APRO Bulletin - 1981 12 00 - Vol 29 No 12

Magazine Overview

This issue of "the apro bulletin" from December 1981, marking APRO's 31st year, is published by the Aerial Phenomena Research Organization, Inc. It features a variety of UFO reports, investigations, and organizational news.

REHN RETIRES

A letter from K. Gosta Rehn in September of 1981 informed APRO of his retirement due to failing eyesight. Rehn, APRO's Swedish representative since 1957, is credited with furnishing the organization with cases and publishing three books on UFOs. He is described as a hard-working and diligent researcher who approached the subject from a legal perspective. Having lived in the United States and graduated from Fordham University, Rehn possessed an excellent command of English, facilitating communication with APRO Headquarters. Although he has named a successor, his retirement is difficult for APRO to accept. He will continue to receive the Bulletin, and it is hoped friends will read it to him, as he retains a lively interest in UFOs. Rehn celebrated his 92nd birthday in the spring of 1981.

LANDED OBJECT IN NORWAY

On July 25, 1981, at approximately 7:30 a.m., Mrs. Hjordis Hokstad of Lanke, Hell/St Jordal, Norway, observed a gleaming object in the sun behind bushes in a field. She described the object's shape as a cylinder with a "globe" on top, with a diameter slightly larger than the cylinder. A metallic bar protruded from the bottom, and there was a red mark or "plate" on top in the shape of a heart. Mrs. Hokstad also saw a "man" in a greyish-brown "boiler suit" walking towards the object. The object then rose slowly, moved in a slanting trajectory to the northeast, and disappeared into the northeastern sky with marked acceleration. She observed this through 12x50 binoculars.

The case was investigated by the Norwegian Institute for Scientific Research and Information (NIVFO). On-site investigations found no abnormal radiation. Some small aspen shrubs were blackened as if exposed to intense heat, and nebulous ground markings were found under the grass. Heifers on an adjacent farm were restless around the time of the sighting. NIVFO concluded that the object could be classified as a UFO after ruling out mundane explanations. The report was translated from Norwegian to English by Anton Lidstrom.

UFO Reports and Public Health Panic

This article by Robert F. Creegan, Ph.D., proposes a hypothesis that fear of public alarm, specifically concerning the water supply of a populous area, might be a motivation for the cover-up of official UFO report investigations. Creegan discusses his visit to Wanaque, New Jersey, an area with heavy security due to its water supply. He notes that UFO reports in the area have evoked quick responses, and that investigations have sometimes involved individuals with questionable credentials. He suggests that while "Men in Black" stories circulate, local rumors are less melodramatic but still thought-provoking. Some outsiders involved in investigations appear to be from health departments or state offices, rather than federal agents.

Creegan speculates that concerns about alien matter in a public water supply could lead to public panic, necessitating quiet investigations by health officials. He emphasizes that these are speculations based on local rumors but finds them plausible enough to warrant further investigation by UFO researchers.

APRO SPONSORS EXHIBIT

On October 17 and 18, 1981, APRO organized an exhibit at Park Mall in Tucson, Arizona. The exhibit featured photos, books, models of UFOs and "aliens," and a videotape of UFO photographs with commentary. The event, conceived by Anne Bletchman, was successful and well-attended. Several APRO members, including Mr. and Mrs. Sherman Bletchman, Mr. Bob Dean, Mr. Jim McCoy, and others, were present to sell materials and answer questions. Additional exhibits are planned for other malls in Tucson, with proceeds going to the APRO general treasury.

MOORE IN TUCSON LECTURE

On October 24, 1981, APRO sponsored a public lecture by author William E. Moore, author of "The Roswell Incident," at the Marriott Inn Downtown. The event included a showing of the film "Flying Saucers are Real" and was attended by approximately 125 people. This lecture was part of APRO's efforts to supplement its income through activities beyond membership dues and back issue sales.

LANDING WITH PHYSICAL TRACES NEAR ROSEDALE, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA

This article by Bill Chalker and Keith Basterfield details a UFO-related physical trace event that occurred on September 30, 1980, near Rosedale, Victoria, Australia. The witness, George Blackwell, was awakened at 0100 hours by disturbances among his livestock. He observed a domed object with a white top, moving at about 8 feet above the paddock. The object, estimated to be about 26-28 feet in diameter and 15 feet high, had orange and blue lights and appeared to hover over a water tank before landing about 50 feet away. A whistling noise was heard, and Blackwell experienced an odd sensation described as "like a plate of jelly" as he approached the object.

After about 2-3 minutes on the ground, the object lifted off with a tremendous bang, accompanied by a black tube that inflated and deflated. The object departed eastward at a height of about 8-10 feet, then rose to about 100 feet. Blackwell later found a ring of flattened grass, about 30 feet across, at the landing site. The grass within the ring was black or brown, and yellow flowers had been removed. The site also had six evenly spaced "spokes" of undamaged grass. Debris, consisting of stones, cape-weed, and cow paddies, was found along the departure path.

