Rocket PoweR, InteRstellaR tRavel and eteRnal lIfe

tion” since he had no patents. And he finished by stating,
“We have always paid our way, Mr. Redding-.
Have never asked our government for help before and
have never been offered any.”
In September 1966 Hungerford telephoned the
Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation at
Bethpage to promote his electro-magnetic space drive.
Mellor A. Gill, a patent counsel, in a follow-up letter
advised Hungerford that Grumman
would be willing to consider your idea if submitted
on a non-confidential basis in which you rely upon
the patent rights you now have or may hereafter
acquire. If this is agreeable with you, it is suggested
that you submit sketches and descriptive material
sufficient to enable our engineers to comprehend
fully the construction and operation of your device.
After receipt and evaluation of same, we will then
advise you as to whether or not Grumman is interested
in undertaking the development...or acquiring
any rights with respect thereto. 210
Then, having been rejected by Grumman,
Hungerford turned to Keith C. Richardson, “chief electronics
engineer” at the Conelectrics, Inc. facility in
Southport. In a letter, Hungerford noted refusal of funding
by N.A.S.A. and mentioned Amtorge Exporting
Corporation in New York City but “that would have to
be a despert [sic] move on our part.” He concluded his
letter by noting the importance of H. Steven Sekella to
the Hungerford enterprise since he was crippled with
osteomyelitis (a bacterial or fungi bone infection).
Unfortunately, Sekella was stationed by the military in
Germany. 211 In another letter he observed that his contact
with Amtorge potentially would “send me to
Russia.” 212
In August 1966, Hungerford wrote to his friends
Erwin D. and Helen French,
Floyd S. & I intended to be the first men on the
moon – and may be yet. N.A.S.A. rocket is hellish.
Blasting a capsel [sic] with a baby rocket will
require the astronauts to eject and soft land by a
stream of fire (rocket) on the moon – carrying
enough fuel to blast off climb up to and orbit fast
enough and reenter the parent capsal [sic] and
return to earth. (We don’t say it can’t be done) but
will take some doing. Where as with our electromagnetic
space drive – you simply haul your space
ship out of the hanger-take off easy (no Cape
Kennedy) climb up to the top of the atmosphere –
cut in your electro-mag. Stop in space –Hover if
you wish –go on – ease your ship on to the moon or
move to any point on the moon – Even on the back
side which we’ve never seen – even the photos of
the back side reveal nothing to my satisfaction.
There can be air and water there. We proved with
our Electro models this is true for any [?] thing of a
liquid nature – Even dust. . . ? . . . to centrifugal
force to support the moon at a quarter of a million
miles the earth has to back off 1000 miles. The latters
Polar axis enscribes [?] years. Our year is 12
months with varying number of days. 213
In October 1966 Hungerford wrote to Sekella that he
had located the parts of the electro-magnetic space
drive machine but because of his physical problems he
could do nothing with them. In the future, Hungerford
and Sekella would pursue the development of the space
drive together.
In the event of success, Steve it will be a terrible
blow to the rocket business – we would back the
machine out of the Hanger – climb up to the top of
the atmosphere –start the dynamo –cut in the
magnets – hover in space –stop –land on the moon
on magnet Power – Hop from place - to place.
We’ll be using an atomic engine – go on to Mars &
etc. & etc. 214
Also in 1966 Hungerford wrote to Mechanics
Illustrated magazine offering to sell the story of Floyd’s
and his electro-magnetic space drive “for space vehicles
– as opposed to rockets – our machine was to be powered
with an atomic engine –none in existence at that
time.” He concluded his letter by noting, “I can’t sell the
story for $5.00 [$5,000?] – make me an offer. Its [sic] got
to be good [great?].” 215
In January 1967 Hungerford wrote to Sekella that the
electro-magnetic space drive still “needs lots of development
– We’ll discuss the future of same when you get
home” from Europe. In the meantime Hungerford said
he was “working on a machine of a different nature –
that may have some promise – something we (I) can do
here in my two little rooms—.” 216
While in Germany Sekella wrote a series of letters to
Hungerford. In one he wrote that if he were able to get
back to Elmira in the next summer he hoped “we can
get a lot done. I only wish I was back there now working
for you, I really enjoyed the times we were together
there.” 217 On September 30, 1964 Sekella wrote asking,
“Has Pete [Oakley] kept in touch with you? Is there any
news on our project.” On December 7, 1964 Sekella
wrote in part to ask, “Is there any news on our venture.
Have you located the model or drawn up any plans?”
And in an undated letter, probably from early 1965,
Sekella wrote, “I hear you found the model, [sic] this is
good news. I wish I were back working around your
place.” Meanwhile, it seems that Hungerford had little
contact with Oakley. Sekella, too, had little news of
Chapter Seven: To the Stars by “Electronic-Magnetic Space Drive” 55