APRO Bulletin - 1983 01 00 - Vol 31 No 2

Magazine Overview

Title: The APRO Bulletin
Issue: Vol. 31, No. 2
Date: Published January, 1983

This issue of The APRO Bulletin focuses on recent UFO sightings and organizational matters within the field of ufology. It features a prominent report on a large UFO observed over Korea, an account of a visit from a Greek investigator, and a collection of diverse sighting reports from around the globe.

"Bus-Sized" UFO Over Korea

The lead story details a significant UFO event that occurred over Korea on October 12, 1982. The Korea Times reported that approximately 30 people in Pusan notified a local broadcasting station about an object resembling a "mushroom," the size of an intra-city bus, seen at about 6 a.m. The object appeared to the northeast, emitted beams of light, and had a white tail. Similar reports came from citizens in Taegu and Kangnung. Min Yong-ki of the National Astronomical Observatory suggested it might have been a satellite. The following day, the Korea Herald reported that 80 people from various Korean cities had seen the object, describing it as oval-shaped, noiseless, and leaving a trail. Air Force authorities confirmed the object was visible to the naked eye but not detected on radar, and stated no flight exercises were conducted in the area. They presumed it could be a meteor or satellite. Min Yong-ki reiterated the satellite theory. However, Cho Kyong-chol, a professor of astronomy, suggested it might have been a cigar-shaped UFO, potentially a "mother ship." The article notes that UFOs had been reported 40 times in Korea since March 1952.

Karajas Visits APRO

Omiros Karajas, an APRO Field Investigator from Greece, visited the Tucson membership from January 3rd to 5th. He met with Jim McCoy and Mr. and Mrs. Lorenzen, discussing the current status of Ufology globally. Karajas brought a collection of well-investigated Greek cases, including one dating back to 75 BC. He also highlighted instances where the press has manufactured UFO cases, citing a 1968 magazine article about Greek cases that he found to be fabricated. Karajas was shown around the University of Arizona, meeting with Lorenzen's colleagues.

Korean UFO Reports

In addition to the main Korean sighting, the bulletin includes a "1980 Korean Report" where APRO member Kim Young Sick furnished information about a sighting on October 26, 1980, involving a 17-year-old student named Seu Dea Yung. Further reports from Asia include a "1980 CHINA PHOTO" where an object with rings and a dark core was photographed near the Great Wall north of Peking on August 23, 1980, observed by two campers. Another Asian sighting, "RINGED OBJECT OVER TIBET," occurred on July 24, 1981, in Lhasa, Tibet, described as being seen at a 20-degree elevation in the northeast sky.

UFOs Over Arizona

Two significant sightings from Arizona are detailed. The first, "UFOS OVER ARIZONA APACHE STRONGHOLD" by Patti Morris, describes a June 1960 incident where a ranch couple, Mr. and Mrs. Prude, witnessed two dull, gun-metal colored saucer-shaped objects flying silently down a dry wash. The objects were estimated to be about 15 feet in diameter and at an altitude of approximately 45 feet. The second part of the article discusses sightings in the Cochise Stronghold area during June 1980, where a large, oval object with white lights was observed on at least three nights, moving across the sky without sound.

"Night Light" in Wyoming

Dr. R. Leo Sprinkle, APRO's Consultant in Psychology, interviewed Christopher Kitchin about a sighting on October 2, 1982, near Savery, Wyoming. Kitchin and his companion, Dan Schmidt, observed a fast, maneuvering light that appeared star-like but exhibited unusual movements, including swerving around stars and making sudden pauses and turns. Kitchin, initially skeptical, was convinced it was a UFO after eliminating other possibilities.

