APRO Bulletin - 1953 11 15 - Vol 2 No 3

Magazine Overview

This issue of The APRO-BULLETIN, dated November 15, 1953, is Volume 2, Issue III. It is published by the AERIAL PHENOMENA RESEARCH ORGANIZATION (APRO) and edited by Coral Lorenzen, with Ronald Larsen as Assistant Editor. The publication is bi-monthly and distributed to APRO members.

Key Articles and Features

Saucer Bandwagon

Coral E. Lorenzen's column, "Saucer Bandwagon," highlights the Canadian saucer hunt project and congratulates scientist W. B. Smith for his convictions. A station at Shirley's Bay, equipped with an ionospheric detector, radio noise measurement instruments, and a gravimeter, is described as being important for gathering scientific data on saucers. The project, named 'Project Magnet,' is purely for saucer detection.

COPPER: The New Haven Fireball

This section details the investigation into a fireball that burst through a metal sign in New Haven, Connecticut, on August 19, 1953. Joe Barbieri, Research Director of SPACE (Saucer Phenomena and Celestial Enquiry), is quoted extensively. The object created a hole in a 20-gauge steel sign, leaving behind metal deposits. Initial analysis at Anderson Laboratories, Inc. in Milwaukee indicated the inclusions were mainly copper, and the metal appeared to have been in a molten form. Further analysis was sought from Chicago Spectrographic Lab. The report notes that the Air Force initially dismissed the incident as a hoax or war-souvenir. The investigation involved contacting various experts, including those at Yale Observatory and the American Meteorite Museum.

Predictions

The bulletin offers predictions that official conclusions regarding flying saucers will soon be released, citing increased sightings, the proximity of Mars to Earth, and Navy Research's explanations involving balloons and inversions. It suggests that explanations like interdimensional penetration, interplanetary travel, or subterranean races are more likely.

The Editorial

The editorial discusses the ongoing investigation into the saucer mystery, suggesting it is nearing a solution. It criticizes the "Space Review" for its handling of information and its advice to be cautious. The editorial implies that higher sources are withholding information and that there is a deliberate effort to prevent the full story from being revealed. It also mentions that APRO submitted facts to the United Press in October, leading to wider coverage of saucer sightings.

Grapevine

This section includes a rumor forwarded by Ross Graham about a civilian working for the Air Force who claims to have observed discs traveling at high speeds and possessing advanced technology. The individual expressed fear of revealing too much information, citing potential public hysteria.

Senator McCarthy Investigates Censorship

The Director of APRO wrote to Senator McCarthy about the lack of saucer sighting news on wire services, suggesting a possible agreement between wire services and the Air Force to limit reporting. Senator McCarthy agreed to investigate, but a subsequent letter from the Air Force indicated a lack of intent to disclose information, suggesting that many sightings are ground objects reflected from warm air layers.

Book Reviews

Fritz Leiber reviews George Adamski's book, criticizing it as a sensationalized attempt to exploit superstitions. He finds Adamski's claims of contact with "spacemen" and descriptions of saucers as resembling old light fixtures to be unconvincing. The review also critiques Donald Keyhoe's book, "Flying Saucers from Outer Space," acknowledging his expertise but questioning some of his sources and conclusions.

Recent Sightings

This section provides a list of numerous flying saucer sightings from various locations, including Sydney (Australia), New Guinea, the Azores, Greenfield (Massachusetts), New Haven (Connecticut), Badaxe (Michigan), and Maryland-Pennsylvania. The descriptions vary, including glowing objects, cigar-shaped craft, and objects exhibiting unusual maneuvers and speeds.

APRO's Role and Future

APRO expresses its commitment to investigating aerial phenomena and breaking the "big story" of flying saucers. They plan to continue their work despite challenges and aim to provide members with informative bulletins. The organization also indicates a willingness to investigate other mysteries of the skies.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the scientific investigation of flying saucers, the analysis of physical evidence (like the New Haven metal), the perceived secrecy and censorship by government agencies (particularly the Air Force), and the reporting of numerous global sightings. APRO's editorial stance is one of persistent inquiry, a desire for transparency, and a critical view of official explanations that dismiss or downplay the phenomenon. They advocate for open minds and a thorough examination of evidence, often challenging the status quo and official narratives. The publication aims to inform its members and the public about the latest developments in the field of UFO research.

