The Ether Ship Mystery in the Press

A brief sampling of the news media response to the claims of the Borderland Sciences Research Associates on the matters of survival, the flying discs, and all matters Etherian, as a matter of public record.

  1. "San Diegoans See (?) Visitor." (14 Oct. 1946)
  2. "Parapsychologist Impatiently Repeats, 'Twas a Space Ship in Sky." (18 Oct. 1946)
  3. "Ho for Etheria!" (23 May 1949)
  4. "Another Country Heard From" (22 Jun. 1949)
  5. "Saucer Theory." (10 Apr. 1950)
  6. "Flying Saucers: Myth or Menace?" (Nov. 1952)

The Los Angeles Daily News said in a story from San Diego, Calif., Monday that many persons there believed a "space ship from another planet" had tried to contact earth during last week's showering of meteors from the Giacobini-Zinner comet. At San Diego, authorities said they received no reports of such a phenomenon and were frankly skeptical of it. Police said they had received no phone calls at the time. The Daily News said at least a dozen persons testified that on the night of Oct. 9 a "large and weird object," with something that looked like wings had appeared over the city. "It was shaped like a bullet and it left a thin vapor trail behind it," the News quotes William L. Nabers, San Diego County Hospital attendant, as saying. Meade Layne, editor of an occult publication called the "Round Robin," was reported as putting a medium to work on the supposed sighting. The medium claimed it was a "space ship named Careeta" from an unidentified planet, the News said. He added the "ship" didn't land because "they're afraid of the reception they'll get."

"San Diegoans See (?) Visitor."
Eugene Register-Guard 14 Oct. 1946: 2.

LOS ANGELES — (U.P.) — The Los Angeles Daily News said in a story from San Diego, Calif., Monday that many persons there believed a "space ship from another planet" had tried to contact earth during last week's showering of meteors from the Giacobini-Zinner comet.

At San Diego, authorities said they received no reports of such a phenomenon and were frankly skeptical of it. Police said they had received no phone calls at the time.

The Daily News said at least a dozen persons testified that on the night of Oct. 9 a "large and weird object," with something that looked like wings had appeared over the city.

"It was shaped like a bullet and it left a thin vapor trail behind it," the News quotes William L. Nabers, San Diego County Hospital attendant, as saying.

Meade Layne, editor of an occult publication called the "Round Robin," was reported as putting a medium to work on the supposed sighting. The medium claimed it was a "space ship named Careeta" from an unidentified planet, the News said. He added the "ship" didn't land because "they're afraid of the reception they'll get."

The above report was a wide spread item of curiosity, appearing as far afield as Australia in the Brisbane Courier-Mail under the title "FLASH OR SUPERMAN?" (16 Oct. 1946) and in the Marine Corps. Chevron as "'Space Ship' Seen By San Diegans Trying to Contact Earth" (18 Oct. 1946).

Somewhat out of patience with people who refuse to believe in space ships from other planets, Dr. Meade Layne, parapsychologist, yesterday dismissed repeated claims that the wing-flapping craft he said was reported to him last Wednesday night was only a DC-4 airliner.

"Parapsychologist Impatiently Repeats, 'Twas a Space Ship in Sky." San Diego Union 18 Oct. 1946: 8-A.

Somewhat out of patience with people who refuse to believe in space ships from other planets, Dr. Meade Layne, parapsychologist, yesterday dismissed repeated claims that the wing-flapping craft he said was reported to him last Wednesday night was only a DC-4 airliner. "Next they will be telling me it was just a plate of biscuits," he remarked. Then he explained the "information" about the space ship had come to him from both visual observers in San Diego and from psychic controls from "the other side," the sphere of existence beyond life.

The DC-4 had come into picture when, in an attempt to explain the reports of a space ship being sighted over San Diego during Wednesday night's meteor shower, Western Airline officials said they had one of their new big planes here at that time and it might have been mistaken for an otherworldly apparition. The DC-4's wings are rigid.

'Seen' By Medium

The first tip, he said, came from a man who said he spotted it from the 14th floor of a downtown office building. The man happened to be a medium with whom Layne has been associated in helping to orient lost people from "the other side."

The medium, whom Layne did not name, and several other persons informed Layne of seeing the ship, described as twice as large as the largest airplane. In order to substantiate the information, Layne inserted a three-line classified advertisement in the Thursday editions of the Union and the Tribune-Sun, asking all persons who had seen the object in the sky to call him. Yesterday he said he had about 30 reports on the subject.

Layne said that after he saw the ship the medium contacted a "control" from "the other side," who told him that it was the space ship named Kareeta and it came from another planet.

Done by 'Clairaudience'

Layne said this contact with the control was made while the medium was conscious by a process known to psychics as "clairaudience."

Later the medium went into a trance and a familiar control apparently talked through the medium's mouth to explain about Kareeta. Layne quoted the control as saying that the ship was sent here from another planet whose inhabitants had been trying for years to get in contact with the earth dwellers.

