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Flying Saucers and the Three Men
'In early September, 1953, Al Bender, one of the first pioneers of UFO research, was visited at his home in Bridgeport, Connecticut, by three men dressed in black who warned him in threatening terms to cease his investigations or else...
'From that moment, Bender's organisation - the International Flying Saucer Bureau (ISFB) - closed down, although he had told his associates previously that he had found the solution to the flying-saucer mystery.
'Now, after almost ten years of silence, Bender has at last decided to reveal the secret of what actually happened to him. His story is both startling and frightening, and although the mystery is indeed fantastic, it carries the ring of truth that is convincing - and disturbing.'
'From that moment, Bender's organisation - the International Flying Saucer Bureau (ISFB) - closed down, although he had told his associates previously that he had found the solution to the flying-saucer mystery.
'Now, after almost ten years of silence, Bender has at last decided to reveal the secret of what actually happened to him. His story is both startling and frightening, and although the mystery is indeed fantastic, it carries the ring of truth that is convincing - and disturbing.'
194 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1962
41 people are currently reading
338 people want to read
About the author
Albert K. Bender
4 books6 followersAmerican pioneering Ufologist.
In 1952 Bender created an organization called International Flying Saucers Bureau.
Bender was the first to write about involvement of the "Men in Black", an secret government organisation known for harassing UFO researchers.
In 1952 Bender created an organization called International Flying Saucers Bureau.
Bender was the first to write about involvement of the "Men in Black", an secret government organisation known for harassing UFO researchers.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Currently reading
March 31, 2020Not knowing until a year ago, Albert K Bender is my great Uncle. My Grandpa, Fred Bender, not mentioned to much in this book is his brother.
For personal reasons, Uncle Al wasn’t mentioned until I did an ancestry search and discovered him. Unfortunately, I never met him or my Grandpa.
Many liked my Great Uncle.
Some thought he was crazy. Maybe so, but this all can be fact and not fiction. Being his Great niece and the genetics matching to my own interests and similar intelligence, helps me to actually believe what is written to possibly be truth. We have to keep in mind. This all happened in the 1950s. This was actually around the time my Mom was born.
In 2020, present, going back to then, we have such modern science and technology to find this all truth.
Some research and discoveries I am sure haven’t been disclosed by our Government.
I hope the past and present readers at least keep an open mind to my Great Uncle’s life.
Crazy? Possible. Also maybe not.
For personal reasons, Uncle Al wasn’t mentioned until I did an ancestry search and discovered him. Unfortunately, I never met him or my Grandpa.
Many liked my Great Uncle.
Some thought he was crazy. Maybe so, but this all can be fact and not fiction. Being his Great niece and the genetics matching to my own interests and similar intelligence, helps me to actually believe what is written to possibly be truth. We have to keep in mind. This all happened in the 1950s. This was actually around the time my Mom was born.
In 2020, present, going back to then, we have such modern science and technology to find this all truth.
Some research and discoveries I am sure haven’t been disclosed by our Government.
I hope the past and present readers at least keep an open mind to my Great Uncle’s life.
Crazy? Possible. Also maybe not.
September 1, 2012
I read this because I am interested in UFOlogy from the perspective of American folklore / cultural mythology. This is allegedly the first recorded "true" story about MIB (Men In Black). Albert Bender tells a tale about how he started the first flying saucer club (and news-service) in the late 1940's. Unfortunately, he was soon harassed by a group of mysterious beings who demanded that he shutdown his club.... "or else." There are numerous fantastic elements in this story - including extravagent descriptions of an alien civilization that was revealed to Bender. These elements strongly suggest that the book was either written as a joke, parody, or else the author had a fantasy prone personality and was unable to distinguish between reality and his own imagination.
This book would not have any appeal to someone unless they shared my specific interest in the UFO as Myth.
This book would not have any appeal to someone unless they shared my specific interest in the UFO as Myth.
July 15, 2011
This strange little book took advantage of the flying saucer craze of the 1950s combined with the old tales of men living inside the earth. I had a used paperback back in the 90s and don't remember too much. Interesting for extreme UFO buffs, perhaps to fill in a few gaps.
April 25, 2021
I believe this book is believable to an extent. Very often some of his references are not very factual.
His journey through this story jumps from one year to the next and back again and then forward to the point of losing me along the way. One reviewer stated that his experiences were all dreams, meaning that he must have been schizophrenic or borderline. This would make sense if that was the case, because I have a half brother who does have that sickness and his obsession is with Nostradamus. very similar type of stories.
His journey through this story jumps from one year to the next and back again and then forward to the point of losing me along the way. One reviewer stated that his experiences were all dreams, meaning that he must have been schizophrenic or borderline. This would make sense if that was the case, because I have a half brother who does have that sickness and his obsession is with Nostradamus. very similar type of stories.
