Flying Saucer Digest - No 121 - 1993

Magazine Overview

Title: FLYING SAUCER DIGEST
Issue: NO. 121
Volume/Date: SPRING 93 (1993-03-01)
Publisher: United Aerial Phenomena Agency (UAPA)
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of the Flying Saucer Digest delves into various UFO phenomena, historical cases, and related curiosities. The cover art depicts dinosaurs alongside a futuristic space station and a UFO, hinting at the diverse and speculative nature of the content within.

From the Editor

Allan J. Manak, the editor, notes the usual time for announcing the National UFO Conference date and location, but UAPA has no information, attributing this to other organizations' scheduling. He mentions that UAPA announces its conference a year in advance. The editor also reports the passing of Earl J. Neff, a significant UFO figure in the Cleveland area in the 1950s and 1960s, who founded the Cleveland Ufology Project. Manak also promotes "The Bigfoot Digest" by Mark Opsasnick and announces the 14th Rocky Mountain Conference on UFO investigation hosted by Dr. Leo Sprinkle. A significant portion of the editorial discusses the potential nature of alien intelligences, drawing from Joseph F. Baugher's book "On Civilized Stars," suggesting that alien thought processes could be radically different due to evolutionary divergences in brain structures, leading to communication methods and concepts of self that are alien to humans. The editorial also highlights the opening of the International UFO Center in Orlando, Florida, noting the high failure rate of UFO museums.

UFO Bits and Pieces

This section recounts an incident on August 19, 1992, in the Dutch province of Friesland, where residents heard a loud bang and felt tremors. Seismic stations registered an acoustic shock wave, ruling out an earthquake. Over 100 people reported seeing a red, yellow, and orange ball of flame. The initial theory of a meteorite explosion was later discarded due to a lack of found debris. Professor Rob Schuiling of the University of Utrecht dismissed the meteorite theory, suggesting the tremors were likely due to earth movements after natural gas escaped from underground chambers.

Manak's Notebook: The Dale Spaur Case

This lengthy article revisits the 1966 UFO mystery involving Dale Spaur, a Portage County Sheriff's Deputy. The narrative details how Spaur chased a flying saucer for 86 miles, an event that profoundly disrupted his life. The chase began when Spaur and Special Deputy W. L. Neff were investigating a car with a strange emblem and the words "seven steps to hell." They then observed a huge saucer-shaped craft rise from the woods and hover over them, bathing them in light before moving off. Spaur and Neff pursued the object at high speeds until their cruiser ran out of gas near Pittsburgh. The aftermath for Spaur was devastating: his marriage ended, he lost weight, and he became a target for reporters and investigators. His wife, Daneise, filed for divorce and pressed assault charges after an incident where Spaur allegedly shook her violently. Spaur became a fugitive, hiding in a motel and struggling with loneliness and the public perception of him as "the nut who chased a flying saucer." He recounts how even his father called to ask about flying saucers. The article notes that the flying saucer was reportedly seen again, and a code name "Floyd" was used by radio operators. Spaur believes the craft still follows him and has ruined his life. The article states that parts of this account were published in the Cleveland Plain Dealer in 1966 and other parts are from UAPA's private files.

Around and About the Saucer World

This section features several shorter reports:

• Mysterious Lights Startle Many in W. Virginia: On September 27th, residents in Summers County reported seeing a row of six or seven bright green flashing lights on a hilltop. The lights flashed and had a "funny green glow." They were not identified as aircraft or helicopters. Firefighters and police investigated but could not identify the source.
• Mystery Lights Sighted in Alaska: On November 21st, three men aboard a boat in McDonald's Lagoon reported seeing a set of bright lights that moved instantaneously, appearing much larger than a star and jumping around without leaving streaks. They described the lights as variable, sometimes getting very bright and then dimming down, and also saw a smaller light below the main one. They concluded it was not a star and had nothing to do with anything in their experience.
• Unusual Oval Circle in Minnesota Field: On November 25th, an oval clearing, 30 by 60 feet, was discovered in an Elk River corn field. Corn stalks were broken off six to eight inches from the ground. Police were stumped, finding no vehicle tracks and ruling out deer as the cause.

New Object Found Near Pluto's Orbit

This brief report announces the discovery of 1992 QB-1, the most distant object found in the solar system. The discovery by David Jewitt and Jane Luu may help confirm the theory that some comets originate in the Kuiper belt, a concept proposed by astronomer Gerard Kuiper.

Readers Say

This section includes letters from readers:

• D. Cunningham from Chicago, IL, is researching the history of flying saucer and UFO magazines from the sixties and asks for titles and addresses.
• B. Dunhamm from Milwaukee, WI, enjoys the "Weirdology" section, particularly articles on Bigfoot and other monsters.
• E. Stins from Richmond, VA, a 15-year-old, asks for more information about an article featuring a small ugly man seen near a UFO landing, which was published in FSD No. 104.

The editor responds to these letters, providing some information and noting that the "E.T. - A Summer Visitor At Ruby" story from FSD No. 104 did not have a promised follow-up and that UAPA prides itself on follow-up stories, but this one "got away."

More Rare UFO Material at Special Prices

This section is an advertisement listing various rare UFO-related publications and back issues of "True Flying Saucers and UFO's Quarterly" and "Probe: The Unknown" for sale, with prices including postage.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around UFO sightings, historical UFO cases (particularly the Dale Spaur incident), and the broader implications of potential alien contact and intelligence. The UAPA, as the publisher, maintains a stance of serious investigation into UFO phenomena, as evidenced by their dedication to studying UFOs and their efforts to follow up on sightings. The magazine also touches upon related topics like Bigfoot and ancient astronauts, suggesting a broad interest in unexplained phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, acknowledging the strangeness of reported events while also grounding some explanations in scientific or natural phenomena where possible, though the primary focus remains on the unexplained and the mysterious aspects of UFOlogy.

