FOTOCAT Report # 1 THE YEAR 1954 IN PHOTOS (Expanded) Vicente-Juan Ballester Olmos FOTOCAT Project
[email protected] INTRODUCTION When the Project 1954 e-List was started in the early 2000s, by the initiative of two noted Italian researchers, Roberto Labanti and Edoardo Russo from the CISU organization, I decided to use it as a means to report the photographic cases contained in FOTOCAT for year 1954, in order to stimulate discussion on this genre of cases and to collect additional information. FOTOCAT is a worldwide catalogue of UFO photographic records owned and managed by me. During the next few months, all the cases I had on file were displayed in abstracted form to the List members, thus generating some interesting discussions, whereby local researchers from both Europe and America provided additional input. This process not only increased the number of reports, but over and above that it refined the catalogue content, several duplications were identified, references became richer, and proper explanations were entered for previously unexplained events. Preliminary versions of the present final publication also elicited responses and further documentations from new sources. As a net result, the coverage of cases for the year 1954 certainly improved, reaching the number of 101 sightings. In August 2004, an essay was published presenting and analyzing the collection of cases, but the photographs were not included then. In the past four years (until this writing, April 2008), supplementary information has been added so that the number of known reports for the period rose to 115, an almost 14% increase with respect to the original catalogue. The present publication is an expanded version of the original paper. The intention of the present article is to share what we have accomplished to date. We will report a brief summary of all photographic events for the wave year of 1954 included in the FOTOCAT archives. Pictures are released, when known (in spite of a very bad printing quality of a number of them). This disclosure may assist other colleagues, I feel, to better analyze the scope, evolution, and motifs of the alleged UFO observations during this peak year. Another purpose of this report is to request both corrections and additions to the current list of cases. The author is fully available for data exchange and discussion on any aspect of the cases below. Specially needed are images for a number of the cases where none is known. For comparison purposes, this catalogue also contains the events with an explanation; the so-called IFOs (identified flying objects). This report also includes an appendix of rarities of the epoch, of interest to the historian. Finally, the paper closes with a general review, a look at the data of the period under study. Some basic statistics and graphs will better describe visually the magnitude of the UFO phenomenon during 1954, as far as photos and films are concerned. The data structure for every case is very simple. It just includes the date, the time (local), the location and country, the photographer's name, the image's format, any available explanation, all known references and information sources, and finally any existing remarks. The intent is not to present summaries of tales but a list of events for any researcher to check, follow-up or re-investigate. I know this may be thought of as being too elemental, but basically it is planned to be a source of sources. Cases coming from a period as old as this (54 years ago!) do pose a problem to the compiler. The existing information is poor in many instances and the role that local investigators can play in the documentation process is vital. We therefore request the assistance of ufologists from the regions where the cases occurred in order to improve the quantity and quality of the information. Even counter-inquiries (a term coined by Aim Michel meaning to revisit the event to find fresh details) are desirable, as well as any contemporary analysis of the pictures or films with state-of-the-art technology. The challenge is there to be The development of a catalogue is a part of the scientific method. Naturalists and other scientists have been doing so for centuries, after collecting samples of new creatures, specimens, processes, objects, or phenomena. As far as ufology is concerned, catalogues can be passive (a mere sequence of reports without expressing