At the end of 1951, the first ufology groups apart from the military circles formed. Practically the first, Civilian Saucer Investigation, in Los Angeles, California, the USA, counted among its members people as eminent as Edward J. Sullivan, employee of North American Aviation, or Walter Riedel, also of North American Aviation, one of the fathers of German V-2 rocket, who came to the US with the "Paperclip".
See also: Issue 1.
An analysis of 400 reports of unidentified aerial objects received by CSI in the first ten months of operation of the Civilian Saucer Investigation, supplementing the summary of 200 sightings in the Fall Issue of the CSI Bulletin, has revealed no standard pattern, whereby the unknown sky objects could he identified. However, it does show that, to some extent, the mysterious so-called flying saucers have been superseded by puzzling and unidentified lights in the sky.
During the period from January to September 1952, a total of 60 observations of lights were reported to CSI, as contrasted with 49 discs, 39 fireballs (of which 25 were the much-publicized green fireballs), 9 cigar-shaped objects, and 26 miscellaneous shapes, including everything from bubbles to bun warmers.
For the first time, a distinctive feature of saucers was recorded in 1952. In 14 instances, astute observers noted that the saucers had a distinct wobble as they moved through the sky, especially at speeds normal to our airplanes. Very few wobbles have been recorded by CSI before.
The greatest number of 1952 sightings occurred in April with 47, and In July with 40 reports, whereas the highest month In 1951 was November and the lowest April. However, the spotty nature of these first reports does not present a fair picture. Numerous reports received by CSI after September 1952 will be analyzed in the next quarterly bulletin.
California leads all other states in the Union in the number of sightings reported, possibly because CSI is more familiar to people in that state. CSI has received 62 California reports in 1952. Next closest states were Pennsylvania with 12, and New York and Massachusetts with 10 reports each. Also in previous years, California has held the lead.
Another changing aspect of the 1952 reports is the predominance, of night sightings over day sightings. A total of 118 night sightings was recorded as compared with 68 day sightings. Heretofore, the latter have held the lead. For example, in 1951, the ratio was 19 night and 28 day sightings.
A check of the reports received by CSI shows that a flying disc was seen as early as 1942, and again two years later, in 1944. By contrast, CSI has received information of strange lights in the sky as early as 1895. Although green fireballs are reported to be a recent phenomenon, one dates back to 1930. Other isolated sightings were recorded throughout the 30's. These include several observations in areas near U. S. Army installations of the Panama Canal Zone.
Two early sightings of cigar-shaped objects reported to CSI in 1951, are from 1935 and 1944. Reports of this type of object became more frequent in 1952. Before the turn of the century, and long before airships were known, newspaper accounts in the CSI files report the cruising of a large tube-like aircraft across the United States. The progress of this airship was reported from various cities on its path.
Although most of the objects seen were silent, CSI also has reports of nine objects which produced a sound in their swift passage. These sounds varied and, in some instances, a pronounced loud humming noise like that of a swarm of bees was heard.
Another significant change was noted in 1952. Although large orderly formations of sky objects have been reported in isolated instances in previous years, they became more numerous for the first time this year with 11 such flights reported. In these instances, numerous objects ranging in number from a dozen to hundreds were observed in scattered portions of the United States and abroad. One report received from Germany states that several refugees and employees of a Displaced Persons Camp saw many formations of hun-
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dreds of lights pass at short intervals through the sky for over one hour. Observations were made both by day and by night. In all Instances, the objects appeared as small luminous bodies or lights, moving much too slowly for meteors and much too fast for planes.
The erroneous belief that flying saucers and lights are observed only in the United States is effectively refuted by the fact that a large proportion of the 1952 reports received by CSI originates from six provinces of Canada, several South American countries, the Panama Canal Zone, Puerto Rico, England, Scandinavia, the European continent, North Africa, Palestine, Hawaii, Australia and Korea. The accompanying map of the world roughly indicates the areas of the globe from which reports on flying saucers have been received.
It is hoped that analyses in future CSI bulletins will more truly represent the actual frequency and type of occurrences, as sky watches, recently initiated all over the United States, and individual observers will be more uniformly distributed, thus resulting in a better over-all picture of the flying saucer riddle. It is also the aim and interest of CSI that all reports received by various interested groups, especially reports of unusual sightings, eventually will be exchanged or coordinated by some central group.
A most unusual report, which has not yet been confirmed, but should be worthwhile checking by our readers in the Richmond California area, states that three dull-white rather large luminous objects have been observed over Richmond, one for over a year, the others for several weeks high in the western sky.
