The Delphos Kansas Ring Case

On November 2, 1971, sixteen-year-old Ronald Johnson witnessed a mushroom-shaped UFO near his family’s farm in Delphos, Kansas. When the object departed, it left a glowing ring on the ground that remained visible for years, with the soil exhibiting strange properties that stumped scientists.

The Witness

Ronald Johnson:

• 16 years old
• Farm boy
• Doing chores
• Evening time
• Reliable witness

The Sighting

Around 7:00 PM:

• Bright object appeared
• Near sheep shed
• 75 feet away
• Mushroom shape
• Hovering

The Object

Ronald described:

• Approximately 9 feet diameter
• Mushroom or domed shape
• Multicolored lights
• Extremely bright
• Silent hovering

The Departure

After several minutes:

• Object brightened
• Rose from ground
• Departed rapidly
• Toward south
• Left glow behind

The Parents

Ronald called them:

• Erma and Durel Johnson
• Came outside
• Saw object departing
• More importantly
• Saw the ring

The Ring

On the ground:

• Circular pattern
• Where object hovered
• Glowing white
• 8 feet diameter
• Soil affected

Physical Properties

The ring showed:

• Soil resisted water
• Hydrophobic properties
• Numbing sensation
• When touched
• Glowed in dark

The Touch

Mrs. Johnson:

• Touched the ring
• Fingers went numb
• Legs felt strange
• Effects lasted
• Days of numbness

Scientific Analysis

Researchers examined:

• Soil samples
• Compared to control
• Strange properties found
• No explanation
• Anomalies documented

The Glow

The ring continued:

• To glow at night
• For weeks
• Gradually faded
• Pattern remained
• Years visible

Snow Behavior

In winter:

• Snow wouldn’t stick
• To ring area
• Melted immediately
• Or wouldn’t accumulate
• Unusual property

Awards

The case won:

• National Enquirer prize
• For best UFO case
• $5,000 award
• Added credibility
• Serious investigation

Long-term Effect

For years afterward:

• Ring visible
• Soil different
• Vegetation affected
• Scientists visited
• Mystery persisted

Skeptical Examination

Critics proposed:

• Fungus ring
• Chemical contamination
• But couldn’t explain
• All properties
• Especially timing

Significance

The Delphos case is significant for:

• Physical evidence
• Scientific analysis
• Long-lasting trace
• Multiple witnesses
• Anomalous properties

Legacy

The Delphos Kansas ring case became one of the most important physical trace cases in UFO history. The soil’s strange properties, the glowing ring, and the long-lasting evidence provided something rare: physical proof that something unexplained had occurred.