APRG REPORTER

Magazine Overview

Title: APRG REPORTER
Issue Date: July 1967
Volume: Vol. 5 No. 10
Issue Number: No. 58
Publisher: Aerial Phenomena Research Group (APRG)
Editor: Robert J. Gribble

This issue of the APRG Reporter focuses on a variety of UFO and alien craft sightings and incidents from around the world, alongside predictions of future events and critiques of UFO organizations.

Mel Noel Breaks Silence

The lead article details Mel Noel's explanation for why he did not take a planned trip on a non-terrestrial spaceship in November. Noel, a former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot, cited a government ultimatum—'don't make the trip or it will be detrimental to your health'—as the primary reason for delaying his flight. He also mentioned that certain 'officials' were not the most respected. Noel's plans began when he met a professor who told him about a base in South America for studying outer space and vehicles, reportedly run by Martians and directing over 124 scientists and technicians. Reports of spacecraft in this region are so common that they are no longer reported. Noel's involvement included plans to document the trip and inform the press, which was approved. However, investigations into the individuals involved revealed a troubled past for some, including a counsel of Costa Rica who was released in 1942 for unbecoming conduct and was on a '10-most-wanted' list, and the judge's father, a chief of police, who was wanted for narcotics running. Noel believes the South American base is pro-Nazi and is run by associates of Marconi, the inventor of the wireless, who allegedly died shortly after Mussolini showed interest in his device. The base has reportedly been photographed, showing people experimenting with spheroids. Noel also mentioned that the U.S. government has recently taken an interest and is sending U-2 flights there, but he is uncertain about their ultimate intentions. He noted that Bell Telephone and General Electric are researching UFOs, but this information is not public.

Alien Craft Landings and Encounters

Several reports detail specific sightings and encounters:

• Mexico: On March 25, a mysterious alien spacecraft, about the size of a bus and radiating a brilliant light, landed outside Iguala, Guerrero. Residents were blinded by the light, and a bus driver reported the event. Passengers confirmed the story, noting the craft took off after the light subsided.
• Vietnam: On June 11, soldiers near Da Nang reported a cylindrical, silver object. Pilots of two F-102 jets sent to investigate could not find it.
• Canada: On May 20, Steve Michalak of Falcon Lake, Manitoba, reported being burned by an alien spacecraft he touched. The craft, about 35 feet long, gave off a glaring red light and emitted human-like voices. Michalak suffered chest burns, has a hole burned in his hat, and reports a persistent odor. He described the craft as stainless steel with a geometrically-patterned spot on his undershirt.
• USA (Virginia): On June 13, Charles W. Fletcher of Eastern Henrico County was burned on his arm and face by a substance dropped from a bright object hovering over his yard. The substance was purple with metallic speckles.
• USA (California): On June 10, the Air Force reportedly placed secrecy over the sighting and photographing of an alien craft by two students near North San Juan, Nevada County. The object was described as a 'Texas cowboy hat.'
• USA (Virginia): On June 1, a 7-year-old boy, John Norton, was terrorized by a hubcap-shaped craft that landed in a clearing near his home. He described it as white and golden with red and green lights and noted it made a buzzing sound upon takeoff.
• Europe: On July 18, cigar-shaped objects, described as 'fireworks,' were sighted over Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, and Luxembourg.
• Canada: On April 26, a 12-year-old boy, Brian Dorscht, saw a craft, about five feet tall and three feet in diameter, land on a lawn in Kitchener, Ontario. It left circular imprints. Later, a triangular craft with red and green lights was seen.
• South America: During the week of June 18, UFO watchers in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay reported squadrons of objects flying at speeds up to 3700 mph. In Paraguay, six objects flying noiselessly disrupted airport communications.
• USA (New Mexico): On May 26, three youths in Albuquerque reported an alien craft hovered over their car, causing the engine and lights to stop before flying away.

Major Keyhoe Upgrades APRG

This section humorously critiques Major Donald Keyhoe, director of NICAP, for previously referring to his organization as 'a one man operation.' The article suggests Keyhoe has now downgraded APRG's classification to 'a small group in Seattle, Washington,' implying a shift in his perception or a playful jab at Keyhoe's past claims.

UFO Invasion Worries U Thant

U.N. Secretary General U Thant reportedly arranged for an advocate of the theory that UFOs are from another planet to speak before the Outer Space Affairs Committee. Dr. James E. McDonald of the University of Arizona presented his belief that UFOs are extraterrestrial reconnaissance ships. U Thant is said to consider UFOs the most important problem facing the United Nations, second only to the war in Vietnam.

Flying Objects Cause Plane Crashes, Warns Catholic Priest

Reverend Severino Machado, a Catholic priest with degrees in Sacred Theology and Economics, and an astronomy enthusiast, issued a warning based on his research. He predicted that between March 1-15, inhabitants from Mercury would arrive, and those appearing after March 5 would be en route to Jupiter, making flights dangerous. He specifically warned of a wave of airplane crashes in July, August, and September, all caused by flying objects. Machado claims UFOs have harnessed planetary magnetic fields for propulsion and that beings from Mercury visit Earth most frequently due to planetary alignment. He identified specific danger periods: July 1-15 (Mercury inhabitants visiting Earth en route to Mars), August 20-September 20 (more dangerous flights as UFOs head home from Mercury to Venus), September 20-October 5 (inhabitants of Saturn and their satellites visible, traveling from Venus to Saturn), and November 2-10 (returning from Mercury to Mars). He stated these are not fantasies and that UFOs are a reality and a menace.

NICAP Attacks UFO Authors

This section criticizes Major Donald Keyhoe and Richard Hall of NICAP for launching a 'massive smear campaign' against authors of UFO articles and books. Keyhoe and Hall are accused of calling other authors 'hack writers' and 'opportunists.' The article notes that Keyhoe and Hall conveniently overlook Frank Edwards' book, 'Flying Saucers, Serious Business,' which is described as sensationalized, despite Edwards being a friend and on NICAP's Board of Governors. The article suggests NICAP might be a front organization used by a government department to hide the truth about UFOs, and that their recent attacks aim to suppress information.

Investigators Plan to Seek Soviet Aid

The Condon Committee, a special team of UFO investigators at the University of Colorado led by Dr. Edward U. Condon, is seeking to acquire irrefutable information about UFOs. The team, comprising physicists, astronomers, and other specialists, plans to tap wider expert testimony and seek knowledge from scientists in foreign countries, including the Soviet Union. They are particularly interested in Soviet scientists who report their radar screens have been detecting UFOs for 20 years and are willing to share information. The Condon team aims to take UFOs out of the category of mystery and approach the investigation scientifically, with potential outcomes ranging from conclusive verification to natural explanations.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently presents UFO sightings and encounters as credible phenomena, often highlighting government secrecy or potential cover-ups. There's a critical stance towards organizations like NICAP when their leadership is perceived as self-serving or obstructive. The publication seems to align with the belief that UFOs are real and pose a significant, potentially threatening, presence. The editorial stance favors reporting on a wide range of incidents, from alleged alien encounters to unexplained aviation disasters, and includes predictions from individuals who claim to have insight into extraterrestrial activity. The inclusion of the Condon Committee's scientific approach suggests an interest in rigorous investigation, while the critiques of Keyhoe and Hall indicate a skepticism towards established UFO figures who may be perceived as controlling the narrative.