Many months ago, the first object appeared as a brilliant star, which now is of much duller color. It regularly appears for a few days, then disappears for several days. The writer enclosed a detailed schedule of appearances between September 10 and October 18, 1952.
On one of these occasions, September 19, the star appeared "On Duty" as usual, high in the west at about 8 p.m. The sky was clear and cloudless. The object disappeared after half an hour, and a few seconds later reappeared low in the northwest about the size of the moon, and at an apparent altitude of a low-flying plane. The object remained in this position for about an hour, again disappeared for a few seconds, and reappeared at its usual high westerly direction. At about 10 p.m., it slowly lowered itself and shortly afterwards disappeared for the night. Each time, the writer checked all other positions but could find no light there.
Later studies revealed that the object appears in the west at an elevation of about 45° between 6:30 and 7:30 p.m., then disappears from its usual high western position to reappear low in an easterly direction, where it can be easily recognized by its peculiar dull color. It remains for about two hours, describes a slow arc to the west, and in a few seconds returns to its high western position, thus roughly describing a triangular path.
Allowing for discrepancies of time, and even of accurate direction, such an unusual phenomenon could not escape an intentional observer, and we invite our readers in that region to report their findings.
Recently, we received several photographs which, according to the sender, were taken through his telescope. One of the pictures, which struck us as very unusual, was that of a flying saucer with a conning tower. The first impression was that of a musical top, which could easily be made by trick photography. However, there are two other Instances on file where conning towers were seen. One is the much publicized story of a German refugee and his family who reports seeing a flying saucer near the Russian zone from which two little men in shiny armor emerged. The saucer, in this case, was described as 40 to 50 feet in diameter and the conning tower as 10 feet high. After the saucer took off, the tower telescoped back into the disc.
A similar picture appeared in 1947 in the Shelbyville, Indiana, News, of which we await confirmation. Therefore, the possibility of telescoping towers should be considered in other saucers.
There are several reports in the CSI files where flying saucers have been seen near rich ore deposits of uranium, tungsten, and other rare metals.
A great number of inhabitants of Mondariz near Vigo, Spain, have frequently seen flying saucers hovering near the town. This region contains valuable tungsten deposits.
A few weeks ago, a number of swirling discs were observed for about 10 minutes in mid-afternoon by pedestrians of the Peruvian town of Huandoval. Two discs came within a few feet of the church steeple. There are rich iron and tungsten deposits in the area of Huandoval.
Beaumont, California, where unworked uranium deposits are located, appears to be a center of extraordinary flying saucer activity. Scores of people in this vicinity have observed flying discs and fireballs of unusually large size, from approximately the size of a silver dollar to that of the moon. Their general direction of flight is north and south. Even in daylight, the lower side of the discs is very brilliant which, at their relatively low altitude, indicates some luminescent source. The greatest frequency of appearances over Beaumont, particularly over the Badlands and San Timoteo Canyon, was in winter 1951-1952. There the discs hovered over the area sometimes from 5 to 15 minutes, then repeated their visits about 2 days later. In one instance, five discs were seen in formation. One described a triangular path over the Badlands. At night, the objects are of dull yellowish color, which becomes intensely bluish as the discs speed away. Last December, two discs hovered over the peak of Mt. Gorgonio, the scene of a disastrous plane crash a few weeks past. There are no military installations within miles of this sparsely settled region.
In connection with the Beaumont sightings, it is of interest to note that extremely bright fireballs were observed in the vicinity of Mt. Gorgonio in September 1952, during and shortly after the Pomona County Fair. Reports came from widely separated areas. At the beginning of the Fair, several hundred spectators on the grandstand saw a brilliant fireball, which just before the point of impact with the ground extinguished with a display of multicolored sparks. The same occurence [sic] was reported on five occasions in short succession on September 15, 16, 17, and October 2
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and 8. In all instances, the fireball appeared within a few minutes of 3:35 p.m. and, in each case, it disappeared in the identical spot, although the angle of descent varied. Subsequent attempts to photograph the general area between 8 and 9 p.m. each evening for two weeks failed to show a repetition of this spectacle.
Another puzzling appearance of discs is reported from the Salton Sea located in the center of a large desert area in the Imperial Valley of Southern California. Frequent fireballs and discs have been reported from there. Three months ago, a silvery fireball of an estimated size of a large house appeared across the lake about 7 miles from the observer. The object slowly settled to about 500 feet, increased in apparent size to that of the setting sun, remained for about 15 minutes, then slowly rose to about 3000 feet and zoomed away with intensifying color, leaving an orange, then silvery tail which was plainly visible. Investigation showed that the belief of the residents that these objects are secret tests made by March Field Airbase has no foundation.
