Uranus - 1955 - Vol 02 No 3 - Whole No 09

Magazine Overview

Title: URANUS FLYING SAUCERS
Issue: Vol. 2 No. 3 (9)
Date: December, 1955
Publisher: MARKHAM HOUSE PRESS LTD.
Country: United Kingdom
Editor: E. BIDDLE

This issue of URANUS FLYING SAUCERS, published in December 1955, marks a significant expansion of the magazine's scope, as announced by the Editor, E. Biddle, in the 'This and That' section. While maintaining its primary focus on Flying Saucers, the journal intends to incorporate other subjects that may have a tangential connection, drawing an analogy to the B.S.R. Round Robin. This modification is experimental and its continuation will depend on reader reaction. The editor also mentions plans for improvements in the magazine's presentation.

Articles and Content

This and That (by the Editor)

E. Biddle, the editor, discusses consultations with active friends, including Mr. Egerton Sykes of Markham House Press, leading to the decision to broaden the scope of URANUS. He clarifies that this does not mean following in the footsteps of publications like Fate or Prediction but rather exploring related subjects. He acknowledges that the journal remains fundamentally a Flying Saucer publication and that the changes are experimental. Biddle invites reader feedback on these modifications. He also notes that improvements in presentation are planned but not yet ready for announcement. A 'CORRESPONDENTS PLEASE NOTE' section advises readers to contact Markham House Press for specimen copies or to send money, while purely editorial correspondence should be directed to E. Biddle. Due to limited leisure time, Biddle states he cannot indulge in lengthy correspondence but will provide brief replies if a stamped, self-addressed envelope is enclosed. He also mentions that due to space limitations, two letters regarding Adamski from Mr. H.T. Wilkins and Mr. Arundel are being held over for the next issue, after which the topic will not be further discussed.

Those Little Green Men (by E. Biddle)

This article delves into the increasing number of reports concerning small humanoid beings, approximately 3-4 feet in height and sometimes greenish in color, sighted across widely separated locations. Biddle presents several cases:

1. A police officer near Cincinatti, USA, observed four 'little men' about 3 feet tall with non-human features.
2. Franz Hoge in Muenster, Germany, reported four creatures, about 3½ feet tall, emerging from a cigar-shaped craft, described as having thick-set bodies, oversized heads, and delicate legs.
3. Marius de Wilde in Quarouble, France, witnessed two 'little men in space suits' with legs but no arms, who retreated to a saucer after a 'green ray' paralyzed him.
4. Reports of 'hairy bipeds' in Venezuela are mentioned, though details are scarce.
5. M. Aimé Michel reports 30-40 cases of landings in France between September and December 1954, often involving small beings (average height 3.5ft), though establishing concrete proof for most cases proved difficult.
6. An account from the Los Angeles Times, dated August 1955, details a family's encounter near Hopkinsville, Kentucky, USA, with little green men, about three feet tall, glowing and with claw-like hands, after a 'space ship' landed nearby. The beings retreated when fired upon but returned.

Biddle notes that while individual incidents might be criticized, the cumulative evidence of many similar reports makes it difficult to dismiss them as mere hoaxes or hallucinations. He suggests there is 'something there' and the task is to collate evidence. He speculates that these entities might come from a planet with similar gravity to Earth and an atmosphere they can breathe, ruling out planets in our solar system. The large eyes suggest adaptation to lower light levels. He also points out that a 'saucer' is not always seen, but this doesn't negate its presence.

Here and There (by C.A. Heathcote)

This section discusses articles from the December 1954, March, and June 1955 issues of 'SAUCERS' concerning 'light beam' communication with Saucerians. It details how simple light-beam receivers and transmitters can be built, using components like a car spotlight, battery, resistor, and carbon microphone. The principle involves modulating a narrow light beam with speech voltages, which is then picked up by a photo tube in the receiver. The article mentions that such equipment was developed for military use during the war for secret communication. A potential difficulty in obtaining an RCA 923 photo tube is noted. The section also references an article on the reception of Hertzian waves from Jupiter, appearing in the June issue of URANUS and extended in the British Radio Amateur's Journal.

