Beginning in August 1973 and lasting until late-December, the entire planet, but in particular, the United States experienced a wave of very specific sightings. What followed would be reported after report of “humanoid occupants” inside or emerging from UFOs, or humanoid creatures approaching, and on occasion, even giving chase to witnesses.

Several cases of alien abduction would also occur during the same period. While 1973 was a year with a much higher than normal amount of UFO sightings, the last third would prove to be even more active. The Center For UFO Studies (CUFOS) would discreetly study the wave. While they would, for the most part, withhold the witnesses’ identities, the accounts make for a detailed and fascinating read. Furthermore, upon studying these figures, they would reflect very interestingly with a similar wave of sightings over France and other areas of Europe in 1954.

Although the wave of UFO humanoid sightings would last almost five months, the bulk of the activity was in the month of October. Of the fifty-five such sightings in the United States during the August-to-December period, for example, thirty-six occurred in October. Even stranger, seven of these sightings took place on the same day (17th October), with two more having taken place the previous evening, and three more on the evening before that.

These sightings themselves were broken down into two distinct categories. First, there were the humanoid sightings. These were, as the name suggests, similar to humans, and would often feature communication with the witness. Secondly, there were the “anthropoid” sightings, which were often Bigfoot-like creatures, often described as “monsters” by the witness. And there were more those than even more UFO researchers are comfortable with. As always, many of the following accounts come from the translations of researcher, Albert Rosales.

The Quiet Before The Storm!

While we will concentrate on the latter half of 1973 here for obvious reasons, there was still some extremely intriguing activity that took place in the first six months of the year.

Perhaps the most famous encounter during the 1973 wave was the Pascagoula Abductions, still regarded as one of the most intriguing and credible of UFO accounts on record. It might also prove to be that the incident was just one out of many dozens of encounters around the United States during that time. Indeed, how many more went unreported we can only guess at.

Another incident we have examined previously is the rather bizarre “Bean Pot” UFO incident, which incidentally or not, took place during the least significant UFO wave in 1967. However, in April 1973, the main witness, Reed Thompson would experience an even more bizarre, and unnerving incident.

On that particularly warm day, while Reed was at work at his auto repair store, two extremely strange men arrived. Each was a very disturbing appearance, each with the long hair and each wearing “tan jumpsuits and very heavy gloves”. Furthermore, when they spoke, they would speak in a “mechanical monotone voice”.

Even more concerning to Thompson was the fact that these two strangers knew all the details of the UFO he had witnessed, right down to the date and the fact that he had captured a photograph of the scene. It was that the strange figure issued the demand for the photograph and the negative.

Meanwhile, as this was happening, another employee, Craft, of the auto repair shop had ventured outside to see if any other strangers were there. What he witnessed was perhaps even more bizarre than the events unfolding inside the shop.

A Car Without Steering Wheel Or Seats

Outside was a “1969 bright yellow Buick LeSabre” with dark glass. When he looked inside, though, the situation would take an even stranger turn. Inside the strange vehicle was almost completely empty with “no steering wheel or seats”. Before he could take in any more detail, however, the two strange men came outside.

Craft backed away from the car, and as he did so, his elbow touched one of theirs. As it did so, a strange feeling seemed to enter his body. Rather ominously, Craft would pass away suddenly two years after the strange incident. According to the reports, two autopsies were performed in an attempt to establish the cause of death. Each was inconclusive.

Reed would have several other encounters, both with the apparent Men In Black and with extraterrestrial entities. One particular time while driving to work the strange car appeared seemingly out of nowhere “only inches from his bumper”. The mysterious car continued to follow until he arrived at the auto repair shop. As he got out of the vehicle, however, a “blue arc-welding flash” temporarily blinded him for a moment. When he refocused his vision, the ominous vehicles had completely vanished.

He would report to UFO researcher, James Todd, that “big black Cadillacs or Lincolns” would regularly follow him over the subsequent years. He still, though, at least according to Todd’s examination of the case in his book The Secrets of the Men In Black, still has the photograph and negative in his possession.

Many Significant And Well-Known Encounters!

We have also examined several other better-known incidents in 1973 in-depth previously, which is perhaps an indication of how active that particular calendar year actually was.

Another significant encounter from early in 1973 would occur in Piedmont, Missouri, when several members of a high school basketball team, as well as their coaches, would witness a bizarre craft land in a field as they made their way home from a playoff game against another high school team.

In the summer of 1973, on the 7th July, in Odessa, Texas, multiple witnesses would report a disc-shaped object hovering over a radio tower. The incident, at least according to the claims of the initial investigation, was subject to government attempts to suppress media reports of it.

