APRO Bulletin - 1976 12 00 - Vol 25 No 6

Magazine Overview

Title: The A.P.R.O. Bulletin
Issue: Vol. 25, No. 6
Date: December 1976
Publisher: Aerial Phenomena Research Organization, Inc. (APRO)
Country: USA
Language: English

Russians Debate UFO Issue

The issue begins with a report on a heated debate in Moscow concerning a five-page document that allegedly contained information on UFO sightings and a lecture by Felix Y. Zigel, an assistant professor at the Moscow Aviation Institute. Despite the closed-society situation in the USSR, rumors suggest a ban on UFO publications, which paradoxically increases the credibility of the document. The document reportedly mentioned a UFO hovering over Natchik for 36 hours, another trailing an airliner, and a 1961 sighting near Golystino where car engines stalled. The article speculates that while there might be government interest in the UFO subject in Russia, the public is kept uninformed, similar to past practices where APRO's cooperation with the Soviet Academy of Sciences was discontinued due to lack of reciprocation.

1976 California UFO Reports by Dennis Leatart

This section presents a series of UFO case investigations conducted in Ventura County, California, between August 31st and November 6th, 1976. The author, Dennis Leatart, emphasizes that the cases are factual and personally investigated, with witness testimonies deemed reliable. The introduction stresses the need for a collective, scientific approach to understanding the UFO phenomenon.

Case I: Mrs. W (Moorpark)
On August 31, 1976, Mrs. W, with her two children, observed a blimp-shaped object hovering over railroad tracks near Somis Road. The object was gray with red markings and estimated to be about 50 ft. above the tracks. A similar object was seen near Point Mugu. While a Goodyear blimp was operating in the area, the sighting's specifics, including low altitude and multiple objects, remain unexplained.

Case II: Miss S.S., Mr. B.D., et al. (West Simi Valley)
On September 6, 1976, multiple witnesses in West Simi Valley observed an oval-shaped object with red and green lights that hovered for approximately 45 minutes. The object exhibited strange flight patterns, moving at 90° angles too rapidly for a plane. Witnesses described it as round with a dome on top and a bright white light in the center. The object was estimated to be 3.5 miles away. Police and fire departments were contacted, and the case remains unsolved.

Case III: Mr. S.F. (Central Simi Valley)
On October 7, 1976, Mr. S.F. sighted an object described as a large red dome light on top, with a pulsating white light and four smaller red lights. The object moved towards the Rocketdyne Testing Area. While potentially classifiable as an IFO (Identified Flying Object), its similarity to Case II and strange flight patterns are noted. Three objects were also sighted in San Francisco an hour prior.

Case IV: Mr. D.W. and girlfriend (Oxnard)
On October 16, 1976, Mr. D.W. and his girlfriend reported an oval-shaped object with a silvery glow passing very close to their car on Sturgis Road. The object was about 10 ft. in circumference and moved at high speed. They were frightened and contacted the police. Investigation of the area revealed no unusual findings.

Case V: Mrs. V. (Northeast Simi Valley)
On November 2, 1976, Mrs. V. and other observers saw a glowing green light at an estimated elevation of 5,000 ft. The object moved erratically before ascending rapidly. The description varied from Case II, but the location was near it. Cards distributed in the area yielded no replies, and the case remains unsolved.

Case VI: Mr. Bob Johnson (Port Hueneme)
On November 7, 1976, Mr. Bob Johnson reported seeing eight red objects in the sky, described as large and cigar-shaped, with wings. The objects moved in formation and then disappeared. The witness was not directly interviewed, and no reply was received from his inquiry.

The author notes the concentration of sightings in Ventura County and questions the timing, suggesting it might be related to nearby military and industrial facilities, including the Pacific Missile Range, Rocketdyne Testing Area, and proposed LNG port. The area has since become quiet.

Yakima Reports On Increase by Mel Podell

This section details an increase in UFO sightings on the Yakima Indian Reservation near Toppenish, Washington, during late October and early November 1976. Mrs. D. Sturm, a fire lookout with 17 years of service, is cited as a reliable witness.