A very well confirmed report from an aerographer of San Diego, California, North Island Navy Station, reports that he saw numerous objects through a theodolite while tracking a weather balloon. The spectacle continued for such a long time that he informed his chief officer. Also the latter saw the objects passing by in large numbers. Other witnesses present were an aerological officer, a group of USAF and Navy pilots, the control tower operator and the commander of the field.
The small town of Flatwood, West Virginia, has received a great deal of publicity since September 12, 1952, when three boys reported that they saw a flying saucer land not far from the school playground.
Mr. William Smith and his wife Donna, of Downey, California, made a personal investigation of the rumors while on their way home to California, shortly after the incident occurred.
The story of the "Green Monster" has been very well reported by Gray Barker in the December issue of Fate Magazine and was confirmed in every aspect by Bill and Donna Smith. They were fortunate to get many more details to supplement the Fate story.
On their way to investigate the landing of the saucer, the three boys stopped at the home of the two young May boys to tell their mother, a former teacher and now a beauty shop operator, what they had seen. Together, Mrs. May and six boys ascended the remaining quarter mile to get a close look at the saucer. Mrs. May climbed over the fence near the supposed landing site with some difficulty. Gene Lemon, 17, equipped with flashlight, lead the party. He is known as fearless and has had many encounters with animals roaming the woods. When he saw what he believed to be the shining eyes of a raccoon on an overhanging limb, he directed his flashlight toward it. In the following few seconds, the little group was petrified with fright at the sight of an enormous figure which suddenly seemed to come to life. It was as though a light had been turned on inside the figure. A reddish glow shone through a head with only the eyes visible, and a greenish light glowed through the cloth-like covering of the lower parts of the body. Although some irritating odor had been noticed before, now a violent thumping began on the inside of the monster and a dense cloud of mist escaped with a hissing noise. It covered the two young May boys, making them and all others violently sick. Their fright gave them the strength to run from the scene. Mrs. May leaped over the fence; one of the boys ran for a mile to his home and turned on the radio until the house shook and hysterically related his experience to his mother; Gene Lemon, was so seriously ill during the night that he was in convulsions, and had attacks of vomiting.
The May boys were cared for by their grandmother who wiped the oily substance from their faces, while their mother phoned for the sheriff and the owner of the Sutton newspaper. Soon the throats of the boys were so swollen that they could not even drink water. Examination by the doctor showed symptoms similar to those of mustard gas. After two weeks, Gene Lemon still was not able to swallow carbonated drinks without pains in his throat.
When the sheriff arrived, he listened to Mrs. May's story but did not venture to Investigate any further during the night, when dogs howled and ran away frightened. The fog now covered the entire hillside, and the frightened family passed a night hardly more than 1000 feet from the place where the apparent monster had appeared.
At 6:30 the next morning, the director of the Board of Education saw a flying saucer take off, not far from his house, and immediately reported it to the Sutton newspaper. Only then was he informed of the happening of the night before. Mr. Stewart, the owner of the paper, immediately went to the hill and could still smell the odor on the ground. He discovered two tracks where the reported object had landed. No wagon had been in this part for many years and the weeds were several feet high. The grass was freshly depressed, and closer search disclosed a piece of black plastic material which did not burn when tested by Stewart. The piece has been analyzed and we hope to get a report soon through Mr. Smith. Samples of ground and vegetation were also collected by airforce officers.
Further inquiries at the Lemon house revealed that Mrs. Lemon and a friend were having coffee at the time of the landing, and their house shook so violently that coffee spilled over the table and they thought the house had fallen off its foundation. The radio went off for 45 minutes and came back on by itself.
In his systematic questioning of everyone in the valley, Smith found that a girl, 21, of Weston, 11 miles from the Lemon farm, was confined in the Clarksburg Hospital for three weeks, after having seen a figure of the same description, and emitting the same odor reported by witnesses of the Sutton occurrence. Her mother confirmed the girl's story that they had seen the monster when they were on their way to church more than a week before Mrs. May's experience.
The mystery of the "Green Monster" remains more puzzling than before, as letters from all over the country pour into the area, some of them reporting similar experiences in other parts of the country.
1953 has gotten off to, we might say, a flying start. What Is probably the first sighting of '53 took place at 3 AM, Jan. 1st, when a light or object was observed by a Calgary Alberta business man and his wife. The object hovered motionless for ten minutes above the northwest horizon. The object departed with fantastic acceleration, disappearing, our correspondent writes, within two tenths of a second.