As October unfolded, as we will see later, incidents seemingly went into overdrive. We have looked at the Coyne Helicopter Incident previously, for example, which had four experienced military pilots as witnesses to a UFO which came into close proximity of their aircraft while they were in the air. What’s more, multiple other witnesses would see events take place from below.

Also in October, across the Atlantic in the United Kingdom, was the case of Gabriella Versacci, who would claim to have been abducted by extraterrestrial as she drove toward the town of Langford Budville.

Perhaps one of the later incidents of the 1973 wave occurred in Vilvoorde in Belgium in December 1973. On that occasion, the witness would see a strange humanoid seemingly collecting samples of the surrounding vegetation.

As we will see, these are but a sample – and a tiny one at that – of the incidents that would take place.

A Year Full Of Discreet “Random” Encounters

There were of course sightings all over the planet during 1973. For example, in April 1973, over a primary school in Ipoh Perak in Malaysia, a “flying saucer” would land in the middle of the playground, at least according to an account in the Encyclopedia of Alien Encounter: A Summary of UFO and Related Events in Malaysia by Ahmad Jamaluddin.

Even more bizarre, “several tiny humanoids in shiny white suits” would venture out of this strange and miniature craft. However, when one of the teachers approached, the small creatures ran back to the apparent spaceship which then took and off and vanished.

Further to that, a very similar incident had taken place in the rice fields of Rantau Panjang the previous year. On that occasion, while playing in the fields, a young girl would witness a “miniature man” who was walking through the field. He was dressed all in white and sported long, white hair. She would make attempts to “catch him”. However, he would disappear into a hole in the ground. Another local boy also reported “chasing” a very similar-looking small man around the same time.

While it is easy to dismiss such accounts as the fruitful and overactive minds of the young, every single one of us is familiar with folklore tales of “fairies”, “little people”, or all manner of other supernatural beings. Might these be based on encounters from antiquity with “miniature” extraterrestrials? Or might these tiny entities not be alien at all, but something different altogether, although certainly no less mind-blowing?

Although there is very little information on the actual sighting itself, an intriguing picture taken over Bali Island in Indonesia at around the same time as the above encounter is very much worth checking out, which you can do below.

Encounters South Of The American Border – The Mexican (UFO) Wave

Across the southern border in Mexico, UFO sightings were also on the increase. And what’s more, they were seemingly so from the beginning of the year.

Perhaps one of the first incidents of the 1973 UFO wave as far as Mexican authorities were concerned occurred in late March. According to a report in the El Siglo de Torreon newspaper, multiple people witnessed a “luminous object” in the skies over San Pedro. And what’s more, the object was moving at an “extraordinary rate of speed”.

When we examine the translation of the account by Scott Corrales, it notes how “regular commercial flights did not fly over this community”, meaning that a mistaken sighting of a terrestrial vehicle is unlikely, certainly at the speeds in the report. Furthermore, the witnesses were largely from farming communities with little interest or engagement in the “modern world”, meaning it is unlikely they would have the inclination or interest in manufacturing such an event for financial gain or notoriety.

Of course, the incident above is far from the only one to be on the Mexican UFO records throughout 1973. In fact, while the San Pedro incident was, by and large, the first widely reported sighting of 1973, there were several others in the country that occurred even earlier.

Persistent Sightings Of Glowing, Luminous Objects

A week or so before the account over San Pedro, an encounter featuring the occupants of a strange craft would surface. According to the El Mexicano newspaper, on the evening of 14th March, brother Juan and Ruben Hernandez would witness a glowing, round object overhead as they worked at the La Prieta mine.

Furthermore, the glowing light would approach the two men causing them to flee the area and alert other employees, as well as their superiors. When they came to witness the bizarre events, each could see the strange object “hanging motionless” for several moments before finally rising into the air and disappearing out of their sight at such great speed that they would describe it as “incalculable”.

Perhaps even more intriguing, Ruben would state to the press that the mysterious object had vanished into the area known as the Zone of Silence, which has a long history of strange sightings and goings-on to its name.

Several weeks earlier in mid-February, another motorist on the Mexican highways experienced a similar luminous object. This time, a sales agent, Alfonso Pulido, would claim that a “ball of light” had overtaken his vehicle while he was traveling from Uruapan to Paracho.

He would recall how the object had at first appeared as “one of those stars that appear to move every so often”. However, it soon became increasingly bigger as it approached his vehicle with increasing speed. As it remained over the car, a blue light washed over the surrounding area seemingly from the craft’s underside, as well as causing interference with the car’s radio. It would stay overhead for several minutes before simply moving away and disappearing into the sky.

