the apro bulletin

Magazine Overview

Title: the apro bulletin
Issue: VOL. 25, NO. 1
Date: July 1976
Publisher: Aerial Phenomena Research Organization, Inc. (A.P.R.O.)
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of the APRO Bulletin focuses on UFO sightings and related investigations, with a significant portion dedicated to the controversy surrounding the Travis Walton case and the Moody case. It also includes reports from Australia and updates on other investigations.

The Walton-Klass Controversy

This section addresses Phil Klass's 'expose' of the Travis Walton case, which claims the incident was a hoax and that APRO withheld information about a failed polygraph test. The article refutes Klass's claims, stating that his accusations are without substance. It highlights that Philip Klass, author of anti-UFO books, has a vested interest in discrediting UFO cases. The article details that the polygraph test Travis Walton took on November 15, 1975, was declared meaningless by three psychiatrists due to Walton's state of mind. Dr. Jean Rosenbaum, one of the psychiatrists, stated his certainty that Travis was not lying. The APRO argues that Klass's report is a perverse endorsement of the UFO mystery. The article also criticizes the polygraph operator, McCarthy, for incompetent questioning, citing specific examples of questions that forced speculation and created associations with Travis's past. APRO's subsequent re-testing with Dr. R. Leo Sprinkle and Dr. Cahn, and the involvement of Tom Ezell and George Pfeifer, is discussed, with further criticism of Klass's misrepresentation of the testing process.

More New Jersey UFOs

This article by James D. White continues the investigation into the George O'Barski encounter with a UFO in January 1975. It reports on several other sightings in the same area, ranging from three years prior to the O'Barski incident. These sightings reinforce the idea of a bolder UFO behavior pattern in a metropolitan region. A family of five, the Wamsleys, reported seeing an object about six hours before O'Barski's sighting. Their descriptions align with O'Barski's, noting a flat-bottomed object with circling lights and a domed top. Unlike O'Barski, they did not see a landing or occupants. The article also mentions the Robert Aguilar incident from August 1971, which involved a string of pulsating lights. Further sightings in the same area are being checked by investigator Ted Bloecher, including one by Mrs. Ann Carr, a New York City psychologist, who saw a brightly-lit, top-shaped mass. A doorman at the Stonehenge Apartments also reported a woman seeing a small sparkling object darting through the park.

A Road Hazard Down Under?

This report by Bill Chalker details a bizarre UFO encounter in March 1976 near Tamworth, NSW, Australia. A car was covered by a strange white material, and its headlights failed. The article introduces the incident by listing several Australian cases where UFOs have followed cars, posing a danger to drivers. The specific incident involved a couple towing a caravan who stopped near Nemingha. They witnessed a bright greenish-yellow light envelop their car, followed by a thick white haze. A lady dressed in blue emerged and wiped the windscreen. The car then proceeded, covered in a white substance. The incident is continued in the next issue.

The Moody Case

This concluding part of the Moody case report details plans for a personal interview with Sergeant Moody in Alamogordo. Investigator L. J. Lorenzen and APRO Field Investigator W. C. Stevens met Moody, but found no physical evidence. Moody exhibited apprehension and fear when questioned at the site. He confessed to being embarrassed by his previous ridicule of UFO believers. The article notes that Moody had undergone commando training and was not afraid of men, but felt an urge to run away when questioned about the incident. The trip to Alamogordo allowed for an evaluation of Sergeant Moody and his family. In subsequent phone calls, Moody reported hearing from Dr. Abraham Goldman, a neurosurgery consultant, who advised him on meditation to restore lost memory. Moody's superiors ordered him overseas. On October 6th, Moody stated he had full recall of being aboard a craft and would write details. His recall was not total, and he remained interested in hypnotic regression. A plan to meet before he went overseas was thwarted by his shipping date being moved up. A letter from Chuck Moody, received before the writer's trip to Phoenix, describes remembering being aboard a craft, encountering beings about 5 feet tall with large heads and small ears, and seeing a drive unit. He was told that their main craft was 400 miles above Earth. The beings communicated telepathically and advised him not to remember for two weeks. The article notes that Moody and Walton were describing the same type of alien independently. The National Enquirer's interest was triggered, leading to arrangements for an overseas reporter to meet Moody. The corroboration between Moody and Walton is highlighted.

National Enquirer Increases Award

The weekly tabloid, 'The National Enquirer', has increased its 'proof of UFOs from outer space award' from $50,000 to $1,000,000. Reports will be screened by APRO and NICAP, with final judgment by former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Tom C. Clark and former New York state Court of Appeals Judge Francis Bergan.

Book Donations

APRO gratefully acknowledges donations of books, pamphlets, magazines, and clippings from Mrs. Dorothy Ashwell and William Thornton, which contribute to APRO's growing library.

Important Notice

The Post Office has increased its fee for Address Correction Notification. Members and subscribers are urged to notify APRO of any address changes and to guarantee postage for forwarding periodicals.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The APRO Bulletin consistently focuses on UFO investigations, witness testimonies, and the analysis of reported incidents. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into the UFO phenomenon, while also critically examining claims and methodologies, such as polygraph testing. The organization actively engages with other groups like NICAP and media outlets like The National Enquirer. There is a clear effort to debunk what they perceive as misinformation or hoaxes, as seen in their response to Phil Klass's critique of the Travis Walton case. The recurring theme is the pursuit of understanding the 'phenomenon of unidentified flying objects' through rigorous investigation and the sharing of information with its members.