Aboard a flying saucer. truman Behurum and the hot Capt. Aura Rhanes

Chill Out everyone....

I didn't read that as a review, it appeared to be external material to me. So I did what would have been correct in that case and trimmed the excess quote and added the ex tags.

I was offline right after I did it, and am just now seeing whats going on.

John Lear had nothing to do with my MOD actions in this thread, the edit and ex tags were done before anyone posted in this thread.

Um.... Rules or not this thread is now meaningless because now I don't have a clue what you guys are talking about. Was there a link to this story? If a mod is going to gut the original post then why not just close it altogether? Those of us late getting here are wondering what all the hullaballoo is about.

There are other, older book reviews of an identical format on ATS that are unmolested, which is why I am loath to supply links to for fear they'll get the same treatment.



[edit on 10/24/2007 by yuefo]

I've had a little discussion with elevatedone and I am convinced the shortening of my review was a misunderstanding. I suppose this is a good example of how a combination of circumstances and coincidence can lead to more of reaction than perhaps, in hindsight, was called for. But I'll tell ya what I'm going to do. I won't mess with a mod's edit regardless, but I'm going to repost the full review here. Perhaps in the future I can make it more clear that this is an original review. My reviews in general are not judgmental. They just tell the story. We leave the critique to the discussion afterwards. If you believe I am biased in my presentation WITHIN THE REVIEW I invite you to read the book yourself to see. I stand by them 100% and I won't let a half-baked mis-informed attempt to say otherwise interfere with that. I've had instances recently where the critic obviously had not even read the book in question, but felt justified in commenting regardless. I figure you live by your posts, and that includes your reputation. If you really are an idiot (and that's absolutely NOT directed at anyone in particular), it will be obvious in what you post.

I 'publish' these reviews on ATS as a public service to ATS members. They are my reviews and I assert my rights as author of them under international copyright conventions, even as I release them under the terms of the Creative Commons License used by ATS in their Terms & Conditions. (Basically, this means that you can use the entire review with attribution without incurring any costs. They are free.) I also post them elsewhere, just in case there is any question of when they first appeared. I spend about two days preparing each review and normally read the book in question twice.

Now, about copyright law. I figure I've sat through more hours of lectures about copyright law in my 35 career as a professional librarian than time I've spent on ATS. (It seems libraries don't want their employees to screw up. They keep a record of who attended what lecture to prove you were told.) Unless you are an attorney with significant experience in the field I'm not likely to listen much to you on copyright. If that shows my bias, fine. I will wear it as proudly as I do a criticism from John Lear, as a badge of considerable honor. You have to make your stand somewhere; I don't tell Lear how to fly airplanes. Don't try to lecture me on copyright. I own several hundred. If you think that's a brag, I apologize. It's just a fact.

Truman Bethurum was not a deep thinker. He was probably a very good mechanic, considering how he was pursued to take jobs. He told fortunes at local bars, so my guess is he was pretty gregarious. But he didn't know, for example, that it was impossible to hide Clarion behind the Moon until it was demonstrated to him. He then changed it to "beyond the Moon," and then to "the other side of the Sun." But if you read the book, it is obvious in context and was very clear that Captain Aura Rhanes meant exactly what she said: The other side of the Moon.

I don't know what happened to Truman Bethurum, if anything, really. I do know that his story is my absolute favorite of all the 50'e era contactee stories. There's a lot more substance to Captain Aura Rhanes and her crew than there is, for example, to the disembodied voice of Fry's "A-Lan" who never actually appears and only talks to Fry "in his head" or very nearby. I'm going to track down his other three books as soon as possible.

Thank you. I'm thinking my next project will be an unauthorized biography of our favorite Conspiracy Master. There's plenty of material in the public domain.

[edit on 10/24/2007 by schuyler]

This is a repost of the original that started this thread. I assert that the review below is entirely of my own words and is specifically allowed and entirely legal under international and United States copyright laws. This is not an "external quote." I claim authorship of this review, Copyright (c) 2007 by Schuyler, but hereby release it into the Creative Commons License and the Terms & Conditions of posting as stated by ATS.

Aboard a Flying Saucer; (Non-fiction: a true story of personal experience . .) by Truman Bethurum. Los Angeles: DeVorss & Co., Publishers, 1954, 192 pages.

