Biography Jack_Parsons_(rocket_engineer)

1 biography

1.1 life: 1914–34
1.2 galcit rocket research group , kynette trial: 1934–38
1.3 embracing thelema; advancing jato , foundation of aerojet: 1939–42
1.4 foundation of jpl , leading agape lodge: 1942–44
1.5 l. ron hubbard , babalon working: 1945–46
1.6 work israelis , espionage accusations: 1946–52
1.7 death: 1952

biography
early life: 1914–34

marvel whiteside parsons born on october 2, 1914, @ samaritan hospital in los angeles. parents, ruth virginia whiteside (c. 1893–1952) , marvel h. parsons (c. 1894–1947), had moved california massachusetts previous year, purchasing house on scarf street in downtown los angeles. son father s namesake, known in household jack. marriage broke down after jack s birth, when ruth discovered father had made numerous visits prostitute, , filed divorce in march 1915. parsons father returned massachusetts after being publicly exposed adulterer, ruth forbidding him having contact jack. parsons father later joined armed forces, reaching rank of major, , married woman whom had son named charles, half-brother jack meet once. although retained ex-husband s surname, ruth started calling son john; many friends throughout life knew him jack. ruth s parents walter , carrie whiteside moved california jack , daughter, using wealth buy up-market house on orange grove avenue in pasadena—known locally millionaire s mile —where live together. jack surrounded domestic servants. having few friends, lived solitary childhood , spent time reading; took particular interest in works of mythology, arthurian legend, , arabian nights. through works of jules verne became interested in science fiction , keen reader of pulp magazines amazing stories, led interest in rocketry.

when twelve, parsons began attending washington junior high school, performed poorly—something biographer george pendle attributed undiagnosed dyslexia—and bullied upper-class status , perceived effeminacy. although unpopular, formed strong friendship edward forman, boy poor working-class family defended him bullies , shared interest in science fiction , rocketry, well-read parsons enthralling forman literary prowess. in 1928 pair—adopting latin motto per aspera ad astra (through hardship stars)—began engaging in homemade gunpowder-based rocket experiments in nearby arroyo seco canyon, parsons family s garden, left pockmarked craters explosive test failures. incorporated commonly available fireworks such cherry bombs rockets, , parsons suggested using glue binding agent increase rocket fuel s stability. research became more complex when began using materials such aluminium foil make gunpowder easier cast. parsons had begun investigate occultism, , performed ritual intended invoke devil bedroom; worried invocation successful , frightened ceasing these activities. in 1929 began attending john muir high school, maintained insular friendship forman , keen participant in fencing , archery. after received poor school results, parsons mother sent him away study @ private boarding school in san diego—the brown military academy boys—but expelled blowing toilets.

the young parsons spoke hours wernher von braun in phone correspondence rocketry.

the parsons family spent mid-1929 on tour of europe before returning pasadena, moved house on san rafael avenue. onset of great depression fortune began dwindle, , in july 1931 jack s grandfather walter died. parsons began studying @ privately run university school, liberal institution took unconventional approach teaching. flourished academically, becoming editor of school s newspaper el universitano , winning award literary excellence; teachers had trained @ nearby california institute of technology (caltech) honed attentions on study of chemistry. family s financial difficulties deepening, parsons began working during weekends , school holidays @ offices of hercules powder company, learned more explosives , potential use in rocket propulsion. , forman continued independently explore subject in spare time, building , testing different rockets, materials parsons had stolen work. parsons constructed solid-fuel rocket engine, , forman corresponded pioneer rocket engineers including robert h. goddard, hermann oberth, konstantin tsiolkovsky, willy ley , wernher von braun. parsons , von braun had hours of telephone conversations rocketry in respective countries own research.

parsons graduated university school in 1933, , moved mother , grandmother more modest house on st. john avenue, continued pursue interests in literature , poetry. enrolled in pasadena junior college hope of earning associate degree in physics , chemistry, dropped out after term because of financial situation , took permanent employment @ hercules powder company. employers sent him work @ manufacturing plant in hercules, california on san francisco bay, earned relatively high wage of $100 month; plagued headaches caused exposure nitroglycerin. saved money in hope of continuing academic studies , began degree in chemistry @ stanford university, found tuition fees unaffordable , returned pasadena.

galcit rocket research group , kynette trial: 1934–38

parsons (center) , galcit colleagues in arroyo seco, halloween 1936. jpl marks experiment foundation.

in hope of gaining access state-of-the-art resources of caltech rocketry research, parsons , forman attended lecture on work of austrian rocket engineer eugen sänger , hypothetical above-stratospheric aircraft institute s william bollay— phd student specializing in rocket-powered aircraft—and approached him express interest in designing liquid-fuel rocket motor. bollay redirected them phd student named frank malina, mathematician , mechanical engineer composing thesis on rocket propulsion shared interests , befriended pair. parsons, forman, , malina applied funding caltech together; did not mention ultimate objective develop rockets space exploration, realizing of scientific establishment relegated such ideas science fiction. while caltech s clark blanchard millikan rebuffed them, malina s doctoral advisor theodore von kármán saw more promise in proposal , agreed allow them operate under auspices of university s guggenheim aeronautical laboratory (galcit). naming galcit rocket research group, gained access caltech s specialist equipment, though economics of great depression left von kármán unable finance them.

