selected ufo cases
All Cases: Sorted by Oldest First
Betty and Barney Hill Abduction Case
September, 19, 1961 - Exeter, New Hampshire, United States
The first abduction case to be brought to the publics attention was back in 1961. Betty and Barney Hill reported seeing a UFO and experienced a period of missing time while on a long car journey. Under hypnosis they both seperatly described how they were abducted by aliens and shown around the spacecraft before under going medical examinations. Betty also spoke of the origin of the aliens which were of the zeta reticuli system but at that time it wasn't discovered until 1969. View full report
Source: Loy Lawhon, About.com ID: 315
Case Type: MajorCase Features: Abduction, Polygraph Test, Witness Photo, Witness Sketch, Portholes/Windows, Missing Time
Disc-shaped UFO hovers, then evades pursuit by pilot
October, 2, 1961 - Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
A grayish disc-shaped object which hovered, wobbling on its axis, then evaded pursuit, was sighted October 2, 1961 at Salt Lake City, Utah airport. Private pilot Waldo J. Harris, a real estate broker, investigated the object in his light aircraft as 8-10 ground personnel at the airport watched. The object was disc shaped, 50 feet in diameter, and 8-10 feet thick. View full report
Source: NICAP / Richard Hall (1964) from NICAP case report ID: 638
Case Type: StandardCase Features: Witness Sketch, Pilot/Aircrew, Group Sighting
Cigar-shaped UFO with portholes seen by Honeywell metallurgist
November, 22, 1961 - Near Grafton, Nebraska, United States
A Minneapolis Honeywell metallurgist, Melvin C. Vagle, Jr., and his wife saw a cigar-shaped UFO while driving along U.S. Highway 81. "At the lower end. . . there was a bright 'flashing white light ann at the upper end there was a steady red light. Along the length of the fuselage there was a row of square-appearing ports, illuminated with a white yellowish light." View full report
Source: NICAP / Richard Hall, 1964 (original case in "The Honeywell World," Jan. 1962) ID: 644
Case Type: StandardCase Features: Scientist/Engineer, Portholes/Windows
Florentine tailor taken aboard UFO and given message
April, 10, 1962 - San Casciano, Italy
Florentine tailor Mario Zuccala, who was walking home through a wood, watched as an object like an inverted bowl passed overhead and came close to the ground. From its underside came a cylinder, which opened up, and two beings emerged. They took hold of the witness gently under his armpits and led him into the empty interior of the object. The only part Zuccala could remember was a message that they would return to give him a message for humanity. View full report
Source: Peter Rogerson, Magonia 50, September 1994 ID: 757
Case Type: StandardCase Features: Humanoid/Occupant, Contact
UFO with three beings hovers over boat dock at Minnesota cabin (Lake Movil)
August, 1962 - Lake Movil, Minnesota, United States
Marilyn Chenarides and Mrs. Mildred Anderson were vacationing at their cabin on Lake Movil in northern Minnesota when they saw a red glowing object which was hovering over the boat dock 50 feet from the cabin. In two of the windows of the object, the women could see the silhouettes of three man-shaped beings. After a few minutes of observation, Mrs. Anderson switched off the lights in the cabin, whereupon the lights on the object immediately went out. View full report
Source: APRO Bulletin, Vol. 21 No. 2 (Sept./Oct. 1972) ID: 458
Case Type: StandardCase Features: Humanoid/Occupant, Interaction/Reaction, Portholes/Windows
Disc landing in reservoir, part of series of sightings in New Jersey
September, 15, 1962 - Oradell, New Jersey, United States
A series of New Jersey police sightings after a reported disc landing in a reservoir. The action began on September 15, when two shiny discs were seen by multiple independent witnesses. On September 21, four Hawthorne police officers watched a device with two beams like headlights. Just after midnight, September 24, the same or a similar device was seen over the quarry by over a dozen Hawthorne police officers and the chief reporter of the N. J. State Press, George Della Penta. View full report
Source: Waterufo.net / NICAP UFO Investigator, Oct/Nov 1962 ID: 796
Case Type: StandardCase Features: Police, Water-Related, Multiple UFOs
The Willow Grove Close Encounter
February, 15, 1963 - Near Moe, Australia
Charles Brew, with his 20 year-old son Trevor, was at work in the milking shed on their farm, 'Willow Grove', when he saw a strange object appear and descend very slowly towards the milk shed, to a height of about 30 metres. The object was metallic grey, measured 8 meters in diameter, and had a transparent dome with a 2-meter mast or aerial. After hovering for a few seconds the object began climbed away into the clouds. View full report
Source: Bill Chalker (1996) ID: 623
Case Type: StandardCase Features: Animal Reaction, Witness Sketch, Physiological Effects
Oval object rolling end over end
April, 1963 - Statesville, North Carolina, United States
"I recall looking up.. to see a strange oval shaped object rolling end over end passing directly overhead. I recall the object giving off different colors in a pulsing, vibratory sort of way... I would estimate it's altitude to be less than 300 feet off the ground... I do not recall hearing any sound whatever from the object but my brother and sister say it was somewhat like a humming sound." View full report
