American Magazine Claims Knowledge Of Flying Saucers

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27357, 5 April 1950, Page 7

American Magazine Claims Knowledge Of Flying Saucers

NZPA—Copyright NEW YORK, Apl. 3. The weekly magazine. News and World Report, in what it called the “ real story ” behind the welter of reports about flying saucers, said today that there was competent evidence that the flying saucers were real aircraft of revolutionary design developed in the United States. The magazine said engineers " competent to appraise the reports of reliable observers ” had reached these conclusions:— 1. The flying saucers seen by hundreds of competent observers over most parts of the United States were accepted as real. The evidence was that they were aircraft of a revolutionary type, a combination of helicopter and fast jet plane. 2. They conformed to the wellknown principles of aerodynamics. 3. Early models of saucers built by United States engineers in 1942 achieved more than 100 successful test flights. That project was taken over by the navy in war-time, and much more advanced models were now being built. “Earlier Models” The article said that these early models were built by engineers of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. The first model was elliptical in shape, with two piston engines bringing it a top speed of between 400 and 500 miles an hour. More important, it had a landing speed of about 35 miles an hour, and could rise almost vertically. The magazine, in an analysis of the reports from observers, said the machines were exactly 105 ft in diameter, and appeared to be about 10ft thick. The article said that top-level Government aeronautical engineers had concluded that variable direction jet engines supplied the power for both propulsion and manoeuvring. Direction and speed were determined by a number or engines switched on an angle on which they turned. The magazine said the fact that an air force inquiry into flying saucer reports was called off last December indicated clearly that “ top air force officials know where the saucers originate and are not concerned about them.” The official report on the air force investigation said that all the evidence from hundreds of reports pointed to “misrepresentation of various conventional objects and a mild form of mass hysteria or hoaxes.” Official Denial A Defence Department spokesman, when asked to comment on the magazine article, said: “The navy is not engaged in conducting research on or in flying any jet-powered circularshaped aircraft.” The ■ spokesman then repeated the official air force statement, which said there was “absolutely no evidence” of the existence of flying saucers.