PROJECT BLUE BOOK

4
1
PROJECT 10073 RECORD
1. DATETIME GROUP 2. LOCATION
21 Apr 67 22/02005 South Hill, Virginia one witness
3. SOURCE 10. CONCLUSION
Civilian Unidentified 22
. NUBER OF OBJECTS
Cne
5. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION 11. BRIEF SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS
second or two second or two Observer watched Cboerver watched silver colored object, approximately colored object, approximately
TYPE OF OBSERVATION TYPE OF OBSERVATION 12 feet in diameter, sit 12 feet in diameter, sitting the highway. he highway. All of a
sudden the object disappeared instantaneously going straight
Ground Visual up. As the cbject departed a brilliant white column of fire up. As the object departed a brilliant white column of fire
COURSE appeared benesth the object. It burnt a place on the road.
In the center of the burnt area four matches were found.
Upwards Upwards Chemical anslysis revealed no unusual chemicals in the Chemical analysis revealed no unusual chemicals in the
9. 9. PHOTOS burnt ares, or surrounding area.
0 Yes 01 Yes The case is being The case is being carried carried as unidentified; however, a
X No Xi No hoax is possible.
9. PHYSICAL EVIDENCE /
XYes
No
FORM
FTD SEP63 0-329 (TDE) Previous editions of this form may bo used.

II DEARBORN OBSERVATORY
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
EVANSTON, ILLINOIS 60201
-
15 May 1967
FTD (TDETR)
Research and Aerial Phenomenon Division
Wright Patterson Air Fo rce Base
Ohio 45433
Attn: Major Attn: Major Hecto Hect nilla, Jr. Jr
Dear Sir: Dear Sir: .
g two reports (164), one by and one and by by
This is the sighting This is the sighting of April of April 2 67 at South Hill, Virginia. 7 at South Hill, Virginia.
Regards, Regards,
Foiuera Giuera
W. T. Powers W. T. Powers e e
WTP:lh

1.
U.S. AIR FORCE TECHNICAL INFORMATION
This questionnaire has been prepared so that you can give the U.S. Air Force as much
informa ion as possible concerning the unidentified cerial phenomenon that you have observed.
Please try to any questions as you possibly can. The information that you give will
conclusions, or publications without your permission. We request this personal information so
that if it is deemed necessary, we may contact you for further details.
1. . When did you see the object? 2.
Hour Minutes
21 1967 (Circle One): A.M. or P.M.
Day Month Year
3. Time Zone:
(Circle One): a. a. Eastern (Circle One): a. Daylight Saving Daylight Saving
b. Central b. (Standard
c. Mountain Mountain
d. Pacific
e. Other
4. Where were you when you saw the object?
LaCiyD0 La Crosy D0 Sauel Hill, Souel Hill, VC VC
Necrest Postal Address City or Town State oc:County
(Total Duration)
Hours Minutes Seconds
a. Certain c. Not very sure
b. Fairly certain d.Just a guess
5.1 How wes time in sight determined?
5.2 Was sn sight continuously? Yes No
6. What was the condition of the sky?
DAY NIGHT
a. Bright
b.Creody b. Cloudy
(Circle One): a. in front of you d. To your left oct 7gh7
b. In back of you e. Overhead
c. To your right f. Don't remember
FORM
FTD OCT 621 164 This form supersedes FTD 164, Jut 61, which is obsolete.

Page 2
8. IF you saw the object at NIGHT, what did you notice concerning the STARS and MOON?
8.1 STARS (Circle One): 8.2 MOON (Circle One):
a. None a. Bright moonlight
b. A fow b. Dull moonlight
c. Many No moonlight -pitch dark
Don't remember d. Don't remembar
object?
CLOUDS (Circle One): WEATHER (Circle One):
Clear sky a. Dry
b. Hazy b. Fog, mist, or light rain
c. Scattered clouds Moderate or heavy rain
Thick or heavy clouds. d. Snow
e. Don't remember
10. The objec: appeared: (Circle One): 10. The object appeared: (Circle One):
a. Solid d.(As a light d.As a light
. Transperent . Transparent e. Don't remember
c. c. Vapor
11. If it appeared as a light, was it brighter than the brightest stars? If it appeared as a light, was it brighter than the brightest stars? (Circle One): (Circle One):
.Brighter .Brighter c. About the same
b. Dimmer b. Dimmer d. Don't know
11.1 Compere brightness to some common object:
Co lighta ely Brigltu-
The edges of the object were:
(Circle One): a. Fuzzy or blurred e. Oter Juat a bightins
b. Like a bright star
c. Sharply outlined
d. Don't remember
Did the object: (Circle One for each question)
a. Appear to stand still at any time? Yes No Don't know
b. Suddenly speed up and rush away at any time? Yes No Don't know
c. Break up into parts or explode? Yes No Don't know
d. Give off smoke? Yes No Don't know
e. Change brightness? Yes No Don't know
f. Change shape? Yes No Don't know
g. Flash or flicker? Yes No Don't know
h. Disappear and reappear? Yes No Don't know

Page 3
14. Did the object disappear while you were watching it? If so, how?
The lilt diupoul on the sbjetf chinppeaf.
(Circle One): Yes (N0 Don't Know. IF you answered YES, then tell what
it moved behind:
move in front of something at any time, particularly a cloud?
(Circle One): Yes No Don't Know. IF you answered YES, then tell what
in front of:
17. Tell in a few words the following things about the object:
a. Sound
b. ColorI euly savi the glae ey the efjit
.We wish to know the angular size. Hold a match stick at arm's length in line with a known object and note how
much of the object is covered by the head of the match. If you had performed this experiment at the time of the
sighting, how much of the object would have been covered by the match head?
Deiler'7 Aie oljeet.
1. Draw a picture that will show the shape of the object or objects. Label and include in your sketch any details
of the object that you saw such as wings, protrusions, etc., and especially exhaust trails or vapor trails.
Place an arrow beside the drawing to show the direction the object was moving.

(Circle One) Yes (No)
IF you answered then what speed would you estimate?
21. Do you think you can estimate how far away from you the object was?
(Circle One) Yes No
IF you answered YES, then how far away wou soy i wos abf ooyh.
22. Where were you located when you saw the object? Were you (Circle One)
(Circle One):
a. In the business section of a city?
a. Inside a building b. In the residentia! section of a city?
b. In a car c. In open countryside?
c.Outdoars d. Near an airfield?
d. In an sirplane (type) e. Flying over a city?
e. At sea f. Flying over open country?
f. Other g. Other
24. IF you Were MOVING IN AI AUTOMOBlLE or other vehicle at the time, then complete the following questions:
24.1 What direction were you moving? (Circle One)
a. North c. East e. South g. West
b. Northeast d. Southeast f. Southwest h. Northwest
24.2 How fast were you moving? miles per hour.
a. Eyeglasses Yes e. Yes No
b. Sun giesses f. Telescope Yes No
c. Windshield Yes No g. Theodolite Yes No
d. Window gless Yes No h. Other 2
2. In order that you can give as clear a picture as possible of what you saw, describe in your own words a common
object or objects which, when placed up in the sky, would give the same appearance as the object which you saw.
An Oui an cakthie
a vey lnght replectoin
Clase byj.

Pago 5
. In the following sketch, imagine that you are at the point shown. Place an "A" on the curved line to show how
when you first saw it. Place a "B"" on the compass where you last saw the objeet.
90 ligh/
750
60°
45 NW Na
30
E
-15° SW
SS
S
Draw a picture that will show the motion that the object or objects made. Place an "A at the beginning of the 2. Draw a picture that will show the motion that the object or objects made. Place an "A" at the beginning of the
path, a "B at the end of the path, and show any changes in direction during the course.
29. IF there was MORE THAN ONE object, then how many were there?

