APRO Bulletin - 1957 05 00 - May

Magazine Overview

The A. P. R. O. Bulletin - May, 1957

This issue of The A. P. R. O. Bulletin, published in May 1957, is the official copyrighted publication of the Aerial Phenomena Research Organization (A. P. R. O.). It is issued bimonthly to members and is dedicated to the eventual solution of the mystery of unidentified objects.

Cover Story: UAO Photographed By Edwards AFB Men

The lead story reports that an object described as round, reflective, and not too speedy was captured on moving picture film by civilian photo theodolite operators at Edwards AFB. The Los Angeles Times reported the incident on May 9th. The films were sent to ATIC at Wright Air Development Center for study. Officials at Edwards AFB stated the object was tracked with special camera equipment, and the information was forwarded to ATIC. No estimates of size or altitude were provided. One Edwards officer speculated it could have been a weather balloon, a notion dismissed by the article's contributors who noted that automatic photo-theodolite tracking would provide such data, and that a trained operator would recognize a balloon.

Doctor Sees UAO With 100 Lights

An anonymous woman called Dr. J. D. Hoeft of Grand Island, Neb., reporting an object about 3/4 to 1 mile from his home that appeared to have about 100 lights and was approximately 150 feet in the air, traveling against the wind. Dr. Hoeft estimated its size at eight feet but could not determine a shape. The Air Filter Center suggested it might have been a mid-air refueling operation, but the sky was heavily overcast at the time of the sighting (4 a.m.). The Omaha World Herald cryptically mentioned "Powery Substance Found" in relation to the article, but provided no further details.

Japanese See "Spots"

Japanese scientists reported on May 10th observing 122 mysterious black spots on the sun, one of which was 13 times bigger than the earth. They were unable to account for their presence.

"Little Men" Appear Again

This section recounts a story from Ted Bloecher of CSI, New York, about Michael Fekete, a Hungarian refugee who, while bicycling home in France, saw a dazzling bright light from a luminous object. He then witnessed four dwarfish creatures approaching him. He fled to the home of the railway station master, M. Lepot, where the Lepots and two guests also reported observing the creatures and the flashing red and white (or yellow) lights of the object. They described the object as flashing lights and then boarding it, taking off at a 45-degree angle. A neighboring farmer suggested the lights were from a lantern carried by his daughter, Mlle. Chatelain, who was checking on cows, and that the 'little men' were the cows. The article humorously notes that if Mlle. took off at a 45-degree angle, she might have been on a broom, making her a witch. Notably, black elastic 'placques' of an unknown substance were found. The article also draws a parallel to two Venezuelan instances in 1954 where 'little men' were seen passing to and from a road to a field where an object rested. It criticizes authorities, including Dr. Donald Menzel, for attempting to explain sightings away as conventional objects without jiving with descriptions.

Lorenzens Guests At Tombaugh Home

Professor Clyde Tombaugh, in a discussion with Mr. Lorenzen and the Director, reiterated his stance on UAO, stating the subject warrants sincere scientific investigation but that he must steer clear of the situation himself due to previous commitments. He showed Mr. and Mrs. Lorenzen his telescopes and discussed plans for a new one. A photograph of Pluto and drawings of Mars and Jupiter were displayed.

Experts Endorse Interplanetary Theory

Professor J. C. Cooke, professor of applied mathematics at the University of Malaya, was quoted as saying that UAO are vehicles from space controlled by intelligent beings who may have come to Earth to 'save us from ourselves.' He advised the science society of Malaya not to deny the existence of UAO, suggesting governments suppress the truth for fear of panic and mass hysteria. He was to join the British supply ministry's aircraft establishment in Farnborough, England.

Editorial: An Editorial

The editorial discusses the financial position of APRO and the decision to implement a minimum annual charge of $3.50 starting June 1st, with members welcome to pay more. It emphasizes APRO's commitment to presenting facts, not fiction, and excluding ridiculous claims. The organization is described as representing the conservative element of UAO researchers, refusing to compromise between ethics and monetary support. The editorial notes that UAO enthusiasts are split into three factions: ultra-conservatives, 'middle-roaders,' and those who believe 'saucer communicants and contacters.' APRO aims to avoid alienating any group and values members who can 'think straight,' regardless of their educational background.

APRO Receives Mention In Pasadena Paper

Excerpts from Russ Leadabrand's column in the Pasadena Independent mention the A. P. R. O. Bulletin as a publication that collects odd-ball things for publication, quoting several items from the March 1957 issue. Leadabrand also quotes instances from the Bulletin regarding a strange hole in the ground in Temple City.

Henry J. Taylor 'Disturbed' By UAO Tales

Columnist Henry J. Taylor, now U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland, expressed that UAO are not secret weapons and that the answer to the mystery is not simple. He stated, "I haven't the faintest idea what is happening. I just don't know... It is very dififcult to deny that something is happening around us that we just don't quite understand... I just don't think that WE KNOW ALL THE SECRETS OF THE UNIVERSE YET."

Press Wire Correspondent Discusses Attitude of Press On UAO

A wire service correspondent, also an APRO member, discusses the press's attitude towards UAO. He notes that in 1947, the Arnold sightings were a hot subject, but as the government and scientists began to dismiss UAO, the press followed suit. Newsmen, he explains, are driven by the need to sell papers and advertisers, leading them to avoid unprovable reports. This has resulted in a tongue-in-cheek style or outright ridicule in reporting UAO. He argues that while this attitude is not admirable, it can be understood within the context of the times and the fear of the unknown.

