APRO Bulletin - 1961 09 00 - September

Magazine Overview

Title: THE A.P.R.O. BULLETIN
Issue Date: September, 1961
Publisher: THE AERIAL PHENOMENA RESEARCH ORGANIZATION
Country of Publication: USA
Language: English

This issue of the APRO Bulletin, dated September 1961, presents a collection of UFO sighting reports and analyses from various locations, including the United States, Venezuela, and New Guinea. The publication aims to contribute to the solution of the mystery surrounding unidentified objects.

Cover Story: DISC UPSETS TRUCK

The main cover story details an incident involving a disc-shaped object that caused a truck to overturn in Venezuela. Adolfo Paolini Pisani, a government topographer, was driving his jeep when a truck behind him blew its horn to pass. As the truck passed, a brilliant object, described as a metallic disk made from polished blue steel, swooped down from the sky at incredible speed and crossed perilously close over the truck's hood. The object then rose at the same speed and disappeared. Immediately after the object rose, the truck also rose a few feet into the air and overturned into a sandbank. The driver of the truck escaped with minor injuries and nervous shock. The details of this case were kept confidential by the national guard.

Red Object at Baltimore

Several sightings of a bright red flashing light were reported in Baltimore, Maryland. On June 3, 1961, Robert Briele reported seeing a red light the size of a walnut, descending at high speed and disappearing behind a ridge. On June 10, Mr. Griffin and his family saw a similar light moving slowly, stopping overhead, and then speeding off. Mrs. Calegere also reported a large, bright red blinking light the size of a basketball coming from the SE. On June 16, Mr. Jack Ewald and his daughter saw a bright red light varying in intensity, moving at a moderate speed.

Editorial

The editorial section addresses the delay in the Bulletin's publication schedule, attributing it to personal problems, health issues, and work on the Director's book, titled "The Great Flying Saucer Hoax." The editorial explains that the book was subsidized due to publishers' reluctance to deal with UFO manuscripts. Members are urged to purchase the book at $3.95 to help reimburse the investors. The editorial also touches upon the organization's operational constraints, emphasizing that APRO is a non-profit entity existing solely for its members' benefit and that staff members volunteer their time and talents.

A Re-Examination of The Simonton Case

This section revisits the Simonton case, which was documented in the May issue. The article discusses inconsistencies, particularly the presence of an apparent cooking unit on the purported craft. New information comes from Cecile Hess, who relays a story from Harry Pride, an Eagle River real estate broker. Pride claims that Joe Simonton was made drunk and hypnotized, and that the story was told 29 times under hypnosis. Ray Palmer, editor of "Flying Saucers," suggested Simonton might have had a psychic experience that was enlarged upon. The article notes that Simonton was described as a sincere and honest man, and that understanding hypnosis reveals inherent possibilities. The case is considered by some to be in a class by itself, and the possibility of it being a hoax or a psychic experience is explored.

Blue Flash Goes "Spat"

Edgar Hindman and Rev. Clark reported a blue flash that lit up their pickup truck cab on September 25, 1961, near Greenville, South Carolina. The flash appeared to originate in the NE and was accompanied by a 'spat' noise. A city employee corroborated seeing an object with a tapering tail. The Weather Bureau and the Municipal Airport Control Tower could not explain the phenomenon.

Blast, Object, in East Texas

Residents of Tyler, Longview, Sulphur Springs, and Marshall, Texas, reported a flaming object in the sky on May 30, 1961. John R. Peavy described a long, flaming object, bright yellow at the front and orange at the rear, falling in the sky. Minutes later, an unexplained blast was heard. Authorities have not located the scene of the object's landing.

Ball of Fire at Cincinnati

Robert Boston and Price Hill reported seeing a round ball of fire moving from NE to SW at high speed at 9:30 p.m. on July 3, 1961. The sighting was later confirmed by Mr. and Mrs. Foster Callaghan. No sound was reported.

Pair of Meteors?

Residents across the SW U.S. observed a flaming sky object on September 9, 1961. A pilot reported seeing two 'very bright meteorites.' The Weather Bureau suggested it was one object. Observers from Houston to Topeka reported a single object. The Flight Control Tower at Dallas Love Field reported the object caused a sonic boom as it hit the atmosphere and exploded. A report suggested the object crashed near Paris, Texas. Randolph AFB identified it as a meteorite. The article raises questions about the discrepancy in the number of objects seen and the possibility of faulty reporting.

Arrow-Shaped UFO in California

On July 30, 1961, the Betty Vroman family and neighbors in San Bernardino observed an object described as a 'wide arrow point' with a 'cylindrical shaft.' The object was estimated to be very long, with a grey or silver-colored point and a flared base. It hovered, tilted, and then moved straight up at high speed, disappearing in the east. The sighting lasted about half an hour, and no fire or flame was observed.

Another Venusian Contact

This article discusses a report from the Green Bay Press-Gazette about a contractor who claimed contact with Venusians. These beings were described as tall, strong, speaking good English with a 'sing-song' manner, living for hundreds of years, and possessing advanced technology. They allegedly visit Earth to spread 'everlasting peace' and are interested in space exploration. The article critically examines this narrative, comparing it to George Adamski's accounts and questioning the motives and claims of such contacts, suggesting they might be a form of infiltration or deception.