The Bizarre Encounter Of Alfonso Hernandez

Although it occurred several months later, well into the 1973 wave, another incident from Mexico, this time in Puebla in September, is very much worth including here. And what’s more, the apparent close encounter occurred in the same area where a mass UFO sighting took place in July.

On the morning of 23rd September, two shepherds would hear “two loud detonations” before witnessing a bizarre, glowing craft crossing the sky and disappearing into a nearby gorge. Almost as soon as it disappeared, a “noise that made the Earth shake” rang out.

As the two shepherds went to investigate, a local man, Alfonso Hernandez, who would report details of the account to the newspaper, would follow them. When they entered the area, two “living beings…covered with fur similar to straw” appeared.

It isn’t clear what happened after that, but Hernandez would lead members of the newspaper to the site the following day. Although the shepherds were no longer there to speak with, and there was no sign of the two strange entities, there was an apparent display of carnage in the shape of overturned and avalanched rocks, as well as uprooted trees. Hernandez would state the damage was not there the previous day and was, in his opinion, the result of the strange craft entering the area.

Did it crash? Or might it have activated some kind of technological device to open a portal and disappear, leaving behind the damage discovered by Hernandez shortly after?

The Bizarre Creature Under The Bridge On The Isle Of Wight

According to a report in the BUFORA Journal (Volume 6, number 5), an incident over the Isle of Wight would take place during the late afternoon of 15th May. And what’s more, many of the details make for an almost carbon copy of multiple other sightings of 1973.

In the town of Sandown, 7-year-old Fay was playing on the golf links with a friend when a sudden “siren-like sound” rang out startling both of them. They looked around and tracked down where the noise was coming from. They would make their way to a hedge that they pushed their way through. As they did so, a “swampy meadow” awaited them. At the same time, the ear-piercing noise ceased.

They ventured into the swampy environment and as they made their way along a footbridge, a strange figure became visible underneath. The two children watched in shock as the strange creature, approximately 7-feet tall, moved with a “strange hopping motion, with knees raised high”. It would make its way to a “metallic hut with no windows”.

The creature seemingly wore a strange hat as well as a tight-fitting tunic. Furthermore, its face – a strange, deathly white, had “triangular markings for eyes” as well as a “brown square” for a nose, and “motionless” lips.

After having entered the craft, the creature suddenly emerged again. In its three-fingered hand was a strange box “like a microphone”. He turned to the children, waved, and spoke into the box asking the children if they were still there.

“You Know” Who I Am!

What is interesting about this latter development is the notion that this box is some kind of translation device. And what’s more, this appears in numerous close encounter accounts of the same era. Of even further interest, such devices exist in our modern world today.

The already bizarre encounter would take an even stranger twist as the creature began a dialogue with the children, who in turn, asked several questions of their own. One of which was whether he was a man, to which the creature replied no. In response, the children asked if he was a ghost. To this, the creature would reply that he wasn’t “but I am in an odd sort of way”. When the children persisted in what he was if not a man or a ghost, the creature simply replied, “you know”.

Then, having assured themselves that the creature was indeed friendly, the two children followed the figure into the “metallic hut”. It had two floors inside, with the lower floor containing lots of dials and with wooden furniture. The upper floor, meanwhile, had a metal floor and had much less space to move.

Perhaps even more intriguing, the creature would state that he lived on berries that he would pick. Furthermore, he would collect the river water and then, after “cleaning it”.

The children would claim to speak with the strange creature for around 30 minutes before they left and ran back across the fields. Once home, they were eager to tell of the strange man they had met earlier. Needless to say, their story was not taken seriously.

Strange Activity In Australia – A Continuation Of The Wave Of 1972?

Before we move on to examine some of the incidents that would rock the United States towards the end of 1973, two incidents to take place in Australia – one of which would unfold in the opening weeks of the year – are very, much worth including here. Not least because the details of the accounts are extremely similar to other incidents in the same period of time. Each of the cases comes to us from the files of UFO researcher, Bill Chalker.

In the opening days of the year, “Elizabeth C” and several friends would witness a strange light that appeared to follow their vehicle as they made their way to a campsite at Shoalhavens Head. What’s more, while the light would disappear they would later witness a bizarre event involving the military off the coast from their campsite – an event that the military would deny taking place. Incidentally, you can read about this particular encounter in full in the UFO Insight book From Deep Within The Archives Of UFO Insight.

Several months later, in the early evening of 25th June, at around 7 pm, an entire family, the Dorringtons, would witness a large disc hovering overhead for around 15 minutes before it disappeared into the evening sky. During the duration of the sightings, a “green glow” would envelop the object. Furthermore, around the middle, a “brilliant red light” rotated.

The incident would unfold in a remote part of the country, in the areas of Armidale and Grafton, and Tyringham and Dundurrabin. Furthermore, it appeared the incident involving the Dorrington family was one of many that occurred in the area at the time.