Director Lectures On UAO For Charity

Mrs. Lorenzen gave a public talk titled "Flying Saucers Facts and Fiction" at the Woman's Club auditorium in Alamogordo, sponsored by the Unitarian Fellowship. The talk covered various phases of the UAO mystery, including religion, psychology, and censorship. She used sightings that ruled out conventional explanations and demonstrated that the UAO mystery is still worthy of serious scientific investigation. The talk was followed by a question and answer period, with attendees showing sincere interest. Two Air Force physicists requested to visit the Lorenzens' home for further discussion.

Checking A Communication

Coral E. Lorenzen prepares data for her public lecture, checking communications from contacts interested in flying saucer research.

NICAP Carries Ball In Dryden Controversy

Donald Keyhoe, Director of NICAP, challenged Dr. Hugh L. Dryden, Director of the National Advisory Committee on Aerial Phenomena, who had stated that flying saucers do not exist. Keyhoe offered to disband NICAP if Dryden could offer absolute proof. Dryden responded that his statement was his own personal opinion based on accessible facts and declined to comment on whether vital facts had been withheld from the public.

Book Reviews

Three books are reviewed: M. K. Jessup's "The Expanding Case of the UFO," which builds a case for Jessup's "earth-moon binary system" origin theory; Max Miller's "Flying Saucers-Fact or Fiction," which is described as a recap of old ideas; and Israel Norkin's "Saucer Diary," which is mostly comprised of letters between Norkin and contacters.

Recent Sightings

This section details numerous sightings from the United States, South America, Europe, Canada, and Asia. Examples include:

• USA: A "large meteor" in Massachusetts (1787), a formation of objects with smaller lights in Louisiana (1954), an orange disc-shaped object in Ohio (1956), a large ball of fire in Nebraska (1957), a bright object that grew larger in Wisconsin (1957), an oval object with a red dot in Pennsylvania (1957), and an object flashing downward in Texas (1957).
• South America: A "luminous and speedy craft" in Venezuela (1957), a cigar-shaped object giving off a greenish glare near Aves Island (1957), a rotating object giving off a beam of light in Venezuela (1957), a luminous globe in Caracas (1957), and two rocket-shaped objects leaving smoke trails in Los Teques (1957).
• Europe: A "red rain" and active clouds in Italy (1957), and a rain of "brimstone" mixed with snow in France (1957).
• United Kingdom: A mysterious flying object tracked over Scotland (1957), a white circular object with a suspended sphere in Lancashire (1957), and an explosion followed by a "quivering pink glow" in Argyllshire (1957).
• Canada: A "three-foot disc" observed in Ontario (1957).
• Asia: A "large, illuminated yellow-green delta-shaped object" in Japan (1957), and a V-formation of five yellow-orange saucer-shaped craft observed in Japan (1957).

Mystery Hole At Temple City, California

The article discusses a mystery hole that appeared in Oscar Murphy's backyard in Temple City on April 9th. Army demolition crews were brought in, and digging commenced. While Army spokesmen suggested no indication of the hole being dug, APRO member Ivan Hershey's investigation suggested the young Murphy boy, Pat, might have dug it. The article notes the Army's involvement and the possibility of a connection to an explosion that rocked the neighborhood that morning.

Los Angeles Rocked By Biggest Boom

A large boom was felt and heard in Los Angeles on May 21st, causing minor damage. Military and civilian aviation agencies denied any connection to the event.

A New Propellant On The Horizon

This section introduces Dr. C. F. Krafft's hypothesis of "Supermatter" as a potential new propellant for interplanetary flying. It explains that Supermatter is derived from Argon atoms and held together by "Super-gravitation." The article details the process of preparing and using this condensed, ionized matter as fuel for rocket motors, acknowledging that problems still exist.

More Sky Concussions

Reports of tremendous and mysterious atmospheric shocks on April 27th in Glasgow, Scotland, and Epsom, England, are detailed. In Glasgow, a "ball of fire" exploded, leaving a crater. In Epsom, a crater was found with pieces of metal casing nearby. The article also mentions a Navy plane crash in Glenview, Illinois, injuring ten airmen.

Missing - 1 Missile, 1 Plane

This section discusses rumors of a man-made satellite, possibly the "Atlas" missile, establishing an orbit around Earth. It also reports the disappearance of a Lockheed U-2 experimental plane used for high-altitude research, which took off from Watertown airstrip near Mercury, Nevada, on April 4th and has not been located.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the persistent reporting of unidentified aerial objects (UAOs) from various locations worldwide, the challenges faced by researchers in obtaining credible evidence and gaining mainstream acceptance, and the critical role of scientific investigation. The editorial stance of The A. P. R. O. Bulletin is clearly articulated as being conservative, fact-based, and ethical, refusing to sensationalize or promote unsubstantiated claims, particularly those related to 'contact cults' or religious interpretations of UAO phenomena. The publication emphasizes a commitment to ferreting out the truth, whatever it may be, and conveying it to those ready to accept it. There is a notable critique of the press's tendency to dismiss or ridicule UAO reports, attributing it to a combination of factors including fear of the unknown and the need to maintain circulation and advertising revenue.