PAGE 10—THE AUCKLAND STAR, SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 1953
THE NEW BOOKS
I believe in flying saucers
by Kenneth McKenney B.Sc.
“FLYING SAUCERS FROM OUTER SPACE” by Donald E. Keyhoe (London: Hutchinson).
I BELIEVE in flying saucers. I didn’t until I read this book. Also I believe that there is at least a 90 per cent chance that they come from outer space; that is to say, they are not of this world. They may come from Mars or they may come from—here the chances are greater—a planet we have never even heard of. But wherever they come from I am convinced of their existence.
The evidence for their reality is almost overwhelming. The sightings listed in this book alone number 51. All are official. All have been “cleared” by the United States Department of Defence. In every case an unidentified flying object has been seen or photographed. In many cases the actual speed has been measured by radar, often its manoeuvrability has indicated, beyond all shadow of doubt, that the object was carefully controlled by some intelligent, responsible being.
It would be easy to suggest that this evidence was manufactured by crackpots or hoaxers. To the sense of amassing evidence this is always a possibility. Yet the most convincing reports come from veteran pilots with thousands of flying hours.
Pilots who have scoffed at all saucer theories come in frightened and bewildered and want to report what they have seen. These men in a few seconds change their view and twenty-four hour watches. They believe in flying saucers.
Reports of flying saucers have come in steadily since 1932. There were many sightings before this, but at that time few people were really saucer-conscious.
Since then Air Force officials in many countries have set up investigation committees to develop the method of public indoctrination, seems to be one of “leak age.”
Forthright explanation or revelation, as in the case of A and H bombs, has no place in the scheme—at present.
THE evidence Mr Keyhoe produces in this book is startling. Although there are only fifty official sightings quoted, Air Force reports show nearly 500 genuine observations. Many more come from civilian sources. Reports on the size of these objects vary from 100 feet across to a mere eight inches. Reports on their speeds vary even more. Some have been reported as hovering without any motion at all—others whistling past at an incredible 42,000 miles an hour.
In almost every instance—except in the case of “mother ships” which it is suggested planet to another—the machines are said to be disc-shaped. In colour they change from silver-grey to red to white with increased speed.
They can alter direction and manoeuvre as well, and better, than any aeroplane we Earthlings possess. They are believed to utilise a form of propulsion which does not require fuel—getting their energy from the Earth’s magnetic field and transforming it into a force in any required direction.
STATISTICAL evidence on sightings points strongly to a concentration over atomic energy research stations, military training bases and strong points and civilian airfields—although it is a curious and deliberate survey of the Earth’s ma