Title: APRO Bulletin
Issue Date: November 15, 1953
Publisher: APRO
Document Type: Magazine Issue

This issue of the APRO Bulletin, dated November 15, 1953, focuses on 'RECENT SIGHTINGS' and presents a collection of unexplained aerial phenomena reports from various locations, alongside discussions on potential government secrecy and scientific investigation into the subject.

Recent Sightings

The bulletin details several specific incidents:

• September 28, 1953, San Francisco, California: Authorities attributed a powerful blast and bright red flash to a 'spectacular jet plane tactic,' but the report questions this explanation, suggesting a possible cover-up.
• October 14, 1953, Waukegan, Illinois: An object with a row of windows was observed gliding noiselessly over the town at an estimated altitude of 1200 feet.
• October 19, 1953, Maryland to Washington: A passenger plane encountered a brilliant light that appeared to be on a collision course, prompting the pilot to dive. Passengers were shaken but unharmed.
• October 23, 1953, Albany, New York: Two women reported seeing a 'shiny oval' or 'elongated ball' that seemed to follow an engine plane at a high altitude.
• October 24, 1953, New Haven, Connecticut: A bright, large, round, silvery object was observed traveling at high speed before disappearing behind a cloud bank.
• October 24, 1953, Pari, Italy: An airplane reportedly landed at the Brindisi military airbase with four individuals aboard, carrying powerful aerial cameras, though official information was withheld.
• Circa October 28, 1953, Gaastra, Michigan: Two boys sighted a spinning, multi-colored object in the sky that moved and then disappeared.
• November 2, 1953, San Leandro, California: A significant amount of soot, described as 'black snow,' covered autos and entered homes, with authorities initially suggesting an industrial plant chimney as the cause.
• November 15, 1953, Hammond, Ohio: Earl Poncy reported seeing an oblong, glowing object estimated at 30 feet long move over his greenhouse and land nearby, causing greenhouse lights to dim and emitting a humming sound.

Official Statements and Scientific Involvement

The bulletin references Frank Edwards, a broadcaster, who announced that the Air Force would soon release information on sightings, with a significant percentage being unexplained. Edwards also cited letters from government-funded scientists who stated that the Air Force possessed evidence of extra-terrestrial origin for some aerial observation vessels but was withholding this information.

Dean Hickman of Ohio Northern University offered to perform spectrographic and chemical analysis on metal samples from the New Haven sighting, a process that coincided with instructions given to the Chicago Spectro Laboratory, which had not responded.

Internal APRO Matters

The bulletin mentions a negative interaction with a director of IFSB, suggesting that APRO's theory regarding IFSB's financial backing was correct, based on information from a former IFSB member.

Military and Technological Aspects

• Radar Sightings: An intense blip, greater than for conventional planes, was detected by a radar set, persisting for 15 minutes before the object sped off at 60,000 ft. altitude. Two RAF officers in a jet also reported seeing a saucer-shaped object.
• Air Force Cameras: The Air Force has reportedly distributed 75 diffraction grating cameras to installations in 33 states to analyze aerial phenomena. The bulletin questions the expense of such equipment if 'saucers don't exist'.
• Jet Crashes: Two jets crashed within six hours on November 22, based at Truax Field, Madison, Wisconsin. One jet was tracked on radar until it merged with an 'unidentified mass'.

Notable Quote and Scientific Material

A letter from an unnamed American scientist is quoted, stating that after 30 years of investigation, he has recovered material from a craft described as 'similar to a bomber' and asserts that 'no terrestrial substance like it' has been seen.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the prevalence of unexplained aerial sightings, the perceived secrecy and cover-up by government and military authorities, and the ongoing efforts by scientific investigators and organizations like APRO to gather and analyze evidence. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of the extraterrestrial hypothesis, with the bulletin concluding, 'We are now firmly convinced that flying saucers are interplanetary—we wait only for official confirmation.'