APRO Bulletin - 1978 01 00 - Vol 26 No 7

Magazine Overview

This issue of The A.P.R.O. Bulletin, dated January 1978, is Volume 26, Number 7. It features a cover story titled "UFO LOW OVER TUCSON" by Jose Figueiredo, detailing observations by air controllers in the Azores and a significant sighting over Tucson on January 19, 1978. The bulletin also includes practical advice on constructing and launching 'candle balloons' to help differentiate genuine UFO reports from hoaxes, and a multi-part historical analysis of UFO-related information from FBI files by Dr. Bruce S. Maccabee.

Candle Balloon Construction and Observation Notes

By P. Wayne La Porte, this article provides instructions for creating and launching 'Identified Flying Objects' (IFOs) using plastic laundry bags, straws, candles, and aluminum foil. The author emphasizes that constructing such devices can help investigators distinguish real UFO reports from the 'noise' generated by such hoaxes. The construction techniques involve creating a cross-shaped support for candles and a foil cup for sterno pellets. The launch technique requires two people and calm conditions, using a propane torch to heat the air inside the balloon. Observations of these balloons indicate they rise rapidly, are visible for a considerable distance, and can last about 13-15 minutes, traveling 1-2 miles depending on wind velocity. The article notes that these balloons can drop burning debris, which might be confused with ejected lights from authentic UFOs. It also states that plastic balloons do not show up on radar, but those with wire or tinfoil might cause a weak return. The author concludes that these candle balloons are fun to watch.

UFO Low Over Tucson

This article by Jose Figueiredo details a strange event over Tucson, Arizona, on January 19, 1978. Multiple witnesses reported a large object, estimated to be 60-70 feet long, with a row of white lights blinking sequentially, flying at less than 1,000 feet. The object later changed its lights to red and rose vertically into the overcast clouds before disappearing. The event lasted from approximately 06:50 to 07:14. Witnesses described agitated animals and unusual behavior from chickens and pigeons. The object was observed to be low, around 50-100 feet, and appeared to rock from side to side. Some witnesses reported the lights were in a curved line, possibly a part of a circle, and that the object was moving west-northwest. A light whooshing-humming sound was reported by the nearest witness.

UFOs in the Azores

This section presents a series of observations from the Azores Archipelago between October 7 and 15, 1976. The local press and national media reported these events, with radar at Lages detecting about 10 UFOs. The article details several specific sightings:

• October 10, 1976: Four witnesses in Vila do Porto observed two luminous masses of intense white light, one larger than the other, moving north.
• October 13, 1976 (20:30): Witnesses in Ponta Delgada observed a circular object emitting intense white light, with two luminous satellites nearby. The object's shape changed from round to oval, and it disappeared.
• October 13, 1976 (20:30): An air traffic controller at the airport in Ponta Delgada observed a circular object with intense white light that returned after disappearing.
• October 15, 1976 (22:15-22:50): Witnesses in Ponta Delgada observed a strongly illuminated white object with red and blue inside, which disappeared for 40 seconds and then reappeared, remaining visible for 45 minutes. It was later observed to be at airplane height before landing.
• October 14, 1976: Luminous objects of strange shapes and behavior were observed over São Miguel Island, one round and reddish, another lower with similar characteristics.

UFO Related Information from the FBI File (Part III)

Authored by Dr. Bruce S. Maccabee, this installment continues the examination of FBI documents related to UFO investigations. It covers the period from October 1947 to January 1949, a time when the FBI's direct involvement had largely ceased following an order from J. E. Hoover. The article highlights a few key documents:

• March 13, 1948: A witness report of a silvery 'streak' leaving a vapor trail.
• February 4, 1948: An Air Force Directive concerning the coordination of UFO investigations with the FBI, indicating the Air Defense Command was unaware the FBI had stopped investigating.
• September 1948: The FBI laboratory analyzed a soil sample from a reported 'flying saucer' landing, finding nothing unusual.
• December 1948: An FBI agent investigated a report of a 'flying disc' at an airport, which turned out to be a toy.

The author contrasts this 'dry' period for the FBI with concurrent activities within the Air Force, including the establishment of Project Sign (December 1947) and the Mantell case. The article notes that early Air Force investigators were convinced that something real was being seen and explored the possibility of Soviet origin for the objects. It also discusses the 'Chiles-Whitted sighting' and the resulting 'estimate of the situation' that UFOs were interplanetary vehicles, a conclusion that faced skepticism.

FBI UFO Connection (Continued)

This section delves deeper into the FBI's perspective on UFOs, particularly through the lens of information provided by a Resident Engineer (Mr. E.) in January 1949. Mr. E. suggested that UFOs might be man-made missiles, possibly powered by atomic energy, and noted that the Russians were experimenting with such technology. He also mentioned that the Air Force Intelligence had compiled significant information on these 'missiles'. The FBI bulletin of March 25, 1949, indicated that 'flying discs' were believed to be man-made missiles and that the USSR had been experimenting with them for approximately four years. The article points out that the information from Mr. E. was considered 'straight dope' by the FBI, even though it was unofficial, and that the Air Force treated UFO reports seriously, despite fluctuating official explanations.

Those Mysterious Booms

This brief article reports on a series of unexplained atmospheric 'explosions' or 'booms' that occurred on the Eastern Seaboard of the United States starting in early December. Incidents are noted in South Carolina (December 2nd and January 12th), New Jersey (December 2nd and 21st/22nd, and January 19th/20th), and Connecticut (December 20th). One incident off New Jersey involved a blue flash, an explosion sound, an orange flash, and a power black-out. Theories such as sonic booms, meteor showers, and thunderclaps were offered, but no definitive explanation was provided. The Environmental Protection Agency disputed a theory involving gasses from waste dumping. The President has requested investigations by the Department of Defense, NASA, and the Interior Department. Similar unexplained blasts were reported historically in 1890.

New Book

A brief announcement for the paperback book "The Walton Experience" by Travis Walton, detailing his alleged UFO abduction experience in November 1975.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The A.P.R.O. Bulletin consistently focuses on UFO and UAP phenomena, presenting witness accounts, investigative reports, and historical analyses. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious inquiry into these phenomena, encouraging rigorous investigation and the separation of credible reports from hoaxes, as exemplified by the candle balloon article. The historical deep-dives into FBI and Air Force records suggest a commitment to understanding the official response and classification of UFO information over time. The inclusion of diverse reports, from aerial sightings to unexplained atmospheric events, indicates a broad scope of interest within the field of anomalous phenomena.