the trio focused distinct skills on collaborative rocket development; parsons chemist, forman machinist, , malina technical theoretician. malina wrote in 1968 self-educated parsons lacked discipline of formal higher education, [but] had uninhibited , fruitful imagination. informally trained parsons , forman who, described geoffrey a. landis, eager try whatever idea happened spring mind , contrasted approach of malina, insisted on need scientific discipline informed von kármán. landis writes creativity kept malina focused toward building actual rocket engines, not solving equations on paper . sharing socialist values, operated on egalitarian basis; malina taught others scientific procedure , taught him practical elements of rocketry. socialized, smoking marijuana , drinking, while malina , parsons set writing semiautobiographical science fiction screenplay planned pitch hollywood strong anti-capitalist , pacifist themes.

galcit group members in arroyo seco, november 1936. left foreground right: rudolph schott, amo smith, frank malina, ed forman, , jack parsons.

parsons met helen northrup @ local church dance , proposed marriage in july 1934. accepted , married in april 1935 @ little church of flowers in forest lawn memorial park, glendale, before undertaking brief honeymoon in san diego. moved house on south terrace drive, pasadena, while parsons gained employment explosives manufacturer halifax powder company @ facility in saugus. helen s dismay, parsons spent of wages funding galcit rocket research group. money manufactured nitroglycerin in home, constructing home laboratory on front porch. @ 1 point pawned helen s engagement ring, , asked family loans.

malina recounted parsons , forman not pleased austere program did not include @ least launching of model rockets , group reached consensus of developing working static rocket motor before embarking on more complex research. contacted liquid-fuel rocket pioneer robert h. goddard , invited malina facility in roswell, new mexico, not interested in cooperating—reticent sharing research , having been subjected widespread derision work in rocketry. instead joined caltech graduate students apollo m. o. amo smith, carlos c. wood, mark muir mills, fred s. miller, william c. rockefeller, , rudolph schott; schott relied upon use of pickup truck transport equipment. first liquid-fuel motor test took place near devil s gate dam in arroyo seco on halloween 1936. parsons biographer john carter described layout of contraption showing

three attempts fire rocket failed; on fourth oxygen line accidentally ignited , perilously billowed fire @ group, viewed experience formative. continued experiments throughout last quarter of 1936; after final test completed in january 1937 von kármán agreed perform future experiments @ exclusive rocket testing facility on campus.

parsons in 1938, holding replica car bomb used in murder trial of police officer captain earl kynette

in april 1937 caltech mathematician qian xuesen (a chinese citizen) joined group. several months later weld arnold, caltech laboratory assistant worked group s official photographer, joined. main reason arnold s appointment position provision of donation group on behalf of anonymous benefactor. became known on campus, earning moniker of suicide squad dangerous nature of of experiments , attracting attention local press. parsons himself gained further media publicity when appeared expert explosives witness in trial of captain earl kynette, head of police intelligence in los angeles accused of conspiring set car bomb in attempted murder of private investigator harry raymond, former lapd detective fired after whistleblowing against police corruption. when kynette convicted largely on parsons testimony, included forensic reconstruction of car bomb , explosion, identity expert scientist in public eye established despite lack of university education. while working @ caltech, parsons admitted evening courses in chemistry @ university of southern california (usc), distracted galcit workload attended sporadically , received unexceptional grades.

by 1938 group had made static rocket motor, burned 3 seconds, run on minute. in may year, parsons invited forrest j ackerman lecture on rocketry work @ chapter number 4 of los angeles science fiction league (lasfl). although never joined society, attended talks, on 1 occasion conversing teenage ray bradbury. scientist become involved in galcit project sidney weinbaum, jewish refugee europe vocal marxist; led parsons, malina, , qian in creation of largely secretive communist discussion group @ caltech, became known professional unit 122 of pasadena communist party. although parsons subscribed people s daily world , joined american civil liberties union (aclu), refused join american communist party, causing break in , weinbaum s friendship. this, coupled need focus on paid employment, led disintegration of of rocket research group, leaving 3 founding members late 1938.

embracing thelema; advancing jato , foundation of aerojet: 1939–42

aleister crowley (pictured in 1912), founder of thelema, parsons spiritual mentor.

in january 1939 john , frances baxter, brother , sister had befriended jack , helen parsons, took jack church of thelema in winona boulevard, hollywood, witnessed performance of gnostic mass. celebrants of church had included hollywood actor john carradine , gay rights activist harry hay. parsons intrigued, having heard of thelema s founder , outer head of ordo templi orientis (o.t.o.), aleister crowley, after reading copy of crowley s text konx om pax (1907).