Jan. 6th produced the much publicized Dallas sighting of a strange colorful craft with sweptback wings which maneuvered over the city for several hours. The same day, unidentified objects were reported over Paris,
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Texas and over Perrin Air Force base near Sherman. Later, a radar unit in Oklahoma City picked up an object flying at about 10,000 feet. Authorities did not feel the various sightings were related.
Ohio reported, on Jan. 11th, two reddish objects which appeared to be connected by a long "white ribbon." Philadelphia contributed a fireball with a flaming tail. This object moved across the sky at an estimated speed of 600 MPH on Jan. 17th. Two silent pulsing lights passed over Richmond, California at 6:05 PM on Jan. 22nd, not far away. The lights made two sudden 90 degree turns before climbing into the overcast. Total time of sighting: 15 seconds.
A formation of dull gray discs appeared in Pomona, California shortly before noon on Jan. 23rd. They were observed slowly climbing toward the southwest. Our correspondent reports that a plane appeared from the east moving toward the discs which "seemed to vanish from the sky."
On Jan. 24th, a large silvery metallic object, described by witnesses as pear-shaped, was spotted from a plane flying near Palmdale, California. The plane crew watched the object for two hours. The object maneuvered move for move with the plane always maintaining a uniform distance of about 10,000 feet. The plane radioed for a photographic plane which was quickly dispatched to the scene. We understand that pictures were taken.
January, of course, brought releases from the Air Force of saucer activity, over Northern Japan, and a delayed release concerning an eight inch disc which flirted with a frustrated jet pilot in the same area last March. An Air Force semanticist reported to the press: "There are too many indications of the presence of something... to be considered an observation of nothing."
There has been practically no publicity given observations of radiated energy from unknown sources the past few years. Records of this energy radiation in close association with visual observation of flying saucers have been kept for many months on a 24-hour basis. These records were obtained with apparatus established and located for the purpose of cosmic ray and other radiation research by governmental and educational groups, and indicate abnormal bursts of energy unexplainable as normal phenomena. Many reports of excessive radio reception static associated with visual observations of unknown aerial objects have been received from test points along the Pacific Coast and throughout the southwestern states.
Several interesting reports have been received by CSI in the past two weeks, which still are to be investigated. One of these observations is more unusual than anything reported before. We give this information as received.
On October 14 and 21, cigar-shaped objects have been reported from Lens and Oleron [Oloron]. At Lens an airship stood vertically in the air for over 10 minutes.
The other astounding newspaper and personal reports come from Oleron, France, Department Ste. Marie, where a cigar-shaped object and its multi-colored convoy of discs were seen by many of the residents, among whom were several prominent observers. An airship was flying on an east-west course on a clear and sunny day and was also reported by a radar station about 85 miles distant. Hearing an unusual noise, Mr. Pardies, the principal of the local college, Mr. Prigent, the chief inspector of the college, and the gatekeeper at the college, saw a long object which left in its wake thousands of multi-colored quickly dispersing circles. They then noted that a large amount of threads emerged from the end of the airship like a puff of smoke. The son of Mr. Prigent was able to collect some of the specimens which covered parts of the city of Oleron. These samples are now being studied. The same airship was also seen by the mayor of Gerouce [Gaillac]. All persons confirmed the shape of the ship, the circles and the falling threads.
As the story given by the Prigent family is such an unusual account, we shall repeat it here: "Come quickly! Look at the flying saucers! It's extraordinary;" exclaimed the son of Mr. Prigent. Between the plates of steaming meat and the phenomenon announced the family of the inspector general of the college did not hesitate. Dinner forgotten, Mr. Prigent, his wife and his two children ran to the window, and through a telescope observed the airship, each one retaining in his mind what he saw."
"It is now 1 p.m. While the mysterious flying machine steadily passes across the sky to the southwest, the discs that surround it, resembling some 30 rings of Saturn, erratically fly in zigzag. At the same time, vaporous trails of smoke drift to the ground, falling on the trees like wool woven of nylon.
One might have thought oneself on the brink of some event of the future. Could this be an invasion by unknown creatures disembarking from another planet?"
"A dentist suddenly made prisoner on the main bridge, not far from the college, struggles frantically. Witnesses who see him do not dare approach. Has he suddenly become insane? The victim, Dr. Balestra, whose limbs have been bound by a countless number of filaments fallen from the sky, struggles like a trapped animal caught in a huge spider web. At last, to free himself, he cuts the threads that bind him. Stupefied, the dentist and curious onlookers see the threads regather themselves and slowly rise into the air."
"A quarter of an hour has passed. The strange squadron is no longer visible. Young Prigent has run to a tree to gather some of the strange white stuff formed of mingled threads. At this moment, the professor of gymnastics of the college leaves the stadium where his pupils were training. He carries in his pockets a specimen of the threads he has gathered for the study of the professor of chemistry."
