilian Saucer Investigation Journal "Flying Saucers," is presented as one of the most amazing the editor has encountered.

Garvin, born in Auckland, New Zealand, was the only child of a bank manager and a school teacher. He displayed early academic promise, excelling in school and earning a master's degree at 20. His wartime services were utilized by the British government, leading him to the United States to work on the atomic bomb. Upon returning to New Zealand in 1947, he received decorations and engaged in classified nuclear research. In 1949, he was loaned to the American government, reportedly in connection with the 'Flying Saucer scare.'

Upon his return from the US in October, the narrator, a friend of Garvin's, noticed a significant change in him. Garvin became more taciturn and less cheerful. The narrator suggested he take a vacation, which Garvin initially resisted, but later agreed to visit his cottage at Lake Waikaremoana in April. The narrator joined him in May, finding Garvin tired and worn. Despite a medical check-up revealing no organic issues, Garvin seemed overworked.

On the narrator's last day, Garvin entrusted him with a written account of an experience in the States that had 'shaken him up.' He asked his friend to publish it a year after his death, if anything happened to him, emphasizing its potential vital importance to the world.

The narrative then recounts a phone call from Ralph Hadow, secretary to the Prime Minister, inquiring about Garvin. It was revealed that a 'Very Important Person' from the States was visiting, involved with 'Uranium sands,' and the Prime Minister wanted Garvin to meet them. The narrator accompanied Hadow and a Minister of Lands and Mines to Garvin's home.

Garvin, who was unexpectedly cheerful and apologetic for not coming to Wellington, hosted them that evening. The next morning, however, Garvin had vanished. His housekeeper found his bed unslept in, and his study empty. The boat he owned but never used was in place, but drag marks were found on the shore leading to the lake. The police were informed, and a search of the lake was planned. The narrator was asked to look through Garvin's papers for clues.

Garvin's affairs appeared to be in order, with no indication of him contemplating leaving or having any entanglements. The story concludes by stating that the account of Harry Garvin will be continued in the next issue of UFORUM.

Suggested Periodical Readings

The issue lists several other publications and organizations involved in UFO research, including:

• THE VISITOR (Interplanetary Relations group) - Delleville, Michigan.
• LITTLE LISTENING POST - Washington D.C.
• FLYING SAUCER REVIEW - London, England.
• FLYING SAUCERS - Civilian Saucer Investigation - Auckland, New Zealand.
• PROCEEDINGS of the College of Universal Wisdom - Yucca Valley, California.
• The FLYING SAUCER - Flying Disks Research Center - Sao Paulo, Brazil.
• A.P.R.O. Bulletin (Aerial Phenomena Research Organ.) - Alamogordo, New Mexico.
• Borderland Science Research Associates (B.S.R.A.) - San Diego, California.
• AUSTRALIAN SAUCER RECORD (Aus. Fly. Sau. Res. Soc.) - Kilburn, South Australia.
• NEWSLETTER of NATIONAL INVESTIGATIONS COMMITTEE on Aerial Phenomena - Washington D.C.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of UFORUM strongly supports the reality of UFOs and extraterrestrial contact, presenting Menger's accounts as credible evidence. The magazine also highlights the potential for government secrecy surrounding UFO information. The narrative surrounding Harry Garvin's disappearance suggests a possible connection between his scientific work, particularly in nuclear research and atomic energy, and the UFO phenomenon, hinting at a deeper mystery. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry and a belief in the significance of UFO research, encouraging readers to share their own sightings and experiences.

Title: UFOrum
Issue: 12-19
Issue Date: June 29, 1957
Publisher: UFOrum
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of UFOrum, a publication focused on UFO phenomena and related topics, presents a diverse range of content. It includes reports on UFO sightings, theoretical discussions on physics, and announcements for conventions and events within the UFO community.

Michigan Flying Saucer Federation Convention

The main cover story announces the Michigan Flying Saucer Federation Convention set for Saturday, June 29, 1957, in Detroit. The convention begins at 1:00 PM with an open house social sponsored by the Interplanetary Relations group and the Interplanetary Foundation at the Women's Federation Bldg. The afternoon social is open to all interested in UFOs, with plans for well-known Saucer Researchers and individuals with 'saucer contacts' to speak.

At 8:00 PM, the Interplanetary Foundation will present Mr. George Adamski, who will lecture on Universal Law and his plans for a school on the subject. Adamski is expected to show moving pictures of saucers he has taken. This evening session is strictly for members of various Michigan Saucer Groups, out-of-state guests, and those active in Saucer Work. Readers of UFOrum are invited. The purpose of limiting the group is to allow Adamski to engage in an advanced discussion without needing to provide basic explanations. Admission is $1.50 (inc. tax), with proceeds supporting the School for Universal Law. Tickets are sold at the door, and orders from the Grand Rapids area can be sent through UFOrum, Box 142, Route 1, Ada, Michigan.

Gravitation.... first of a series!

This article delves into the concept of gravitation, framing it as a significant obstacle to space travel. It explores current understanding and methods of overcoming gravity, emphasizing that humanity has largely worked against it rather than with it. The piece highlights that while we know what gravitation does, its cause remains largely unknown. Newton's Law of Gravitation is explained, noting the minuscule attractive force between two 100-pound cannon balls even at close proximity.

