1971, The Delphos Kansas UFO Landing physical evidence

In 1971, in the small town of Delphos, Kansas, a case of physical evidence relating to UFOs occurred.
The case involved sixteen-year-old Ron Johnson, Ron was tending sheep on the family farm when he was distracted by a mushroom-shaped UFO in the night. The metallic UFO was hovering about 75 feet from Ron amongst some nearby trees.
There were multi-colored lights on the object as it sat motionless just a few feet above the ground. He tried to get a better look, but the lights from the craft were so brilliant that the could not make out any specific details of the UFO. The object gave off a noise that Ron described as "an old washing machine which vibrated." The UFO began to rise up into the sky, and as it did, the bottom of the object glowed so brightly Ron was almost blinded by the light's brilliance .

Glowing Ring on Ground

As soon as he was able to see well enough he ran to the house to tell his mother Erma and father Durel about the UFO. The object was now even higher in the sky. Ron's parents ran to see the UFO, they did get a glimpse of the object as it was disappearing .
Ron and his parents were surprised to see a glowing ring on the ground, directly underneath where the object had hovered. Some of the trees around the area also had a glow to them.[See the video for analysis of the glowing ring]
Another witness came forward to validate Johnson's story. Sheriff Enlow told the press:
"On 11-03-71 Mr. Lester Ensbarger of 416 Argyle St. in Minneapolis advised Deputy Sheriff Leonard Simpson that at approximately 7:30 p.m. 11-02-71 he had observed a bright light descending in the sky in the Delphos area."
www.disclose.tv...
www.ufocasebook.com...
This case was new to me but I find it quite compelling given the trace evidence and the lasting effects suffered by Rons mother , does anyone on ATS have any opinions or information on this case ?.

I have none on it Gortex, but I seen your post way down at the bottom getting no love, so I thought I better comment. >

It could be possible ole Rons buddies got drunk and decided to have a little fun with him?...Its possible he was drunk himself or hey how about this, maybe Ron got into some of those good ole mushrooms we all know grow good on those farms. I mean I could go on and on, however, I think you would rather here me say "wow it was proably an alien spacecraft from another dimension." I'm just not ready to go there Gormex, forgive me, but I just can't go there, maybe meet me half way and we'll say some sort of military experment

As for the effects his mother suffered, could have been she got into something out there on that farm, like chemicals for the gardening, animals, anything really.

[edit on 6-1-2010 by Mr_skepticc]

reply to post by Mr_skepticc


I am not saying it is definitely ET , I think the composition of the ring and the fact that it remained intact with no plant growth over 42 months later is interesting , the reports from the police officer on the damage to the trees seem to indicate something was there ,Maybe it was a military experiment , maybe it has some similarity with the Kecksberg craft six years earlier .

reply to post by gortex


In my humble opinion, we should investigate on this story, because at first glance looks interesting.
Thanks for sharing, gortex.

Oh I think this was definitely a legitimate sighting, and partial landing, leaving the residue.

It's odd that back in the 60's and 70's the USA seemed to experience a rash of big-story ufo incidents; the thing is, probably only 1 in 10 actually got reported; people were still too afraid of ridicule back then. I know people who had a ufo incident that was super extreme but they were too afraid of the publicity, and of being called nuts.

We don't seem to have these mind-boggling "contacts" anymore.

I have found this site with a drawing of the object and a picture of the site taken by the Johnson family .
The story as recounted by Delphos Museum curator Mary Ballou

A small X on the map, just northeast of Delphos, caught our eye. Written next to it were the words "UFO site." UFO site drawing. "Oh, that," said Mary, when we asked her about it. "That's where the UFO came down in 1971." Mary recounted the tale. Ronnie Johnson, a local teenager, came across "a big glowing mushroom thing" hovering just above the ground on his parents' farm. The object froze him and his dog in place, then flew skyward and left him with headaches and nightmares. Others in town saw the strange light as well (including the school principal), and a glowing, grey-white circle was left on the ground. Mary took us into a back room to show us some photos. "On this picture there's a Geiger counter there, and it was way high at that time. REALLY high." "When the scientists come out," Mary told us, "they dug a two foot deep trench in that circle, put the dirt in water, and it never, ever sank. It floated indefinitely."

Source

The ring was still clearly visible thirty-two days later when examined by a UFO investigator named Ted Phillips, who specializes in physical-trace cases. The soil in the ring itself was still dry to a depth of at least twelve inches even though at this time it was covered by snow, whereas the soil outside the ring was wet and black. Phillips took several photos of the ring and collected soil samples from the ring and from the ground outside the ring. A number of analyses were done of soil samples taken from the ring and from the surrounding soil. The ring soil was found to be resistant to water, to contain more calcium and more soluble salts, and to be more acidic than soil from outside the ring. In addition, the soil from the ring was found to contain an unidentified hydrocarbon and an organic material composed of white, crystal-like fibers.

