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‘| was amazed to see the background of space is totally dark. Yet there were manifestations taking place all around us, as though billions upon billions of fireflies were flickering everywhere, moving in all directions as fireflies do.' On his trip through space on 20 February, 1962, Colonel John Glenn, one of the first American astronauts, had this to say: These little green things that | thought (at first) to be stars were actually a bright bluish green, about the size and intensity of a firefly on a really dark night. These little particles were about eight to ten feet apart, and there were literally thousands of them.' It is debateable whether Glenn's description tallied with Adamski's in every respect. Whilst his description of them cannot prove he was ever in space, they are certainly a point in his favour. In all, there is no proof that Adamski was telling the truth, only circumstantial evidence, nor, on the other hand, is there proof that he was not. There is no gainsaying the fact that he stuck to his story throughout the years, in the midst of ridicule and scorn on the one side and all-believing adulation on the other. | never met Adamski personally and have only heard tape recordings of his lectures. Not being able to claim first-hand knowledge of what he was like as a person, | can only judge him by what others have said. Although on the whole people flocked to his lectures, he was by no means his best on the public platform. His thick accent and general approach tended to shock English audiences in particular. By temperament he was impetuous and intolerant of those who disputed with him, as might be expected of one fanatically aware of his own truthfulness. Many complained that he would not give a direct answer to a direct question. Those who met him found he had a charming, compelling personality. Although perhaps convinced of his sincerity, some would prefer not to commit themselves to belief in his stories, saying, by way of compromise, ‘he had an experience’. For many he did not live up to their ideas of what a chosen contactee should be like; expecting a superman or a saint, disappointedly they found instead a human being with human failings. He liked to enjoy himself and despised ascetism. He was a heavy smoker and liked a strong drink, but this does not mean to say he was an alcoholic; that was just a vicious smear eagerly seized upon by his emotionally biased opponents. Every night he would partake of an old Polish health remedy consisting of about a third of a tumbler of neat whisky with pepper in it. He needed only three or four hours sleep at night, yet he had the energy of a man half his years. Perhaps this was due to the old Polish health remedy. The news of George Adamski's sudden death on 24 April, 1965, carried in the late flash of the May/June issue of Flying Saucer Review, came as a shock and not without a touch of sadness to a great many saucer fans, whatever their views on his claims may have been. One might have supposed that the controversy surrounding this colourful figure would gradually fade away and be forgotten. When | read Desmond Leslie's obituary in the next issue of Flying Saucer Review | paid very little attention to the last paragraph, it sounded too wishful and unlikely. But that ending was only to be the beginning of this story. 'We shall miss George. Miss him very much, but | cannot feel sad at bis going. He gave his utmost to the work and the world will never be quite the same place again, richer for his coming, a little poorer for his going. But | don't believe we have seen the last of him. If he is reborn on another planet he has promised to come back and contact us when possible. 94 Spaceships he says: ‘With George anything could happen. And usually does! ‘Dear old Space Man—Go in Peace! ANGELS IN STARSHIPS www.cosmic-people.com