Radio Astronomy and UFOs

An article by R.C. Jennison from the Jodrell Bank Experimental Station discusses signals from Jupiter, similar to atmospheric interference, received in the 14-20 megacycle range. The June CRIFO 'Newsletter' (now ORBIT) is cited for a report dismissing the idea that Saucers are US weapons. This report, via Frank Gallagher, details an incident where four Ground Observer Corps members in Rockford, Michigan, witnessed a UFO. Jets were scrambled to intercept, and reportedly fired on the object, causing it to explode. A smaller object then escaped. Air Force personnel allegedly warned the witnesses to remain silent. The editor of CRIFO adds that this incident, occurring in April 1955, is not unique, citing an earlier incident at Luke Field in 1945 and a NIKE missile being fired at a Saucer.

UFO Interception Policy and Censorship

This section, attributed to the 'present scribe' (likely Biddle), discusses the reception given to 'visitors' and calls for the U.S. Air Force to enforce a standing order not to shoot at UFOs unless attacked. It suggests that factors like mysterious jet disasters might influence military minds. The July and August issues of ORBIT are mentioned for providing reasons for a potential change in UFO interception policy, suggesting that Air Forces might be collaborating to challenge UFO incursions. The article also links UFO activity to growing international alarm and its potential influence on the Geneva Conference of the Big Four. ORBIT is cited as producing evidence of strict U.S. and Pan-American censorship of saucer reports, with civilian airline pilots ordered to report sightings directly to the military and not to newspapers. The establishment of the Telonic Research Centre in Prescott, Arizona, for interstellar communication using ultra-violet and infra-red principles is also noted.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the detailed investigation of 'little green men' sightings, the exploration of UFO-related technology and communication, and the critical examination of government and military responses to UFO phenomena, including censorship and interception policies. The editorial stance, particularly from E. Biddle, is one of open inquiry, urging the collation of evidence and suggesting that the UFO phenomenon warrants serious investigation, while also expressing a desire to broaden the magazine's scope to related topics. There is a clear skepticism towards official explanations and a call for greater transparency and a less aggressive approach from military forces towards UFOs.

This issue of URANUS, dated September 1955, features a collection of letters to the editor and articles that delve into the burgeoning field of flying saucer phenomena, ancient aviation, and scientific speculation. The magazine adopts a critical yet open-minded stance, encouraging evidence-based discussion while exploring various theories and historical accounts.

Letters to the Editor

The "Letters to the Editor" section presents a lively debate on the nature of proof in UFO sightings. V. Filmer from Durban, South Africa, expresses skepticism towards claims made in books about Adamski and visitations in Scotland, emphasizing the need for "PROOF" – tangible evidence of something not originating from Earth. He humorously suggests that a Martian's discarded 'paper' would be priceless to humans, highlighting the desired level of proof. Filmer also questions the logic of assuming advanced alien beings would be less careful about leaving proof of their visits than humans would be.

René Fouéré from Clichy, France, responds to accusations of presenting unscientific hypotheses, challenging his accuser, Alejandro de la Jara, to demonstrate the impossibility of interplanetary fauna rather than resorting to vague condemnations. Fouéré cites the French Academy of Sciences' past denial of meteorites as an example of how scientific consensus can be wrong.

John Pitt from Surbiton, Surrey, calls for a more cautious approach to the "saucery," suggesting the "band-wagon" is moving too fast. He critiques Desmond Leslie's "Mythological Saucer" for its use of Sanskrit, questioning the translations and the reliance on Theosophical literature. Pitt advocates for waiting for major events or clear intentions from saucers or their occupants before drawing conclusions.

Another letter comments on "The Adamski Controversy" and a letter by Gavin Gibbons. It raises doubts about the authenticity of George Adamski's photography, noting that a witness, Al Bailey, claimed Adamski himself took the controversial picture and attributed it to Jerrold Baker for convenience. The letter also mentions Alonzo Dove, a professional photographer, who concluded that Adamski's photographs were not taken with a telescopic camera but a simple box camera, based on emulsion grain analysis and optical calculations.

