APRO Bulletin - 1979 05 00 - Vol 27 No 11

Magazine Overview

Title: The A.P.R.O. Bulletin
Issue Date: May 1979
Volume: 27, No. 11

This issue of The A.P.R.O. Bulletin, published by the Aerial Phenomena Research Organization, Inc., focuses on UFO sightings and investigations, with a particular emphasis on reports from Hawaii and the Midwest.

How To Fingerprint An UFO And 'Hear' Its Light

This article by Russ Reardon proposes using a commercially available electronic device, a photomultiplier, to identify the source of a UFO's light. The device can detect and 'fingerprint' the excitation wavelength of light emitted by various elements, creating a unique spectral signature. This 'fingerprint' can then be mapped and even converted into sound via an audio amplifier, allowing the light to be 'heard.' The author suggests that equipping ground and airborne units with this technology could significantly advance UFO research by providing a form of physical evidence.

The article details how the photomultiplier works by scanning excitation versus fluorescence wavelength domains. It mentions that tungsten light sources have identifiable wavelengths. The author expresses a desire for widespread operational use of this equipment where UFOs are sighted. He provides sources for purchasing photomultipliers and related equipment, including EMR Photoelectric and Nye Optical Co. for photomultipliers, and Fisher or Edmund's for audioamplifiers.

Reardon concludes by stating that this technology, combined with other investigative tools like photography and radar, could help identify the sources of unknown lights, moving beyond the current 'dark state' of identifying unknown flying objects. He hopes that armed with this equipment, individuals will soon be able to provide insights into UFO light through sound and fingerprints.

Error Correction

This section provides corrected telephone numbers for reservations for the San Diego Symposium, noting that the previously listed '800' numbers were incorrect.

Quarterly Report From Finland

Courtesy of Suomen Ufotutkijat ry, this report details UFO activity in Finland during the second quarter of 1979. The UFO Research of Finland received 12 UFO-related reports, with only two pertaining to the reporting period and four classified as UFOs but referring to earlier events. The news media published only 22 articles or transmissions on UFO-related items, a significant decrease from the previous period. The report notes that the UFO front in Finland has been exceptionally quiet since spring 1975, with no major UFO waves. The authors dismiss the idea that the phenomenon is solely mass hysteria, citing the lack of increased reports from Australia and New Zealand news floods. The report also mentions a summer gathering in Kuhmoinen, Finland, which included lectures on laboratory studies of UFO fragments, the UN UFO debate, international cooperation, field investigations, parapsychic aspects of UFO research, and the first Finnish UFO movie.

"LIGHTS" REPORTED IN MIDWEST

This article by Iris Maack details numerous reports of strange lights observed in the Midwest sky during June. Authorities received 20 reports of brightly lighted UFOs near Lake Michigan, southwestern Michigan, and northern Indiana.

One witness, Mara Vilcins, described an oblong object with a rounded back, appearing brilliant with red and white lights, and seeming much larger than a jumbo jet. She and her husband, Ivar, a Chicago City Planner, saw it while returning from a camping trip near Sawyer, Michigan. They reported their sightings to the Michigan State Police, who confirmed receiving other similar reports.

Another incident involved a Lincoln Park, Michigan family who saw a light approaching their van. The object, described as a plane that lost altitude, hovered at tree level before moving away. Charles Kneshtel, the father, initially thought it was a jumbo jet but became concerned as it descended.

The article also mentions that police found it unlikely to be an air show. The Kneshtel family described the object as having two extremely bright, white headlights, about 10 feet in diameter, that beamed on their van, nearly blinding them. They estimated the craft was about 100 yards away and 200 feet in the air. They heard a silent whirring noise. The lights turned deep blue before the craft pivoted and left.

UFOS ABOUND IN HAWAII

This article by Iris Maack reports on a flurry of UFO activity in Hawaii during the spring of 1979, causing speculation and conflict.

In Honolulu, a couple reported sighting a UFO on April 29th at 10:45 p.m. The wife, a stewardess, described it as not a plane or helicopter, but a huge object with many lights, shaped like a triangle with no wings. It emitted a humming noise and had two large headlights underneath. The lights were described as glowing white, red, and green, blinking on and off. The object flew over a residential section, headed toward Koko Head, then toward Sandy Beach and the water, moving faster and erratically before disappearing out to sea. The FAA reported no unusual radar activity, and the Marine Corps Air Station suggested it might have been a helicopter, though they had no aircraft in the air at that time.

On Maui, another neighboring island, 15 people reported seeing mysterious objects. Reports from the Maui News described sightings between 1:45 and 2:00 a.m. The objects were described as green and their behavior puzzling. One report described a round, large object that appeared brilliant white from high up, changing to turquoise green at lower altitudes, with a greenish-bluish vapor trail.