Source

Edit to add

[edit on 6-1-2010 by gortex]

UFO Casebook on this.

Good to see this posted. This is one of the worthwhile cases. I've not seen it mentioned in a while.

Odd this is not the thread that got attention today. Thanks for bringing this one up.

Link

Over twenty laboratory reports from universities and other sources showed a variety of chemical and physical analyses. The consensus of those giving an opinion stated that the material of the circle was vegetal matter. Several concluded that it was a particular fungus that over a period of time can cause a circular pattern called a "fairy ring" visible on the surface of the ground.

Link

A number of analyses were done of soil samples taken from the ring and from the surrounding soil. The ring soil was found to be resistant to water, to contain more calcium and more soluble salts, and to be more acidic than soil from outside the ring. In addition, the soil from the ring was found to contain an unidentified hydrocarbon and an organic material composed of white, crystal-like fibers.

According to Jacques Vallee, in his book Dimensions, a French biologist identified the white fibers as a fungus-like organism of the order Actinomycetales, whose growth can cause a circular pattern to form on the ground. In addition, this biologist, who asked not to be identified, stated that this fungus is often found growing with another fungus of the order Basidiomysetes, which may fluoresce under some conditions.

Link.

Actinomycetales is an order of Actinobacteria. They are very diverse and contain a variety of subdivisions as well as yet unclassified isolates. This is mainly because some genera are very difficult to classify because of a highly niche-dependent phenotype. For example Nocardia contains several species that were first believed to be distinct species before it was proven that their difference is purely depending on their growth conditions.

Link.

Basidiomycota (pronounced /bəˌsidiː.ɵmaɪˈkoʊtə/) is one of two large phyla that, together with the Ascomycota, comprise the subkingdom Dikarya (often referred to as the "higher fungi") within the Kingdom Fungi. More specifically the Basidiomycota include mushrooms, puffballs, stinkhorns, bracket fungi, other polypores, jelly fungi, boletes, chanterelles, earth stars, smuts, bunts, rusts, mirror yeasts, and the human pathogenic yeast, Cryptococcus. Basically, Basidiomycota are filamentous fungi composed of hyphae (except for those forming yeasts), and reproducing sexually via the formation of specialized club-shaped end cells called basidia that normally bear external meiospores (usually four). These specialized spores are called basidiospores. However, some Basidiomycota reproduce asexually, and may or may not also reproduce sexually. Asexually reproducing Basidiomycota (discussed below) can be recognized as members of this phylum by gross similarity to others, by the formation of a distinctive anatomical feature (the clamp connection - see below), cell wall components, and definitively by phylogenetic molecular analysis of DNA sequence data.

I have this funny feeling that one day in the near future, some aliens are going to trump our government and military cover-ups and make an appearance that will stun the whole world. I don't know why I have had t his funny premonition, I don't dwell on ufology or anything. But for some reason I have had 2 or 3 dreams like this in the past few weeks, and I don't remember ever dreaming about ufo's. I've had more than a few dreams come true, you know, the deja vu thing.

This story, is very interesting. Many things seem to suggest that something very strange happened there: it sounds like one of those rare gems that get disregarded for some mysterious reasons.
I'll share what i've been able to find so far:

This one is from Mufon UFO journal issue # 209 (September 1985)
"Delphos, Kansas, case, by Ted Phillips;
from page 8 to page

Credits: MUFON
www.theblackvault.com... (.pdf file)

This one is from Mufon UFO journal issue # 213 (January 1986)
"Delphos revidited" by Walt Andrus

Credits: MUFON
www.theblackvault.com... (.pdf file)

This one is from Mufon UFO journal issue # 427 (November 2003)
"Delphos soil analysed" by Phyllis Budinger and "The Wolf Girl of Delphos" by Ron Johnson

Credits: MUFON
www.theblackvault.com... (.pdf file)


www.associatedcontent.com...
ufos.about.com...

It's allso available the full analysis report:
UT001: Analysis of Soil Samples Related to the Delphos UFO event (Delphos, Kansas, 11-02-1971)

The objective of this analysis was to build on the initial analysis done by Erol Faruk on the Delphos ring soils in the 1970s . At the very least it is hoped this investigation will be a base case for reference to future analyses. Erol Faruk developed his analytical approach based on his experience as an Organic Chemist. He analyzed these materials using 1970’s technology which has advanced dramatically in 20 years. Computerization, new techniques, and instrumentation have advanced the field of analytical sciences to previously unachievable heights. Yet, Faruk’s work was outstanding and provided preliminary observations and conjectures regarding unknown residues extracted from the ring soils. My approach to the analysis, as an Analytical Chemist, is different; and there is nothing to contradict his initial observations.
Both ring and control soil samples from this event were located on Thanksgiving Day 1998, and received for analyses on December 7th. Thanks to the wisdom of John Timmerman, the samples were preserved in his attic for many years after closure of the CUFOS Chicago office. Documentation/sample labeling existed attesting to their authenticity, and they were encased in their original tightly closed film containers with no sign of tampering.