In June of 1952 Truman Bethurum was enjoying life in a trailer park in Santa Barbara as an unemployed (on strike) operating engineer. Unfortunately his good friend Whitey Edwards called him from Mormon Mesa near Las Vegas with a job offer he couldn’t refuse. He needed someone to help run an asphalt mixing plant. Bethurum was his choice. He would be picked up the next day. End of story. As soon as he arrived the plant shut down because of excess capacity. Bethurum kept his job but only on swing shift as a maintenance mechanic. One day after his shift he decided to drive up to a mesa not far from the shop. His wife collected seashells. He had been told the mesa was a former inland ocean and though it might be a good place to explore. After a couple of hours searching he decided to take a little snooze. When he awoke there were several little men surrounding him.

They were all wearing a sort of uniform, later described as similar to a Greyhound bus driver’s. they wore black billed caps and ‘jackets like cowboys.’ One of them spoke to Bethurum in a foreign language. He motioned he did not understand. The man said “You name it.” Bethurum said, “My God! You can speak English too.” The little man said, “We have no difficulty with any language.” Thus assured, Bethurum stepped from his truck and first saw the flying saucer.

All the little men lined up to shake hands with him. When he asked to speak to the Captain of the saucer, they all smiled, for the Captain was a woman, “and what a woman!” He was led into the saucer (a “scow”) to meet Aura Rhanes. The Captain wore a red pleated dress and a black velvet (fitted) blouse. She wore a black and red beret “at a jaunty angle,” had brown eyes and skin of a beautiful olive and roses. She had a radiant smile and seemed amused at Bethurum’s; slack jawed silly reaction.

They begin a conversation in which Capt. Rhanes appears to answer questions before they are asked. She spoke perfect English, of course, but sounded to Bethurum like Mother Goose rhymes. To Bethurum’s question of their motive power, Rhanes answered, “We have no reciprocating equipment aboard.” It was, she said, and Admiral’s scow. And with that the interview was over. Bethurum was escorted outside; and the saucer took off. When Bethurum got back to the shop his boss asked him if anything large had landed in the vicinity. Against his better judgment Bethurum admitted he had seen a flying saucer. His colleagues, of course, hooted with laughter.

At Bethurum’s second meeting with Captain Rhanes on August 4, 1952, was only half an hour. He learned that on her world there were no taxes, no politics, no delinquency of any kind. They had no illness, no doctors or nurses. And even mechanics and laborers are taboo. In short, her world had no troubles of any kind. When he got back to the shop Whitey asked if he had told his wife about the saucer, and about Aura Rhanes. That night he wrote a letter. But by return she said she was afraid of the hot weather and was reluctant to come.

On his third visit to the saucer Bethurum learned that Aura Rhanes and her crew were from the planet Clarion. This planet is on the other side of the Moon and cannot be seen from earth (Note: The position was later changed to the ‘other side of the sun.’ Bethurum had apparently misunderstood.) Other plants such as Mars were also inhabited by people like us. Mars, for example, is a great manufacturing planet. Everyone has a five acre country estate with a beautiful lawn, where flowers and shrubs are everywhere. Turning to technological issues, Captain Rhanes maintained that conquering gravitational force allowed them to dispense with friction of air as a problem in maneuvering their ships.

Much later in the day Bethurum was having a bite to eat with Whitey at a local coffee shop when he spotted Aura Rhanes and a companion at the counter. When Bethurum attempted to strike up a conversation, she dismissed him with negative answers. Afterwards she called for the check and spoke to the waitress, who returned to Bethurum to tell him Aura had apologized and had answered “No” to several questions when she ought to have answered “Yes.” They then left the restaurant. Bethurum rushed outside where Whitey had been waiting. He insisted the pair never cam out the door. They had disappeared in plain sight. Not long after she appears on a Las Vegas street corner and disappears into a drug store.

Bethurum continues to have problems with his marriage at this point. After a lengthy letter to his wife she wrote back to him not wanting to hear any more about saucers or little people. Fortunately his two daughters (by a previous marriage) are on board with him and do not think he is crazy. Bethurum had been discussing the visitors with local people and had developed a bit of a reputation. This also gave him the source of many more questions to ask when he had the chance. But on his next visit to the scow he confesses to Aura Rhanes that many people think he’s nuts, including his own wife, and that this is troubling to him.

On another visit Bethurum remembers he has a letter from a school girl written in French, which he does not understand. The idea is that he will give Capt. Rhanes the letter and get an answer in French. This will prove Bethurum had no part in the communication. Indeed, she takes the letter, gives it to a crew member, and then Bethurum hears a typing sound. Soon after a letter appears typed in French, which is included in the book. Rhanes also gives him a message written in Chinese. The French letter claims all the inhabitants of Clarion are Christians, and that ‘modern countries’ are devolving into paganism. It also exhorts the young “Chere Marie” to guard against the lure of adultery.