They chose Wednesday night because they knew earth dwellers would have their eyes turned sky-ward and because the earth is now easy to find because it is sending a beam of light into space, according to the explanation Layne said he got from the control.

Built of Wood

The ship itself was described as being built of balsa wood with a covering of alloy. It navigated through space, the control was quoted as saying, by use of a "gravity screen." In this atmosphere it used wings which were flapped by small, powerful electric motors.

That control, Layne asserted, also said that the Kareeta would come back next year and pleaded with his hearers at the seance to arrange a meeting with scientists to greet the ship on its returns. He said the occupants of the ship were much like earthlings, but much lighter. He said they came in peace.

Layne said he was only repeating what had been told to him by the control speaking through the medium's lips and would not vouch for the authenticity of the information. He explained that controls are not always reliable, but this control, who died in Tibet 450 years ago, had been reliable in the past.

Explains Insanity

Layne describes himself as a parapsychologist and a retired teacher. He said he had become interested in psychical research as a result of his study of abnormal psychology.

Together with the medium who first reported seeing the Kareeta, Layne is now assisting at seances whose purpose is to assist the wandering bewildered people from "the other side" who are "still too much in tune with earth vibrations." By using psychological methods, Layne says, they are able to "achieve an integrated personality and find their way through the astral plane."

For Meade Layne's own reporting on the matter, we refer you to "Welcome, Kareeta!" (RR, Vol. 2, No. 10, October 1946) and follow-ups in subsequent issues. This incident comes the year prior — naturally — to the Flying Saucer craze sparked by the Kenneth Arnold sighting.

RECENTLY Walter Winchell chilled radio listeners with the "revelation" that those flying saucers which keep popping up each year are really experimental guided missiles from Russia. Comes now a memorandum from Borderland Sciences Research Associates saying 'taint so. The disks, "Lokas," are from an equally incomprehensible but friendlier place called Etheria. Where's Etheria? It's a "material world, with objects and people and a great civilization, and it lies all about us, though invisible and untouchable." BSRA reminds us that there are sounds and colors which are beyond the range of human eyes and ears. Why not, then, a spectrum of touch beyond our senses? "We do not detect the presence of air or gases by touch, though they consist of material particles." Incredible? Humph, humphs BSRA, so were radio, radar, X-rays, atomic fission and such things a few years ago. Yes, but why have Etherians lately taken to nosing into our poor world? Well, it seems that having the ability to move in and out of our plane at will, "at every great crisis ... or just prior to the collapse of civilization, they make an extended survey here for their own information and historical records." That "collapse of a civilization" has an ominous ring. And things around this globe look just unsettled enough to give it a touch of validity. Wonder if BSRA has enough influence with the invisibles to get us a one­way ticket to Etheria? We'd like to change our locus on a loka before the whole darn world goes loco.

"Ho for Etheria!"
Pottstown Mercury 23 May 1949: 4.

RECENTLY Walter Winchell chilled radio listeners with the "revelation" that those flying saucers which keep popping up each year are really experimental guided missiles from Russia. Comes now a memorandum from Borderland Sciences Research Associates saying 'taint so. The disks, "Lokas," are from an equally incomprehensible but friendlier place called Etheria.

Where's Etheria? It's a "material world, with objects and people and a great civilization, and it lies all about us, though invisible and untouchable."

BSRA reminds us that there are sounds and colors which are beyond the range of human eyes and ears. Why not, then, a spectrum of touch beyond our senses? "We do not detect the presence of air or gases by touch, though they consist of material particles."

Incredible? Humph, humphs BSRA, so were radio, radar, X-rays, atomic fission and such things a few years ago.

Yes, but why have Etherians lately taken to nosing into our poor world? Well, it seems that having the ability to move in and out of our plane at will, "at every great crisis . . . or just prior to the collapse of civilization, they make an extended survey here for their own information and historical records."

That "collapse of a civilization" has an ominous ring. And things around this globe look just unsettled enough to give it a touch of validity. Wonder if BSRA has enough influence with the invisibles to get us a one­way ticket to Etheria? We'd like to change our locus on a loka before the whole darn world goes loco.

Borderland Sciences Research Associates, a Southern California outfit, is distributing a brochure "explaining" the mystery of the flying discs that plagued so many people during the past few years. The discs, says the BSRA, do not come from Russia or any spot on earth. They do not come from another planet. They come from Etheria. ("Another world all about us which in a sense interpenetrates with our own.") According to BSRA, "Practically all the discs and other craft seen in our skies are experimental variants made by the etheric people, who are never tired of trying out new ideas or improving the old ones."They even quote one Etherian, a chap called Rama Kalao, whom they were fortunate enough to talk to. He had this to say: "I have come to tell you there will be new appearances of flying discs before this year is over. Please believe me, these discs are not from Russia, nor from any other earth-country... We say too, there will be no world war on earth for years to come. The people from Etheria will interfere if such is attempted..." Now that we know about the discs, we would be interested to learn what Rama has to say about the election last fall.

