Betty and Barney Hill

Betty and Barney Hill:

The Historical Record

© Kathleen Marden

For some, it seems challenging, if not outright impossible, to embrace the notion that an ordinary American couple enjoying their last hours of vacation could have been removed from the highway by a strange, silent, hovering vehicle.

Betty and Barney Hill sought to dismiss the notion that they had been abducted by extraterrestrial beings late on the night of September 19, 1961. However, enigmatic memories from that evening lingered in their minds, supported by circumstantial and physical evidence. You might be aware of their report to the US Air Force's Project Blue Book at Pease Air Force Base in Newington, New Hampshire, on September 21, just one day after returning home from their vacation in Niagara Falls and Montreal, Canada. This article will present evidence drawn from the archival records without indulging in speculation.

On the afternoon of September 20, 1961, Betty reached out to her sister Janet to discuss the bewildering and unusual experience that she and Barney had encountered the previous evening. Later that day, Janet sought the insights of a former chief of police from a small town in New Hampshire and subsequently encouraged Betty and Barney to file a formal report at Pease Air Force Base in nearby Newington. Since it was already nighttime, they decided to postpone their contact until the following day when they could reach out to Major Paul W. Henderson.

The Project Blue Book Bomb Wing SAC report 100-1-61

Below you will find a brief overview of the Hills' UFO sighting report to Pease Air Force base. (The complete report is in the Appendix of my book with Stanton Friedman Captured! The Betty and Barney Hill UFO Experience)

• It changed direction abruptly.

• It stopped and hovered in the air.

•  When it swooped down it was the size of a dinner plate. (*The full moon is the size of an aspirin.)

• While hovering, objects began to appear from the body of the “object” like wings with the V shape extended.

• At this point, they decided to get out of the area and fast.

• Mrs. Hill watched by sticking her head out the window, but her view was obstructed, and this prevented her observation of its full departure.

• They heard short, loud buzzes that they described like someone had dropped a tuning fork, in Lincoln.

• They could feel these buzzes.

• They heard them again about thirty miles south of Lincoln near Ashland, but they did not see the object this time.

• Mrs. Hill described the flight pattern as “erratic.” It changed directions rapidly. During its flight it ascended and descended numerous times very rapidly. Its flight was described as jerky, not smooth.

    Astronomer/NICAP investigator Walter Webb                                                                  Webb's photo of Barney at Close Encounter Site                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   (Courtesy of Walter Webb)

The In-Depth Investigation Conducted by Renowned Astronomer and NICAP Investigator Walter Webb

On September 26, after Betty had finished her first book on UFOs,  The Flying Saucer Conspiracy (1955) by Major Donald Keyhoe, she typed a letter to Keyhoe, who was the Director of the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena. NICAP was a scientifically focused organization that was gaining traction with a diverse membership, including military personnel, Central Intelligence Agency operatives, active and retired scientists, as well as intrigued members of the general public. Her correspondence attracted the attention of Walter Webb, a conservative investigator with NICAP, who served as chairman of the Boston, Massachusetts NICAP subcommittee and was also an astronomy lecturer at the Hayden Planetarium at the Boston Museum of Science. He visited the Hills' home on October 21, 1961, and subsequently prepared a confidential NICAP report. Betty's letter detailed the craft's erratic flight path and its spinning motion while it hovered, creating an effect akin to twinkling. Barney had observed the interior of the object, describing "many figures scurrying about as if they were making some kind of hurried preparation to do something," along with one figure watching them from a window. She further noted that Barney was "shocked and got back in the car, in a hysterical condition, laughing and repeating that they were going to capture us.”  As they made their way down the highway, they heard several "buzzing or beeping sounds that seemed to be striking the trunk" of their vehicle.

They held onto hazy recollections of discovering themselves on a secluded dirt road, surrounded by towering trees, with a massive, blazing orb that appeared to be resting on the ground, alongside a roadblock. Betty recalled more details than Barney, perhaps due to the extraterrestrial influence exerted more intensely on him. 

Walter Webb’s confidential Massachusetts Subcommittee Unit #1 NICAP report dated October 26, 1961, adds the following information:

• The band of lights was not continuous around the object but occupied about half the entire rim, and the other half was dark, causing a twinkling or blinking effect as the object rotated.

• The UFO came around to the front of the car and stopped midair to the right of the highway 80 to 100 feet above the ground.

