the apro bulletin

Magazine Overview

The A.P.R.O. Bulletin, Volume 23, Number 5, dated March 1975, is the official copyrighted publication of the Aerial Phenomena Research Organization, Inc. (A.P.R.O.), based in Tucson, Arizona. The organization is a non-profit corporation dedicated to the eventual solution of the phenomenon of unidentified flying objects. This issue features "TWO NEW "KIDNAPPING" CASES" on its cover, alongside an artist's concept of a figure from one of the cases. The magazine includes articles on UFO-related paralysis, close encounters, animal mutilations, and an explanation of a multiple witness and radar case.

Paralysis and UFO Close Encounters

This section, written by Richard Niemtzow, a representative for APRO in France and a medical student, explores the phenomenon of witnesses becoming paralyzed during close encounters with UFOs. Niemtzow emphasizes that this paralysis is considered a separate entity from immobility caused by fear, citing instances where vehicles have experienced electrical failure before the occupant's paralysis. He presents a clinical sketch of paralysis based on reports, detailing potential physical effects such as burns, headache, dizziness, temporary blindness, and paralysis of the mouth/throat, while noting that cardio-vascular and central nervous systems generally remain intact. The article suggests that the paralysis experienced in UFO cases may be a process more specific and selective than mere fear, and it is not fully explained by current medical knowledge. It also touches upon nerve fiber types and their functions, indicating that certain types (A α, B β, and A δ) seem to be involved in UFO paralysis.

Two New "Kidnapping" Cases

The issue details two significant alleged abduction cases:

The Carl Higdon Case (Wyoming)

This case, reported in the Rawlins Daily Times, involves Carl Higdon's experience while elk-hunting on October 25, 1974. After his rifle malfunctioned, Higdon encountered a tall, bow-legged humanoid entity he called "Ausso." Under hypnotic suggestion by Dr. R. Leo Sprinkle, Higdon recounted being taken into a transparent cubicle with "Ausso." Inside, he saw his elk behind him in a "cage" and observed controls manipulated by "Ausso." He described being taken to a huge tower and then to a room where a "shield" moved in front of him. Higdon was given pills by "Ausso" and later returned to his pickup truck, disoriented. The bullet from his rifle was examined and found to have struck something extremely hard. Higdon also reported traveling 163,000 light miles and seeing a basketball-shaped object. The investigation noted that the location where Higdon was found was difficult to access by vehicle, and unidentified lights were seen in the area. Dr. Sprinkle's preliminary report suggested that while indirect evidence supports Higdon's account, further statements are needed.

The Carlos Alberto Diaz Case (Argentina)

This case, investigated by APRO Field Investigator Jorge R. Martinez, involves Carlos Alberto Diaz, a 28-year-old man from Bahia Blanca, Argentina. On January 4, 1975, after experiencing a brilliant, "broken" flash of light, Diaz felt paralyzed and was pulled off the ground. He regained consciousness inside a smooth, semi-transparent sphere, illuminated from the walls. Three creatures, described as 1.75-1.80 meters tall, with mossy green heads devoid of features and thin, light cream-colored bodies, entered the sphere. These creatures, lacking hands or fingers, pulled tufts of hair from Diaz's head and chest using "suckers" on their arms. Diaz felt no pain during this process. After the creatures left, his sight waned, and he fainted. He awoke on the grass, disoriented, with his watch stopped at 3:50. Diaz was taken to a hospital where he was examined by 46 doctors, yielding no physiological or psychological alterations except for dizziness, upset stomach, lack of appetite, and missing hair. Similarities noted between the Higdon and Diaz cases include the creatures' lack of hands/fingers, the witnesses' loss of appetite, and the entities' gliding movement. The case raises questions about potential influence or unusual circumstances, especially regarding Diaz's rapid transportation from Bahia Blanca to Buenos Aires.

More On Mutilations

This section discusses cattle mutilations, noting that the vast majority of cattle deaths result from natural causes like disease and malnutrition. The missing parts are typically those easily attacked by small scavenging animals. However, there are cases where animals were healthy before death, blood is missing, and organs appear to have been removed with surgical skill. The article mentions an investigation into a group reminiscent of the Charles Manson "family" that allegedly used tranquilizer darts and surgical removal of organs for Satanic rites, emphasizing that these cases do not appear to involve UFOs. It also debunks claims by Terry Mitchell, who sought notoriety, linking UFOs to dead cattle, stating that his purported evidence disappeared and that he also claimed to be a "Sasquatch" contactee.

Multiple Witness And Radar Case Explained

Professor Theodore Spickler explains a case he reported at the APRO UFO Symposium. Initially, he investigated a sighting near Huntington, West Virginia, involving a private pilot, a passenger, and a commercial airliner pilot who all saw a green light, with an air traffic controller detecting an unidentified radar blip. Spickler's preconception of a physical object influenced his investigation. However, after reviewing Air Force clippings, he identified the phenomenon as a high-altitude atmospheric test conducted by the Air Force on the night in question. A 50 kg load of trimethylaluminum was released at 160 km altitude, forming a cloud of aluminum oxide visible by resonance fluorescence. This cloud was located at the right place and time, and its size and appearance matched the witnesses' descriptions. Spickler concludes that the radar confirmation was likely a controller observing the test cloud, and the pilot's maneuver around it was influenced by over-zealous questioning.

Explained

This section, continuing from page five, briefly mentions Hal Redner, an APRO Field Investigator, being fooled by another Air Force test shot. It then returns to the topic of paralysis, reiterating that it is a symptom, not a disease, and that UFO paralysis is not explained by current medical knowledge. It suggests a more specific and selective process is occurring.

In South America

This section presents a report from Venezuela. On August 3, 1973, witnesses near Tucupita saw a blinding flash of light followed by a dull thud. They then observed a fast-rotating, disc-shaped object beneath the surface of the Orinoco river, emitting jets of water. A fisherman named Tereso Marcano attempted to pursue the object in his boat but lost power when he got close, and the object sank out of sight. The witnesses described the object as disc-shaped and noted that it remained submerged.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The APRO Bulletin consistently focuses on UFO phenomena, presenting detailed case reports, witness testimonies, and attempts at scientific or medical analysis. The organization appears committed to rigorous investigation, as evidenced by its consulting panels and field investigators. There is a clear emphasis on distinguishing UFO-related events from natural phenomena or hoaxes, as seen in the articles on animal mutilations and the explained radar case. The magazine also highlights the challenges of investigating such phenomena and the need for further research. The editorial stance seems to be one of open-minded inquiry, seeking to understand the UFO mystery through systematic investigation and the application of scientific principles where possible, while acknowledging the limitations of current knowledge.