THE A. P. R. O. BULLETIN

Magazine Overview

Title: THE A. P. R. O. BULLETIN
Issue Date: September, 1964
Publisher: THE AERIAL PHENOMENA RESEARCH ORGANIZATION
Focus: This issue delves into the "Southwestern Flap" of 1964, exploring a peculiar pattern of UFO sightings and questioning the role of government censorship in UFO research.

The Southwestern Flap - Why?

The lead article, "The Southwestern Flap - Why?", by C. W. Fitch, examines the unusual phenomenon of UFO sightings occurring in a "straight line pattern" across the Southwestern United States in April and May of 1964. This pattern was previously identified in France (1954) and Brazil (1960). The article posits that the initial, widely publicized sighting by Patrolman Lonnie Zamora in Socorro, New Mexico, emboldened others to report their experiences, leading to a surge in sightings that the press took seriously.

The author highlights several key incidents that fit this pattern, including:

• Caballo Reservoir, New Mexico: George Mitropoulis reported an "upside down bathtub"-like object making a muffled jet noise.
• Round Mountain, New Mexico: J. D. Hatch saw a bright, ovoid object descend and apparently land.
• Madera, New Mexico: A sighting of a green object occurred.
• Edgewood, New Mexico: Don Adams described a 35-foot-long green, flowing object that was fired upon and then chased him.
• Holloman-White Sands, New Mexico: An object matching the Socorro description landed near a radar station, and radar confirmation was obtained.
• Cheyenne, Wyoming: Three women saw a brilliant flash and two tear-drop shaped objects.
• El Paso, Texas: Mrs. R. R. Reyes and her family observed a "bright, shiny object" resembling a plate.
• Rock Springs, Wyoming: A disc-shaped object hovered for several hours.
• Alamosa, Colorado: Four children reported an egg-shaped object that hummed.
• Baker, California: Mr. and Mrs. Gus Biggs and Mrs. Lorene Ayres spotted a brownish object.

The article suggests that these sightings were "planned" and that the objects were deliberately seen in locations where they would be easily observed, a departure from typical surreptitious UFO behavior. This leads to the hypothesis that the "flap" might be a deliberate action by Unidentified Aerial Objects (UAOs) to gauge public and military awareness, potentially in response to perceived ignorance about their presence.

Monitoring And Scanning Discs

This section, by C. W. Fitch, revisits the idea that "no physical or material evidence" of UFOs has ever been found, citing a Department of Defense news release. The author questions whether this statement reflects genuine ignorance or a deliberate cover-up by a higher governmental agency. The article references a previous incident from the January 1963 Bulletin where a jet interceptor shot at a UFO over Washington in 1952, causing a small, glowing fragment to fall to earth. This incident serves as an example of potential physical evidence that might be suppressed.

Later in the issue, under the "Monitoring" section, the article "Monitoring" (continued from Page 1) discusses the lack of physical evidence. It recounts the experience of Thomas P. Weyer in Cambridge, Ohio, in June 1951, who found a small, convex, shiny disc, approximately 15 inches in diameter and 6 inches thick, which felt warm to the touch. He observed it rise rapidly and disappear without a trace. The article also mentions a similar incident involving a small disc found on private property, which the owner later claimed to have thrown away, suggesting it was confiscated by governmental investigators.

Another case involves Mr. and Mrs. D. L. in Brookville, Pennsylvania, who observed a gray cigar-shaped object moving slowly and silently under a street lamp in the summer of 1954. They described it as a miniature dirigible without lights or exhaust.

Straight Line Pattern Of The Southwest Flap

This article, by Aime Michel, details the findings of an unusual pattern of straight lines associated with UFO sightings. It highlights the 1954 "saucer flap" in France and Dr. Olavo T. Fontes's similar findings in Brazil in 1960. The article then focuses on the 1964 Southwestern flap in the United States, correlating numerous sightings along specific straight lines. These lines connect various locations like El Paso, Texas; Las Vegas, New Mexico; Round Mountain, New Mexico; Cheyenne, Wyoming; Edgewood, New Mexico; Alamosa, Colorado; and others. The author suggests that these patterns are not accidental and that the UAOs might be using these lines for navigation, tracking, or record-keeping.