On subsequent visits Bethurum continues to learn more about the Clarionites. Their churches are always full. The like dancing polkas and square dances and also are fond of ballets. Their children have plenty of toys but are never messy; they always put them away in special cupboard. There are no weeds on Clarion. There are no traffic jams and their roads a are wide. They drive ‘nutronic jeeps’ and never have any accidents. They have three power sources: antimagnetic or gravitational, plutonic, and nutronic. Bethurum looks forward to the time when he can travel to Clarion, which Captain Rhanes has promised him.

Bethurum continues to speak of his marital problems. His wife hung up on him during their last phone call. He thinks maybe if she could see Clarion all would be put to rest, but Captain Rhanes says the coming visit must only be made by men. (Note: Bethurum’s wife eventually divorces him, naming Aura Rhanes as a correspondent in the proceedings.)

In the last few visits Aura Rhanes promises to take him and several of his friends to Clarion. She even has a package delivered to him with special flares to call the scow. The visit never happened. On his last day in the desert Bethurum used the remaining flare, but no one came. He moved back to Redondo Beach where sometime later he received a letter from Professor George Adamski who wanted to share experiences with him. He also received visits from scientists and engineers wanting to know about the scow, and speaking invitations began to arrive. At the end of the book Bethurum’s speaking career is about to take off.

Bethurum wrote three more books: The Voice of Planet Clarion (1957), Facing Reality (1958) and The People of Planet Clarion (1970). He also established “The Sanctuary of Thought” in Prescott, Arizona.

Schulyler,
Thanks for the effort. Too bad the material was not restored now that the misunderstanding was corrected though. I have not read that book since my Sister handed it to me as a child. I would love to read your reviews.

I enjoyed reading your review Schuyler, it was very interesting and I didn't have to go out and read the entire book. I don't know if I believe the guys story though; it justs seems hard to believe. Especially the part about people on Mars having 5 acre properties, and the other places being so nice and perfect. That part seems to undermine the rest of his story.

I have a lot of old UFO books, and almost all of them are signed by the authors. They are interesting reading, but where the truth ends and where the lies start is unclear in those books. Sometimes, I think the lies start at the Title, and end at the last word of the last sentence.

I suspect lots of the UFOs that people see nowadays are secret projects built by scientists here on Earth. That is the only reason why I didn't shoot down the UFO that I saw years ago. I thought there might have been someone operating it other than an alien. I had plenty of time to shoot it down, and it was small enough, and I'm sure my ammunition would have brought it down, but I didn't do it because I thought there just might be a human being inside there, and not an alien, and I would be in trouble if I had brought down a top secret flying machine and had killed the human inhabitant(s).

Great review, Schuyler, enjoyed the encapsulation.

I believe he is featured on one of the History Channel's UFO documentaries and one about the contactee movements from 1993, called 'In Advance of the Landing'.

Here's an interesting site I found linked to Bethurum's wiki page wiki page:

1950s Contactees


[edit on 24-10-2007 by Badge01]

I read this book years ago.

My mom met the author at a lecture - and had him sign her book.

In the '50s - she belonged to a Los Angeles - South Bay Area group - called "The Mental Shop"

Wish I could find it.

Oh - it is a fascinating read. There were also diagrams.





[edit on 25-10-2007 by Annee]

Originally posted by johnlear
Thanks schuyler for your Reader’s Disgust Condensed Version of “Aboard a Flying Saucer” which you neglected to mention was copyrighted in 1954.

I assume that you are posting this under the provisions of Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, but that you just neglected to mention the material was copyrighted.

Did you think it wasn't?

Originally posted by johnlear
The mixing plant that you refer to was a batch plant owned by the Wells Cargo Co. who had the contract to improve Hiway 91 long before Highway 15 was built.

Wells Cargo was formed by Robert, Howard and Joe Wells. Both Howard and Joe passed away many years ago. Robert, a friend of mine, passed away in 2002. I still keep in touch with his wife Karen who knows the story about Truman.

Hiway 91 still exists but is rarely used. I point it out to friends on my way up to the mine. And I also tell the Truman Bethurum story as we are traveling along the Morman Mesa from Glendale (where the batch plant was) to the Riverside cutoff.

Do you remind them the story is copyrighted when you tell it?

I show them where hiway 91 cuts down the Morman Mesa on a Dugway just west of Riverside.

I’m sorry what exactly does who formed the mixing plant and what road they were contracted to improve have to do with the story and Schuyler’s review?

Originally posted by johnlearI found Trumans story very interesting and I thought your highly selective of facts and condensed version typical.

Typical of what and exactly which “facts” did he leave out that concerns you?

