Ted Phillips - Physical Traces Associated With UFO Sightings

PHYSICAL TRACES

ASSOCIATED WITH

UFO SIGHTINGS

A PRELIMINARY CATALOG*

Compiled by Ted Phillips

Edited by Mimi Hynek

* PUBLICATION MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY A GRANT FROM THE RESEARCH CORPORATION

THE CENTER FOR UFO STUDIES

1975

Limited quotation of specific cases is permissible if proper credit is given. Otherwise, all rights are reserved.

Post Office Box Eleven Northfield, IL 60093

One of the principal objectives of the Center for UFO Studies is to make available to the scientific world and the seriously interested public, compilations of specialized data on the UFO phenomenon. The present catalog of Physical Traces Associated with UFO Sightings is a contribution to this objective.

Physical trace cases can be defined as those UFO cases in which definite physical changes in the immediate vicinity of a UFO sighting have been recorded: marks and surface changes on the ground, damage to vegetation, residues and/or artifacts found, and surface effects of some duration on buildings and vehicles. These are all included in the broader term Close Encounters of the Second Kind, in which a reported UFO has interacted with the immediate environment animate or inanimate matter.

This catalog is pioneering work of Ted Phillips, who has for many years specialized in the collection of physical trace cases. It has been extended by contributions of several workers whose industry is hereby gratefully acknowledged. Accessibility to Dr. David Saunders UFOCAT has been of especial assistance. It has been most ably edited and made ready for press by Mimi Hynek.

A catalog is at best an aid to further research and this one should especially serve to this end. Likewise, no catalog is ever complete, and certainly not in this field, where the very reporting of a UFO requires a measure of courage. Many such events have undoubtedly never been reported, and not all those that have been reported have come to our attention. The readers of this catalog are therefore sincerely urged to bring to our attention cases that have not been included, as well as corrections, additions and expansions of cases which are listed. Only thereby can future editions of this catalog be of ever increasing service.

J. Allen Hynek

During the past five and a half years I have conducted specialized research into physical traces found following a UFO event. In this research I have worked closely with a large number of people. Many of those who have provided trace case are independent investigators in the United States and several foreign countries. Over the years Dr. J. Allen Hynek has provided a great mass of material as well as encouragement to continue the work. Without Dr. David Saunders and his UFOCAT, which made it feasible to check all sighting reports against others of the same date, this report would not have been possible. My thanks also to the Mutual UFO Network for providing many cases and for having an open file. My debt to Dr. Jacques Vallee is obvious to anyone who sees the many cases attributable to him.

In this catalog, 561 reports are of incidents where one or more witnesses saw a UFO an object or a light and later discovered physical traces at or near that location. 154 cases are reported of similar traces that have been found although no UFO was seen, and finally, 116 occasions are listed for which no details have been available, making a total of 831 reports in the catalog.

The traces are quite varied yet remarkably consistent in size and shape, and may be divided into the following groups:

1. CIRCULAR SITES circular traces with damage over the entire area; burned, depressed or dehydrated.

2. RINGS circular traces, burned depressed or dehydrated; the outer perimeter shows damage while the central area is unchanged.

3. NESTS oval traces generally, with a depressed, swirling effect seen.

See illustrations on opposite page of traces at Hampton Lakes, NJ JUN 28, 1965 and at Horseshoe Lagoon JAN 19, 1966; and further on, Delphos KS, NOV 2, 1971 and Chapeau, Canada MAY 11, 1969.

See also 1954, Mexico; May 12, 1962, Pampa Province, Argentina; May 1965, Willowdale, Ont.,Canada; Aug 19, 1965, Mt. Airy, NC: Oct 19, 1968, Barcelona, Spain; March, 1969, Grafton, Australia; Oct 14, 1969, Mahuta, New Zealand and others.

NOV 2, 1971, DELPHOS, KS

CHAPEAU

05-11-69 Ring #2

04-24-64

IRREGULAR SITES burned depressed or dehydrated areas with no particular pattern. Many of the irregular sites are described as having an o i ly or s tained surface.

See sketch of Socorro, NM, APR 27, 1964.

DAMAGE TO VEGETATION trees near an alleged site axe frequently scarred, knocked to the ground, burned or dehydrated, tree limbs are broken, burned or dehydrated. Plants are depressed, cut-off, wilted or burned.

See photo of tree with branch broken off at Delphos, KS and the tree damage at Columbia, MO in incident of JUN 28, 1973,

IMPRINTS have been found in conjunction with all types of traces. The imprints are generally arranged in a triangular or rectangular pattern and usually number three or four.

See JUN 14, 1964, Dale, IN; NOV 25, 1964, New Berlin, NY? MAR 29, 1966, Aluche, Spain; SEP 13, 1966, Stirum, ND; JUN 1, 1967, San Jose de Valderos; SEP 20, 1967, Winsted, C T ; JUL 10, 1968, La Croilla, Argentina; JUN 23, 1969, Sydney, Australia; SEP 4, 1969, Ngatea, New Zealand; AUG 30, 1970, Enebacken, Sweden; JUN 26, 197 2, Fort Beaufort, South Africa; and SEP 14, 1972, Houston, MO (ill ustrated).

RESIDUES solid, powdery material or liquid of caustic or oily nature; white filaments are sometimes found; occasionally artifacts.

See DEC 28, 1970, Palm Springs, CA; Durban, Rhodesia, FEB 9, 1973; Navarre, Australia, APR, 1973; La Roche-Brenil, France, NOV 5, 1954; Tumbulgum, Australia, MAR 2, 1969; and Apache Junction, AZ, 1965.