FLYING SAUCER DIGEST

Magazine Overview

Title: FLYING SAUCER DIGEST
Issue: No. 32
Publisher: UAPA Publications
Country: USA
Language: English
Cover Headline: AFRICAN TRIBE CONTACTED BY ALIENS --- 5,000 YEARS AGO

This issue of the Flying Saucer Digest delves into ancient astronaut theories and contemporary UFO sightings. The primary focus is on the Dogon tribe of Mali, West Africa, who are reported to have had contact with aliens from the Sirius star system approximately 5,000 years ago. The magazine also features several recent UFO reports from late 1976 and early 1977, and touches upon the cultural impact of UFO phenomena.

African Tribe Contacted by Aliens --- 5,000 Years Ago

The lead article details the extraordinary knowledge possessed by the Dogon tribe, which American scholar Robert K.G.Temple posits could only have originated from association with alien visitors. According to Temple, the Dogon have maintained detailed knowledge about a planet in the Sirius system, which astrologers only discovered in 1865. Tribal priests reportedly share stories of "fish men" and rocket ships from ancient times. Temple's research, spanning about eight years, has convinced him that travelers from Sirius made contact with ancient civilizations. He notes that the Dogon tribe has worshipped Sirius E for centuries, knew its orbital period, and even drew its elliptical orbit before scientists discovered such phenomena. They also described the star as small, immensely heavy, and composed of material alien to Earth. Furthermore, the Dogon legends speak of a rocket ship landing and a larger mother ship remaining overhead. Francis Huxley and Dr. Irving W. Lindenblad of the U.S. Naval Observatory are cited as authorities who find Temple's findings plausible. Temple was awarded a fellowship in the Royal Astronomical Society of London for his work. He also suggests that the Dogons might be descendants of ancient Egyptians or Babylonians, citing similarities in drawings and cave paintings.

The article further elaborates on the Dogon descriptions of the alien visitors, who were a mixture of man and fish, referred to as "Nommo." The tribe possesses a drawing depicting the "ark" of Nommo, which landed with a flame, likely a rocket-propelled craft. Tribal legends also mention a new star that left when Nommo did, interpreted as the parent starship.

New Film to Explore Phenomenon of UFOs

A report from the Wichita Falls Record News (12/29/76) announces the upcoming Columbia-EMI motion picture, "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." This film, produced by Julia Phillips and Michael Phillips and directed by Steven Spielberg, is described as a contemporary mystery-suspense drama exploring the UFO phenomenon and its effect on average Americans. The film stars Richard Dreyfuss, Francois Truffaut, Teri Garr, and Melinda Dillon. Dr. J. Allen Hynek, professor of astronomy at Northwestern University and founder-director of the Center for UFO Studies, serves as the technical advisor. The article notes that with millions of Americans claiming close encounters and believing in UFOs, the film could be seen as a documentary, though it is presented as entertainment drawn from fact.

UFO Story Leave Him Starry-Eyed

A report from The Journal News in Nyack, N.Y. (12/19/76) details a sighting by several Tappan residents. Anthony Russo Jr. and his family reported watching a round object hover in the sky for several hours. Russo described it as blinking red, white, and green, appearing like a star but not one he recognized. Orangetown police were contacted, and Patrolman Arthur Kanning investigated, but Sgt. J.P. Snyder stated that the officer saw only stars. The Rockland County Almanac office was also contacted.

UFO Sighting, Pleasant Valley

From the New Glasgow News, Nova Scotia, Canada (12/26/76), this report describes an Unidentified Flying Object sighted by Mr. & Mrs. W.H. (Bud) MacLeod. The object was seen heading southwest and was described as banana-shaped and yellow, with white, green, and blue lights glowing from underneath. Mr. MacLeod, a retired pilot with the Canadian Armed Forces, stated he had never seen UFOs during his service, even at altitudes up to 50,000 feet. He admitted that if the object had been at a high altitude, he might accept the possibility of a weather balloon, but he and his wife had no explanation for what they saw. The report also mentions that residents on Greenwood Street in Westville had previously sighted objects in the same general direction.

Outer Space Water Found

A brief report from The Cleveland Press (1/19/77) states that astronomers at the Max Planck Institute of Astronomy in Bonn, West Germany, have found the presence of water outside Earth's galaxy for the first time. This discovery suggests the possibility of life in outer space and that other solar systems may exist with similar conditions to our own.

French Couple Report Being Chased by 'A Big Glowing Star'

This Associated Press report from Los Angeles Times (1/9/77) covers an incident in Valence, France. Francois Perez and his wife reported being chased by a flying oval-shaped object resembling "a big glowing star." They initially thought they were being followed by a helicopter. Upon returning to the area an hour later, they spotted the craft parked in a field. The object was described as 30 to 40 yards in diameter and surrounded by a halo of white light. After about 10 minutes, the vehicle's lights began flashing, and the craft zoomed off at a 45-degree angle. Both Perez and his wife reported eye discomfort for the next 48 hours, and the husband's wristwatch stopped working.

They Flinked, They Hovered, They Vanished

From the Napanee Beaver, Ontario, Canada (12/3/76), this section details two recent sightings. Howard Church reported seeing something that looked like a pair of inverted Christmas trees covered with blinking, different-colored lights. He described the overall effect as a shape like a football. His wife and daughter-in-law also witnessed the lighted object. Later that week, Mrs. Mike Church saw a strange pulsating cluster of lights that appeared to be hovering over the Slash Road substation of Ontario Hydro. She and a neighbor watched for 20 minutes until both objects disappeared.

Publication Information

The Flying Saucer Digest is published bi-monthly by UAPA Publications, P.O. Box 9399, Cleveland, Ohio 44138. Subscription prices are listed for the U.S.A., Canada, Mexico, and elsewhere. The publication is described as a nonprofit dedicated to the study of unidentified flying objects of undetermined origin. Allan J. Manak is the Managing Editor, and Donna M. Manak handles circulation. Comments and manuscripts are welcomed, with a request for stamped, self-addressed envelopes for the return of materials.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are ancient alien contact, particularly the Dogon tribe's alleged connection to extraterrestrials, and contemporary UFO sightings. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into the UFO phenomenon, as evidenced by the publication's dedication to studying unidentified flying objects and the inclusion of various eyewitness accounts and scholarly speculation. The magazine presents information from a nonprofit perspective, suggesting a focus on research and dissemination of information rather than commercial gain.