The 1973 Humanoid Wave

Before we move on to the latter half of 1973, there are several incidents to examine from early in the year in the United States. One of these, as documented in the book The UFO Evidence A Thirty-Year Report (Volume II) by Richard Hall, occurred during a flight from St, Louis to Dallas while over Oklahoma.

It was a little after 2:30 am and while at an altitude of 5,000 feet, the crew would notice what looked like another aircraft approaching them. As the pilot and co-pilot continued to watch the object would suddenly shoot up toward their position. Once level with the plane’s altitude, it would make “a sharp turn” and then head straight toward them. It would stop at a distance of around 300 yards.

Following its sudden stop, the crew members took in as much detail of the craft as they could. The object was most definitely “disc-shaped with a transparent dome on top”. Its exterior was a distinct silver with a “highly polished” finish.

Making the incident even more credible was the fact that the captain would use the plane’s weather radar system to confirm that something solid was definitely in front of them and they were not experiencing some kind of bizarre hallucination. Even more bizarre, the object could seemingly sense the beam of radar and would move to the side of the plane as soon as the beam hit the strange craft’s surface. After another moment it would then drop around 300 feet below their position.

As the crew members looked below then into the transparent dome, they could see “two or three shadowy entities” inside. And what’s more, they appeared to be moving. The object then vanished out of sight at lightning speed.

The Encounter Of “Cecile” – A Most Credible Witness

Although it would unfold several months before the increase in sightings at the end of the summer of 1973, an incident on the 4th of July in West Springfield, Massachusetts, is another of particular interest to us here. The incident was part of a MUFON investigation conducted by Bruce Tilden and Tony Douglas.

On the night in question, at around 8:30 pm the main witness “Cecile” – who was “approximately in her early-70s” – was sitting on her patio smoking a cigarette. As she did so, she would witness a “large disc-shaped object” descend from the treetops around her property. At first, the bizarre object would land in a nearby field before rising once again, just high enough to clear the surrounding trees.

All the while, the witness did not hear a single sound come from the strange craft. She would, though, whether just for the bizarreness of the situation or some other reason suggestive of a technological device on the craft, was “mesmerized” by its presence.

By the time she had come out of the trance-like state and realized exactly what she was witnessing, she rushed inside to inform her husband (who was showering). By the time each of them arrived back on the patio, the object had vanished from sight.

Investigators of the incident would suggest that the witness was more than credible for a number of reasons. Firstly, she was insistent on no publicity or public appearances. And, obviously that she remains anonymous. Furthermore, although retired at the time of the sighting, she was a college graduate with a professional-type career behind her. Furthermore, in an attempt to rationalize the incident in her own mind, although fully realizing it was an extraordinary encounter, she would look to find an explanation in spiritual and religious circles, at least initially.

Late-Summer Sightings, August-September 1973

The first sightings on record occurred during the late afternoon of 9th August in Exeter, New Hampshire. As they were driving along one of the main highways, a father and his son witnessed a “landed UFO” in a field at the side of the road. Furthermore, they could both clearly see a “humanoid figure” standing beside it.

A month later on the 9th September came a report of a UFO landing in Laurel Grove Cemetery in Savannah, Georgia. Several local teenagers witnessed the landing. They would state to witnessing a door open on the craft before “ten, big, black hairy dogs” came out and ran into the night. The UFO, which was glowing brightly, then dulled somewhat, as if someone had turned out the light.

Just over a week later on 18th September, a young married couple would experience a “loud thud” outside their home in Durham, New Hampshire. It was a little after 9:30 pm and dark outside. The young man walked around the property and stopped in his tracks when he saw “three small, circular glowing spots, greenish in hue, on the ground”. The sound of electrical noise filled the air, the source seeming to be from above him. He could also hear “garbled voices”, but again he couldn’t locate where they came from. The couple would go to bed for the evening at 11:30 pm. The glowing circles were still present on the garden.

Two nights later, in Sidney, North Carolina, a week of reports from several people began. Several witnesses (some entire families) would report a “monster with large red glowing eyes”. Perhaps bizarrely, this creature was otherwise dressed in human clothes – a brown shirt, black trousers, and a brown cap. It appeared to use a “medallion-type” item on its chest for communication and could leap “50-60-feet” into the air.

The “Somewhere Between Columbus and Mansfield” Sighting

Although the exact date is not sure, the sighting along Interstate-71 in Ohio between Columbus and Mansfield is thought to have taken place in late-September. It was well after midnight when the witness noticed a flashing light behind his car. First it was to his right. Then his left. It finally appeared in front of him. It then sped off into the night ahead of him.