August 27, 2023
AN EARLY BOOK DETAILING THE ‘MEN IN BLACK’ MEME
Albert K. Bender (who founded the International Flying Saucer Bureau [IFSB], the first major civilian UFO club) in 1962 wrote in the first chapter of this 1962 book, “Along with my objective interest in space with its suns and planets I greatly enjoyed its mystery, as I had enjoyed reading fantasy literature. Reports of haunted houses, parapsychology, and all subjects bordering on the supernatural had long intrigued me, so I suppose it was these interests… which led me to change the décor of my room, and develop the so-called ‘chamber of horrors’ which so many of my critics have used to develop a thesis that I was ‘nuts.’” (Pg. 10)
He recounts, “I knew that people throughout history have witnessed strange events, but were unable to convince others they were telling the truth.. Many people are not convinced of these matters until they, themselves, experience them---then they look for believers only to be met by charges of ‘fake’ and ‘fraud.’ It is a lonely position you occupy when you have looked into the fantastic, and there is nobody to believe you have actually done so…. I felt up against the very same thing after the happenings in my room. I did not know what to do or where to turn.” (Pg. 72)
He reports, “The room seemed to grow dark … I noted three shadowy figures in the room. They floated about a foot off the floor… I sensed that they were conveying a message to me by telepathy. Their message was something like this: ‘You have dedicated yourself to the solution of the strange problem of unidentified flying objects in your atmosphere… You are not a person of great renown on your planet; therefore we have nothing to fear at present. We have a purpose for being here and we will be here for some time yet. We must not be disturbed in our ultimate goal… We have found it necessary to go to great lengths at times to frighten off your Earth people, and it has resulted in their deaths. We also found it necessary to carry off Earth people to use their bodies to disguise our own… We will leave with you a small piece of metal l… It is to be kept in a secret place of your own.’” (Pg. 74-75) He continues, “I felt disappointed as I thought I would be looked upon of importance if I could only produce the piece of metal to back up my story…the three men in black probably had read my thoughts and taken the metal until they again made contact with me. Perhaps they did not wish … to have the metal fall into the hands of the government.” (Pg. 76)
He explains, “Many might ask why I, instead of some noted scientist or astronomer, had been the person chosen for such adventure. The only reason I could summon was that my visitors had given me---that I was an average person, interested in science and flying saucers… Had I been a well-known scholar or statesman, I might possibly be believed. If people did believe, they might become horrified and go into mass panic. This the visitors did not want, for they had a job to do and wanted to go about it without being disturbed.” (Pg. 83)
He asserts, “Here indeed was the moment I had awaited, an invitation to satisfy my curiosity upon so many points, and to hear the answers direct from the ‘Headman’ of the saucer people on Earth!” (Pg. 97) Among other things, he says he was told, “at one time people existed on the planet that you call the Red Planet, or Mars. They were destroyed by people from a passing planet similar to ours. They were exploited and ravaged by these visitors… [On] Venus… life is just developing there…’” (Pg. 99)
What about the metal disc that had been given to him? “The metal disk was gone, but everything which had inside the box with the disk was turned into dust, as if it had suddenly disintegrated. The odor poured out of the box with such intensity that I had to close the lid and step back for air.” (Pg. 146)
Had he taken photographs of the visitors? “The film was removed from my camera… I was warned never to try to take pictures again. I cannot imagine why they confiscated the film and gave me the warning… I was able, however, to make several sketches of the visitors, though I am not a professional artist.” (Pg. 152)
He concludes, “I made a promise also to all former IFSB members that one day I would publish a book and reveal the matters I had found necessary to keep secret. In this book I have tried my best to keep that promise and to reveal to them the real reasons for the closing of the IFSB. I do not seek worldwide fame from the publication of this book; neither do I wish to be made a fool of; but in any case I will bow out of the picture, now that I have presented my story.” (Pg. 157)
This early book will interest Ufologists and other interested persons.
