What was in the issue Dow read?

It contained stories of encounters with beings from other planets and a long political message. Dow did not explain which detail aroused her suspicion.

Did Hoover determine that the magazine was linked to communists?

No. He replied that the FBI does not make conclusions about organizations or publications.

Saucer Magazine Reader Suspected Communist Ties

Quotes from the file

"In response to your inquiry, this Bureau is strictly an investigative agency of the Federal Government and, as such, neither makes evaluations nor draws conclusions as to the character or integrity of any organization, publication or individual."

Speaker: J. Edgar Hoover (to Mrs. Levi J. Dow, 6 Sept 1966)

Why it matters: Standard FBI brush-off boilerplate; recurs throughout the section

Page 2

"matters pertaining to sightings of Unidentified Flying Objects or Flying Saucers are not within the jurisdiction of the FBI."

Speaker: J. Edgar Hoover (17 Oct 1966 to Paul L. Wright)

Why it matters: Defines the Bureau's standing 1960s-70s policy line

Page 20

"Make no mistake. Your government is not in the White House or the Congress. IT IS IN THE PENTAGON, AND IN THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE VAST 'DEFENSE'-ORIENTED INDUSTRIES."

Speaker: 'Master Kalen-Li Retan' of Korendor (via Bob Renaud), in 'Flying Saucers International' #24 — the article that triggered Mr. Cooper of the IRS to flag the magazine to the FBI

Why it matters: Reason the AFSCA magazine ended up in the FBI file (alleged 'CP line')

Page 10

"He believes that he was taken into this craft which he recalls as being made of a glass like substance and being transparent. It was manned by several individuals who appeared to be undersized creatures similar to members of the human race, probably not more than 4 feet tall. They were allegedly wearing regular trouser pants and T-Shirts."

Speaker: FBI memo (Mr. DeLoach et al.) re James E. Collins, Chesapeake VA, 18 Jan 1967

Why it matters: Rare contemporaneous FBI write-up of an alleged abduction; small humanoid description

Page 51

"Sometime during 1943, he graduated from the German Air Academy and was assigned as a member of the Luftwaffe on the Russian Front. Near the end of 1944, he was released from this duty and was assigned as a test pilot to a top secret project in the Black Forest of Austria... It was saucer shaped, about twenty-one feet in diameter, radio controlled, and mounted several jet engines around the exterior portion of the craft."

Florence Dow opened her first issue of a flying saucer magazine. She read about UFOs — and then suspected the magazine was linked to communists. She couldn't explain exactly what had aroused her suspicion.

That issue featured stories of people who claimed to have met beings from other planets. Alongside these stories, a long message was printed, purportedly sent from a leader on a distant star. The message attacked the U.S. government and the fear of communism. Dow didn't specify which detail in the issue sparked her suspicion, but now we can see what she read.

A Stamp That Led to the Magazine

Dow stated in her letter that she was a member of a flying saucer research organization. A coworker received a business letter from Arizona, and on its back was a stamp. Dow asked for the stamp and sent money to receive issues of the organization's magazine.

After reading the first issue, she wrote that the magazine was not exactly as it seemed. She added that her knowledge of communist methods was limited, and that she might be mistaken. Nevertheless, she expected to receive subsequent issues and wanted to clarify the matter beforehand.

The Question That Reached Hoover

Dow directly contacted J. Edgar Hoover, the head of the American Federal Bureau of Investigation, known as the FBI. She wrote that she considered herself a loyal American and asked if her name could be prevented from being associated with the Communist Party due to her magazine subscription.

Hoover replied a few days later. He wrote that the FBI investigates but does not make conclusions about individuals, publications, or organizations. He apologized for not being able to help and added that her letter would be kept in the office's records.

What Remains Unknown

It is unknown what in the issue aroused Dow's suspicion, or if the magazine was indeed connected to communists. A note in the file stated that no record was found of Dow or the "Flying Saucer Clubs of America" organization.

Her letter remained in the file. Within it, among stories of visitors from space, Dow's question also remained.

Saucer Magazine Reader Suspected Communist Ties

Incidents in the document

Quotes from the file

People, places and organizations

People

What was blacked out

Questions & answers

Open discussion

Places

Units and bodies

Agencies and organizations

Platforms and sensors

A Stamp That Led to the Magazine

The Question That Reached Hoover

What Remains Unknown

More on this

Popular on the site right now