As early as 1954, the anonymous European author of one version of the “V-7” or “Nazi saucer” yarn wove the Avro saucer into his tale; he informed his readers that the V-7's creator, “Dr. Heinrich Richard Miethe,” was at that time in Canada, reconstructing his wonderful craft under the auspices of A.V. Roe (Avro). The lastest reprinting of this fable occurred in 1958, when the English translation of Robert Jungk's interesting but factually-careless book Brighter Than a Thousand Suns (Zurich, 1956) was issued in this country. (Jungk copied the tale, without acknowledgement, from another 1956 book by Rudolf Lusar.) Although the Research Staff is pretty strongly of the opinion that all “Nazi saucers” were propelled solely by hot air, [1] we did take the precaution of asking Avro to comment on the Lusar-Jungk story. Not exactly to our surprise, we were informed by Avro's Publicity Supervisor that “if this man Miethe exists, we have never heard of him.”
One might add that, “if he exists,” he certainly doesn't seem to be much of an asset to Avro. In late 1954, the Canadian Government withdrew support from the saucer project, because (in the words of Defence Production Minister C. D. Howe) “it did not seem sufficiently promising to be worth going on with...it did not seem to have any useful purpose“ (Manchester Guardian, 12/2/54). A few months later, the U.S. Air Force picked up the tab, and immediately proceeded to shroud the project in its habitual ridiculous secrecy (Toronto Globe and Mail, 8/23/55). Four years have now passed since the Air Force took over, and yet it appears that Dr. Miethe has still not succeeded in rebuilding the marvelous craft that he developed in wartime Germany in 1945. [2]
However, anyone reading the newspapers of mid-April 1959 might well have thought that he had finally succeeded. We quote from a UPI item by Norman Cornish datelined Washington, 4/14/59:
The United States will test-fly its first “flying saucer” this summer, a defense expert said today.
The expert, who is connected with the program, said the public will be “absolutely amazed” at the new manned aircraft when Pentagon secrecy wraps finally are taken off, perhaps this year.
“I've never seen anything like it,” he told UPI. He said the saucer will be able to skim close to the ground, dart between trees, dip into small valleys...thus confounding enemy radar. It will also be able to hover over a fixed spot and move sideways.
The saucer will provide the Army with a modern airborne “cavalry,” he said. “Troops and supplies could be rushed anywhere...” etc.
This sounded pretty exciting, and some wigs began to flip. “The disclosure that the United States has the flying saucer is tremendously significant news,” exclaimed the Lehighton (Pa.) Leader. “Beyond doubt we had had the flying saucer for years – since the time people started seeing them – but our government did not feel ready to admit it...Some people couldn't help but notice it flying around. These people were ridiculed...America owes an apology to everyone who saw a flying saucer...It is good to know that we were not being observed by space after all...”
We quote this effusion as a typical example of the way many people will grasp avidly and uncritically at any “conventional” explanation of UFOs, no matter how patently inapplicable it may be. When (and if) the Avro saucer finally flies in public, we may expect to see many editors come up with this fatuous “now it's all explained” reaction.
For it was indeed the Avro saucer that UPI's “expert” was rhapsodizing about. [3] “Brig.-Gen. Frank H. Britton, director of development for Army research, said the new craft is the result of a joint Army-Air Force program carried out by Avro Aircraft, Ltd., of Canada” (AP dispatch, 4/14/59).
Well, just how good is this “amazing” Avro saucer,
after its seven years' gestation? (All right, you can guess what's
coming. We're sorry to be so cynical and “negative” about so many
things, but unfortunately that's the way reality is apt to be. This
world is full of disillusionments for the too-ready believer, and a good
vinegary skepticism is healthy attitude – if not an endearing one for the
student of UFOs.) In illustration of this maxim, we conclude with
some questions from an enlightening article in the Toronto Daily Star
(2/26/59):
Avro's Flying Saucer - Is It a Joke or Will It Fly?
P.S. It is interesting, to use no stronger
word, that we have to go to a Canadian newspaper to find an honest account
of the status of this United States military project. It seems safe
to say that no U.S. newspaper would print criticisms such as this;
the Air Force would undoubtedly consider them a violation of its “security.”
As we UFOlogists have good reason to know, the Air Force is apt to define
“security” as its right to do just as it pleases in absolute secrecy –
“secure” from any inspection and possible reprimand by the public that
foots all its bills.
- Our cogent reasons for this opinion would take too long to set forth here. If the topic (a fairly active one in 1958) doesn't die a natural death in the meantime, we hope some day to write it up in detail. - Back To Text
- Just to avoid any misunderstanding – this is simply a bit of sarcasm, directed at anyone who may happen to believe in “Miethe” (we know, for instance, that Lusar still does). In our view, “Miethe” and his “V-7” are just as much fictional figures as “Ashtar” and his “ventlas.” - Back To Text
- The emphasis on flying close to the ground, however, probably reflects confusion between the Avro craft and several “ground effect” devices that were shown to the House Space Committee on April 13, 1959. These are simply flat platforms that are kept just off the ground by compressed air blown out by fans underneath. Their military value was, as usual, greatly exaggerated by the newspapers; no one seemed to realize that something of this sort will only work over a perfectly smooth surface. - Back To Text
