APRO Bulletin - 1977 03 00 - Vol 25 No 9

Magazine Overview

This issue of The A.P.R.O. Bulletin, dated March 1977, Volume 25, Number 9, focuses on UFO sightings and investigations, with a particular emphasis on potential contamination of data by media and the development of standardized reporting techniques. The cover headline is 'Low Lights in Louisiana,' and it also features a case titled 'UFO Stops For "Repairs": Saskatchewan 1933.'

Letter from Dr. R. F. Haines: Tip for Field Investigators

A significant portion of the issue begins with a letter from Dr. R. F. Haines, a Research Scientist & Consultant for APRO, dated April 30, 1977. Dr. Haines expresses concern about the upcoming release of the movie 'Close Encounters of the Third Type' (CE-III) around Christmas 1977. He believes this mass media event could 'contaminate' UFO eye witness reports by influencing perceptions and potentially biasing data. He outlines three key actions for UFO investigators and organizations:

1. Contact local theaters: Arrange to obtain attendance figures and showing dates for the movie to correlate with local UFO report frequencies.
2. Familiarize with the movie: Investigators and members should see the movie to understand its details, enabling them to better identify similarities and differences in witness accounts.
3. Issue an alert to membership: By mid-October 1977, members should be warned about the movie's potential influence. Crucially, investigators should avoid mentioning the movie or its contents during interviews until the end, and only then ask if the witness has seen it, allowing the witness to raise the issue first.

Dr. Haines hopes these suggestions will help obtain more objective data on UFOs.

Low Lights in Louisiana (By Ted Peters)

This section reports on heavy UFO activity in Louisiana during the first two months of 1977. Several sightings are detailed:

• January 15: Mr. and Mrs. Peter Digangi of Chalmette witnessed a bright light hovering near a water tower, appearing as three chained lights at about 500 feet altitude for ten to fifteen minutes.
• January 18: The Digangi's teenage daughter and her girlfriend saw the same object near their home on Jackson Blvd.
• January 21: Irwin Menesses and Robert Melerine were frightened by an intensely bright object emitting heat that hovered 65-75 feet above them near the Yscloskey Shell refinery. Their boat stopped, and they felt paralyzed while the object was overhead. When it left, the boat lurched forward violently.
• January 22: Two sightings occurred. Mark and Damian Boudreaux saw a reddish-orange light hovering over Milan Street, which moved, stopped, reversed direction, and headed north. Damian, familiar with aircraft, stated the object was much bigger and brighter than conventional aircraft.
• January 22 (same night): A near landing was witnessed in Chalmette by a car full of six people. The object was described as a 'near landing' and was seen through the left windows as they turned onto Jean Lafitte Parkway.

Observations suggest a 'flap' on, but the media played no significant role, and witnesses were largely unaware of others' sightings.

UFO Stops For "Repairs": Saskatchewan 1933 (By John Brent Musgrave)

This article recounts a sighting from the summer of 1933 in Nipawin, Saskatchewan, Canada. Homesteaders and a forest ranger had reported strange lights in the sky and near the ground for about a week. The area was frontier-like, with limited infrastructure.

Three individuals (names known to the author) drove to the reported area after midnight. They observed a large, oval-shaped object with a domed top, supported by legs, with figures moving up and down a central stairway. The occupants wore silver suits and helmets. The object emitted a bright orange glow and a strange 'unearthly' quality. The witnesses were unable to get closer due to boggy terrain. After about half an hour, they returned to their truck. On a subsequent attempt to get closer, the object was gone, but six large square imprints (2-2.5 feet square) and a central burn mark (12 feet in diameter) were found, suggesting physical trace evidence.

Photographs were taken but later lost. The author notes this could be one of the earliest documented physical trace cases with occupants.

Possible Canadian Abduction (By Michael Sinclair)

This report details a UFO sighting and potential abduction on January 5, 1977, near Prince George, British Columbia, Canada. The witness, a 17-year-old named Bill, along with another witness, saw a slightly elongated red light hovering above power lines. As a car approached, the light swooped down, made a 90° turn, and headed directly for Bill's vehicle.

Bill reported a red beam of light from the object aimed at him, causing a tingling sensation. His car's engine, radio, and headlights ceased functioning, and he fainted. The last thing he remembers is swerving to avoid the object, which was about 30 feet away. He was awakened by the other witness. Both were unconscious for about 20 minutes. The second witness saw a red light in his rear-view mirror and the object passing at high speed, causing him to faint as well.

Lights (Continued from Page One)

This section continues the report on sightings, detailing more events:

• January 25: Mrs. Claire Wetta spotted a cigar-shaped object emitting two shades of bright green light near the I-10 expressway. It blinked out after 15 seconds without moving.
• February 8: Mrs. Gayle Rodriguez and her son Brian witnessed a silvery craft shaped like an upside-down saucer with a flat bottom and a dome. It moved in uneven spurts, stopping and tilting towards their car. Its lights alternated between blue, green, and bright white, with antenna-like structures and a red light on top.
• February 9: An unusual object was sighted east of the Louisiana border in Madison County, Mississippi. Deputy Sheriff Ken Creel and Deputy James Luke responded to a call and saw an unidentified aircraft hover directly above their car at an altitude of 20-50 feet, shining a bright light and causing radio interference. Five other witnesses also observed it. Mr. Hubert Roberts of the Flora Police Department reported it was 'sort of round' with portholes and 'very bright'.
• February 17: Two Navy Patrol Gunboats, the USS Tacoma and USS Welch, encountered a strange light about 4:00 AM, 140 miles west of Ft. Meyers, Florida. The light appeared white, then grew in intensity and turned amber before blinking out.

