Betty and Barney Hills' UFO encounter and missing time event are recognized as the first scientifically investigated UFO abduction in the United States. Their close encounter with an unconventional aerial vehicle occurred on the night of September 19 and into the early morning hours of September 20, 1961, in New Hampshire’s White Mountain region.
Their arrival at their Portsmouth, NH home brought new disquieting discoveries. They were concerned that they could have been contaminated because the unconventional craft hovered so close to their 1957 Chevy Bel Air. They discovered perplexing evidence including Betty’s torn dress, Barney’s deeply scraped shoes, watches that had become permanently inoperable, a severed leather binocular strap, and new shiny spots on their vehicle’s trunk. When a compass was placed over the spots the needle whirled indicating the presence of a magnetic field.
The following day they reported the craft’s erratic flight pattern and buzzing tones to an officer at Pease Air Force Base. It became an official Project Blue Book report. Betty read her first book on the subject whereas Barney tried to forget about it. Betty typed a letter to the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena and this brought astronomer and NICAP investigator to the Hills’ home.
Their story, the impact, and the evidence are available on this website. Select any essay from the top menu. You can also purchase an autographed copy of any book by Kathleen Marden at her bookstore. Her books are also available at major online bookstores.