He was driving at a speed of around 70 mph. He believes he must have lost consciousness for some reason. The next thing the witness could remember was waking up behind the wheel of the moving vehicle, as it moved at nearly 90 mph. When the man finally arrived at his Cleveland home, he realized he could not account for nearly an hour of time.

Although he would attempt to put the episode out of his mind, he would begin to experience bizarre “psychic episodes” and would ultimately seek hypnotic regression. He would recall shortly after seeing the strange lights of turning of I-71, although he had no idea, even at the time, why he was doing this. He was driving along a lonely, narrow “tree-lined” road. It was then he could see three entities on the road. One was stood in front, while the other two were beside his car. They appeared to be floating. Suddenly, a craft was approaching them from above. Before he could react, he was rising towards the craft. Terror filled his mind.

He was placed on a table. The strange entities were around him. He could make out a “metallic look” to their clothing. One of the creatures was examining his legs, while another had an instrument nearer to his head. Suddenly his vision filled with bright light. Then, he was back in his car, with the craft moving upwards.

Monsters, and Disappearing Triangles

On 1st October in Anthony Hill, Tennessee, during a thunderstorm, three teenagers would report a “huge, hairy, robot-like creature” in the woodlands of the area. It raised its arms and had a round head. It would seem wise to dismiss this account. However, several corroborating statements of seeing a UFO over the area the youngsters claimed the sightings occurred would suggest otherwise. As would the strange imprints found in the area. Around ten days later in Alabama, a three-year-old boy would come in to his mother after playing outside. He would matter-of-factly inform her that he had been playing with an “old monster” with “grey and wrinkled skin!”

On the 4th October in Simi Valley, California came a sighting of a triangular object in a “dust cloud” at the side of the road. The witness was driving along the Simi Freeway when he spotted the object. It hovered around ten-feet from the ground. On top of the craft was a clear bubble-shape that seemed to be swiveling around. On the underside, a rope of some sort looked to be hanging from an unseen opening.

A humanoid appeared from out of the craft on the top side. It would look at the witness for a moment, before “scrambling out of sight!” The humanoid was a similar size to a human adult. It seemed to be dressed in some kind of wet-suit, silver in color. A whirring noise suddenly broke what was an otherwise silent atmosphere. The “bubble” on top of the craft began to turn a little faster as it did so. Out of nowhere, a fog appeared and enveloped the object. By the time the fog cleared, the craft was gone.

The Mid-October Surge

Shortly after midnight on 15th October, in Omro, Wisconsin, the witness awoke to find their room glowing orange and a high-pitched whirring sound filling their ears. Suddenly, three humanoid creatures appeared out of nowhere in the bedroom. They were around five-feet tall, with wrinkled, grey skin, and bald heads.

He must have passed out as the next thing he knew he was sat against the wall with the creatures in front of him. They seemed to be examining him. One of them had an oval object that it would pass over this body. He caught sight of it as it passed over his legs. To his astonishment, he could see his bones through the object. It must have been some highly advanced, real-time, X-ray device. Just as the creature reached towards his head, he passed out again. He would awaken near dawn. The witness would keep the incident to himself for some time. However, following a similar encounter happening to his girlfriend, he would come forward with his report to CUFON.

On the same evening in Berea, Tennessee, the Cline family would awaken to the sound of their dogs barking frantically. Looking outside, they could clearly see the bright lights of a UFO in the woods nearby. The following morning, the family would find “claw-like” tracks as well as “landing marks” over the area they had seen the lights.

On the same evening, on Interstate-90 near Gulfport, Missouri, a taxi driver would witness an oblong UFO with a blue light pass overhead. It would land somewhere in front of his vehicle, which at the same time stalled as well as the electrics going dead. He sat still in the vehicle. Suddenly, a claw-like hand tapped on the window as something rushed past.

“Ghost-Like” Figures and Abductions!

In Albany, Ohio, still on the 16th October, after arriving home for the evening, the witness could see a “ghost-like figure” in the distance, floating around fifty-feet from the ground. Judging by the surroundings, the creature could have been no more than four-feet tall and was extremely thin. It also appeared to have very tight-fitting clothing, as if they had been “draped in a close-fitting sheet!” She stood and watched the strange creature for several moments before noticing a bright light moving towards it. When it got to around 200-feet, the creature appeared to vanish. Other sightings of strange lights were reported locally in nearby Athens on the same evening.

At roughly the same time, in Burbank, California, two young children would report a UFO landing in their backyard. It had, according to the four-year-old, a pointed top and rays of light coming from underneath. Four occupants invited the boy to look inside the ship. Before he had the chance to, however, the craft vanished. Seconds later, the boys’ father appeared from inside to investigate why the family dog was barking so excitedly.

