APRO Bulletin - 1966 11 00 - November-December

Magazine Overview

The A.P.R.O. Bulletin - November-December 1966

This issue of The A.P.R.O. Bulletin, published by the Aerial Phenomena Research Organization (A.P.R.O.), covers a range of UFO and aerial phenomena reports from late 1966. The publication, edited by Coral E. Lorenzen, aims to contribute to the solution of the mystery of unidentified objects. The issue is noted as being slightly delayed due to an increase in membership and inquiries.

UAO Landing in Indiana

The lead story details a significant UFO landing incident in Indiana, investigated by Donald Worley. The report is considered highly credible due to the character of the witnesses, two boys aged 14 and 13, whose trustworthiness is attested to by their teachers, ministers, and Scout troop leaders. The incident occurred on October 4, 1966, around 5 a.m., when Observer B noticed a group of lights in a field. The following morning, the boys returned to the location and observed a dark object with lights on the ground, approximately 280 yards away. Observer A described the object's edge as solid and smooth, with about ten red, green, and another color light, pulsating slowly. He estimated the object's size as 27 feet long and 10 feet high. Observer B described a dark, curved shape with at least eight red, white, and green lights. He estimated the distance between the end lights to be 23 feet apart and 6 feet off the ground. After the object departed, the boys found three holes in the ground, estimated to be 8 feet apart, forming an equilateral triangle. The holes were 7 inches in diameter at the top, tapering to 1 inch at the bottom, and 7 or 8 inches deep. The sides were described as smooth and hard, with no dirt on the top edges. The investigation included statements from teachers and ministers attesting to the boys' honesty. The report notes that the sightings from August 8th forward fell along a line in the area of a microwave relay tower chain, within 70 air miles of the Wright Air Development Center at Dayton, Ohio.

Hopf Photographs Something (?)

This section features a letter from John T. Hopf, an APRO photoanalyst, to Sky and Telescope magazine regarding unusual photographic trails captured on December 13th. Hopf had set up four cameras to record the Geminid meteor shower. One camera, using a Kodak Medalist with a 4-inch focal length lens wide open, recorded trails that he could not identify. He noted that the main trails were as bright as Jupiter and that he had never captured anything like it in his 20 years of observing the sky. He suspected aircraft lights due to a blinking effect but found it didn't match other aircraft light effects he had documented. He sought opinions on the matter.

Mild Flap Continues

This editorial note indicates a high volume of reports coming into the APRO office, causing a backlog in investigations and mail. The staff is asking for qualified members, particularly medical doctors, engineers, and lawyers, to volunteer for investigations in their areas to help fill gaps in the investigative network. The organization has seen a significant increase in membership.

"The UFO Circus" In Indiana

This article details multiple sightings investigated by Don Worley in the Connersville, Indiana area. The sightings include:

