Flying Saucer Digest - No 213 - 2016

Magazine Overview

This issue of FLYING SAUCER DIGEST, identified as No. 213 and dated Summer 2016, is presented by R. Hilberg Publications, based in Berea, Ohio. The publication is quarterly, with six issues priced at $10.00 in the U.S.A. The editor is Rick Hilberg, Managing Editor is Carol Hilberg, and the founder was Allan J. Manak (1933-1999). The cover features artwork by Ron Pelger, depicting multiple flying saucers in a starry sky, and prominently displays the title "FLYING SAUCER" along with the issue date "SUMMER 2016" and a smaller, older date "SUMMER 1967" for Vol. 1 No. 2, suggesting a connection to the magazine's history.

About Our Cover

The magazine notes that the cover artwork by Ron Pelger is part of a series celebrating FSD's 50th anniversary, with more of his early cover art to be featured in upcoming issues.

1952 - UFO LANDS NEAR PITTSBURGH, KANSAS

This article recounts a report from August 1952 where a flying saucer, approximately 75 feet in diameter, was observed parked in a field northeast of Pittsburgh, Kansas. Bill Squire, an entertainer, described the object as resembling two large saucers joined together, with propellers at the rear. He saw occupants moving inside and a bluish light. When Squire exited his car to observe more closely, the object ascended straight up at high speed and sped away without smoke or exhaust fumes. The source cited is the Hutchinson, KS News-Herald, via Martin Piechota.

PENNSYLVANIA UFO CHANGES SHAPE

A witness in Rochester, Pennsylvania, reported a cigar-shaped UFO on June 14, 2016, that appeared to morph in shape. Initially seen behind trees, the object was described as white, with a round left end and a triangle right end, moving slowly and then hovering. It seemed to change shape, appearing round, then elongated, then triangular. A jumbo jet flew by, making the UFO appear larger by comparison. A part of the triangle shape reportedly detached and disappeared. The object was estimated to be about 100 feet long and was moving south towards the Ohio River. The witness noted it was stationary while hovering despite windy conditions. The source is "Open Minds" by Roger Marsh.

RELIVE THE SAUCER SAGA

This section announces the reissuance of "The Saucer Saga," a booklet first published in 1992, as part of the magazine's 50th anniversary celebration. It was the third in a series covering UFO history from ancient times to modern research, focusing on cases from 1953 to 1960. The publication includes artwork by Ron Pelger and Bunny Owens and is available for $12.00.

ARGENTINA WINDS DOWN ITS UFO UNIT

This article reports on the closure of Argentina's Commission for the Study of Aero-spatial Phenomena (CAFAE), an agency created in May 2011 by then-President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner to research UFO reports. The agency, staffed by military and civilian experts, aimed to study aero-spatial phenomena. However, under the new government of Mauricio Macri, many of Kirchner's projects are being reviewed. CAFAE's final report, published after nearly five years of activity, investigated only 10 reports. Nine of these were identified as ordinary objects (soccer ball, helicopter, bird, antenna light, Jupiter, moon, star, airplane, satellite/ISS part/star combination). The tenth case was unresolved due to lack of witness-provided evidence. The report concluded that while most cases were identified flying objects (IFOs), they served as testimony to the existence of misinterpretations of ordinary objects as extraordinary ones. The source is the Toronto Star, via Gene Duplantier.

UFOS LIKE QUEBEC

This article, by Terry Davidson, discusses the findings of Ufology Research's 2015 Canadian UFO Survey. Quebec accounted for 35% of all reported sightings in Canada in 2015, a significant increase from previous years. The survey highlights Canada as a "nation rich in storytelling" regarding UFOs and emphasizes the need to combine witness accounts with the search for objective truth. The article poses questions about the nature of these sightings, whether they are manmade, figments of imagination, cultural storytelling, or evidence of unknown life forms. The report notes that the most common descriptions were "starlike" objects, distant lights, and simple lights in the sky. The year 2012 had the highest number of reported sightings (1,981). The article also mentions specific sightings in Quebec, including a "metallic sphere" in Drummondville and a "boomerang and egg" shaped object in Brantford.

RETURN OF A "CLASSIC"

This section announces the reprint of "Flying Saucer Classics from 1968," a special publication by FSD featuring 21 classic UFO cases from the early days of the enigma, illustrated by Ron Pelger. The publication is available for $7.00.

LOW LEVEL CIGAR IN MISSISSIPPI

A Mississippi witness reported observing a white, cigar-shaped UFO on May 13, 2016, near Corinth. The object appeared to be spinning and hovering at altitudes under 500 feet. Described as a cylindrical object with rounded corners (tic-tac shape), it was spinning on its horizontal axis and remained stationary for over three minutes before descending slowly to the north and disappearing below the tree line. The witness took three images, but they were not included with the report. The source is "Open Minds" by Roger Marsh.

THE TARIJA, BOLIVIA UFO CRASH OF 1978

This article by Scott Corrales revisits the events of May 6, 1978, when a metallic and incandescent object reportedly fell at the border between Bolivia and Argentina. Elias Vacaflor, a witness, stated that NASA was present but did not disclose details. He recalled the sky lighting up due to an object resembling a cylinder flying from northwest to southeast. Residents of surrounding communities and Argentina witnessed the object and heard an explosion. The Clarin newspaper reported "UFO Found on the Border Between Argentina and Bolivia.” Journalist Juan Antonio Abarzua reported that NASA helicopters arrived at the crash site. Physicist Orlando Bravo's team found a destroyed mountain with a large crater measuring 1,500 meters long, 800 meters wide, and 50 meters deep. Residents reported that "gringos had taken away" the remains. The source is "Inexplicata."

FORTEAN FLASHES

HAIRY CREATURES SPOTTED NEAR FAIRCHANCE, PA

Jim Brown reports on an incident on May 10, 2016, where two witnesses encountered two large, hairy creatures on Mud Pike in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. The creatures were described as approximately 7 feet high, standing upright on two legs, with long black hair covering their bodies, and glowing red eyes. They had hairless, black palms and no visible claws or feet. The creatures interacted with the witnesses' car before disappearing into the woods. The witness impressions were that they seemed credible and frightened. The source is "Stan Gordon's UFO Anomalies Zone."

NOVEMBER 1962 – PEBBLES RAIN DOWN ON CALIFORNIA HOUSE

In November 1962, the W. M. Lowe family in Big Bear Lake, California, experienced a phenomenon where pebbles rained down on their house for months. The pelting occurred about four times a week, with rocks up to four inches long. Investigators initially suspected human involvement, but no culprits were found. The house next door also experienced broken window panes. The source is the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

ICE FALL DAMAGES CAR IN PENNSYLVANIA

On March 25, 2016, a chunk of ice fell from the sky and smashed through the windshield of a 2016 Kia Soul at a dealership in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. The ice damaged the windshield and steering column. The dealership manager suggested it might have fallen from an overpassing plane. The source is the Harrisburg Patriot News.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of Flying Saucer Digest include UFO sightings and encounters from various locations and time periods, ranging from historical cases to recent reports. There is a focus on detailed witness testimony, often corroborated by news sources or research organizations. The magazine also highlights its own historical publications and artwork, emphasizing its long-standing coverage of the UFO phenomenon. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious investigation and reporting of unexplained aerial phenomena and other unusual events, while also acknowledging the importance of identifying misinterpretations of ordinary objects (IFOs). The magazine promotes its own publications and encourages reader engagement through mail orders.