APRO Bulletin - 1966 05 00 - May-June

Magazine Overview

Title: THE A. P. R. O. BULLETIN
Issue: MAY-JUNE, 1966
Publisher: THE AERIAL PHENOMENA RESEARCH ORGANIZATION
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of The A.P.R.O. Bulletin, published by the Aerial Phenomena Research Organization (APRO), focuses on a significant UFO incident in Australia and explores broader patterns in UAO activity.

Strange Incident in Australia

The cover story details a "Strange Incident in Australia," reporting on a photograph taken by Peter Norris of a bell-shaped object. The photographer, a prominent Melbourne businessman and member of the VFSRS, captured the image on April 2nd. He described the object as hovering over a house, estimated to be 20 to 25 feet in diameter and at an altitude of about 150 feet. Upon being photographed, the object accelerated rapidly northward. The article notes that while the black and white print shows a black bottom, the color photo reveals it as pink, reflecting the roof color it hovered over.

A related headline from "The West Australian" on April 12, 1966, "Odd Sighting Report, Road Death Linked," points to incidents on or around April 5th. R. Sullivan, a steel contractor from Maryborough, reported seeing a mysterious column of light in a paddock while driving. The light, described as ice cream cone-shaped, was brilliant white at the bottom and rainbow-colored towards the top. It rose silently at tremendous speed. The following day, a small dust depression, about 3 feet in diameter and 2 inches deep, was found in the paddock. The report also links this to the death of Gary Taylor, 19, on April 7th, whose car inexplicably left the road and crashed into a tree.

A "Stop Press!" section mentions a recent sighting in Grafton, Australia, on June 6th, where hundreds watched a UAO, and police pursued it for two hours.

The Ohio Police Chase

This section details a significant event on April 17, 1966, involving a 85-mile pursuit of a UFO by police cars between Ravenna, Ohio, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The incident began when a woman reported a bright UFO heading east. Deputy Wayne Huston and Portage County deputies Dale Spaur and another deputy picked up the object. The UFO was described as looking "like an ice cream cone, big end up," emitting a bright white light. It hovered at altitudes between 200 and 800 feet, moving at speeds of 80-100 miles per hour. The deputies noted no windows, exhaust, or contrails, and heard a whirring noise. They felt their radio communications were being monitored. The object was photographed by Deputy Gerald Buchert, who was reportedly told by the Air Force to keep it private, though it later appeared in news prints. The official explanation provided by Washington was a "double image" of Venus, a claim the article dismisses as a common practice of denial. An unexplained abandoned car found near the sighting area, containing walkie-talkies and recording equipment, is also noted.

Wanaque Reservoir Incident

On the night of January 11, 1966, hundreds of residents in Wanaque, New Jersey, reported observing a strange, large white light over the local Reservoir. The object was described as "gliding oddly" and changing color from white to red to white. Some witnesses described it as a brilliant white light like a star, while others called it "oval." Civil Defense Director Bentley Spencer observed a "bolt of light" descending from the object towards the water. The Air Force later explained the sightings as an AF helicopter, but this was disputed as the helicopter was not in the area. Other explanations like Venus and Jupiter were also considered insufficient.

UAO Seen Near New York Water Tower

An unidentified police officer in Syracuse, New York, reported observing a circular, car-sized object hovering near the Thornden Park water tower on April 25, 1966. The object, described as white and bluish-green with white sparks, hovered at about 300 yards, then climbed and disappeared. A second, similar object was seen shortly after, dropping at a 45-degree angle, stopping briefly, and then vanishing. Two other witnesses also reported seeing the objects.

Officials Quash School Sighting

This section discusses a reported UAO sighting near Westall School in Clayton, Australia, on April 6, 1966. Mrs. Judith Magee investigated and found that children were instructed not to speak about the sighting. A science teacher, Mr. Andrew Greenwood, described the object as round with a flat base and a hump, grey or silver, and noted light aircraft circling it. Authorities denied the presence of these aircraft, though Moorabbin airport confirmed aircraft activity.