parsons introduced leading members regina kahl, jane wolfe, , wilfred talbot smith @ mass. feeling both repulsion , attraction smith, parsons continued sporadically attend church s events year. continued read crowley s works, increasingly interested him, , encouraged helen read them. parsons came believe in reality of thelemic magick force explained through quantum physics. tried interest friends , acquaintances in thelema, taking science fiction writers jack williamson , cleve cartmill performance of gnostic mass. although unimpressed, parsons more successful grady louis mcmurtry, young caltech student had befriended, mcmurtry s fiancée claire palmer, , helen s sister sara betty northrup.

grady mcmurtry recruited o.t.o. parsons.

jack , helen initiated agape lodge, renamed church of thelema, in february 1941. parsons adopted thelemic motto of thelema obtenteum proedero amoris nuptiae, latin mistranslation of establishment of thelema through rituals of love . initials of motto spelled out t.o.p.a.n., serving declaration pan . commenting on parsons errors of translation, in jest crowley said motto mention couched in language beyond powers of understanding . parsons adopted thelemic title frater t.o.p.a.n—with t.o.p.a.n represented in kabbalistic numerology 210—the name signed letters occult associates—while helen became known soror grimaud. smith wrote crowley saying parsons excellent man ... has excellent mind , better intellect myself ... jp going valuable . wolfe wrote german o.t.o. representative karl germer parsons a1 man ... crowleyesque in attainment matter of fact , , mooted parsons potential successor crowley outer head of order. crowley concurred such assessments, informing smith parsons valued member of whole order, no exception!

at von kármán s suggestion, malina approached national academy of sciences (nas) committee on army air corps research request funding research referred jet propulsion , term chosen avoid stigma attached rocketry. military interested in jet propulsion means of getting aircraft airborne there insufficient room full-length runway, , gave rocket research group $1,000 put proposal on feasibility of jet-assisted take off (jato) june 1939, making parsons et al. first u.s. government-sanctioned rocket research group. since formation in 1934, had performed experiments involving model, black powder motor-propelled multistage rockets. in research paper submitted american institute of aeronautics , astronautics (aiaa), parsons reported these rockets reaching velocities of 4,875 miles per hour, thereby demonstrating potential of solid fuels more effective liquid types preferred researchers such goddard. in light of progress, caltech , galcit group received additional $10,000 rocketry research grant aiaa.

although quarter of funding went on repairing damage caltech buildings caused experiments, in june 1940 submitted report nas in showed feasibility of project development of jato , requested $100,000 continue; received $22,000. known galcit project number 1, continued ostracized other caltech scientists grew increasingly irritated accidents , noise pollution, , made relocate experiments arroyo seco, @ site unventilated, corrugated iron sheds served both research facilities , administrative offices. here jpl founded. parsons , forman s rocket experiments cover story of august 1940 edition of popular mechanics, in pair discussed prospect of rockets being able ascend above earth s atmosphere , orbit around research purposes, reaching moon.

the galcit jato engineering team during solid propellant tests in january 1940. parsons visible cropped out on extreme left alongside clark blanchard millikan, martin summerfield, theodore von kármán, frank malina , pilot, captain homer boushey.

for jato project, joined caltech mathematician martin summerfield , 18 workers supplied works progress administration. former colleagues qian prevented returning project federal bureau of investigation (fbi), ensured secrecy of operation , restricted involvement of foreign nationals , political extremists. fbi satisfied parsons not marxist concerned when thelemite friend paul seckler used parsons gun in drunken car hijacking, seckler imprisoned in san quentin state prison 2 years. englishman george emerson replaced arnold group s official photographer.

the group s aim find replacement black-powder rocket motors—units consisting of charcoal, sulfur , potassium nitrate binding agent. mixture unstable , there frequent explosions damaging military aircraft. solid jato fuel invented parsons consisted of amide, corn starch, , ammonium nitrate bound in jato unit glue , blotting paper. codenamed galcit-27, implying previous invention of 26 new fuels. first jato tests using erco ercoupe plane took place in late july 1941; though aided propulsion, units exploded , damaged aircraft. parsons theorized because ammonium nitrate became dangerously combustible following overnight storage, during temperature , consistency changes had resulted in chemical imbalance. parsons , malina accordingly devised method in fill jatos fuel in mornings shortly before tests, enduring sleep deprivation so. on august 21, 1941, navy captain homer j. boushey, jr.—watched clark millikan , william f. durand—piloted jato-equipped ercoupe @ march air force base in moreno valley, california. proved success , reduced takeoff distance 30%, 1 of jatos partially exploded. on following weeks 62 further tests took place, , nas increased grant $125,000. during series of static experiments, exploding jato did significant damage rear fuselage of ercoupe; 1 observer optimistically noted @ least wasn t big hole , necessary repairs delayed efforts.