Page 6
30. Have you ever seen this, or a similar object before. If so give date or dates and location.
770
3. Was anyone eise with you at the time you saw the object? (Circle One) Yes (N)
Yes No
31.2 Plecse list their names and addresses:
32. Please give the information about yourself:
NAME Idle Nare
Secth Sy Và.
ADDRESS
City Zone State
TELEPHC NUMBER AGE 54 SEX sale
mailig
resiliice
ig
2.2 april 1967
Day Month Year

Pag7
25 Day opil Month 1967 Year
questionnaire or a narrative explanation of your sighting.
of sar The reflectoond 8 the ofjeet
ace a lage ock the piae by
want T0 say J did st see the
affict at offeet at all, juit al,fud i ruflictin rifleit from Jren
i\}$ l}$ oie is laige ook trie, laige ouk thee, as 2 Thick an 2 Thiick
i i wes wes liavng the g nound

8 -
.
U.S. AIR FORCE TECHNICAL INFORMATION
This questionnaire has been prepared so that you can give the U.S. Air Force as much
information as possible concerning the unidentified aerial phenomenon that you have observed.
Plecse try to yquestions as you possibly can. The information that you give will
conclusions, or publications without your permission. We request this personal information so
thar if it is deemed necessary, may contact you for further details.
1. When did you see the object? Time of day:
Hour Minutes
(Circle One): A.M. or ( P.M.
Day Month Year
3. Time Zone: 3. Time Zone:
a. Eastern (Circle One): Daylight Saving
Central b. Standard
c. Mountain Mountain
d. Pacific
e. Other
4. Where were you when you saw the object?
Necrast Postal Address City or Town City or Town State or County State or County
(Total Duration)
Hours Minutes Seconds
a. Certain c. Not very sure
b. Fairly certain d. Just a guess
5.1 How was time in sight determined?
5.2 Was object in sight continuously? Yes No
6. What was the condition of the sky?
DAY NIGHT
c. Bright a.
b. Cloudy (b. Cloudy
.IF you saw the cbject during DAYLIGHT, where was the SUN located as you looked at the object?
(Circle One): a. In front of you d. To your left
b. In back of you e. Overhead
c. To your right f. Don't remember
FORM
FTD OCT 62 164 This form supernedes FTD 164, Jul 61, which is obsolete.

Pogo 2
8. IF you saw the object at NIGHT, what did you notice co"cerning the STARS and MOON?
8.1 STARS (Circle Ore ): 8.2 MOON (Circle One):
a. None a. Bright moonlight
b. A few (b. Dull moonlight
Many C. No moonlight - pitch dark
d. Don't remember d.
9. What were the weather conditions at the time you saw the object?
CLOUDS (Circle One): WEATHER (Circle One):
a. Clear sky a. Dry
b. Hazy Fog, mist, or light rain
c. Scattered clouds c. Moderate or heavy rain
d. Thick or heavy clouds Snow
e. Don't remember
10. The object appeared: (Circle One): 10. The object appeared: (Circle One):
o. Solid d. As a light
b. Transparent e. Don't remember
c. Vapor
1.If it appeared as a light, was it brighter than the brightest stors? (Circle One):
. Brighter c. Brighter c. About the same c. About the same
b. Dimmer d. Don't know
object:
The edges of the obiect were:
(Circle One): a. Fuzzy or blurred c. Other
b. Like a bright star
c. Sharply outlined
d. Dan't remember
.Did the ebject: (Circle One for eoch question)
a. Appear to stand still at any time? Yesr No Don't know
b. Suddenly sseed up and rush away at any time? Yes No Don't know
c. Break uo into parts or explode? Yes No Don't know
d. Give off smoke? Yes No Don't know
e. Change brightness? Yes No Don't know
f. Change shape? Yes No Don't know
g. Flash ortticker? Yest No Don't know
h. Disappear and-reappear? Yes i No Don't know

UNCLASSIFIED
DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE
STAFF MESSAGE BRANCH
INCOMING MESSAGE
AF IN: 13110 (23 Apr 67) S/csh
Pg 1 of 5
ACTION: RDG-4 INFO: XOP-1, XOPX-2, SAFOS-3, NIN-7, DIA-1 19ADV CY DIA
SMB E02 1CZ CBVC9 75
PTTU JAW RUEDAR B12 HQA.
ZNR UUUUU
P0230700Z APR 67
FM 632 RAD AR SQ ROANOKE RAPIDS AFS NC
TO RUMFVA/ADC ENT AFB CQO
Ruedfia/bR Ight PaTterson afb Ohio Ruedfia/wR ight Patterson afb Ohio
RUEDHQA/CSAF WASHINGT ON D C
R UEDHQA/O SAF HQ USAF
RLEDARA/330 LEE AFS VA AFS VA
BT
UNCLAS 63200 C 03507 APR 67. FOR TDETR, AFRDC, SAF-OI, 33OCO,FTD
SUBMITTED FROM THE 632D
A. DESOR IPTION OF OB JE CT :
(D) SILVER
(2) APPROX IMATELY 12 FEET IN D IAMETER. OVERALL HE IG HT 15 FEET.
(3) SILVER
(4) ONE
(5) NA
AFHQ  0-309C FORM
UNCLASSIFIED

Page 3
14. Did the object disappear while you were watching it? If so, how?
15. Did the object move behind something at any time, particularly a cloud?
(Circle One): Yes No Don't Know. IF you answered YES, then tell what
it meved behind:
16. Did the object move in front of something at any time, particularly a cloud?
(Circle One): Yes No Don't Know. IF you answered YES, then tell what
in front of: _
.Tell in a few words the following things about the object: 17. Tell in a few words the following things about the object:
a. Sound a. SoundL
b. Color
.We wish to know the angular size. Hold a match stick at arm's length in line with a known object and note how
much of the object is covered by the head of the match. If you had performed this experiment at the time of the much of the object is covered by the head of the match. If you had performed this experiment at the time of the
sighting, how much of the object would have been covered by the match head?
. Draw a picture that will show the shape of the object or objects. Label and include in your sketch any details
of the objeet that you saw such as wings, protrusions, etc., and especially exhaust trails or vapor trails.
Place an arrow beside the drawing to show the direction the object was moving.
A
up
\

20.Do you think you can estimate the speed of the object? RE.
(Circle One) Yes No 7/
IF you enswered YES, then what speed would you estimate?
21. Do you think you can estimate how far away from you the object was?
(Citcle One) Yes No
it was?
22. Where were you located when you saw the object? 23.Were you (Circle One)
(Circle One):
a. In the business section of a city?
o. Inside a building b. In the residential section of a city?
b. In a car (c. In open countryside?
c. Outdoors d. Near an airfield?
d. In an airplane (type) e. e. Tyigover aciy: Flying over a city?
e. At sea f. Flying over open country? f. Flying over open country?
f. Other - f. Other g. Other
24.1 F you were MOVING IN AN AUTOMOB!LE or other vehicle at the time, then complete the following questions:
24.1 What direction were you moving? (Circle One) (Circle One)
. North c. East East e. South e. South g. g. West
. Northeast d. d. Southeast f. Southwest h. Northwest
24.2 How fost were you moving? 24.2 How fost were you moving? xC miles per hour. miles per hour.
24.3 Did you stop at any time while you were looking at the object?
(Circle One) Yes No
25. Did you cbserve the object through any of the following?
a. Eyeglasses Yes No e. Binoculors Yes No
b. Sun glasses Yes No f. Telescope No
c. Windshleid Yes No g. Theodolite Yes No
d. Window glass Yes No h. Other

Paga 5
In the following sketch, imagine that you are at the point shown. Place an "A" on the curved line to show how
90° 75°
60°
NW NU
E
-15° 3W
S5
S
C'o
path, a "B" at the end of the path, and shuw any changes in direction during the course. path, a "B at the end of the path, and shuw any changes in direction during the course.
29. IF there was MORE THAN ONE object, then how many were there?
Draw a picture of how they were arranged, and put an arrow to show the direction that they were traveling.

