Flying Saucer Digest - No 135 - 1996

Magazine Overview

Title: FLYING SAUCER DIGEST
Issue: NO. 135
Date: FALL 1996
Publisher: UNITED AERIAL PHENOMENA AGENCY (UAPA)

This issue of Flying Saucer Digest, published by the United Aerial Phenomena Agency, delves into various UFO and unexplained phenomena reports from historical accounts to contemporary sightings. The cover features a dramatic illustration related to an alien encounter.

On the Cover: The Kelly-Hopkinsville Encounter

This article by Allan J. Manak details one of the best-known cases in ufology: the Kelly-Hopkinsville encounter that occurred on August 21, 1955, near Kelly, Kentucky. Eight adults and three children were present in a farmhouse when a flying saucer reportedly landed nearby. The family dog began barking, and two men saw a strange glow approaching. They then observed a glowing creature, about three-and-a-half feet tall with a round, oversized head and large, yellowish eyes. The creature was described as being made of silver metal. Two men fired their guns at the creature, which flipped over and ran away. More creatures appeared, and shots were fired for about four hours. The family reported the incident to the Hopkinsville Police Department, and investigators later searched the farm and grounds but found nothing.

UFO Bits and Pieces

This section, also by Allan J. Manak, presents a collection of shorter UFO-related reports:

The "Marfa Lights" of Mexico: Tales of flying fireballs are common in the Ojinaga area, Mexico, particularly around Lomas de Arena. Locals believe these fireballs are witches transforming themselves, and that Lomas de Arena serves as a training area for their "night flights." It is said they sometimes crash against cliffs, identifiable by cuts and bruises the next morning.

San Carlos and Lights: San Carlos, also known as Manual Benavides, is a town near Lajitas, Texas, where lights are reported flying between two mountain peaks. These lights are believed to be either brujas (witches) or connected with them. This phenomenon is reportedly seen only two days a week and is considered bad fortune.

The Cerrito (or Sierra) de la Santa Cruz: This small mountain range near Ojinaga is associated with tales of religious and folkloric significance. Some tales link it to the region's pre-Hispanic inhabitants. A particular tale involves the devil dancing on a tightrope between Chinati Peak and the Cerrito. It is reported that balls of fire, or "bolas de lumbre," emanate from the Cerrito, believed to be brujas traveling. This belief in witches transforming into lechuzas or bolas de lumbre is documented in New Mexico as well. The "Doce Verdaderes del Mundo" is mentioned as a prayer to revert a bola de lumbre back into a person.

FSD Subscribers to Receive New Sourcebook: To celebrate its 30th anniversary in 1997, Flying Saucer Digest is offering subscribers a free 36-page UFO Sourcebook catalog featuring rare UFO and Fortean items dating back to 1951.

Another New Planet: Geoff Marcy and Paul Butler have discovered their fourth extrasolar planet, orbiting the star Tau Bootis, approximately 60 light-years away. This planet is unusually close to its parent star.

Publication Information: Flying Saucer Digest is published quarterly by the United Aerial Phenomena Agency (UAPA). Allan J. Manak is Chairman/Editor, Rick R. Hilberg is Assistant Editor, Carol J. Hilberg is Managing Editor, and Benita C. Owens is Art Director. UAPA is a non-profit organization dedicated to the study of UFOs and related subjects. Subscription rates are $10.00 for 4 issues and $19.00 for 8 issues. International subscriptions add $3.00 per year. The UAPA address is Box 347032, Cleveland, Ohio 44134.

Collectors Corner

This section lists rare magazines for sale, including various issues of Ufology Magazine, Official UFO Magazine, Second Look Magazine, UFO Sightings Magazine, People Press UFO Report Magazine, Close Encounters Magazine, Ufology Newspaper, and Ancient Astronauts Magazine, along with several paperback books on UFOs and related topics. Fate Magazine specials are also listed.

UFO Retrospective: Is This a Real Account, or Is It a Newspaper Hoax?

This article recounts the story of Hon. Alex Hamilton of Vernon, Kansas, who, on April 21, 1897, claimed to have witnessed an airship descending over his cow lot. He described it as a cigar-shaped vessel with a carriage made of glass and other transparent substances, illuminated by three lights. Six beings, including two men, a woman, and three children, were reportedly inside. Hamilton stated that the ship then hovered over a heifer, to which a cable was attached. The cow was later found dismembered. The article questions the authenticity of the account but notes Hamilton's sincerity.

Around and About the Saucer World: Where Are All the UFOs?

This piece by Rick R. Hilberg discusses a special aired on A&E cable network that presented a generally negative view of UFOs, revisiting the Roswell story and contactee accounts. Hilberg criticizes the program for focusing on the "UFO myth" and the lack of physical evidence, while also mentioning the "Tremonton, Utah" and "Great Falls, Montana" movies, and the Paul Trent photographs.

A Flashing Red Light and "Laser Beams" in California: On July 11th, near a train trestle over Altamont Pass in California, an intense red light was observed. Sheriff's deputies were investigating reports of "laser beams" zapping motorists. A deputy, Richard Frish, reported being temporarily blinded by a red beam. Investigators suspect the beam originated from the trestle or a nearby hill. Laser research at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories is mentioned, though investigators ruled out the lab as the source.

Indiana "UFO" Follows Ohio Crop Circle: This report details a sighting by Dawn Sprunger near Bluffton, Indiana, on July 6th, of a triangular object with red and blue lights. The object was observed by Sprunger, local police chief Merlin Bixler, and other officers, and was captured on camcorder by Mayor Blaine Fulton. The sighting occurred shortly after a crop circle was discovered east of Paulding, Ohio, leading to speculation about a connection.

Weird Lights Spotted Near Alamosa, Colorado: Reports of strange lights hovering near Mount Blanca in the San Luis Valley, Colorado, are detailed. A woman named Helen Willhite described a "light" that had been observed for four consecutive nights. Sheriff's investigations contacted air bases, but officials stated nothing of theirs was in the area. The article notes that strange lights are not unusual in the San Luis Valley.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores UFO sightings, encounters, and related phenomena, often juxtaposing historical accounts with contemporary reports. There's a clear interest in folklore and its connection to UFO beliefs, as seen in the Mexican "fireball" stories and the discussion of witches. The publication also touches upon scientific advancements like exoplanet discovery, while maintaining a focus on the unexplained. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into UFO phenomena, presenting various cases and perspectives, even while acknowledging skeptical viewpoints or debunking efforts, as seen in the critique of the A&E special. The inclusion of a "Collectors Corner" and a retrospective section suggests an appreciation for the history of UFO research and its artifacts.