Flying Saucer Digest - No 005 - 1968

Magazine Overview

Title: FLYING SAUCER DIGEST
Issue: Number 5
Volume: 1
Date: Spring 1968
Publisher: UNITED AERIAL PHENOMENA AGENCY (U.A.P.A.)
Country: USA
Language: English
Price: 60¢

This issue marks the first anniversary of the Flying Saucer Digest, a quarterly publication by the United Aerial Phenomena Agency (U.A.P.A.) based in Cleveland, Ohio. The magazine aims to promote the understanding and clarification of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFO's). The editorial highlights the success of the publication in its first year and the popularity of their book, 'UFOMATION', which led to a second printing and a special booklet on 'UFO Terminology'. The upcoming issue is teased as a 'convention issue special' featuring an article titled 'Are Flying Saucers Space Animals' by John Bessor, and a special offer on a new book for subscribers.

Contents and Key Articles

Editorial

The editorial celebrates the magazine's first anniversary, noting its success in publishing quarterly and the overwhelming response to their book 'UFOMATION'. It also promotes the U.A.P.A. Newsletter as an informative publication gaining popularity among UFO enthusiasts. The editorial previews the next issue, which will include a special article and a book offer for subscribers.

Strange Object

This article details one of the country's earliest reported UFO sightings on November 17, 1896, in Northern California. Thousands witnessed an elongated-shaped vessel, approximately 150 feet long, with a giant light in its belly. Newspapers reported the event, with some skeptics calling it a hoax. The article notes that seventy-two years later, the answer remains unknown and invites reader opinions.

I Met A Spaceman

This piece recounts the alleged experiences of Howard Menger, born in Brooklyn, NY, in 1922. Menger claims his first contact with a space being occurred at age 10 in northern New Jersey. He describes meeting a young woman with golden hair who claimed to be from Venus and spoke of 'space brothers' who would help humanity. Menger reports numerous contacts with beings from other planets, learning about the universe. He claims to have taken photographs of 'Adamski type scout ships' and even traveled aboard these crafts, visiting the Moon and other planets, and meeting inhabitants there. He also claims to have married a woman from Venus. The article notes that Menger wrote a book titled 'From Outer Space to You' and is active in the saucer movement. A note clarifies that the views expressed in this column are not necessarily those of the U.A.P.A. or its staff.

Analysis in Astronomy

This section explores fundamental questions about the universe's origin and nature. It discusses two main theories for the universe's beginning: the 'Big Bang' theory, which suggests an initial explosion of a massive energy ball about 10 billion years ago, and the 'Steady State' theory, which proposes the universe has no beginning or end, with matter continuously being formed. It also touches upon other theories for planet formation, including the Nebular Hypothesis, Dust Cloud Theory, Planetsimal Theory, and Tidal Wave Theory.

Who Said That?

This section presents snippets from 'Science Digest' concerning UFOs and astronomy. An August 1967 article mentions a photo of the far side of the moon showing a large trough. A September 1967 article quotes Robert J. Low, project coordinator for an Air Force-financed UFO study, stating it could bring humanity closer to solving the UFO enigma. The university conducting the study will analyze submitted UFO pictures, returning negatives and materials to the sender, who retains ownership rights.

• Further 'Science Digest' notes include:
• October 1967: Two Soviet astrophysicists hypothesize the universe is 70 billion years old, based on quasar studies.
• November 1967: Dr. William Markowitz of Marquette University states that UFOs being under extraterrestrial control contradicts physics, though he agrees unidentified objects exist.
• December 1967: Dr. Harold Masursky, a lunar expert, believes scientists are convinced moon craters are from collisions and warns about potential hazards from asteroids, noting that many are coming close to Earth.

The section also includes suggestions for photographers capturing UFOs and a humorous cartoon.

UFO Retrospective

This article revisits the famous McMinnville UFO photographs taken by Paul Trent on May 11, 1950, in Oregon. Trent described the object as shining like burnished silver, noiseless, and emitting no smoke or vapor. He took two pictures, which later revealed an appendage. The article notes that a similar UFO was photographed in France two years later.

14 Carat Gold UFO

This piece reports a sighting on a clear night in August 1966, by Denise Tschann and Heather Stevenson in Oregon, Ohio. They observed a gold, boomerang-shaped UFO with a domed underside and a bright red light. The object moved slowly east for two minutes before disappearing. Shortly after, jets were seen heading in the same direction at high speed. Denise, familiar with aircraft, described the object as unlike anything she had seen before. The article suggests this is the first documented case of a gold-colored UFO, implying UFOs have appeared in various colors.

Readers Say

This section features a letter from Carl T. Wirth of Mineola, New York, praising the magazine and encouraging the publishers to continue their good work. It also includes an advertisement for a 'UFO TERMINOLOGY' booklet published by F.S. DIGEST, available for 50 cents.

Magazine Sale & Cartoons

Advertisements are included for purchasing back issues of 'FLYING SAUCER DIGEST' and for subscribing to the magazine. The final page lists 'CARTOONS'.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, astronomical theories, and personal accounts of encounters with extraterrestrial beings. The editorial stance of the Flying Saucer Digest, as presented by the U.A.P.A., is to explore and present information related to UFOs, encouraging reader participation and discussion. While the magazine publishes accounts from contactees and presents various theories, it also includes notes clarifying that the views expressed by contributors or in cited articles do not necessarily reflect the official stance of the U.A.P.A. or its editorial staff. The publication appears to be committed to covering a wide range of UFO-related phenomena and related scientific discussions.