Page 6
30. Have you ever seen this, or a similar object before. If so give date or dates and location.
31. Was anyone else with you at the time you saw the object? (Circle One) Yes No
Yes No
31.2 2 Please list their names and addresses:
..
32. Please give the following information cbout yoursel 32. Please the following information cbout yourse
NAME
M rst Name st Name Midd
L ADDRESS
Street City Zone State State
TELEPHON TELEPHONE NUMBER NUMBER 2 AGE 3 AGE 31 SEX
Indicate any additional information ebout yourself, including any special experience, which might be pertinent.
33. When and to whom did you report that you had seen the object?
121
Day Month Year

Page 7
34. Date you completed this questionnaire: 1
Day Month Year
35.1
questionnaire or a narrative explanation of your sighting.
1 11
f
1 Cli&
u /
111

ANALYSIS TEST REPORT
Analytical Branch (MAYA)
SUBJECT
Analysis of Samples From Paved Road
TEST NR TASK NR
7-885/888 6010212
SUBMITTED BY DATE RECEIVED
Willian F. Marley, Jr.- TDET/UFO
PURPOSE
To dstermine the presence of a flammable material in a sample removed from
a road surrace.
FACTUAL DATA
Two samples removed fron a road surface were submitted for a chemical analysis.
The initiator requested the analysis to determine if a flammable liquid could have been
applied to the road surface and the liquid ignited. Sample 7-887 was taken from the
burnt area, and sample 7-8s8 was submitted as a reference sample.
Both samples were extracted with carbon tetrachloride and an infrared spectrum Both samples were extracted with carbon tetrachloride and an infrared spectrum
obtained. The infrared spectrum of the extract was identified as a spectrum of obtained. The infrared spectrun of the extract was identified as a spectrum of
asphalt. The spectrum of the extract from the burnt area was qualitatively identical asphalt. The spectrum of the extract from the burnt area vas qualitatively identical
to the extraot of the reference sample.
CONCLUSIOMS
The two sentles were analyzed by infrared methods. The extract from the
burnt aroa was identified as asphalt, and no flammable liquid could be detected. It-
should be noted that a very flanmable liquid will burn rapidly and leave no detectable
residue.
DATE REPORTED SIGHATURE
15 May 1967 WELLIAM J. CRAWFORD
AFML MAY 64 FORM 13

SUB 0 R D E (Re! ASDR 80-4)
1 TO (Supporting Element) 2. DATE 3. FOR SERVICE IN SUPPORT OF: 4.FILE OR LEOGER NO.
a SYSTEM NO. INITIATING ELEMENT
5. DA T E COMPLETIO REQ. 6.
PROJECT NO. SUPPORTING ELEMENT
7. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION B. PRECEDENCE RATING 7-885 88.f
OF WORK REQUESTED TASK NO.
UNCLASS 6010212
9. A/C TYPE, MODEL AND SERIAL NO. PROGR AM OTHER
TITLE
anl. o Somples ofFm aved Rra
10. DESCRIPTION OF WORK
PERFORM CHEMICAL ANALYS15
DETERMINE
OF INCLOSED 4 TO
PRESENCE OF ArY FLAM
MATERIAL,
CONTINUED ON REVERSE SIDE
FOR USE OF RESPONSIBLE ELEMENT
1. INITIATED BY 12. BY 13. CHIEF (Responsible Element)
WICLIAM F. MARLEY 52
ORGN SYMBOL EXT70917ORON SYMBOL EXT
FOR U USE OF SUPPORTING ELEMENT
14. ESTIM MATED COMPLETION 15. PROJECT ENGINEER PLANNER 16. CHIEF (Supporting Element)
DATE
MAN-HOURS
Cror
ORGN SYMBOL EXT
CLOSING ACTION
17. REASON: 20. CHIEF (Supporting_Element) 21. CHlEF (Responaible Element)
COMPLETED CANCELLED
IR. DATE COMPL 19. M/HRS EXP FREEMAN F. BENTLEY, Chief
Analytical Cranch
151 67 8
Materials Physics Division
ASD FORM 49 AFLC-WPAF8-AUG 65 60
DEC 61 (MRYRISSU3G)

.-
DEARBORN OBSERVATORY
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
EVANSTON, ILLINOIS 60201
1
10 May 1967
FTD (TDETR)
Research and Aerial Phenomenon Division
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
Ohio 45433
Attn: Major Hector Quintanilla
Dear Major Dear Major Quintanilla: Quintanilla:
Enclosed is the report Enclosed is the report on my investigation of the sighting on my investigation of the sighting
by , South Hill, Virginia, 2l April J967, South Hill, Virginia, 2l April J967,
together with ' the incident.
Yours truly,
Willin? Pwes Wiclin? Pwes
William T. Powers lp
WTP:lp
encl.

Virginia State Police, who provided transportation and valuable assistance
and advice during the entire investigation. Lt. Hedricks of State Police
Headquarters in Appomatox, Virginia, had authorized full cooperation and
had slso conducted his own investigation, the results of which he made
available. Cooperation from the Virginia a State Police could
given more freely, and was of great help.
The principal witness was
(703/447-4177)manager of a fertilizer
corporate limits of South Hill n, is married
falsehood. "If anyone but made the report," the comments
ran, "I wouldn't have happened,
it happened."
tobacco lands just south of
Mr. Crowder, but seemed perfectly honest, even to the extent of sticking

develcped.
Mr.r report gives the following picture of the events of
Frilsy night:
L
-
By reconstruction, the events that followed were timed. Three
seconds after turning onto route 747, saw in his headlights, about
500 feet ahead of him in the center of the road, a large object. Two
. in diameter and angled out somewhat,
legs were visible, each about 6 inches
-
The vertical angular subtense of this object was about one inch at arm's
in vertical dimensions, not counting the legs which raised the object some
three eat off the ground. The lateral dimension he estimated to be about
12 feas. In color the object resembled a dark aluminum, similar
nitroger tertilizer tank near the warehouse.
In order to get a better look, d  drove closer, to within about
his bright headlights. After a delay 5 seconds, there appeared
2

1
UNCLASSIFIED
DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 3.
STAFF MESSAGE BRANCH
INCOMING MESSAGE
AF IN: 13110 Pg 2 of 5
FEET IN HE IGHT INOWO FOIR
PAGE 2 R UEDARB1220 UNQLAS S
(7) when the object left the ground the exhaust WAS A WHITE
FIRE APPRO X IMATELY 2 FEET IN D IAMETER.
(8) NONE HEARD (8) No ne Heard
(9) NA
B. DESCRIPTION OF COURSE OF OBJECT:
(OB SERVER ENTERED HARD SURFACE ROAD S D FRoM A WaREHOUSe aND
SPOTTED THE OBJECT JUST AS HE SPOTTED THE OBJECT JUST AS HE CAME OVER THE CREST HE ROAD.
(2) ON THE GROUND
(3) O B SER VER WAS ST ILL IN HIS CAR AND THE OB JE CT D I SA PPEARED DDE AD ED
GO I NG STRAIGHT UP.
(4) O B SER VER REF STRAIGHT UP AND IE LOST
SIGHT OF IT AT AF O X IMaTELY 2 HUNDREd DUE TO THE
LIMITED VISION FROM HIS CAR.
(5)INSTANTANEDUSLY GOING STRAIGHT URWARDS.
(6) OBJECT WAS VISIBLE FOR ONLY A SE COND CR TWO.
C. MaNNeR OF OBSERVATION:
AFHQ 1M 0-309C FOnM UNCLASSIFIED

of the fingers." At no time did Crowder hear any sound; the car window
to him.
burning with orange flames.
or flame"appeared, S
he saw the lights of another car coming toward him from the west, and turn
into Norman Martin's road, to the south.
then drove past the smoldering patch on the road, which
was still flickering
15 seconds after the initial burst of white fire. Apparently the flames
NOT
ACCOZDING
T0 MURPHY
did not give the having been burned while held, but rather