• The lighted edge of the object, a double row of windows through which a cold, bluish-white, fluorescent glow shown, was visible and a red light on each side of the object was seen.

• The UFO was no longer spinning.

• Mr. Hill braked the car to a halt but left the headlights on and the engine running. He opened the door on his side and stepped out onto the highway for a better look through binoculars.

• At that moment, the UFO shifted position from right to left in front of the car and hovered in midair.

• Barney followed it when it moved across the highway. The object tilted downward slightly and began descending slowly in his direction.

• Now he could see eight to eleven separate figures watching him. They were dressed in black, shiny uniforms and caps with peaks or bills on them. Suddenly there was a “burst of activity.” Everyone turned in unison toward what seemed like a panel and only one remained at the window.

• The craft filled up the entire field of his binoculars.

• The one at the window showed an intense concentration that Barney could almost feel, to carry out a plan. Barney believed that he was going to be captured like a “bug in a net.”

• That is when he knew it was no conventional aircraft but something alien and unearthly containing beings of a superior type, beings that were “somehow not human.”

• The object was now 50 to 80 feet up and possibly 50 to 100 feet away.

Kathleen Marden's In-Depth Investigation

Kathleen was just thirteen years old when her aunt and uncle reported their astonishing UFO sighting to Pease AFB and NICAP. She learned of their remarkable close encounter with a mysterious, silent, hovering craft on the day they arrived home from their fateful vacation journey. Just two days later, her parents drove her to the Hills' home, where she had the opportunity to examine some of the physical evidence they collected and listen to Betty's vivid recollections of the event. This ignited her fascination with uncovering every detail about the Hills' extraordinary experience. In 1964, as the Hills underwent hypnosis, they made a visit to her childhood home. Dr. Benjamin Simon, upon allowing them to recall their statements made during hypnosis, shared this revelation with their family, but only under strict confidentiality. Kathleen met most of the original investigators and admired their scientific minds. After finishing her college degree, she devoted many years to a rewarding career in education. However, her fascination with the investigation of her aunt's and uncle's UFO sighting and potential abduction never faded. Ultimately, in 1991, she transitioned to become a full-time UFO investigator and embarked on a comprehensive investigation that lasted several years.

She had met Walter Webb, the NICAP investigator who conducted an initial six hour interview with the Hills, capturing both their individual accounts and their discussions together. His report served as the cornerstone of Kathleen's investigation. During her investigation into the Hill case, she had the opportunity to speak with him directly. He mentioned that had he grasped the significance of this case fully, he would have definitely borrowed a recording device instead of having his assistant take notes. Back in 1961, recording devices were nearly the size of a picnic cooler and utilized delicate reel-to-reel tape. Such equipment was not commonly found in most households. Nonetheless, his assistant diligently took extensive notes. Additionally, he remained in touch with the Hills and took photographs of Barney alongside their vehicle at the site of the close encounter in Lincoln. It's crucial to acknowledge that Webb was a highly respected investigator, although this marked his first profoundly significant case. He conducted his investigation without the advanced technology that we have at our disposal today. 

Kathleen's thorough investigation,  uncovered a couple of minor inconsistencies regarding the later details in his report, but these issues are trivial and likely stemmed from the Hills, who had not yet revisited their route to accurately ascertain where they made their stops and the details of what they observed at each site. Initially, Betty thought that they had observed a starlike object at about midnight in Groveton, NH. However, during her investigation, Kathleen learned the initial sighting occurred south of Lancaster, which is 8.1 miles south of Groveton. It happened not at midnight, as first reported, but at approximately 10:55 PM. However, Barney reported that he was driving above the speed limit, so the initial sighting could have occurred a few minutes earlier. After retracing their route through Northern New Hampshire, they had a better estimate of the time sequence.