In Lehi, Utah, as the evening of the 16th October morphed into the early hours of the 17th, a woman along with her three children, and the son of their neighbor were all abducted from the family home and taken on board “a craft”. All were subject to intense medical examinations by strange humanoid creatures. The main witness could remember being in a big room with lots of “lights and buttons” as well as “glass tubes containing liquids”. She could see four or five humanoids creatures, and “at least two humans”. The humanoids had large heads and “two or three big claws”. These would “open like a clasp!”

The Explosive Day Of 17th October 1973

Several hours later, in Pikesville, Maryland, a woman was brought from sleep by the sound of an explosion. As she stepped outside of her property and onto the porch, she could see an oblong-shaped object in front of her. It was red but transparent. On the top side of the craft was a strange “bubble”. Even more bizarre for the witness, inside the bubble, was a “human figure” who appeared to be standing.

On their way out of New Jersey to New York City, two men driving along Route 23 would report seeing a “large, round, silver craft” hovering over a field that ran along the roadside. They continued to watch the craft, amazed to see it begin to descend. They brought their car to a stop and stepped out of the vehicle in time to see the UFO land. Seven humanoids emerged from the craft, and while the driver entered the car and sped off in panic, the second gentleman claimed to have spoken to the occupants. It perhaps should be noted that while this particular sighting appears very likely, the interaction was highlighted as “questionable” by investigators.

A sighting in Watauga, Tennessee a little later almost turned into an abduction. According to the witness, a “copper-colored”, circular UFO would hover only a foot or two from the ground. In an open doorway, a humanoid creature – roughly around six-feet tall – reached out of the craft and “tried to grab two children”. Witnesses claim the creature had “claw-like hands”. There were at least six other UFO reports in the region on the same day.

“Robot-Like” Creatures Over Alabama

A bizarre chase account would very likely have been dismissed, if it hadn’t come via Police Chief Jeff Greenshaw. He would also manage to capture a photograph of the humanoid in a “silvery suit”. Greenshaw had ventured out to an area in Falkville, Alabama, to investigate reports of UFO sightings there. When he spotted the metallic-looking creature he pulled the car over to the side of the road. The creature moved towards the vehicle at first, but then turned and ran in the opposite direction. Greenshaw gave chase for several minutes, but the creature sped up considerably. He would lose sight of it when his car came off the road temporarily.

Another sighting in Alabama on the 17th October came from Loxley. Pick-up driver, Clarence Patterson was moving along the highway when a cigar-shaped UFO cast an illuminous green light over the vehicle. The next thing Patterson was aware, the truck was rising off the road and was pulled into the craft overhead. At least six “robot-like beings” would drag him from the truck’s cabin. Bizarrely, he was certain these robots could read his thoughts. It was then he blacked out.

The next thing he knew, he awoke in the driver’s seat of the moving truck. He was traveling around 90 mph with no idea how long he had been unconscious. One interesting detail given by Patterson was the scent of Sulphur that remained with him long after the incident. Many witnesses to UFO sightings, and specifically, alien abductees, often mention a strong aroma of Sulphur during their encounters.

Sightings Continue Across America

A little later, just outside of Danielsville, Georgia, Paul Brown would make an emergency stop after an “oval-shaped” craft landed in the middle of the road around 300-feet in front of him. Two four-foot creatures emerged from the underside of the craft. They looked around momentarily before scrambling back into the oval object upon seeing Brown. With an audible “whoosh” the craft ascended at break-neck speed.

As evening approached in Europa, Missouri, drivers witnessed a UFO, around 50-feet wide, hovering over Highway 82. The main witness was watching the craft when he realized his vehicle had simply cut out. Another car seemingly experienced similar difficulties as it slowed behind his. Above the first craft, a second craft hovered. A beam of light appeared to connect the two huge discs. As the witnesses looked on, a creature appeared and descended from the top craft to the bottom one. Both crafts disappeared shortly after.

The following day, two teenagers were chased by a “white thing” in Chatham, Virginia while out on White Oak Mountain. The creature was around four-feet tall, with a large head and a “shimmering body”. Although there were no other reports of the strange creature, several reports of UFOs are on record in the area that day.

The day after, on the 19th of October, a woman would pull her car over to the roadside in Interstate 75 near Ashburn, Georgia. It had suddenly stalled for no apparent reason. Out of nowhere, a strange “metallic man” with a “bubble-dome” on his head appeared. It moved “like a robot” and had a shiny appearance, although the arms were “narrow and wrinkled”. It would walk around the vehicle before vanishing into thin air.

