Flying Saucer Digest - No 004 - 1967

Magazine Overview

Title: FLYING SAUCER
Issue: VOL.1 NO.4
Date: WINTER 1967
Publisher: UNITED AERIAL PHENOMENA AGENCY (U.A.P.A.)
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of "Flying Saucer Digest" presents a diverse collection of articles and reports related to unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and related phenomena. The cover features a striking illustration by Pelger, depicting a surreal alien landscape with flying saucers and figures in astronaut suits, setting a tone of mystery and exploration.

Editorial

The editorial notes a significant increase in subscriptions and magazine sales, indicating a growing interest in the subject. It mentions the success of their book "UFOmation" and announces plans for two new books in 1968. The editor introduces two new regular articles: "I Met a Spaceman" and "Analysis In Astronomy." The inclusion of astronomy is defended as crucial for understanding the broader context of UFO phenomena, countering a reader's suggestion to omit it. The editor emphasizes the magazine's commitment to exploring all ideas and theories related to UFOs, contributing to its popularity among enthusiasts. The publication schedule has been adjusted to January, April, July, and October.

Night Creature

This article details the mysterious "Moth Man" phenomenon that began in November 1966 in Point Pleasant, West Virginia. The creature is described as bird-like, about six feet high with a ten-foot wingspan, capable of fantastic speeds and possessing a human-like body. Reports include sightings of a creature with bright red eyes and a strange noise. The article recounts an incident where terrified witnesses drove to the police station, with the creature reportedly flying above their car. Subsequent investigations by police found oval-shaped footprints and unusual animal droppings. A grave-digger also reported seeing a brown, human-like figure flying through the trees without sound. The article also touches upon a case involving the disappearance of a dog and an electromagnetic effect, linking it to sightings of bright red lights. The author speculates that "Moth Man" could be a UFOnaut, though the writer, James Easley, expresses skepticism about monster stories, preferring to believe in smaller humanoid beings.

Strange Object

This section recounts the mystery of the ship Joyita. In September 1959, a barnacle-encrusted bottle containing a note was found on a beach near Auckland, Australia. The note, originating from the Joyita, read: "Abandoning ship. Strange circular metallic object forcing us aboard it. Help us Stewart, Joyita." A diagram of a flying saucer was also included. The Joyita had been reported overdue at Apia, Western Samoa, on October 7, 1955, and was found wrecked a month later with no trace of its crew. A conchologist estimated the bottle had been in the sea for at least two years. The article promises that such strange sightings connected with UFOs will be featured in each issue of "Flying Saucer Digest."

Analysis in Astronomy

This article provides a basic overview of astronomical concepts, relating them to the vastness of the universe. It describes the Sun as an average-sized star, one of billions in our galaxy, and discusses the formation of stars from space clouds. The immense size of other stars, like Antares and Epsilon Aurigae, is highlighted, with comparisons to planetary orbits. The author, Ronald Jos. Pelger, uses these facts to evoke a sense of wonder about the universe and its scale, implicitly linking this vastness to the potential origin of UFOs.

UFO Retrospective

This piece revisits a notable UFO incident from October 1, 1948. Lt. Gorman, flying an F-51 fighter near Fargo Airport, observed a fast-moving light. After confirming the sighting with Traffic Control, Gorman pursued the object. The light reportedly made a series of turns, and the encounter lasted about twenty minutes. The object then climbed to 17,000 feet, turned north, and disappeared. The article notes that UAPA files contain many such aircraft and mystery light contacts, and promises to release them periodically.

I Met A Spaceman

This article focuses on the claims of George Adamski, who, on November 20, 1952, reported a meeting with a spaceman named "Orthon" in the California desert. Adamski stated that Orthon's craft, saucer-shaped, descended from a larger "mother ship" and that Orthon came from the planet Venus, which he described as alive with humanoid life. Adamski also claimed to have met individuals from Mars (Firkon) and Saturn (Ramu) and to have traveled aboard flying saucers to various celestial bodies. The article notes that many researchers consider Adamski's accounts to be more fiction than fact. George Adamski passed away on April 23, 1966, at the age of 74.

Where Do They Come From?

Authored by Allan J. Manak, this article addresses the common question about the origin of flying saucers. The United Aerial Phenomena Agency has several theories, emphasizing the need to understand trends in sightings (flaps) and object shapes. The article notes variations in reported UFO shapes and types over the years in the Cleveland area, from balls of light and discs to red-orange lights and elongated, fluorescent-tube-like objects. The author questions why shapes and flap periods differ, suggesting it might indicate different origins or multiple intelligences surveying Earth. Manak personally believes UFOs originate from beyond our solar system, possibly beyond our universe, and that multiple intelligences are involved in observing or attempting contact with Earth.

Who Said That?

