FLYING SAUCER DIGEST

Magazine Overview

Title: FLYING SAUCER DIGEST
Issue: No. 166
Date: Summer 2004
Publisher: R. Hilberg Publications

This issue of Flying Saucer Digest focuses on UFO activity in Canada, particularly in British Columbia, and explores the potential connections between folklore and modern UFO phenomena. It also includes reports on specific sightings and an investigation into a mysterious plane crash.

The Saucer Scene: Terrace, BC as a UFO Hotspot

The lead article, "THE SAUCER SCENE" by Carol Hilberg, highlights Terrace, British Columbia, as a persistent Canadian "UFO Hotspot." According to the latest annual UFO survey, Terrace accounts for about 10 percent of all sightings reported in BC and is ranked fourth in the country for UFO reports in 2003, just behind Houston, BC, Toronto, and Vancouver, which is dubbed the Canadian UFO capital. Brian Vike, a Houston, BC-based researcher who operates a 1-800 UFO hotline, has mapped a pattern of sightings stretching southeast from Terrace to the Cranbrook area in the Kootenays. Vike suggests that natural and manmade factors in the Terrace area, such as Alcan (a source of hydro-electric power) and the natural thermal power of hot springs, may attract these objects. Vike also notes that seismic activity is sometimes associated with UFO reports. The article details several specific sightings from the Terrace area in 2003, including a disk-shaped object seen near Prince Rupert and a glowing object observed on Tuck Ave. that moved erratically.

Canadian UFO Survey and Unexplained Phenomena

The issue references the 2003 Canadian UFO Survey, released by Ufology Research of Manitoba, which reported an all-time high of 673 UFO sightings in Canada, a 39% increase from the previous year. British Columbia led the country with 304 sightings. The survey indicates that most sightings involve two witnesses and last for about 10 minutes. While many UFO reports are eventually identified as conventional objects like planets or meteors, only seven percent of sightings in the "unexplained" category are deemed "high quality" unknowns. Study author Chris Rutkowski cautions that there is yet to be any incontrovertible evidence of extraterrestrial contact, despite popular opinion.

Welsh Legends: "Fairies and Aliens"?

An article by Richard Holland, published in the Liverpool Daily Post, speculates on the theory that ancient fairies and modern ufofonauts or space beings might be the same entity. The article draws parallels between beliefs in fairies and aliens, recounting a 19th-century story from Portmeirion involving a young woman named Miss Jones and her servant Dafydd Fawr. Dafydd was delayed on his way home by a strange sight: a brilliant meteor followed by a ring or hoop of fire containing a man and woman of small size. They emerged from the hoop, danced on the ground with other beings, and then departed in the hoop. The experience of "missing time" is noted as a common element in both fairy-lore and alien abduction accounts.

2002 Alabama Plane Crash: "Collision with an Unknown Object"

The magazine reports on the investigation into a 2002 single-engine delivery plane crash in Alabama. Federal investigators determined that the plane slammed into something at 3,000 feet above the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. The National Transportation Safety Board's report noted unidentified red marks on the plane's nose and belly, suggesting a collision with another object. The pilot, Thomas J. Preziose, was killed. Officials stated they had no other accident reports in their files describing a "collision with an unknown object." The investigation was hampered by malfunctioning radar equipment, and a piece of black anodized aluminum was found embedded in the plane's wing. The FedEx DC-10, which was in the area, was found to be unscathed, deepening the mystery.

Reviews and Other Sightings

The issue includes a review of Karl T. Pflock's book, "The Day After Aztec: Revelations From Beyond the Grave," which debunks the 1948 Aztec, New Mexico crashed saucer hoax. It also features several other UFO sightings from June 2004, including:

• A sighting in San Leandro, California, of a black circle ship with red lights.
• A metal object seen in Torrance, California, reflecting sunlight.
• A sighting in Sonora of three lights in triangular formation.
• An egg-shaped object with blue lights seen over the Kootenay River near Nelson, British Columbia.
• A huge, brushed aluminum rectangular object seen in Brighton, Michigan.

Additionally, the magazine mentions IRAAP's "The Messenger" newsletter as a source of information on UFOs and related topics, and Earth Star Publications.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the prevalence of UFO sightings in Canada, particularly in British Columbia, the ongoing investigation into unexplained aerial phenomena, and the intriguing possibility of a link between historical folklore (fairies) and modern UFO encounters. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into these phenomena, presenting witness accounts and research findings while acknowledging the lack of definitive proof for extraterrestrial contact. The magazine actively promotes its own retrospective publications and other UFO-related newsletters, suggesting a dedicated readership and a commitment to disseminating information within the UFO community.