APRO Bulletin - 1983 03 00 - Vol 31 No 3

Magazine Overview

Title: the apro bulletin
Issue: Vol. 31, No. 3
Date: March, 1983
Publisher: AERIAL PHENOMENA RESEARCH ORGANIZATION, INC.
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of the APRO Bulletin delves into various aspects of UFO research, beginning with a critical analysis of James E. Oberg's book "UFOs and Outer Space Mysteries." The editorial staff challenges Oberg's portrayal as a "sympathetic skeptic," arguing that he misrepresents cases and individuals, citing the Walton case and the Trindade Island UFO photograph as prime examples of his flawed methodology. The publication also includes a "STOP PRESS" report on a series of loud aerial booms experienced along the U.S. Gulf Coast and a compilation of UFO sightings from various locations, alongside astronomical data for April 1983.

Renewal Notice and Symposium Papers

The bulletin opens with a "RENEWAL NOTICE" informing subscribers that if their code is 31/5, their renewal is due. It outlines the subscription fees for U.S., Canada, Mexico, and overseas mail.

Following the notice is a section on "UFOhio SYMPOSIUM PAPERS," listing eight available papers from the APRO UFOhio Symposium in June 1981. These papers, authored by individuals like Robert F. Creegan, William L. Moore, Betty Hill, R. Leo Sprinkle, Peter A. Jordan, L.J. Lorenzen, Stanton T. Friedman, and Peter Van Arsdale, are available for purchase at a price of $.10 per page plus postage.

Letter to the Editor

A letter from Dimitri Ossipov expresses his satisfaction with the APRO's information and renews his membership. He also offers his fluency in multiple languages for voluntary translations, an offer the editor gratefully accepts.

The Booms Are Back!

This section details loud aerial booms that occurred on Saturday, February 26, along the Gulf Coast, from Alabama to Mississippi. The phenomenon caused numerous calls to authorities. An earthquake expert, Rev. Louis J. Eisele, noted that the seismic readings indicated pressure waves from something airborne over the Gulf of Mexico. While National Guard F-4 Phantom fighter planes were initially suggested, a Brigadier General doubted their involvement. The report notes that similar booms plagued the Gulf and East Coasts in the middle and late 1960s, coinciding with intense UFO activity.

What is a Skeptic?

This article, by Coral E. Lorenzen, critically examines James E. Oberg's book "UFOs and Outer Space Mysteries." Lorenzen argues that Oberg is not a true skeptic and that his book misrepresents cases. The article specifically addresses Oberg's claims about the Travis Walton case, stating that the "woodsmen" (Walton and his colleagues) did not see the pseudo-documentary and were not in a financial bind, calling these misrepresentations. It also critiques Oberg's portrayal of Mike Rogers' alleged financial problems.

The Snowflake Caper

This subsection focuses on Oberg's interpretation of the Walton case, particularly his assertion that the witnesses were "woodsmen who were in a tight financial bind" and had seen the NBC pseudo-documentary. Lorenzen refutes these claims, stating they were misrepresentations.

Skeptic (Continued)

The article continues its critique of Oberg, discussing how Phil Klass, a colleague of Oberg, allegedly used telephone calls and newspaper quotes to bolster his theory that the Walton case was a hoax. The narrative of the Walton incident is briefly recounted: Walton and six others saw a structured object, a beam struck Walton, and he disappeared for five days. The article highlights Klass's questions about how Walton was found and the lack of a police watch for his return, which Lorenzen addresses by explaining the confusion and lack of information at the time.

Trindade Island

This section scrutinizes Oberg's reporting on the Saturn-shaped UFO photo taken over Trindade Island in January 1958. Oberg captioned the photo stating the witness was a "professional trick photographer." Lorenzen argues this is a gross misrepresentation, explaining that Almiro Barauna, the photographer, was a professional marine photographer who had made "trick" photos as part of his craft but was not a "professional trick photographer." The article also criticizes Donald Menzel for arguing persuasively that the photo was a hoax, alleging that Menzel altered official Brazilian Navy statements to fit his preconceived ideas, specifically by omitting phrases like "reality of" and changing "evidence enough" to "sufficient proof."