- Nothing
at all unusual was found, The search was conducted with the aid of two cars'
heailights and with hand-held six-cell flashlights.
The following morning, another inspection of the scene revealed four
a square ap-
was about 1/2 inch in diameter. T Two of the holes (NE and SE) had straight
nallower, about 3/8 inches deep.
the previous
that t the holes
another shadow among many. The troopers, however, insisted that they could
not have overlooked the holes if they had been there on Friday night.
On Saturday morning, Crowder went to see Martin, to find out if Martin
had seen anything the previous night. Crowder said that he was careful not
to give
k relative in the hospital
in town, and left there about 8:30. They arrived back
-
used outsid

wheat, the glow of the headlights was visible travelling along route 747
to the west. As the car travelled west, the large tree almost directly north
lit up a large pine tree some seventy-five feet north of the road and from
rapidly up the tree. It then went out.  was puzzled by this phenomenon,
but when nothing further 1 happened he wer nt into the house. He did nd know at
that time that that time tha itT-had had seen the the light, nor light, nor did did Crowder Crowder know that Martin know I that Martin
had seen it.
story, for
Crowder had said he saw car-headlights turning into the Martin driveway turning into the Martin driveway
just after the brilliant flash of light; could not possible have just after the brilliant flash of -
seen neither man would change his story in the
P : finally
suggested that the headlights might t have turned d into a house just west
have e mistaken that
u sunbs.road. That
turmed out to be the case. M
said taat at about nine p.m. his wife, who was in the northwest bedroom S
a car's headlights turning their driveway. However, nobody knocked
that someone had merely turned around in the

they were negroes, which is quite likely considering that the white occupants
to spproach bright lights flashing on a lonely road; this region is a sort
of spiritual headquarters for the Ku Klux Klan, and there are frequent
to some nigger-talk"
from one guest speaker or another.
reported;
he saw only the unusually intense illumination of the trees. Since he
that the illumination came from the car's headlights; not only would
headlights be too dim, but they could not have illuminated the pine tree
set well back from the road. F
the illumination should have appeared downward instead of upward.
TESTS
Two tests were performed by the investigator with the aid of
for the purpose of seeing how easily 1/2-inch hole could be made in the
road surface (tarred sravel).
The impact tester consisted of a weight mounted on the end of
a board, the other end of which was hinged double thickness
Just
was fastened through the board, protruding

30
7
1 downward about 3/4 inch. A metal
plate was used to distribute the
verticle onto the pavement, the bolt could driven into the surface
with a reproducible and knowm impact.
The weight resting on the bolt with the board horizontal was
47.5 pounds, and the difference in height through which the weight fell
was 30 inches. Our tests vere made near the four existing holes, with
depths of penetration as follows:
Test No. Penetration, in units of 1/32 inch
13 (near NE hole)
2 13.5 (near SE hole)
3 15 (near SW hole)
4 13 (near NW hole)
Average = 13.6/32 inch
(thot hoa hee
accelerated by gravity downward through a distance hacting over the
penetration depth d, is simply
f = Wh/à.
The penetraticn will depend on the square of the velocity, so the
-
impact velocity velocity o in the
a W indicates
ith velocity V:
W = 47.5 (v/12.6) per "1eg", for 13/32" penetration.

∞
- Examination of the results of the impact test showed significant
was the most clearly delineated. The impact holes had sharp edges, and
stcnes on the edges and in the walls of the holes had been sheared through:
Arcund the northeast original hole was a rim of tar which had apparently
oozei up as the hole was made; the impact holes, on the other hand, showed
sharp edges with no signs of flow of the tar. The impact holes were full
I
although 36 hours had passed before arrival of the investigator, and
foreign matter had been blown or pushed into the holes. T
The indications apparently are that the original holes were made
at considerably lower velocity than the inpact holes, which means in turn at considerably lower velocity than the impact holes, which means in turn
that the weight involved had to be larger than 84 pounds per leg (correcting
for depth of original holes). In fact, if the velocity is guessed at as
equal to 1/2, 1/4 and 1/10 that of impact test, then the weight over
the northeast mark must approximately 84, 335, 1340 and 8400 pounds.
rather neary weight t settled slowly onto the
rather than a light weight (such as the end pickaxe) making a high-
velocity impact with the road.
The second test involved attempts to reproduce the burn-mark on the

the other edge, where it went out. Total burning time was on the order of
ten minutes.
-
enough oxygen despite e the brisk wind; the match was put out by the gasoline.
The second match was applied at the edge of the wetted area, which then
burst instantly into flame. The flame burned at essentially a constant
rate for about fifty seconds, and died out at sixty-eight seconds of
elapsed time. A heavy black smoke was created, which formed a black
from the
burning patch
to be seen NNE of the original patch, the downwind direction for the night
of the sighting.
The effect of the gasoline fire on the road was far greater than
The geacline fire melted a great amount of tar, which formed into pools.
No pools at all I are evident in the original. The flow of tar in the
in the original patch remained visible and were

in the gasoline test, if they remained visible above the tar, showed no
direction, the pooling of tar being greatest there; the original patch
was essentially uniform over all its area.
There were, in other words, noticeable differences between the
original patch and the results of the burn-test. It is possible to
interpret the original patch as being the result of a high-temperature - at
blast directed downward, playing over the surface of the road for a short
time. The raised rims of tar around the stones suggest that the tar became
hotter than the stones, owing perhaps to its black color and the generally .
H blacker than the tar
before the fire went out. T before the fire went out. The fire survived
the flames noted by
Crowder could mean that a much smaller quantity of flammeable fluid was
substances s being involved.

trooper had blackened by applying a lighted flare to it, or fuse, and .
- s were
scraped up with the end of a tire-iron, which was painted black.
An attempt was then made to get casts of the three holes which were
ofParis into these holes with paper clips arranged to permit pulling out
might be encountered,
so the best hole was left untouched. The southeast hole gave the most
difficulty due to its depth; finally y the road had to be chipped carefully
coverable pieces are enclosed. Material which adhered to the casts was S
left on them. The other two casts were pulled out directly with only
minor damage. T These casts are wrapped in cotton in the empty cotton-box,
which also contains the envelope with the matches in it. I In retrospect,
sions of the holes without damaging them, such as using modelling clay or
RTT.

and behavior of the object. The object had legs; marks were left on the
ground, The objecet was large; the marks could have been made by a heavy
object settling slowly onto the pavement. The object departed with a blast
of very high-temperature flame that s splashed off the roadway; the tar was
ignited by the flames died imnediately away; he burned
area indicates a blast of heat.
On the other hand, if one considered only the physical evidence so
fer available and so far analyzed, he would bound
was highly probable. T
mch less than a quart) was used on the road; a clever
a
tion the following the burn and
the uniformity of the burn argue against the idea that a downward jet played
on the road, at
were epplied directly as heat

T
UNCLASSIFIED
DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE
STAFF MESSAGE BRANCH
INCOMING MESSAGE
AF IN: 13110 Pg 3 of 5
Kq GRO UND VISUAL FROM AN AUTOMOBILE AT A DISTANCE OF A PPR OXIMATELY
125 TO 150 FEET.
PAGE 3 RUEDARB1 UNCLAS
(2NONE
(3) NA
D. TIME AND DATE OF SIGHT ING
( 22 AFRIL 1967/0200Z (22 AFRIL 1967/0200Z
9
(2) NIGHT (2) NIGHT
E. LO CAT ION OF OBSERVER: EAST FERRELL STREET (EXTENDED), SOUTH
HILL, VIR G INIA. APPROXIMATEL Hill, VIR G INIA. APproxiMatELY FROM THE THE E MOB IlE MOB ILE
CHEMICAL COM PANY WARE HOUSE. CHEMICAL COM PANY WARE HOUSE.
F. IDENT IFYING F. Ident ifying infcrmat ion G INFCRMAT ION ON OB SER VER: ON OB SER VER :
(D) CIVILIAN-AR Age 54, MA iL iNg address
SOUTH VIRGINIA, OCCUPAT ION
MOB ILE CHEMICAL OF RELI
AB ILITY EXTREMEL LIABLE,
(2) NA
Go WEAT HER AID WINDS-ALOFT COND ITIONS AT TIME AND PLACE OF
SIGHT I NG :
(D) HAZY
)
AFHO JAN SS FORM 0-309C
UNCLASSIFIED

-13-
- against the factuality of the story told by Crowder.
Against that, we
ord is considered
everyone who knows him. Sgt. Raines, for example, has known Crowder for
seven years and has the same high opinion of him.
At this writing, therefore, in the absence of any additional clues
or the results of chemical analysis, the only conclusion that can be
drawn is that the witness probably did see something out of the ordinary,
by some person or persons other than the principal 1 witness. A possible
hoax is involved, but evidence : noax is invoived, bds evidenee Tor Ic is noc Cieer. for it not clear.