the military ordered flight test using liquid rather solid fuel in 1942. upon united states entry second world war in december 1941, group realized drafted directly military service if failed provide viable jato technology military. informed left-wing politics, aiding war effort against nazi germany , axis powers of moral vocation parsons, forman , malina practical one. parsons, summerfield , galcit workers focused on task , found success combination of gasoline red fuming nitric acid oxidizer; latter, suggested parsons, effective substitute liquid oxygen. testing of fuel resulted in calamity, when testing rocket motor exploded; fire, containing iron shed fragments , shrapnel, inexplicably left experimenters unscathed. malina solved problem replacing gasoline aniline, resulting in successful test launch of jato-equipped a-20a plane @ muroc auxiliary air field in mojave desert. provided 5 times more thrust galcit-27, , again reduced takeoff distance 30%; malina wrote parents have works , should able give fascists hell!

take-off on august 12, 1941 of america s first rocket-assisted fixed-wing aircraft, erco ercoupe fitted galcit developed solid propellant jato booster



galcit project number 1 during jato experiments (date above). left right: fred s. miller, jack parsons, ed forman, frank malina, captain homer boushey, private kobe (first initial unknown), , corporal r. hamilton.

the group agreed produce , sell 60 jato engines united states army air corps. formed aerojet engineering corporation in march 1942, in parsons, forman, malina, von kármán, , summerfield each invested $250, opening offices on colorado boulevard , bringing in amo smith engineer. andrew g. haley recruited von kármán lawyer , treasurer. although aerojet for-profit operation provided technology military means, founders mentality rooted in ideal of using rockets peaceful space exploration. haley recounted von kármán requesting: make rockets—you must make corporation , obtain money. later on have see behave in outer space.

despite these successes, parsons, project engineer of aerojet s solid fuel department, remained motivated address malfunctions observed during ercoupe tests. in june 1942, assisted mills , miller, focused attention on developing effective method of restricted burning when using solid rocket fuel, military demanded jatos provide on 100 pounds of thrust without risk of exploding. although solid fuels such galcit-27 more storable liquid counterparts, disfavored military jato use provided less immediate thrust , did not have versatility of being turned on , off mid-flight. parsons tried resolve galcit-27 s stability issue galcit-46, replaced former s ammonium nitrate guanidine nitrate. avoid problems seen ammonium nitrate, had galcit-46 cooled , heated prior testing. when failed test, realized fuel s binding black powders rather oxidizers had resulted in instability, , in june year had idea of using liquid asphalt appropriate binding agent potassium perchlorate oxidizer.

malina recounted parsons inspired use asphalt ancient incendiary weapon greek fire; in 1982 talk international association of astronomical artists captain boushey stated parsons experienced epiphany after watching workers using molten asphalt fix tiles onto roof. known galcit-53, fuel proved more stable group s earlier concoctions, fulfilling parsons aim of creating restricted-burn rocket fuel inside castable container, , providing thrust 427% more powerful of galcit-27. set precedent according biographer john carter changed future of rocket technology : thermoplastic asphalt casting durable in climates, allowing mass production , indefinite storage , transforming solid-fuel agents safe , viable form of rocket propulsion. plasticized variants of parsons solid-fuel design invented jpl s charles bartley later used nasa in space shuttle solid rocket boosters , strategic air command in polaris, poseidon , minuteman intercontinental ballistic missiles.

foundation of jpl , leading agape lodge: 1942–44

solid-fuel jato unit manufactured aerojet @ national air , space museum

aerojet s first 2 contracts u.s. navy; bureau of aeronautics requested solid-fuel jato , wilbur wright field requested liquid-fuel unit. air corps had requested 2 thousand jatos aerojet late 1943, committing $256,000 toward parsons solid-fuel type. despite drastically increased turnover, company continued operate informally , remained intertwined galcit project. caltech astronomer fritz zwicky brought in head of company s research department. haley replaced von kármán aerojet chairman , imposed payroll cuts instead of reducing jato output; alternative cut staff numbers while maintaining more generous salaries, haley s priority aerojet s contribution war effort. company heads including parsons exempted austerity, drawing ire of many personnel.

parsons newfound credentials , financial security gave him opportunity travel more throughout u.s. ambassador aerojet, meeting other rocket enthusiasts. in new york met karl germer, head of o.t.o. in north america , in washington, d.c. met poet laureate joseph auslander, donating of crowley s poetry books library of congress. became regular @ mañana literary society, met in laurel canyon @ home of parsons friend robert a. heinlein , included science fiction writers including cleve cartmill, jack williamson, , anthony boucher. among parsons favorite works of fiction williamson s darker think, novelette published in fantasy magazine unknown in 1940, inspired later occult workings. boucher used parsons partial basis character of hugo chantrelle in murder mystery rocket morgue (1942).

helen went away period in june 1941, during parsons, encouraged sexually permissive attitude of o.t.o., began sexual relationship 17-year-old sister, sara. upon helen s return, sara asserted parsons new wife, , parsons himself admitted found sara more sexually attractive helen. conflicted in feelings, helen sought comfort in smith , began relationship him lasted rest of life; 4 remained friends. 2 couples, along number of other thelemites (some of whom children), moved 1003 south orange grove avenue, american craftsman-style mansion. contributed rent of $100 month , lived communally in replaced winona boulevard new base of agape lodge, maintaining allotment , slaughtering own livestock meat blood rituals. parsons decorated new room copy of stele of revealing, statue of pan, , collection of swords , daggers. converted garage , laundry room chemical laboratory , held science fiction discussion meetings in kitchen, , entertained children hunts fairies in 25-acre garden.