"Then calm returns, except for the minds of the inhabitants of the region who had been face to face with this phenomenon and, recovered from their astonishment and surprise, begin to question each other. For the moment they have no idea what it was they saw."
From scientific point of view, the radar of the airdrome of Mont-de-Marsan, some 85 miles distant, has the most reliable record of this phenomenon. For ten minutes on that day, the radar recorded an image never before seen on the screen, a strange cloud that revolved on itself at ap-
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proximately 6000 feet altitude. Although this report confirms the apparition, it does not explain it. First chemical tests of the material indicate by the results of burning that it is of organic origin.
A doctor of Oleron, who has not witnessed the strange phenomenon, offers his theory that millions of little spiders profited by the fine weather to make an extended trip. Indeed, it is by no means a new experience. White threads have been reported in the Middle Ages falling from the sky, often frightening the superstitious people.
To report all sightings which have come to the attention of CSI would fill volumes. In the presence of such a multitude of reports from all over the world, some of which defy all explanation, it is strange that so many otherwise brilliant men of science should still refuse to accept the fact that phenomena exist which they cannot explain by accepted laws of nature. However, in fairness to them it must be stated that none of these aerial objects have ever been produced for closer examination.
Judging by the scarcity of newspaper reports on flying saucers in recent weeks, one might think that, after all, certain scientists were right in their fantastic theories of low-altitude cosmic dust whirls and low-altitude temperature inversions. Actually, they make up only an extremely small percentage of reported sightings, and have been considered in our analysis as possible explanation, which do not affect many thousands of other unexplained phenomena. One of the reasons for this absence of news might be the great number of high-altitude sightings reported, which can hardly be proved. Flashes of light, discs, or other objects miles up in the sky are no longer news, and low-altitude sightings only are of Interest.
Therefore, it came as a great surprise to us, that an ever-increasing number of reports comes now from Great Britain, France, Peru, Palestine, and Sweden, although other countries are well represented. Here are some of the most prominent reports since our last CSI bulletin.
Peru is outstanding for flying saucer visits in the past few months, and the region of this country recently visited extends from the equator about 1200 miles south.
The Jornal do Comercio of Lima, Peru, writes that numerous late afternoon shoppers at Carauari, Amazon Valley, observed a disc of an eerie bright green glow, having a distinctly visible small silver tail. The disc passed within a few feet from the tree tops of the surrounding woods, flew in a wide circle about the town, then gained speed and rose in high altitude.
In Bogota, Colombia, hundreds of persons saw a brilliant oval-shaped object flying at about 8000 feet and leaving a trail of smoke in its path.
Three flying saucers in V-formation passed about 2500 feet above a DC-3 plane piloted by a veteran aviator outside of Lima, Peru. A thin red circle was seen surrounding each of the discs. The same trio was seen at about the same time from the Navigational Aid Station at Punta de Lomas, Peru.
The president of the Estadista Party of Puerto Rico, members of his family, and friends saw several discs flying at high speed over the west coast of the island. They were of reddish-yellow color and were seen every night for a week between 7:30 and 8 p.m. Photographs were made and turned over to the Intelligence Division of the Ramey Airforce Base.
A large number of discs was reported from Huandoval, Peru, some of them almost touching the roof tops.
At Ancon, Peru, a disc of about 200 feet diameter was observed by the pilot and co-pilot of a passenger plane. When the disc was passing the plane, it produced a bright red light, which disappeared after the disc had passed. The disc was oval and its surface appeared bright metallic. A reddish-blue vapor followed it. Several reddish flat objects with sparkling blue vapor were seen in Matucana and Chimbote, Peru.
A group of people of the town of Trujillo, Peru, observed a saucer flying in zigzag, occasionally stopping for several minutes.
Two orange discs were seen approaching at high speed from different directions over the irrigation camp of Celendin, Peru. They suddenly slowed down as they passed each other, then jointly disappeared over the mountains.
A pilot of the Lima-Panama Airlines passed within half a mile of a reddish disc which he observed for about one minute near Guayaquil, Peru. The saucer stopped as though to watch the plane, then left at high speed.
The sub-prefect of the town of Jaen, Peru, and several residents of that town saw a large round luminous object passing overhead.
A lieutenant and several wardens of the Ayacucho, Peru, prison saw two flying discs hovering for three minutes over the prison.
Construction workers and school children of Huarochiri, Peru, saw a disc slowly passing overhead at low-altitude. It was the apparent size of a football having a greenish tail ending in reddish color.