Mr. Blackwell's wrist watch had stopped at 0110 hours during the event. The case was reported to the "Gippsland Times" and investigated by VUFORS and APRO. Soil and rock samples were taken for analysis. The report notes that the event involves a close encounter, a physical ground trace, effects on the witness and his watch, effects on stock, and the disappearance of about 10,000 gallons of water from a tank. Further unusual events, including ground traces, UFO reports, and water losses, have been reported in the Gippsland area. The Rosedale landing is considered one of the best UFO cases from Australia, and investigations are ongoing.

PRESS REPORTS

This section compiles various UFO sighting reports from different locations:

• CHILE (November/December 1957): Reports from Peru and Chile describe disc-shaped glowing objects. A sighting near Arica involved a "flying saucer" shape leaving a luminous wake. An Aerolineas Argentinas pilot described an object resembling a rocket.
• TRINDADE ISLAND (January 16, 1957): The crew of the IGY ship Almirante Saldanha sighted and photographed a disc-shaped object that circled the island.
• AUSTRALIA (November 8, 1957): Astronomer A. Pryzbylski confirmed a UFO sighting near Mount Stromlo Observatory.
• BRAZIL (September 1955): Dr. Achilles Greco photographed a disc-shaped object hovering over Cabras Island.
• VENEZUELA (December 18, 1957): Dr. Luis E. Corrales captured a photograph showing the trail of an object with an uneven trajectory alongside Sputnik's trail.
• CHINA (July 24, 1981): Reports from various parts of China describe a bright, spinning spiral-shaped UFO, seen by thousands watching an open-air film in Sichuan province. The object was described as a ball shining with greenish radiance and was observed in 13 provinces.
• MASSACHUSETTS, USA (July 28, 1981): Darryl Perrault and his girlfriend observed an oval-shaped object with red and white flashing lights for about 45 minutes over Pittsfield.
• AUSTRALIA (August 5-6, 1981): Leila Meade saw a huge orange ball on the horizon near Marnoo. The previous night, Maureen Tillig and Marea Breisch saw a flashing red light that changed color and hovered before moving quickly north.
• INDIANA, USA (August 20-22, 1981): At least 8 police officers reported an unidentified flying object that changed colors and hovered for three hours near Frankfort. The object was also tracked by radar at Grissom AFB. Reports from Noblesville and Hamilton County Sheriff's offices also described flashing lights.
• RUSSIA (August 21, 1981): A rose-colored fireball flew into the engine compartment of a moving freight train in eastern Siberia, causing an explosion.
• CANADA (August 22, 1981): Pat Wilson and her husband Jim saw a strange fire burning in a field near Smoky Lake, Alberta, leaving a cigar-shaped area of grey-black ash.
• JAPAN (August 29, 1981): A fleet of 15 cigar-shaped UFOs with flashing red lights were sighted by at least 50 people in Osaka.

ASTRONOMICAL DATA

This section provides astronomical information for January 1982, detailing the positions and visibility of prominent planets (Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Mars) and bright stars (Capella, Vega, Sirius, Arcturus).

LETTERS

Several members express their appreciation for APRO and the Bulletin, offering support and encouragement. They highlight the importance of APRO's work in UFO research and express hope for its continued viability.

TWENTY-TWO YEARS AGO IN THE BULLETIN

This section provides a synopsis of material from the March 1958 issue of the Bulletin, recalling APRO's early days and featuring articles on Brazilian UFO reports investigated by Dr. Olavo T. Fontes, and photographs of UFOs taken in Brazil and Venezuela.

AT PRESS TIME

This section includes recent information received by APRO Headquarters. A UFO was reported in three Argentine provinces and in Chile on October 31. Reports from San Juan, Mendoza, and Cordoba described a "flying saucer" shape with a luminous wake. An Aerolineas Argentinas pilot and an Austral pilot also reported sightings. Seven mountain climbers in the Andes also reported seeing a luminous unidentified flying object.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of the APRO Bulletin are the detailed reporting and investigation of UFO sightings, with a particular emphasis on physical trace evidence and witness testimony. The organization appears committed to rigorous investigation, as evidenced by the detailed accounts of the Norway and Rosedale cases. The "Press Reports" section highlights the global nature of UFO phenomena, with sightings from various continents. The editorial stance is one of serious inquiry into UFOs, aiming for the "eventual solution of the phenomenon." There is also a focus on maintaining the organization's viability through fundraising efforts like exhibits and lectures, and on appreciating the contributions of its members and representatives, such as the retiring K. Gosta Rehn.