Observations: The article notes that while UFO activity was heavy, individual sightings did not reveal a clear pattern, and descriptions varied significantly. It suggests a 'flap' is occurring, but media influence was minimal.

UFO's in Holland

Mr. Douwe Bosga reports on a busy UFO month in July 1976 in Holland.

• July 1: Three boys (Aad Hofman, Sjarle de Sitter, Leo Vid. Tillaant) camping at Kalmthoutse heath, Belgium, observed a very bright light that grew larger and closer, appearing about the size of a quarter at arm's length from 200 meters away.

• July 22: An astronomer, a teacher, traffic controllers at Twente Air Force Base, and five others observed a bright light moving east to west in Denekamp, Netherlands. Binocular views showed a steady bright light and two flashing lights. The object was estimated to be at an altitude of about 8,400 feet. Radar at Millingen did not detect it.

• July 3: Four witnesses in Cadzand, Netherlands, saw a silvery-gray object hovering at an estimated altitude of 2,500 feet for five minutes before descending to about ten feet from the ground and hovering again. It was described as square with many bright lights, later appearing as a mushroom-shaped object with dimmed lights along its edges.

Officially, the Dutch Ministry of Defense denies UFO sightings over the Netherlands, despite observations by Air Force personnel.

Colusa Case (Continued from February Issue)

This detailed account continues the investigation into a UFO sighting in Colusa, California, involving the Pecha family and the McGowen family.

• The Sighting: Bill Pecha observed a UFO with a bright, lowering beam of light that illuminated the Davis' property, barn, and aircraft hanger. He described it as a 'bright, brilliant...white light.' Mrs. Pecha also saw lights on the Davis' house. The UFO's angular size was estimated by Mrs. Pecha to be twice the size of the full moon, or about 17 milliradians. Bill Pecha described a reddish-amber light in the middle of the UFO that brightened greatly.
• Power Outage: The sighting coincided with a power outage affecting the area, lasting approximately 7 minutes. The TV and air conditioner came back on as Bill Pecha was leaving the house.
• The Chase: Bill Pecha, panicked, took his children (Debbie and Chris) and fled in a pick-up truck. He drove at high speed, initially without headlights, fearing the UFO would see them. The UFO appeared to follow, moving parallel to the road and then appearing to chase their vehicle. The McGowens, observing from a distance, saw the UFO move northward and then eastward.
• Witness Accounts: The Pechas and McGowens provided differing but complementary accounts of the UFO's movement and appearance. Mrs. Pecha described the object as a 'flattened bell-like shape' with a flat bottom. Les Arant, a neighbor who was awakened by the power outage, saw a brilliant ball of light gain altitude rapidly at a 45-degree angle.
• Object Characteristics: The object was described as having a bright white-yellow light, a sphere with two stubby wings, and a size estimated at about 100 feet in diameter. It moved with terrific speed and disappeared.
• Post-Sighting: Bill Pecha, highly agitated, called the Davises and the Sheriff's department. A police officer reported feeling a strong electric shock when touching Pecha. The Pechas later returned home. The McGowens heard a 'whining or humming sound' like a 'high turbine-engine sound' from the object, which the Pechas and Arants did not report hearing.
• Other Witnesses: Mr. and Mrs. John W. 'Slim' Davis, whose property was illuminated by the UFO's beam, reported their pear tree bloomed again shortly after the event. Another witness, Mrs. S., also reported seeing the Pecha UFO.

Repairs (Continued from Page One)

This section continues the Saskatchewan 'Repairs' case.

• The Object: Witnesses described a large, oval-shaped object with a domed top and rounded bottom, supported by legs. Figures were seen moving up and down a ladder-like stairway from a central hatch. The occupants were described as shorter than average, wearing silver suits and helmets, and busy 'repairing' the craft.
• Sensory Details: The scene was described as strangely quiet, with no sound heard from the object. A bright orange glow emanated from the craft, illuminating the area and allowing the witnesses to see the activities. The light had an 'unearthly' quality.
• Physical Evidence: Upon returning later, witnesses found six large square imprints (2-2.5 feet square) where the craft's legs had been, spaced 8-10 feet apart. A central burn mark, approximately 12 feet in diameter, was also found. Markings were visible where the stairway met the ground.
• Photographs and Publication: Photographs of the burn marks and imprints were taken but were later lost. The witnesses attempted to get their story published but were unsuccessful, with publishers questioning the nature of their experience.

Abduction (Continued from Page One)

This section continues the report on a potential abduction.

