Gerald V. Bull

Biography

Gerald V. Bull, aerophysics and ballistics engineer who studied at the University of Toronto Institute of Aerophysics and later worked at McGill University on gun-launched atmospheric probes, is the person described by the University of Toronto, McGill University Archives and the Canadian Encyclopedia sources; all give the same career.1

Born on 9 March 1928 in North Bay, Ontario, according to the Canadian Encyclopedia. No primary record of birth was read.2 Attributed

The Brussels Times described him as 62 years old when he died.3 Attributed

Engineer in aerophysics and ballistics who researched gun-launched projectiles and rockets for upper-atmosphere measurements; his university and peer-reviewed publications document this work.4

Completed a master's degree (MASc) and a PhD at the University of Toronto Institute of Aerophysics in 1951, aged 23, according to the University of Toronto.5

Studied at the University of Toronto Institute of Aerophysics (now the Institute for Aerospace Studies), graduating in 1951.6

Worked at McGill University, where his gun-launched probe work became the basis of the High Altitude Research Project (HARP); McGill's own archive holds a 1962 photograph of him with the Martlet I rocket, and his 1964 AIAA paper lists McGill as his affiliation.7

Published papers between 1964 and 1972 on upper-atmosphere and ionospheric wind measurements with gun-launched projectiles (Crossref lists 11 works; completeness is not claimed).8

His documented field is aerophysics, ballistics and gun-launched atmospheric research. No read source links him to UAP or antigravity research.9

Died on 22 March 1990 in Brussels, as the University of Toronto, the Canadian Encyclopedia and The Brussels Times state.10

Killed outside his apartment in Uccle, Brussels, Belgium, according to the University of Toronto and The Brussels Times.11

The Canadian Encyclopedia says he was killed in his apartment in Brussels; the other sources place the shooting outside or at the door of the apartment.12 Attributed

Died of gunshot wounds; the press reports that an assassin fired several shots. The number and location of wounds differ between sources and are not recorded here. No medical or court document was read.13 Attributed

He was shot dead by an assassin, as all read sources state; the UK Foreign Office referred to the Belgian magistrate investigating his death. No Belgian official or court document was read.14 Attributed

In May 1998 the UK Foreign Office told Parliament that the Belgian magistrate investigating Bull's death had been informed through official channels that a planned visit to Brussels by British scientific and technical officials (19–21 March 1990) did not take place.15

In 2004 a spokeswoman for the Brussels public prosecutor's office said they did not have the killer's name; the journalist reported that charges would be against persons unknown.16 Attributed

No arrest has followed and the killing has not been solved, according to The Brussels Times (2025) and Radio Canada International (2015).17 Attributed

Research field: aerospace engineering, documented for Gerald V. Bull (aerophysics and ballistics; gun-launched upper-atmosphere probes).18