APRO Bulletin - 1974 09 00 - September-October

Magazine Overview

This issue of The A.P.R.O. Bulletin, dated September-October 1974, is Volume 23, Number 2. It is published by the Aerial Phenomena Research Organization, Inc. (APRO) and is dedicated to the eventual solution of the phenomenon of unidentified flying objects.

Close Encounter In New York

This article, by Douglas Dains, details a UFO sighting on October 19, 1973, on the farm of Stanley Wishinsky in Owego, New York. The author and his wife investigated after receiving a report of a possible landing. Witnesses Lincoln (Link) Howe and Stanley Olkowski described a blue and red object with a dark blue dome, estimated to be about 200 feet above a barn. Howe estimated its size as that of a plate held at arm's length, while Olkowski described it as the size of a silver dollar at arm's length. The object was observed spinning and gave the impression of doing so, but did not pulsate or change shape. No noise was heard. Five cows in a nearby pasture reacted by running in all directions, with two jumping a fence. The object moved away and was lost to sight. The Tioga County Sheriff's Department investigated, and Deputy Edward R. White confirmed the witnesses were upset and believed something unusual occurred. The article also notes that the object was approximately 200 yards away when Olkowski saw it, at an altitude of 250 to 260 feet.

San Antonio Airline Case

This case, reported by Jon Webb of The National Enquirer, describes an event on October 23, 1973, in San Antonio, Texas. At 2:26 a.m., numerous citizens reported a bright red ball of fire moving silently through the sky. Air Traffic Controller James Stevens at the San Antonio Airport initially saw nothing but later observed the object. He described it as an eerie, brilliant red ball of light, pulsating irregularly, and estimated its size to be similar to an early American space capsule, but round. Stevens observed the object for about a minute as it moved eastward, pulsating. It then stopped and hovered about a mile west of the airport at an altitude of around 1,000 feet for over a minute before moving northwest and gradually climbing. Stevens was sure it wasn't a balloon due to the wind direction. An Eastern Airlines 727 and a Braniff International 727 jet were in the area. The pilot of the Eastern jet, Captain J. Noyes, confirmed seeing the object, estimating it to be 7 or 8 feet in diameter and its vertical speed faster than any plane. The object was 'sandwiched' between the two jets before accelerating downward at tremendous speed. Radar confirmed the object's position four times. Chester Blanchard, in charge of airport security, also viewed the object. The article concludes that the combined testimony of witnesses, pilots, controller, and radar confirmation makes this an impressive report.

Five Occupants

This case, investigated by Wido Hoville, took place in Canada before the October 1973 flap. Witnesses, referred to as Mr. and Mrs. R., residing in St. Matthias, Quebec, reported seeing a bright 'spotlight' on their farmland at 12:45 a.m. on October 6. Later, around 11:15 a.m. the next day, they observed heavy dark smoke rising from the area, described as similar to burning rubber tires. Subsequently, they saw a 'dome-shaped' tent of orange-yellow color, from which a 'bulldozer'-like object emerged. Five 'scouts' dressed in bright yellow clothing with helmets were seen moving between the large object and the smaller one. The witnesses estimated the tent to be 75 feet in diameter and the smaller object to be about 1/4 its size. The objects disappeared, and later a flattened track of grass was found leading to a spring, with the grass where the large UFO had been located flattened and discolored. The article notes that the workers installing a balustrade did not notice the UFO.

Reverend Cockburn Joins Consulting Staff

This section introduces Reverend Norman J. Cockburn, Ph.D., as a new member of APRO's Consulting Staff. Dr. Cockburn, born in Scotland in 1906, has a distinguished academic background, including degrees in Moral Philosophy and Theology, and a Doctorate in Philosophy. He served as Secretary-General of the British and Foreign Bible Society and is currently working on a UFO Encyclopedia. He believes the UFO phenomenon is real and worthy of scientific examination.

New Book

This section announces the availability of a new book titled "The Utah UFO Display: A Biologist's Report," authored by Dr. Frank B. Salisbury, APRO's consultant in Exobiology. The book documents cases in the Uintah Basin, Utah, and offers thought-provoking ideas about UFO motivation. The Lorenzens provided supplemental information for the book.

22 Years Ago In The Bulletin

This section reprints an article from the September 1952 APRO Bulletin about "The Green Monster," a sighting in Flatwood, West Virginia, involving a ten-foot-high creature with bulging eyes and a blood-red face.

Encounter (Continued)

This continuation of the New York case describes the witnesses' efforts to get their cows into the barn after the UFO sighting. The article details the Tioga County Sheriff's report, noting the witnesses' distress and the unusual behavior of dogs on a nearby farm. It also provides personal data on the witnesses, Lincoln (Link) Howe and Stanley Olkowski. Investigator's observations include the lack of physical effects on witnesses, their cooperation, and the difficulty in accurately estimating the object's height and size. The weather was clear, and no aircraft were detected at the time of the sighting. The article also mentions the proximity of the IBM plant and railroad tracks.

Occupants (Continued)

This continuation of the Canadian case describes the discovery of three imprints arranged in a triangular pattern, each measuring 1 foot, 10 inches by 1 foot, 3 inches, and 34 feet apart. Mr. Hoville verified the track and imprints, interpreting them as landing gear marks. He also found more flattened vegetation and broken bushes further back. The article laments the lack of investigation by the witnesses but notes that the description of the objects and figures correlates with other UFO cases. It concludes that the case involves an unidentified landed object.