Over a period of several years, Betty and Kathleen journeyed along the close encounter route many times, making sure to pause at every key location where the Hills conducted their observations. Their first stop was at the Mt. Cleveland picnic area just south of Twin Mountain. Next, they stopped at the Old Man of the Mountain in Franconia Notch. They drove into the parking lot at Flume Gorge, but towering trees obstructed their view, prompting them to reverse back onto US Highway 3. Their third observational stop was at the close encounter field, situated approximately a mile south of the Indian Head Resort along Route 3 in North Lincoln. This information aligns with their accounts to Dr. Benjamin Simon during separate hypnosis sessions and to other early investigators. Historical reports, along with the statements provided by the Hills, strongly suggest that they arrived at the close encounter area around midnight. The distance from their restaurant stop in Colebrook to the Close Encounter field in Lincoln is approximately seventy miles. Considering the Hills' stops to observe the approaching craft, it is reasonable to conclude that they arrived in Lincoln shortly before midnight. If they were driving at 45 miles per hour, the journey would have taken about one hour and 33 minutes, allowing the Hills sufficient time for their observational stops. However, it was a clear and luminous night, and Barney admitted that he was driving at a speed exceeding the legal limit until he slowed down after viewing the craft at closer range in Franconia Notch. 

Barney increased his speed when he left Franconia Notch, but the craft swooped down at the close encounter field in Lincoln. Barney was compelled to halt his vehicle right in the center of the US Highway 3 as the craft surged forward, effortlessly hovering just 200 feet above them. Through binoculars Barney observed a row of lighted windows that reminded him of the intensity of mercury vapor lamps. He moved back from the couple's 1957 Chevy Bel Air to gain a clearer perspective, when the vehicle effortlessly floated over the highway in front of him. It had descended even further now, possibly to just 100 feet. In a state of disbelief, Barney followed it into the field, still shaking his head in astonishment. He raised the binoculars to his eyes, peering at figures dressed in shiny, black uniforms who were glaring down at him from above. In an instant, all but one of them moved toward what seemed to be a control panel. Their arms shot up, and batlike wings, with vibrant red lights on their tips, flickered into view. The lone figure at the window sent a wave of terror coursing through Barney because he sensed that they had a plan to capture him "like a bug in a net." Overwhelmed by fear of imminent capture, he hastily yanked the binoculars away from his eyes and sprinted to the driver's seat of his car.

Betty stressed that Barney had dashed towards the refuge of his car, which remained on with its headlights casting brilliant beams into the dark. As he stepped into the car, he cast a glance over his shoulder at the vessel that was now approaching him. In a frantic bid to flee the craft and evade capture, he accelerated down the highway, his hands tightly clutching the steering wheel of his rapidly speeding vehicle. At Barney's insistence, Betty rolled down her window to look up at the sky, but her view was entirely obstructed. All she could make out was an all-encompassing darkness; she couldn't see the lights of the craft, nor could she see any stars or the bright glow of the night—just an overwhelming black void. After traveling a mere five or six blocks, they were startled by a series of codelike buzzing sounds resembling a dropped tuning fork, striking the trunk of their car. A vibration coursed through their vehicle, accompanied by an odd tingling sensation. Betty reached out to touch the metallic surface to check for electricity but felt no shock. Almost immediately, they seemingly entered a realm of transformed awareness. Then, they heard a second wave of buzzing sounds, which jolted them back to full awareness. The craft was no longer visible. To their bewilderment, they discovered they were now thirty-five miles south of their original location, near Ashland.

Webb wrote, “Mrs. Hill asked her husband for the first time, “Do you believe in flying saucers? And he replied, “Don’t be ridiculous! That wasn’t a flying saucer.”[1] He went on to share that Barney had been a staunch skeptic before his terrifying experience. He told Webb that he detested the word “flying saucer.” 

In the months that followed, they tirelessly searched for this elusive road but did not confirm its existence until September 1965. During that Labor Day weekend, Kathleen's  grandparents, mother, and she accompanied Betty and Barney on an unforgettable camping adventure. Barney was driving along State Route 175 when, without warning, he veered onto a gravel road. Moments later, he brought the car to a halt, and the family ventured down a winding path through the woods that led them to the clearing. They were exhilarated and relieved to have finally located the site of the abduction.

Evidence that Something Unknown had Occurred

The Hills had expected to arrive at their home in Portsmouth, NH, between 2 and 3 AM. This detail came back to them when they fully recognized that two hours had inexplicably passed during their encounter with technical writer Robert Hohmann and engineer C.D. Jackson, both NICAP members employed at IBM. Before this significant revelation in November 1961, they came to the realization that they had returned home significantly later than they originally expected.

