Jim Lorenzen

Jim Lorenzen co-founded the Aerial Phenomena Research Organization (APRO) with his wife Coral Lorenzen in 1952 and served as its International Director until his death in 1986. While Coral handled much of the public-facing editorial work, Jim managed APRO's organisational infrastructure, international correspondent network, and technical investigation protocols.

Lorenzen served in the U.S. Army during World War II and worked as an electronics technician at the Kitt Peak National Observatory in Tucson. His technical background informed APRO's approach to physical evidence cases and instrument-based investigation methods.

He co-authored several books with Coral, including UFOs over the Americas (1968), Encounters with UFO Occupants (1976), and Abducted! (1977). Jim was particularly involved in APRO's investigation of South American cases, maintaining correspondence with field investigators across Brazil, Argentina, and Chile.

APRO under the Lorenzens operated with minimal budget and no paid staff for most of its existence, yet built an international network of over 50 field investigators and published the APRO Bulletin continuously from 1952 to 1988. The organisation dissolved two years after Coral's death, having outlived Jim by two years.