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tion, using the West’s obsession with UFO phenomenaas a cover for small-scale special operations. At the present time there is insuf- ficient evidence to make any kind of case for these theories, but there is a history of Russ- ian interest in circular and parabola-shaped aircraft, which suggests there may be past programmes that remain classified. ered on the remote arctic island of Spitzber- gen (Svalbard). Then the report appeared in Berliner Volksblatt on 9th July 1952 and was carried by Der Flieger during August 1952, with wider distribution being undertaken by the AFP news agency. The story was com- pletely bogus but it reawakened concerns within the USAF and appears to have prompted a CIA investigation. The belief that the Russians possessed secret flying saucer technology persisted and this appears to have a major factor behind the US decision to fund further development of the Avro Canada fly- ing saucer project. Another event that took place in 1955 would reaffirm the USAF and CIA opinion that some flying saucers were of Soviet origin and the details remain intriguing and unexplained to the present day. ered on the remote arctic island of Spitzber- remains blacked out on official documents. tion, using the West’s obsession with UFO gen (Svalbard). Then the report appeared in They were travelling between Atjaty and phenomenaasa cover for small-scale special Berliner Volksblatt on 9th July 1952 and was Adzhijabul and apparently spent much oftheir operations. At the present time there is insuf- carried by Der Flieger during August 1952, _ time idly observing the passing countryside. _ ficient evidence to make any kind of case for with wider distribution being undertaken by It was a few minutes after seven o'clock _ these theories, but there is a history of Russ- the AFP news agency. The story was com- and twilight had arrived when they suddenly __ ian interest in circular and parabola-shaped pletely bogus but it reawakened concerns _ noticed a circular disc-shaped aircraft rising aircraft, which suggests there may be past within the USAF and appears to have _ vertically into the sky from an obscured area programmes that remain classified. prompted a CIA investigation. The belief that about one mile (1.6km) away from their posi- the Russians possessed secret flying saucer — tion. Almost exactly one minute later, it was | Chyeranovskii Aircraft technology persisted and this appears tohave joined by a second craft of identical appear- In 1922, Boris Ivanovich Chyeranovskii (1896- a major factor behind the US decision to fund ance. Both discs were described as metallic 1960) entered the Zhukovskii Academy and further development of the Avro Canada fly-in colour, with two bright lights onthe topand designed the first of a series of parabola- ing saucer project. they were accompanied by noticeable shaped tailless flying wings. Despite some Another event that took place in 1955 exhaust emissions. The unidentified aircraft scepticism from his peers, Chyeranovskii would reaffirm the USAF and CIA opinion that — then began to move towards the trainandthe flew a model glider of this design in the some flying saucers were of Soviet originand Americans realised that two searchlights on Crimea and it led to a small propeller-driven the details remain intriguing and unexplained __ the ground were illuminating them. Withina design called BICh-3, which was completed to the present day. matter of minutes the discs had started to and flown in 1926. The aircraft had a pick up speed and passed over the trainatan wingspan of 31ft (9.45m), a length of 11ft 6in The Russell Affair altitude of about 6,000ft (1,829m), heading (3.5m) and a wing area of 215ft® (20.0m’). On 4th October 1955 a very unusual event — north. According to Lieutenant Colonel Hath- Propulsion was provided by a small 18hp took place in the Soviet Trans-Caucasus away, the railroad officials then chose to (13.4kW) Blackburn Tomtit internal combus- region, which was observed by members ofa __ enter the compartment and insisted that all _ tion engine and the aircraft’s gross weight was high-level American delegation who were _ the window blinds should be lowered, which about 500Ib (226kg) allowing a maximum travelling on a train. They included Republi- _ prevented any further observations. speed of approximately 85mph (136km/h). can Senator Richard Brevard Russell (1897- Several days later the incident was reported Several parabola-shaped designs followed 1971), who headed the Senate Armed Forces _ to Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Ryan, who was __ and, as the aerodynamics steadily improved, Committee. To quote the New Georgia Ency- the US Air Attaché at the US Embassy in increasingly more powerful engines were clopaedia: ‘During the twentieth century Rus- _ Prague, and he immediately forwarded a Top employed. By 1929, Chyeranovskii had com- sell, along with Carl Vinson in the US House of | Secret summary of events to Washington. On pleted the BICh-7. This aircraft flew rather Representatives, was undeniably among the — 19th October 1955 the CIA’s Chief of Scientific _ badly and was extensively rebuilt as the simi- nation’s foremost experts on military and _ Intelligence, W E Lexow, filed a secret mem- lar but more refined BICh-7A, which was defense policy’. orandum that directly compared this type of _ ready for its first flight in 1932. Accompanying the senator were his mili- disc-shaped aircraft to Project Y, then under tary aide Lieutenant Colonel E Hathaway and development in Canada. All documents relat- interpreter Ruben Efron, who both served on ing to this event would remain classified the Senate Armed Forces Committee, and an _ secret until 1985. unidentified fourth person whose name Even today a high-level delegation of Amer- ican officials travelling on a Russian train would receive special attention from the Russian security services, but during the Cold War it seems likely that every step of their journey would have been carefully controlled and closely monitored by the KGB. It is hard to believe that these flying discs were acci- dentally observed from the train and it is tempting to think that the whole event was stage-managed for the benefit of the US Armed Forces Committee, with the full authority of Chairman Nikita Khruschev. The exact thinking behind such an obvious piece of psychological warfare remains unclear, but it definitely sent some kind of a message back to Washington. Although the Russians have never admitted to building and testing a flying saucer that resembled Silver Bug, it remains possible that such a project existed and reached the prototype testing stage. United States Senator Richard Brevard Russell, . . . who headed the Senate Armed Forces Committee. It is also conceivable that the Soviets — Chyeranovskii BICh-7A parabola-shaped aircraft. US Congress engaged in a lengthy programme of decep- _ via Bill Rose Chyeranovskii Aircraft In 1922, Boris Ivanovich Chyeranovskii (1896- 1960) entered the Zhukovskii Academy and designed the first of a series of parabola- shaped tailless flying wings. Despite some scepticism from his peers, Chyeranovskii flew a model glider of this design in the Crimea and it led to a small propeller-driven design called BICh-3, which was completed and flown in 1926. The aircraft had a wingspan of 31ft (9.45m), a length of 11ft 6in (3.5m) and a wing area of 215ft® (20.0m’). Propulsion was provided by a small 18hp (13.4kW) Blackburn Tomtit internal combus- tion engine and the aircraft’s gross weight was about 500Ib (226kg) allowing a maximum speed of approximately 85mph (136km/h). Several parabola-shaped designs followed and, as the aerodynamics steadily improved, increasingly more powerful engines were employed. By 1929, Chyeranovskii had com- pleted the BICh-7. This aircraft flew rather badly and was extensively rebuilt as the simi- lar but more refined BICh-7A, which was ready for its first flight in 1932. The Russell Affair United States Senator Richard Brevard Russell, who headed the Senate Armed Forces Committee. US Congress 107 Chyeranovskii BICh-7A parabola-shaped aircraft. via Bill Rose Russian Flying Discs: Myth and Reality