Source: UFOEvidence.org ID: 473
Case Type: RawReport Features: Witness Sketch, Humming
A Gigantic 'Cigar' Over the Atlantic In 1963
May, 1963 - Over the Atlantic Ocean,
Almost beneath the DC-8, was a gigantic dark grey 'torpedo'. It seemed menacing and frightening, and I had the impression that it was stationary. It was utterly unlike anything that I had ever seen in my whole life. It looked as though made of steel. No portholes or windows were visible. No wings or projections. Nothing but the long perfect torpedo form, with its bullet-shaped head, and the rear end which was cut off sharply andsquarely. View full report
Source: Flying Saucer Review, Volume 46/4, Winter 2001 ID: 139
Case Type: StandardCase Features: Pilot/Aircrew
Paul Villa Photo and Contact Case
June, 16, 1963 - Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
Apolinar (Paul) Villa, a mechanic of Albuquerque, New Mexico, had a unique privilege having prearranged meetings with Space People for the specific purpose of taking pictures of their craft. They told him they came from the galaxy of Coma Berenices, many light years distance. View full report
Source: Gabriel Green, UFO International, 1965 ID: 985
Case Type: StandardCase Features: Contact, Contactee, Photo, Witness Photo
Disc-shaped UFO, larger than full moon, seen by police officers and others
September, 26, 1963 - Sunnyvale, California, United States
During the early morning of September 26, 1963, a UFO was sighted by people in scattered locations around the San Francisco Bay area. Officer Galen Anderson of Sunnvale Police Dept. observed the UFO for 45 seconds and submitted a particularly detailed report. This object appeared larger than a full moon, according to Officer Anderson, about basketball size at about 8 feet away. View full report
Source: NICAP / Richard Hall, 1964 (reported in San Jose Mercury News and SF Chronicle) ID: 645
Case Type: StandardCase Features: Police, Group Sighting
Large, metallic saucer-shaped craft at Mattagami River, Ontario
November, 23, 1963 - Mattagami River, Ontario, Canada
From the witness: "We just sat there in silence watching it, as it was watching us... It was huge, with the diameter being... about 30 yards... It appeared to be constructed of dull aluminum and was shaped like a saucer with the exception that the top and bottom halves did not join in a sharp edge. All the way around the center it looked like dark windows, 6 feet tall. As Robert and I watched, the craft tilted with the closest side to us down and the rear of the saucer up. It appeared that whoever was inside was trying to get a better look at us. " View full report
Source: Brian Vike, HBCC UFO Research (hbccufo.org) ID: 1029
Case Type: RawReport Features: Witness Sketch, Portholes/Windows
Cosford RAF UFO Landing
December, 10, 1963 - Cosford RAF, United Kingdom
At around 11.30pm on the evening of December 10, 1963, a dome-shaped UFO touched down on the Royal Air Force base facility at Cosford, near Wolverhampton, bathed the surrounding area in a beam of green light, and was seen at close quarters by at least two RAF apprentices. At least, that has been the accepted story for the last three decades. View full report
Source: 'Cosford: An Enduring Mystery,' Nick Redfern ID: 57
Case Type: StandardCase Features: Military, Landing
Socorro / Zamora UFO Incident
April, 24, 1964 - Socorro, New Mexico, United States
The experience of Lonnie Zamora on April 24, 1964 stands as one of the most profound ufo events in the modern history of the phenomena. Lonnie Zamora saw a highly unusual device of unknown origin, what can only be described as a "craft" of some kind, and he reported seeing what he believes were occupants. View full report
Source: Chris Lambright ID: 90
Case Type: MajorCase Features: Humanoid/Occupant, Physical Trace, Landing, Police, Witness Photo, Witness Sketch
UFO lands and leaves crater-like depression with holes
May, 5, 1964 - Barnesville, Minnesota, United States
Early on the morning of May 5, 1964, farmer Alfred Ernst, of Barnesville, Minnesota, drove his truck up to his grain drill, when at 8:00 AM he saw a 3 to 4 foot long UFO on the ground. "It was a glowing oval object approximately 1,500 feet away." Afterwards, the farmer and his brother returned to the landing site. There they discovered a crater-like depression about three feet in diameter. View full report
Source: NICAP (National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomenon), 'Strange Effects from UFOs', by Donald Keyhoe and Gordon Lore ID: 573
Case Type: StandardCase Features: Physical Trace, Landing
Landed UFO frightens boy and cow; depressions left in field
May, 19, 1964 - Hubbard, Oregon, United States
Young Michael J. Bizon had gone outside his home in Hubbard, Oregon, to let the cow out of her stall. The cow seemed very nervous, and "was bucking all the way." Then he saw a square object about four feet high. The silver-colored UFO was sitting in the middle of a wheat field. It had four shiny legs. The object rose, slowly at first, and then "shot up just like a rocket." A flattened area with three spots was found in the wheat field. View full report
Source: NICAP (National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomenon), 'Strange Effects from UFOs', by Donald Keyhoe and Gordon Lore ID: 579