excerpt untitled poem published in parsons ill-fated oriflamme journal

although there arguments among commune members, parsons remained dedicated thelema. gave of salary o.t.o. while actively seeking out new members—including forman—and financially supported crowley in london through germer. parsons enthusiasm lodge began impact on professional life. appeared @ aerojet hungover , sleep-deprived late nights of lodge activities, , invited many of colleagues them, drawing ire of staff tolerated parsons occultism harmless eccentricity; known von kármán delightful screwball , observed reciting crowley s poem hymn pan in ecstatic manner compared preaching of billy graham during rocket tests—and on request @ parties great amusement. disapproved of hesitancy separate vocations; parsons became more rigorously engaged in aerojet s day-to-day business in effort resolve weariness, agape lodge came under investigation both pasadena police department , fbi. both had received allegations of black magic cult involved in sexual orgies; 1 complainant 16-year-old boy said raped lodge members, while neighbors reported ritual involving naked pregnant woman jumping through fire. after parsons explained lodge organization dedicated religious , philosophical speculation , neither agency found evidence of illegal activity , came conclusion lodge constituted no threat national security. having been long-term heavy user of alcohol , marijuana, parsons habitually used cocaine, amphetamines, peyote, mescaline, , opiates well. continued have sexual relations multiple women, including mcmurtry s fiancee claire. when parsons paid have abortion, mcmurtry angered , friendship broke down.

the jpl arroyo seco site in february 1942

crowley , germer wanted see smith removed head of agape lodge, believing had become bad influence on members. parsons , helen wrote them defend mentor germer ordered him stand down; parsons appointed temporary head of lodge. veteran lodge members disliked parsons influence, concerned encouraged excessive sexual polyandry religiously detrimental, charismatic orations @ lodge meetings assured popularity among majority of followers. parsons created thelemite journal oriflamme, in published own poetry, crowley unimpressed—particularly due parsons descriptions of drug use—and project shelved. helen gave birth smith s son in april; child named kwen lanval parsons. smith , helen left kwen two-room cabin in rainbow valley in may. concurrently in england, crowley undertook astrological analysis of smith s birth chart , came conclusion smith incarnation of god, altering estimation of him. smith remained skeptical crowley s analysis seemingly deliberately devised in parsons favor, encouraging smith step down role in agape lodge , instructing him take meditative retreat. refusing take orders germer more, smith resigned o.t.o. parsons—who remained sympathetic , friendly smith during conflict , weary of crowley s appalling egotism, bad taste, bad judgement, , pedanticism —ceased lodge activities , resigned head, withdrew resignation after receiving pacifying letter crowley.

parsons standing above jato canister @ jpl june 1943

by mid-1943 aerojet operating on budget of $650,000. same year parsons , von kármán traveled norfolk, virginia on invitation of secretary of navy frank knox consult on new jato contract u.s. navy. though jatos being mass-produced military applications, jato-propelled aircraft not keep larger, bomber planes taking off long aircraft carrier runways—which made aerojet s industry @ risk of becoming defunct. parsons demonstrated efficacy of newer jatos solve issue equipping grumman plane solid-fuel units; assisted takeoff uss charger successful, produced smoke containing noxious, yellow-colored residue. navy guaranteed parsons contract on condition residue removed; led invention of aeroplex, technology smokeless vapor trails developed @ aerojet parsons.

as u.s. became aware nazi germany had developed v-2 rocket, military—following recommendations von kármán based upon research using british intelligence—placed renewed impetus on own rocket research, reinstating qian galcit project. gave group $3 million grant develop rocket-based weapons, , group expanded , renamed jet propulsion laboratory (jpl). point navy ordering 20,000 jatos month aerojet, , in december 1944 haley negotiated company sell 51% of stock general tire , rubber company cope increased demand. aerojet s caltech-linked employees—including zwicky, malina , summerfield—would agree sale on condition parsons , forman removed company, viewing occult activities disreputable. jpl historian erik m. conway attributes parsons expulsion more practical concerns: still wanted work in same way d done in backyard, instinctive , without regard safety . parsons , forman unfazed, informing haley of prediction rocket industry become obsolete in postwar age , seeing more financial incentive in starting chain of laundromats. haley persuaded them sell stock, resulting in parsons leaving company $11,000. money bought lease 1003, had come known parsonage after him.

l. ron hubbard , babalon working: 1945–46


parsons befriended l. ron hubbard.

