APRO Bulletin - 1979 06 00 - Vol 27 No 12

Magazine Overview

Title: The APRO Bulletin
Issue: Vol. 27, No. 12
Date: June, 1979
Publisher: THE A.P.R.O. BULLETIN

Key Articles and Reports

U.S. Areas Pelted by "Sky Things" This article by Iris Maack details several incidents of objects falling from the sky across the United States in May, June, and July of 1979. In Park Rapids, Minnesota, the Harland Lillquist family reported rocks and metal falling, with one rock shattering a storm window, breaking a piano, and leaving indentations. Deputy Bob Henne investigated and found ten other rocks in the yard. Professor Duane Sea from Bemidji State University found no radioactivity in the rocks, deeming them ordinary field rocks, but Henne noted the force and angle of impact suggested a great height. In Rio Vista, California, on June 23rd, Lester Gomez found a mysterious missile, about 7 inches in diameter, with characteristics of ore and refined metal subjected to high heat, which fell into his garden, leaving a two-foot deep hole.

California Reports: "Hubcap" and "Bullet" This section contrasts two UFO descriptions from California. On May 21st, near Colton, a local man used binoculars to observe a tire-sized UFO, described by Sheriff's Flight Sgt. Ron Hittle as resembling a "silver couch cushion with a red stripe." Hittle attempted to force it down with his helicopter. Mr. and Mrs. Carlos Navarro also witnessed the object, describing it as tire or hubcap-sized. Separately, on May 26th, near the Sacramento River north of Colusa, Carlos and Ruben Genera reported a silver, bullet-shaped UFO with brilliant beams of light. They described a steady hum emanating from the object, which stayed for about two to three minutes before heading west.

G.E.P.A.N. Report A summary of the French governmental UFO study group, G.E.P.A.N. (Groupe d'Etudes Des Phenomenes Aerospatiaux Non-Identifiees), presents findings from the first semester of 1978. The report, comprising five volumes, details studies carried out by the group. Three special groups (rapid intervention, physical traces, radar alert) were created but underutilized. The primary focus was on 11 cases of high credibility and strangeness. The report notes that the analysis and investigation of these cases, often pre-1978, were meticulously conducted by a four-person team including a psychologist, making the Condon Report seem poor in comparison. In ten of eleven cases, the conclusion was that witnesses observed a material phenomenon not explainable as natural or human-made. One conclusion stated that behind the phenomenon is a "flying machine whose modes of sustenance and propulsion are beyond knowledge." The GEPAN organization was created in 1977 under Dr. Claude Poher, who has since resigned, but the organization continues its work. The report mentions extensive coverage of the Teheran case, but it was not among the eleven cases studied in France.

A Critique: "Messengers of Deception" This section includes an open letter from Vincent White to Jim-Coral Lorenzen, expressing dismay at Jacques Vallee's book "Messengers of Deception." White argues that the book threatens the credibility and progress of UFO research. He criticizes Vallee's explanation of UFOs as "machines of mass manipulation" designed to condition behavior and inject new beliefs, suggesting this is a "monstrous deception." White questions Vallee's assertion that UFOs are a psychic chameleon that can assume many guises but obscure their true nature. He finds Vallee's arguments about the deceptive psychic camouflage to be unclear and questions the plot to introduce hidden changes into the world. White also critiques Vallee's dismissal of the extraterrestrial hypothesis, finding his arguments about humanoids not behaving as expected to be flawed. He suggests that Vallee's explanation is a "Ptolemaic needless complexity" and that the attention to detail in faking scenarios is excessive. White points out that Vallee's arguments against the extraterrestrial hypothesis are based on assumptions about what interstellar visitors *should* be doing, rather than empirical data. He concludes that Vallee's book is a disaster for serious UFO treatment and that the "mysterious Mr. Major" influencing Vallee's thinking warrants investigation.

"Do You Really Know Your Neighbor?" By Leo J. Corby, this article analyzes data from UFO sightings between 1948 and the 1950s, investigated by the USAF's Project Blue Book. Corby highlights that 85 documented cases were from reliable sources and involved multiple witnesses. Common characteristics of UFO occupants included being small humanoids (under 3.5 ft) or large humanoids (over 3.5 ft), wearing diving suits, and having large or glowing eyes. The vehicles were often described as small discs or egg/globe shapes. Corby speculates on the nature of extraterrestrial visitors, assuming they follow Earth's natural laws. He suggests visitors would be air-breathers, conform to human standards of weight and height (to avoid issues with the square-cube law), have two eyes for 3D vision, and be bipeds with hands capable of grasping objects. He concludes that visitors might look similar to humans. The article also discusses the possibility of different atmospheric compositions supporting life and speculates that visitors might derive from planets with C-H-O systems. The author suggests that the conditions on Earth might make it an attractive destination for galactic tourists.

UFOs Exist, Scientists Say This section reports on a poll conducted by Industrial Research and Development Magazine. The poll found that 69% of engineers and scientists surveyed believe UFOs exist, and 59% believe their origin is "Outer Space." The results showed a strong age effect, with younger respondents being more likely to accept UFO reality. The poll also indicated a correlation between higher education and acceptance of UFOs. The article notes that these findings are consistent with previous Gallup Polls and a poll of the American Astronomical Society. The author expresses no surprise at the wide acceptance of UFOs by the scientific community, citing personal experience at lectures. The article also mentions that many former military personnel have reported UFO sightings that were not officially reported to Project Blue Book, suggesting that reports concerning "National Security" were handled separately by the Aerospace Defense Command or the National Security Agency.

Press Reports The Southeast United States has experienced numerous sightings. In South Carolina, Deputy Sheriff Jimmy Roach and businessman Ben Chastain, along with others, witnessed a bright, round-shaped object moving slowly near Oconee County. Chastain, a certified pilot, described it as too bright to be a plane. The object, estimated at 12 feet in diameter, skimmed treetops and later returned, coming within fifty yards. In Morganton, North Carolina, students and teachers at the North Carolina School for the Deaf reported "strange lights" and a "buzzing" sound. A dorm teacher and two students witnessed unusual lights approaching the school, which then rose sharply and climbed over a three-story building, emitting a "woo, woo, woo" sound that caused vibrations. Later, five adults spotted more lights. In Auburndale, Florida, police officer Guthrie Knorr and a fellow officer observed five brightly colored disc-shaped objects in a "V-formation" moving rapidly. Knorr stated he now believes in the "possibility of other life forms." Officer John Knapp also observed the objects. In another Florida sighting, Deputy Mike Young and Auxiliary Deputy Bill Thomas observed a hovering light craft with strobe lights near Boca Chica Bridge. Young initially thought it was a plane but later realized it was stationary. The object moved rapidly away when Young turned his vehicle around.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The APRO Bulletin consistently advocates for the serious scientific investigation of UFO phenomena. The magazine presents a wide range of reports, from eyewitness accounts of physical objects and events to analyses of data and critiques of popular theories. There is a clear skepticism towards explanations that dismiss UFOs as mere misidentifications or hoaxes, particularly when presented by figures like Jacques Vallee. The publication emphasizes the importance of empirical data and rigorous investigation, as exemplified by the praise for the GEPAN report's methodology compared to the Condon Report. The editorial stance supports the extraterrestrial hypothesis while also exploring other possibilities, such as interdimensional or time-traveling phenomena, but always grounded in the available evidence. The magazine aims to foster a credible and scientific approach to UFO research, encouraging members to engage critically with new theories and to contribute to the collective body of knowledge.