APRO Bulletin - 1952 11 15 - Vol 1 No 3 (oblique scan)

Magazine Overview

Title: The APRO Bulletin
Issue Date: November 15, 1952
Publisher: AERIAL PHENOMENA RESEARCH ORGANIZATION
Volume: Volume Number One
Issue: Issue Number Three

This issue of The APRO Bulletin is dedicated to the ongoing phenomenon of flying saucers and unidentified aerial objects. It features a mix of news, reports, theories, and personal accounts from various sources, reflecting the intense public and scientific interest in the subject during the early 1950s.

Cover Story: D.C. ELIPS SETUR

The cover story, "D.C. ELIPS SETUR," questions the nature of unidentified flying objects, particularly in relation to Washington D.C. The article references a piece from "The Junior Review," a publication for students, which discussed the possibility of saucers being interplanetary craft or advanced American or Russian missiles. It notes that scientists, while initially dismissive, are now taking the phenomenon more seriously. The article speculates that the government may be attempting to bring the saucers into public headlines. It also touches on the lack of noise from these objects and the possibility that they are not from Earth. A theory is presented that Washington D.C. might be the focus of a demonstration by these craft, possibly due to the U.S. government's initial contrariness in acknowledging their existence.

Saucer Bandwagon

This section, by Coral Lorenzen, discusses the increasing prominence of flying saucer reports and the government's potential involvement. It highlights the "Junior Review" article and the ongoing efforts to understand the phenomenon. The author notes that despite numerous explanations, the mystery persists, and the most logical explanation might be one that is yet to be offered. The section also mentions predictions about future revelations concerning interplanetary travel.

Editorial: The Editorial

This editorial, dated November 7th, details the national director's activities, including delivering lectures on flying saucers to military personnel at the Air Force Defense Command and the Green Bay Y.M.C.A. The lectures covered significant sightings and were well-received, with attentive audiences and thoughtful questions. The editorial also discusses the motivation behind Lt. Waring's efforts to promote these lectures, speculating it might be to make the topic more accessible to the general public by having a woman present it. It touches on the mystery of why saucers make no noise, offering a theory that they might be able to manifest themselves into our dimension at will, becoming more or less dense as needed.

Predictions

This section compiles predictions about flying saucers. One prediction from Winchell suggests the Air Force will reveal saucers are interplanetary by the fall. Professor Adamski is quoted as predicting events within the next six weeks that will lead the world population to believe in space travel. The author notes President Truman's 'top secret' message to Eisenhower as potentially related.

CSI Bulletin Review

This review summarizes findings from the Civilian Saucer Investigations (CSI) in Los Angeles. It highlights that sightings have occurred worldwide, not just at L-Bomb installations, and that fireballs date back to the early 1930s. Key findings include the prevalence of disc-shaped objects, followed by cigar-shaped, spheres, and strings of lights. Unusual shapes and humming noises were also reported. California had the most sightings, followed by Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, New York, and Texas. CSI features also discuss the 'Saucers Capture Nation's Interest' and 'Saucers' Capturing National Interest' summaries, noting that while officials may dismiss saucers, Air Force personnel investigating reports believe people are seeing something. Werner Eichler's feature lists global sighting points. The review also mentions the Seattle Fireball incident, which was reportedly hushed up.

"The Saucer Mystery: Who is doing it?"

This section features a graphic and lists "chief suspects" for the saucer phenomenon, including G. Hoard's 'Baa-like Martians,' Adamski's 'Human-typo beings from Venus, Mars, Saturn, etc.,' and B.S.R.A.'s 'ethereans from the etheric counterpart of Venus.'

The Last Chapter Is Yet To Be Written!

This article discusses the theory that moon bases are used by saucers as stopping points to Earth, and that significant world events will occur before 1953, proving saucers are interplanetary. It also revisits the Mantell case, questioning the official account of his death and suggesting his body was never found. A theory is proposed that Mantell's plane was taken by a craft, and he was removed when he attempted to get too close.

Recent Sightings

This extensive section details numerous flying saucer sightings reported from September 1st onwards, despite claims of a decline in activity. Reports come from various locations including:

• Maryland: A law student observed six or seven saucers the color of the moon speeding towards Baltimore.
• Australia (Sydney): A swift-moving green light was seen traveling at approximately 400 mph.
• Australia (Kingsgrove): A bright object, shaped like a ball, was seen traveling slowly across the sky.
• Australia (Newcastle and Hexham): People saw a green ball of light flash across the sky.
• Ohio (Cleveland): Control tower men reported "lights" in the sky that they could not explain.
• Illinois (Chicago): Jet fighters pursued a yellowish light.
• Ontario (Cornwell): A bright, blue-white object was seen streaking across the sky.
• Australia (Darwin): Residents saw a bright green light that changed to red and gold.
• California (Whittier): Four mysterious objects were observed.
• Wisconsin (Sturgeon Bay): An odd, round object showing "every color of the prism" was seen moving from west to east.
• Michigan (Grand Rapids): Mrs. Claire Browne reported seeing saucers disappear behind trees.
• Iowa (Webster City): A string of lights was observed moving across the sky.
• Iowa (Vincent): A large, bright light appeared, followed by three blue stars.
• Kansas (Pittsburg): A saucer-shaped object was seen crossing the sky at high speed.
• Wisconsin (Milwaukee): An explosion was heard, possibly related to a fireball seen earlier.
• Illinois (Belvidere): Mrs. Marsha Howe and neighbor saw two bright silver objects.
• Michigan (Rockford): A bright star was observed dropping, raising, and circling.
• Quebec (Granby): Residents watched a top-shaped object moving slowly overhead.
• France (Tarbes): Several people saw a cigar-shaped object pass across the sky at high speed.
• Quebec (Scots town): A balloon-shaped object moved slowly over the town.
• Colorado Springs: The Air Force Defense Command reported unidentified objects.
• Japan (Tokyo): Flying saucers reportedly appeared over Japanese territory.
• Illinois (Belvidere): A golden disc was seen in the darkened sky.
• England (London): Four saucers were seen scudding across the sky.
• Texas, Louisiana, and Alabama: Experts confirmed a brilliant flash was from an exploding meteor.
• Japan (Tokyo): U.S. troops saw mysterious, spark-throwing "cartwheels."

