EVERY WOMAN'S HOUR (WFBR RADIO) with HELEN BROOKS and LOU CORBIN SPECIAL BROADCAST "UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS" WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 1954 OPENING   TRANSCRIBED LOU: As we told you earlier this week, today we have seen fit to discuss the serious aspects of the "The Flying Saucer" or what is officially known as the The Unidentified Flying Object.  You will hear what we feel are vital and provocative questions on the subject.  In the course of our story we will document several interesting cases, manifestly mysterious, which have occurred in the skies over Baltimore.  Finally, we will be privileged to present an Official Statement from Colonel Frank Milani, Director of Civil Defense for Baltimore City, an official document released exclusively through these WFBR Microphones.  We shall proceed in just a moment, but first may we be attentive to the needs of our sponsors. HELEN COMMERCIAL LOU And now to our subject for today.     Every Woman's Hour Brooks-Corbin Baltimore-WFBR                                                    - 2 - LOU         In 1947, the American Public became generally aware of what was first termed "The Flying Saucer."  Since then, its persistent manifestation has won it the more dignified title of "Unidentified Flying Object."  Today it is still as fascinating and quite as mysterious as it was when it first broke into the news seven years ago.  There is hardly and American who isn't familiar with its reported behavior.         What is this "Unidentified Flying Object" which has shattered the peace and tranquility of orderly research and created a turmoil in our scientific world?  Is the Earth under surveillance from outer space?  Do we have interplanetary visitors? Where do they come from?  What are their intentions?  Is the Unidentified Flying Object a magnificent diversion and cover-up for a fantastic development of our own genius?  These are the 64 cosmic questions.  Their answers may become the most important thing in our lifetime.         From whom shall we get the answers and when shall we get them.  The arch of our Heavens is being guarded by our Air Force, and as it is logical that they assume responsibility for receiving this mystery of mid century.  What have they done with the problems thus far?     Every Woman's Hour Brooks-Corbin Baltimore-WFBR                                                     - 3 - LOU         Untold sums of money have been expended on the puzzle.  The Air Force has and still is conducting a serious scientific examination.  Presumably they have employed the Nation's top Scientists in an effort to get the truth.  But the Air Force, in the opinion of this reporter, has seen fit to behave in a somewhat peculiar manner.  Most Americans are familiar with the story. Objectively we have been told that about ninety percent of UFO Reports can be explained.  About ninety percent.  That annoying ten percent is the vital area.  As yet, we have no explanations for it.  The Air Force, in the course of seven years, has frequently rushed to the sanctuary of Venus, has hidden in the protective folds of the weather balloon, and relaxed in the moody atmosphere of temperature inversion.  Each time their relief was of short duration.  In a sort of gesture of defiance, the Unidentified Flying Object itself has widened their area of doubt.  From various responsible correspondents we learn that the reports continue to pour in from all parts of the Country.  Here in the month of June they continue.     Every Woman's Hour Brooks-Corbin Baltimore-WFBR                                                      - 4 - LOU         In the background there are some interesting rumblings as though the volcano of truth was about to erupt.  Our Intelligence Agencies have seen fit to bestow the aura of military classification on the handling of UFO reports.  This in itself narrows the area of information available to you the public.  A military classification suggests something of a tactical or strategic significance, or something of consequence to the welfare and security of the Country.  Upon what knowledge was the decision to classify this information based?  How do we know it was classified?  This reporter was so informed by telephone at two levels of Air Force Operation. . at the First Fighter Command in New York and at Eastern Air Defense Headquarters in Newburg, New York.         In the month of May, on a trip through Texas, our Air Force Chief of Staff, General Nathan Twining was alleged to have made the following statement:         "If the Saucers come from Mars, and there is a people and a world that far ahead of us, I don't think we have even to worry about it."         The General's speculation, if that's what it is, is an interesting one.  First of all, why was it made at this particular time?  Why was there a     Every Woman's Hour Brooks-Corbin Baltimore-WFBR                                                     - 5 - LOU reference to Mars specifically?  Why the tentative conclusion that we have no reason to worry?  Was this just the casual remark of a high level official?  Was it carefully prepared?  