Two Close Encounters

On March 23, 1966, Eddie Laxton of Temple, Oklahoma, encountered a "fish-shaped" object on Highway U.S. 70. He saw a man in GI fatigues by the craft, which then took off vertically. Laxton, an electronics instructor, could not identify the object but noted a marking, TL41. C. W. Anderson, a truck driver, reported seeing the same incident from the opposite direction. He also mentioned that other truck drivers had seen similar objects on that highway.

In Maine, on the same evening, John King of Bangor reported seeing an orange-colored, low-flying object with blue and white lights. He fired four shots at the object, which he estimated to be two car lengths wide.

Teacher Spots UAO In Ontario

Harold Mullins, a science teacher from Fort William, Ontario, Canada, reported observing a bright yellow oval disc object on December 30, 1965, near Longlac, Ontario. The object hovered about 20-30 feet above trees, emitting a light path, and vibrated at a fixed point. Mullins observed it for about 20 minutes.

Boys Chased By UAO

On April 8, 1966, Mike Dorsey and Gary Hunt, 12-year-old boys in Norwalk, Connecticut, reported being chased by a dull silver object. The object made three passes over them and then two more, appearing to look for them. They described it as having a fluttering motion when hovering, with red and white lights, and a red light on an antenna-like protrusion. They estimated its size as about 8 feet in diameter and 42 feet high. The object hovered over a bridge abutment where they hid for about 5 minutes before disappearing. Their parents were reportedly frightened, and the boys were questioned by a man claiming to be from a classified top-secret government branch.

Michigan Sighting

In early March, Maxine Muck, a science teacher from Blissfield, Michigan, reported seeing a spiral-shaped orange-colored object about 4 feet wide and 27 feet long, hovering at low altitude near Dexter. The object rose and disappeared when her headlights struck it.

Other Sightings

Several other sightings in southeastern Michigan on the morning of April 14th involved discs with red and green lights moving at high speed. Two objects were later joined by two more, forming a group of four that flew off northwest. Selfridge AFB radar reportedly tracked them briefly.

Woman Is Paralyzed By Ball Of Fire

On April 24th, Mrs. Viola Swartwood of Fleming, New York, was riding in a car when a ball of fire came out of the sky and hung near the car, causing her to be hospitalized with paralysis. Simultaneously, residents of West Lake Road saw a cone-shaped light-colored object with a fiery bottom section.

N.Y. UAOS Over Canal Area

In the first week of April, several sightings were reported near Rome, New York. A "boomerang" shaped object with flashing lights was seen hovering about 100 feet above observers. Another object with flashing lights was seen over the canal. Observers claimed Air Force planes from a nearby base were trying to locate the UFO, which would disappear when planes approached.

Strange Object On Film

This section discusses photographs taken by Mrs. Joan Oldfield from an airliner over England, showing an elongated object with fins that appeared to retract, eventually looking like a disc. However, a BBC investigation revealed the object was a reflection of the plane's tail assembly in the aircraft's window.

Just Reflection

This brief section appears to be a continuation or clarification of the previous item, emphasizing that the "strange object on film" was a window reflection.

UAO Chases Car In Florida

On May 6th, Bill Keralas of Cape Coral, Florida, reported being followed by a blue-green light, estimated at 100 feet in diameter, for nearly 10 miles. He drove at speeds up to 115 mph to escape, attracting the attention of a highway patrol officer. Keralas was visibly upset and claimed he felt compelled to escape the area.

FSR Special Issue

An announcement for a special issue of "Flying Saucer Review" focusing on "occupant" accounts from around the world since 1946. It will feature articles by Jacques Vallee, Coral Lorenzen, and Aime Michel.

Two Australian Sightings In December

Two sightings in Brisbane, Australia, on December 6, 1965, are reported. Mr. G. J. Bierton saw a torch-like light that grew in size and then faded. Mrs. A. Gray saw a ball of light hovering over houses that moved up and down before disappearing.

Patterns In The 1965 "Flap"

This section analyzes patterns from hundreds of sightings logged by APRO in 1965. Key patterns include:
1. Repetitive sightings over populated areas.
2. Apparent interest in land-based official vehicles (police cars).
3. Hovering and landed objects over or near power transmission lines and power stations.
4. Hovering and landed objects over or near fresh water sources (lakes and reservoirs).
5. A large number of sightings of objects over or hovering near school grounds.

