APRO Bulletin - 1980 03 00 - Vol 28 No 9

Magazine Overview

This issue of THE A.P.R.O. BULLETIN, dated March 1980, Volume 28, Number 9, is published by the AERIAL PHENOMENA RESEARCH ORGANIZATION, INC. (APRO). The cover headline highlights a "MULTI-WITNESS RADAR-VISUAL REPORT" and announces an "APRO CONFERENCE IN 1981". The editorial section reflects on the past eighteen months in ufology, noting milestones such as document releases, the Bass Strait and Cook Strait flaps, and the disappearance of Frederick Valentich. It criticizes officialdom's "outmoded scientific advisors" and the "mental blockitis" within the scientific community regarding UFOs, while expressing gratitude for scientists who remain open-minded.

Editorial

The editorial, likely written by Paul Norman, discusses the significant developments in ufology over the preceding eighteen months. It notes the release of previously denied documents through Freedom of Information legislation and highlights the Bass Strait Flap, which concluded with the disappearance of Frederick Valentich, and the Cook Strait Flap, which produced a notable film. The editorial observes a recurring pattern in UFO flaps: newcomers view incidents as turning points, while orthodox academics offer contradictory explanations. It suggests that official debunking techniques are losing credibility, leading more people to seek information from ufology. The editorial criticizes the scientific community for its "mental blockitis" and reliance on "educated ostriches," drawing parallels to historical instances where groundbreaking discoveries were initially dismissed. It concludes by emphasizing the value of open-minded scientists in solving the "world's greatest mystery."

APRO Conference in 1981

This section announces that APRO Headquarters will sponsor a Symposium in 1981, the first since 1973. The conference aims to present new material beyond repetitions from other agencies. Tentative topics include "Abductees," "Mutilations," "UFO Propulsion," and the central theme, "Are We Alone In The Universe?" Potential speakers are listed as R. Leo Sprinkle Ph.D., Stanton F. Friedman, Daniel Harris Ph.D., Peter Van Arsdale Ph.D., and John S. Derr, Seismologist, Ph.D. The symposium will feature abductees sharing their experiences and will include "SURPRISES" with information divulged by Headquarters Staff. The event is scheduled for June 12-14 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Multi-Witness Radar-Visual Report: APRO Conference in 1981

By Richard Japhet, Field Investigator, this report details a significant UFO sighting on Saturday night, March 22, in greater Burlington, Vermont. The event began around 10:00 p.m. when Mrs. Loraine Billups noticed a bright light. Her husband, Richard, an amateur astronomer, initially dismissed it but became intrigued when the object moved. At 10:15 p.m., he used a telescope and observed a rainbow of colors moving counter-clockwise around the object. By 10:17 p.m., Colchester police were broadcasting about the object, with Officer Bob Stebbins sighting it in a swampy area. The sighting escalated as Burlington International Airport's radar personnel, including Don Kernan, Larry, and Dick Morris, detected an object. At approximately 10:30 p.m., they spotted something hovering over Malletts Bay. Don Kernan described seeing an intensely bright colored object about 3,000 ft. up, with a triangle pattern of red, orange, and white-blue lights. Dick Morris, on radar, tracked a primary target and a smaller object that crossed the lake at an estimated 500 miles per hour, merging into four objects before vanishing. Witnesses reported bright colored lights and no unusual disturbances.

Conclusions of the Radar-Visual Report

The report draws several conclusions: two definite objects were viewed simultaneously; a larger craft likely collected or dispensed smaller craft; radar indicated excessive speed and maneuverability; the objects were solid metal; there was a large stationary target over Schuyler Island and a smaller one over the swampy area for about 6 minutes. All witnesses reported intensely bright lights with a rainbow of colors. Radar and visual witnesses agreed on the location of the two objects, with an elevation angle of 10-12 degrees above the horizon and a height of 300 ft. between 10:00 and 11:00 p.m.

Object Observed by Several in N.Y.

This section reports on an incident on February 18, 1980, in Ovid, New York. An 11-year-old boy, Scott Knittle, and his mother, Beverly Cowan, observed an "oval-shaped thing with about 10 windows" hovering over a field. The object was described as a bright orange, egg-shaped blob, about 5 feet wide, 30 feet up, and 150 feet away. It shot straight up and exploded, leaving a blinking red light before disappearing. Mrs. Cowan reported her son's eyes were bloodshot. Other witnesses, Fred and Myrtle Bullivant, and Shirley Derieth, also saw a round, reddish-gold ball, possibly on fire, and a "big orange ball hovering in the sky." The area was searched by the Seneca County Sheriff's Deputy, who found nothing.