Many people of Lima, Peru, and of the Lower Andes Mountains saw an elongated luminous object which gradually turned reddish. The object appeared to descend slowly toward Lima.
An orange disc with a yellowish tail was reported by several inhabitants of Yungay, Peru.
Other letters were received from Mexico City and surroundings, where at least seven flying saucers were reported. Two presidential aides reported a saucer hovering for 2 hours over Mexico City. Also Veracruz, Jalapa, and Tampico were chosen for a visit by flying saucers.
A very well authenticated report comes from Coari, Amazon Valley, Brazil. One early summer evening, a small mission town was surprised by the sight of a brilliant light over the mission. It was elongated like a dirigible and its contours were well outlined, not merely those of a vague light. The object was seen by 25 persons as it passed from horizon to horizon in about one minute. In a town 300 miles from the mission, the same luminous airship caused consternation a few minutes later. The Jornal do Comercio of that town described this object as a bright-green elongated aircraft having a plainly visible silver tail, as it encircled the city and flew away.
Let us now take a look at the flying saucer situation in Europe. It is reported from Stockholm, Sweden, that 200 persons, including a high airforce officer, saw a large gray object over Stockholm. It seemed to be made up of two saucers joined together in the form of spectacles. The object was observed for two minutes. The latest news from Stockholm states that about 7000 persons have reported seeing flying saucers on October 10 over various parts of
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Sweden. The Aftenbladet lists a number of persons in about 30 towns giving the time, color and direction of flight of the saucers. At about the same time, discs were reported over northern Germany.
Norway and Sweden report several sightings of cigar-shaped objects and flashing discs. Military observers believe them to be experimental weapons or visitors from other planets. Copenhagen reports a cigar-shaped object at about the same time. Three Danish Airforce officers saw a glowing disc hovering for some time over the Copenhagen airfield. On September 29, a cigar-shaped object and rapidly spinning discs, as well as multicolored spheres, were reported from various parts of Denmark.
A Dutch engineer of the Netherlands Cable Works was studying high-frequency cables on the factory roof using a Zeiss camera in his work. Suddenly, his magnetometer violently registered maximum deflection. As the engineer glanced up, he noticed a brilliant disc and quickly raised his camera to photograph the object. The picture shows a large circle of light in the sky with factory buildings in the lower background.
Reports were also received from Florence, Rome, Naples, and Palermo, Italy, where discs, fireballs, and other unknown objects have been seen. The newspaper La Nazione reports from Florence that a disc of about 75 feet in diameter with a tube descending into the water was seen hovering over the river Serchio.
Still more interesting news was received from a British RAF officer. According to his report, hundreds of RAF personnel observed a Meteor jetplane over Topcliffe Airdrome during maneuvers on September 28. The silvery disc appeared at about 15,000 feet as the jet flew at 5,000 feet. The disc then rapidly descended in a pendulum swing, which has been observed on several other occasions, made a reverse turn and again an abrupt turn, then crossed behind the jet and disappeared in a few seconds. A serious investigation by the RAF is underway.
Two French officers saw a luminous object of cigar shape and larger than an airliner, over the Mediterranean.
Other countries abroad recently visited by flying saucers were Palestine, Japan, and Korea. On August 14, a flying disc appeared over Haifa, and at various occasions, discs have been seen over Tokyo, Japan, and Seoul, Korea.
The Canadian Air Ministry has long been engaged in flying saucer investigations and is seriously concerned with the solution of the flying saucer riddle.
Great Britain has been investigating flying saucers through branch of the British Air Ministry, the D.D.I. since 1947. Our correspondent who is closely connected with the D.D.I. states that 7000 reports have been studied by this agency in the past 6 months. The D.D.I. is a highly guarded section of the Air Ministry. It is significant that even careful and non-committal sources like the London Times and the Official Journal of the Royal Aero Club have finally joined the host of other investigators who seriously consider the presence of flying saucers.
The French Ministry of Information recently has opened the Department of Flying Saucers for the investigation of unknown aerial objects.
Also the Swedish Defense Staff in conjunction with astronomers of the Stockholm Observatory have joined efforts in investigating all reports on flying saucers received. They believe these objects to be experimental aircraft or observers from outer space. This is in opposition to American astronomers who scoff at the idea that intelligent beings might fly or govern the frequently reported discs, airships, fireballs, and so forth.
The Space Investigation Congress which recently was in session in Stuttgart, Germany, investigating the flying saucer situation, came to the conclusion that all objects seen in the sky in recent years can be explained as natural phenomena occurring on this earth, or as meteors.