Upon returning home, Betty noticed that her watch had ceased functioning. Unaware of its malfunction, she proceeded to set the time, which read 5:16. Barney followed suit and did the same. Prior to this, they had confirmed the correct time in Colebrook, NH, and she had at Cannon Mountain, located a few miles north of the close encounter field in Lincoln. Strangely, both the Hills' watches were not working by the time they arrived home. This interesting detail became known to Kathleen on September 22 or 23 during her family's visit with the Hills.

They discovered perplexing evidence when they arrived home. Betty noticed that her dress had been torn at the zipper, and the lining was ripped from the waist to the hemline. Later, she found pink powder covering part of it. This has been analyzed in several scientific laboratories. Additionally, Barney discovered a severed leather binocular strap, badly scraped tops of his shoes, and vegetative matter on his dress slacks. The couple felt "clammy" – much more unclean compared to how they usually felt after a vacation. They found shiny spots on the trunk of the 1957 Chevy Bel Air, in the location where they heard the buzzing sounds, that had not been there the previous day. When a compass was placed over them, the needle whirled, indicating the presence of a magnetic field. Kathleen's  family were witnesses to the watches and shiny spots during their visit. 

Barney's deteriorating health ultimately prompted him to seek the guidance of a psychiatrist. In 1963, he was admitted to the local hospital due to a bleeding ulcer and high blood pressure. His elevated blood pressure and ulcers did not improve with conventional medical care, prompting him to seek treatment from a local psychiatrist to address his anxiety. One day, he shared with the psychiatrist his weekend trip with Betty, where they navigated their close encounter route in search of the desolate road they recalled after the second series of buzzing tones reverberated on their car's trunk. Barney was so distressed that his psychiatrist decided to refer him to a well-known specialist in Boston. On December 14, 1963, Dr. Simon welcomed Betty and Barney into his Back Bay office for Barney's initial consultation. Betty requested to have an appointment too, and Dr. Simon agreed. He held individual hypnosis sessions with the Hills, carefully reinstating amnesia after each session until late April. Following this period, they convened together to review the recordings from their hypnosis sessions. Their last appointment occurred on June 27, 1964, but he and the Hills maintained their connection through phone calls, office visits, and written correspondence. (See Captured! The Betty and Barney Hill UFO Experience by Stanton Friedman and Kathleen Marden for the full story.)

The October 1965 Surprise

The Hill’s UFO abduction case did not generate widespread media publicity until October 25, 1965, when a series of newspaper articles on five consecutive days were published in the Boston Traveler. Award winning journalist John Luttrell had conducted a thorough investigation of the case. He had spoken with Air Force officers at Pease Air Force Base, to members of the three state UFO Study NICAP Group, and to additional witnesses who saw the UFO on the night of the Hills’ encounter.

Luttrell had conversed directly with the Hills via telephone and had written a letter to them promising not to commercialize their experience in any way if they would only grant him an interview. They flatly refused, and when he traveled to their home they fled to Betty's parents home in Kingston, NH. He wrote a letter to them about his lengthy wait on their doorstep. In their absence, he took the opportunity to interview their neighbors regarding their character and personalities. 

Betty and Barney were not seeking publicity because they did not want to tarnish their excellent reputations. However, Luttrell wrote about their discussion with a group of New England scientists. It seems clear that it was the Two State UFO Study Group in Quincy, MA. Someone in the audience secretly recorded their statements and Luttrell received a copy of the recording. His newspaper column claims that he acquired it from a member of the group. However, Kathleen could not find evidence that the Hills revealed the contents of their hypnosis recordings to the group, only that Betty spoke briefly about her dreams. She  found an admission ticket in the Hills’ archival records dated November 1963, a month before they saw Dr. Benjamin Simon for the first time. So, their post-hypnosis testimony was not available. Luttrell’s August 19, 1965, letter to the Hills reveals that he had been talking to the wife of a retired navy officer and friend and confidant of Betty. Lorrie and her husband were NICAP members. Although she denied being the source of the confidentiality breach, it is mentioned in Luttrell’s article. He wrote of several additional informants who helped in his investigation.