\ra$
2,7"
1{5^{$
16 4 $\}$ N
$16'7\f}$ ↑
ROUTE /
16 16 3'91" 11'8" 1l'g"
747 747 12^1\ 12^1\
Tarred Gravel
Burned by Burned by fusce
—115-
1

- -
$2{b1}$ 1
A
junk electric
moto(461b)
\
30"
I
— / .1 ∴1
- 1
1 - 'I
-- /
-
Road Road Surface surface
IMPACT TESTER
(15

2
7
lage pine first sight
stopped sees DEAD
whitt fist END
Route 747 lange tree √
5. ③<② <①
K 500 ft 7
↑
King's -
house WHEAT
FIELD Warchousei
2 W
A position -
1 To South
$H{1}$
√
-

Tree
WTP)
white fire / 7
L -
are very close to actual
by Crouder: 12' dia, 16'high,
si3e dia of flame or jet =18" Wegs,
3'off ground, apart & burned area (dotted)
however, are too far
1s too large.

M hAd
South Bi, n
hin Rock RochiT CIAKOS
G.R.Tolbert GR.Tolbert M4601f M43e!f ANd C.N.
Want Want to East Ferral. Sf
ON ArrivaL ON Arral. There There Were Nere No No onfe O1fe ther
Mr Painted to A Blaek 'Spot in Painted toA Black Spot in
the Stre taks that thot 1 5 What Wht
Pot My
on this spot in th Strt And
WAs No h=}$$ th ura
with what And How I C ot Mow
Did find theee PAPPE Matches
iN sd 1h SfT APPrAb Nsd
Nhr Sid Mad
Plice. Al

− thine
South Hin, VA- That ? hAd
G.R.Talbert M4self ANd C.N.
Sf
oNArrival there Were No oNe there
Mr Crouder Pointe d to A black Sort in
the Stnee statin that 1.5 Whera
it toox off from. Put MY han
oN this ti wi st
WAS Nohe- th was Burnd
I Did find three Papper Matches
insid the 5fot APProx: 6 ,ns,de
NotEa 5.d. And -. ofthe
sfot-Palice. Also found A match
More on ts 1 1 and thu Center
of ths Jeot. Y
stoted at first ghnt the flam was
Blue And then A Agean he state dsm

Brothat the flan was whitelM
theMrtches W2r Ploced So that
they Could have ben Covurd with
t half Dollor, the weather wAs
ClearBM
Brithis BNthis WAs WAs LoCAT is the 1n The Centes
of of E5 F5 ferrol, StBM. StBM
3
.

Air Force Project Blue Book and by the University of Colorado UFo
Study Group. No other use or release is intended by the author,
vithout specific written permission.
Even these two agencies autioned against public use or
cpen publication of the few paragraphs marked with a triple asterisk
() which contain candid quotations
conclusions. conclusions.
It is assumed that the reader is faniliar with the general
details of the South Hill case and has read the official case details s of the South Hill case and has read the official case
report prepared by William T. Powers of Northwestern University
for the for the Air orce, dat da 10,1967.
This case seems to this author to interest-
ing one for several reasons: one for several reasons:
1. It demonstrates It demonstrates that that
supcrficial examination seem to provide evidence of suunonf mination seem.
extra-terrestrial visitations can actually demonstrate
quite a different conclusion.
2. It shows how failure to report the full details of a
UFO case can mislead t the general public into a false
conclusion and add to the illusion that the Earth has
entertained extra-terrestrial visitors.
3. It illustrates that mature adults with good reputations
in a community are not necessarily beyond attempting a (*)
spurious UFo report, if only as a psychological experiment.
Philip J. Klass
560 N Street SW
Washington D.C. 20024
January 9, 1968

morning but not on the evening of the incident.
30 The statement by Norman Martin, who lives 6oo feet south of East
Farrell St., that he saw bright illumination on trees near the burned
spot for a brief interval l at approximately the time that Crowder says
the incident occurred.
L. Mr. Crowder's
The Burned Spot
Crowder's story is that he brief but intense burst of fire emitted
by the object when it took-off, or disappeared, set fire to the asphalt-
views, Crowder referred to flame and fire on the road. For added confirma-
tion, upon returning to Washington, I wrote him to ask if the road was
merely smoking or if he saw actual flame; if so, how high were the flames
and approximately how long they lasted.
Other investigators have assumed
BUT ASPHALT WILL NOT SUPPORT N, according to Blake Cornthwaite,
managing engineer Aspha stitute in Washington D. Asphalt
can be made to burn its te ture is raised to LO0-500F, but when
the external source of heat i oVed, THE ASPHALT WILL NOT CONTINUE TO
BURN. "It cooks elf out," according to Cornthwaite.
It is true that fast-curing types asphalt, which are dissolved in
neptha, might briefly support combustion for several days after being laid.
But within a week, 90% of the naptha will have evaporated. nd the road
on East Farrell St. was not freshly laid, even if fast-curing asphalt were
used.

- UNCLASSIFIED
DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE
STAFF MESSAGE BRANCH
INCOMING MESSAGE
AF IN: 13110 Pg 4 of 5
KWL SUR FACE-CALM, 6,000 FEET-250/25, 10,000 FEET-270/4 0,
16,000 FEET-280/40, 20,000 FEET-27 30, 30,000 FEET 280/40
50,000 FEET-300/50, 80,000 FEET-270/5
PAGE 4 RUEDARB1220 UNCLAS
(3) 10,000 FEET EROKEN
(4) 10 MILES
(5) 6/10
(6) NONE (6) NONE
(7) NA (7) NVA
HNONE$
INONE
JNONE
K. LT COL DUANE J KRELL, COMMANDER 632 RADAR SQUADRON, THE
OBJE CT LEFT FOUR SMALL HOLES IN THE STREET APPROXIMATELY 9 1/2
AN INCH IN DIAMETER AND ONE e inch deep in the Pavement.
OBJECT LEFT A BURNT SPOT APFROXIMATLY 4 FEET LONG AND 0 2 1 1/2
FEET WIDE ON THE TAR ANO O GRAVER STREET. OBSERVER SA ID
O BJECT GROUND. TWO SOUT H HIll PaL IcemE N WEre CONT-
AFHO JAN 6S FoRM 0-309C
UNCLASSIFIED

three completely charred paper matches
- within the burned spot on , "approximately 6 inches inside the
northeast side," according lurphy's written report. State Trooper
James A. Crawford, who also was present at the time, found a fourth paper
match in the burned area, also completely charred. Murphy said the three
matches he found were so close together "they could have been covered with
a half dollar," accordin
THE FACT THAT ALL FOUR MATCHES WERE COMPLETELY CHARRED INDICATES
THAT THEY WERE O E ROAD A
The discovery of these charred matches produced an interesting reaction,
but not a surpris one, among those pr (Recall that Crowder was
at home at the time.)
Trooper decided not to bother to report the incident (Crowder's
UEO immediate superior, Sgt. S.H. Raines, head of the local
iop "because I didn!t. think there was any ng toit That's my opinion
were
Richmond News-Leader, who was present hen Murphy and Crawford found the
matohes, responded in this way whe sked whether the matches had aroused
suspicions of a hoax: "In my mind it did, because hesitated until 2 a.m.
before I mailed r my film into the camera
away and said (here Harris hesitated) well, yo Crowder is a highly
thought-of, upstanding man. I think he's a man tegrity, personally.
I've known him...I lived in his home in an apartment when my wife were
first married...I'm sure you've found Crowder is well thought of But, I said,
well, here's the matches, you know, I said, well, I've wasted my film. I
don't even think I'll send it to the newspaper."

