APRO Bulletin - 1979 04 00 - Vol 27 No 10

Magazine Overview

Title: The APRO Bulletin
Issue: Vol. 27, No. 10
Date: April, 1979
Publisher: AERIAL PHENOMENA RESEARCH ORGANIZATION, INC.
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of The APRO Bulletin focuses on UFO activity and research, featuring a prominent cover story about a UFO meet planned for San Diego and detailed reports of sightings in the Philippines. It also includes a section on 'Press Reports' summarizing various UFO incidents from late 1978, a historical account of a 1952 sighting, and an investigation into a multiple UFO close-encounter case involving entities.

UFO Meet Slated for San Diego

The bulletin announces "UFO '79", a scientific examination of unidentified flying objects to be held in San Diego. Hal Starr, APRO's Public Relations Director, is the Chairman. Several authorities are committed to present papers, including:

• R. Leo Sprinkle, Ph.D.: Speaking on "UFO Prophesies".
• James A. Harder, Ph.D.: Presenting on "The Structure of Extra-Terrestrial Civilizations".
• Stanton Friedman: Discussing "UFO Propulsion Systems".
• Cleve Backster: Explaining "The Efficacy of the Polygraph in Determining the Validity of UFO Encounters".
• L.J. Lorenzen: Speaking on "Recent Abductions by UFOs".
• George Hunt Williamson, Ph.D.: Will present on "Evidences of Pre-Historic UFO Encounters".

Major Donald E. Keyhoe, a pioneer in UFO investigations, will be a guest of honor. Coral E. Lorenzen, founder of APRO, will also reminisce about the beginnings of scientific UFO studies.

The symposium is scheduled for Friday evening, November 16, 1979, with papers delivered all day Saturday, November 17th, followed by discussions and a question-and-answer period. A cocktail party and banquet are also planned. Attendance is available on a first-ordered basis for $149.50 per couple, including hotel stay and symposium events.

Sightings In The Philippines

Based on a report by Col. Aderito A. de Leon, APRO's Philippine Representative, there was considerable UFO activity in the Philippines in May and possibly earlier. Sketchy reports from Bacolad indicated a "mother ship" and satellite vehicles, with some smaller vehicles landing and occupants described as "ordinary Caucasians".

Another sighting near Davao involved American scientist Ron Kruppa, who observed a round, unusually bright, strobe-like object moving over Mount Apo. Kruppa described it as "perfectly round like a big balloon".

Around May 21st, a "disc-like object" flashing a "rainbow of colors" sailed over Legazpi City. This incident was observed by residents and broadcast live by a local radio station manager, who described the object as "the size of a man's fist" with an "unearthly glow". These cases were under investigation.

Laporte Responds

In response to a letter from Phil Klass, P. Wayne Laporte addresses the Helicopter/UFO encounter. Laporte argues that the confession of Seattle teen-agers, cited by Klass, is aerodynamically impossible. He cites his own experiments demonstrating that a candle-powered garment bag could not lift a flare. Laporte offered to send Klass a candle balloon and flare to test himself. Bob Gribble of Phenomena Research in Seattle also challenged Klass regarding the purported confessions.

Press Reports

This section, compiled by Marion Cole, details numerous UFO sightings from late 1978:

• October 21, 1978 (Port Elizabeth, South Africa): Eerie sightings of UFOs and strange beings, mysterious tracks, and reports of lights were made. Schoolboys described figures gliding and leaving oval footprints. An 18-year-old reportedly disappeared and returned with a wild tale.
• October 22, 1978 (Charleston, West Virginia, USA): Brightly-lit objects with red and green flashing lights were sighted by citizens, police, and flight controllers at Chesapeake Airport.
• October 24, 1978 (Sedalia, Missouri, USA): Ted Phillips reported soil samples as proof of a valid UFO sighting after a silver, oval-shaped object was seen rising from a meadow. The investigator notes 5-7 US sightings daily and approximately 100 worldwide.
• October 31, 1978 (Raleigh, North Carolina, USA): Sheriff's Deputies reported seeing a very bright and erratic moving light.
• October 27, 1978 (Latrobe, Pennsylvania, USA): A light, described as "just like Close Encounters", was seen moving in a triangular formation.
• November 2, 1978 (Dodge Center, Minnesota, USA): A newspaper columnist and his mother saw a "gigantic airplane"-like object with five rows of lights, circling in a narrow oval pattern.
• November 3, 1978 (Traverse City, Michigan, USA): Two Sheriff's Deputies and two school teachers saw two spinning objects with red, green, and white lights.
• November 2, 1978 (Jackson, Michigan, USA): At least 20 people reported seeing amber lights traveling in pairs at low speed with no sound.
• November 15, 1978 (Indianapolis, Indiana, USA): Flashing lights were reported.

1952 Catalina Sighting

By Dave Kenney, this article details a sighting by several hundred Boy Scouts and adult staff members on Catalina Island. A huge disc-shaped object descended and then swiftly climbed away. The object was circular with a double-convex contour and exhibited an "electro-optical" effect causing the sky around it to appear darker. The camp director estimated the object to be about 150 feet in diameter at an altitude of 500-800 feet. The report was sent to the Air Force but apparently not investigated.

CE II Near Los Angeles

By Richard Semock, Field Investigator. This report details a sighting by an associate working at a planetary research facility. In mid-March, two lights emerged from behind a tree and moved horizontally. The lights were non-directional and lacked sound, leading the observer, a former Air Force radar operator, to conclude it was not normal air traffic. A third light was observed behind the first two. The incident lasted about a minute.

New Zealand

This section continues a report from the March Bulletin. It describes a plane observing bright lights at 12:00 at 2 miles, which were attributed to fishing boat lights. Later, the plane turned, and the lights were gone. The plane landed at Picton at 0310.

A Multiple UFO Close-Encounter Case

Dr. James A. Harder uncovered a story from a professional woman in her forties, an APRO field investigator, who had repressed memories of experiences starting at age four. Through hypnosis, she recalled encounters with strange-looking persons and a UFO. She described aliens with large, light blue eyes. She also recalled a "doctor" who visited her at the hospital when she was four, performing medical interventions. The report suggests that UFO aliens may have means to find "experimental subjects" over long intervals and may have a benevolent interest in human contacts.

UFO Entities in Australia - 1977 - A Summary

By Keith Basterfield. This summary covers close to one hundred reported observations of unusual entities linked to UFOs. Five reports from 1977 are highlighted:

• February 3, 1977 (Tasmania): Children reported a dome-shaped object with windows and flashing lights, and a thin figure with a rounded head.
• June 22, 1977 (Queensland): A prospector reported three lights in the sky, which led to a prolonged visit by alien beings. The entities were described as slim cylinders, 50 meters tall, with three legs, and wore metallic silver overalls and white helmets.
• October 16, 1977 (Meekatharra, Western Australia): A disc-shaped object was seen at close range, with "round, pulsating green and red objects" landed in a paddock.
• December 2, 1977 (Waimata Valley, New Zealand): A farmer reported a landed object with a metallic shell glowing bright blue, and two humanoid figures carrying a dog.
• December 8, 1977 (New Zealand): A smallish "man" wearing a silver suit and red boots was encountered on a road, attempting to flag down a car.

The report notes that the farmer who encountered the entities in Waimata Valley later found markings and "ripple sole shoe" footprints.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The APRO Bulletin consistently reports on UFO sightings, investigations, and related phenomena, including alleged alien encounters and entities. The organization, APRO, is presented as a dedicated scientific and educational entity focused on solving the UFO mystery. The tone is investigative and aims to present detailed accounts and research findings. Recurring themes include the nature of UFOs and their occupants, the potential for government cover-ups or lack of investigation (as seen with the Catalina sighting), and the scientific study of these phenomena through symposia and research. The bulletin also highlights the importance of detailed reporting and corroboration of sightings.