now disassociated jpl , aerojet, parsons , forman founded ad astra engineering company, under parsons founded chemical manufacturing vulcan powder company. ad astra subject fbi investigation under suspicion of espionage when security agents manhattan project discovered parsons , forman had procured chemical used in top secret project material known x-metal, later acquitted of wrongdoing. parsons continued financially support smith , helen, although asked divorce , ignored crowley s commands welcoming smith parsonage when retreat finished. parsons continued hold o.t.o. activities @ parsonage began renting rooms @ house non-thelemites, including journalist nieson himmel, manhattan project physicist robert cornog, , science fiction artist louis goldstone. parsons attracted controversy in pasadena preferred clientele. parsonage resident alva rogers recalled in 1962 article occultist fanzine: in ads placed in local paper jack specified bohemians, artists, musicians, atheists, anarchists, or other exotic types need apply rooms—any mundane soul unceremoniously rejected .

science fiction writer , u.s. navy officer l. ron hubbard moved parsonage; , parsons became close friends. parsons wrote crowley although hubbard had no formal training in magick has extraordinary amount of experience , understanding in field. of experiences deduce direct touch higher intelligence, possibly guardian angel. ... thelemic person have ever met , in complete accord our own principles.

parsons , sara in open relationship encouraged o.t.o. s polyandrous sexual ethics, , became enamored hubbard; parsons, despite attempting repress passions, became intensely jealous. motivated find new partner through occult means, parsons began devote energies conducting black magic, causing concern among fellow o.t.o. members believed invoking troublesome spirits parsonage; jane wolfe wrote crowley our own jack enamored witchcraft, houmfort, voodoo. start wanted evoke something—no matter what, inclined think, long got result. told residents imbuing statues in house magical energy in order sell them fellow occultists. parsons reported paranormal events in house resulting rituals; including poltergeist activity, sightings of orbs , ghostly apparitions, alchemical (sylphic) effect on weather, , disembodied voices. pendle suggested parsons particularly susceptible these interpretations , attributed voices prank hubbard , sara. 1 ritual allegedly brought screaming banshees windows of parsonage, incident disturbed forman rest of life. in december 1945 parsons began series of rituals based on enochian magic during masturbated onto magical tablets, accompanied sergei prokofiev s second violin concerto. describing magical operation babalon working, hoped bring incarnation of thelemite goddess babalon onto earth. allowed hubbard take part scribe , believing particularly sensitive detecting magical phenomena. described richard metzger, parsons jerked off in name of spiritual advancement while hubbard scanned astral plane signs , visions.

their final ritual took place in mojave desert in late february 1946, during parsons abruptly decided undertaking complete. on returning parsonage discovered woman named marjorie cameron—an unemployed illustrator , former navy wave—had come visit. believing elemental woman , manifestation of babalon had invoked, in march parsons began performing sex magic rituals cameron, acted scarlet woman , while hubbard continued participate amanuensis. unlike rest of household, cameron knew nothing @ first of parsons magical intentions: didn t know o.t.o., didn t know had invoked me, didn t know anything, whole house knew it. watching see going on. despite ignorance , skepticism parsons magic, cameron reported sighting of ufo parsons, secretly recorded sighting materialization of babalon.

inspired crowley s novel moonchild (1917), parsons , hubbard aimed magically fertilize magical child through immaculate conception, when born woman somewhere on earth 9 months following working s completion become thelemic messiah embodying babalon. quote metzger, purpose of babalon working daring attempt shatter boundaries of space , time facilitating, according parsons, emergence of thelema s Æon of horus. when cameron departed trip new york, parsons retreated desert, believed preternatural entity psychographically provided him liber 49, represented fourth part of crowley s book of law, primary sacred text of thelema, part of new sacred text called book of babalon. crowley bewildered , concerned endeavor, complaining germer of being frantic when contemplate idiocy of these louts! believing babalon working accomplished, parsons sold parsonage developers $25,000 under condition , cameron continue live in coach house, , appointed roy leffingwell head agape lodge, have meet elsewhere rituals.

parsons co-founded company called allied enterprises hubbard , sara, parsons invested life savings of $20,970. hubbard suggested money travel miami purchase 3 yachts, sail through panama canal west coast, sell them on profit. parsons agreed, many of friends thought bad idea. hubbard had secretly requested permission u.s. navy sail china , south , central america on mission collect writing material ; real plans world cruise. left flat broke defrauding, parsons incensed when discovered hubbard , sara had left miami $10,000 of money; suspected scam placated telephone call hubbard , agreed remain business partners. when crowley, in telegram germer, dismissed parsons weak fool , victim hubbard , sara s obvious confidence trick, parsons changed mind, flew miami , placed temporary injunction , restraining order on them. upon tracking them down harbor in county causeway, parsons discovered couple had purchased 3 yachts planned; tried flee aboard 1 hit squall , forced return port. parsons convinced had brought them shore through lesser banishing ritual of pentagram containing astrological, geomantic invocation of bartzabel—a vengeful spirit of mars. allied enterprises dissolved , in court settlement hubbard made promise reimburse parsons. parsons discouraged taking further action sara, threatened report him statutory rape since sexual relationship took place when under california s age of consent of 18. parsons compensated $2,900. hubbard, married margaret grubb, bigamously married sara , went on found dianetics , scientology.

