Aerial Phenomena Research Organization
Encyclopedia
The Aerial Phenomena Research Organization (APRO) was a UFO
research group started in 1952 by Jim and Coral Lorenzen.
The group, which was based in Tucson, Arizona but had many state branches, remained active until 1988.
APRO stressed scientific field investigations, and had a large staff of consulting Ph.D.
scientists. A notable example was Dr. James E. McDonald
of the University of Arizona, a well-known atmospheric physicist, and perhaps the leading scientific UFO researcher of his time. Another was Dr. James Harder
of the University of California, Berkeley
, a civil and hydraulic engineering professor, who acted as director of research from 1969-1982. McDonald and Harder were among six scientists who testified about UFOs before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science and Astronautics in 1968, when they were conducting hearings on the subject.
Though any UFO-related group attracts a number of uncritical enthusiasts along with a small percentage of cranks
, astronomer J. Allen Hynek
(Hynek, 1972) cited APRO and NICAP as the two best civilian UFO groups of their time, consisting largely of sober, serious minded people capable of valuable contributions to the subject.
In 1969, a sizable portion of APRO's membership elected to form a new group: MUFON.
. He was missing for several days, and returned amid a widespread police search and publicity. APRO, in conjunction with the National Enquirer, arranged for a polygraph
, which proved inconclusive and, point in fact, had no bearing on the credibility of APRO. The results only measured stress levels, not truth per se. APRO, Walton, and the Enquirer decided to suppress the polygraph results—the examiner was biased, they said, and unprofessional.
Unidentified flying object
A term originally coined by the military, an unidentified flying object is an unusual apparent anomaly in the sky that is not readily identifiable to the observer as any known object...
research group started in 1952 by Jim and Coral Lorenzen.
The group, which was based in Tucson, Arizona but had many state branches, remained active until 1988.
APRO stressed scientific field investigations, and had a large staff of consulting Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
scientists. A notable example was Dr. James E. McDonald
James E. McDonald
James Edward McDonald was an American physicist. He is best known for his research regarding UFOs. McDonald was senior physicist at the Institute for Atmospheric Physics and professor in the Department of Meteorology, University of Arizona, Tucson.McDonald campaigned vigorously in support of...
of the University of Arizona, a well-known atmospheric physicist, and perhaps the leading scientific UFO researcher of his time. Another was Dr. James Harder
James Harder
James Albert Harder, Ph.D., was a professor of civil and hydraulic engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. He was a professor emeritus there.-UFO research:...
of the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
, a civil and hydraulic engineering professor, who acted as director of research from 1969-1982. McDonald and Harder were among six scientists who testified about UFOs before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science and Astronautics in 1968, when they were conducting hearings on the subject.
Though any UFO-related group attracts a number of uncritical enthusiasts along with a small percentage of cranks
Crank (person)
"Crank" is a pejorative term used for a person who unshakably holds a belief that most of his or her contemporaries consider to be false. A "cranky" belief is so wildly at variance with commonly accepted belief as to be ludicrous...
, astronomer J. Allen Hynek
J. Allen Hynek
Dr. Josef Allen Hynek was a United States astronomer, professor, and ufologist. He is perhaps best remembered for his UFO research. Hynek acted as scientific adviser to UFO studies undertaken by the U.S. Air Force under three consecutive names: Project Sign , Project Grudge , and Project Blue Book...
(Hynek, 1972) cited APRO and NICAP as the two best civilian UFO groups of their time, consisting largely of sober, serious minded people capable of valuable contributions to the subject.
In 1969, a sizable portion of APRO's membership elected to form a new group: MUFON.
Travis Walton polygraph suppression
APRO's credibility took a major blow in the 1970s. Travis Walton claimed to have been abducted by a UFO in ArizonaArizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
. He was missing for several days, and returned amid a widespread police search and publicity. APRO, in conjunction with the National Enquirer, arranged for a polygraph
Polygraph
A polygraph measures and records several physiological indices such as blood pressure, pulse, respiration, and skin conductivity while the subject is asked and answers a series of questions...
, which proved inconclusive and, point in fact, had no bearing on the credibility of APRO. The results only measured stress levels, not truth per se. APRO, Walton, and the Enquirer decided to suppress the polygraph results—the examiner was biased, they said, and unprofessional.
Sources
- Jerome Clark; The UFO Book: Encyclopedia of the Extraterrestrial; Visible Ink, 1998; ISBN 1-57859-029-9
- Hynek, J. Allen, The UFO Experience: A Scientific Inquiry, Chicago: Henry Regenery Co., 1972