Download the full analysis report (.pdf)


Photograph of the two ring soils (C-3, left; A-2, center) and the control soil (C-8, right).
Image credits: Phyllis A. Budinger


Photograph of aqueous extracts of the C-8 control soil (left), and the two ring soils (A-2 center, C-3 right).
Image credits: Phyllis A. Budinger


100X Microscope photographs of the C-3 ring extract (left) and the C-8 control extract (right).
Image credits: Phyllis A. Budinger

It's a long reading
A very very interesting case, it's worty the time to read all the articles.
Thanks again for sharing

reply to post by internos


Excellent work , thanks for your help on this internos .
I have yet to go through all the documentation in your post , I will do so later when I have more time but It does seem that the evidence backs up Ron Johnson's story that an object of unknown origin was present as he described .
The question that we are left with is what was the origin of the object , if it was a Military experiment one has to wonder how far has our technology has advanced in the 39 years since this event happened , Maybe the secret space program as described by so many " in the know" people is a reality.
What of the Wolf Girl , is she part of this or just a coincidence ?
So many questions remain .

Originally posted by gortex
reply to post by internos

 

Excellent work , thanks for your help on this internos

.

What of the Wolf Girl , is she part of this or just a coincidence ?
So many questions remain .

I agree, the information posted by Internos is helpful, some of it I hadn't seen before, thanks Internos!

Well there is definitely some trace evidence, but what is it evidence of? I saw a documentary (but can't remember the name of it) where the lab that tested the soil sample said the ring sample was mostly fulvic acid, but the question that raises for me is that when I research fulvic acid it is generally described as having a dark color like maybe brown, but the ring appears to be light colored. Some of the information Internos posted has some clues to possibly resolving this apparent discrepancy.

Now the other question is whether the trace evidence is evidence of the object described by the witness, or whether it's something else, like maybe a naturally occurring fairy ring with some unusual characteristics.

In evaluating the credibility of the witness, testimony the wolf girl you mentioned needs to be considered. What seems odd to me is that most other witnesses to the wolf girl changed their story, which to me casts doubt on the accuracy of the wolf girl story. But the same witness who stuck to the wolf girl story claimed a flying object was associated with this white ring, I think we would be remiss to not at least question the credibility of the witness. I'm not saying a wolf girl is impossible (though it reminds me of the elusive chupacabra sightings), but since the other witnesses changed their stories to say they didn't really see a wolf girl, and since no wolf girl was ever found in the search then or since (that I'm aware of), this witness doesn't seem to merit the same good credibility we assign to credible witnesses like Kenneth Arnold or Lonnie Zamora.

Regarding the mother's physical response to being exposed to the ring material, I don't have any reason to believe there is a connection between the two despite the claim that there is. In other words, she might have had her physical affliction whether she was exposed to the ring material or not. In my research on fulvic acid I didn't run across any symptoms like hers resulting from exposure to it.

I would like to believe his story that he really saw an object but I must admit that the wolf girl part of his story isn't helping.

a reply to: gortex

Great thread Gortex and a corker of a post by Internos I see (at least some of the links still work).

Here's some good info on British chemist Erol Faruk's paper -'The Indisputable Scientific Evidence for a UFO Landing and Deposition (aka The Delphos Case) that was denied Publication by Scientific Journals' - seems you can't win with academia and the taboo subject of UFOs.


Careful what you ask for


Cheers mate!

a reply to: karl 12

Hey Karl thanks for the bump mate , I'd forgotten all about this one to tell the truth but looking though it again it still remains interesting , yeah Internos was a good guy still missed.

That's an interesting article you posted , it really shows the roadblock that's faced even by those within the community to getting these cases properly scientifically investigated , talk about banging your head against a brick wall

It pretty much strips away the myth that institutional scholars would welcome Great Taboo data if Only They Had Decent Stuff To Study.

originally posted by: gortex

talk about banging your head against a brick wall

Yes indeedy mate -seems they've got it sewn up pretty good.

Granted it may be nothing but saw the sketch of the mushroom shaped object in one of your links and it did remind me of a case from Missouri four years earlier, like in the Delphos case there was also physical trace evidence (but sadly no report of a vibrating washing machine sound).


Delphos, Kansas:




Tuscumbia, Missouri (450 miles away):

When I arrived at the site the traces were still quite visible. It was one meter in diameter in a slightly irregular circle where the shaft had rested. The soil was extremely dehydrated in contrast with the surrounding soil. There was an imprint 100 mm x 65 mm. The imprint extended vertically downward to a depth of 100 mm with an extension 25 mm long the depth of the imprint shaft.

link

Cheers!