Several witnesses in Maui described seeing large, bright lights. A young police officer described a bright green light reflecting on his vehicle's hood, moving horizontally at a slow speed. Debra Honda and Lisa Fujishiro saw a bright, yellowish object that turned turquoise green, moving across the sky. Floanne Morgan and her husband saw a huge white thing high up. Howard Burbridge and others camping on Lanai saw a bright bluish light descending. Jeanne Twedell reported a large ball of yellow light descending slowly. Jim Fowler described a round, greenish-turquoise object moving toward Jula.

Dorothea Burnside and her husband saw a moving light, about the size of small balls, that was bright green and dropped closer to earth at an angle with a light stream behind it.

PORTUGUESE ANGEL HAIR

This section contains a letter from CEAFI (Oporto, Portugal) dated January 15, 1979, translated by Richard Heiden. The letter discusses an account presented by Senhor Raul Berenguel at the '1st Iberian Congress of Ufology' regarding the analysis of an organism detected in a sample of "angel hair" (fibralvina). The analysis was conducted by a scientific agency that requested anonymity. The letter states that the Portuguese Air Force verified the original account and that an Air Force general commented on the credibility of the document and its author. The letter also mentions that a complete version of the account, including scientists' names, would be sent to the UN Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim. The General Staff of the Air Force issued a statement confirming they had studied the account of the phenomenon in Evora on November 2, 1959, but had no knowledge of any facts casting doubt on its veracity or the ability of the author or CEAFI. They stated that philosophical considerations presented by the author were not within their purview.

What Are The Implications of UFO Experiences?

This article by R. Leo Sprinkle, Ph.D., from the University of Wyoming, explores the implications of UFO experiences. Sprinkle argues for a tentative and 'whole-hearted' search, suggesting that UFO witnesses are sincere and describing 'truth' as they perceive it.

He discusses the 'psychosis hypothesis,' which views UFO witnesses as lying or mistaken, and contrasts it with the need to investigate these experiences seriously. Sprinkle notes that his research, involving surveys and interviews with approximately 150 individuals over ten years, has not supported the psychosis hypothesis. He found that participants generally exhibited normal personality patterns and vocational interests similar to professional individuals.

The article highlights the use of hypnotic time regression procedures in exploring UFO experiences, particularly 'abduction' cases. Sprinkle describes how these sessions can help uncover 'loss of time' periods and details of examinations by alleged extraterrestrials. He presents a table summarizing 26 'abduction' cases, rating the participants' psychological profiles and the character of their experiences (physical reality vs. out-of-body experience).

Sprinkle discusses the ethical and scientific questions surrounding hypnotic procedures in UFO research. He refers readers to his paper, "Hypnotic time regression procedures in the investigation of UFO experiences," for further details.

SPECULATIONS

This section presents speculations by an investigator regarding the significance of 'contact' experiences between UFO percipients and the intelligence behind the UFO phenomenon. The purpose of these contacts is theorized to be filtering knowledge to Earth. The method involves abducting and implanting information into selected individuals, which is then gradually revealed through various means, including telepathy and repeated abductions. The motivation is to filter information at a grassroots level, with each contactee receiving a 'bit' of knowledge to be combined with others' information and existing scientific facts.

TENTATIVE CONCLUSIONS

Sprinkle concludes that if UFO investigators have not perceived the general outline of the UFO phenomenon correctly, their time is wasted. However, if the outline is correct, it provides guidelines for analyzing UFO reports. Hypnotic procedures are presented as a method to explore contactee memories and evaluate the meaning of their experiences.

Relationship Dynamics Between Extra-Terrestrials and Earthlings

This section outlines a framework for understanding the relationship between extra-terrestrials and humans, comparing it to a counseling paradigm. It suggests that guidance involves psychological development, self-determinism, and spiritual-metaphysical experiences, alongside scientific knowledge. The 'Body of Knowledge' is classified into seven areas: archaeological, geological, meteorological, genetic, biological, scientific (electromagnetism, space travel), and spiritual (consciousness, telepathy).

Each contactee is given a piece of this knowledge and instructed to research past civilizations to find indications of its existence. They are then challenged to present this knowledge to mankind in a way that benefits all, without causing division or exploitation. The author suggests shifting study from UFO sightings to the knowledge presented by contactees.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the reporting and investigation of UFO sightings, particularly lights and aerial phenomena, in diverse geographical locations (Midwest, Hawaii, Finland, Portugal). There is a strong emphasis on the scientific and technological aspects of UFO detection, as exemplified by the article on using photomultipliers to 'fingerprint' UFO light. The issue also delves into the psychological and investigative methodologies surrounding UFO experiences, with a significant focus on hypnotic regression and the analysis of 'abduction' cases. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded inquiry, encouraging the serious investigation of UFO phenomena and the sincerity of witnesses, while acknowledging the complexities and controversies involved. The publication itself, The A.P.R.O. Bulletin, is presented as a platform for disseminating such research and fostering discussion within the UFO community.