Presidio magazine article, published May 1963
Many weird things have been discussed in The Presidio office but up to the present time we have not been able to secure photographic evidence to document any of these tall tales.
Now, however, things have changed. Due to the perspicacity and untiring efforts of our peerless Chief Photographer, Dick Taarud, The Presidio is able to present for the edification of its readers unimpeachable photographic evidence substantiating the existence of the little man who wasn't there.
While our photographer has as yet not been able to indoctrinate our editorial staff with his space theories on UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects) we do have to admit that he is in possession of a photographic negative showing various phenomena apparently hovering in the night sky over the Iowa State Prison at Fort Madison.
The Presidio has no intention of offering any explanations for the objects pictured on our cover. Many theories have already been advanced by those who have viewed the photo. These explanations range from light reflections on the camera lens to the similarity of the objects to a flying saucer supposedly seen by a farmer in this general area several years ago and which was widely publicized at that time.
For the benefit of our readers we are listing the conditions under which the picture was taken and such other available facts and data that we have at hand. It is hoped that one of our many scientifically minded readers may be able to come up with an answer to this mystery. Unfortunately, in the reproduction of the photo on our cover three of the Unknowns (???) are too faint to be discernable.
Picture taken with Rollieflex 2-8E. TIME: 8 p.m., March 26, 1963 inside Iowa State Penitentiary. Film Used: Kodak Verichrome Pan-120. Lens wide open 1 min. 30 seconds exposure. Camera facing into West. Sky clear, no overcast. Developed with D-76 straight mixture at 7 min. Developed and printed April 1, 1963. Photographer: Dick Taarud.