The article then introduces James Clerk Maxwell's 'Electromagnetic Theory' of light, stating light waves are electrical, not mechanical. Max Planck's 1900 idea that light consists of energy 'quanta' is discussed, leading to the 'Quantum Theory' which posits light as corpuscular yet traveling in waves. The electromagnetic spectrum is detailed, including radio waves, television, radar, heat, infra red, visible light, ultraviolet, x-rays, gamma, alpha, beta, and cosmic rays, with a mention that gravity's place in this spectrum is yet to be discovered.

Einstein's 'Theory of Relativity' is presented, suggesting space is warped or curved near matter, with this curvature being greatest near heavy bodies. Einstein believed bodies follow lines of least resistance in curved space rather than attracting each other directly. The article notes that neither Newton nor Einstein definitively explained the cause of gravitation, though Einstein speculated in 1929 that it might be related to electromagnetism. Finally, Einstein's 'Unified Field Theory' is mentioned, which aimed to tie together the microcosm and macrocosm, suggesting that gravitational and electromagnetic forces are not independent but are undergirded by a basic universal field. The article concludes by questioning the assumption that gravitation is solely an attraction, contrasting it with other force fields that can produce repulsion.

Saucer Sighting Roundup

This section compiles several UFO sighting reports:

• Case 81 (November 25, 1954): Cordoba, Argentina. Brig. General Saturnino G. Armenanzas reported two phenomena at the Cordoba Airport: a 'strange body' with a 'white, gray or bluish light' and a circular, luminous object. Both were observed for some time before disappearing.
• Case 82 (April 8, 1955): Rockford, Ill., USA. Three Air Force jets fired on a UFO, which one witness identified as a weather balloon. A smaller, 'brilliant white' round object reportedly shot out of the UFO and was fired upon by the jets.
• Case 83 (March 1946): Bernardston, Mass., USA. Rev. Albert Baller reported seeing three discs hanging in the sky, followed by another moving slowly, and a flash of light. The discs then rapidly traveled west and disappeared.
• Case 84 (May 1946): Lafayette, N.X., USA. Richard R. Hill and Stan Ogdrzyiak observed a 'cigarshaped' object, horizontal to the ground, with a metallic appearance, estimated to be 300-400 feet long and 100-125 feet wide. It was motionless at 5-10,000 feet and disappeared instantaneously.
• Case 85 (May 1946): La Grange, Fla., USA. Andrew Titcomb described a 'dark flying football' moving at about 1,000 feet elevation, estimated to be 15-20 feet long. It made a distinct, wavering, whistling noise and curved smoothly before vanishing into a cloudbank.
• Case 86 (August 5, 1926): Kukunor district, N/A. From Nicholas Roerich's book 'Altai-Himalaya', caravaneers observed a 'big and shiny' oval object moving at great speed, reflecting the sun, which changed direction and disappeared into the blue sky.
• Case 87 (March 1897): Central U.S.A. U.S. newspapers reported a huge cigar-shaped 'airship' seen coast to coast, including Chicago, Omaha, and Kansas City. It was described as a bright light, too big for a balloon, and in Milwaukee, it floated over City Hall for 15 minutes.

Odds and Ends

This section provides a collection of brief news items and commentary:

• Henry J. Taylor, former radio commentator and nominee for Ambassador to Switzerland, stated that 10% of Flying Saucer reports are 'very disturbing'. Cecil Brown, an ABC commentator, is questioned regarding his opinion on Taylor.
• The threat of atomic and hydrogen bombs is discussed, with President Eisenhower now addressing 'clean' and 'unclean' bombs. Radioactive Strontium 90 is noted to remain in the atmosphere for over 10 years.
• TIME magazine reported the case of a man who died within a fortnight after standing too close to a powerful radar transmitter for less than a minute, with his insides incinerated.
• Listeners are advised not to tune into 'Long John' on WOR (710 AM) if they wish to avoid losing sleep, as it features an old-fashioned bull session on off-beat topics, including SAUCERS.
• Ric Williamson writes from Peru about unexplored territory east of the Peruvian Andes, rumored to contain lost cities and a large saucer base, possibly connected to reported 'Towers of Ever-Burning Light'.

A Saucer Session for Spaceship Sighters

This article, quoted from LIFE magazine (May 27, 1957), describes the Fifth Interplanetary Spacecraft Convention held at Giant Rock Airport near Yucca Valley, Calif. Approximately 1,200 attendees gathered to reaffirm their belief in flying saucers, with many claiming personal experiences or conversations with saucer occupants. The article notes that a 'fake saucer crash' staged by Caltech students was presented.

Another article from The Los Angeles Examiner (May 12th) also poked fun at the convention, which attracted 5,000 enthusiasts. George Van Tassel acted as host, and Truman Betherum delivered the opening speech. A brief report from Dave Garroway mentions an AF veteran and wife in North Carolina who saw five strange floating, foam-like objects, one of which left an odor like burnt matches upon impact.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of UFOrum are UFO sightings, the physics of gravitation and its theoretical implications, and the activities of UFO enthusiast groups. The publication appears to be a platform for sharing eyewitness accounts, scientific speculation, and community news related to the UFO phenomenon. The editorial stance seems to be one of open inquiry and reporting on these topics, as evidenced by the compilation of diverse sightings and theoretical discussions. The publication is supported entirely by donations, indicating a grassroots, non-commercial approach.