Was it the start of a process to condition the public for later and more spectacular news?         It is perhaps reasonable to believe that our Air Force Chief of Staff infrequently dissipates the time of his busy schedule with verbal excursions into the realms of fancy.  If we can safely assume this, then we must suspect that the General's remarks were based on a detailed file of interesting facts not yet released for public consumption.         Following General Twining's comments by a few days, Britain's Air Chief Marshal Lord Dowding reportedly made this statement:         "I believe there are people on other planets who are operating through flying saucers to help our world in its present crisis."         This too is an interesting statement.  Was it a coincidence that two such high level people should have spoken as this time?  Notice General Twining's feeling that we have little to worry about if the saucers came from Mars. . then notice the British official speculating that they have come to     Every Woman's Hour Brooks-Corbin Baltimore-WFBR                                                    - 6 - LOU help us in our present crisis.  Is the parallel thought the product of deliberation or is it merely an unplanned incident in the news?         Our own Air Force has done little to blunt the feeling that considerable information is being withheld.  If this should be the case, and there is no concrete proof that it is, then why is it being withheld?         This reporter, from various areas, outside official circles has heard about what has been called "The Dangers Of Panic."  Is this the reason for secrecy of a sort?  If so, does it not suggest that adequate information exists to support such a contention?         Let us assume for a moment that there is no reality as such to the Unidentified Flying Object. . that it is indeed the weather balloon, Venus, temperature inversion, or a host and variety of natural phenomena.  Would there then be any reason for placing it in the category of classified military information?  Would there then be any reason to consider the problem of public panic?         Now let us assume that the Air Force honestly does not know the answer to the riddle of the Saucers, which may actually be true.  Is there any reason     Every Woman's Hour Brooks-Corbin Baltimore-WFBR                                                    - 7 - LOU not to tell the American People that this is the case?  Are we so immature so as not to be able to absorb the impact of reality?      This entire statement seems crowded with questions and very few answers.  Perhaps the Unidentified Flying Object itself will give us the answer before anyone else.  Thus far, we have discussed a broad general area of the puzzle.  In a moment, Helen will document several of the interesting cases which have been reported in Baltimore skies in recent months.  Then we shall hear an official opinion from Colonel Frank Milani, Director of Civil Defense for Baltimore City. HELEN COMMERCIAL LOU Are there strange visitors in the skies over Baltimore?  At the outset we promised to document several incidents, manifestly mysterious, which are among others reported to our WFBR News Bureau.  In the interest of complete objectivity we have deliberately remained aloof from even the most tentative conclusions.  Here are a few cases in point carefully detailing the impressions of those making the observations.     Every Woman's Hour Brooks-Corbin Baltimore-WFBR                                                     - 8 - HELEN THE GLEN BURNIE SIGHTING  -  As early as April 24, 1952, Mr. Donald F. Stewart and Mr. George Tyler III, both of this city were returning to Baltimore on the Governor Ritchie Highway.  At approximately 10:45 p.m. on a relatively clear, star-filled night, they reported seeing a strange disc-like object moving very slowly toward the highway out of the north.  These two men then declared that the object hovered over their car just several hundred feet off the ground.  They described it as oval in shape and approximately the size of a commercial airliner.  They stated the object seemed to give off a strange glow which seemed to pulsate.  At the same time they reported hearing a whirring noise which they felt came from the object.  This was reportedly observed for approximately two minutes.  Mr. Stewart and his companion reported that during the time the object hovered over their car, the engine of the car stalled and remained dead until the object departed.  It has never been conclusively determined if the reported object was in any way responsible.  The Air Force of Special Investigations sent a team of officers from Wright Field to interview Mr. Stewart on this story.  The interrogation was conducted at his home.  A member of the WFBR News Bureau was present during the     Every Woman's Hour Brooks-Corbin Baltimore-WFBR                                                     - 9 - HELEN questioning.  This team of Air Force interrogators indicated to the WFBR News Bureau that they were discounting the story entirely.  