Airline (Continued)

This continuation of the San Antonio case details the air traffic controller's experience. Stevens described the object as a pulsating red ball of light, estimating its size and erratic lighting sequence. He confirmed that radar registered the object at four intervals. The article notes that UFOs have historically been shy of populated areas but that this trend seems to be changing.

Readers' Forum

Joyce Neville of Buffalo, New York, writes to thank APRO for publishing the proceedings of the 5th APRO UFO Symposium, praising the variety and depth of the subjects covered.

Forum (Continued)

Mrs. D. Glaessgen of Pompton Plains, New Jersey, emphasizes the need for public education on the UFO subject, stating that the existence of UFOs is beyond doubt and the focus should be on their origin and purpose. She applauds the new column for facilitating the sharing of views.

Delayed Issue

This section explains that the July-August issue of the Bulletin was delayed due to APRO changing printing houses and an influenza outbreak immobilizing the staff.

New Mexico Reports

This section, by Field Investigator R. C. Hecker, details several New Mexico cases:

• Albuquerque, New Mexico (May 25, 1973): A 14-year-old boy was burned by a mysterious flash of light near his home. Patrolman Lee Hodges investigated but could not determine the cause.
• Manzano Laboratory, Kirtland AFB East (November 6, 1973): An oblate spherical, glowing object was sighted in a high-security area. Four jets were dispatched to intercept it, but the object left the area before they arrived. An air policeman who witnessed the event stated that military officials were upset and that the incident was officially denied. The investigator faced resistance when trying to gather information.
• Tijeras Canyon, New Mexico (April 15, 1974): A man and his wife reported a maneuvering, circular, flatish object east of Albuquerque. The object was described as flat and circular, with a distinct whirling motion.

It Really Was A Meteor!

This article addresses recent UFO literature that has erroneously described a fireball seen over the northern continental divide on August 10, 1972, as a UFO. The author asserts that careful analysis by meteor specialists and examination of available photos lead to the conclusion that it was indeed a bright meteor, consistent with historical meteor observations.

Another Mystery Sphere

This article by Professor Theodore Spickler describes a sphere found on the farm of Ollie Wagner near Lowell, Ohio, on September 7. Keith Hammerman heard sonic booms and a swishing noise, then detected a smoking area with a sulfurous smell. He found a sphere buried in the ground. The sphere is described as shiny yet bluish-gray, weighing about 20 pounds and measuring 11-1/2 inches in diameter. It has a distinct whirling motion and a depression in the ground indicating a trajectory of about 10 degrees from the vertical. The article notes that the sphere's surface is ablated, showing evidence of having melted and streamed. The origin of the sphere is speculated to be a foreign satellite or some kind of ballistics ordnance.

Sphere (Continued)

This continuation of the sphere article discusses its construction, possibly made from two halves butt-welded together, and speculates on its purpose, such as a pressure tank or an ornamental sphere. The ablation effect suggests it was not subjected to extremely high atmospheric heat for long. The article dismisses the possibility of a hoax and notes the presence of 'latches' which may be weld remnants.

Five Objects Hover Over Canadian Field

This case, reported by farmer Edwin Fuhr near Langenburg, Saskatchewan, Canada, on September 1, describes five identical objects hovering about a foot off the ground, exhibiting a swirling motion. The objects then ascended straight up simultaneously. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police are investigating, and a constable found circular swirls of grass corresponding to the reported positions of the UFOs.

An Analysis Of The Fish Model

This section discusses the Betty and Barney Hill experience and Marjorie Fish's work in constructing three-dimensional models of space to identify the star map described by the Hills. Fish spent six years and created over 20 models, checking thousands of stars. She eventually identified a pattern that matched the Hill map, suggesting a possible origin for the UFO. The article explains the conditions for life on planets, relating it to stellar spectral classes and lifetimes.

Models (Continued)

This continuation of the Fish Model analysis discusses the challenges faced by scientists in studying the UFO subject and the time and effort required for Marjorie Fish's research. It reiterates the difficulty in identifying the star pattern and the conditions necessary for life to evolve on planets, referencing stellar evolution and spectral classes.

Conditions For Life

This section delves into the requirements for life to arise and evolve on planets, focusing on the star's stability and the planet's orbit within the habitable thermal zone (ecosphere). It discusses different spectral classes of stars (O, B, A, F, G, K, M) and their lifetimes, noting that late K and M types have long lifetimes but small ecospheres, while early F stars have wide ecospheres but short lifetimes. The most suitable main-sequence stars for life's evolution are suggested to be F2 to K5, with G types offering optimum conditions.

Error In July-August Issue

This note corrects an error in the July-August Bulletin where the wrong photo was published with the caption for the "Photo of alleged landing of UFO at Port Coquitlam, B. C., Canada." The correct photo is shown elsewhere in this issue.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include detailed reports of UFO sightings with witness testimonies, physical trace evidence, and official investigations. There is a strong emphasis on scientific analysis and the collection of data, as seen in the detailed descriptions of the New York, San Antonio, and Canadian cases. The issue also highlights the challenges of UFO research, including government censorship and the skepticism of the scientific community. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry and a commitment to documenting and investigating UFO phenomena, while also maintaining a critical approach, as evidenced by the article debunking a previous UFO sighting as a meteor. The inclusion of the "Readers' Forum" and the "New Mexico Reports" section further demonstrates a dedication to sharing information and diverse perspectives within the UFO community.