APRO Bulletin - 1959 07 00 - July

Magazine Overview

This issue of THE A.P.R.O. BULLETIN, dated July 1959, is published by The Aerial Phenomena Research Organization (A.P.R.O.) and focuses on UFO (Unidentified Aerial Object) or UAO (Unidentified Aerial Object) sightings and related phenomena. The publication aims to contribute to the scientific research and eventual solution of the mystery surrounding these objects.

Five Pan-Pacific Pilots Sight UAO

This lead article details a sighting on July 11, 1959, by the pilots of five different transpacific planes. Captain George Wilson of Pan-Am World Airways, flying flight No. 865, reported an object with an extremely bright light in its center and four smaller lights alongside. The object maintained a parallel course with the aircraft for about ten seconds before making a sharp right turn at an inconceivable speed and disappearing. Co-pilot Richard Lorenzen and Flight Engineer Robert Scott also witnessed the event. Wilson stated the closure rate was extremely rapid and the object was flying faster than anything he had ever seen, ruling out another aircraft. The event was observed in clear weather above a cloud deck. Other corroborative reports came from pilots of a Canadian Pacific plane and a Slick Airways plane. Air Force investigators interrogated the crewmen in Hawaii, and a Vandenberg Air Force Base spokesman denied any relevant military operations or firings at the time. Pilot Wilson, previously a skeptic, declared himself a believer.

Message From A Flying Disc

This article, by Joao Martins with photos and drawings by Helio Aguiar, translated by Dr. Olavo T. Fontes, presents a case investigated by the Brazilian Army. The witness, Helio Aguiar, a professional draftsman, reported seeing a disc-shaped object on April 24, 1959, near Piatan, Brazil. The object, described as silvery with protruding half-spheres and symbols, stopped his motorcycle's engine. Aguiar took three pictures of the object, which was rotating and making a 'looping' motion. During the sighting, he experienced mental confusion and a feeling of being ordered to write. After losing consciousness, he found a message written in his own hand on a piece of paper: "ATOMIC EXPERIMENTS FOR WARLIKE PURPOSES SHALL BE DEFINITELY STOPPED. THE EQUILIBRIUM OF THE UNIVERSE IS THREATENED. WE WILL REMAIN VIGILANT AND READY TO INTERFERE." The article discusses the authenticity of the photos, the witness's background (including studies in hypnosis and telepathy), and the possibility of autosuggestion or a genuine message from the UFO crew. The author, Dr. Olavo Fontes, presents four possibilities for the case: a hoax, a faked message, autosuggestion, or a true message from a UAO. He leans towards the latter two possibilities.

OTC and AHO Take Fifth Amendment in Securities Probe

This news brief from The Daily Oklahoman reports that Otis T. Carr, president of OTC Enterprises, Inc., and two employees were barred by a federal court from selling stock. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged them with violating the Securities Act of 1933. Carr and his employees invoked the Fifth Amendment numerous times during questioning. The SEC estimated that OTC Enterprises raised approximately $150,000.

Contact?

This section introduces J. Escobar Faria, a friend and fellow researcher, as an honorary member of A.P.R.O. Faria reports on an incident involving a 17-year-old student, Luis Henrique Silva, who claimed to have encountered a being from a UFO. The being allegedly descended from the craft, shook hands with Silva, spoke Portuguese, and gave him a message on a sheet of paper to be deciphered. Silva later reported another contact where the being asked about the message and promised a trip to another planet. The editor expresses skepticism, calling it "just a tale."

Sighting in Brazil (Continued)

This section continues the report from Brazil, detailing the investigation into Helio Aguiar's sighting. It confirms that the Army's Intelligence agents had already conducted a thorough investigation. The article emphasizes that Aguiar was not compelled to keep the report confidential and was free to share it. The author, Dr. Olavo Fontes, discusses the possibility of a hoax, autosuggestion, or a genuine UAO message, concluding that the evidence points to the latter two possibilities. He notes that the photos were examined by experts and confirmed as authentic, excluding photographic tricks.

UAO at Caracas

This brief report from Venezuela describes a sighting on June 11, 1959, by Mrs. Edith Klissans and her son. They observed an oval-shaped, yellowish light, about as large as two thumbnails, moving horizontally across the sky for about 10 minutes. They ruled out a plane due to its size and lack of sound, and its disappearance was described as fading into the distance.

Zurich Routs Adamski

This report details negative reactions to space traveler George Adamski in Europe. Buckingham Palace denied any invitation, and Juliana of Holland's invitation resulted in a communiqué stating "not creditable." In Zurich, Adamski faced a hostile audience during a lecture, with students whistling, throwing rotten tomatoes, and setting off firecrackers, forcing the cancellation of his remaining lectures. The article suggests this enterprise has damaged the credibility of serious UFO research.

UFO Over Nevada

This AP report from Las Vegas, Nevada, dated June 17, 1959, describes an unidentified flying object visible to the naked eye but not radar. This was the third such sighting in the area within three weeks. Previous sightings included objects in formation and another object over the eastern horizon.