one match o matches,
the charred remains. But you see there were s re smoking
cigarettes that night...that was when the State
that is when they found, they claimed, these matches -- it was either two
or three burned match sticks, these paper matches around the site."
"But to me that didn't mean a thing on God's earth, you know, so far
as somebody starting a fire was concerned. As many people as there were
around there smoking cigarettes and dropping matches, don't you see."
Later, I asked officer Murphy (who found the three matches) whether
they could have been dropped by visitors at the scene after lighting cigar-
ettes. He replied positively: "No, no...no. They had to have been there
(before). It would have been impossible for Someone to have lit a cigar-
ette and the matcnes to have been burned like that." Harris agreed:
"when we picked them up they just crumbl ed to ashes."
It is simply impossible that the charred matches or partially burned
matches just happened to be that
the UFO chose to land, and that they could have remained so clustered
despite the landing and take-off (or explosion) of such an object.
It seems an interesting coincidence that Crowder himself smokes
and he uses book (paper) matches to light his cigarettes.
The Four "Padprints"
Although the officers did discover the small, charred matches on the
dari burned asphalt-macadam road on the night of April 2l, they did not
discover even one of the four holes within six feet of the burned spot.
This raises the question of whether these "padprints" were indeed there
on the night of April 21, or whether they were created in the pre-dawn
hours f April 22.
If only one of the four holes had been discovered that night, it is
probable that all four would have been found, so there were four "opportun-
ities" for discovery. Trooper Crawford told me that he and Murphy made a
careful search, bending down low over the road, using a 6-cell flashlight.
Crawford finds it hard to believe that the holes could have been overlooked,

But trooper says that when he heard about the holes the
next day and returned to the site at night he could spot them
in the darkness, he said he did find them being shown where they
were."
If the holes were there on Friday night, it would neither confirm nor
deny the possibility of a hoax. But if the holes were NoT there Friday
night, then the case is clearly a hoax, for this would mean that they
and the following morning.
If the "padprints" of April 22,
it seems safe to conclude that this was done t provide additional evi-
dence to support the original story and to counteract suspicions raised
by the discovery of the charred matches. As of midnight, only a handful
of people knew of the discovery of the charred matches. Clifford Crowder
was one of this handful.
So far as is known, Crowder was the first man to return to the area
the next morning, at approximately 7 a.m., while on his way to work.
Although Crowder took x time to stop and talk with Norman Martin about events
Satur TO the
But as a result,Crowder was not the first to discover the four small
holes. Certainly he would have found them if he had stopped to inspect
the site. Nor is it known who was the first to discover the holes. None
of the dozen persons interviewed claimed this honor, nor did they know
who had first spotted them.
Sgt. Raines said he was sitting in Crowder's office, only 1,000 ft.
away from the site, when he received word about the four holes. Raines
says he promptly left to visit the site and see the holes. But again,
Crowder showed a surprising lack of curiosity about this important new
discover He told me that it was not until an hour or two later, when
he drove for lunch, that he stopped to see the newly discovered holes.

in them." Any water? "No sir," he responded. plained that
Crowder had said that it rained that night, Raines responded heatedly:
"cliff's not sure about that, is he? That's There wasn't
ary rain. There wasn't any rain."
Had it rained? Robert Harris, who said remained at the site
until shortly after midnight and who put his film on the 2 a.m. bus for
Richmond, did not
Utley of radio station WJWS. Utley had worked until around I a.m., he
recalled, and he remembered a little rain at the time he left for home.
Everyone seemed to recall that Saturday morning had been bright and sunny.
Upon returning to Washington, I checked the Weather Bureau. They
told me that their station at Raleigh, N.C., approximately 60 miles to
the south of South Hill, had reported traces of precipitation from 3-5 a.m
followed by several hundredths of an inch starting around 5 a.m. Richmond,
about 7o miles to the north, had reported a trace of rain at 3-4 a.m.,
followed by several hundredths of an inch starting_at l a.m.
This s suggests that Crowder was awake in the very early morning hours
of April 22 since he was the only one to recall the "hard shower."
Norman Martin's Role
Mr. & Mrs. Norman Martin, who live approximately 6oo ft. south of
East Farrell St., were visiting Mr. Martin's I mother in the local hospital
on the evening of April 2l. Mr. Martin says they over-stayed the normal
8:d end of visiting hours by perhaps lo minutes, which would they
departed the hospital room at about 8:h0 pom
Allowing 5 minutes for the Martins to walk to their car, and another
turned south from East Farrel approximately 8:50
Working backward for Crowder, he arrived at the local police station
a few moments after 9 p.m. Allowing 5 minutes for him to drive to the
station from the site, and a minute or two for the time he says he waited
for the flames to die down, this would place the time of the incident at
samewhere between 8:50 and 8:55 p.m.

ELEVATION PROFILe CA4N00L0O10
1 3 11'6"1 CROWDER'S ACCOUNT
! 1 DEAD
MAP #/ ",121 0 ,8,11 END
1 1
1 11'5" 1
L 1
BORNeD BORNeD SPOT $
PAOPRINTS PAOPRINTS PING PINE
EAST FARRULLST. SAST1 FARRULL ST. TOGG OSMY
TO PowelL
SOUTH HILL SOUTH HILL. 3) 3 -③
1
- - BURNED DMAIL MAIL
SPOT. Box Box
KING TANK
"JOhnsON
House" CROWDER'S
(VACANT OFFICE
412.1/67)
MARTIN ⑤
W
; 560 "N STREET S.W. PHILIP J. KLASS
AppRoxiMATE WASHINGTON, D. C. 2OO24
DEAD END 12/30/67
SC..E ONLY

Instead, the "rystery car" that Crowder saw is assumed to have turned
south into the drive of the C.A. King residence, approximately 2O0 feet
west of the Martin driveway. It is reasoned that Crowder could easily
have erred in thinking the car turned into the Martin drive when in fact
the "mystery car" merely turned around in the King drive and headed back
toward South Hill.
Powers wrote in his report: "That turned out to be the case. Mr. King,
question, said
who was in the northwest bedroom (from which the scene of the sighting was
not visible) saw lights as from a car's headlights turning into their drive-
way. However, nobody knocked on the door and she assumed that someone had
merely turned around in the driveway. If that were the case, then the
discrepancy is cleared up." discrepancy is cleared up."
There are several flaws in this hypothesis. If a "mystery car" had
merely turned into the U-shaped drive west of the King house to turn
around, Crowder should have seen the headlights or tail-lights emerge
in a matter of and would then not have mistaken the car for the
Martins.
Furthermore, there are no windows on the west side of the main house
(front portion), so that anyone in the northwest portion could not have
seer the lights from a car approaching from the west, unless they were
looaing out
Finally, in an interview with Mrs. C.A. King, she flatly denies
that a car could have turned around in the yard tha evening Here
are her own words:
iMy daughter was in the front part of the house (facing East Farrell
St.)cleaning and I was in the kitchen (back) and she said, 'Momma, I thought
I saw lights flash and I thought a car is in the back...I'm sure it was a
car pulled in.' But it wasn't, because we went out into the back and
there wasn't anyone there.

said that just before her
e house to report seeing a light,
Mrs, King herself flashing in the back window." (This
would be from the south, from the Mrs. King
added that at the same moment, "I heard something sound exactly like a
teeny baby, like infant crying. Now my daughter had two children but
they were both fast asleep." (Note: This is believed to be the first
report of a UFo that made sounds like a crying baby!)
Despite this evidence that there was in fact no "mystery car," and
that the car that Crowder said he saw was in fact Martin's car, it is
apparent conflicts between the accounts
of Crowder and Martin, as explained shortly.
unusual aro und here.
Well, there' s nothirg unusual for me. (Martin, a homespun humorist, laughed.)
And I told him no. I didn't anything unusual. And he got t telling me
about thing, and d, 'Well, Cliff, I' ell you, being as you
saw a tei e light up there last night'".
Martin explained: "After he brought this up, it made me think that
I don't think they was lights there that he saw.)"
Which man is telling the truth? In the first of two interviews with
Crowder he had volunteered the following comment about Martin: "Well, to
** (
he's just a very ordinar hare-cropper farmer...he's not considered a
very substantial citizen."

