APRO Bulletin - 1975 06 00 - Vol 23 No 8

Magazine Overview

The A.P.R.O. Bulletin, Volume 23, Number 8, dated June 1975, is the official copyrighted publication of the Aerial Phenomena Research Organization, Inc. (APRO), based in Tucson, Arizona. It is issued monthly to members and subscribers and is dedicated to the eventual solution of the phenomenon of unidentified flying objects.

UFO-Car Encounters Continue

This section details several recent reports of UFOs interacting with vehicles.

Turin, Italy Case

On the night of November 30, 1973, a pulsating object, described as the size of a DC-8, was tracked on radar and observed by thousands in Turin, Italy. Riccardo Marano, a pilot, was alerted by the control tower to investigate a UFO hovering above the runway. He described it as a glowing globe that turned from violet to blue to red and moved away at an estimated speed of 300 miles per hour. When Marano attempted to follow, the object ascended rapidly, disappearing at an estimated speed of 3,500 miles per hour. Col. Franco Rusticelli, chief of Caselle Airport, confirmed the object was visually observed and tracked on radar. Another pilot, Giovanni Mezzalani, also gave chase. Thousands of local citizens witnessed the object hover, dart, and make 90-degree turns. Six days prior, on November 24, Franco Contin allegedly photographed a bright object in the Turin area.

Kingman, Arizona Case

APRO received a report involving four adults and a low-flying UFO near Kingman, Arizona, in early 1974. A witness described a large, platter-shaped, silver object, as big as a football field, with three spotlights beaming down. The object approached, stopped, and hovered over their car. The witness stated there was no sound, but after hovering for five minutes, it left, leaving a steel-blue haze. The object reportedly had a fiery trail behind it. This case was under investigation by APRO's Phoenix office.

Woman Photographs Strange Tracks

Mrs. Ruth Christiansen, a freelance writer from Frederic, Wisconsin, photographed a set of strange, tiny, horseshoe-shaped tracks in her yard in early January 1975. She estimated the tracks were between January 1 and January 4. Familiar with animal tracks, she could not identify them. The tracks were located outside her living room window, proceeded to a lawn bench, then veered northwest to a snowdrift. They had no toe or claw marks, were between 2 and 2½ inches across, situated one in front of the other approximately 8 inches apart, and were 2 inches deep, penetrating the snow to the ground.

Lordsburg, New Mexico Case

Mrs. M. reported an unusual experience that occurred a few miles south of Lordsburg, New Mexico, on January 6, 1975. While driving with her husband and father-in-law, they stopped on Animas Road. Suddenly, a strange blue-white light shone near the driver's side of their car, illuminating the foliage. The light maneuvered briefly. During this time, the car would not start, and the Citizen's Band radio experienced static. After the light disappeared, the car started. They heard a sound similar to electricity humming through wires, though no high lines were nearby. Looking back, they saw a blue glow emanating from beneath a hill. Several days later, a coworker mentioned that he and five others had seen a brilliant blue-white light near the same area two weeks prior, which lit up their jeep and then zoomed southwest at incredible speed.

Spartanburg, South Carolina Case

Mr. Willie Campbell of Spartanburg, South Carolina, reported an experience on February 25, 1975. While driving home with his wife and four children, they observed a large, glowing object in the west, described as a ball of fluorescent blue, red, and silver light. The object followed their car, hovering over trees. Campbell stopped at a shop, and the object hovered over a nearby field. Later, as Campbell drove towards his home, the object followed. It stopped about 200-300 yards away, hovering between two houses. Mrs. Campbell went inside, but Mr. Campbell and his children watched for 15 minutes. The object then moved over their house at about 500 feet altitude and emitted a blue and silver streamer. It then disappeared. Mr. Campbell described the object as spherical, with pulsating lights, and estimated its diameter to be 20-25 inches at a distance of 150-200 yards.

Gravitational Fields

By James A. Harder, Director of Research

This article addresses proposals for circumventing gravity, noting that while UFO propulsion may involve gravitational manipulation, many proposed schemes violate the law of conservation of momentum. Harder explains that for any isolated mechanism, there can be no net change in linear or angular momentum, citing Newton's laws. He discusses how gyroscopes demonstrate angular momentum conservation and how precession occurs when a torque is applied. The article introduces the concept of fields that can produce action at a distance, such as electric and magnetic fields, and suggests that gravitational fields might similarly be manipulated. Harder draws analogies from electromagnetic field theory, particularly the concept of displacement current, to explore the possibility of a gravitational 'current.' He concludes that while the idea of a conductor of gravitational current is currently unbelievable, further investigation is warranted. The article promises more on gravitational fields in a subsequent issue.

