Magazine Summary
APRG REPORTER
Summary
This issue of APRG Reporter details numerous UFO and alien craft sightings from late 1967 and early 1968. A notable incident involves an airliner crew witnessing a craft flying at 3500 mph near the Pyrenees. Other reports include close approaches, landed craft, strange lights, and electromagnetic interference. The publication emphasizes the value of flight crew reports and notes the lack of official interest from some government bodies.
Magazine Overview
Title: APRG REPORTER
Issue: Vol. 6 No. 4, Issue No. 64
Date: January 1968
Editor: Robert J. Gribble
Publisher: Aerial Phenomena Research Group
This issue of the APRG Reporter, dated January 1968, focuses heavily on numerous UFO and alien craft sightings reported across various locations, with a particular emphasis on the detailed accounts from eyewitnesses, including airline crews and law enforcement officers.
Airliner Crew Sights Alien Craft Flying at 3500 MPH
The lead story details a remarkable sighting by the crew of an airliner flying at 16,000 feet. Captain Fred Underhill, First Officer Patrick Hope, and Flight Engineer Brian Dunlop witnessed a cone-shaped alien craft traveling at supersonic speed, estimated at 3500 mph. The craft initially flew across their path, then slowed, changed direction, and zoomed toward them, passing half a mile beneath their plane before disappearing. Patrick Hope sketched the craft, describing it as about 100 feet high and 80 feet wide, shaped like an ice-cream cone pointed upward, and made of silver metal. The sighting was reported to Herb Roth of the Volunteer Flight Officers Network, who forwarded it to the U.S. Air Force sponsored UFO research project at Colorado University. Roth highlighted the value of flight crew reports due to their training as observers.
Captain Underhill described the object as initially a silver dot moving quickly. He noted that while he was accustomed to seeing other aircraft, this craft was moving exceptionally fast. He estimated that in the first minute of observation, the UFO traveled about 60 miles, leading to the 3500 mph speed estimate. The craft then slowed considerably, turned, and became clearer, described as a cone with the pointed part directed skywards. It showed no signs of portholes, doors, or vapor trails. The craft passed about five miles to their right, about half a mile from their plane, before veering toward them and disappearing below the aircraft.
First Officer Hope noted that the craft initially looked like a squadron of jets but closer inspection revealed its distinct shape. The crew decided not to alarm the 96 passengers. Hope radioed airways control, but radar showed only their DC-6. Flight Engineer Brian Dunlop, with 2500 flying hours, confirmed Hope's sketch and expressed skepticism about flying objects prior to this experience. Underhill reported the sighting to the Royal Air Force, which passed the information to the Ministry of Defense in London. However, a Defense Ministry spokesman stated that such sightings were of no interest to them if they occurred over Spain, and they would not investigate.
Close Approach Reported--Dead Horse Found
Terry Goodmurphy and Steven Grexton of Ontario, Canada, reported a weird experience involving an orange glow in the sky that appeared to be a moving craft. They stopped to observe it, describing it as taking definite shape and about 100 feet in diameter. The 'thing' descended towards the highway, stopped, and then ascended rapidly towards them, appearing to be 100 feet up. The witnesses reported their hair standing on end and became frightened. They notified the Ontario Provincial Police, but no sign of the craft was found. A smell of sulphur was noted in the air. The report connects this sighting to the death of a standard-bred mare named 'Susie' and another horse, 'Fury,' on a nearby farm, where Susie was found dead with her throat and jugular vein cut.
Tourists, Patrolmen Sight Alien Craft
An alarmed Florida couple flagged down Patrolman William F. Burnsed in Red Top, South Carolina, reporting a mysterious craft hovering over their car for about 20 minutes. Initially skeptical, Burnsed later witnessed a strange craft suspended about 500 feet above treetops, moving erratically. He described it as bright, flat, and oval-shaped, looking like a saucer with a bright red light. He tried to keep up with it but it disappeared. Two other county policemen later reported similar sightings. The Air Force also received a report from North Charleston, South Carolina, and similar reports went to Fort Jackson and Shaw Air Force Base.
Alien Craft Lands in Australia
Farm manager Alan Pool reported an alien craft landing in a paddock in West Australia. He heard a loud humming sound and saw a grey metal object, about 12 feet in diameter and 6 feet high, with six portholes, hovering a few inches from the ground. The craft, described as an inverted saucer, had no visible propulsion. When Pool swore aloud after partly opening his vehicle door, the words were repeated, which he attributed to the craft, not an echo.
Motorists Report Close Approaches
Several residents of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, reported seeing a craft hovering about 'two housetops high' and making no sound. The object appeared solid, with no wings, and was about the size of a piper cub plane with two white lights. It followed their car at speeds between 90 and 95 mph before veering off towards Madison.
Bruce MacPherson of Gull Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada, had a scary experience when his car ran out of gas. He heard a whistling sound and saw a blinding bright ball of fire coming at him from the east. It hovered over his car for about five minutes before taking off at an incredible speed. The craft returned, appearing as a very bright object, and hovered again, making a loud whistling sound. Cedric Cunningham of Gull Lake also saw a similar craft near Swift Current Creek, which hovered over a field and then landed, leaving a large circular burned area.
Alien Craft with "Awful Roar" Over Pennsylvania
Three sightings occurred over northwestern Pennsylvania. A Hasson Heights resident heard a loud noise and saw a craft that halted in the air, described as brightly lit with a red flashing light. It hovered for about ten minutes before roaring off toward Clarion. Mrs. Robert Meade of Van saw a bright orange craft with a flickering light hovering over a neighbor's house, moving slowly and making loud roars. The craft caused interference to television reception.
