APRO Bulletin - 1961 11 00 - November

Magazine Overview

Title: The A.P.R.O. Bulletin
Issue Date: November, 1961
Publisher: The Aerial Phenomena Research Organization (A.P.R.O.)
Country of Publication: USA
Language: English

This issue of The A.P.R.O. Bulletin is dedicated to reporting and analyzing unidentified aerial objects (UAOs) and related phenomena from around the world. It features accounts from various witnesses, including pilots, scientists, and ordinary citizens, and includes official reports and investigations.

Key Articles and Reports

Frank Edwards Sights UAO

This prominent section highlights a sighting by newscaster Frank Edwards in Indianapolis on October 12, 1961. Edwards, along with other witnesses including a fireman and an engineer, observed a round object with a band of light across the middle, a steady green light on top, and three flashing red lights on the bottom. The object appeared metallic and reflected city lights. It ascended in a spiraling maneuver, hovered, and then disappeared. Witnesses described it as spherical. Attempts to explain it as an advertising airplane were dismissed due to its high speed and unconventional maneuvers.

UFO Escorts DC3 Over Brazil

A pilot named Darre reported that a "flying saucer" accompanied his civil cargo plane, a DC-3, for over an hour from Florianopolis to Rio de Janeiro. The disc circled the plane at sea level, then ascended to the plane's level with incredible speed. The pilot maintained radio contact with the tower throughout. The saucer made a revolution around the plane, then moved away, leaving a luminous trail and vanishing.

Strange Metal Unidentified

On March 24, 1961, a small, reddish-brown cube, approximately 3/4 of an inch in size, fell from the sky and struck the gas tank of a tractor near Otago, New Zealand. It burned the owner's fingers and burned through three layers of a handkerchief. The object was sent to the New York Museum of Natural History for analysis, and a New Zealand meteorite expert was preparing a report. A test by The Daily Telegraph in New Zealand reportedly failed to identify the metal.

Green Light Accompanies Explosion

Two witnesses, two weeks apart in May 1961, reported seeing a metallic green light between Obart and Launceton, Australia. On both occasions, the light increased tremendously in brilliancy, followed by a terrific explosion. Mr. Dixon, a member of the legislative assembly, witnessed a flash and an explosion that seemed to come from the ground. Two other incidents involving a strange light and explosion occurred in the general area within 10 days.

UAO Photographed Over Australia

On Tuesday, May 30, 1961, a strange flying object was seen and reported in the vicinity of Goulburn, Gundagai, and Canberra, Australia. The following evening, a man in Cairns, Queensland, photographed it through a 4" telescope. Five people who observed it earlier described it as an oval-shaped, bright red body with three shining white triangular fins. The print showed it shaped like an arrowhead. One report described the object as iridescent white, exuding a green vapor with a purplish tinge. Its shape was indefinable, and it appeared to be flying at approximately 40,000 feet. The same individual had been observing this object for a two-month period, with sightings occurring twice a week or with lapses of two to three weeks, always traveling north to south. On May 7, a naval rating and five companions took a four-minute exposure shot of the object near Gundagai. This photograph, which caused amazement in scientific circles, shows three irregular shapes. Under a microscope, a generally circular object with a "nose" effect pointing earthward became visible, many times brighter than a star. Astronomers were mystified.

Mystery Signals

On June 10, 1961, British and Soviet scientists at Jodrell Bank picked up space signals while attempting to trace a lost Russian rocket to Venus. The signals were similar to others heard on May 17 when the Soviet rocket was due near Venus after a three-month silence. The last known signals from the rocket were received on February 17, five days after launching.

UFO Over England

Dozens of people reported a huge UFO hovering stationary over Exeter, England, on June 19, 1961. Wing Commander J. B. Pearse stated it had been officially plotted at a height of 53 miles and was "very big." Witnesses described it as stationary or moving very slowly and appearing to change shape occasionally. It was considered too low and too slow to be an artificial satellite. It was first spotted over London in early afternoon and hours later observed over Exeter.

Carrier UAOs Seen

On May 3, 1961, five men at Toonpang, N.S.W., Australia, observed small V-shaped objects (silver in sunlight) leave and return to a large, round, domed object. The men reported that the objects left slowly, then went out at high speed, circled, and returned, slowing down as they approached the stationary object. They seemed to land on it or go into it, disappearing upon approach. Naval officers at the Canberra Naval Base photographed a round glowing object at night around June 5, which could not be identified by astronomers. The V-shaped craft and the Cairns photo from May 30 showed similarity. An RAAF plane chased one V-shaped object over Milla Milla, Queensland, but to no avail.

Flying Log?

Mrs. Erwin Riley reported seeing an object about the size of an ore-carrier skid into Lake Superior near Two Harbors, Minnesota, on October 14, 1961. The object bobbed on the surface before rising into the air and traveling southeasterly at about the speed of a car. The Lake County Sheriff was notified. A Coast Guard and air search found only a four-foot floating log. E. R. Grummett noted that ore boats are much larger and that logs do not typically behave in such a controlled manner. A similar sighting was reported by Mrs. John P. Vanicky on October 15th, describing a "sort of brownish color" object with fire streaming from its rear end.

RAAF Cpl. Reports Disc

On September 8, 1961, Cpl. John W. Smith observed a disc-shaped object hovering over Radar Hill, Laverton Air Base, Australia, for five minutes. The object gave off a dull amber light and appeared to be spinning. It ascended straight up, then returned, spinning more rapidly, and hovered again. Smith stated, "I've heard about flying objects, read about them, but never believed them. But now I do. I saw it. It was clearly distinguishable." Aircraftsman Malcolm Stirling also observed the object.

Fire-And Boom!