Opinion Poll On The UFOS

CEFAI conducted a poll in Argentina to determine public opinion on the UFO phenomenon among university graduates. The poll aimed to establish correlations between characteristics of the polled individuals and their attitudes. The questionnaire included items on sex, age, personal UFO sightings, knowledge of others' experiences, beliefs about what UFOs are, reactions to a UFO, academic studies, and whether UFOs warrant a global effort for study.

General Conclusions

1. Percentage of Sightings: 7% of interviewed professionals reported seeing a UFO, with most incidents not communicated to the press. This aligns with previous reports suggesting a high percentage of unreported sightings.
2. Analysis by Age: Older individuals were more reluctant to admit the existence of the unusual or the possibility of an extraterrestrial solution, while those under 40 treated the problem with more seriousness.
3. Analysis by Sex: No women reported seeing a UFO, but none denied their existence. 68.4% of women believed in extraterrestrial craft.
4. The Extraterrestrial Hypothesis (ETH): A surprising majority (62%) opted in favor of the ETH, while only 23% denied it, indicating a shift in attitude within the scientific community.
5. Tendencies in Field Studied: Those with Physical-Mathematical education (Engineers) were more skeptical of the ETH, while those in scientific groups (Medicine, Biology) and social sciences were more open-minded.
6. Importance of the Phenomenon: 73% of the university graduates interviewed believe that UFOs constitute a world-wide problem that merits study by scientific and respected organizations, including those who accept the ETH.

The poll suggests that science today does not outright deny the ETH but acknowledges the need for deep study, with a hope for a positive response from the scientific community and humanity.

Editorial

The editorial addresses the significant cost and effort involved in processing address changes for APRO members. It explains the process of updating addressograph plates and master index cards, and the additional costs incurred when bulletins are returned due to outdated addresses. The staff suggests members forward 75 cents for each address change beyond the first one per year to help cover these expenses.

Additionally, the editorial announces that Mrs. Lorenzen has signed a contract with a New York publisher for another book, similar to "Flying Saucer Occupants." All proceeds from this book will be paid directly to APRO to fund its projects. Members are asked not to contact the office to order books or inquire about publication dates, as these will be announced later.

Finally, Mrs. Lorenzen requests understanding for the months of July and August, during which she will be finishing the book and will be unavailable for calls, visitors, or mail. Bulletins will be issued on time, and operations are expected to return to normal around September 7th.

Hill Experience Filmed

Betty Hill of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, informed Mrs. Lorenzen that filming is underway for "Interrupted Journey," which will be presented as an NBC World Premiere Movie in the fall. Barney Hill will be played by James Earl Jones, and Betty Hill by actress Estelle Parsons. The book "Interrupted Journey" recounts the time loss experience of Mrs. Hill and her husband and subsequent hypnosis sessions that indicated they had been abducted and given a physical examination by occupants of a disc-shaped craft. The movie will be shown in theaters internationally but not in the United States.

Tracks

This section revisits the strange tracks reported by Mrs. Ruth Christiansen. It notes that while ground anomalies are not typically aerial phenomena, they are considered when present during intense UFO activity. The article references two historical cases of similar tracks: one from Ross's Voyage of Discovery and Research in 1840 on Kerguelen Island, and another from the London Times in 1855 concerning tracks found across Devonshire, England. These historical tracks were horseshoe-shaped, varied in size, and exhibited unusual characteristics, such as appearing on rooftops and leading to lakes, suggesting they could not have been made by known animals. The article posits that a mechanical device manipulated from the air could be a possible explanation, linking these ground anomalies to possible UFO activity.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The APRO Bulletin consistently focuses on UFO sightings, encounters, and investigations, providing detailed case reports from witnesses. The organization appears to maintain a scientific approach, with a consulting panel of experts across various disciplines. The editorial stance encourages rigorous investigation and analysis of UFO phenomena, while also addressing practical matters related to the organization's operations and membership. The publication also delves into theoretical aspects, such as the physics of gravitational fields and momentum, and reports on public perception and scientific attitudes towards UFOs. The recurring theme is the persistent and widespread nature of UFO sightings, often involving direct encounters with vehicles and occupants, and the need for continued scientific inquiry into this phenomenon.