"Another Country Heard From."
Bismarck Tribune 22 Jun. 1949: 4.

Borderland Sciences Research Associates, a Southern California outfit, is distributing a brochure "explaining" the mystery of the flying discs that plagued so many people during the past few years.

The discs, says the BSRA, do not come from Russia or any spot on earth. They do not come from another planet. They come from Etheria. ("Another world all about us which in a sense interpenetrates with our own.")

According to BSRA, "Practically all the discs and other craft seen in our skies are experimental variants made by the etheric people, who are never tired of trying out new ideas or improving the old ones."

They even quote one Etherian, a chap called Rama Kalao, whom they were fortunate enough to talk to. He had this to say:

"I have come to tell you there will be new appearances of flying discs before this year is over. Please believe me, these discs are not from Russia, nor from any other earth-country . . . We say too, there will be no world war on earth for years to come. The people from Etheria will interfere if such is attempted . . ."

Now that we know about the discs, we would be interested to learn what Rama has to say about the election last fall.

Saucers are making headlines again. Charles Fort reported them 20 years ago so I think Henry Taylor is all wet. There is a modern "Nostradamus" out in California who is giving us an entirely new version of these superior sky-craft. This seer says that they originate in "Etheria," are operated by "Etherians," and they are here for the purpose of making observations. Etheria is a place within our own atmosphere and our atomic bombs have disturbed their way of life, and they intended to interfere with our plans for an atomic war. These Etherians are highly intelligent beings, have never lived on earth, are definitely not departed earth spirits. That's the story received through Mark Probert, a commercial artist who does mediumistic work for Borderland Science Research Associates, which is headed by Meade Layne, a former college professor and reputable investigator. It is reported that a large sum of money was left to Stanford University for psychic investigation, but they are not using it. Private investigators are more alert it seems.

"Saucer Theory."
Miami Theory 10 Apr. 1950: 14-A.

To The Editor Of The Miami Daily News:

Saucers are making headlines again. Charles Fort reported them 20 years ago so I think Henry Taylor is all wet.

There is a modern "Nostradamus" out in California who is giving us an entirely new version of these superior sky-craft. This seer says that they originate in "Etheria," are operated by "Etherians," and they are here for the purpose of making observations.

Etheria is a place within our own atmosphere and our atomic bombs have disturbed their way of life, and they intended to interfere with our plans for an atomic war. These Etherians are highly intelligent beings, have never lived on earth, are definitely not departed earth spirits. That's the story received through Mark Probert, a commercial artist who does mediumistic work for Borderland Science Research Associates, which is headed by Meade Layne, a former college professor and reputable investigator.

It is reported that a large sum of money was left to Stanford University for psychic investigation, but they are not using it.

Private investigators are more alert it seems.

E. A. Keithe

Between Earth and the planet Venus, some now said, seven mysterious "planes" of travel through space. One of them, according to the Borderland Sciences Research Associates, is Etheria. Until now its very existence has eluded ordinary scientific investigation. Only when atomic blasts on Earth attracted their attention, did the Etherians evidence interest in us. In space ships whose outer skin was wrought by metal tougher than steel, they flew along magnetic lines of force into the atmosphere of Earth. We saw their craft at night as flashing fire balls of red and green. We saw them by day as discs that flew at incredible speeds and executed fantastic maneuvers. Troubled and confused, we dubbed them Flying Saucers and went to weird lengths to explain their existence. We failed utterly to recognize the truth. Such is the elaborately worked-out theory of the Borderlanders. Does it hold up? Until there is a definitive report on the saucers, the Etherians can appeal to our credibility as well as anyone — or anything.

"Flying Saucers: Myth or Menace?"
Lawrence Elliott (article), and Ren Wicks (art)
Coronet Nov. 1952.

Between Earth and the planet Venus, some now said, seven mysterious "planes" of travel through space. One of them, according to the Borderland Sciences Research Associates, is Etheria. Until now its very existence has eluded ordinary scientific investigation. Only when atomic blasts on Earth attracted their attention, did the Etherians evidence interest in us. In space ships whose outer skin was wrought by metal tougher than steel, they flew along magnetic lines of force into the atmosphere of Earth. We saw their craft at night as flashing fire balls of red and green. We saw them by day as discs that flew at incredible speeds and executed fantastic maneuvers. Troubled and confused, we dubbed them Flying Saucers and went to weird lengths to explain their existence. We failed utterly to recognize the truth. Such is the elaborately worked-out theory of the Borderlanders. Does it hold up? Until there is a definitive report on the saucers, the Etherians can appeal to our credibility as well as anyone — or anything.

If you have any insights, questions, hints, or comments whatsoever on the Ether Ship Mystery or the Aeroform phenomena in the whole, do feel free to contact us via email cqc@borderlandsciences.org.

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