However, they requested permission to make photostatic copies of the WFBR original report of this incident. THE CROSS STREET SIGHTING   On March 24, Mr. Adolph Wagner of E. Cross Street here in Baltimore who is Deputy Coordinator for Southern District of Civil Defense was getting ready to retire and decided to check the weather through his second story window.  As he looked out, he reported seeing 15 objects at approximately 50 degrees off the horizon moving slowly in a V-formation.  He described the objects as 'triangular in shape' and glowing flourescent [sic] blue, one proceeding on a West-East course.  As he watched, a larger object came out of the north and positioned itself in the front of of the V-formation.  After observing them for one minute, Mr. Wagner noticed a commercial airliner with running lights on, coming out of the northeast apparently heading for Friendship Airport.  The airliner was reportedly proceeding at a low altitude.  Suddenly the glowing objects split their V-formation, SIX of them executing a VERY sharp turn, changing color from a flourescent [sic] blue to a purplish color, heading into the southwest direction.     Every Woman's Hour Brooks-Corbin Baltimore-WFBR                                                    - 10 - HELEN of the airliner, the six objects tailing the airliner 'single-file'.  The remainder of the objects continued their original source in an eastward direction.  Mr. Wagner reportedly estimated their size as approximately twenty feet on a side, with the leader of the group at approximately 50 feet.  Mr. Wagner further reported that he could see no exhaust or hear any noise.  The objects were sharply defined, no hazy edges.  Mr. Wagner said that the entire sighting lasted approximately five minutes.         Colonel Frank Milani was present at a special interrogation of Mr. Adolph Wagner carried out by the WFBR News Bureau, and Colonel Milani is fully prepared to vouch for the integrity of Mr. Wagner who, may I repeat is presently the Deputy Coordinator, Southern District of Civil Defense.         Mr. Wagner informed Colonel Milani that he had been contacted by an Air Force investigative Agency for a personal account of this incident. THE 45 MINUTE SIGHTING   On Sunday evening, May 23, 1954, at 9:30 p.m. my husband and I were driving home from Honkton, Maryland on the Corbett Road.  I noticed a bright red light in the northwest sky and brought it to the attention of my husband who was driving.  He commented that he thought the light     Every Woman's Hour Brooks-Corbin Baltimore-WFBR                                                    - 11 - HELEN could be conventional aircraft, but to be sure, he turned the corner southward on Old York Road and came to a full stop so both of us could observe.  As we watched, the light changed from red to orange, then rimmed itself in white, pulsating at this point.  The strange object was now traveling in a southwest direction.  The light moved quickly at approximately 25 to 30 degrees above the horizon, passing underneath Venus (the Evening Star) toward the southwest and then stopped.  It hovered for about ten minutes and then continued it's course maintaining the orange colored light, but making no sound.  The strange phenomenon remained in the sky for the entire trip to Baltimore which took approximately 45 minutes.  We made several stops, including two on Old York Road, one at Jacksonville, Maryland and one at Loch Raven Boulevard.  We felt reasonably certain that the strange object was not a plane, weather baloon [sic], bird or conventional object. THE ZIG ZAG SIGHTING   Just one week ago, Lou Corbin and his wife were watching the stars from the front porch of their home on Northwood Drive.  It was approximately 11:20 p.m., Wednesday, June 2, when their attention focused on a rapidly flashing star-colored light moving out of the North West.     Every Woman's Hour Brooks-Corbin Baltimore-WFBR                                                  - 12 - HELEN The light moved rapidly and after approximately five seconds disappeared.  Approximately fifteen seconds later the flashing began once again, this time considerably closer.  This light resembled an arrowhead in shape and seemed to be traveling at an altitude similar to commercial airliners.  Suddenly it executed a sharp 'Zig-Zag' turn and then disappeared.  Approximately fifteen seconds later it come on again continuing to flash and then after approximately five seconds disappeared into the southwest.  The Corbins detected no sound during the entire incident.  This was immediately reported to the Baltimore Filter Center for evaluation.          These are just a few of the many cases from our files here at WFBR. LOU In a moment, a very important and official statement, but first Helen, a word from our most gracious sponsor. HELEN COMMERCIAL LOU By now it should be apparent that we have treated the subject of Unidentified Flying Objects with serious regard.  But this is not enough.  It is of consequence that we go further.  The attention of Baltimore's Director of Civil Defense was called to the subject.  Colonel Frank Milani, we are happy     Every Woman's Hour Brooks-Corbin Baltimore-WFBR                                                     - 13 - LOU to say shared our concern, and has transcribed his official opinion.  