This issue of Flying Saucer Digest, spanning pages 11-16 and likely published in 1967, critically examines the 'Challenging The Hollow Earth Theory.' It presents a skeptical viewpoint, contrasting the theory's claims with historical exploration data and scientific reasoning. The magazine also delves into various UFO sightings and their purported explanations, alongside a report on a cryptid encounter.

Challenging The Hollow Earth Theory

The lead article directly confronts the Hollow Earth theory, which posits a hollow planet inhabited by a super-intelligent race, often linked to misinterpretations of Admiral Byrd's flight over the North Pole. The author argues that historical exploration by sled, plane, and submarine, including expeditions by Amundson and Ellsworth in 1926, Wilkins in 1928, and even commercial flights from Moscow in 1937, have all traversed the North Pole region and found only the deep Polar Sea, not an iceless domain or a hole.

The theory's premise of a 1400-mile diameter hole at the poles is questioned, as it would encompass parts of Siberia, Scandinavia, and Canada, which would presumably be aware of such a geographical feature. Admiral Byrd's 1926 flight, which lasted about 15 hours and covered roughly 1400 miles, is analyzed, suggesting he may have flown around or beyond the Pole due to low fuel, not discovered an inner world. Similarly, Wilkins' flight found no new land areas.

Further scientific objections are raised: the impossibility of maintaining a warm inner climate without evaporation and the accumulation of rivers, the question of gravitational force beyond the Earth's crust, and the violation of physical laws by a stationary or spinning central sun. The article also points to seismic waves from earthquakes traveling through the Earth as evidence against a hollow structure.

The formation of icebergs is explained through standard glaciology—snowfall, compaction into neve, melting by ocean currents, and calving—contrasting with the Hollow Earth proponents' idea of freshwater rivers freezing at the exterior.

The article suggests that the Hollow Earth theory might be a diversionary tactic by 'forces of Light' to distract from the spiritual evolution of mankind, linking flying saucer phenomena to spiritual manifestations akin to biblical visitations.

UFO Sightings and Explanations

Following the Hollow Earth discussion, the magazine presents a section titled 'How Could They,' which lists numerous UFO sightings and their official or proposed explanations. These include:

• 1947 Kenneth Arnold Sighting: Explained as 'Misinterpretation of conventional aircrafts.'
• 1948 Capt. Thomas Mantell Incident: Explained as 'The Planet Venus.'
• 1951 Lubbock Lights: Hundreds of witnesses and radar tracked lights, photographed by Carl Hart Jr., explained as 'High flying moths reflecting light from mercury vapor lamps.'
• 1952 Capitol Event: Radar and pilots tracked unknown objects, explained as 'Temperature Inversions.'
• Schoolyard Sighting: Three unknown objects maneuvered for over 10 minutes, explained as 'Imagination.'
• Airline Plane Sighting: A commercial airline crew and passengers saw a strange aerial object maneuver, explained as 'Meteor.'
• Sky Objects: People saw objects making 130-degree turns and dives with color changes, explained as 'Birds.'
• 1965 Seven-State Area Sightings: Thousands reported UFOs, explained as 'Stars.'
• 'Moon Dust' Explanation: A scientist suggested sightings were 'Moon Dust.'
• Michigan Disk Sighting: Hundreds saw a strange flying disk, explained as 'Swamp Gas.'

The author concludes that with so many conventional explanations, it's no wonder UFOs cannot land, and pilots might be mislabeled.

Hairy Creek Monster

This section reports on an encounter in Northern California where two teenage girls met a 'seven foot tall, brown haired, creature' covered with slime and moss near Lytle Creek. The incident was reported to the San Bernardino County sheriff's Fontana station. Despite efforts by about 300 armed individuals to search the area, the creature was not found. The article notes that Northern California is known for sightings of such 'hairy creatures' that walk upright, commonly referred to as the 'Abominable Snowman.' It also mentions a similar encounter in October 1967 near Eureka, California, where two young men reportedly captured a 'huge hairy creature' on film, with photos appearing in Argosy magazine.

Magazine Sale and Offers

The latter pages of the issue contain advertisements for magazine sales, including back issues of 'UFO Magazine,' 'Saucer Album,' and 'The UFO Enigma.' Special offers are made to 'Flying Saucer Digest' subscribers for sets of 'Saucer News' back issues. Additionally, an offer is made for 'The UAPA NEWSLETTER' and a publication titled 'UFOmation,' described as a large magazine filled with UFO facts, terminology, illustrations, and sightings from 1947 to 1967.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are skepticism towards paranormal or fringe theories like the Hollow Earth, a critical examination of UFO phenomena through the lens of conventional explanations, and the reporting of cryptid encounters. The editorial stance appears to be grounded in empirical evidence and scientific reasoning, while acknowledging the public's fascination with the unexplained. The magazine aims to provide readers with information and explanations, even if they debunk popular theories or offer mundane causes for extraordinary claims.