Venezuelan Reports

This section, authored by Horacio Gonzales, details several UFO sightings in Venezuela. One report describes a brilliantly lighted object, a 'huge fireball,' maneuvering over a boat, causing fishermen to jump into the sea. Another detailed report covers a luminous object seen by the entire city of Caracas, described as a 'rocket,' 'cigar,' or 'dirigible.' The object moved at commercial plane speed, had pulsating lights, and was illuminated by an intense bluish luminosity. It accelerated and changed direction over Avila Mountain. Hundreds of people witnessed this object, which was also reported in other parts of the United States and the Caribbean.

Burned Grass at Landing Site

An ovoid, aluminum-colored object was seen flying silently over hills in Santa Teresa del Tuy, Venezuela, before landing on a hillock. The object flew in and out of hills and stopped in the air over a stretch of tall grass. Witnesses, including engineers and a police officer, observed the object. The grass in a circular area of about sixty feet in diameter was flattened towards the ground, with roots appearing burnt and the grass twisted. The object was seen hovering over the grass, not touching the ground. A 16mm film of the site was taken.

Slag From The Sky?

Albert Pietruszak Jr. reported seeing a 'greenish-white glow about three feet in diameter' drop into a field in Thompsonville, Massachusetts, on July 21, 1961. A hiss and thud were heard. The object penetrated a sand bank and dug into the earth. Beside the hole was a Canada Dry bottle with its neck missing, and the surrounding earth was dry and powdery. The object was still hot 17 hours later. The neck of the bottle appeared to have been struck, sheared off, and flattened. The object itself resembled furnace slag, but local experts were urged to consider details like its fall from the sky and its heat. The owner of the land stated no fill had been dumped there. The Springfield Museum of Natural History stated it was not of meteoric origin.

The New Guinea Sightings (Part II)

This installment continues the report on UFO sightings in New Guinea by Rev. N. Cruttwell.

III. 1959 "Tilley Lamps in the Sky"

Following earlier sightings of satellite-like lights, witnesses described lights appearing like 'Tilley Lamps' (a popular type of kerosene lamp in the Territory). These lights were brilliant white, visible at a great distance, and appeared as an indefinite white blob. On March 19, 1959, two individuals saw a brilliant white light hovering over the Owen Stanley Ranges. On another occasion, a bright white light was seen moving across the sky like a 'Tilley Lamp.' These sightings continued throughout April in various locations, seen by both Europeans and Papuans. The objects were described as travelling in straight lines or moving 'up and down,' and were regarded as commonplace after a few months.

IV. KALEIDOSCOPIC LIGHTS

This section details sightings of colored lights. On May 24, the Assistant District Officer and a Patrol Officer observed a spectacular colored object for three-quarters of an hour. The object, initially a bright bluish star, moved southwest, then reappeared with a bright green light, followed by intermediate 'mauve or orange' colors, and finally a bright orange-red flash. The object moved in a slow, erratic course and disappeared over the mountains. The colors were described as characteristic of certain UFO types. The report notes that aircraft lights differ from these phenomena due to their slow color changes, silence, and appearance at night.

2. More Coloured Lights

Another sighting from Sideia involved a Roman Catholic Mission Station where a bright light was seen.

3. A "Tilley Lamp" 'on' a Mountain?

On April 9, 1959, the missionary in charge, Rev. William Booth Gill, observed a bright white light, like a 'Tilley Lamp,' on the flank of Mt. Pudi. The light was stationary for a time, then moved to a new position on the opposite side of the mountain, a move deemed impossible for a person carrying a lamp. The object was not seen again. The location was a precipitous mountainside with no houses or tracks.

4. A "Tilley Lamp" Which Turned On Its Tracks

On April 21, Mr. D. L. Glover observed a bright white light in the southern sky over the mountain range near Giwa. The light, described as 'like a Tilley Lamp,' travelled slowly, stopped, hovered, and then reversed its direction without turning, before vanishing. This sighting, like Fr. Gill's, suggested a controlled craft.

5. "Tilley Lamp" on a Mountain?

On the evening of Good Friday, March 27, students at S. Aidan's College saw a light 'like a Tilley Lamp' moving across the sky in daylight. It came from the sea and moved over Dogura, disappearing to the northwest. The time was between 5:30 and 6:00 p.m. The object was reported to be much larger than a star and moved rapidly.

6. Rotating Coloured Ball

On the same night as the previous sighting, a party of hunters on a high mountainside saw a dazzling flash, followed by an object moving in the sky from north to south. It was described as a 'cricket ball,' smaller than the moon but much brighter, changing color from green to white and then red. The object lit up the countryside and the top of the forest. It moved slowly and appeared to rotate. A single explosion, like a clap of thunder, was heard after it disappeared.

7. More Mountain Sightings

On June 17, another party of hunters saw a bright light, partly red and partly white, shoot quickly across the sky, appearing to be inside clouds. It was seen receding through trees, and a single thunderclap was heard. The eyewitnesses, who were mountain people, expressed fear and confusion, stating they had never seen anything like it before.

Stricken Plane Disappears

A brief report mentions residents of Martinsburgh, West Virginia, seeing a large plane in trouble losing altitude in the mountains. State police and private planes searched the area but found no evidence of a crash.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

Recurring themes in this issue include the detailed reporting of UFO sightings from various geographical locations, emphasizing witness testimony and the physical characteristics of the objects. The publication consistently questions conventional explanations and highlights the anomalous nature of these phenomena. The editorial stance is one of dedicated investigation and a commitment to uncovering the truth about UFOs, even when facing challenges like publication delays and the need for member support. There is a critical approach to sensationalism and a focus on gathering and analyzing evidence, as seen in the re-examination of the Simonton case and the detailed breakdown of the New Guinea sightings.