The Ethical Ufologist

By Berthold E. Schwarz, M.D., this article delves into the ethical responsibilities of UFO researchers. It poses questions about how researchers can be more responsive to data, protect witness anonymity while publishing, and avoid causing harm or ridicule to witnesses. The article discusses the importance of informed consent, especially when using hypnotic-regressive techniques, and the challenges of interpreting trance material and unconscious influences. It stresses that any UFO research that harms the witness is morally indefensible. The author also touches upon the complexities of dealing with subjective reality, unconscious lying, fraud, and the potential for "ego trips" at the expense of vulnerable individuals. The article concludes by calling for a comprehensive, humane code of ethics for UFO investigations.

Mutilations Continue

By Iris Maack, this section reports on cattle mutilations dominating the peripheral area of ufology during the summer of 1979, with Arkansas being the hardest hit. It details cases in Pony Peak Ranch, where horses were discovered with deep incisions, and in Clerburne County, where a cow had its left eye removed and its anal opening dilated. The mutilations followed a pattern seen in northwest Arkansas, with right eyes, tongues, and parts of udders between the legs being cut out. Speculation includes devil worship cults or hoaxes, but no accompanying phenomena were reported.

Errata for the APRO Bulletin

This section provides corrections for previous issues. The January 1978 issue's Vila do Porto (Azores) sighting date is corrected from October 10, 1976, to October 7. Corrections are also made to the September 1979 issue regarding the Gerena (Spain) humanoid sighting, clarifying the author, road description, witness names, and details about the object's lights and sound.

UFOs Reported Over Greenland

This report details sightings from January-February 1980 in Godthaab, Greenland. Residents reported seeing various objects, including a twin flying object, an oval vehicle with portholes, and a luminescent object that hovered, changed shape into a blue cigar, and disappeared at high speed. Despite military authorities not confirming the sightings, Greenlanders remain convinced they are witnessing unusual atmospheric phenomena.

Wyoming-Another Abduction?

This article recounts an experience in the fall of 1976 by Woody Polston in the Norris Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park. Polston attempted to make contact by flashing a beacon with the message "Friends, I love you" in Morse code. He reported seeing two distinct objects: a "cylindrical thing; kind of a disc" and another craft "at least as big as the Safeway store." The larger object had a formation of lights and an indentation. Polston remembers looking for 2-3 minutes before stumbling back to his car, where he remained semi-conscious for 12-13 hours. His watch was 10 hours slow. He experienced recurring nightmares and felt he had not aged since the experience, believing he was "being kept for some reason." Dr. Leo Sprinkle, an APRO consultant, notes that such reluctance to report is common, with only one in ten people reporting sightings, and views these events as part of a "huge operation" to teach about the "New Age."

More on "Monster" UFOs

This section presents an account from the January 1903 issue of "The Zoologist," describing an object seen partly submerged by the crew of the S.S. Salisbury on October 28, 1902. The object was interpreted as a "sea serpent" and described as a dark mass with luminous trailing wake, scales of apparently 1 ft. diameter, and a body breadth tapering from about 30 ft. to 5 ft. Its length was estimated at 500-600 ft. The swirl caused by its movement was heard, and a strong odor was present. The article also mentions a "huge monster" with twinkling phosphorescent lights and a band of white phosphorescent sea.

Mysteries in Washington

This brief report mentions a sighting by Mr. and Mrs. Larry Lake in Aberdeen, Washington, on November 25, 1979, of a fiery object streaking across the Elk River mud flats and exploding. Rumors of a burned object and removed bodies were circulated, but denied by local authorities.

Alien Honeycomb-The First Solid Evidence for UFOs

This is a book review by Bill Chalker, Australian Representative for APRO, of the book "Alien Honeycomb-the first solid evidence of UFOs" by John Pinkney and Leonard Ryzman. The review discusses the book's claims of physical evidence from a UFO crash in Queensland, Australia, where wreckage was scattered and allegedly recovered by both military and private investigators. The book reportedly details the search for "smashed building blocks" and "unknowns" found in the wreckage. The review promises to examine the book from a scientific and critical point of view, noting the potential impact of its claims.

First Proposal Funded by UFO Research Group

This section reports that The Fund for UFO Research, a nonprofit organization in Washington, D.C., has completed funding its first project: the publication of a study on radar-visual-photographic UFO sightings over New Zealand in December 1978. The paper, written by physicist Dr. Bruce S. Maccabee, refutes claims that a filmed light was a squid boat. The Fund, organized in 1979 by scientists, engineers, and writer-editors, aims to channel money into research that increases public understanding of UFO phenomena. They are considering funding other projects and welcome grant proposals and contributions.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include detailed accounts of UFO sightings with radar and visual confirmation, emphasizing the importance of multiple witnesses. There is a consistent critique of official and mainstream scientific dismissal of UFO phenomena, advocating for more open-minded research. Cattle mutilations are presented as a significant and disturbing aspect of the UFO mystery, with ongoing investigations. The issue also highlights the ethical responsibilities of UFO researchers, particularly concerning witness welfare and data integrity. The editorial stance is clearly pro-ufology, critical of established institutions, and supportive of rigorous, yet open-minded, investigation into unexplained aerial phenomena.