We feel relatively certain that he is the first Director of Civil Defense in a major City to speak out on this problem.  We believe his case is a valid one, a carefully calculated appeal by him to bring at least a small degree of clarity to this perplexing issue.  And so we bring Colonel Frank Milani with an official statement on Unidentified Flying Objects.     Every Woman's Hour Brooks-Corbin Baltimore-WFBR                                                    - 14 -      STATEMENT ON UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS FROM COLONEL    FRANK MILANI, DIRECTOR OF CIVIL DEFENSE FOR BALTIMORE CITY           Thank you.         The question of Unidentified Flying Objects is logically the responsibility of our Air Force, but their interest is far from being an isolated one.  In my opinion, it is equally logical for Civil Defense Authorities to have an Official parallel concern.  The reasons for this, I believe, are relatively evident.  At the present moment we have no way of determining the origin of the Saucers.  We have not even been officially informed by the Air Force that they exist.  However, until such time as it can be substantiated that they do not exist, that they are either natural phenomena or figments of our imagination, then certain problems must continually be faced by Civil Defense Authorities.  Let us examine the situation on the level of our Baltimore responsibility.  It is my personal belief that in the face of an utter lack of information, it is a calculated risk to assume that the so-called Saucers do not constitute a threat to the welfare and security of our Citizens.  We are given to believe that they are not hostile, but we subsequently notice that the handling of reports on Unidentified Flying Objects is considered classified     Every Woman's Hour Brooks-Corbin Baltimore-WFBR                                                   - 15 -   military information unavailable even to the office of Baltimore's Director of Civil Defense.  This makes the appraisal of the UFO a somewhat perplexing one to say the least.  How can we calculate the essential elements of our own area of responsibility if we are left to flounder in a sea of conjecture and speculation on a problem which may seriously affect our Civil Defense planning?  This question alone would seem to justify our official concern.  I personally suspect that the problem can only be solved on the level of policy-making.  It might significantly add to our defensive posture if the Air Force would see fit to officially establish a more comprehensive liaison program with Civil Defense Authorities.  Since Unidentified Flying Objects should command more than just casual interest on the part of Civil Defense, why should information relative to their character be cloaked in military classifications?  I would like to say that Air Force Personnel with whom it is my pleasure to be associated with have been very cooperative.  However, their cooperation must by necessity be conditioned by Official Air Force Policies.  They are limited by top level decision in the amount of information they may divulge.  This seems to me to impose unnecessary difficulties on Civilians who must plan the Civil Defense of the Nation.  The theory that you will be told "all in     Every Woman's Hour Brooks-Corbin Baltimore-WFBR                                                  - 16 -   good time" adds little to the relief of and small compensation to those who are devoting their time and energies to this important problem of Civil Defense.  If I appear to be unduly critical and impatient with the present state of affairs, it is perhaps due to the inconsistency of the Air Force in their public announcements relative to Unidentified Flying Objects.  As Civil Defense Director for Baltimore City I urge all listening to cooperate with the Air Force in promptly reporting any puzzling objects they may see in our Baltimore skies.  Also, as Civil Defense Director, I would like to call upon the Air Force to lessen the intense secrecy which presently prevails, or provide adequate reasons why this cannot be done.  Thank you for giving me the opportunity of participating on this program.     Every Woman's Hour Brooks-Corbin Baltimore-WFBR                                                    - 17 - LOU Thank you, Colonel Milani.  So ends our first report on this challenging problem.  May we too urge you, the people, to cooperate with the Air Force in reporting strange things you may see in the skies.  We suggest you do not attempt to evaluate them.  Report them immediately to the Baltimore Filter Center.  We would also appreciate hearing about them from you.  Another broadcast document on Unidentified Flying Objects is in the process of development.  In closing our report we would like to add this.  If the United States Air Force in this community should feel disposed to officially comment on the questions posed in this report, we shall be happy to make our microphones available to them.

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