APRO Bulletin - 1984 09 00 - Vol 32 No 6

Magazine Overview

Title: THE A.P.R.O. BULLETIN
Volume: 32
Issue: 6
Publication Date: September, 1984
Publisher: AERIAL PHENOMENA RESEARCH ORGANIZATION, INC.
Country of Publication: USA
Original Language: English

This issue of The APRO Bulletin delves into several UFO-related topics, with a significant focus on the "Westchester Sightings" that occurred in June 1984. It also includes a review of Loren Coleman's book "Mysterious America" and lists papers available from the APRO UFOhio Symposium held in June 1981.

RENEWAL NOTICE

The issue begins with a renewal notice for APRO members, reminding them that if their Volume and Issue Code is 32/9, their renewal is due. It provides the renewal fees for the U.S. ($15.00), Canada and Mexico ($16.00), Overseas Surface Mail ($18.00), and Overseas Airmail ($21.00). The notice emphasizes that a second notice is expensive to process and encourages members to remit their dues promptly to save APRO added expense.

UFOhio SYMPOSIUM PAPERS

A list of papers presented at the APRO UFOhio Symposium in June 1981 is provided, available from APRO Headquarters. The papers cover a range of topics including "Old Magic and New" by Robert F. Creegan, Ph.D.; "The Roswell Investigation, Update and Conclusions" by William L. Moore; "The Interrupted Journey Continued" by Betty Hill; "Ufo Activity and Human Consciousness" by R. Leo Sprinkle, Ph.D.; "The Night Surgeons" by Peter A. Jordan; "E.T.H. - Completing the Jigsaw" by L.J. Lorenzen; "UFO - The Cosmic Watergate" by Stanton T. Friedman; and "Sociological Aspects of UFO Research" by Peter Van Arsdale, Ph.D. The prices for these papers, reflecting copying costs at $0.10 per page plus postage, are listed.

AN APOLOGY

The bulletin issues an apology regarding the lead article "Who is Watching Us?" in Volume 32, Issue #5. The byline of Mr. Milos Krmelj was mistakenly identified. Mr. Krmelj, who represents APRO in Yugoslavia, was incorrectly identified as the Representative for Czechoslovakia. The apology extends to Mr. Jan Bartos, the actual representative for Czechoslovakia. The organization acknowledges that such accidents can happen but expresses regret.

THE WESTCHESTER SIGHTINGS

This section details a series of UFO sightings that occurred in Westchester County, New York, during the week of June 11, 1984. The report is compiled by Dick Ruhl with contributions from Richie Petracca, Sal Giamusso, and Gerry Arena. The sightings began with a call from Dan Crawford of CBS Network TV News, inquiring about UFO activity upstate. Reports indicated sightings on the night of June 12th over various towns including New Cassel, Mt. Kisco, Bedford, Briercliff, Peekskill, Pleasantville, and Yorktown.

INVESTIGATION BEGUN

Field investigators Ruhl, Petracca, Giamusso, and Arena began their investigation on Saturday, June 16th. They gathered information from local police departments and witnesses. Speculation ranged from genuine UFOs to light aircraft and ultra-lights. The investigation involved visiting police departments, speaking with town supervisors like Mrs. Lois Mitchell of New Cassel, and setting up observation posts overlooking key areas such as the Indian Point Nuclear Plant and Camp Smith.

FIRST-HAND TESTIMONY

Sgt. George Lowery and Ptl. Gary Walsh of the New Cassel police department reported seeing approximately six bright white circular lights in a "V" formation. Sgt. Lowery estimated the object's size to be comparable to a Boeing 747 jet liner. While some witnesses reported seeing a shape, others only described the lights, which were noted to be as bright as landing lights on aircraft but without the typical glow or beam. Mrs. Lois Mitchell described the object as having a boomerang or delta wing shape with three greenish-white lights on top, moving slowly and gliding.

RADAR CONTACT

Westchester airport confirmed radar contact with the object, which was also visually observed but not identified by airport personnel. The possibility of ultra-light aircraft was considered but largely ruled out due to radar return signals and the absence of noise, which is typically associated with ultra-light engines.

AT MT. KISCO

Adrienne Pellini, a salesperson, reported a "tremendously large object" passing over her terrace on the night of June 25th. She described it as solid, silent, and triangular with lights on the left and right ends, and six discernable thin lines on the bottom. She estimated it to be larger than a 747 aircraft. Pellini, who is majoring in Archaeology, Anthropology, and Osteology, is considered a reliable witness, though her size estimation is noted as a potential area of reservation.

HUGE, SILENT

Pellini further described the object as filling the sky, blocking out stars, and being absolutely silent. It moved away on a straight course, with lights that remained equidistant. She stated it was not very high and kept heading north. The lights gave off a yellowish-white color with a fuzzy edge. She emphatically stated it was not an aircraft and described it as one huge solid object.