The article suggests that the increased visibility in populated areas might indicate a desire by UAO occupants to be seen, possibly as indoctrination. The interest in infrastructure like power and water is discussed, with a theory proposed that UAO occupants might be studying human reactions to stress, potentially through blackouts, and assessing vulnerabilities related to water supplies and power grids. The author speculates about the possibility of biological warfare using drugs or tranquilizers, or a plan for mass landing that would incapacitate the population through sleep.

The bulletin urges members to make a "DETERMINED EFFORT" to locate and report sightings near telephone centers, power stations, water reservoirs, lakes, pumping stations, national capitals, state capitals, and military installations. It suggests that UAO activity has entered a new, "wind-up" stage.

Florida Governor Sees UAO

Governor Haydon Burns of Florida, along with seven other witnesses, reportedly saw a bright flying object on April 28, 1966, while flying at 6,000 feet. The object was not picked up on radar. Governor Burns ordered an intercept, and the object was described as two "parenthesis or inverted saucers with light between of yellowish white."

Lighted "Plate” In Ohio

On May 4th, Mrs. Becky Hartley of Cardington, Ohio, and about nine others observed a white light hovering over a nearby farm. They described it as a plate-shaped object with a red cast in the rear, and smaller objects resembling fireflies hovering around it. The object left when an airplane approached.

Northwest Sighting

Reports from Victoria, British Columbia, and Vancouver, Washington, describe objects as "like two soup plates stuck together, with a pulsating red glow." On April 5th, an object was seen moving from southeast to northeast, appearing to hang in the sky before exploding and turning yellowish. Calls to radio stations reported red objects in the sky. An observer described a pulsating red light, about the size of a 25-cent piece at arm's length, which changed to light blue and then back to red before disappearing.

"Evil Eye" At Victoria

On February 26th, Mrs. R. Desureau of Victoria reported seeing a "great big evil eye" staring down from the sky, described as a "ball of fire" with orange and yellow streaks. It moved from Beacon Hill Park toward Seattle.

More UFOs In B.C., Canada

UFO reports from Sarnia, Ontario, on March 28th, described a shimmering white object altering course. In late February or early March, Vancouver reports included an oval-shaped object with a dome in Kelowna, described as polished metal, which disappeared at incredible speed. Another sighting involved a smaller craft appearing to "pop up" from Okanagan Lake and join a larger craft.

Sightings At Tacoma

Sightings in Tacoma, Washington, in early April included a "square, transparent object" hovering over a bridge for nearly 30 minutes, and a triangular-shaped object over the Narrows. A teenager reported seeing an object giving off red and blue light flashes over a local smelter.

Strange Object On Film

Photographs taken by Mrs. Joan Oldfield from an airliner over England showed an object that appeared to change shape from elongated to disc-like. However, an investigation revealed this was a window reflection.

Northwest

This section continues the report from Page 7, detailing unconventional qualifications of an observer and further sightings in the Northwest.

Boys Chased By UAO

This is a repeat of the earlier section detailing the Norwalk, Connecticut incident.

Michigan Sighting

This is a repeat of the earlier section detailing the Blissfield, Michigan sighting.

Other Sightings

This is a repeat of the earlier section detailing the southeastern Michigan sightings.

Woman Is Paralyzed By Ball Of Fire

This is a repeat of the earlier section detailing the Fleming, New York incident.

N.Y. UAOS Over Canal Area

This is a repeat of the earlier section detailing the Rome, New York sightings.

UAO Chases Car In Florida

This is a repeat of the earlier section detailing the Florida incident.

FSR Special Issue

This is a repeat of the earlier section announcing the Flying Saucer Review special issue.

Two Australian Sightings In December

This is a repeat of the earlier section detailing the Brisbane sightings.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the detailed reporting of UFO/UAP sightings, witness testimonies, and attempts to analyze patterns and potential motives behind these phenomena. The APRO Bulletin consistently presents evidence and encourages its members to contribute information, emphasizing the importance of thorough investigation and data collection. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious inquiry into the UAO phenomenon, advocating for a scientific approach while acknowledging the often baffling nature of the events and the potential for official obfuscation. The publication also highlights the cooperative nature of APRO, urging members to actively participate in gathering and sharing information.