Albert K. Bender (who founded the International Flying Saucer Bureau [IFSB], the first major civilian UFO club) in 1962 wrote in the first chapter of this 1962 book, “Along with my objective interest in space with its suns and planets I greatly enjoyed its mystery, as I had enjoyed reading fantasy literature. Reports of haunted houses, parapsychology, and all subjects bordering on the supernatural had long intrigued me, so I suppose it was these interests… which led me to change the décor of my room, and develop the so-called ‘chamber of horrors’ which so many of my critics have used to develop a thesis that I was ‘nuts.’” (Pg. 10)
He recounts, “I knew that people throughout history have witnessed strange events, but were unable to convince others they were telling the truth.. Many people are not convinced of these matters until they, themselves, experience them---then they look for believers only to be met by charges of ‘fake’ and ‘fraud.’ It is a lonely position you occupy when you have looked into the fantastic, and there is nobody to believe you have actually done so…. I felt up against the very same thing after the happenings in my room. I did not know what to do or where to turn.” (Pg. 72)
He reports, “The room seemed to grow dark … I noted three shadowy figures in the room. They floated about a foot off the floor… I sensed that they were conveying a message to me by telepathy. Their message was something like this: ‘You have dedicated yourself to the solution of the strange problem of unidentified flying objects in your atmosphere… You are not a person of great renown on your planet; therefore we have nothing to fear at present. We have a purpose for being here and we will be here for some time yet. We must not be disturbed in our ultimate goal… We have found it necessary to go to great lengths at times to frighten off your Earth people, and it has resulted in their deaths. We also found it necessary to carry off Earth people to use their bodies to disguise our own… We will leave with you a small piece of metal l… It is to be kept in a secret place of your own.’” (Pg. 74-75) He continues, “I felt disappointed as I thought I would be looked upon of importance if I could only produce the piece of metal to back up my story…the three men in black probably had read my thoughts and taken the metal until they again made contact with me. Perhaps they did not wish … to have the metal fall into the hands of the government.” (Pg. 76)
He explains, “Many might ask why I, instead of some noted scientist or astronomer, had been the person chosen for such adventure. The only reason I could summon was that my visitors had given me---that I was an average person, interested in science and flying saucers… Had I been a well-known scholar or statesman, I might possibly be believed. If people did believe, they might become horrified and go into mass panic. This the visitors did not want, for they had a job to do and wanted to go about it without being disturbed.” (Pg. 83)
He asserts, “Here indeed was the moment I had awaited, an invitation to satisfy my curiosity upon so many points, and to hear the answers direct from the ‘Headman’ of the saucer people on Earth!” (Pg. 97) Among other things, he says he was told, “at one time people existed on the planet that you call the Red Planet, or Mars. They were destroyed by people from a passing planet similar to ours. They were exploited and ravaged by these visitors… [On] Venus… life is just developing there…’” (Pg. 99)
What about the metal disc that had been given to him? “The metal disk was gone, but everything which had inside the box with the disk was turned into dust, as if it had suddenly disintegrated. The odor poured out of the box with such intensity that I had to close the lid and step back for air.” (Pg. 146)
Had he taken photographs of the visitors? “The film was removed from my camera… I was warned never to try to take pictures again. I cannot imagine why they confiscated the film and gave me the warning… I was able, however, to make several sketches of the visitors, though I am not a professional artist.” (Pg. 152)
He concludes, “I made a promise also to all former IFSB members that one day I would publish a book and reveal the matters I had found necessary to keep secret. In this book I have tried my best to keep that promise and to reveal to them the real reasons for the closing of the IFSB. I do not seek worldwide fame from the publication of this book; neither do I wish to be made a fool of; but in any case I will bow out of the picture, now that I have presented my story.” (Pg. 157)
This early book will interest Ufologists and other interested persons.
October 15, 2020
If you are a reader of UFO literature or up on the latest scientific discoveries about astronomy, you will realize that many of what the "space people" were telling this author are simply not true. Past civilizations were not using canals on mars to travel on and they lest no abandoned cities. UFO sightings have NOT diminished since his contact. The sun does not have the mass to go into a supernova and today it's China that's the threat, not Russia that he was told would "destroy the world" with nuclear bombs. In my opinion, after studying the UFO phenomena for over 50 years (I'm 73), it's a good science fiction read.
April 5, 2022
It's basically the sequel to Gray Barker's They Knew Too Much About Flying Saucers so I recommend reading that first. Flying Saucers And The Three Men is excellent as far as 50's/60's contacted stories go. It doesn't get bogged down into the details of alien philosophy or alien technology like so many do. And, hey, there's an Antarctic underground alien base in it so yeah, it's a good one :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 18, 2020
Great. Book.
As a lifelong interest in the subject matter turns 41 years, I thought I read most everything on the subject matter but this book proves otherwise. It is a remarkable read and is not to be missed by serious enthusiasts.
As a lifelong interest in the subject matter turns 41 years, I thought I read most everything on the subject matter but this book proves otherwise. It is a remarkable read and is not to be missed by serious enthusiasts.
February 8, 2025
Albert Bender, who formed the International Flying Saucer Board to investigate UFOs, disbanded it with the cryptic comment that he had solved the mystery (but could not reveal the answer). This book is a follow-up to those events, and IMO, the answer is unsatisfying and incomplete at best.
October 14, 2018
I want to believe
It is hard to digest every single thing said in this manuscript/book. All I can say is: it is worth a read, an open mind and a deep thought.
It is hard to digest every single thing said in this manuscript/book. All I can say is: it is worth a read, an open mind and a deep thought.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews