1973 00 00 SAGA Annual - John Keel - UFOs and the Strange Deaths of Our Astronauts

Magazine Overview

Title: SAGA ANNUAL
Issue Date: 1973
Publisher: G.I. Publications, Inc.
Country: USA
Price: 75c

This issue of SAGA ANNUAL, dated 1973, delves into a controversial intersection of space exploration, alleged extraterrestrial encounters, and mysterious astronaut deaths. The cover prominently features headlines hinting at political espionage, strange deaths of astronauts, new sex stars, Burt Reynolds, and a drug scandal, alongside smaller articles on nuclear pollution, sky divers, psychic attacks, and pirate gold.

UFO's and the Strange Deaths of Our Astronauts

The main feature article, "UFO's and the Strange Deaths of Our Astronauts or Was It MU?" by John A. Keel, explores a series of events that allegedly connect UFO activity with the fatalities of American and Soviet astronauts.

The Apollo 1 Tragedy

The article begins by recounting the tragic fire on January 27, 1967, at Cape Kennedy, which instantly killed astronauts Virgil Grissom, Roger Chaffee, and Edward White during a test of the Apollo space module. It notes that the spacecraft was filled with 100 percent oxygen, and despite the presence of combustible materials, the fire's intensity was extraordinary and its origin never fully explained by NASA. Peculiar occurrences preceding the fire included an overwhelming odor of rotten eggs and interference with communications.

The Soyuz I Disaster

Three months later, on April 24, 1967, Soviet cosmonaut Colonel Vladimir Komarov died when his Soyuz I spacecraft plummeted to Earth in a fiery ball. This was the first official tragedy in the Russian space program. The article suggests that these events, both American and Soviet, significantly delayed humanity's journey to the moon and led to a shift in Soviet priorities towards unmanned exploration due to concerns about cosmonauts' survival in long-duration space flights.

Gary Wilcox's Encounter

The narrative then pivots to the story of Gary Wilcox, a farmer from Newark Valley, N.Y. On April 24, 1964, exactly three years before the Komarov disaster and three years before the Apollo fire, Wilcox reported an encounter with two small, four-foot-tall beings dressed in metallic suits who emerged from a hovering, metallic object. According to Wilcox's sworn statements, these beings spoke to him, warning that astronauts Glenn and Grissom, along with two Russian cosmonauts, would die within a year. They also expressed concerns about humans surviving in space, particularly on Mars.

The Lonnie Zamora Sighting

Coincidentally, on the same day as Wilcox's encounter, April 24, 1964, Police Patrolman Lonnie Zamora in Socorro, N.M., reported seeing a white, egg-shaped object in a gully with two small figures in white uniforms outside it. The object then took off with a loud noise. This incident gained significant media attention and baffled investigators, including Dr. J. Allen Hynek.

Coincidences and Warnings

The article emphasizes the remarkable coincidences: two witnesses in different locations experiencing similar events on the same day, with the less publicized incident (Wilcox's) allegedly containing a prophecy of future astronaut deaths. It questions whether the reported accidents of Yuri Gagarin and Pavel Belyayev, and the bathtub incident involving John Glenn and Yuri Gagarin, were cover stories to mask similar medical issues or extraterrestrial warnings.

UFO Phenomena and Space Exploration

Keel discusses two common UFO phenomena: electromagnetic effects that disrupt electronics and communications, and the smell of rotten eggs, linking these to the events surrounding the Apollo 1 fire. The article posits that these occurrences might be deliberate attempts by UFOs to prevent humans from venturing further into space.

Theories on UFO Motives

Two schools of thought are presented regarding the motives of "flying saucer people": one suggests they are hostile and wish to prevent humanity from spreading across the cosmos, viewing humans as a disease; the other believes they are benevolent "Big Brothers from Space" trying to protect humanity from itself.

Conclusion

The article concludes by noting the deaths of Virgil Grissom, Vladimir Komarov, and ten other astronauts, framing these as more than mere coincidence, citing Ian Fleming's quote: "Once is happenstance, twice is coincidence, three times is enemy action."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around unexplained phenomena, government secrecy, and potential extraterrestrial interference with human endeavors, particularly space exploration. The editorial stance appears to be one of questioning official explanations and exploring alternative, often sensational, theories for tragic events. The article strongly implies that UFOs and their occupants are actively involved in human affairs, potentially with malicious intent or a protective agenda, and that the astronaut deaths are not accidental but possibly the result of deliberate actions or warnings from these entities.