Case Type: StandardCase Features: Physical Trace, Animal Reaction, Landing
Cumberland Spaceman / Solway Firth Photograph
May, 23, 1964 - Burgh Marsh / Solway Firth, United Kingdom
"As an amateur photographer on a day-trip with my family, I took the photograph on Burgh Marsh on May 23, 1964. I took three pictures of my daughter Elizabeth in a similar pose - and was shocked when the middle picture came back from Kodak displaying what looks like a spaceman in the background." View full report
Source: Daily Mail, London / England - December 13, 2002 ID: 385
Case Type: MajorCase Features: Alien Photograph, Humanoid/Occupant, Witness Photo
Strange-looking object hovers over neighborhood homes
June, 2, 1964 - Sunnyvale, California, United States
While driving toward her home on McKinley Avenue at 10:30 p.m. (PST) on June 2, Mrs. Bruce A. Holmes, of Sunnyvale, California, saw a strange-looking object about a city block's distance from her. The UFO hovered motionless over neighborhood homes at an altitude estimated to be no more than 150 feet and appeared to be about as large as "an 18 by 24-foot living room." The main body of the object was similar to a blimp, somewhat cigar-shaped, but fatter - possibly the shape of a disc thickened at the center. View full report
Source: NICAP (National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomenon), ID: 549
Case Type: StandardCase
Close-range sighting of domed UFO
June, 15, 1964 - Lynn, Massachusetts, United States
A close-range sighting of a domed UFO occurred at Lynn, Massachusetts on the night of June 15. The object was shaped like a disc, oriented in a horizontal position, flat on the bottom and with a domed upper surface. When first noticed, the domed disc was approximately 12 feet above the pavement, so that it was seen against the wall of the building on the opposite side of the courtyard. View full report
Source: NICAP (National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomenon), ID: 550
Case Type: StandardCase Features: E-M Effects
Giant spinning top encountered by businessman
June, 29, 1964 - Near Lavonia, Georgia, United States
Businessman Beauford E. Parham was returning home late on the evening of June 29, 1964. "I spotted a very bright light in the sky . . . coming directly toward my car," the witness said in a letter to a NICAP member. "The next instance it was directly in front of my headlights spinning like a giant top. It was shaped like a top and made a hissing sound like a million snakes." View full report
Source: NICAP (National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomenon), 'Strange Effects from UFOs', by Donald Keyhoe and Gordon Lore ID: 565
Case Type: StandardCase Features: Physiological Effects, Physical Trace, Vehicle Interference, Portholes/Windows
Fragment of unidentified object lands in Kallavesi Lake, Finland
August, 1964 - Kallavesi Lake, Finland
Mr. Raimo Blomqvist was visiting with his parents at their summer cottage, when he suddenly noticed a strange, colourful light ball coming from the sky. The light came nearer and turned out to be an oval glowing object. While the object was hovering above the shallow water of the island he saw something falling from the object. Mr. Blomqvist recovered a 3-4 cm long piece of stone. View full report
Source: Finnish UFO Research Association ID: 826
Case Type: . Features: Artifact
Immense cone-shaped object crosses low over highway
December, 21, 1964 - Near Staunton, Virginia, United States
Horace Burns, a gunsmith in Harrisonburg, saw an immense cone-shaped object cross low over the highway ahead of him. "It was 125 feet in diameter, at least, and 80 to 90 feet high," he later reported. Its circular, sloping sides rose toward the top in six large, concentric convolutions that decreased in diameter and were surmounted by a dome. View full report
Source: NICAP (National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomenon), ID: 553
Case Type: StandardCase Features: Landing, Physical Trace
County councillor reveals sighting of dome-shaped UFO in Cornwall, UK
1965 - Karslake, Cornwall, United Kingdom
Joan Vincent, County and Restormel Borough Councillor, revealed that she and her husband Roy had observed a mystery craft late at night during 1965 in a then rural area. The matter remained "virtually a family secret" over the years because the couple feared that they would be ridiculed if they told their story. The UFO was "a large, dome-shaped object that looked as if it were made of glass," estimated to be 50-70 feet across and 30-40 feet high. View full report
Source: Ian Shepherd, Cornish Guardian (Bodmin, England), Nov. 26, 1998 ID: 729
Case Type: PressReport Features: Portholes/Windows, Witness Sketch, Witness Photo
Idaho 'Mining UFOs'
1965 - Spring Creek Ridge, Idaho, United States
Two men were camped on a bluff overlooking a valley. When they awoke in the early morning they noticed a shiny spot on the ore dump of a Spring Creek Mine across the valley. Using the scopes affixed to their rifles, they observed the "shiny object" which actually was one of four which were hovering over the ore dump. Protruding from the top of the objects were four hose-like devices which were inserted into the slag piles and were moving around. View full report
Source: APRO Bulletin, Vol. 22 No. 2 (Sept/Oct 1973) ID: 300
Case Type: StandardCase Features: Portholes/Windows, Multiple UFOs
