Flying Saucer Digest - No 094

Magazine Overview

Title: FLYING SAUCER
Issue: NO. 94
Date: SUMMER 1986
Publisher: UNITED AERIAL PHENOMENA AGENCY (UAPA)

This issue of the FLYING SAUCER DIGEST, published by the United Aerial Phenomena Agency (UAPA), marks a significant return after an 18-month hiatus. The publication explains its renumbering from the previous UFO JOURNAL (issue #56, Fall 1984) to the current FLYING SAUCER DIGEST (issue #94, Summer 1986) by combining the issue counts of both publications. The editorial team, led by Editor Robert S. Easley and Associate Editor Allan J. Manak, apologizes for the delay, attributing it to internal problems, financial issues, job changes, and health concerns. They assure subscribers that remaining UFO JOURNAL subscriptions will be honored and that future issues are planned, including a special booklet commemorating the UAPA's 20th Anniversary and a future UFO Convention for the 25th Anniversary.

Phenonema, Notes and Commentary

The editorial section addresses the reader's potential confusion about receiving this issue after a long delay. It details the organizational changes within the UAPA, including the name change back to FLYING SAUCER DIGEST and the revised numbering system. The editors express optimism for the future of the publication, with issues #95 and #96 already in progress. They also acknowledge the dramatic changes in the UFO field over the past 18 months, noting the passing of prominent researchers like Gray Barker and the uncertainty faced by others.

The Shuttle Tragedy

This section reflects on the loss of the space shuttle astronauts, framing it within the broader context of human exploration and its inherent risks. It quotes T. S. Eliot's "Little Gidding" to emphasize the continuous nature of exploration despite setbacks, urging readers not to let tragedy deter the pursuit of knowledge.

News Update

This section provides a collection of diverse news items:

• Space Junk: Over 5,600 objects, or 'trash,' are orbiting Earth, with NASA expecting this number to grow.
• Genetics: The Episcopal Church has endorsed genetic engineering to reduce human suffering.
• Astronomy: University of Texas astronomers have detected a ring-like dust cloud around a star in the Sharpless 106 nebula, indicating the birth of a star.
• Space Exploration: According to SCIENCE DIGEST, humanity has the capability for a manned mission to Mars, raising the question of why it hasn't happened yet.
• Historical Documents: TIME MAGAZINE reported on a refurbished cyclotron at the University of California at Davis that can analyze the chemical composition of ink and paper, potentially dating Gutenberg's bibles and authenticating the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Vinland Map.
• Oceanography: New data from Voyager 2 suggests Uranus is covered by a 5,000-mile deep, super-heated ocean formed of melted comets.
• Marine Biology: The Australian Museum announced the discovery of a tiny, circular starfish-like creature with tubular feet living in wood 3,300 feet under the sea off New Zealand.
• Halley's Comet: The editors mention having had fortunate opportunities to view Halley's Comet.

Foremost Sighting This Issue

This feature highlights a UFO sighting reported in the Bulletin Journal of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, on November 5, 1985. Dr. Harley Rutledge, chairman of the physics department at SEMO University, presented a satellite photograph of an unidentified flying object that he believes will generate significant interest among UFO investigators. The photograph was taken in October 1978 by a civilian employee of the Air Force at a base in Anchorage, Alaska. It is considered significant because it is the only official government satellite photo of a UFO ever released and was verified as taken by a satellite. John T. Smith, who was on duty when the photo was taken, and his business partner, James Bounds, spent considerable time and money researching the image. They presented it to Dr. Rutledge, who confirmed its validity. The object, described as semi-rectangular, was captured by a defense weather satellite traveling at 4,000-4,500 miles per hour and climbing out of the atmosphere. It was determined not to belong to the United States or the Soviet Union. Smith and Bounds emphasized that they were not calling the object alien but stated it could not be identified. They opted for a scientific approach over sensationalism, declining offers from national newspapers, including the National Enquirer's $50,000 offer. Rutledge plans further research to determine the object's location and consult with other experts.

UFO Retrospective

This section, written by the late Prof. Charles A. Maney, reflects on the history of UFOlogy. Maney recalls the intense excitement of the late 1940s and early 1950s, when UFO reports were frequent and books on the subject were quickly snapped up. He lists prominent names and theories from that era, such as Adamski, Scully, and the 'South Pole' or 'Mars' origin theories. Maney questions whether the current excitement matches that of the early years, suggesting potential saturation or complacency. He notes that UFOlogy and its practitioners persist, though the landscape has changed. He also touches upon the historical context of 1947, when television was new, Korea was not yet a conflict, computers were nascent, and space travel was science fiction, contrasting it with the sightings of flying saucers and discs.

Allan J. Manak contributes a piece reflecting on the early days of UFOlogy, specifically the Kenneth Arnold sighting in June 1947, noting that the U.S. Air Force did not exist at that time, being formed two months later. He previews the next installment, which will cover the late fifties and sixties.

Recent UFO Sightings

This section compiles several recent UFO sighting reports:

• Wisconsin: Two individuals in Madison reported seeing triangular-shaped UFOs hovering over homes. One witness described a roughly triangular craft with a sloped bottom, which disappeared when he exited his car.
• Hawaii: The Maui News reported on strange lights sighted on Christmas night, described as white, blue, and green. The Maui Police Department, Coast Guard, and FAA could not provide an explanation, with the FAA suggesting they might have been mistaken for helicopters. Witnesses reported glowing, greenish objects flying in a straight line, some with blue flashes.
• North Carolina: Sylvia Bagby of Salisbury reported seeing a large, round, red object with a yellow halo, described as shining and revolving, which disappeared and reappeared.
• England: Local police in Bathgate investigated a sighting of a "luminous flying clothes pole" by two police officers. In Blackburn, a businessman and his family reported being terrorized for three hours by a UFO near their farmhouse.
• Chile: Astronomers at the Cerro Calan Observatory photographed a UFO that they determined was neither a meteorological balloon nor a satellite. Researchers Carlos Torres, Guillermo Carrasco, and Herbert Wroblewsky described the object, with Wroblewsky noting its pan-like shape and the sun shining on its side. They agreed it was a "bright ring" and noted its unusual movement and shape, ruling out conventional explanations like balloons or satellites.

Fortean Encounters

This section presents several unrelated phenomena:

• Astronomy: Evidence for two unknown giant planets far beyond Pluto was presented by Prof. Vladimir Radzievsky, suggesting they are 160 and 200 times more distant from the Sun than Earth and nearly as large as Jupiter.
• Maritime Incidents: Lloyd's Intelligence Service recorded the loss of 16 ships, totaling 400,000 tons, with 400 deaths, over five years, described as mysterious disappearances.
• Folklore/Cryptozoology: A report from Bridgeport, CT, describes a three-foot-tall creature from Central Java called a "tuyul," known for its red, hairless skin, bulging eyes, and ability to steal money. The belief in tuyuls is deeply ingrained in Javanese culture.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores UFO sightings, investigations, and historical cases, often highlighting official or scientific verification attempts (e.g., the satellite photo). There's a recurring theme of questioning official explanations and suggesting potential government secrecy or resistance to publicizing evidence, particularly concerning space travel and UFOs. The editorial stance, as expressed by Easley and Manak, is one of continued dedication to studying UFO phenomena despite challenges and delays, aiming to keep the public informed and engaged with the subject. The publication also touches upon broader scientific and historical topics that intersect with the unexplained or extraordinary.