On October 26, 1976, Mrs. Sturm observed a large strobe-like white light, followed by a very red glow and a red cigar-shaped object moving at high speed. The object disappeared along with the glow. On October 30, a large bright orange round ball of light was seen. On November 1, a red round light ascended rapidly. On November 3, a bright white light was observed moving parallel to Status Creek. Ranch hands and visitors have also reported similar lights. The area is noted for previous unexplained occurrences, including humanoid sightings and auto light malfunctions. The sightings are considered within the reservation's boundaries, away from the nearby US Military Reservation Firing Range and Hanford Works, though the proximity to atomic energy installations is mentioned as a potential factor.

Book Review: Socorro 'Saucer' in a Pentagon Pantry

This review discusses Ray Stanford's book about the famous April 24, 1964, sighting by Patrolman Lonnie Zamora in Socorro, New Mexico. The book details the sighting, occupants, and physical traces, and aims to debunk arguments from skeptics like Phillip Klass. New information includes sightings by ten people besides Zamora, the sound of the craft's landing and takeoff heard by hundreds, small footprints, and metallic traces from the craft's landing gear. The review also highlights alleged cover-ups by NASA, the Army, FBI, and Air Force regarding the metallic traces, the emblem, humanoids, and vitrified sand. The reviewer notes Stanford's claim that NICAP, under Richard H. Hall, was involved in the cover-up of the metallic traces, a claim Hall denies. The review questions why Stanford kept this information secret for so long.

Magnetic Field Report

This section details the operation of a modified Klein K-1 Detector used to monitor magnetic field disturbances. The detector is subject to false alarms from minor earthquakes, temperature changes, and external vibrations. The report lists dates between January and October 1976 when the detector was triggered without visual contact, noting that none of these disturbances correlated with the investigated UFO cases, as they occurred more than four miles away from the detector's location. A backup detector is being built.

The 1890s "Flap" by Jerry Mathers

This continuing article recounts historical UFO sightings from the 1890s, focusing on a period of intense activity in Nebraska. Reports from Hastings describe a craft floating, circling, and moving directionally. Further sightings include an airship near Hastings described as having a "silvery glow" and "artificial" light. In Haigler, Nebraska, a nightly show of a brilliant light that darted, stopped, and circled lasted for two weeks. Similar sightings were reported in Cripple Creek, Colorado, and Washington, D.C. On February 25, about 100 people in Wymore, Nebraska, saw a phenomenon described as a brilliant light. The article then details sightings in Omaha, York, North Platte, Beatrice, and Falls City, Nebraska, and Topeka, Kansas, describing cigar-shaped objects with wings and bright lights. The object was seen hovering over Omaha, described as 90 feet long and cigar-shaped with wings, lights at the front and rear, and a red and white light. The article mentions a sighting at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Northwood, Iowa. It also notes possible sightings in Kansas City and Chicago, with Chicago witnesses describing two cigar-shaped objects with great wings. The "flap" continued in Nebraska, with sightings in Ashland, Villisca, and Clay Center, Nebraska, and Underwood, Iowa.

Conclusion (California Cases)

The author concludes that Ventura County is a likely area for UFO surveillance due to its advanced technical facilities. The recent intensification of activity is questioned, with speculation about whether it is coincidental or due to other factors. The presence of Port Hueneme, the Pacific Missile Range, and Rocketdyne are highlighted as significant facilities in the area.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The APRO Bulletin consistently focuses on detailed reporting of UFO sightings, investigations, and witness testimonies. The editorial stance appears to be one of scientific inquiry into the UFO phenomenon, often highlighting potential government secrecy and cover-ups. The magazine aims to provide factual accounts and encourage a logical, evidence-based approach to understanding these events. Recurring themes include the detailed analysis of specific cases, the challenges of investigation, the reliability of witnesses, and the historical context of UFO phenomena.