Multiple Reports

This section features a letter from a reader challenging J. Allen Hynek's premise that multiple UFO sightings by a single individual should be viewed with doubt. The author, who claims 35 years of experience and military pilot training, asserts his qualifications as a competent observer and presents five cases summarized as follows:
1. A brilliant, globular, white light seen in daylight that moved at tremendous speed over the Atlantic Ocean.
2. A silvery, disk-shaped object seen in daylight flying northerly and wobbling.
3. A star-like object at night that appeared at low altitude and traveled upwards at high speed.
4. A star-like object at night that changed direction suddenly multiple times before blinking out and then reappearing.
5. A pulsating red globe of light flying at approximately 500 mph at a low altitude without sound.

The author challenges anyone to explain these cases as man-made objects or known natural phenomena.

Press Reports

• This section compiles recent UFO sighting reports from various locations:
• Kentucky, July 21, 1982: Ray Foster observed a "toy top" shaped object with a bright red light and orange lights hovering over his garden.
• Australia, July 31, 1982: Mrs. Cora Gilsenan-Waters saw a "fire" object moving among trees, which later appeared as a pear-shaped object with flashing green, gold, and red lights.
• California, July 1982: Multiple sightings in Tuolumne County are mentioned.
• Tuolumne County, California, August 1982: At least 10 residents reported unidentified flying objects, mostly strange lights or whirring sounds. Specific reports include a "white light like a star only a lot bigger" seen by Jan Duchi, orange objects and a bright white light observed by Marty Vartanian and Huntley Bloxham, and a large yellow-white circular light seen by Donna Nunley.
• California: Craig Day reported a "very intense dome-shaped red glow in the trees."
• California: The Holt Family reported seeing lights shoot up from the ground and whirl.
• New Zealand, August 3-4, 1982: A driver and two passengers saw an object about 2 meters high near Hapuku bridge, which vanished.
• New Zealand, August 4, 1982: A man sighted an arc-shaped pattern of flashing red lights.
• East Coast of United States, August 24, 1982: Colorful sky lights were reported, with speculation ranging from meteors to Halley's Comet debris.
• Arkansas, August 27, 1982: Residents reported seeing large circles with orange and yellow lights hovering and vanishing with a "growing noise."
• Iowa, September 7, 1982: Six people reported spotting a round object described as a "hot air balloon and the color of fire."

Attention: Field Investigators

Headquarters is requesting all field investigators to submit updated information, including name, current address, telephone number, general area of coverage, and willingness to travel. This is part of a system revamp.

APRO's Position on "Unity"

The bulletin discusses a meeting held in Toronto in July 1982, attended by representatives of CUFOS, MUFON, and the SBI, to discuss a Federation of UFO groups in North America. APRO adopted a "wait and see" attitude, noting that no concrete accomplishments were made and that the groups seemed to prioritize their own agendas over genuine unity. APRO asserts that the idea of "unity" for CUFOS and MUFON is redundant and that their goal might be to absorb other groups. APRO will maintain its separate identity but is open to reasonable cooperation suggestions.

More on "NOVA"

This section includes a letter from APRO member Jerold R. Johnson to the producers of the PBS program NOVA, criticizing the program's focus on the "emotional" side of UFOs and the exclusion of scientific investigation and civilian organizations. Johnson questions why APRO, the oldest UFO research organization, was not contacted.

What's Ahead for Ufology?

The article reflects on the media's influence on Ufology, particularly the impact of movies like "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" and "E.T.," which have shaped public perception. It laments the "slide down the tube" of UFO research since the early 1970s, partly attributed to the death of Dr. James McDonald. The author suggests that the economic depression will necessitate cost conservation and advises members to "dig in" and support research directly rather than attending expensive conferences. The importance of report forms and pens/pencils as research tools is emphasized.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The bulletin consistently advocates for rigorous, fact-based UFO research, emphasizing the importance of accurate reporting and investigation by qualified individuals. It expresses skepticism towards media sensationalism and the commercialization of UFO conferences. APRO maintains a stance of independence from other UFO organizations while remaining open to genuine cooperation. The editorial tone is critical of superficial approaches to ufology and promotes a return to fundamental research principles.