APRO Bulletin - 1961 10 00 - October Special report on Barra da Tijuca

Magazine Overview

This document is A.P.R.O. Special Report No. 1, published by The Aerial Phenomena Research Organization (A.P.R.O.) in October 1961. It focuses on the photographic evidence of a disc-shaped object, commonly referred to as a 'flying saucer' or UAO (Unidentified Aerial Object), sighted and photographed at Barra da Tijuca, Brazil, in 1952. The report aims to present official documents from the Brazilian Air Force that authenticate these photographs, thereby proving the reality of UFOs as intelligently controlled vehicles.

Photographic Evidence of the Disc-Shaped “Saucers”

The report details the case of the flying disc photographs taken by press photographer Ed Keffel and reporter Joao Martins for the magazine "O CRUZEIRO" on May 7, 1952. Five different exposures were taken, showing the object from various angles. The object was first observed coming from the sea at a low altitude and relatively close distance. Lt. Col. Hughes, U.S. Air Attache to the American Embassy at Rio, initially pronounced the pictures authentic. However, later, the U.S. Air Force claimed the photos were not authentic, citing discrepancies in shadow direction. Additionally, some witnesses reported seeing men throwing a disc in the air and taking photos at the same spot, leading to public doubt.

Dr. Olavo T. Fontes, the author and Special Representative for Brazil for A.P.R.O., asserts the authenticity of the photos and promises to present official documents from the Brazilian Air Force files to end the controversy. These documents, described as top-secret, were part of a larger Air Force report on the Barra da Tijuca affair. The photographs and their enlargements are copies from the originals kept in the Air Force files, which were made from Keffel's negatives at the Air Force Photo Reconnaissance Laboratory.

These official documents and photographs were first released to the Brazilian public on October 11, 1959, during a TV program called "The Enigma of Space" in Rio de Janeiro. The program was directed by Fernando Cleto, an employee of the "Bank of Brazil" and a UAO researcher.

Mr. Fernando Cleto's Report

Fernando Cleto recounts how on May 7, 1952, Joao Martins and Ed Keffel were at Barra da Tijuca when Martins spotted an object approaching at high speed, initially mistaken for an airplane but noted as flying sideways. Keffel managed to take five pictures in about 60 seconds. Cleto followed the case with interest, but initial doubts arose from witness reports of a staged hoax. These doubts persisted until 1954.

In 1954, Brigadier Eduardo Gomez, the Aeronautics Minister, appointed Col. Joao Adil de Oliveira to lead the first "Investigations Commission on Flying Saucers" in Brazil. Col. Oliveira contacted Cleto for an interview regarding a 1948 UAO incident. At the Aeronautics High Staff, Cleto met with officers who had also been called, including jet-fighter squadron members from Gravatai AF Base who reported seeing two "saucers" hovering for hours, and a civilian pilot.

During the meeting, Col. Oliveira presented a "dossier" containing the results of the Air Force's investigations. Unexpectedly, a wooden disc fell from the dossier. Col. Oliveira explained that this was the object used by men from the Air Force to attempt to reproduce Keffel's photographic sequence by throwing it in the air. He stated that the Air Force had conducted careful studies at the site to understand what had happened and to try to replicate the photos.

Cleto obtained permission from Col. Oliveira to present parts of the Air Force documents for the TV program, emphasizing that these were results of a scientific study for official use only.

Evaluation of the Evidence and Conclusions

The report states that the official documents recently released from the Brazilian Air Force files are the final piece of evidence needed to prove the authenticity of the UAO photographs taken at Barra da Tijuca. These pictures are presented as "ABSOLUTE PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE" that UFOs are real, tangible objects flying through the atmosphere. The report includes data previously unrevealed, authorized for publication by Col. J. Adil de Oliveira. The circumstances of the event were detailed in Cleto's report, which was also published in "O CRUZEIRO" in October 1959, along with reproductions of the Air Force's graphic analysis.

The report explains that due to technical limitations, direct reproductions of the original photos were not possible, so copies from the Air Force files were used. These included enlargements and diagrams created by Air Force photography experts, detailing perspective studies, mathematical calculations, and on-site technical investigations.

Analysis of the Photographs

The report presents and analyzes each of Keffel's five photographs:

• Photo No. 1 & 1A: The first photo shows the object facing the camera, appearing like an airplane flying sideways. The thickness of the disc and a small cupola on top are visible. The apparent "propeller" effect is attributed to light and shadow. Diagram No. 3 indicates the object was 1,500 meters away at an altitude of 490 meters.
• Photo No. 2: This photo shows a side view of the disc, tilted upward, revealing its underside. The object appears oval-shaped due to its new position. Diagram No. 4 shows it was 2,000 meters away at an altitude of 930 meters.
• Photo No. 3 & 3A: This photo presents a bottom view of the disc, closer and appearing more circular. The underside shows a thick, ring-shaped structure in the middle, speculated to be a spinning part. Diagram No. 5 indicates a distance of 1,200 meters and an altitude of 940 meters.
• Photo No. 4 & 4A: This photo shows the top view of the disc, tilted downward. The base around the central cupola is thick. Diagram No. 6 shows it was 1,100 meters away at an altitude of 720 meters. The sudden loss of altitude is linked to the maneuver of reversing its position.
• Photo No. 5: The final photo shows the disc in an almost vertical position, farther away (3,000 meters) and lower (580 meters). This maneuver indicates the object was moving away and disappeared shortly after.

Further Evidence and Debunking Objections

Photo No. 6 shows a map of the region where the UAO was sighted. Photo No. 7 displays Keffel's negatives, demonstrating they are part of a continuous sequence on the same film, making a hoax by throwing a model impossible. The report mentions that several Air Force teams attempted to duplicate Keffel's photos at the site without success.

The report addresses the U.S. Air Force's statement that the shadows in the photos were in the wrong direction. It clarifies that this applies to only one photo (No. 4) and explains that the apparent "wrong" shadow on a tree was caused by two broken leaves, one in an inclined position and another fallen over the tree itself. This explanation, supported by Air Force technicians using high-power lenses, is presented as sufficient to destroy the U.S. Air Force's argument against the authenticity of Keffel's pictures.

Appendix

The report includes an appendix defining Portuguese terms used in the diagrams, such as "Trajetoria" (Trajectory), "Inclinacao com o horizonte" (Inclination with respect to the horizon), and "Visada" (Direction of sight).

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme is the presentation of photographic evidence of UFOs as real, intelligently controlled objects. The editorial stance is strongly in favor of the authenticity of the Barra da Tijuca photographs, using official Brazilian Air Force documents and scientific analysis to counter skepticism and debunk opposing arguments, particularly those from the U.S. Air Force. The report emphasizes the scientific rigor of the investigation and the irrefutable nature of the evidence presented.