The Silver-Suited Creatures Of Indiana

Although the sightings would begin to slow somewhat following the peak of the 16/17th October, many more reports would arrive with CUFOS. On 22nd October in Hartford City, Indiana, for example, three separate sightings of four-foot humanoids in silver suits were reported. One report, from Debbie Carne, who saw them “crossing a road” would state upon seeing her, one of them “raised their arms” as if in an attempt to scare her.

Around fifteen minutes later, the Donathan family would witness two “bright, silver” humanoids. Each had no defining features other than their bizarrely “boxed feet”. As their car approached them from behind, it was obvious the creatures were trying to get off the main road. They eventually did so, and the following day imprints were discovered in the location the Donathans said the encounter took place.

Gary Flatter was a local investigator and was working on the above Donathan case when he had his own experience two hours later. As he was surveying the area, he suddenly noticed a “line of small mammals” in the distance. It was then he also noticed an uncomfortable high-pitched sound. He would shine his truck headlights in the direction of the sound and could clearly see the two creatures described by the Donathans. They would turn to face him, forcing him to dim his headlight such was the glare bouncing from their shiny suits. They appeared to be wearing gas-masks and their “boxed feet” appeared to be artificial as if they adorned some kind of spacesuit. As he watched them, they bent their knees slightly, and then with a jumping motion “flew off like a helicopter!”

The New Hampshire Sightings

The last cluster of the 1973 humanoid sightings occurred in early-November in Goffstown, New Hampshire. The first saw the witness, Florence Dow, hear a sudden “thump” on the front of her property one evening. She went to the front of the house and saw a “motionless figure” in an “old black coat”. The bizarre creature remained there for several minutes before disappearing.

While driving home late one evening, Lyndia Morel witnessed a “yellow-orange globe” in front of her vehicle. The craft had a “honeycomb design” aside from one, large, oval window. She stared intently at this window, amazed that she could see a humanoid figure inside the craft. It appeared to have grey, wrinkled skin, with a lighter-colored head to its body (although it may have had a suit on). She could also clearly see that the eyes were larger than they should be for the size of its head. Lyndia wasn’t sure if the creature could see her, but she could hardly help the feeling of being drawn to the craft. She managed to tear herself from its influence and found refuge in a nearby house. It isn’t clear of Lyndia experienced any missing time. At the time of the report, she didn’t wish to pursue regression therapy to find out.

Rex Snow and his wife would awaken late one night to the sound of activity outside their house. Upon inspection, Rex could see two humanoids who were “self-luminous” and adorned in a tight silver suit. They were around four-foot tall. They appeared to be examining the ground around them as if they were collecting specimens. The family guard-dog would approach them as if about to attack but would stop suddenly in his tracks. He would then turn around and head back to the family home.

The Overlooked Spanish UFO Wave

Taking place at the same time, although running into the summer of 1974, was a discreet but very active wave of UFO sightings over Spain. According to declassified documents, several of these sightings were rife with detail and much more than merely random lights in the sky.

For example, on 23rd March 1974, near Castille de las Guardas, an aluminum “mothership”, as well as three “smaller ships resembling mushrooms” trailing it was witnessed by a motorist traveling toward the village. The objects made no sound whatsoever as they moved across the sky. Furthermore, they had a solid exterior with no windows. Perhaps of more concern was one of the smaller crafts would follow his vehicle for several miles before rejoining the others.

On the same day just outside of Sanlucar de Barrameda, the Chauffeur of President of Cadis Provincial Commission witnessed a metallic luminous object moving through the sky with “great brilliance”. As his car came closer to the object its car would eventually fail and come to a stop. When the object moved away, the engine kicked back in again.

Three days later on the 26th March in the town of Valdehjijaderos, another report of a luminous, glowing round object surfaced. The witness, a truck driver, would notice the object hovering over the road in front of him. He further noticed a similar object, much closer to him. As he watched the extraordinary events from the cab of his truck, two strange entities emerged from the object furthest from him. They immediately noticed his presence and after pointing at him would reenter the craft. A moment later, both of the strange objects rose into the sky and disappeared.

However, the following day, the incident would take quite a twist.

An Incident Witnessed From The Gutter!

On the 27th March, the same truck driver while driving in the same region but at a different point on the highway would witness “three silver ships” parked on the road. Furthermore, a “light similar to a floodlight” came from each one.

As the witness approached the bizarre scene, he killed the engine of his vehicle and stepped outside. However, a moment later, several strange beings approached the car. Their presence caused him to panic and he turned to run immediately. He would eventually dive into a gutter in an attempt to evade the strange creatures, who were now in pursuit. They would ultimately pass by his hiding place, coming to within mere feet of his location.