This issue of Flying Saucer Digest, dated January 1st in its January 2nd edition, focuses on UFO sightings, crop circles, and mysterious creature encounters. The cover headline highlights a "CALIFORNIA FAMILY FILMS UFO," and the content delves into various unexplained phenomena.

Crop Circles and UFOs in Elk River

The issue discusses a recent UFO sighting and a crop circle discovered in Elk River. A landowner, who asked to remain anonymous, expressed bewilderment at the crop circle, stating he had never seen anything like it and couldn't explain it. Local authorities, represented by Zerwas, considered possibilities ranging from criminal damage to natural causes. John Sawicke, a member of the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON), investigated the site. Despite some damage from corn harvesting, Sawicke was able to identify the circle's location and planned further investigation. He noted that while two men had previously claimed responsibility for making crop circles as a joke, they were not active this summer. Sawicke also pointed out anomalies in the formations, such as the wheat being laid down in a spiral pattern and sometimes bent at a 90-degree angle with evidence of rapid heating, akin to microwave heat.

Unusual findings in Minnesota fields are also mentioned. Two years prior, a 40-foot-wide swath in a corn field near Hutchinson left a mark resembling a question mark, with the corn scorched black and showing signs of electrical current. A recent MUFON meeting in Elk River featured a presentation by Dick Moss, a MUFON member and science teacher, who showed slides of a large, barbell-shaped crop impression found in a field near Underwood, Minnesota, noting that crop circles are common in that area.

California Family Films UFO

This section, reported by Diana Washington Valdez of the Palm Springs Desert Sun, details a fascinating case from January 1st. Friends celebrating New Year's Eve in La Quinta witnessed strange lights hovering in the night sky. Robert Ceballos filmed the event with his video camera. Todd Sandell described the lights as an unidentified flying object, stating, "I've never seen anything like it in my life." Ceballos, his wife Willema, and his brother Richard Ceballos agreed the sighting was unusual. They observed circular lights that were reddish-yellow and faded in and out. Two of the lights disappeared after about 15 minutes, while a third lingered for another half hour. Something swirled around the third light in a clockwise direction, fell downward, and then pulled back into the light. Richard Ceballos initially thought it might be stars or fireworks but noted its unusual movement and stillness, and that it made no noise. People next door also noticed the objects, and Willema Ceballos described the experience as "weird and a little scary." A Riverside County Sheriff dispatcher confirmed a report of a large ball of fire falling from the sky after midnight, though an investigating officer found nothing.

Weirdology: "Caddy" Visits Pacific Northwest Shores

This account, from Scott Gorman of the Everett, Washington Herald, discusses the "Caddy," an elusive sea creature reportedly seen off the north Pacific coast. Dubbed "Cadborosauras" and nicknamed "Caddy" by researchers at the University of British Columbia, the creature is described as a large marine animal resembling the Loch Ness Monster. Doris Sinclair, a Lake Stevens resident, reported an encounter in February near Ocean Shores, Washington. She described seeing a long, slender neck rise from the water, making a nodding motion, and appearing elegant and dignified. Sinclair lost sight of the creature about 500 feet from shore and felt honored by the sighting. Her husband was initially skeptical, but her brother's reaction was noncommittal. Sinclair kept the encounter private, finding it "uncomfortable to be disbelieved." Professor Paul LeBlond of the University of British Columbia suggests that the concern of being labeled a "kook" might deter others from reporting sightings. He notes that reports describe a marine animal with a long neck, a horsey face, a big mouth, and eyes, sometimes described as furry like a seal. LeBlond estimates that one or two credible sightings are made each year by rational people who are embarrassed about potential reactions.

Mystery Creature Spotted in S. Carolina

This encounter, related by Warren Bolton, occurred on September 20th in Richland County, South Carolina. Sylvester Arnold and his wife encountered a creature while walking along railroad tracks. Arnold described it as Bigfoot or Sasquatch, noting it was furry with a black coat, huge, and walked upright like a man, swinging its arms. He became sweaty and panicked, realizing it wasn't human. Arnold fired a shot in the air with his .22-caliber rifle, and the creature fled into the woods. Richland County Sheriff Allen Sloan acknowledged the report but stated it wasn't taken totally seriously, though a deputy was sent to the scene. Impressions were found near the tracks, rocks were disturbed, and briars pushed apart. Animal hair found was identified as deer hair. Sheriff Sloan commented that while he couldn't confirm the sighting, he wouldn't dismiss it, stating, "Who am I to say he didn't see something? I was not there." Arnold acknowledged that people might think he's fabricating the story but insisted he wouldn't play a hoax.

Advertisements

The issue includes advertisements for UFO JOURNAL magazines, specifically numbers 53, 54, and 55, offered on a special sale from Flying Saucer Digest for $2.00 for all three issues, postpaid. There is also a mailing label for UAPA (P.O. Box 347032, Cleve, OH. 44134) with a "PRINTED MATTER" designation and a surface mail stamp.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, crop circle phenomena, and encounters with cryptids or unknown creatures. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded investigation, presenting witness accounts and expert opinions without outright dismissal, while also acknowledging the possibility of hoaxes or misidentifications. The magazine encourages readers to consider the evidence and the possibility of unexplained events occurring in the world.