• October 6: Jack Lewis and his family observed a pulsating white light that stopped and hovered over a field. It later took off at rapid speed, showing green and red lights. The object's configuration was described as flat-bottomed and shallow-domed.
• October 6 (later): Witnesses observed the lights return and hover low over a wooded area, then disappear and reappear, speeding west. It then returned and appeared to fly north over Connersville, changing from red to white to green.
• September 6 (same night, 9 p.m.): Robert Zimmerman observed a similar object passing over Connersville, arcing north. It was described as a bright white light with a greenish tinge, "almost as bright as the sun," and "a little larger than a full moon high in the sky."
• Richard Henry: Observed an object going west at 8 p.m. at prop plane speed, described as a "ball of blood-red fire." It stopped, hovered, pulsed red, green, and white, then sped off southwest.
• Bob Hamilton: Saw a light passing east to west about one mile south, with bright green, red, and white lights, no more than 500 feet off the ground. It hovered, moved, and hovered again, stopping over the Mary Grey Bird Sanctuary.
• Ray Cox: Driving on Highway 121, observed a rapidly approaching light coming from the south. The object swooped over a house and dived at the bridge. It was described as round, "larger than an aircraft searchlight," the size of an orange. It made no sound and darted to Cox's left, heading down a creek bed. A second object with small white lights followed the same route. Cox reported his CB radio and receiver were blocked by a "transformer-like hum."
• October 8, 10 p.m.: Ronnie Cameron and his wife Judy saw a blinking red light going southeast, and later two lights, one red and one white, hovering above a field. The object then moved straight up and disappeared. The sound was also heard by others.
• October 12, 8 p.m.: Harry Remy observed a perfectly round, glowing red object about three-fourths the size of the full moon, hovering at tree top level. It made a leap and stopped again, then moved southeast and then east, appearing with red, white, and blue-green lights.
• October 24 or 25 (midnight/shortly after): Rodney Howell was called to a car wreck and observed a light in the sky about 2½ times the size of the brightest star, located in the northeast. It later appeared in the southeast and lower.
• October 29, 7:30 p.m.: Don Carlton saw a star-like point moving across the sky at prop-plane speed. He later received a call about a glowing light near a transformer.
• October 29, 6:35 p.m.: Brenda Butts observed a point of light, smaller than a star, moving slowly, stopping, and alternating red or white. It remained for 1 hour and 10 minutes. Later, a terrific red glow with a white haze appeared, and a slanted large dark grey band was observed. Two pairs of light points emerged from this band, joined by another, and traveled a short distance before disappearing. The unidentified light in the SSE then moved upward and disappeared.
• November 14, between 10:30 and 11:30 p.m.: Dewey P. Isaacs, Paul Jenkins, Ronald Collins, and Jack Hall observed an aircraft circling, followed by a bright "star" that increased in brilliance and seemed to be approaching. It hovered and had a yellow glow. The plane's motors stopped momentarily. Collins flashed a light at the object, which then shot out of sight "like a bullet."

Airliner Sighting Over Mo.

Captain Donald E. Lochner of Ozark Air Lines reported a sighting on November 15th while en route from Jefferson City to Columbia, Missouri. He initially observed what he thought was a forest fire northwest of Columbia, which then disappeared. The Columbia radio operator inquired if he had seen any "weird objects." Lochner then described the disappearing fire, and the operator confirmed that residents had reported a UFO hovering over the city. Lochner and his First Officer, Donald Egerton, then saw the object, described as having multi-colored lights (green at the tip, whitish toward the middle) and a rotating beacon that appeared to turn faster than a normal aircraft's. They observed it emit a strong beam of white light. Miss Jewell Wade, the hostess, also observed the object. Kansas City radar confirmed contact with the object, which was at an altitude of approximately 15,000 feet. Lochner attempted to signal the object with an Altus light, causing it to move away rapidly. The object appeared to move off the radar scope and then stopped. It got dimmer and dimmer over about 40 minutes before disappearing. Lochner described the flashes as 2 to 3 times faster than a normal rotating beacon. Mrs. Donna Wharton at the Kirksville radio station also observed the object through binoculars and confirmed radar contact with the AFB. The report notes that two male passengers also observed the object.

Speedy Lights Over Tucson

Major Ralph H. Pestalozzi, USAF, Retired, reported observing orange lights over Tucson, Arizona, on October 13, 1966, at 8:10 p.m. He described the objects as having no discernible shape, about the brightness or size of Echo satellites, but moving at about three times their speed. He observed three objects initially, followed by three more 15-20 minutes later. A fourth object showed flashing red lights as it curved southeast. A separate report from Lt. Col. Wendelle Stevens, USAF, retired, corroborates this, noting he saw a total of 12 lights.

The "Mothman" of W. Va.

On November 17, 1966, two couples from Point Pleasant, West Virginia, reported an encounter with a 6-foot-tall, 100-mile-per-hour "bird" on November 15th and 16th. Mr. and Mrs. Steve Mallette and Mr. and Mrs. Roger Scarberry described the "bird" as grey, with two-inch diameter eyes that glowed red. It was near an abandoned power plant and followed their car. The "bird" reportedly flew along above the car, then disappeared. It reappeared later, waiting for them, and then scurried into a field. Deputy Sheriff Millard Holstead investigated and did not discount the story. Dr. Robert L. Smith theorized it might be a sandhill crane.

