APRO Bulletin - 1965 11 00 - November-December

Magazine Overview

This issue of THE A. P. R. O. BULLETIN, dated November-December 1965, is the official copyrighted publication of the Aerial Phenomena Research Organization (A.P.R.O.). It is issued bimonthly to members and is dedicated to the mystery of unidentified objects. The bulletin's editorial stance, as outlined in the 'Editorial...' section, is to accept UFO reports as fact and to study them intensively, focusing on scientific investigation rather than seeking military endorsement or attempting to force conclusions on the public.

Cover Story: Deputy Snaps UAO Color Photo

The main cover story details an incident on October 21, 1965, where Deputy Sheriff Arthur Strauch of Sibley County, Minnesota, along with four other witnesses, observed and photographed a strange object. The object, described as two thousand feet above the ground and one-fourth mile distant, appeared as a round, flat-bottomed object with a rotating outer ring that changed color from orange to white to blue. Strauch, using a 1965 Kodak Instamatic camera with Kodachrome II film, took four photos. The object moved into the wind (northeast) for several hundred feet, stopped, changed light colors, then moved southeast at high speed and disappeared. Witnesses reported hearing an audible high-pitched whine. The witnesses included Arthur A. Strauch, his wife Katherine, their son Gary Martin, Donald Martin Grewe, and his wife Retha Ann Grewe. Strauch provided a detailed description of the object's appearance, including a metallic silver-gray dome, four bright yellow port holes, and a glowing blue area below. He noted a rotating outer ring and a black spot or intake port. The object was tipped down at an angle as it moved, disappearing with tremendous speed.

Airline Crewman Photographs "Saucer"

Another featured report describes Barty Andersson, a purser for Scandinavian Airways System, who claims to have photographed a saucer-shaped object on July 5, 1965, on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. Andersson took a 35mm Kodachrome color slide showing an orange spiral reflected in the water. He stated the object was round, flat on the bottom, and raised like an upside-down plate, floating about 12 feet above the ground. It was orange with a shadow of dark blue and emitted an ammonia-like odor. The object disappeared after reaching treetop altitude. The photo was taken with a Cannon 35mm camera at 1/125th second with an f5.6 lens opening.

Editorial Stance and Principles

The editorial section outlines APRO's core principles. The organization accepts the existence of UFO reports as fact and believes their study is crucial for mankind. APRO acknowledges the difficulty in defining the problem due to the transient and random nature of UAO phenomena and the implications of potential space visitors. They view the military's approach to UFO cases as consistent with their treatment of any 'sensitive' incident, driven by intelligence and public relations concerns under the guideline of 'aid and comfort to the enemy.' APRO believes science should answer the UAO question without military endorsement. They aim to interest scientists in the problem to foster a more effective research program and stimulate public discussion. Their ongoing mission is to gather, investigate, evaluate, and correlate reports.

Other Sightings and Incidents

Object At Laramie

On August 27, 1965, residents of Laramie, Wyoming, reported a strange object with bright red and bluish-green lights hovering and moving erratically northwest of Brees Field. One witness described the object's body as metallic behind the lights. The object moved off close to the earth at high speed. A Federal Aviation spokesman suggested it could have been a balloon or helicopter.

Doctor Photographs UAO In Peru

Dr. Francisco Farah of Arequipa, Peru, photographed an unidentified object hovering over a hilltop, emitting a glare. The UAO had the shape of a hexadrum with fairly equal sides and exhibited jerky movements. It stopped for short periods before resuming its motion.

The Question Of The Power Blackouts

This extensive section analyzes the massive power blackout that occurred in the Northeastern United States on November 9, 1965. The article notes the timing of the blackout coincided with several UAO sightings, particularly over New York City. It details the sequence of events, starting around 5:15 p.m. when Consolidated Edison in New York noticed an immense flow of power to the north. Despite normal indications from generating facilities, instruments showed an unusual drain. The blackout in New York City occurred at 5:27 p.m. The article cites a Consolidated Edison official stating the sudden current drain was unprecedented. It also mentions that Canada was hit first at 5:15 p.m., with Toronto experiencing a blackout attributed to a high-voltage line south of Niagara Falls. The problem was characterized as a 'massive short circuit' originating in northern New York. Later, officials attributed the blackout to the failure of a 'Q-29' relay at the Sir Adam Beck Plant No. 2 in Ontario, Canada. However, U.S. and Canadian officials later admitted they did not know the origin of the surge of power that tripped the relay.

