The Alien Pancakes

On April 18, 1961, Wisconsin farmer Joe Simonton encountered a landed UFO near Eagle River. The occupants asked for water and gave him three small pancakes in exchange—one of the strangest contact cases on record.

The Witness

Joe Simonton:

• 60-year-old farmer
• Eagle River, Wisconsin
• Lived alone
• Respected locally
• No history of hoaxes

The Morning

April 18, 1961:

• Around 11:00 AM
• Heard noise outside
• Went to investigate
• Found craft landed
• Near his home

The Craft

What he described:

• Silver disc
• About 30 feet diameter
• 12 feet high
• Hovering slightly
• Three occupants visible

The Beings

Simonton described:

• About 5 feet tall
• Dark complexion
• Black hair
• Italian-looking
• Wore dark clothing

The Request

Strange interaction:

• Being held jug
• Gestured for water
• Simonton complied
• Filled container
• Odd request

The Exchange

In return:

• Given three pancakes
• About 3 inches diameter
• Perforated
• Being was cooking them
• Inside craft

The Departure

After exchange:

• Hatch closed
• Craft rose
• Tilted south
• Departed quickly
• Gone in seconds

The Pancakes

Physical evidence:

• Three small cakes
• Simonton ate one
• “Tasted like cardboard”
• Two preserved
• Analyzed later

Air Force Analysis

Project Blue Book:

• Received samples
• Laboratory tested
• Terrestrial ingredients
• Flour, fat, salt
• No buckwheat (oddly)

NICAP Investigation

Civilian researchers:

• Interviewed Simonton
• Found him credible
• No motive to hoax
• Sincere witness
• Puzzling case

Dr. Hynek’s View

Scientific advisor:

• Visited Simonton
• Found genuine
• Unsophisticated man
• Not publicity seeker
• Authentic experience

The Absurdity

Strange elements:

• Aliens cooking pancakes
• Exchange for water
• Mundane interaction
• Almost fairy-tale quality
• Defies logic

Folklore Connections

Some noted:

• Similar to fairy food
• Celtic traditions
• Food from otherworld
• Archetypal themes
• Mythological echoes

Significance

High-strangeness contact case with physical evidence, investigated by Air Force, that defies conventional explanation.

Legacy

The Eagle River pancake incident exemplifies the truly bizarre nature of some UFO encounters—events so strange that hoax seems almost as improbable as reality.