65_HS1-834228961_62-HQ-83894_Section_008

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THE EARTH SATELLITE ENIGMA -- ARE THEY MOSCOW'S ... METEORIC
OR MARTIAN? Statements conflict, as usual.
I first reported these two mys­
terious earth satellites in my April Newsletter ... then again, following Lt.
Col. O'Mara's admission to me, June 8, that a govt. project was tracking the
objects but that the evidence was conflicting.
I heard nothing more until Aug. 3 when Edward W. Hermann, special agent for
McGraw-Hill Publications, told me Dave Anderton, Engineering Editor of
Aviation Week, had received a report from Dr. Lincoln La Paz regarding the
satellites, and, that it would 11 appear in detail in a coming issue. 11 In that a
correspondent friend, Ted Bloecher of New York, tells me he tried dozens of
newstands for the magazine, but to no avail ( indicating a sudden scarcity) I
will quote the August 2·3, 1954 issue of Aviation Week:
"Pentagon scare over the observanc~ of two previously unobserved satellites
orbiting the earth had dissipated with the identification of the objects as na­
tural, not artifi.cial sat ellites. Dr. Lincoln La Paz ... headed the identification
project. One satellite is orbiting about 400 miles out while the other track is
600 miles from the earth. Pentagon thought the Russians had beaten the U.S.
to space operations. "
Now, the rest of the story, thanks to Ted Bloecher. Says Ted: 11Being of a
nature that is naturally suspicious of anything printed, I wrote Dr. La Paz and
requested that he verify this release.
I received an answer yesterday. ( Sept. 8).
In his letter, Dr. La Paz regrets 'that Aviation Week 1s misleading satellite
story has received such widespread and uncritical publicity.' Enclosed also
was the letter he (La Paz) had written to A. P. Strangely enough , the papers
were content with carrying the false report, for I've seen no mention of Dr.
:;:_,a Paz's correction on this report. 11
Following is copy of letter, in part, by Dr. LaPaz,totheAssociated Press:
"Scientifically and militarily, the search for nearby satellites of the earth is
one of the most important on which mankind has ever embarked. It is there­
fore unfortunate, although not surprising, that false rumors are bound to be
circulated in regard to the nature and results of this search.
11As regards the Aviation Week story on the satellite search, summarized in
the A. P. release shown me, it is false in every partic~lar insofar as reference
to me is concerned.... No one representing Aviation Week has questioned qi~
concerning any possible connection I may have with .the satellite search program,
and no one whatever has been authorized to credit me with the activities attrib­
uted to me in the Aviation Week story. 11
(Signed) Lincoln La Paz
Director Institute of Meteoritics
Your letters and clippings are greatly appreciated; each is carefully read and
filed. Since the April Newsletter, more than 8000 letters have crossed my
desk -- a tremendous load for just two people. My wife, Dell, handles all ad­
ministrative details, subscriptions, mailing, etc. , while I direct the research
and prepare the Newsletter. We are both grateful for your kind letters and your
enduring patience. KEEP THE MAIL COMING, but we 1re afraid to commit our­
selves on a reply. The Newsletter is published first Friday of the month. Sub­
scription $2. 00 a year, starting with June 1954 issue . Six month subscriptions
starting in April terminate with Oct. issue. Mark RENEWAL clearly with remit­
tance. Back copies of April, May, June issues available at Z5<: each. Foreign
subscriptions {except Canada) are $2. 60 regular first class mail. Air Mail
add 50f extra per issue cf Uewsletter.