any judgment) or active (in which the compiler indicates the possible nature of the phenomenon). Active catalogues involve the commitment of the author himself (and can therefore receive potential criticism) and have a higher complexity. To create a positioned catalogue may be an easy way to lose friends, in a field plagued with belief and radicalism, because when you support an evaluation by which a given event can be explained in conventional terms, you risk finding a hard opposition from those who think otherwise. I sincerely hope this does not happen with colleagues who disagree on the IFO evaluations. At the end of the day, we are only talking about UFO cases. In the present catalogue, when a report is considered explained it is because the compiler has weighted the pros and cons of the various proposals being aired, and both intellectually and honestly I support the plausibility of the potential explanation for the occurrence. Yet, as an ever-evolving body, a year catalogue (and FOTOCAT in general) is always ready to change a given position on one case, provided new data and evidence make this necessary. As a compiler, I have no sentiments on the entries. A COLLECTION OF REPORTS Date: 1954 (undetermined date) Time: Unknown Location: South Africa Photographer: Ken Rathyen Format: Picture Explanation: Not available References: Wendelle Stevens and August Roberts, UFO Photographs from Around the World, Volume 1 (Tucson, Arizona, 1986). Remarks: Poor information Date: 1954 (undetermined date) Time: Unknown Location: Idaho (USA) Photographer: Noall Bryce Cornwell aka Guy Kirkwood aka Mel Noel Format: Movie, aircraft gun camera Explanation: Non-event References: Timothy Good, Above Top Secret (Sidgwick & Jackson, London, 1987), pages 266-269. Whistleblowers. The Mel Noel Story, by Don Ecker. Jan Aldrich. Stan Friedman, UFO Updates List, October 27, 2004. Remarks: The case of a pathological liar Date: 1954 (undetermined date) Time: Daytime Location: Salt Lake City, Utah (USA) Photographer: Not available Format: Picture, aircraft gun camera Explanation: More than probably a fake References: http://hesemann.watchers.ca/ufo-photos/november2000.htm Remarks: Source is Guy Kirkwood aka Mel Noel (see case above). Date: 1954 (undetermined date) Time: Unknown Location: Fort Knox, Kentucky (USA) Photographer: Not available Format: Picture Explanation: Not available References: Gallery of UFO photos by Stphane Bernard http://moumra.onzenet.com/moumraV12/soucoup/ddnbdate/19540101ddnbus902.jpg Remarks: Poor information Date: 1954 (undetermined date) Time: Unknown Location: Wilcannia, New South Wales (Australia) Photographer: Not available Format: Picture Explanation: Not available References: Wendelle Stevens and August Roberts, UFO Photographs Around the World, Volume 1 (Tucson, Arizona, 1986), quoting Australian Flying Saucer News (undated). Remarks: Poor information Date: Summer 1954 (December to February down under, logged as January 1954, approximate date) Location: Oyster Cave, Tasmania (Australia) Photographer: Not available Format: Picture Explanation: Not available References: Keith Basterfield s catalogue of photographic cases in Australia, http://www.project1954.com/kbcat/kbphoto0405.htm, quoting Australasian UFOlogist, Volume 7, Number 5, page 5. Poor information. Remarks: Nil Date: 4 January 1954 Time: Night Location: Quantico Marine Base, Virginia (USA) Photographer: The Evening Star staff photographer Format: Picture Explanation: Aircraft beacon light References: The Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), January 5, 1954. The Washington Daily News, January 4 and 5, 1954. The Washington Post, January 4, 1954. Donald Keyhoe, The Flying Saucer Conspiracy (Henry Holt, New Remarks: Nil Date: 15 January 1954 Time: Daytime Location: Mount Gillen, 80-100 Km East of Alice Springs, Northern Territory (Australia) Photographer: Not available Format: Picture Explanation: Not available References: The APRO Bulletin, May 15, 1954, page 12, quoting the Centralian Advocate (Alice Springs), February 5, 1954. Michael Hervey, UFOs Over the Southern Hemisphere (Horwitz, 1969), page 97, (Robert Hale, London, 1975), page 123. Loren Gross, UFOs: A History. 