Police patrols searched areas of Hertford and Hatfield, England, on November 7, 1961, following reports of a mysterious explosion. Police received calls about a "burning object" passing over the area, with a second report indicating a crash near Hertford.

Three Objects Over P.E.I., Canada

On September 27, 1961, between 6:30 and 7 p.m., three football-shaped glowing objects were observed over Prince Edward Island, Canada. Residents reported seeing the objects in the NW, with a bright light blinking at regular intervals on one end. They moved with ease, both horizontally and vertically. One object disappeared, while the other two remained in sight, performing strange maneuvers.

Orange Disc At Naperville, Illinois

H. E. Carhart reported observing a pale orange, elliptical object on October 11, 1961, in Naperville, Illinois. The object was about four times as long as it was wide and appeared motionless for two minutes. It then moved directly away, appearing smaller, and later moved towards vertical, leaving a vapor trail. The body turned dark, and the trail white, as it moved very fast.

Tube-Like UAO Over Davonport, Tasmani

On May 27, 1961, two Tasmanian families sighted an object from different points at Devonport. The object moved slowly over the sea against the wind. One witness described it as resembling a fluorescent lighted tube, while another described it as a white stick about 20 feet long.

The New Guinea Sightings

This section details a series of sightings from June 26, 1959, involving multiple UAOs over Boianai, New Guinea. The reports, compiled by Rev. William B. Gill and Stephen Gill Moi, describe objects with bright lights, changing colors, and unusual movements. One account details an inverted saucer-like object with four round black spots underneath. Fr. Gill's subsequent letter to Rev. David Durie expresses his conviction that the objects were handled by beings, describing the events as "absolutely breathtaking."

UAO Landing?

On March 16, 1961, Mr. F. Reynolds and his son observed what appeared to be a large trailer with four windows and a red light at one end, situated at the edge of the water near Hume Weir, Australia. A fire was visible nearby, and several persons seemed to be moving quickly between the fire and the "trailer." The object appeared to move sideways in a jerking manner. By 9:30 p.m., the "trailer" and occupants had disappeared. Inspection the following morning revealed no marks on the soft mud flat. Other witnesses in the district reported seeing strange lights in the sky that night.

Ball of Light Over Houston, Texas

Mrs. A. P. Stevens reported being awakened by a strange noise on February 3, 1961, and seeing an unidentifiable ball of light surrounded by tiny lights on its circumference. The object, observed near International Airport, grew dimmer and disappeared. Mrs. Stevens described the noise as "dull," not like a motor.

Chameleon Globe In Michigan

On June 10, 1961, Selfridge AFB received calls about an unidentified bright light in the sky over Waterford Township, Michigan. Witnesses described the object as round, appearing at treetop level, exhibiting "spikes," and changing color from white to gold to orange and back to white. Police officers confirmed seeing a large, white light moving in the sky.

Procession of UAOs Over Japan

On November 7, 1961, an 18-year-old Tadashi Watanabe observed a procession of 14 steady, orange lights, arranged in groups of three and one group of two, moving from east to southwest over Japan. The lights appeared to be attached to an unseen object and proceeded toward the constellation Orion. The speed was steady and slower than average aircraft. No sound was reported.

Lights Puzzle Canadians

Mysterious blinking lights were observed on February 2, 1961, in the middle of Lake St. Clair near Windsor, Ontario. Sounds resembling a plane crashing into the lake drew observers to the shore. A plane circled the area, and a U.S. Coast Guard cutter was unable to reach the area due to ice. No missing planes were reported, and neither CAA nor AF could account for the lights.

Lightning Strikes Jet

On July 16, 1961, a PA jet liner was apparently struck by lightning after taking off from Amsterdam. Pilot Captain Nick Carter reported that the compass went haywire, an unusual occurrence for him despite having been struck by lightning many times before. The discharge was estimated at a million volts. Mechanics at London Airport reported that the strengthening member of the tail assembly had been lost. A blue flash of light filled the cabin at the time of the strike.

July 4 Object Over Ohio

Two couples observed a star-like, uneven circle of light over Mt. Airy, NW Cincinnati, on July 4, 1961. The object hovered for about 10 minutes before ascending and changing direction. It was lost to sight when it went behind trees or into a cloud.

Glowing Star in Nevada

A large, flickering star-like object traveling from SW to NW was seen on July 28, 1961, by M. H. Eldredge in Reno. The object flickered but not like an airplane light and closely resembled a similar object seen the preceding Monday. Other residents reported seeing a "great ball of fire" streaking across the sky earlier in the week.

UFO Over Lake

On July 10, 1961, Selfridge AFB received calls reporting a UFO over a private lake in Waterford Township, Michigan. Witnesses described a round object with spikes, changing color from white to gold to orange. Police officers confirmed seeing a large white light moving in the sky.

Silver Ball—New York

On April 3, 1961, Mrs. Theodore Emmanuel reported her son asking her to look skyward, where she saw a great, round, silver ball moving rapidly from west to north. The object was too far away to see details, but its brightness was comparable to the moon. It was observed for approximately two minutes.

New UFO Book

This section reviews Richard Hall's book, "Challenge of the Unidentified Flying Objects." The review notes the book's extensive references to the APRO Bulletin and praises its calm, factual approach, free from "raving, finger-pointing and/or dewey-eyed unction." The book is available from Mr. Hall at 504 Willard Courts, Washington 9, D.C., for $3.50.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The A.P.R.O. Bulletin consistently focuses on the reporting and investigation of unidentified aerial objects and related phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious inquiry, aiming to gather and present evidence in a factual manner. The organization encourages members to submit clippings and information, indicating a proactive approach to data collection for evaluation and correlation. The publication emphasizes the need for objective analysis and aims to contribute to the eventual solution of the mystery of unidentified objects.