Russian Scientists and Space Exploration

Several sections touch upon statements made by Russian scientists regarding space travel. A quotation from Danton Walker's column in the "New York News" mentions "Degravitation" as a significant scientific contribution achieved through hush-hush experiments. Another report, sourced from the French weekly RADAR (November 28, 1954), details statements by Alexander Nesmajanov and Alex Sternfeld. Sternfeld, a Soviet astrophysicist, reportedly claimed that a moon landing would occur on the unseen side of the Moon, facilitated by charts from a prior trip. The source of these statements is noted as being filtered through the "iron curtain."

A cutting from FRANCE-SOIR (August 2, 1955) corroborates older statements by Keyhoe, reporting that an unnamed eminent engineer working on National Defence stated that Americans detected a satellite of Earth using radar, but could not determine if it was natural or artificial. Furthermore, Soviet doctor G. Pokrowsky, writing in IZVESTIA (August 19, 1955), predicted that interstellar voyages were near and that unmanned rockets could be sent to the Moon, with moon landings being photographable from Earth if the craft was equipped with an atomic or hydrogen bomb for impact.

Ancient Indian Flying Machines

E. Sykes contributes an article titled "INDIA AND EARLY FLYING MACHINES." He references Ramachandra Dikshitar's work "Warfare in Ancient India." The article discusses "AMUTKA Weapons," including the "Vajra" or Thunderbolt, described as fifty miles wide and a hundred miles long. It also mentions "Aerial Warfare" in the "Samarangana Sutradhara," which contains 230 stanzas on ancient flying machines. The "Brahamanas" mention the 'Agnihotra,' a large flying vessel, and the "Rig Veda Samhita" tells of the Asvins rescuing Bhujya with a winged ship or 'Vimana.' These aircraft were reportedly made of light wood, resembling birds, but also incorporated iron, copper, and lead. The article notes that Krisna used an eagle-shaped machine called the "Garuda," and Ravana flew with Sita in his aircraft. Rama received the "Puspaka Vimana" as a gift, described as large enough for windows and comfortable seats. The article concludes that the art of flying, once confined to rulers, was forgotten as states fell.

Another piece discusses the "Vimanas" upon the Ramayana of Valmiki, suggesting that interpretations linking them to flying saucers might be flights of fancy, manufacturing objective fact from poetic expressions. It also notes the use of terms like "Agneya Astra" (Fiery Weapon) and the reliance on Theosophists' writings, which are largely rejected by scholars.

Other Features and Reviews

An English edition of M.K. Jessup's "Case for the UFO" is advertised. The issue also discusses levitation, noting that individuals who practiced it often died young due to exhaustion of vitality, and questions how ancients could have used it without a large supply of natural energy or knowledge of negative matter.

The magazine lists "Two important Flying Saucer Journals": "SAUCERS," the quarterly journal of Flying Saucers International, and "AUSTRALIAN FLYING SAUCER RECORD." Details on subscriptions, contents, and contributors for these journals are provided. Notably, "SAUCERS" features Truman Bethurum's account of eleven Space Visitor contacts and a series on "Space Craft & Interstellar Communication" by John Otto.

Finally, a section on "CURRENT FLYING SAUCER LITERATURE AVAILABLE" from Markham House Press Ltd. lists numerous books published in Britain, France, and the USA, with their prices in pounds sterling and US dollars. Titles cover a wide range of UFO-related topics, including Adamski's works, analyses of photographs, and discussions on ancient myths and potential extraterrestrial life.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the critical examination of evidence in UFO phenomena, the exploration of ancient texts for evidence of advanced technology, and the dissemination of information about contemporary UFO literature and research. The editorial stance appears to be one of encouraging rigorous inquiry and skepticism, while remaining open to the possibility of extraterrestrial visitation and the reinterpretation of historical accounts. The magazine acts as a platform for diverse viewpoints, from staunch skepticism to speculative theories, all within the context of UFO research and related historical and scientific inquiries.