It is generally thought that of all the good sightings of unidentified aerial objects the examples that can be cited from the United States are supreme. However, this is a mistake. In a number of respects, Africa can claim supremacy. The sighting made over Kilimanjaro is outstanding because of the following details. On the 19th of Feb., 1953, Capt. Bicknell was flying the East African Airways ship, the Lodestar, from Mombasa to Nairobi. There were nine passengers on board and also the radio-operator D.W. Merrifield. At 7:20 a.m. Merrifield drew Bicknell's attention to a dazzling bright object motionless at some 10,000 feet over the crest of the mountain (height of Kilimanjaro 19,300 feet). For three minutes the two watched the object and then alerted the passengers. One of them had powerful binoculars. Captain Bicknell examined the object through them. It was a tube over 200 feet long, silver in color, with three dark bands that circled it, a huge 'fin' at one end, the other was semi-spherical. For 17 minutes they watched this object that had no other features, but was clear and hard in its outlines. Then on an upward slant, it began to move east and was lost to sight at 40,000 feet. There were no clouds and the ship left no vapor trail. All the passengers were interrogated when they alit at Nairobi and agreed with Capt. Bicknell's statement and also said the drawing he supplied to the Nairobi Sunday Post was an accurate picture of the object.
The story, however, has a sequel which makes it even odder. We pick up the trail in the Natal Mercury, March 14th. On board the Lodestar was a passenger, Ray Overstreet, radio operator of the American ship the Robin Mowbray. He claimed that he had a cinema camera with him on that flight. On the 13th of March he was interviewed by the Shipping Reporter of the Natal Mercury. He arranged that Ray Overstreet should show the film to a select audience. Among this group were the Durban Harbor Pilots, Captain R. Morton and A. Davis. The film convinced these viewers that what was seen moving on the screen above the mountain was 'an unidentified aerial object' that was under intelligent control. Mowbray said that he had sent his film to Johannesburg and had it developed there. The Natal Mercury published a photo of one of the 'frames' of the film showing the mountain clearly with the bright spot of the ' object'. But the film is so 'reduced' that the spot appears only like a star. It was clear enough on the film itself to recognize its tubular shape, the observer said. That day, Ray Overstreet told the men to whom he showed his film that he was sailing for the United States. The Shipping Reporter who wrote the account for the Natal Mercury is convinced that he did. No certain account
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has come to hand as to his landing in this country. So this story is at its start one of the clearest, most thorough and most substantiated and then in the end when we think we have a record that can be shown (and that when it was shown did convince competent observers who till then had been sceptical) the story fades away. If anyone can trace Mr. Ray Overstreet, radio operator of the American ship the Robin Mowbray and who certainly was interviewed and seemed to have a valuable clue on March 13th in Durban, South Africa, he will be doing a remarkable service to Saucer Investigation.
As investigations continue, more and more information is being uncovered of very early reports on flying saucers.
Among others, two discs were seen in Melrose, Massachusetts, on October 22. 1661. The story was published only in 1821 with other reports of flying discs. On August 28, 1696, three silver discs were seen over Sunday, England.
Emanuel Swedenborg, 1759, scientist and tutor of King Charles II of Sweden, mentions in one of his works on the universe that "the inhabitants of Mercury travel through the universe visiting planets in a globe extending itself lengthwise. They have exceptional memories and know more than inhabitants of any other planet. They possess the knowledge of all things in this solar system and scientifically are highly advanced. They delight in exploration of other planets. Their appearance is heralded by a whitish flame burning briskly. They wander through the universe. Strangely enough, they know that the art of printing is being used on earth."
The Collected Works of Charles Fort cite numerous examples of discs and airships seen many years before the conquest of air by men.
The increasing interest in the subject of space stations is evident from the numerous discussions concerning the principal problems involved in the construction of space stations, namely: the determination of the distance from the earth at which these stations must be established to maintain the balance between speed and mass; the mechanics of propelling rockets and space station parts to this height; and the assembly of parts propelled to this level.
Technically, it is now considered entirely feasible to design and construct space stations operating as satellites which circle the earth, although such a task would not be an easy one and the cost would be enormous. Also the operation and maintenance of the space station would pose difficult technical and economical problems.
Before undertaking a project of such magnitude as the establishment of a space station, one should consider the economic and philosophical factors involved. The following fundamental questions may determine the practicability of such a project:
It is quite clear that an adequate answer to these fundamental questions cannot be given in a brief article, not to mention the multitude of technical problems: that face the designer of a space station or the problems of financing and managing the constructional and operational phases of a space station project.
At the present state of technical knowledge there seems to be no doubt that the various technical and financial problems can be solved long before the end of this century, unless other factors like war or national emergencies prevent the starting of the project.