1954: January-May (Fremont, California, 1990), page 4. Keith Basterfields catalogue, http://www.project1947.com/kbcat/kbphoto0405.htm There is a different version in Harold Wilkins, Flying Saucers on the Attack (Citadel, New York, 1954), page Remarks: Nil Date: 17 January 1954 Time: Unknown Location: Snoqualmie Falls, Washington (USA) Photographer: Joseph Scayles (or Scaylea) Format: Picture Explanation: A cloud? References: Wendelle Stevens and August Roberts, UFO Photographs Around the World, Volume 1 (Tucson, Arizona, 1986), citing both "Verbal report" and "IRC Printout, Source 5N 66DS". Remarks: Poor information Date: 1 February 1954 Location: Tuscaloosa, Alabama (USA) Photographer: Only known as Mr. Baumgartner Format: Picture Explanation: Not available References: Flying Saucer Review, Volume 29, Number 4, 1984, pages 5-6. Dr. Richard F. Haines. Loren Gross, UFOs: A History. 1954: January-May (Fremont, California, 1990), page 24. Blue Book files. Remarks: Nil Date: 15 February 1954 Location: Coniston, Lancashire (UK) Photographer: Stephen Darbishire Format: Picture Explanation: Fake (admitted) References: Flying Saucer Review, Volume 5, Number 3, 1959, page 3. Leonard G. Cramp, Space, Gravity, and the Flying Saucer (British Book Centre, New York, 1955), pages 13-18 (Desmond Leslie's introduction). Karl L. Veit, Flying Saucers, July 1962, pages 50 and 71. Richard Hall, The UFO Evidence (NICAP, Washington, D.C., 1964), page 89. Max B. Miller (editor), Flying Saucers Pictorial (Arizill Realty and Publishing Company, Tucson, Arizona, 1967), page 15. Charles Bowen (editor), The Humanoids (Neville Spearman, London, 1969), page 14, quoting three sources: Daily Mail (London), February 18, 1954, Lancashire Daily Post, February 19, 1954, and Waveney Girvan, Flying Saucers and Common Sense (Citadel Press, New York, 1956), plate and pages 99 and 129. Ronald Story, The Encyclopedia of UFOs (Doubleday, Garden City, New York, 1980), pages 85-86 and plate. Timothy Good, Above Top Secret (Sidgwick & Jackson, 1987), page 37. Loren Gross, UFOs: A History. 1954: January-May (Fremont, California, 1990), page 36. David Clarke and Andy Roberts, Magonia, July 2001, pages 3-12. http://www.flyingsaucery.com/brigantia/brigmain.htm http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=143262 Remarks: Nil Date: 18 February 1954 Location: Lossiemouth, Morayshire (Scotland, UK) Photographer: Cedric Allingham (see Remarks) Format: Picture Explanation: Fake References: Cedric Allingham, Flying Saucers From Mars (British Book Centre, New York, 1955). Waveney Girvan, Flying Saucers and Common Sense (Citadel Press, New York, 1956), pages 148-157. C.H. Gibbs-Smith, Flying Saucer Review, Volume 2, Number 2, March-April 1956, page 7. Flying Saucer Review, Volume 2, Number 5, September-October 1956, page 27. Karl L. Veit, Flying Saucers, July 1962, pages 50 and 71. James Holledge, Flying Saucers Over Australia (Horwitz, 1965), pages 112-117. Brinsley Le Poer Trench, The Flying Saucer Story (Ace Books, New York), pages 153-155. Charles Bowen (editor), The Humanoids (Neville Spearman, London, 1969), pages 14-15. Robert Chapman, UFO. Flying Saucers over Britain? (Mayflower, St. Albans, Herts, 1974), pages 127-137. Christopher Allan and Steuart Campbell, Magonia, July 1986. Peter Hough, The Supernatural, July 1987. Joe McGonagle. Loren E. Gross, UFOs: A History. 1954: October (Fremont, California, 1991), pages 76-78 and 105. Klaus Webner, Wesen aus dem Weltraum? (Wiesbaden, Germany, 1993), pages 32-40. Luis Ruiz http://www.perspectivas.com.mx/fotosets/marte_allingham.htm Remarks: UFO, landing, and humanoid photographs. The story actually fabricated by a Peter Davies under the pseudonym of Cedric Allingham, ghosted from a book manuscript written by astronomer Patrick Moore. Date: 7 March 1954 Location: Mobile, Alabama Format: Picture Photographer: Not known Explanation: Not available References: Wendelle Stevens and August Roberts, UFO Photographs Around the World, Volume 1 (Tucson, Arizona, 1986), citing "IRC Printout, source H 40HC 09+" Remarks: Poor information Date: 14 March 1954 Time: Daytime Location: Puddingstone Reservoir, Pomona, California (USA) Format: Picture (object unseen by the photographer) Photographer: John W. Wagner Explanation: Rowboat on water beyond dam (as per Larry Robinson, who believes to have found the photography site, working on aerial views of the area, giving support to his conventional identification). References: The APRO Bulletin, May 15, 1954, page 11, quoting the Alhambra Post-Advocate, March 20, 1954. Herald-Express (Los Angeles), June 5, 1954, in Loren Gross, UFOs: A History. 