Four Policemen See Triangular-Shaped Craft
Four Kankakee, Illinois policemen witnessed a fast-moving alien craft on November 15. The triangular-shaped craft had red and yellow lights emanating from its corners and a flat side forward. It moved with a constant vapor trail and was notably silent. It was observed for 90 seconds.
Other Sightings and Reports
- A flashing blue light in Iola, Kansas, caused a Volkswagen's engine to fail.
- An unnamed woman reported a mysterious craft with two brilliant, blinding lights coming right at her family's car in Lincoln, Nebraska.
- An Archer, Idaho woman saw a craft above her car, described as round with bright yellowish-orange lights, which sped up to match her speed.
- Mrs. Helen Mann saw an intense orange and red light hovering on the road ahead of her car in Oregon.
- A County Park policeman in Franklin Township, New Jersey, reported seeing four or five alien craft cavorting for an hour.
- Five policemen in New Jersey sighted a strange light that moved at incredible speed.
- Mrs. Marie DeLong of California claims to have had repeated contacts with two aliens in the Big Tujunga Canyon area, supported by her son and other witnesses.
- Thirty citizens in Castle Rock, Colorado, reported a large, bubble-shaped craft hovering above town, described as transparent and silent.
- Mr. Mervyn Dickson sighted a strange aerial object in Kirup, West Australia, which descended with two bright orange lights and then rose and disappeared, leaving a 50,000-gallon water storage tank nearby.
Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance
The recurring themes in this issue are the prevalence of UFO sightings across diverse geographical locations and the variety of descriptions provided by witnesses, ranging from metallic craft to bright lights. A consistent element is the speed and unusual maneuverability of these objects. The publication also highlights the perceived lack of serious investigation or interest from some official government bodies, contrasting with the detailed reports from civilian witnesses and flight crews. The APRG Reporter positions itself as a platform for disseminating these accounts, emphasizing the value of eyewitness testimony, particularly from trained observers like airline pilots. The editorial stance appears to be one of documenting and presenting these phenomena, implicitly suggesting their reality and significance.
It was fantastic--I saw the UFO for three minutes and it was like nothing I had seen before.
Key Incidents
An airliner crew sighted a cone-shaped alien craft flying at 3500 mph, which slowed, changed direction, and passed half a mile beneath their plane.
Two young men reported an orange glow that appeared to be a craft moving towards them, described as about 100 feet in diameter and 100 feet up.
A Florida couple reported a craft hovering over their car, later seen by a patrolman as a bright, flat, oval-shaped object moving north.
A farm manager reported a grey metal craft, about 12 feet in diameter and 6 feet high, with six portholes, landed in a paddock.
Four policemen reported a fast-moving triangular-shaped craft with red and yellow lights emanating from its corners.
A flashing blue light caused a car's engine to cease functioning and its dash lights to brighten.
A woman reported a mysterious craft in the sky, described as round with bright yellowish-orange lights, which sped up and kept even with her car.
A woman saw an intense orange and red light, with a fuzzy edge, hovering on the road ahead of her car.
Three sightings of a brightly lit craft with a red flashing light, making a loud roar, hovering and moving erratically.
About 12 citizens reported a large, bubble-shaped craft hovering about 50 feet above town, described as transparent with no noise.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the speed of the alien craft sighted by the airliner crew?
The airliner crew estimated the alien craft's speed to be about 3500 miles per hour, which they described as faster than any aircraft they had ever seen before.
What was the shape of the alien craft sighted by the airliner crew?
The craft was described as cone-shaped, similar to an ice-cream cone pointed upward, and made of silver metal.
What is the Volunteer Flight Officers Network?
The Volunteer Flight Officers Network is a worldwide aerial observation group supported by 70 commercial airlines, which collects reports of UFO sightings from flight crew members.
What was the reaction of the British Ministry of Defense to UFO reports?
A Defense Ministry spokesman stated that such things were of no interest to them and that if something was seen over Spain, Britain wouldn't be considered in danger, so their experts wouldn't probe it.
What physical trace evidence was found after an alien craft sighting in Canada?
After a craft disappeared rapidly from sight, Cedric Cunningham checked a field and found a large circular burned area.
In This Issue
People Mentioned
- Robert J. GribbleEditor
- Captain Fred UnderhillPlane skipper
- Patrick HopeFirst Officer
- Brian DunlopFlight Engineer
- Herb RothOrganizer of the Volunteer Flight Officers Network
- Terry GoodmurphyWitness
- Steven GrextonWitness
- William F. BurnsedPatrolman
- Alan PoolFarm manager
- D.V. WatersFarm owner
- James DunnWitness
- Mary DunnWitness
- +8 more
Organisations
- Volunteer Flight Officers Network
- U.S. Air Force
- Air Ferry
- Royal Air Force
- Ministry of Defense
- Ontario Provincial Police
- Douglas County Civil Defense Agency
- Rural Electrification Administration
- APRG Reporter
- Aerial Phenomena Research Group
Locations
- Majorca, Spain
- Pyrenees mountains, Spain
- Mediterranean, Europe
- Barcelona, Spain
- Mamston, England
- Denver, USA
- Colorado, USA
- London, England
- North Livingstone, Canada
- Ontario, Canada
- Maple Ridge, Canada
- Red Top, USA
- South Carolina, USA
- Yerecoin, Australia
- +6 more