Dr. Benjamin Simon wrote of Luttrell as follows: “He requested an interview with me—which I refused, informing him that I would not discuss the Hills’ case without their written consent and that even with their written permission any discussion would have to depend on my judgment of its potential effect on their emotional health. A month or two later, Mr. Hill, in considerable distress, called to say that the reporter had approached them for an interview—which they had refused. He (the reporter) claimed to have the data on the case which he would publish without an interview with them if they refused to comply.”[1]

Luttrell’s article begins as follows:   

 “Their story, although disclosed publicly for the first time, is known to government officials and to scientists round the world investigating unidentified flying objects. Officially, the Air Force, the government's UFO investigatory agency, says this couldn't have happened. Although conceding that other persons reported sighting a UFO at the same time and place as the Hills, the Air Force says the UFO appeared on its radar as a ‘shimmering’- an air mass phenomenon that reflects light from the ground. But unofficially, it is known that the Hill case is getting top priority attention of the Foreign Technology Division of the Air Force Command at Wright Patterson Field in Dayton, Ohio. The word ‘Foreign’ means foreign to this earth, not simply alien to this country. This highly secret division, directed by the Central Intelligence Agency, takes over and investigates UFO reports the Air Force itself cannot explain.  In addition, scientists and astrophysicists in this and other countries are studying the case.”[2]

Luttrell’s column states that NICAP, a privately funded scientific organization in Washington, DC, reports that the Hills might have observed visitors from outer space from a distance. However, Walter Webb, the investigator, termed the Hill’s sighting as “one of the most dramatic, most remarkable in the history of foreign object sightings. He was convinced that the New Hampshire couple saw a space vehicle.”[3]

As an example of Luttrell’s investigative skills, he noted the difference between the Hills’ initial Project Blue Book report to Pease AFB and a later adjusted report that no longer mentions the craft’s unusual flight pattern and their own radar report. (Factually, there were two radar reports that night.) The writer of the falsified, typed report made a mistake by dating it September 21, 1965, instead of September 21, 1961. It is clear that the inconsistencies mentioned in the reports were added by Project Blue Book and were not in the Hills’ original report. Although Luttrell's newspaper disclosure caused great distress for the Hills, he did a service to them when he revealed evidence of a coverup. He had spoken to officials at NICAP who informed him of the government coverup on all UFO reports. (Stanton Friedman and Kathleen Marden conducted extensive research at physical archives and of FOIA released information and wrote of the history of the coverup in our book Fact, Fiction, and Flying Saucers.) Additionally, Mr. Luttrell wrote that when he attempted to acquire the original USAF notes on the Hill’s report, he was informed that they had been destroyed. (More likely, they had been classified.) 

The Boston Traveler sold the greatest number of newspapers in eighty four years. But the publicity around Luttrell’s revelations was extraordinarily unsetting for Betty and Barney. He had published their home address, which was a horrendously stressful violation of privacy. They feared they would lose their jobs and their standing in the community in which they were highly regarded. We met as a family to discuss the next course of action and decided that they should speak to the public about their UFO experience.

The Hills Speak to the General Public for the First Time

Their initial formal lecture took place on November 7, 1965, at the Universalist Unitarian Church in Dover, NH. They were welcomed to an overflowing audience by the public information officer from Pease Air Force Base. Every one of the four hundred seats was occupied, and a makeshift loudspeaker system was quickly set up to reach those gathered in the basement and hallways. Unfortunately, some eager attendees were turned away, and forced to stand in the pouring rain, hoping for a glimpse of the Hills.

During Kathleen's investigation, she discovered that several radio and television hosts remarked that the Hills were not widely believed, yet many New Hampshire residents informed her that the majority regarded their accounts as credible, feeling they genuinely experienced a UFO incident and abduction. By 1965, there had been numerous UFO sightings and close encounters reported in northern New Hampshire, some even making headlines in local newspapers. Furthermore, New Hampshire had emerged as a significant hub for UFO activity, close encounters, and landings. Many individuals had their own sightings and close encounters backed by multiple witnesses, including two police officers in nearby Exeter, which attracted considerable media attention.

[1] Benjamin Simon, “Introduction,” The Interrupted Journey, viii.

[2] John H. Luttrell, “Did THEY Seize Couple?” The Boston Traveler, a division of the Boston Herald Traveler Corporation, Boston, MA. P. 1 and continued on additional pages, 10/25/1965.

[3] Walter Webb, confidential NICAP report, 10/26/1961.