Field Investigation

This section discusses the history and methodology of APRO's field investigations. It mentions the passing of Mr. Louis Daughtery, a former Director of Investigations, and the decision not to issue a new Field Investigator's Manual due to economic reasons and the viability of existing guidelines. Investigators are urged to inform headquarters of their availability.

England Site of Minor Flap

This report details several UFO sightings in England in August 1982:

• August 1, 1982 (Peterborough): Elizabeth Isaacs saw a sphere-shaped object that turned disc-shaped and shot off at high speed.
• August 16, 1982 (Worcester): Christopher Whippe observed a brightly colored, cigar-shaped object that split into two.
• August 22, 1982 (Stafford): The Merritt family and a policeman saw a red, green, and white glow hovering for an extended period.
• August (?), 1982 (Markham): Witnesses observed a mysterious object for 2 hours, described as bright red and green with splaying light bands.
• September 1, 1982 (Southampton): A black, doughnut-shaped object flew soundlessly over a home.

Yakima Indian Recalls UFO Sightings

By W. J. Vogel, this section presents four incidents related by "Mr. D.," a Yakima Indian logger:

• Incident #1 (1954, California): Mr. D. and a sergeant observed a 25-foot diameter, tin-can-colored, saucer-shaped object hovering over a lettuce field. It made no noise and ascended rapidly.
• Incident #2 (1972, Yakima Reservation): Mr. D. and a friend were followed by an object that emitted intense heat.
• Incident #3 (1979 or 1980, Yakima Reservation): While lost in fog, Mr. D. and two others saw a large, white ball-like object bouncing around.
• Incident #4 (Several years ago, Yakima Reservation): The entire meadow lit up with an eerie, bluish light for less than a minute.

Press Reports

This section compiles various UFO sighting reports:

• July 6 & August 28, 1982 (Penn Township, Pennsylvania): Residents reported a large rectangular object with orange, red, and yellow lights flying low.
• August 28, 1982 (Latrobe, Pennsylvania): A couple observed an 80-foot long, elliptical object with blue, red, and green lights hovering motionless.
• August 12, 1982 (Carpinteria, California): Joseph Scott and his mother saw a round, bronze-colored object with windows descend to the ocean.
• September 1, 1982 (Ridgecrest, California): Witnesses reported a white light that buzzed them, followed by a smaller light changing colors, and a larger object moving rapidly across the sky.
• August 17 & 18, 1982 (Clark, New Jersey): Donna Carson and friends reported seeing formations of yellowish lights and similar sightings were reported by other residents.
• August 23, 1982 (Sturgis, Michigan): Witnesses observed red, white, and blue lights blinking on and off from low-flying objects.
• September 9, 1982 (Elba Township, Michigan): Marie Stock saw a large, bright object changing colors from red to yellow and green.
• August 20, 1982 (Salina, Kansas): Willis Hinkson and Marjorie Devins observed an object on a waving flight path, described as a silver dome or "big Frisbee."
• September, 1982 (Hays, Kansas): Farmer George Brungardt discovered strange burn marks in his pasture, with an oily residue.
• October 2, 1982 (Springfield, Missouri): A volleyball team observed a bright object with a red tail light, described as a boomerang shape.
• October 11, 1982 (Milo, Iowa): Darlene Cumings saw an object with red lights descend into a field.

Astronomical Data

This section, by Lee Emery, provides astronomical information for April 1983, detailing the positions of prominent planets (Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn) and brightest stars (Arcturus, Procyon, Capella, Sirius, Betelgeuse, Rigel, Aldebaran, Vega, Antares) at various times throughout the night.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the critical examination of skeptical viewpoints on UFO phenomena, particularly through the lens of James E. Oberg's work, and the presentation of numerous witness accounts of sightings from around the world. The editorial stance appears to be one of open investigation and a commitment to presenting evidence, even when it challenges conventional explanations. The APRO emphasizes its non-alignment policy regarding UFO federations and its dedication to the "eventual solution of the phenomenon of unidentified flying objects."