New documentary about the case:

BLIND DATE: NOVEMBER 2, 1971 - 16-year-old Ron Johnson is feeding the family sheep when he suddenly sees a mushroomshaped object appearing in the field. As he moves in to get a closer look, he is blinded by the glowing light emitted from the object. After he regains his vision, Ron races back to his family house to alert his Mother and Father, Erma and Durel. They see the object as it disappears and then discover a glowing ring on the ground. Erma Johnson touches the substance and her fingers immediately go numb. She would experience numbness in her fingers for the rest of her life.

I hunted on these peoples property between 82-89 with my father. That ring was still fenced off and visibly different from the rest of the ground then. They were very nice people, I do not know what they saw but I cannot imagine them making any of this up. They had home movies of some college that came out and investigated the site.

Yesterday watched a show called "UFO Files" and the subject matter was evidence left by ufo's. I believe this is indeed still one of the best cases of evidence that something seen left and or took something from the soil after it had been seen hovering by the young man.

a reply to: data5091

Im a junkie for these shows too data5091, Hangar1 season 3 is here... There are many sightings of ufos late at night moving across the us, and its hard to dismiss the possibility that the USAF is just moving a black project between bases(like Trumbull and Lebanon). They could be alien ufos as well, but either way, I dont see how the military explanation fits here .

Why wouldnt the military be experimenting with something like this on a military base like area 51? I cant buy that explanation.

Maybe Arb is right about his mother already having a condition, but it does seem to me that the substance aggravated that condition.

In the late to mid eighties I conducted an insurance interview with a farm couple whose property bordered the Johnson farm. During the interview I asked if either of them had been treated for any type of psychological problems. A moment of silence as they both studied the floor. The husband then spoke and said. "Well, honey, you better tell him". She then recounted the incident involving Ron Johnson, his white German Shepherd and the UFO. She knew the Johnson family well and, apparently , the close proximity Ron had to the UFO caused some permanent neurological damage. "He just ain't been right since", were her words. She told me that the dog made contact with the craft, became ill and died within a year. What seemed to bother her most were the hundreds of airmen from nearby Schilling AFB in Salina, KS who swept through about a two mile area around the landing, walking shoulder to shoulder with blue bags of some sort, picking up every scrap of material they saw. The ring caused by the craft, which actually landed and was likely bio-mechanical in nature, persisted for many years. French film director and actor Jacques Valee (Close Encounters of the Third Kind" travelled to Delphos and had a portion of growth from the ring analyzed. It was a rather common form of fungus. In later interviews with business owners in the downtown Delphos square, I found what the CDC would describe as a "cluster" of colon cancer cases. No direct causality could be shown to the mushroom shaped UFO incident. a reply to: gortex

originally posted by: gortex
In 1971, in the small town of Delphos, Kansas, a case of physical evidence relating to UFOs occurred.
The case involved sixteen-year-old Ron Johnson, Ron was tending sheep on the family farm when he was distracted by a mushroom-shaped UFO in the night. The metallic UFO was hovering about 75 feet from Ron amongst some nearby trees.
There were multi-colored lights on the object as it sat motionless just a few feet above the ground. He tried to get a better look, but the lights from the craft were so brilliant that the could not make out any specific details of the UFO. The object gave off a noise that Ron described as "an old washing machine which vibrated." The UFO began to rise up into the sky, and as it did, the bottom of the object glowed so brightly Ron was almost blinded by the light's brilliance .

Glowing Ring on Ground

As soon as he was able to see well enough he ran to the house to tell his mother Erma and father Durel about the UFO. The object was now even higher in the sky. Ron's parents ran to see the UFO, they did get a glimpse of the object as it was disappearing .
Ron and his parents were surprised to see a glowing ring on the ground, directly underneath where the object had hovered. Some of the trees around the area also had a glow to them.[See the video for analysis of the glowing ring]
Another witness came forward to validate Johnson's story. Sheriff Enlow told the press:
"On 11-03-71 Mr. Lester Ensbarger of 416 Argyle St. in Minneapolis advised Deputy Sheriff Leonard Simpson that at approximately 7:30 p.m. 11-02-71 he had observed a bright light descending in the sky in the Delphos area."
www.disclose.tv...
www.ufocasebook.com...
This case was new to me but I find it quite compelling given the trace evidence and the lasting effects suffered by Rons mother , does anyone on ATS have any opinions or information on this case ?.

Is this the case where the soil was analyzed and found to be hydrophobic?


There was also talk of a fungal colony, like a faerie ring. Not sure why that would cause the fluorescence, but that can't really be distinguished from whiteness in the photos. It can, however, explain the hydrophobic soil. archive.lib.msu.edu...