1954: June-August (Fremont, California, 1990), page 8. Saucers, Volume II, Number 3, September 1954, page 1. Max B. Miller, Flying Saucers: Fact or Fiction? (Trend Books, Los Angeles, 1957), page 102. Max B. Miller (editor), Flying Saucers Pictorial (Arizill Realty and Publishing Company, Tucson, Arizona, 1967), page 13. Michael Hervey, UFOs: The American Scene (St Martins Press, New York, 1976), plate. Larry Robinson. Remarks: The catalogue by Bernard Delair et al (The UFO Register #6) includes the case from the Saucers source, but apparently due to a typo it is dated as 1953. On the other hand, author Michael Hervey mistakenly places it in New Jersey, 1959. Poor information. Date: 11 April 1954 Location: Tokai (South Africa) Format: Picture Photographer: Only known as Mr. Villiers Explanation: Not available References: Wendelle Stevens and August Roberts, UFO Photographs Around the World, Volume 2 Tucson, Arizona, 1985), page 230, quoting "IRC printout, source G 5N 54DK. Remarks: Poor information Date: Easter 1954 (Logged as 18 April, Easter Sunday, approximate day) Time: Daytime Location: 14 miles from Eucla, Western Australia (Australia) Format: Pictures (5 cameras used; 92 exposures taken!) Photographer: Max Clow, Alex Rose and Peter Johnson? Explanation: Not available References: Bill Chalker, http://www.project1947.com/forum/bcoz2.htm The main source is the Australian Saucer Record, Volume 5, Number 3, 1959, page 13. The Daily Telegraph (Sydney) of August 2, 1955 provides the names of the witnesses of a weird story of an alleged UFO landing and photos taken to a humanoid-like figure in the same area and time period. Is it the same event? Stan Seers and William Lasich in Flying Saucer Review, Volume 15, Number 3, May-June 1969, page 5, mention that some 200 photographs, cine and stills were taken. Keith Basterfield`s catalogue, http://www.project1947.com/kbcat/kbphoto0405.htm. Remarks: In UFO Photographs from Around the World by Wendelle Stevens and August Roberts, citing a "confidential report," a movie film case occurring in New Zealand in April 1954 is reported. Michael Hervey in UFOs over the Southern Hemisphere (Robert Hale, London, 1975), page 220, very briefly reports that during April 1954, the New Zealand Air Force received several movie films taken by civilians. No Australian/New Zealand source has ever documented this; therefore, it can be believed to be a rumor related to the original Easter case above. Peter Hassall s The NZ Files (David Bateman, Albany, Auckland, New Zealand, 1998), page 78 refers to Hervey and only adds that The authorities deny ever having had them. Date: Spring 1954 (Logged as May) Time: Unknown Location: Kumla (Sweden) Format: Picture Photographer: Bengt Schllin Explanation: Lens flares by camera malfunctioning References: Archives for UFO Research catalogue (Anders Liljegren and Clas Svahn) Remarks: Defense Staff investigated Date: 24 May 1954 Location: Richmond, Indiana (USA) Format: Picture Photographer: Leo N. Brubaker Explanation: A sub-sun (sun's reflection on ice-crystals) (as per USAF) References: Edward J. Ruppelt, The Report on Unidentified Flying Objects (Doubleday, Garden City, New York, 1956), pages 239-240. Herald Stateman (Yonkers, New York), December 1, 1958. USAF, Aids to Identification of Flying Objects (U.S. Government Printing Office, 1968), page 15. Dr James McDonald in Symposium on Unidentified Flying Objects (U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1968), page 28. David Saunders and Roger R. Harkins, UFOs? Yes! Where the Condon Committee Went Wrong (World Publishing Company, New York), 1969, pages 69-71. Allan Hendry, The UFO Handbook (Doubleday, Garden City, New York, 1979), page 67. Barry Greenwood. Larry Robinson. Ted Zachary (Todd Zechel), UFO Report, August 1977. Remarks: Nil Date: 26 May 1954 Location: Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhne (France) Format: Picture Photographer: Unknown (communicated by a Mr. Ates) Explanation: Not available References: Le Provenal (Marseille), June 8, 1954. Patrick Gross web site quoting the weekly Semaine du Monde, number 99, October 1-7, 1954. http://ufologie.net/1954/26mai1954marseille2.htm and http://ufologie.net/1954/26mai1954marseille2f.htm Remarks: Poor information. Date: 18 June 1954 Time: Day Location: Waterbury, Connecticut (USA) Format: Pictur