Originally posted by johnlearBut thanks for the post and the review. I called Karen this morning to refresh my memory on the names of Roberts’s brothers.

So you say.

Thanks for the review Schuyler, not sure I’ve ever heard of this story before.

AD

P.S. Looking forward to your unauthorized biography of ATS’s favorite “Conspiracy Master”. Let me know if you would be interested in collaborating, I would be happy to share my notes with you.

Oops, gotta run, I'll have to catch up with everybody else later...

reply to post by NGC2736

I completely agree with this. Hear hear.

The official ATS line here is wrong. Apologies are in order -- I trust they will be forthcoming, in this thread.

lol what is with you people? You have way too much time on your hands or something. This guy takes his time to read a book and summarize it for us in his own words and all you can do is sit around and argue and start drama about it?

It doesn't even seem like we're talking about the actual story anymore, but if we are I think it's just a bunch of BS. The way these "contactees'" stories change with the era should obviously tell you something...

Elevated, I am glad that you can assure us that there was no unethical moves on your part in all of this, and I apologize if it sounded like I was saying that. The timing, and the snide remark by John Lear led me to think it might be so. I place a great deal of trust in the honesty and integrity of the staff here at ATS, and will continue to do so.

OP, thank you for reposting. While I am not always in agreement with you, I will always stand up for your right to say what you think, and you do a great job of that.

reply to post by schuyler


Hi schuyler,

Thanks for posting the review. I'm familiar with many of the contactee stories from the 1950s-but not this one. Naturally I don't believe a word of it, but it is an interesting story certainly a far cry from so-called alien abductions of today!

Thanks again.

wow, I have a family relative that is a psychic female captain of a flying saucer.

no wonder im so cool, it must be the alien genes.

(and no mine isnt spelled identical, so no you don't have my last name )

[edit on 10/25/2007 by runetang]

Just a couple things:

First and I hope Schuyler doesn't mind I put this first, I want to say to Russian Scientist.... if that was a real ufo you had in sight you would have done no damage to it and if you """shot first""" it might have responded (depending on circumstances) and you wouldn't be here today. IMO you made the right decision.

Schuyler you sound as if you are older (sorry not insult) so I think you will understand this.

I'M 59 and back in those days things were different. As you said we didn't have the technologies of today and we were also brought up differently.
I can still remember us being one of the first in our area to get a TV. We were limited to shows like Sally Starr and Chief Halftown.

I am sure older people like myself who were LITTLE at that time just thought that what they experienced with these beings was just a part of everyones life. I know no one around me talked about this stuff and it never occurred to me to say a thing.

I was 44 years old before I even realized people knew of this stuff and yes I was surprised. I never in all my years growing up knew that there was all the stuff that went on, I didn't think I lived a shelter life but to not have known about any of this just shocks me to this day.

I was 50 before I touched the computer the first time and I feel as if one of my jobs is to obsesrve here and there hence, observe50.

There are so many people like myself and I think you bringing forward the happenings from long ago is worth its weight in gold.

With the ufo and alien forum I have thrown out a FEW hints that maybe this needs to be seperated and we experiencers need a area to ourselves so we can try to put things together. What I say might trigger something in someones recall and so on.

I have seen many different species and what I have written here at ATS is in the hopes others feel comfortable and will come forward and share. I finally am starting to see this more and more every day here aren't you?

I look forward to all that you bring us, I know I never knew this story you shared with us existed.

I know that people are on all sides of the fence with this subject.





[edit on 25-10-2007 by observe50]

These people sound like real jerks. They tell you things then when they see you in public they answer negatively only to add to the scorn and derision the guy probably got from everywhere already. Then they offer you false promises for what? To see how he would react? To kick back and eat some popcorn from space to see what hornet's nest they stirred up? What a buncha indian givers if you ask me.

Schuyler,

Great post my friend!

You presented a masterful review that was concise and entertaining. It reminded me of my early years in middle school reading these types of books.

I look forward to future reviews!

the reason he never made it to Clarion is because the captain of the saucer took me instead. I told her that she was out of his league and that she would be better suited with a hot stud like me. and yeah, shes really hot.

I had always wondered just where exactly the story of the Clarion Christians originated from. In my humble opinion, its a huge crock of fantasy.
Oh and NGC2736, you can expect absolutely nothing to be said to or done about John Lear. He regularly breaks forum rules and has nothing done about it. He post one liners all over the place, anti-semitic comments and insults at will and nothing is said, never a warning issued.
But what can you expect when we get a video of Springer, Dave Rabbit and Johny A. all marking out at the UFO expo like they are in the presence of a god.
If I could only post more.......