Objects Haunt Ohio Area

On November 17, Mrs. Roy Grose of Cheshire, Ohio, reported a bright-colored circular object on the "other side" of Route 7, described as the "size of a small house" with blue and red windows. It zigzagged and disappeared. On December 8th, Charles Hern observed a red light across the Ohio River, which turned out to be a luminous object. He and neighbors watched as small people moved to and from the object. Mrs. Hern observed the object go straight up and vanish. On December 9th, a woman near George Creek saw a reddish-orange metallic-appearing object, about the size of a helicopter, moving along the highway. It disappeared near power transformers. The most recent Oregon sighting involved an "engine blast" near Corvallis on Christmas morning, where Mr. and Mrs. Clyde C. Brooks reported seeing a reddish-orange object emitting a flame that took off into the sky with two other similar objects.

Tucson Site Of Flyover

On April 2, 1966, four boys sleeping outside Scott Stewart's home in Tucson, Arizona, spotted 3 or 4 discs flying west to east. The discs were described as fast, with three lights on the bottom. One object banked and showed its top. The boys were interviewed by Mr. and Mrs. Lorenzen, who concluded they had indeed seen the discs.

Disc Skims Field

On November 28, Mrs. James Passineau of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, observed a round, metallic-appearing object skimming above a field. It then zoomed off into the sky. On the same day, Mrs. Wilbur Reinicke observed an oblong metallic object hovering over a local canning factory, which then sped northeast.

Pink Object Scares Youths

On December 1st, a pink flying object terrorized a group of young people driving on a road near Preston, Maryland. The object was described as circular and 60 feet in diameter, approximately 100 feet above the treetops. It crossed the road and dropped level with the treetops. Later, a flashing red light resembling a searchlight was seen over the woods. The children experienced headaches and stomach aches afterward.

Missouri River Under Scrutiny

An unidentified hovering object has been reported over the Missouri River near Plattsmouth, Nebraska, several times. Mrs. Lowell Hamblen described it as a canoe-shaped object with a bright light in the center and a series of blinking red and green lights beneath. Suggestions that it might be navigation aid lights were dismissed by Mrs. Hamblen, who lives overlooking the river. Her husband, who also saw the object, is a pilot. Similar sightings were reported by H. C. Steeby. Offutt Air Force Base is located near the area.

"Bubbles" In Indiana

Mike Jenkins, a radio station newsman in Marion, Indiana, observed two "balls of light attached to each other" moving southwest on December 2nd. They stopped between the radio station's towers and then moved away and disappeared.

Blackouts Result In Power Directive

This section discusses unexplained blackouts occurring across the U.S. and a power directive issued by the Federal Power Commission on December 22, 1966, requiring reporting of major power failures. Examples of blackouts in Las Vegas, San Rafael, and Austin, Texas, are provided, with causes ranging from equipment failure to a squirrel in a transformer. A fire at a TV Mountain transmitter building in Missoula, Montana, is also mentioned.

The Humanoids

This is a brief mention of a special issue by "Flying Saucer Review" titled "The Humanoids," which is a collection of recorded sightings of UFO occupants. It includes an article by Michel titled "The Problem of No Contact."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, landings, and aerial phenomena, with a strong emphasis on detailed witness accounts and investigative efforts by APRO members. The editorial stance is one of serious inquiry into these phenomena, aiming for eventual understanding and solution. The publication encourages member participation in investigations and highlights the importance of accurate reporting. There is a consistent effort to present credible evidence and witness testimony, while also acknowledging the need for rational explanations where possible, but not dismissing unusual reports outright. The magazine also touches upon broader societal issues like unexplained blackouts, suggesting a connection to larger, possibly unknown forces.