Flying Saucer Digest - No 128 - 1995

Magazine Overview

Title: FLYING SAUCER DIGEST
Issue: No. 128
Date: Winter 1995
Publisher: UNITED AERIAL PHENOMENA AGENCY (UAPA)

This issue of Flying Saucer Digest, published by the United Aerial Phenomena Agency (UAPA), delves into various aspects of ufology and unexplained phenomena. The cover features an illustration depicting a flying saucer abducting two individuals. The issue includes articles, news briefs, and summaries of past and recent events related to UFOs and related mysteries.

Feature Article: Once Upon a Time in UFOLOGY

This allegorical piece by Allan J. Manak recounts the history of the UAPA and its magazine, Flying Saucer Digest. It uses the metaphor of 'castles' to represent various UFO organizations and publications. The 'small castle Cleveland' (representing the UAPA) attempted to unite these entities in 1966, but only a few responded. The article emphasizes the longevity and significance of Flying Saucer Digest as the oldest privately published UFO magazine, warning against ignoring smaller entities.

UFO Bits and Pieces by Allan J. Manak

This section provides brief updates and announcements:

• FREE NEWSLETTER (LO!): A new newsletter from UAPA, covering mysterious and fascinating subjects like strange falls, mystery sounds, unknown animals, and ancient mysteries. A subscription costs $7.00 for 4 issues.
• STRANGE MAGAZINE: A publication focusing on the unexplained, covering parapsychology, ufology, and cryptozoology. Sample issues cost $4.95.
• NEW GALAXY FOUND: Astronomers have discovered a new galaxy.

Possible Meteorite Crater Under Chesapeake Bay

This article discusses the discovery of a potential meteorite impact crater, at least 85 km across, under the Chesapeake Bay. C. Wylie Poag of the U.S. Geological Survey identified it using seismic reflection techniques. The impact, estimated to have occurred 35 million years ago, may also be the source of tektites found in the region. The study is ongoing to find evidence of high-velocity impact shocks.

New Book: West Virginia UFOs

This section highlights a new book by former journalist Bob Teets, documenting over 150 UFO cases from West Virginia. The book, titled "West Virginia UFOs: Close Encounters In The Mountain State," is presented as a valuable resource for UFO researchers.

32nd National UFO Conference

Announces the upcoming 32nd National UFO Conference to be held in Atlanta, Georgia, in September. Allen Greenfield, a founder of the conference, is mentioned as the host chairman. Information can be obtained from Illuminet Press.

Roswell Incident Summary

A brief summary of the Roswell Incident, referring to the alleged recovery of a crashed "flying disc" by the Army Air Force in July 1947. The author expresses weariness with the subject due to its extensive coverage in books, articles, and even a movie.

United Aerial Phenomena Agency (UAPA) Information

Details about the UAPA, including its publication Flying Saucer Digest, its chairman/editor Allan J. Manak, assistant editor Rick R. Hilberg, managing editor Carol J. Hilberg, and art director Benita C. Owens. UAPA is a non-profit organization studying UFOs. Subscription rates for Flying Saucer Digest are provided.

United States Air Force (USAF) and the Tunguska Explosion

This section references an article in the Skeptical Inquirer (Jan./Feb. 1995) offering a final explanation for the 1908 Tunguska explosion. The article details a theory by NASA scientists Christopher Chyba and Kevin Zahnle, along with Paul Thomas, suggesting the massive destruction was caused by a shock wave from a small stone meteor or asteroid exploding about five miles above Earth's surface. The meteor was estimated to be about 100 feet across. The force of the blast is compared to 20 million tons of high explosives, and the potential danger of larger meteors is highlighted.

Collectors Corner

This section lists rare magazines available for purchase from UAPA, including various issues of NICAP Reporter and Saucers, Space And Science, as well as a Marfa lights paper.

UFO Retrospective: Hobbs, New Mexico (June 2, 1964)

This case involves an eight-year-old boy, Charles Keith Davis, who was seriously burned by a mysterious flying object. The boy described seeing something black coming from the sky. Despite investigations by police and doctors, no cause for the burns was found, and no physical evidence was discovered. The incident occurred near the DeLuxe Laundry, and the boy's grandmother reported hearing a 'whoosh' sound.

UFO or Secret Aircraft in California?

This section presents a letter from Bill Howard, editor of the New Herald, detailing three UFO sightings in Southern California during the Thanksgiving period of 1994.

• November 23, 1994: A triangular UFO with three lights (two white, one red) was observed hovering over a parking lot in Rancho Santa Margarita.
• Next Morning: A similar triangular UFO was reported over Oceanside, moving southwest towards the sea.
• November 26, 1994: A silent, triangular craft with two white and one red light was seen over a shopping mall in Torrance, heading west.

The author suggests these sightings might indicate a new type of U.S. Government aircraft, possibly utilizing anti-gravity propulsion.

Around and About the Saucer World by Rick R. Hilberg

October Multiple Witness Cases in Alaska

This report details UFO sightings that occurred between October 14th and 16th, 1994, near Bristol Bay, Alaska. Residents of Manokotak, Dillingham, and Aleknagik reported seeing bright lights, initially mistaken for airplanes. However, the objects were described as silent, triangular, and circling the area, sometimes flashing lights. Anecia Lomack, a resident, broadcast warnings about potential child kidnapping. Aaron Lomack and Eric Lomack also reported seeing similar triangular objects with lights that blinked on and off at the local airport. Shirley Yeager, a clerk, also witnessed what appeared to be brightly colored stars moving in a triangular pattern. The FAA and Air Force had no comment.

Crop Circle in New York State

A mysterious crop circle appeared in a corn field on the north shore of Oneida Lake, in Vienna, Oneida County, in August. Ron Taylor, a geologist who investigated the formation, described it as elliptical and about 19 feet wide. Samples of the flattened corn stalks were sent for analysis to W.C. Levengood. The landowners wished to keep the matter private. The National Weather Service confirmed thunderstorms in the area but had no reports of tornadoes or severe winds. A meteorologist suggested the possibility of a whirlwind vortex, but ruled out dust devils due to the temperature.

Ann Arbor, Michigan Report

Several workers at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Motor Vehicle Emissions Lab in Ann Arbor reported seeing a UFO on September 27th. They described a green bar of light that would disappear and reappear, with a small plane at one point flying beneath it. The workers watched the object for 15-20 minutes. The EPA spokeswoman attributed the stress of budget requests to potential misidentification.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, unexplained aerial phenomena, and the historical documentation of such events. The magazine maintains a stance of investigating and reporting on these phenomena, encouraging reader engagement through subscriptions and correspondence. There is a clear interest in government involvement and advanced technology, as suggested by the California sightings and the discussion of anti-gravity propulsion. The publication also highlights the importance of smaller organizations and the ongoing nature of UFO research, as exemplified by the 'Once Upon a Time in UFOLOGY' narrative.