APRO Bulletin - 1978 04 00 - Vol 26 No 10

Magazine Overview

Title: THE A.P.R.O. BULLETIN
Issue: Vol. 26, No. 10
Date: April, 1978
Publisher: AERIAL PHENOMENA RESEARCH ORGANIZATION, INC.
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of The A.P.R.O. Bulletin features a collection of UFO sighting reports, witness testimonies, and historical document analysis. The cover story, "OBJECT OVER STATE PARK," details a sighting in Patapso State Park. Other featured articles include a CE-II encounter in Phoenix, Arizona, a UFO sighting over LAX, a report from Australia, an underwater UFO encounter, and an object observed over the Mojave Desert. The issue also includes an in-depth look at FBI files related to UFOs from 1949 and a critique of J. Allen Hynek's lecture and Jack Webb's 'Project UFO'.

Letters

Donald Todd, a Field Investigator from Rhode Island, recounts attending a lecture by J. Allen Hynek. Todd found Hynek's information hesitant and uncertain, noting his 'middle of the road' approach and belief in parallel dimensions. He criticizes Hynek for downplaying independent agencies and taking credit for others' work. Todd also expresses strong disappointment with Jack Webb's 'Project UFO,' calling it 'awful' and 'incredibly bad,' stating that the program distorts facts and lacks credibility, which he believes is a reflection of public sophistication since Orson Wells' 'War of the Worlds' broadcast.

Object Over State Park

By Joe and Doris Graziano

This article details a sighting on March 22, 1978, by Gary Oickle, David Oickle, Barry Smith, and Ken Cabot in Patapso State Park. They observed a strange, flat-looking object, followed by a huge triangular object with large windows and three white lights at the corners. The object moved slowly, hovering at times, at an estimated altitude of 200-250 feet, making a sound like a 'quiet wind.' Witnesses reported seeing a figure in the windows and a bright star-like object afterward. The object was described as 'metallic' or 'bluish-gray' with three white lights at the corners and a blinking red light on top. The witnesses were curious rather than frightened.

CE-II Encounter in Phoenix, Arizona

This is a first-person narrative from an unnamed witness describing a sighting in late May or early June of 1963. The witness saw an Unidentified Aerial Object in a residential section of Phoenix, described as round with three concentric circular rings, exceptionally white and brilliant, about the size of a compact car. The object was about 15 to 18 feet from the ground and approximately 18 to 20 feet away. The witness noted a dull metal, medium to dark gray underside with a tubelike protrusion. A man holding a hose nearby appeared unaffected. The encounter was brief, lasting less than a minute, and left the witness feeling a sense of euphoria followed by sadness. The area was unusually devoid of animal sounds and insect noises.

UFO Over LAX

By Dennis Leatart

This report details a case involving Floyd P. Hallstrom, a TWA pilot, on January 1, 1978, near Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Hallstrom, a credible witness with 37 years of flying experience, described a perfect half-sphere craft with small windows, moving at an estimated 650 mph at an altitude of 6,500 feet. The object appeared to be made of highly polished metal, like nickel or chrome. Hallstrom attempted to contact LAX and other agencies but faced difficulties. The object headed towards Hollywood Hills. The report highlights Hallstrom's frustration with not being taken seriously and his willingness to undergo tests to prove his experience. Another object was reportedly sighted in Downey, California, around the same time.

1977 UFO Landing In Australia

This report, based on an investigation by UFO Research (N.S.W. Australia), details an incident near Orange on May 26, 1977. A mother and her son reported hearing their dog and horse agitated, then seeing a bright light complex. The son described a bright elongated rectangular object with four 'square windows.' The object moved slowly over a hill. The next morning, the mother found two unusual indentations in the ground. The investigation confirmed four indentations, arranged in a trapezoid shape. The report notes after-image effects reported by the witnesses and mentions thermoluminescent analysis of soil samples.

Underwater UFO With "Mother Ship"

By Donald R. Todd

This article recounts an encounter by TWA pilot Walt Hammel (pseudonym) on December 22, 1977. Hammel and his co-pilot, Slim Dickson, observed a large UFO, described as resembling an Oreo cookie with blinking lights, pacing their aircraft over the Atlantic. From this large object, several smaller glowing green rings dropped out and submerged into the water. The large object was estimated to be about 100 feet across. The encounter left Hammel extremely nervous.

Object Over Mojave

By Dave Kenney

This report describes a sighting on May 2, 1978, over the Mojave Desert by David Melton and Lisa Fields. They observed a yellow-orange light that sporadically flared bright orange. Initially thought to be a tumbling satellite, the object moved southwest to northeast and pulsed several times before disappearing behind mountains. The object was in view for about 5 minutes and did not change course or speed.

UFO Related Information From the FBI File

By Dr. Bruce S. Maccabee

This section delves into historical FBI documents concerning UFOs. It begins with a 1949 memorandum from the Air Force outlining requirements for reporting 'unconventional aircraft' and 'flying discs.' The FBI's policy, established in 1947 and reiterated, was to refer all UFO reports to the Air Force and not conduct investigations. However, the documents reveal that FBI agents were interested and did obtain information, despite Hoover's order. Several 1949 cases are presented, including sightings over Kirtland AFB, Killeen Base, and Merced, California, as well as reports from New Orleans and Oregon. The article highlights the FBI's 'plugged into the news media' approach and details a specific case involving a witness with extensive flying experience who reported a clicking sound and a solid mass object near Merced.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the persistent mystery of UFO phenomena, the challenges faced by witnesses in reporting their experiences, and the often inadequate or dismissive responses from official government agencies. The A.P.R.O. Bulletin consistently advocates for scientific study and the validation of witness accounts, contrasting this with what it perceives as official obfuscation or disinterest. The editorial stance is clearly pro-investigation and pro-disclosure, critical of official narratives that dismiss UFOs as misidentifications or natural phenomena, and supportive of independent research organizations.