Therefore, whether space stations should be established, and at which time this should be done, should depend entirely on the initiative of those capable of carrying through the development of this project and on the; interest of the younger generation' who eventually must pay for it either by voluntary contributions, investment, or taxes.
Further discussion on this and related subjects is invited for future issues of this bulletin.
To prevent misunderstanding, it should be stated that, at present, there is no material proof available supporting the existence of space vehicles from other planets, although many reliable reports on flying saucers received by our group could be interpreted as an indication of such phenomena.
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URGE YOUR FRIENDS TO SEND SAUCER SIGHTINGS, PHOTOS, AND NEWS CLIPPINGS TO:
BOX 1971
MAIN POST OFFICE
LOS ANGELES, 53 CALIFORNIA
Box 1971 Main Post Office
Los Angeles 53, California
Officers
| President | Gerald Heard |
| Vice-President | John Newton |
| Honorary Vice-President | Walther Riedel |
| Secretary-Treasurer | Margaret Sims |
| Editor | Werner R. Eichler |
Copyright 1953. Civilian Saucer Investigation
Quarterly Bulletin 50˘ per copy
$2.00 Per Year
New officers for 1953 were elected at the last meeting of the Civilian Saucer Investigation. We are proud to welcome Gerald Heard as our new president. Mr. Heard served for many years as science analyst for the British Broadcasting Company. He is the author of the Book "Is Another World Watching?" which, having been brought up to date, will soon be re-reissued by the Bantam Press.
John Newton, the new vice-president, also is president of the Leif Ericson Society. Mr. Newton is prominent in the Los Angeles mechanical engineering field.
Dr. Walther Riedel continues his valuable support as honorary vice-president. Miss Margaret Sims, the new secretary-treasurer, is welcomed as a recent new member of the Civilian Saucer Investigation. Through her tireless efforts in the past few months, she has relieved the much overburdened regular members of the group.
The following is a partial list of Associate Members of the CSI who have been approached by us and have accepted. There is no membership fee, and a copy of each bulletin will be mailed to each member.
G. H. Adamson, Tecumsah, Mich.,
A. H. Baller, Greenfield, Mass.
D. Berliner, Columbus, Ohio.
J. P. Cain, Shively, Kentucky.
H. K. Crawford, South Miami, Fla.
T. W. Culmer, Robinson, Ill.
G. D. Doherty, Chicago, Ill.
J. W. Easter, Winston-Salem, N.C.
T. Fleld, Hope, Ark.
M. Fortune, Watertown, Mass.
F.J. Grant, Palm Springs, Calif.
E. B. Hawkins, Lawton, Okla.
B. Hill, Kaneohe, Oahu, T. H.
A. R. Jaffray. Belvedere, Ill.
H. Koerpel, Bronx, N. Y.
G. G. Kuison, Leyte, P. I.
W. Lamond, Sidney Mines, C. B. Nova Scotia.
M. B. Light, Winfield, Kansas.
Th. Lipkin, New York, N. Y.
J. W. MacConkey, Wichita. Kansas.
W. G. MacKenzie, Palo Alto, Calif.
N. C. Markham, Amarillo, Texas.
F. H. McFerran, Mayaquez, P. R.
W. H. McKinney, Pullman, Wash
L. A. Mitris, Quebec, Canada.
T. Monaghan, Madrid, Spain.
O. W. Nelson, Eggertsville, N. J.
J. Otto, Chicago, Ill.
M. Paise, Ontario, Canada.
M. Reiche, Lima, Peru.
A. Roos, Central, N. M.
E. Rosacker, Seattle, Wash.
F. Rousell, Lasquette IsIand, B. C.
H. L. Russell. Lott, Texas.
A. J. Sanders, Dallas, Texas.
J. R. Scambler, Westmoreland, England.
R. W. Shields, Alcester, S. D.
R.B. Simmons, Fredericton, N. D.
A. Sketchley, Calgary, Alberta.
C.L. Smith, Ithaca. N. Y.
R. E. Storme, Baltimore, Md.
L. C. Strandenaes, Westhope, N. D.
V. Van Neste, Milton, Mass.
K. R. Webster, Worcester, Mass.
C. W. Wieske, Santa Barbra, Calif.
I. White, Terra Alta, W. Virginia.
T. Whiteside, Julian, Calif.
J. P. Womack, Dinuba, Calif.
C. K. Greenwood, Oakland, Calif.
R. R. Russell, London, England.
R. S. Somerville, Grosse Pointes Shore, Mich.
F. R. Innes, New Milford, Pa.
I. C. Barber, Philadelphia, Pa.