On several other occasions, Martin leaned over backward to hedge his
cwm claims to those of Crowder. For example: "Like I say, I don't know
what it was. If he (Crowder) saw the real object then I saw the_light
from it."
Martin explained that after arriving home from the hospital, his
wife had gone inside while he walked into the back yard. It was then, he
said, that "I saw this glare go off there. It was actually quicker than
= car light, but I just took it for granted it was somebody headed rom
that house and many times I've seen them down there come out and the car
would shine on the trees there. Well, I didn't pay too much attention to
10."
Martin volunteered an interesting comment about the remarkable similar-
ity between the UF as described by Crowder, and large aluminum tank
used by Crowder nich sits just outside his
office window. after this happened, you know,
Mr. Crowder's liquid nitrogen tank : sitting there right in front of his
office, and I wondered, if he had set there so long and looked at that big
tank sitting there... when he comes out he sees a tank sitting in the road."
(Approximately a mile away from Crowder' s office is a large steel
water tank that sits on four "legs". It also is readily visible when one
drives to and from his office drives to and from his office along along East East Farrell St.)
Although Martin says Although Martin says the light he saw was so brightly illuminating the light he saw was so brightly illuminating
the oak Ow
sitting in the tree," his reactions at the time and his other statements
indicate that the incident did not strike him as extrordinary at the time
For example, he did not take the trouble to walk 6oo feet north to East
Farrell St. to irvestigate that night. Nor did he stay outside long enough
for the police to arrive at the site.
A Trial Hypothesis
Returning again to the question of how it was possible for Crowder
road nor the headlights of Crowder's car, this question is readily
resolved IF Crowder's car was not on East Farrell St. and IF his car
lights were turned off, and if the road was not yet afire!
Referring to Map #2, IF Crowder's car had been parked in the drive-
way to the then-vacant house (now occupied by a family named Johnson),
and if Crowder's car lights were turned off, he could easily see the
Martin car coming down East Farrell St. and see it turn into the Martin
drive-way
IF the incident is a hoax in which Crowder is the perpetrator, he

MAP#2
TRIAL DEAD
END
OMReE
SASt FAenguL SA SAST FARRGLL SA O O SNe O SiNe
To SO NILL PaWELL
SOUi NILL
9 MAIL
Rox Box
KING
- TANK
.
"Johnso
House" CROWDER'S
CVACANT OFFICE
MARTIN 5 421167)
E CPTUSP
APpRoXIm 560 "N" STRCET 5.W. PHILIP J. KLASS
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20O24 12/30 167
Se LE ONLY DEAD END

After lighting the fluid, he would return to his car and wait for the
flames to die down. Then, turning on his car lightsI he would turn west
the police station. As Crowder's
car turned onto East Farrell St., his car lights should illuminate the oak
and pine trees near the burned spot and would be this illumination that
Martin reported seeing.
Because of a drop-off in elevation and the intervening wheat field,
Martin would not be able to see Crowder's car -- only the illumination
from its headlights. (This was checked by placing a car at the site and
trying to see it from Martin's backyard.)
expect there to be any cars coming out of its driveway. Recall Martin's
statement:"...m times I've seen them down there come out and the car
other possibility, tha merely of a hoax, not its
perpetrator?
Immediately after the incident, Crowder said that he had seen a tank-
shated object si on legs. He described it as being metallic and he
told me that i cted light from the car headlights.
But more recently, and later in interview, Crowder says that he
believes the object "was a gas-filled flamnable e bag" which was designed
to disintegrate when illuminated by car headlights. On several occasions
he said that he now believes the object was "some psychological experiment
that one of the branches of the armed forces is fo oling with."
The question a arises as to how good are Crowder's powers of observation?
Prior to driving to South Hill I had prepared ei which
were designed to test his powers of observation.

UNCLASSIFIED
- DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE
STAFF MESSAGE BRANCH
INCOMING MESSAGE
4)
AF IN: 13110 P85 of 5
CTED BY THE E oBSERVER ANd RET UR NEd tO tHE SPOT WhERE thE ObjeCT
was sighted approximately 5 minuTes after it disappeared. one
OF THE POL ICEMEN, OF FICER B. O. MUrPHY WAS COntACTED ANd HE
Co nfir med My est imate of rel Iabil OB SER VER. OFFICER
PAGE RUEDARB1220 UNQLAS
WAS U UNABLE TO GIVE ANY OT HER DETAILS EXCEPT HE STATED
THAT iE FoUND 3 PAPER MAT ChES ATD tHE OT HER OFFICER FoUNd oNE THAT iE FoUND 3 PAPER MaT CHES AND tHE ot HER OFFIcER FoUNd oNE
IN THE CENTER OF THE BURNT SPOT ON THE ROAD. OFFICER MURPHY IN THE CENTER oF THE BURNT SPOT ON THE ROAD. OFFICER MURPHY
STATED ALL FOuR MATCHES WERE BURNT TO A CRISP. WITH THE EX- STATED ALL FOUR MATCHES WERE BURNT TO A CRISP. WITH THE EX-
CEPTION oF THE BURNT MATCHES THE REPQRT SEEMED tO BE RELIABLE, CEPTION oF THE BURNT MATCHES THE REPQRT SEEMED tO BE RELIaBLE,
HOW EVER , THE BURNT MAT CHES COULD MAT ChEs CoLLd POINT TO A POSSIELE POINT POSSIELE E HOAX. HOAX.
BT
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AFHQ JAM SS FORM 0-309C
UNCLASSIFIED

Crowder was told that each slide would be projected for apprcximately
five seconds, corresponding to the time he had said he viewed the UFo.
The slide would then be removed and he was to try to describe the object,
not to identify it. During the tests, he seldon waited for the allotted
five seconds before he was ready to describe what he had seen.
Crowder's descriptions were so accurate and perceptive that it seems
quite unlikely that on the night of April 2l he really saw one or two
hunan figures on the road and scnehow nistcok them for a large metal
tank or balloon standing on four legs.
And Crowder insists that this is what he saw. He has modified his
story only to the extent of saying that it might ve been a large balloon
which disintegrated suddenly (to explain its sappearance.)
In recent months, someone has painted "P.V. 67 HOAx" alongside the
burned spot on the road. The "P,v." stands for Park View High School,
suggesting the sign is the work of local teen-agers. (Crowder himself
has a teen-age daughter.)
only one possible explanation which
is fully consistent with the known facts:
1. The charred matches found rned spot.
2. The fact that asphalt will not support combustion and Crowder's descrip-
tion of the high flam he says p period.
3. Crowder' s at ttempts 'icance of charred matches.
14. The delayed discovery the dprints" Crowder's seeming indiffer-
ence to thei discovery.

liquid.
7. The fact that Crowder reported seeing the Martin car immediately
after the road was rMr. nor Mrs. Martin
saw the flames or th headlights of owder's car.
Res Ipsa Loquitur!
But what of clifford Crowder's high standing in the community?
The truth is that an outside investigator is only able to determine
what some of the local citizens now say about his reputation unless
an in-deptn study were nade and no investigator, including this one,
has attempted such a study.
It is a matter of record that Clifford Crowder is active in the
affairs of his church, the South Hill Methodist Church. Beyond this
it is difficult to tell how much of his present reputation is his own
and how much of it stems from other relatives in the Crowder "clan".
One brother, d. Foster Crowder, is a member of the Virginia State
Anothen brother. J.Le Crowde member or the
and was running for re-election. He was defeated in the primary held
several months after the incident. cousin, Charles W. Crowder,
operates an insurance agency which, incidentally, is an advertiser in
the local newspaper. Dr.Charles H. more distant
relative, I was told.
ome being asked.
A stranger, meeting Clifford Crowder for the first time under
more casual circunstances, almost certainly would give him a good
character endorsement. A man of soft-spoken, sincere and
well-mannered.
Yet it is difficult to predict what
do. unqunstioned character
for positions of financial sponsibility. Yet every year sees disclosures ,
of embezzlemonts by just such people, followed by expressions of shocked
surprise by friends and businens associates.

