the apro bulletin

Magazine Overview

Title: The A.P.R.O. Bulletin
Issue Date: April, 1982
Volume: 30, No. 4
Publisher: The Aerial Phenomena Research Organization, Inc. (A.P.R.O.)
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of The A.P.R.O. Bulletin features a lead story detailing a remarkable "UFO - Airliner Chase" in Brazil, alongside an article on cattle mutilations in New Mexico and reports of UFO landings in Uruguay. It also includes various press reports of UFO sightings from across the United States and an editorial discussing the historical context and ongoing challenges of UFO research.

UFO - Airliner "Chase" in Brazil

The primary story recounts an incident on February 8, 1982, where the pilot, crew, and many passengers aboard VASP flight 169 from Fortaleza to Sao Paulo, Brazil, observed a brilliant UFO for over an hour. The object, described as a brilliant white light with lateral projections, approached the aircraft near Belo Horizonte, approximately 70 kilometers distant. Commander Gerson Maciel Britto, the prime witness, provided drawings of the object. The flight engineer and other crew members confirmed the sighting. Passengers were alerted and many also witnessed the phenomenon. The object maintained a course to the east of the aircraft and its luminosity diminished when passing through sparse clouds. Initial explanations of the object being Venus or a "tropical aurora borealis" were later deemed erroneous. Additional witnesses included a lady psychologist in Niteroi, and two students driving to Niteroi.

Valdez: Mutilation Ex-Skeptic

This section details the transformation of New Mexico State Policeman Gabe Valdez from a skeptic to someone who cannot rule out extraterrestrial beings. His involvement began in June 1976 with a cattle mutilation case, where he found a tripod-like imprint near a dead cow and later witnessed strange orange lights. Valdez suggests a top-secret government medical research project might be responsible for over 90 livestock deaths in New Mexico since 1975. He describes the orange light as moving slowly then quickly, resembling an evening star. A June 1980 report by Ken Rommel, a former FBI agent, is mentioned, with Valdez noting that while the report was convincing, it was based on speculation. Valdez has become a primary investigator for such cases, noting a pattern of rectal, sexual organ, and tongue removal, often following reports of orange lights and helicopter noises. Despite the lack of concrete evidence, ranchers have repeatedly tried to catch perpetrators.

Repeat Landings in Uruguay

Bob Van Der Velde reports on a remote ranch in Uruguay, "La Aurora," where over 70 UFOs have allegedly landed in the past four years. Pedro Romaniuk, an Argentine writer, guided the author to the ranch. The evidence consists of large circles on the ground where grass had burned away and then regrown greener, with three pod-shaped impressions forming a triangle. These impressions, about two feet in diameter, are spaced farther apart in larger circles. Unique to these sites are smaller indentations, varying from two to three inches in diameter, located near the pod marks. Romaniuk believes these were formed by "probes" testing the ground. He theorizes that a "magnetic radiation" caused the grass to grow greener, while intense energy from probes and pods made some areas infertile. Despite "Danger-Radioactive Area" signs, Romaniuk believes the radiation is harmless, though Don Tonna, the ranch owner, suffered severe radiation burns and his dog and prize stud bull were killed from it. The ranch's focus has shifted to UFOs since November 13, 1977.

Physiological Evidence

This section discusses the potential overlooked physical evidence in UFO cases, specifically surgical scars found on individuals reporting abduction experiences. These scars are suggested to be symptoms of implants or alterations. Investigators are urged to catalog and categorize all such marks, re-examining subjects for them, particularly in the hairline areas of the neck and forehead. Data on the subject's name, date, time, and location of the occurrence are requested, along with information on whether X-rays have been taken.

UFOs Over Lake Ontario

UFO investigators are attempting to link several photographs of objects over Lake Ontario to numerous sightings in the area. Malcom Williams of Niagara Falls notes that "one type of unidentified craft is being seen by many people." A photograph being considered for publication by a New York City magazine matches the description of a long, cylinder-shaped vehicle with a rounded nose, light green and dull grey in color. This photo, allegedly taken near the Niagara-on-the-Lake Golf Club, was tested by computer and found not to be a model or fake. Williams also reported seeing a similar craft two years prior that disappeared suddenly, noting "square windows."