A Proposal for a Literary Work

John Fuller, renowned for his "Trade Winds" column in the Saturday Review, as well as being the author of numerous nonfiction works and a contributor to Look Magazine, had a deep fascination with UFOs and the paranormal. While in New Hampshire researching for his book Incident at Exeter, he attended a lecture by the Hills. Following their presentation, he proposed writing a book detailing their extraordinary experience. After extensive negotiations, he, along with Dr. Simon and the Hills, reached an agreement for him to craft a narrative based on the insights gleaned through hypnosis. Dial Press embraced his proposal, yet they expressed dissatisfaction with certain sections of the manuscript. They insisted that he revise specific details to align with their expectations, or else the publication would not proceed.

Fuller wrote to J. Allen Hynek regarding his work on the book, “I am a reporter and anything but an expert on UFOs. I cheated a little here and there in an attempt to get a more readable human interest narrative.”[1] Fuller added tension to the narrative where none existed and withheld or modified some information to comply with demands from Dial Press. The publisher wanted graphic details of Barney’s exam, but due to his embarrassment over his semen sample and rectal probe Fuller wrote only of a cuplike device placed over his groin and wartlike growths that conformed to the outline of the cup.

He detailed Barney's halt on the highway, during which he retrieved his weapon, and recounted Barney returning to the car to grab his binoculars as the craft lingered above. However, he failed to provide a precise timeline or exact locations for the Hills' various observational stops. The narrative implies that Barney took out his weapon from the trunk of the car while the craft was hovering merely 100-200 feet above. In truth, Barney had fetched Betty's pistol from the trunk during their initial observational stop at the Mount Cleveland Picnic Area, situated roughly fifteen miles north of the site of their close encounter. He was particularly worried about bears in the remote area where he walked his dog Delsey. In fact, the pistol was already in his pocket when he opened the car door and stepped out with his binoculars in the vicinity of Lincoln, where the craft silently hovered 100 to 200 feet overhead. As a skilled writer, Fuller meticulously crafted the book, making it an engaging read. However, it is not completely accurate.

The Interrupted Journey was released in 1966 and quickly rose to prominence as a New York Times bestseller. Fuller's two engaging articles were featured in Look Magazine in the editions dated October 4 and 18, aiming to spark interest in his upcoming book. Boldly displayed on the cover was the provocative headline "ABOARD A FLYING SAUCER: The astonishing account of two individuals who claim they were 'abducted' by humanoids aboard a spacecraft." Below this, there was an eye-catching photograph of Elizabeth Taylor, accompanied by the intriguing question, "Does Burton tame the shrew as Shakespeare envisioned?"The eight page article begins with Dr. Simon’s assessment of the Hills and their experience stating, “Some aspects of the experience are unanswered, and, perhaps, unanswerable at this time nothing is finally settled. Nothing is absolutely proved to me regarding the alleged abduction.” He also stresses that “Neither patient is psychotic and both consciously and under hypnosis told what they believed to be the absolute truth.” In his discussion of hypnosis, Dr. Simon states, “The truth is what he believes to be the truth, and this may not be consonant with the ultimate and non-personal truth. Most frequently it is.” [2]

Skeptics often raise concerns regarding the complexities of hypnosis, emphasizing the risk that a client may inadvertently fabricate false information. They overlook Dr. Simon's assertion that, in most instances, the essential and objective truth emerges. As a scholar and retired practitioner of hypnosis, Kathleen aligns with Dr. Simon's perspective and aims to elaborate on it. Typically, the personal account is largely accurate, though minor details may be factually incorrect. For instance, a research study on hypnosis found that an adult regressed to their second-grade experience, when prompted to recall classmates, occasionally named peers from the third grade rather than the second. Nonetheless, the individual was aware that they had indeed been in second grade at one point. It is understood that conscious memories often fade in accuracy over time. However, we remain uncertain if this applies to the subconscious mind, which holds memories typically inaccessible to the individual. While individuals can indeed misrepresent information under hypnosis, an adept hypnotist will suggest that if a client attempts to recall a falsehood, they will find themselves unable to articulate or will experience confusion that renders their words jumbled. A significant issue arises when a client holds a deep respect for their hypnotist, possessing detailed knowledge of the practitioner's views and methodologies. This authority figure can inadvertently suggest specifics to the client, leading them to believe these elements are integral to their own narrative. Competent and seasoned hypnotists are aware of these nuances and exercise caution to avoid inadvertently guiding the time-regressed subject.

Fuller’s archival collection has a list of the irrefutable facts in the Hill case. They are as follows:

• The sighting took place.