"Strangest of All," which broadcast
the South Hill radio station, WJws. 1though the Edwards program does
not limit itself exclusively to flying saucers, they are featured
prominently along with other Supposedly true stories of the occult and
supernatural.
The pastor of Crowder' s church writes a regular column, entitled
"Study Talk", for The South Hill Enterprise. April 27, 1967, issue,
the first to appear after the incident, pastor William Mayton devoted his
entire column to the subject of UFOs. One extract from this column is
especially interesting: "The important thing is that one (UFo) made
the scene at South Hill and South Hill is now really on the map."
This proved to be a masterful understatement. South Hill was
deluged with visitors, thousands of them, immediately after the incident
was reported was reporte the local and national press, and the local and ional press for some weeks after- Some weeks after-
wards.
Crowder himself has achieved national, even international fame.
He has received telephone calls from as far away as Australia, from
UFO Buffs who want ear him describe the incident in his own words!
Sgt. Raines says that Crowder has become "fed up" with all this
attention and has, on occasion, said: "If I ever again see a UFo, I'll
kaep it to myself." But Crowder hinself gave no indication of this
attitude during interviews. He cooperated fully, showed no reluc-
tance to describe th experience for the Nth time and 'he displayed no
obvicus irritatio being questioned. (However, because I had no
status as an "official investigator" and therefore had to rely upon
his voluntary cooparation, did not press him on such matters as the
charred matches or other di epancies.)
The Illusion
The South lill case demonstrates how the illusion that UFOs must be
extra-terrestrial spaced is promoted in the public mind by the inten-
tional or unintentional onission of vital details in publishcd accounts,

in e charred natches.
It was not until William Powers visited South Hill on April 23 and
mentioned this important finding in discussions with the Press that the
charred matches. were_mentioned, somewha casually, in the few newspapers
that carried fe llow-up stories.
Three r men from NICAP Headquarters, one a NASA physicist, visited
South Hill on April The results of their investigation were reported
in a feature story in the March-April, 1967, issue of he U.F.O. Investi-
Eator." The article mentions the burned spot and th the four "padprints,"
but there is no mention of the charred matches. When APRo reported the
case in the May-June, T967, issue of "The A.P.R.0. Bulletin," there was
no mention of the charred matches.
The new Frank Edwards book, "Flying Saucers -- Here and Now," devotes
two full pages to the South Hill case. But again, there is no mention of
the charred matches. It seems safe to predict that the South Hill case
wilT be described in dozens of other UFo books, as yet unwritten, and that
in most, if not all, there will be no mention of the charred matches.
The cause of public enlightenment is not well-served either by
*
disbelieve hin." This statement i is attributed to William Powers in
the April 27, l967, issue of The South Hill Enterprise. It is quoted
also in the Fr ank Edwards bock.
"(I) can't it being a hoax." Dr, J. Allen Hynek, as quoted
in the M Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Obviously, it is not. politic to dismiss the Press with a curt "no
commont." I But common prude nd past €
be better for an investigato to explain t is prematur e to comnent
on the case until the investigation has b ompleted an that this will
require some additional time.

17,000 1b.
5.
6. This gives the Lunar Module a oading of 7 psi. on earth.
7. But when landing on the
the the effec effecti ar Module Module be:
1.2 psi.
8. The four "padprints" allegedly left by the Crowder UFo each measured allegedly left by the Crowder UFO each measured
approximately  inch in diameter. The total "padpr area of the
four is then approximately l sq. in. four is then approxi nately l sq. in.
9. This gives the Crowder UFO 17,000 psi.
(based on assumed specific 0 lb./cu. ft.)
10. loads of 640 psi.
11. of the Crowder UFo, by failing to use larger
pads, ended up with a "craft" ' whose pad loading is 30 times too high
to enable it to land on major highways without puncturing the concrete.

1. had disappeared or disintograted, and the road was
set afire, did you see actual flamo or was the spot
merely smoking?
2. how high would you
estimate the flame vas, an inch, several inches,
a foot?
3. If you saw flame, approximately how long did it last
before going out, or until you felt it was sare to
drive around and head for the police station?
3- Hhe 2 fint ran
the KilDe thifSoif
My Ge at inel,
lek ataightap ts
Fall voek, tit didit aee cnlliny

Cloudy, Droned gon th
thi tise I w flach Cije
Disse fiem
2
.
-

THE SOUTH HILL CASE
An Analysis
By Philip J. Klass
Washington D.C.

THE SUNDAY STAR
Woshiagton, D. C.  prl 23, 1967
VirginianTells ofUFO [
Blest-OffFromHighway
o o
SOUTH HILL, Va. (AP)-fire died down, he said, he went
"You ean itmagine how it falt to to the police slation and repork-" gdind
seo a big dhing like that siting ed th ineident.
in the road in front of you, and "Two of the town police came
ill of a sudden a bail of fire flies bnck with me," he said. "We
it and it disappears." found a black burned spot in the
This was the reaction of a rond where the thing took off.
South Hill warchouso manager The spot still in here in the
in doseribing an Unidentified road today."
Flying Object whlch he said Crowder said he talked with
momentarily blocked tho road the driver of another ear that
as he was eh his way home from had been noar the scene and
work Friday night. condirmed that The saw the
C. N. Croder, maneger of the flashi too."
Mobil Chamical Co. warchouse!
in this Southside Viegitia irwn
nem tho North Carnlina line,
said he was deiving away from Gen, Kendrick
the warohoue abont o p.m.
when he saw the object stling in To Refire Friday
the mkdle of the rond.
Ho decerihed it as looldng like Retirement corcmonies for
a metal stornge tonk about 12 Maj. Gen. Doudas B. Kendrick.
foot in dlamneter, ahumimum in commander of Walter Reed
E color. sitting on logs that ap-Army Medieal Center, will bo
peared to he about 3 to 3ve feet held ot 9 a.m. Friday in the
high. gardens of the conter.
"I turned on my bright lights Gen. Kendrick, who is retiring
id just about the time I did! lafter 23 years of military serv-
I this, a tremendous burst of after 33 years of military serv- —Aosoclated Pres
white-looking fire came from the ice, served as physicinn to Poliee examine a hurned spot on a road near saw a big netallie objeet shoot up with a ball
bottom of the object and it went General of.the Army Dougias Sauth nill, Va., where C. N. Crowder said he of fire and disappear Friday night.
right straight up in the air like a MacArthur in Japam for three
bullet. . years. He will pass his hospital
"It was just a flash and it was command to Brig. Gen. Phillip
gone, but whon I hod my bright W. Mallory, now commander of
Eights on, I god a perfect look at Walter Reed Gancral Hespital.
it." Gen. and Mrs. Kendriek will
Crowder said the macadam move to Atlanta, Ga., where he
rond where the eljent had bronjail humome aoodiead directar of
Citing caught cn lire Whea the'Craly Moibrid thoyoilad.

MEMO FOR THE RECORD: 26 APRIL 1967
Contact with Lt. Colonel Krell I revealed the following infor-
mation pertaining to the South Hill, Virginia sighting of 2l April
1967. I Lt. Colonel Krell said that he personnaly drove to the
square. The burnt area was in
15
asphalt highway. I Lt. Colonel Krell could find no additional wit-
ness who saw the alleged UFo. The witness reported no sound at
all; even after stopping the car and rolling down the window. Lt.
Colonel Krell will contact the South Hill police department and
obtain a written a obtain a written statement concerning statement concerning what was what t was found at the scene
of the of the s sighting.

(
UNCLASSIF I Q R T
29z -
Bl
756
PTTU JAN F01222 1U4183G-UUUU--RDEDFIA.
2N 00000
P 241385 67
Fil 6520 RA 5 S RONKONE RAPILS AFS
TO RUMNFVA/AIR DEFENSE COMAND ENTAR COLO
RUEDFIA/NRIGHT PATTERSON AFA COL
RUEOHSA/CNSF .ASHIPOTON D C
RUEDHGA/OSAF HG USAF RoeDhaa/6SaF n6 GSAF
RUEDARA/33GAC FT LEE RUEDARA/33CAC FT LEE AFS VA AFS VA
ST BT
UNCLAS 63RUOC U3S06 APR 67. FOR FTD, TDETR, AFRDC, SAF-OI, 33OCO.
APR 67, MAKE THE FOLLOWING CHANGE TO FOLLOWING CHANGE TO
THE ASOVE CITED MESSAGE, CHAUGE ITEM C (I), GROUND VISUAL FROM AN THE ASOVE CITED AESSAGE. CHANGE ITEM C (1), GROUND VISUAL FROM AN
AUTCMOEILE AT A DISTANCE OF APPROXIMATELY 125 TO 150 FEET. CHANGE
SENTENCE TO READI GROUND VISUAL FRON AN AUTOMOBILE AT A DISTANCE
OF APPROXINATELY 125 TO 15O YARDS.
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UNCLASSIFIEL PRIORITY 010