Although he couldn’t see their faces from his position, he did recall that they had two arms and legs but were just under seven feet tall. They would ultimately return to their ship and leave into the sky above. During an investigation of the scene the following day, a strange hole was discovered in the ground where the truck driver claimed to have witnessed the crafts hovering.

What is perhaps interesting about this case is the claims of the witness that he couldn’t see the creatures’ faces. While certainly not something to hang the hat of the investigation on, one would suspect that had the claims been false, he would have manufactured such information.

On the same day but in Malaga, a photographer would witness a “big, luminous” object overhead. He would quickly snap a picture of the craft. Upon developing it, two other objects that he hadn’t noticed at the time were also visible.

More Sighting Over Spain Of Glowing Craft And Tall Occupants

On the 14th April 1974 came another sighting in the town of Herrera de Alcantara came another sighting of a glowing, luminous object was reported by a professor, his wife, and a student. According to the report, the student would hear a “prolonged noise” which reminded them of an alarm clock. By the time they had noticed the glowing object descending, the professor and his wife arrived and witnessed the events. The strange object then moved along the surface of the ground for several minutes before disappearing into the distance.

Several weeks later, at a little after 5 am on the 16th June in Caceres, came yet another luminous craft sighting. The witness would see the fascinating events as he traveled to work. Suddenly, he could see a “brilliant light” as he traveled along the road. He suddenly realized that the craft was following his car which made him increase his speed significantly. He did, though, manage to grab a look at the craft, and specifically its interior, where he could see “three tall figures”.

Ultimately, the witness would make the decision to switch off the lights of his car. Remarkably, almost as soon as he did so, the object would move away from him and give up the chase. He would then switch them back on. Likewise, this action prompted the craft to approach his vehicle once more. It would remain behind him until he pulled the car to a stop where once again, once the lights were off, the strange pursuing craft would lose interest and move off into the night.

This is indeed an interesting detail and is surely of consequence and importance. Why, with intelligent entities at the controls, would the mere act of switching off the lights result in the craft moving away?

Surely Not “Just Hysteria!”

The sightings became much more sporadic following the New Hampshire episode, although they would continue until mid-December. Just what these sightings were, and if there was a connection between them is very much the question. It is unlikely to be a case of hysteria or mass-suggestion. While the public was aware that UFO sightings were increasing, it was hardly covered in a serious manner in the media. Most that heard such stories assumed the witness had sunk one too many beers or smoked too strong a joint. Furthermore, such organizations as CUFON would conduct themselves with discretion. And further still, 1973 was long before the age of the Internet. Incidents could occur in different states (even different towns) and unless they attracted national news, nobody outside of the area would be aware.

It is interesting that there were several claims of creatures with “claw-like” hands. This is interesting in that it is such a bizarre detail it screams authenticity. What’s more, although there are claims of such “claws” in other accounts, it seems particularly prevalent in the 1973 cases.

In short, it would appear that “something” was roaming around the United States throughout the last third of 1973. Perhaps it was visitors from another world on a fact-finding mission? Or perhaps these visitations were the result of some kind of naturally occurring portal or gateway? Maybe this is the reason for the cluster of sightings in mid-to-late-October? Perhaps that is why a similar wave occurred in 1954, with the peak of that wave also occurring in October of that year. Or maybe the sightings have a connection to a secret military experiment? Only by examining other waves and accounts, we will eventually find out just what all those people saw in the fall of 1973.

Why Is The Very Unique 1973 UFO Wave Not Better Remembered?

Like many of the UFO waves from history, the 1973 one has its own very unique details. Perhaps not least the number of humanoid encounters.

Perhaps we should also note the similarities. Aside from the obvious ones of the seven-foot humanoid occupants, what about the persistent descriptions of “luminous” crafts, often landing on otherwise quiet roadways? This not only suggests the same type of craft, but also the same Modus Operandi.

Despite the wealth of accounts, and extremely memorable ones at that, the wave of 1973 is largely not remembered outside of the UFO community. And even then, it appears to pale in comparison to waves of the previous decades. Why might this be, if indeed it is a detail of consequence? Might it be, for example, due to the fact that the Watergate scandal was roiling away at full steam at the same time as many of the sightings? Or might such reports of suppression of media reports of the incident have been more successful than we might think?

Perhaps underlying all of these points, is why did this particular wave, at least in its sheer urgency, cease so suddenly? What mission or experimented was seemingly finished and deemed complete that caused the humanoid waves to stop? And, as we have asked in other waves and incidents, were these events for the benefit of humanity? Or will they prove to ultimately have been very much to our collective detriment?

Only further study and cross-comparison with other waves and events will ultimately shed light on these questions. Check out the video below. It looks at the UFO wave of 1973 in a little more detail.