Jupiter - Cold?

This brief item from Electronic Design mentions Russian scientists identifying 13.5-meter waves from Jupiter, with the source being a mystery. It notes that only the sun and moon emit signals from solar-system bodies, and Jupiter receives little heat from the sun, leading to the conclusion that it is a frozen world.

Photo Analysis

By John Hopf, Photographic Consultant, APRO. This section provides an analysis of the four photographs taken by Helio Aguiar. Hopf notes that the prints are enlarged from original negatives and that the object appears to be approaching the camera in views 1 through 3. He describes the object as a disc with indentations or protrusions on the bottom and a shiny central dome. The analysis confirms the authenticity of the photographs, stating they are among the most important UAO photos ever taken and represent proof that the sighting was real.

Family in Auto Chases UAO's

This report, contributed by Frank Edwards, describes the James F. Baker family of Indiana chasing strange blinking orange, soundless lights for about 13 miles. The lights initially appeared in triangular formation and then broke apart before reforming. The family estimated the object's speed at 15 mph during the chase. The report also mentions a similar sighting by Mr. and Mrs. Ed Justice minutes earlier.

Slow UFO Near Offutt

This brief report from a WNAX newscast describes an unidentified flying object with a flaming white tail spotted near Des Moines and Offutt Air Force Base on May 15, 1959. Three control tower operators described it as looking like a meteor but traveling horizontally. The object trailed a white flame that turned green before disappearing after 10 to 15 seconds. Air Force officials at Offutt Air Force Base confirmed one sighting but declined further comment.

World War II Mystery

This report from the Omaha Sunday World-Herald details the discovery of a World War II B-24 bomber in the Sahara Desert, 380 miles south of Bengasi. The bomber, last seen 16 years prior, was found preserved in the desert air, with its radio still functional. There was no trace of the nine-man crew. The article questions how the plane flew hundreds of miles to a soft landing without its crew.

Button, Button...

This report from Radcliffe, Iowa, describes a glowing object discovered on the Glen Norem family farm, which disappeared after a few days. The object was described as a flattened basketball with a shiny substance like Christmas tinsel, appearing to have fallen from the sky.

"Transmitting UFOs" - The Lake Baskatong Sighting

This article, by C. W. Fitch, presents a first-hand report of a UFO emitting a radio signal, based on an interview by Lex Mebane. Mr. Jacques N. Jacobsen, Jr., a microbiologist, reported seeing a huge, brilliantly illuminated sphere over Lake Baskatong, Quebec, on November 6, 1957. The object was visible for fifteen minutes, emitting conical beams of light. During the sighting, a portable radio lost reception on all bands except one frequency, which emitted a strong, modulated single tone. The object then moved off and disappeared into the clouds. The radios returned to normal function afterward. The article notes that the witness took two 35-mm photographs, which had not yet been developed. The report also mentions other UFO observations from that day, including jets pursuing objects near Shawbridge, and a similar incident in Plattsburg, N.Y., where a car's radio was killed by a hovering silvery sphere. The article concludes that the military's insistence on the lack of proof for interplanetary spaceships is contradictory, given their pursuit of these objects, suggesting they are aware of UFOs and disturbed by them.

UAO at Caracas (Continued)

This section continues the report from Caracas, Venezuela, detailing the sighting by Mrs. Edith Klissans and her son. It reiterates the details of the oval-shaped light and its horizontal movement. The report notes that the disappearance was like fading into the distance, suggesting a straight-line path rather than a great-circle path.

Twin Cigars

This report, presented by Joy Ferrie, details a sighting by a 16-year-old witness, Conrad Recksiek, in Lodi, California, in November 1958. Recksiek observed two cigar-shaped objects hovering side-by-side. The objects emitted light through five large portholes and simulated a race. They then separated and discharged red fireballs in opposite directions. The mother ships moved towards the horizon and disappeared. The objects were viewed through 6×30 binoculars and appeared to be about an eighth of an inch long from an estimated distance of fifty miles.

General Discussion

By Dr. Olavo Fontes, APRO's Special Representative, Brazil. This section discusses the implications of the reported UFO sightings and evidence. Fontes references a Navy Inter-Department Data Sheet from Cape Canaveral, Florida, dated 1959, stating that "Unidentified flying objects have been picked up on radar at this base and radio signals have been received from them which the military have not been able to decipher." He argues that while evidence may not be proof, well-substantiated evidence can establish proof of UFO existence, especially if the military is aware of them and disturbed by them, as suggested by their pursuit of these objects. Fontes emphasizes the public's right to know about UFOs.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include pilot testimonies of UFO sightings, photographic and physical evidence of UFOs, alleged communications or messages from UFOs, and the impact of UFOs on electronic equipment. There is also a consistent undercurrent of skepticism towards official government explanations and a belief that authorities may be withholding information. The editorial stance, as expressed by Coral E. Lorenzen and Dr. Olavo Fontes, is one of objective reporting and scientific investigation, aiming to uncover the truth about UFOs despite the lack of definitive proof in many cases. The publication encourages public awareness and participation in UAO research.