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UFO

Pascagoula Abduction

Two fishermen were paralyzed by a light and floated into a craft. The beings had no eyes and wrinkled skin like elephants. Police secretly recorded them afterward—they were genuinely terrified.

October 11, 1973
Pascagoula, Mississippi, USA
2+ witnesses

The Pascagoula Abduction is one of the most compelling alien encounter cases, notable for the witnesses’ genuine terror captured on secret police recordings.

The Encounter

According to documented accounts:

On October 11, 1973, Charles Hickson (42) and Calvin Parker (19) were fishing:

  • A blue light appeared over the Pascagoula River
  • An oval craft descended
  • A door opened and three beings emerged
  • The men were paralyzed
  • They floated into the craft

The Beings

The creatures were unusual even for alien reports:

  • About 5 feet tall
  • Grey, wrinkled skin like an elephant
  • No visible eyes
  • Pointed ears
  • Claw-like appendages instead of hands
  • Legs appeared fused together
  • They floated rather than walked

The Examination

Inside the craft:

  • Hickson was examined by a football-shaped object
  • It moved over his body
  • Parker reportedly passed out from terror
  • The examination lasted about 20 minutes
  • They were then floated back outside

The Secret Recording

After reporting to police:

  • Authorities were skeptical
  • They left the men alone in a room
  • A hidden recorder captured their conversation
  • The men continued discussing the event in private
  • Their terror appeared genuine
  • They weren’t coordinating a hoax

The Recording Excerpt

Hickson: “I’ve never seen nothin’ like that before in my life…” Parker: “I passed out. I was so scared I couldn’t move.”

This private conversation convinced many investigators.

Polygraph Tests

Both men:

  • Passed lie detector tests
  • Were examined by multiple polygraph operators
  • Showed no signs of deception
  • Maintained their accounts throughout their lives

Investigation

The case was investigated by:

  • Dr. J. Allen Hynek
  • Multiple UFO research organizations
  • The U.S. Air Force
  • Media outlets worldwide

Calvin Parker’s Later Account

In 2018, Parker published his book “Pascagoula: The Closest Encounter”:

  • He provided additional details
  • He claimed additional encounters
  • He said the beings communicated telepathically
  • He described a female being who conveyed peace

Skeptical Views

Critics suggest:

  • Possible hallucination
  • Parker may have influenced Hickson’s account
  • The beings’ description is unique (suggesting fabrication)
  • However, the secret recording is difficult to explain away

Legacy

The Pascagoula case is significant because:

  • The secret recording captured genuine emotion
  • Both witnesses passed polygraphs
  • They maintained consistent accounts for decades
  • The case is one of the most investigated

Sources