• The object was a craft.

• It caused a severe emotional reaction.

• It was not identifiable as an ordinary craft.

• Both Betty and Barney experienced temporary amnesia.

• The amnesia caused severe anxiety reactions.

• They were not seeking publicity. They avoided it.

• The publicity was strongly resisted by the Hills.

• They were respected in the community, had high intelligence, and had no ulterior motive.

• Barney’s predisposition regarding the UFO was strongly negative. Betty was in no way a “UFO Buff.” Her opinion was tempered by her sister’s (my mother) sighting.

• They found the best available medical help.

• It came at great expense and inconvenience.

• The insurance company paid the bill.

• There was physical and circumstantial evidence.

• It was investigated by several technical and scientific persons of considerable stature who support the possibility that it might be real.

[1] John Fuller, “Aboard a Flying Saucer,” Look Magazine, Vol. 30, No. 20, p. 45. Emphasis by author

 [2] John Fuller letter to J. Allen Hynek. Fuller’s archival collection, Boston University.

Concern at the Pentagon

“Should the USAF Reopen Project Blue Book?,"  A thesis dated May 17, 1974, and written by USAF officers Major William E. Brummet, and Captain Ernest R. Zuick, Jr at the Maxwell AFB Air Command and Staff College addresses the closure of Project Blue Book. In their investigation of Air Force policy, they evaluated Project Blue Book’s handling of Betty and Barney Hills’ 1961 UFO sighting and abduction.

 The Air Force officers wrote the following major points:

•  There is no indication that the Hills were ever contacted by the Air Force after this report was filed. This is particularly strange since Project Blue Book files show that a UFO was spotted and tracked by Air Force radar operators at nearby Concord AFS, Vermont less than seven hours prior to the Hills' sighting. 

•  Another UFO was sighted by Pease AFB precision approach radar only two hours following the Hills’ visual sighting.

• Non-availability of observers for early interrogation precluded electrical transmission of report. This is a particularly puzzling statement, since the Hills were readily available for interrogation at any time.

• Project Blue Book ended their investigation of the Barney and Betty Hill sighting and the corresponding radar sightings at this point without ever re-contacting the Hills. This is a particularly disturbing aspect of this sighting.

• The official Air Force explanation regarding the Hills' UFO sighting turned out to be almost as erratic as the radar and visual sightings themselves.

• No attempt was made at drawing a possible correlation between the visual and radar UFO reports even though former Project Blue Book Director, Captain E.J. Ruppelt admitted as early as January 24, 1953, that visual reports that supposedly correlate with erratic radar tracks warrant a detailed investigation.

• The radar ‘shimmering’ originally reported to the press was much more than a shimmer indicating an air mass. It was a bona fide sighting.

•  Assuming the examinations did take two hours, and the UFO left shortly after releasing the Hills, an eerie time correlation can be drawn between the Hills' reported midnight sighting and the UFO tracked by Pease AFB radar at 2:14 a.m.

• It is not clear why Project Blue Book purposely withheld information to the press regarding the Pease AFB radar sighting, but it certainly supported the Government's attitude that UFOs did not exist.

• They sent the Hill’s file containing two articles from LOOK Magazine (Fuller) and articles from The Boston Traveler (Luttrell) to the Pentagon.[1]

[1] Brummett and Zuick, pp. 52-72.

Historical Marker

A book in collaboration between Kathleen Marden and Stanton Friedman resulted in Captured! The Betty and Barney UFO Experience (2007 and 2021). It serves as an in-depth exploration of the Hills' lives, unique personalities, and the compelling evidence drawn from archival records. Moreover, it features Kathleen's thorough field investigation and her comparative analysis of the Hills' distinct statements during hypnosis sessions. Their joint effort in writing this book was aimed at accurately representing the facts. As the trustee of the estate, she had complete access to all the archival records. Furthermore, in accordance with Betty's wishes, she have selectively donated certain files to the University of New Hampshire Special Collections Library.

Fifty years after the Hills' astonishing UFO encounter in New Hampshire's White Mountains, the State of New Hampshire proudly erected a historical marker honoring their remarkable experience and reported abduction by a UFO. This significant marker is located in front of the Indian Head Resort along Route 3 in North Lincoln, NH. The newspaper articles and television segments surrounding the historical marker have treated the case with the respect it truly deserves.