the sunday times published article hubbard s involvement o.t.o. , parsons occult activities in december 1969. in response, church of scientology released unsubstantiated press statement said hubbard had been sent undercover agent u.s. navy intercept , destroy parsons black magic cult , , save sara influence. church stated robert a. heinlein clandestine navy operative sent in hubbard undertake operation. returning california, parsons completed sale of parsonage, demolished, , resigned o.t.o. wrote in letter crowley did not believe autocratic organization, [the o.t.o.] constitutes true , proper medium expression , attainment of thelema.

work israelis , espionage accusations: 1946–52

parsons worked on developing sm-64 navaho missile (pictured launching in 1957).

parsons employed north american aviation @ inglewood, worked on navaho missile program. , cameron moved house in manhattan beach, instructed in occultism , esotericism. when cameron developed catalepsy, parsons referred sylvan muldoon s books on astral projection, suggesting manipulate seizures accomplish it. married on october 19, 1946, 4 days after divorce helen finalized, forman witness. parsons continued seen specialist in rocketry; acted expert consultant in numerous industrial tribunals , police , army ordnance investigations regarding explosions. in may 1947, parsons gave talk @ pacific rocket society in predicted rockets take humans moon. although had become distant largely defunct o.t.o. , had sold of crowleyan library, continued correspond crowley until latter s death in december 1947.

at emergence of cold war, red scare developed in u.s. congressional house un-american activities committee began investigating , obstructing careers of people perceived communist sympathies. many of parsons former colleagues lost security clearances , jobs result, , fbi stripped parsons of clearance because of subversive character, including involvement in , advocacy of sexual perversion in o.t.o. speculated in june 1949 letter germer clearance revoked in response public dissemination of crowley s liber oz, 1941 tract summarizing individualist moral principles of thelema. declassified fbi documents later revealed fbi s primary concern parsons former connections marxists @ caltech , membership of subversive aclu. when interviewed parsons denied communist sympathies informed them of sidney weinbaum s extreme communist views , frank malina s involvement in weinbaum s communist cell @ caltech, resulted in weinbaum s arrest perjury since had lied under oath denying involvement in communist groups. malina s security clearance withdrawn well. in reaction hostile treatment, parsons sought work in rocket industry abroad. sought advice in correspondence von kármán; advice followed enrolling in evening course in advanced mathematics @ usc bolster employability in field—but again neglected attendance , failed course. parsons again resorted bootlegging nitroglycerin money, , managed earn wage car mechanic, manual laborer @ gas station, , hospital orderly; 2 years faculty member @ usc department of pharmacology. relations between parsons , cameron became strained; agreed temporary separation , moved mexico join artists commune in san miguel de allende.

unable pursue scientific career, without wife , devoid of friendship, parsons decided return occultism , embarked on sexually based magical operations prostitutes. intent, informally following ritualistic practice of thelemite organization a∴a∴, on performing crossing of abyss , attaining union universal consciousness, or understood in thelemic mysticism, , becoming master of temple . following apparent success in doing so, parsons recounted having out-of-body experience invoked babalon, astrally transported him biblical city of chorazin, experience referred black pilgrimage . accompanying parsons oath of abyss own oath of antichrist , witnessed wilfred talbot smith. in oath, parsons professed embody entity named belarion armillus al dajjal, antichrist come [sic] fulfill law of beast 666 [aleister crowley] . viewing these oaths completion of babalon working, parsons wrote illeist autobiography titled analysis master of temple , occult text titled book of antichrist. in latter work, parsons (writing belarion) prophesied within 9 years babalon manifest on earth , supersede dominance of abrahamic religions.

during period, parsons wrote essay on individualist philosophy , politics—which described standing liberalism , liberal principles —titled freedom two-edged sword , in condemned authoritarianism, censorship, corruption, antisexualism , racism saw prevalent in american society. none of these works published in lifetime. through heinlein, parsons received visit writer l. sprague de camp, whom discussed magic , science fiction, , disclosed hubbard had sent letter offering him sara back. de camp later referred parsons authentic mad genius if ever met 1 , , based character courtney james on him in time travel story gun dinosaur (1956). parsons visited jane wolfe, unsuccessfully appealed him rejoin dilapidated o.t.o. entered brief relationship irishwoman named gladis gohan; moved house on redondo beach, building known them concrete castle . cameron returned redondo beach san miguel de allende , violently argued parsons upon discovering infidelity, before again left mexico. parsons responded initiating divorce proceedings against on grounds of extreme cruelty .