RUMORS RIFE

The issue notes that rumors of ultra-light aircraft or pilots flying sports planes in close formation have muddied the waters of UFO investigations in the area. Sgt. Lowery of the New Cassel police stated that the object's rigid lights during turns indicated it was not aircraft. Lt. George Lesnick of the Fairfield police also ruled out the "plane theory." The bulletin acknowledges that while many reliable witnesses saw the object and identified the lights as aircraft, their investigation suggests the majority of reports might be incorrect.

FACTS TO CONSIDER

Fact 1: Many reliable witnesses, including policemen, identified the lights as a formation of light aircraft.
Fact 2: Mt. Kisco reported a "UFO" on a Tuesday night, and Patrolman Richard Stooza observed a group of lights in a wedge or boomerang-shape that broke formation and landed at Stormville Airport.
Fact 3: Captain Murry Bennett, a traffic reporter, acknowledged seeing similar phenomena and agreed that the pilots have become a public nuisance and a danger.
Fact 4: Captain La Polt and other prison personnel at Greenhaven prison testified to seeing pilots flying in wedge or boomerang formations.
Fact 5: Peter Gersten reported a call from a woman who witnessed pilots stringing extra lights on their planes.

1983 "FLAP" REPEATED

This "flap" is compared to a similar event in 1983, where Philip Imbrogno of CUFOS conducted investigations and concluded most sightings were traceable to pilots. The bulletin notes that Imbrogno seems to have reversed his stance and minimizes the evidence against the Stormville pilots. The article suggests Peter Gersten may have hyped the sightings to raise money for a UFO conference and for projects related to J. Allen Hynek and CAUS. The author expresses concern that this distorts facts and provides ammunition to UFO detractors like Philip Klass.

"CONFERENCE" RIGGED

The author expresses disappointment with Peter Gersten's tactics at a UFO Conference, where the author was allegedly cut out as a speaker and later censored during a discussion panel. The author believes Gersten used these tactics to control the narrative and keep the truth from the public.

Fact 7: Airport Inspections

Karl Huber and the author visited several airports and found that the claim that Stormville Airport has no facilities for night flights was untrue. They also learned that the owner of Mahopac Airport testified that he and his family have seen pilots flying in wedge formations, turning their lights on and off on command.

Conclusions and Observations

The bulletin praises the flying skills of the pilots, comparing them to the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels. The planes are described as painted black and silver to minimize visibility. They avoid cloudy nights. The possibility of pilots other than the Stormville group being involved is considered. The bulletin suggests that a probable 10% chance exists that a genuine object was seen in the Westchester area. Witnesses are urged to re-examine their sightings objectively. Mrs. Murphy reported seeing both pilots and a UFO, feeling they were different. The bulletin notes that FAA officials consider the low tree-top flights legal if proper altitude and lighting regulations are met. Witnesses are encouraged to identify planes and their numbers and sign affidavits.

MYSTERIOUS AMERICA (Book Review)

This section reviews Loren Coleman's book "Mysterious America." The reviewer, Robert Barrow, notes that the book serves as an introduction to Fortean events for curious readers. It covers topics such as the "Dover Demon," enormous snakes, mystery cats, kangaroos, Bigfeet, and their possible UFO connection. The review highlights Coleman's descriptions of "mad" gassers and "Wandering Nephites." Barrow concludes that the book is well-written and a pleasing compilation.

PRESS REPORTS

This section compiles various UFO sighting reports from different locations:

• New Hampshire (October 31, 1983): Residents and a city councilman reported an unidentified object flying above treetops near Rochester and Dover.
• Illinois (December 12, 1983): Witnesses near Byron reported triangular objects with blinking red and white lights moving erratically.
• England (August 12, 1983): A silver bell-shaped object with a brilliant flashing white light was seen over Huddersfield.
• Wales (January 19, 1983): Reports from Swansea included a sphere of flashing lights and a large red glow in the sky.
• Texas (January 27, 1984): Carolyn Green reported her car was forced into a ditch by an unknown entity with flashing red lights.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this issue is the investigation into UFO sightings, particularly the Westchester events, and the persistent question of whether these are genuine unknown aerial phenomena or misidentified conventional aircraft, specifically ultra-lights. The bulletin's stance appears to be one of critical investigation, acknowledging the possibility of genuine UFOs while also thoroughly exploring and presenting evidence for misidentification. There is a clear skepticism towards sensationalism and a call for objective analysis of evidence. The editorial also touches upon the importance of accurate reporting and the potential for manipulation of UFO cases for financial gain, as suggested in the critique of Peter Gersten's activities. The publication also serves as a platform for disseminating research papers and promoting membership in APRO.