Related Phenomena and Theories

The article presents several related phenomena and theories. Mr. Weldon Ross and Mr. Robert Walsh of Syracuse reported seeing strange glowing objects and fireballs near Syracuse around the time of the blackout. William Stillwell, Sexton of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, reported photographing fireballs near Syracuse, noting they moved too fast for planes. The article also discusses John Fuller's account of a disc-shaped object extending a 'silvery pipe-like' extension to a power line. A theory involving coherent high energy beams (LASERs) intersecting over power lines, producing plasma and causing a short circuit, is presented by Mr. Gerdes. This theory suggests that the plasma formation could be visible, while the beam sources remain invisible.

Other Blackouts

The bulletin lists several other blackouts that occurred globally around the same period, including incidents in Stockholm (Sweden), San Salvador, London (England), Lima (Peru), The Hague (Netherlands), El Paso (Texas), Conroe and Johnson City (Texas), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Naples (Italy), and Los Angeles (California). These blackouts were often attributed to electrical system failures or increased power usage, but in some cases, the cause remained undiscovered.

The Cherry Creek Incident

On August 19, 1965, near Cherry Creek, New York, 16-year-old Harold Butcher reported an elliptical object with a reddish glow landing briefly on his father's farm. The tractor powering the milking machine stopped, and a bull became agitated. The object shot straight up into the air. Afterward, a strange odor was noted, and the clouds glowed green. The object reappeared later, circling the area. Police and Air Force investigators found a purplish liquid substance, indentations in the ground, and singed grass. Notably, the farm's 16 cows yielded significantly less milk for about a week after the incident.

The Exeter, N.H. Case

This section details several sightings in Exeter, New Hampshire, in September 1965. Officer Eugene Bertrand encountered a woman who claimed a flying object had chased her car. Later, he responded to a call from Norman Muscarello, who reported seeing a large object with bright red lights hovering near his location. Bertrand and Muscarello observed the object, described as elliptical and emitting a red glow, move away over the trees without noise. Another account from John Fuller describes Joseph Jalbert witnessing a reddish cigar-shaped object from which a smaller disk emerged, extended a 'silvery pipe-like' extension to power lines, and then merged back with the cigar.

"Little, Little Men" In Minn.

Jerry Townsend reported an encounter on a Minnesota road in October 1965 with a rocket-shaped object, about 30-40 feet high and ten feet in diameter, resting on fins. His car's engine, lights, and radio went out. He then saw three small creatures, about six inches tall, resembling tin cans on tripods, emerge from behind the object. These creatures moved on fins and had flat tops. They disappeared under the object, which then ascended and vanished. Townsend's car then restarted.

Driver Harrassed By Saucer

Don Tennopir, a truck driver in Kansas, reported his truck's lights failing, followed by a saucer-shaped object hovering over his truck. The object, described as round, about 14-15 feet in diameter, and orange-colored, shot off reddish rays. It hovered about 100 feet in front of his truck before moving west and then south.

Blinking UFO Over Denver

Dozens of Denver, Colorado residents reported an unidentified object on September 27, exhibiting blinking lights, possibly an advertising plane malfunction. Two boys reported seeing two objects, one described as a 'big silver disc.' A witness named Walter Renelt observed an enormous star, '10 times brighter than the brightest star.'

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the photographic and visual evidence of Unidentified Aerial Objects (UAOs), the potential connection between UAOs and electrical power systems (highlighted by the extensive coverage of the Northeast blackout), and the detailed accounts of witness testimonies. The editorial stance remains consistent: to present factual reports, encourage scientific investigation, and maintain a neutral position, allowing readers to draw their own conclusions without military or governmental influence. The organization emphasizes its long-standing commitment to gathering and analyzing UAO data.