november 1950 fbi synopsis of espionage allegations against parsons

parsons testified closed federal court moral philosophy of thelema both anti-fascist , anti-communist, emphasizing belief in individualism. along references scientific colleagues resulted in security clearance being reinstated industrial employment review board, ruled there insufficient evidence had ever had communist sympathies. allowed parsons obtain contract in designing , constructing chemical plant hughes aircraft company in culver city. von kármán put parsons in touch herbert t. rosenfeld, president of southern californian chapter of american technion society—a zionist group dedicated supporting newly created state of israel. rosenfeld offered parsons job israeli rocket program , hired him produce technical reports them. in november 1950, red scare intensified, parsons decided migrate israel pursue rosenfeld s offer, hughes secretary whom parsons had asked type portfolio of technical documents reported him fbi. accused parsons of espionage , attempted theft of classified company documents on basis of of reports had sought submit technion society.

parsons fired hughes; fbi investigated complaint , suspicious parsons spying israeli government. parsons denied allegations when interrogated; insisted intentions peaceful , had suffered error of judgment in procuring documents. of parsons scientific colleagues rallied defense, case against him worsened when fbi investigated rosenfeld being linked soviet agents, , more accounts of occult , sexually permissive activities @ parsonage came light. in october 1951 u.s. attorney decided because contents of reports did not constitute state secrets, parsons not guilty of espionage.

the review board still considered parsons liability because of historical marxist affiliations , investigations fbi, , in january 1952 permanently reinstated ban on working classified projects, prohibiting him working in rocketry. make living founded parsons chemical manufacturing company, based in north hollywood , created pyrotechnics , explosives such fog effects , imitation gunshot wounds film industry, , returned chemical manufacturing @ bermite powder company in saugus.

dark angel, painting marjorie cameron portraying parsons angel of death

parsons reconciled cameron, , resumed relationship , moved former coach house on orange grove avenue. parsons converted large, first-floor laundry room home laboratory work on chemical , pyrotechnic projects, homebrew absinthe , stockpile materials. let out upstairs bedrooms , began holding parties attended largely bohemians , members of beat generation, along old friends including forman, malina , cornog. congregated @ home of andrew haley, lived on same street. though parsons in mid-thirties prewar relic younger attendees, raucous socials lasted until dawn , attracted police attention. parsons founded new thelemite group known witchcraft , beliefs revolved around simplified version of crowley s thelema , parsons own babalon prophecies. offered course in teachings ten dollar fee, included new thelemic belief system called gnosis , version of christian gnosticism sophia godhead , christian god demiurge. collaborated cameron on songs witch woman, collection of poems illustrated published in 2014.

death: 1952

parsons , cameron decided travel mexico few months, both vacation , parsons take job opportunity establishing explosives factory mexican government. hoped facilitate move israel, start family, , parsons bypass u.s. government recommence rocketry career. particularly disturbed presence of fbi, convinced spying on him.

on june 17, 1952, day before planned departure, parsons received rush order of explosives film set , began work on in home laboratory. explosion destroyed lower part of building, during parsons sustained mortal wounds. right forearm amputated, legs , left arm broken , hole torn in right side of face. despite these critical injuries, parsons found conscious upstairs lodgers. tried communicate arriving ambulance workers, rushed him huntington memorial hospital, declared dead around thirty-seven minutes after explosion. when mother, ruth, informed of events, took fatal overdose of barbiturates. cameron learned of husband s death reporters @ scene when returned home grocery shopping.

pasadena police department criminologist don harding led official investigation; concluded parsons had been mixing fulminate of mercury in coffee can when dropped on floor, causing initial explosion, worsened when came contact other chemicals in room. forman considered likely, stating parsons had sweaty hands , have dropped can. of parsons colleagues rejected explanation, saying attentive safety. 2 colleagues bermite powder company described parsons work habits scrupulously neat , exceptionally cautious . latter statement—from chemical engineer george santymers—insisted explosion must have come beneath floorboards, implying organized plot kill parsons. harding accepted these inconsistencies incongruous described manner in parsons had stored chemicals criminally negligent , , noted parsons had been investigated police illegally storing chemicals @ parsonage. found morphine-filled syringe @ scene, suggesting parsons narcotized. police saw insufficient evidence continue investigation , closed case accidental death.

parsons obituary in june 19, 1952 edition of pasadena independent

both wolfe , smith suggested parsons death had been suicide, stating had suffered depression time. others theorized explosion assassination planned howard hughes in response parsons suspected theft of hughes aircraft company documents. cameron became convinced parsons had been murdered — either police officers seeking vengeance role in conviction of earl kynette or anti-zionists opposed work israel. 1 of cameron s friends, artist renate druks, later stated belief parsons had died in rite designed create homunculus. death has never been definitively explained.

the immediate aftermath of explosion attracted interest of u.s. media, making headline news in los angeles times. these initial reports focused on parsons prominence in rocketry neglected mention occult interests. when asked comment, aerojet secretary-treasurer t.e. beehan said parsons liked wander, 1 of top men in field . within few days, journalists had discovered involvement in thelema , emphasized in reports.

a private prayer service held parsons @ funeral home body cremated. cameron scattered ashes in mojave desert, before burning of possessions. later tried perform astral projection commune him. o.t.o. held memorial service—with attendees including helen , sara—at smith led gnostic mass.