APRG Reporter - Vol 7 No 04 - No 76 - 01 1969

Magazine Overview

The January 1969 issue of the APRG Reporter, Volume 7, Number 4, Issue No. 76, published by the Aerial Phenomena Research Group (APRG), details a resurgence in UFO reports following a six-month lull. The magazine covers several recent sightings and offers a critical perspective on the Condon Report.

UFO Sightings Reported on Increase

This section reports on an increase in UFO sightings. On the evening of January 9, 1969, at 8:30 p.m., residents in Keokuk, Iowa, observed a single bright light moving up the river from the dam area. The light initially kept pace with a car, then sped ahead, stopped, and hovered for about ten minutes, changing to amber. It was seen approximately 400 feet over the river before dimming and disappearing over Iowa. The report notes that a plane landed at Keokuk airport as the object disappeared. This was the fifth UFO reported in the last month, with other sightings including a blueish light near Hamilton, a bright white light east of Hamilton, a fiery orange ball traveling up-river, and a silver disc seen north of Warsaw. All these sightings were reportedly witnessed by at least two people.

Officials Spot Alien Object

On January 18, 1969, law enforcement officials in North Dakota chased an unidentified object 12 miles southwest of Harvey. State Highway Patrolman Everett Grosgebauer and Harvey Police Captain Willie Muscha observed a strange light that changed color. Muscha had seen a similar light previously but had not reported it. Grosgebauer stated they first sighted the light around 9:20 p.m., appearing to be 500 to 1000 feet off the ground, about five miles west of Harvey. Initially stationary, the object moved as they approached, its light turning red. When hovering, it was bluish-white. Grosgebauer described the object through binoculars as cigar-shaped, with a portion not lit. He noted its size was difficult to estimate due to distance but that the light was larger than any aircraft and did not resemble any aircraft he had seen. They reported the sighting to highway patrol radio and attempted to get closer, following on county roads toward Goodrich. They lost sight of the object when they drove into a valley and could not relocate it from a nearby hill. Grosgebauer later heard on the radio that the Chief of Police in McClusky had also sighted a strange light to the east of that city. McClusky Chief David Markwick and Sheridan County Sheriff Leonard Hanson were alerted. Markwick described the light as a very bright red star that seemed to oscillate, likening it to a flashing beacon on a police car.

Mystery Object Over Canada

Four residents of Corner Brook, Newfoundland, Canada, reported seeing a mysterious object hovering over the Blomidon Country Club area on December 30, 1968. One anonymous woman described it as a mirrored sphere with a flashing white light on the bottom and two perpendicular flame-red sections on top. She, her neighbor, and two boys watched the object for about three minutes before it slowly gained altitude and disappeared. The object made no sound. The RCMP investigated but found no substantiation for the report.

UFO Kissoff Unconvincing

This section critically analyzes the final report from the University of Colorado's two-year UFO study, headed by Dr. Edward U. Condon. The report concluded that there was no evidence that UFOs were spacecraft from outer space. The article suggests the study's outcome was predictable, designed to relieve the Air Force of pressure. It highlights that several of Condon's top assistants left the program, accusing him of an unscientific approach and a predetermined conclusion. L.F. Lorenzen, director of the Aerial Phenomena Research Organization, is quoted stating that the absence of evidence does not prove non-existence. Lorenzen also pointed out that the Condon committee's contract with the Air Force did not require it to research extraterrestrial intelligence. The article concludes that the Condon committee and its report have been discredited, and the Air Force has not resolved the public's questions about the 697 unidentified UFO sightings.

APRG Reporter Publication Information

The APRG Reporter is published by the Aerial Phenomena Research Group, located at 5108 South Findlay Street, Seattle, Washington 98118. APRG is a non-profit organization that has been serving the public since January 1, 1955.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the increase in UFO sightings and the critical examination of official investigations and reports, particularly the Condon Report. The editorial stance is skeptical of official conclusions that dismiss UFOs as non-extraterrestrial and highlights the persistence of unexplained sightings and public curiosity. The publication champions the ongoing investigation and reporting of UFO phenomena by organizations like APRG.