Opinions

Astrophysicist Inacio Malonge Martin of the Sao Paulo Institute of Space Research suggests that a more technologically advanced race is studying Earth. Mrs. Irene Granchi, APRO's Representative for Brazil, believes the VASP case is the culmination of a "flap" that began in February and is convinced of its validity.

Press Reports

This section compiles various UFO sighting reports from across the United States:

• North Carolina (March 1979): Pat Eudy reported a bright light in the sky and a subsequent memory lapse, recalling being on board a craft with an astronaut-like being and experiencing pain in his fingers, suggesting a blood sample might have been taken.
• Mississippi (September 1981): Six persons in Tylertown reported seeing a V-shaped, cuplike object with colored lights. The object made a "strange loud noise" as it moved off. Another witness described it as large and near tree-top level.
• Pennsylvania (September 1981): In Easton, Charles Stanley observed shiny objects that appeared to be disks, with smaller objects orbiting them, all lit up with various colors.
• Nebraska (October 1981): Police and residents in North Platte reported a saucer-shaped object with rotating lights, along with two other less distinct objects.
• Massachusetts (October 1981): Anthony Sarkis, Jr. reported an incandescent red fireball plummeting to earth, leaving a glowing object in a crater. A Harvard geologist suggested it was industrial slag, but a physics professor is seeking further opinions.
• Massachusetts (November 1981): In Williamstown, several people reported sighting a circular object with bright lights hovering over Pine Cobble Mountain.
• New Hampshire (November 1981): Multiple witnesses in the New Hampton-Meredith area reported seeing a shimmering silvery saucer with "posts" hanging down, which hovered and shot blue flames. Some saw lights darting in and out, while others described a "boomerang" shape.
• Massachusetts (November 1981): A Sanbornton woman reported lights in a field that appeared to shoot fireworks. Interference with television signals was also reported.
• Massachusetts (November 1981): Mrs. Edna Ulm of Meredith observed a bright light that blinked and dropped away lights, leaving a main unit that later disappeared.
• Massachusetts (November 1981): In Willits, a "pared orange peel-shaped object" was observed for 45 minutes, described as "shaped like an umbrella turned upside down with prongs on it."

Editorial

The editorial, reprinted from The Australian UFO Bulletin, reflects on the 30 years since the "great UFO invasion of Earth." It argues that the battle of the mind was lost, and those who speak out are met with ridicule or character assassination. The author criticizes those who focus on jargon and statistics, calling it a "major historical event." The editorial suggests that UFO groups should now focus on informing governments and citizens about the significance of UFO events for future civilization. It also touches upon government secrecy surrounding UFOs and space programs, suggesting a potential shift with the development of smaller electronic components and new generations of satellites. The editorial posits that security agencies on both sides of the Iron Curtain may have cooperated to maintain a UFO blackout.

Quote from Professor James E. McDonald

Professor James E. McDonald, speaking on March 12, 1968, to the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute, stated that his studies of the UFO problem had led him to conclude it is an "International scientific problem of potentially enormous importance." He found the hypothesis of an extraterrestrial origin to be the most satisfactory explanation for the accumulated observational evidence. McDonald advocated for energetic scientific investigation into this possibility, criticizing the prevailing scientific opinion that UFOs are a "nonsense problem" and noting that spokesmen emphasizing this view are often uninformed about the UFO evidence. He concluded that "UFOs are, in my opinion, the greatest international scientific problem of our times."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue consistently emphasizes the reality and significance of the UFO phenomenon, moving beyond mere sightings to explore physical evidence, potential extraterrestrial involvement, and government secrecy. The editorial stance is one of advocating for serious scientific investigation and public awareness, challenging the dismissal of UFOs as a "nonsense problem." The publication highlights witness credibility, the persistence of sightings across different regions, and the need to gather and analyze all available data, including physical traces and physiological effects. The recurring theme is that UFOs represent a profound and important scientific and societal issue that demands attention and investigation.