Welcome Martians!

This section features a poem by Norman Jaffray, expressing a welcoming yet cautious sentiment towards potential Martian visitors, acknowledging their intelligence and advanced capabilities.

Saucer Bandwagon (Continued)

This continuation discusses the "powers that be" considering it important to educate young minds about the possibility of interplanetary visitors, while treating adults with skepticism. It suggests that the public is deliberately kept in the dark to maintain a sense of superiority. The article references a "Green Monster" situation and a TV/radio show.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the widespread nature of flying saucer sightings, the persistent mystery surrounding their origin and behavior, and the perceived reluctance or inability of official bodies (like the Air Force) to provide definitive explanations. The APRO Bulletin's stance appears to be one of active investigation and reporting, presenting various theories and eyewitness accounts without immediate dismissal, while also acknowledging the possibility of hoaxes or misidentifications. There's a clear undercurrent of skepticism towards official explanations and a belief that the public is not being fully informed.

This issue of the APRO Bulletin, dated November 25, 1952, focuses on the ongoing public and official discourse surrounding "flying saucers." The publication presents a collection of news items, anecdotal reports, and commentary from various sources, reflecting the widespread interest and skepticism surrounding the phenomenon.

Key Articles and Reports

Saucer Bandwagon

The lead article, "Saucer Bandwagon (Con't from Page 10)," details several reported sightings and encounters. It mentions an incident in West Palm Beach, Florida, where a "secutmaster" reportedly encountered a saucer, was affected by noxious gas, and sustained physical damage. The article also references a PEOPLE TODAY issue discussing "Green Fire Balls" and a TIME article about individuals being investigated by the FBI for fraud related to oil-detectors, suggesting a connection to the saucer phenomenon.

Witness Accounts

First Officer Wn. B. Nash and Second Officer Wm. H. Fortenberry recount their sighting of eight "brilliant, red saucers" over Chesapeake Bay on July 14, 1952. They estimated the objects' speeds at 12,000 mph, noting their fantastic maneuvers and concluding that "Mankind has a lot of lessons to learn---from somebody."

Scientific and Official Perspectives

General Roger M. Ramey, Director of United States Air Force operations, is quoted expressing skepticism, stating that after six years of reports, he was "reasonably well" convinced there was no such thing as flying saucers and that reports lacked solid evidence. The article also notes that the Air Force admitted to tracking and photographing at least 300 objects, but jets were unable to intercept them. A report from Washington suggests army engineers were developing atmospheric phenomena that could mimic flying saucers, capable of speeding up, hovering, and disappearing.

Media and Cultural Commentary

The bulletin includes a variety of media reactions. It mentions a "Flying Saucer" cocktail created by the Arrow Liquor Corp., a comic strip "Pogo" referencing saucers, and a Milwaukee Journal cartoon comparing flying witches to flying saucers. It also touches upon a TIME article that satirized the phenomenon and a Coronet magazine article by Lawrenco Elliott suggesting the saucers might be interplanetary.

International Reports

A group of New Zealand scientists, engineers, and pilots have formed the "Civilian Saucer Investigations of New Zealand" to prove that flying saucers exist, believing they are operated by high intelligence due to their avoidance of aircraft.

Notable Sightings and Theories

Astronomer Cloyde Tonaugh, discoverer of Pluto, is reported to have seen an oval-shaped object near Las Cruces, New Mexico, in 1948, describing it as whizzing silently overhead with visible windows and a luminescence at the rear.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the reporting of flying saucer sightings, the official skepticism and investigations by authorities like the U.S. Air Force and FBI, and the public's fascination with the phenomenon. There's a clear attempt to present a range of perspectives, from witness accounts to scientific explanations and even humorous interpretations. The editorial stance appears to be one of cautious observation, acknowledging the widespread reports while also highlighting official doubts and potential mundane explanations, though it also includes quotes that suggest a belief in something extraordinary.

Humor and Skepticism

Several items poke fun at the saucer craze, including a "prankster" calling in a report and media outlets creating cocktails or cartoons. The article notes that some of these items "tend to poke fun at saucers and their fans but it's interesting to know how the other half thinks, too."

Scientific Investigations and Theories

Beyond official military investigations, the bulletin mentions scientists looking at saucers, including the British Interplanetary Society, which expressed a desire to believe in space ships but required more evidence. Professor Jessie Sprowis of the University of Maryland attributed the reports to hallucination. The article also touches on theories about the origin and nature of the saucers, including the possibility of them being manned by beings susceptible to human emotions or being advanced technology.

Future Revelations

One article from FOCUS magazine suggests that a "spectacular climax" to the flying saucer mystery will come within 60 days, with scientists working on top-secret projects in New Mexico expected to make revelations that will embarrass "Man From You." This hints at ongoing, potentially significant, developments in the field.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The APRO Bulletin consistently covers reports of unidentified flying objects, often presenting them alongside official denials or attempts at rationalization. The publication seems to aim at documenting these events and the public's reaction, while also critically examining the information provided by authorities. There's an underlying tone that suggests a belief that something significant is occurring, even if the exact nature of the phenomenon remains elusive and often subject to ridicule or skepticism from mainstream sources.