This section highlights recent developments and proposals in astronomy and space exploration, noting a decrease in space-related articles in technical publications due to budget shifts favoring defense. It mentions recommendations for improving U.S. radar telescope capabilities, including a 36-dish radar telescope, a 130-ft.-diameter antenna facility, and modifications to the 1000-ft. antenna at Arecibo, Puerto Rico. The article details proposed antenna arrays and their costs, as well as Cornell University's proposal to improve the Arecibo antenna. It also presents a problem posed to Massachusetts Institute of Technology students regarding a hypothetical collision between Earth and the asteroid Icarus on June 15, 1968, and the catastrophic consequences that would ensue.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the mystery of UFOs, their potential origins, and the diverse forms they may take, from conventional saucers to enigmatic creatures like the "Moth Man." The magazine also delves into historical UFO cases and the broader context of space and astronomy. The editorial stance, as articulated by the editor, is one of open inquiry, advocating for the exploration of all theories and subjects related to UFO phenomena without omission, thereby distinguishing itself from other organizations that might present a more selective or biased view. The U.A.P.A. positions itself as a non-profit entity dedicated to the objective understanding and clarification of UFOs.

This issue of The Midwestern UFO Reporter, dated variously across 1966 and 1967, delves into various UFO phenomena, personal encounters, and related events. The publication appears to be a newsletter or small magazine focused on UFOs, with a subscription price of $2.50 per year for 12 issues.

Four Year Space Trip

One of the lead stories details an extraordinary claim by Frank B. Standing Horse, an Indian chief from Perris, California. At a convention hosted by the Amalgamated Flying Saucer Clubs of America, he recounted a four-year journey to the edge of the galaxy. His alleged experience began on July 12, 1959, near Sapulpa, Oklahoma, where a 250-foot diameter, 28-foot high spacecraft landed. He claims to have been taken aboard by three individuals who "looked like anyone else." During his journey, he visited the Moon, Mars, Clarion, and Venus, spending most of his time in Orion, which he described as a planet inhabited by a "super-modernistic society." He noted that Orion had beautiful buildings, including churches, and that life was "so different." He also mentioned eating large, delicious berries and that the aliens brought him to Orion to "know the might works of creation" and to urge humanity to stop "shooting off atomic bombs because it disturbed them."

UFOs and Television

An editorial piece titled "TV And UFOs" discusses how television programs like "The Twilight Zone," "The Outer Limits," and "Lost in Space," along with science fiction movies, have prepared the American public to handle sightings of unidentified flying objects. The author suggests that these shows have taught viewers that "visitors" might not be hostile, even if they arrive in flying saucers and look different. The piece humorously advises caution if a "beautiful amazon-type lady" arrives from space, suggesting she might have a press agent. It also notes that while robots are not necessarily bad, if a visitor is like "Godzilla," then "good will might have to be suspended" and the National Guard should be called.

Saucer Landing

Another report, sourced from the Daily Express on April 12, 1966, describes an incident involving motorist Ronald Sullivan near Maryborough, Australia. While driving in the moonlight, Sullivan reported that his headlights "bent" inexplicably to the right. He managed to stop his car before crashing. He then witnessed a "display of gaseous lights in a nearby field" that rose about 10 feet in the air and disappeared. Tragically, the report notes that 19-year-old motorist Cary Taylor had been killed the previous night in a crash at the same spot. Police investigated and found a circular depression in a freshly ploughed field, measuring two to five inches in depth and about five feet in diameter. Sullivan, a respected businessman, reportedly does not believe in flying saucers.

Giant UFO Show

An announcement details a "Giant UFO Show" to be held on June 22, 1968, as part of the 5th Annual Congress of Scientific Ufologists in the Cleveland Area. The event promised exhibits and displays from UFO groups across the US and Canada, with 37 participating organizations. Attendees could purchase magazines, pamphlets, books, records, and detectors. The show included at least 20 display booths and featured an astronomical slide show and talks by "big name speakers in Ufology." A panel was also scheduled to answer audience questions. Information on ordering tickets at a discount was to be available in the next issue of "Flying Saucer Digest."

Metal Fall

A brief report from North Otago, New Zealand, describes a piece of metal that fell from the sky and struck a tractor, puzzling geologists. The metal, found to be too hot to hold, was sent to the United States for tests. Professor Brian Mason, a meteorite expert at the New York Museum of Natural History, was preparing a report. The metal is described as a small cube, reddish-brown in colour, with definite areas of stratification.

Readers Say

This section includes a letter from Mrs. Joan Whritenour, Editor of "SAUCER SCOOP," congratulating the magazine on its illustrations and information, calling it "one of the best illustrated!" and stating that "Good and information magazines like yours should ALWAYS be around."

Advertisement for "UFOmation"

An advertisement promotes "UFOmation," a large magazine published by "Flying Saucer Digest." It is described as being filled with UFO facts, terminology, illustrations, and sightings from 1947 to 1967, along with book and magazine lists. The price is $1.50 post-paid, and orders are to be sent to U.A.P.A., Dept. 2, P.O. Box 9811, Cleveland, Ohio 44142.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around personal UFO encounters, the impact of popular culture on UFO beliefs, and the reporting of unusual aerial phenomena and objects. The editorial stance appears to be one of open reporting and discussion of UFO-related events, without necessarily endorsing all claims as factual but presenting them for reader consideration. The influence of science fiction on public perception is a notable point of discussion, suggesting a connection between fictional portrayals and real-world interpretations of UFOs. The publication also seems to encourage engagement through conventions and the sharing of information via its own magazine and related publications like "Flying Saucer Digest."