• Witness's Experience: The witness woke up to find himself standing next to his car with Bill's truck facing it. He found Bill sitting in the passenger seat. Neither could explain the vehicles' positions, as they were traveling at over 60 mph when they passed out. No skid marks or damage were found.
• Object Description: The object was described as thirty to forty feet long, with an elongated, dark and dull green body. It had a bright deep red, glowing dome as its only light source. There was one stubby webbed wing on each side in the middle. The surface was rough, and it had a large circular base, 15-20 feet in diameter, protruding under the object. The witness recalled no sound, but had bad dreams and headaches for three days. His watch stopped frequently, and his truck's battery was nearly dead.
• Sighting at Fort St. James: A separate sighting involved Mrs. Inger Larsson, Mr. Eugene Larsson, and their son Kurt in Fort St. James in January 1976. Mrs. Larsson observed a very bright white-yellow light at ground level, about a thousand feet away. The object rose slowly at an angle, appearing as a sphere with two stubby wings, estimated at about 100 feet in diameter. It spiraled as it departed.

Computerization Project

L. J. Lorenzen announces the establishment of a major computerization project by APRO, to be managed by Allen Benz and programmed by David B. Trout. Details will be provided in future issues.

Holland (Continued from Page Two)

This section continues the report on UFO sightings in Holland.

• Second Sighting (July 1, 1976): Mr. V. D. Broek, a federal policeman, and three companions observed a silvery-gray object hovering at an estimated altitude of 2,500 feet. It appeared square with many bright lights, later described as mushroom-shaped with dimmed lights. Witnesses heard a low buzzing sound, distinct from a passing Boeing 727.
• Third Sighting (July 22, 1976): In Denekamp, Netherlands, an astronomer, a teacher, traffic controllers, and others observed a bright light moving east to west. Binoculars revealed a steady bright light and two flashing lights. The object was estimated at 8,400 feet altitude. Radar at Twente Air Force Base did not detect it.
• Fourth Sighting (July 3, 1976): In Cadzand, Netherlands, four witnesses saw a silvery-gray object hovering at 2,500 feet, descending to ten feet from the ground, and then departing with terrific speed. The object was described as 25 feet long and 6 feet high with rounded edges and a corrugated upper side.

Police deemed the witnesses reliable, despite the Dutch Ministry of Defense officially denying UFO sightings.

Colusa (Continued from Page Five)

This section continues the detailed account of the Colusa, California sighting.

• Disappearance: The UFO disappeared in the southeast, towards Sacramento, around 0103 Pacific Daylight Savings Time. The McGowens observed it moving eastward and heard a whining/humming sound. Mrs. Arant saw it shoot straight up and disappear in about half a second.
• Witness Discrepancies: Differences in witness accounts regarding the UFO's final position and disappearance are noted, possibly due to observational angles, emotional states, and the short duration of the events.
• Post-Sighting Circumstances: Bill Pecha, highly agitated, called the Davises and the Sheriff's department. A police officer reported feeling an electric shock when touching Pecha. The power outage in Colusa lasted about 7 minutes.
• Other Witnesses: Mr. and Mrs. John W. 'Slim' Davis reported their pear tree bloomed unusually soon after the event. Another witness, Mrs. S., also reported seeing the UFO.

Movie Review: "Mysteries From Beyond Earth"

This review by Jim Pass expresses disappointment with the film, stating it was a straightforward attempt to prove one theory but skipped between various UFO origin theories (Atlantis, black hole travel, hollow earth, extraterrestrial) without sufficient scientific rigor. The interview with Charles Hickson was fragmented. The reviewer found the inclusion of unrelated subjects like witches and ghosts detracted from the UFO mystery. While not highly recommended, it might be useful for those unfamiliar with UFO theories.

Proposal for Establishing a Standard Color Reference System Via Use of the Federal Standard Color Catalog

Dr. Richard Haines proposes using the Federal Standard No. 595a Color Catalog to standardize the communication of colors in UFO investigations. This catalog contains about 650 1/2 inch by 1 inch color chips, broken down into categories like BROWNS, REDS, ORANGES, YELLOWS, GREENS, BLUES, GREYS, and MISCELLANEOUS. Each chip has a number, allowing for precise identification of colors seen by witnesses. The catalog can be obtained for $2.75 from GSA Specifications.

An example diagram illustrates its use with a Jan. 13, '77 encounter, showing a red light (FS31158) and a 'magnesium white' with no number, and a yellow sighting (FS13637) from Dec. 24, '76, and a green sighting (FS14090) from Jan. 29, '77.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around UFO sightings, investigations, and the challenges faced by researchers. The primary concern highlighted is the potential for media influence, specifically the movie 'Close Encounters of the Third Type,' to compromise the objectivity of witness reports. This is addressed through practical advice for investigators. The issue also emphasizes the importance of detailed reporting, including witness testimony, object characteristics, and physical evidence, as seen in the Colusa and Saskatchewan cases. The inclusion of a standardized color reference system proposal underscores the ongoing effort to improve the scientific rigor of UFO research. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious inquiry into the UFO phenomenon, acknowledging its complexities and the need for systematic data collection and analysis, while also being pragmatic about external influences like popular media.