Why?

This section, continuing from Page 1, elaborates on the potential reasons for government censorship of UFO information. It suggests that the censorship might be a form of "counter-intelligence" to keep UAOs unaware of how much is known about them. The author notes that the theory of a higher agency controlling UFO information, first proposed by APRO in 1957, is now being adopted by many in the UFO research field. The article speculates that a planned move by UAOs might be imminent, possibly related to the upcoming approach of the planet Mars. It also suggests that changes in the UAO Intelligence Committee's policy could lead to invitations for serious researchers to appear on major TV shows, indicating a potential shift towards acknowledging UAOs.

Monitoring (Continued)

This part of the "Monitoring" section discusses the lack of physical evidence and recounts two significant cases:

1. Thomas P. Weyer's Disc (1951): Weyer found a small, shiny, convex disc in Cambridge, Ohio. He described it as approximately 15 inches in diameter and 6 inches thick, perfectly symmetrical, and warm to the touch. It had no openings or markings. He observed it rise rapidly and disappear.
2. R. B.'s Investigation (1963): A moderator of a Philadelphia radio program investigated a report of a small disc (approximately 3 feet in diameter) that had landed or fallen on private property. The owner showed R. B. the disc, which was round, saucer-shaped, and grayish-white. The owner later claimed to have thrown it away, which R. B. and the author believe was a cover story to conceal its confiscation by governmental investigators.

These incidents are presented as evidence supporting Wilbert B. Smith's statement that "various items of UFO 'hardware' are known to exist but are usually promptly clapped into security and are, therefore, not available to the general public."

Further cases are presented:

• Brookville, Pennsylvania (Summer 1954): Mr. and Mrs. D. L. observed a gray cigar-shaped object moving silently under a street lamp.
• Ellwood City, Pennsylvania (October 1958): Police officers investigated reports of a two-foot red blinking disc frightening children.
• Cleveland, Ohio (January 1, 1963): Mrs. Walter Fill reported seeing a bright white flash and a luminescent, transparent, round object that hovered near her car.

Formation Of UAOs In Texas

Tom Christian and Terry Wilson of San Antonio and Arlington, Texas, reported an incident on August 26, where Tom Christian observed a bright object that seemed to change into many smaller, bright objects. Using binoculars, he described one large, reddish object with several smaller white objects arranged in a triangular pattern around it. They estimated 20 to 30 objects in total. The objects were seen drifting west, following the sunset. The five observers watched for 25 to 30 minutes.

Other Sections

• Object Shows Up in Photo: A group of big game hunters in Alberta, Canada, reported strange noises and a moving light, and a photo later revealed a white, round object above the trees.
• Aerial Sound Heard-No Craft Seen: Mrs. Dave E. Johnson of Omaha, Nebraska, reported hearing a "shrill beep" that seemed to move from SE to NW. Three other people confirmed hearing the sound.
• Saucer Mags Turn Commercial: This section criticizes "fan magazines" like James Rigberg's "Saucer News" for allegedly selling pornographic literature alongside UFO books, harming the serious research field.
• Fireball Strikes Girls: Five girls in Canberra, Australia, were hospitalized after a fireball rolled across a hockey field during a storm.
• NJAAP Publishes Book: The New Jersey Association on Aerial Phenomena has published "The Shadow of the Unknown," a summary of UFO data.
• Lake Searched for Object: Coast Guard boats searched Lake Erie near Dunkirk, New York, for a glowing object reported to have plunged into the lake.
• Recommended Reading: A list of recommended books on UFOs is provided, including works by D. Keyhoe, Aime Michel, Carl G. Jung, M. K. Jessup, and Coral E. Lorenzen.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the analysis of UFO sighting patterns, particularly the "straight line" phenomenon, and the persistent questioning of government secrecy and censorship regarding UFOs. The APRO Bulletin clearly advocates for the serious investigation of UFOs and expresses frustration with the lack of transparency from official sources. The editorial stance is one of skepticism towards official denials and a belief that significant information about unidentified aerial objects is being deliberately withheld from the public. The publication also highlights the importance of eyewitness accounts and the potential for physical evidence, while criticizing the commercialization of the UFO field.