UFO in Kansas still Unsolved

Many stories of UFO's and apparent entities exist throughout the literature of ufology. But of all the stories about UFO's, many of them, certainly a majority, exhibit no evidence other than the recounting of the event by the witnesses. While this can still be interesting and can still be indicative of something anomalous, there is nothing like physical evidence. Physical evidence is something that can be collected, tested, and analyzed. Even so, much of the physical evidence doesn't shed much light on the provenance of UFO's. This is likely due, in part, that UFO's are of various unrelated phenomenon. Perhaps some are Earth energies such as ball lightning. Some of crashed meteorites. Some of military experiments. Some of hoaxers attempts to confuse and/or entertain. And on and on.

But one such case with substantial physical evidence is the case in Delphos, Kansas in the early 1970's. You may not have heard of this case, but the aftermath and the soil samples taken, along with testimony, pictures, and investigation leave this case one of the still few that are not only unsolved, but not even adequately explained.



While UFO cases are probably more interesting if they contain notions of alien beings and crafts that have manuevered great distances, this case is quite anomalous nonetheless. But it doesn't contain messages to save our planet or stop using nukes. It is pretty simple. An apparently metallic UFO was seen by Ronald Johnson. The UFO was encompassed by numerous lights so bright that they temporarily impaired his vision. It sounded like "an old washing machine" in Ronalds words. The UFO left marks, or residue, on the ground and disturbed the nearby trees by breaking branches. The whole family viewed the "craft" at one time or another. The ring that was left still exists today and is still hydrophillic. It was said to "glow" when it first happened.

Mrs Johnson touched the glowing ring left by the UFO and her hand went numb as if she had been anesthetized. Rubbing it off on her leg prompted her leg to go numb as well. The encounter was first investigated by the Delphos Republican, a local newspaper. Subsequently it was investigated by Sherriff Enlow and another Highway Patrolman from the State. Later it was investigated by Ted Phillips. All indications are that the encounter happened the way it was described. Debunkers have attempted to explain it by saying the ring is a fairy ring left by certain phosphorescent mushrooms. While this phenomenon is a real one, it is a dismal explanation for the Delphos ring.

So, .. what was it?? A hoax seems very unlikely. If it were a hoax, I think we would have known by now. But the family didn't want fame or money or a cult following. They reported it, they experienced it, and one was affected by it physically. It still remains today a mystery. The fact that it isn't accompanied by the usual alien overtones probably keeps it away from the mainstream "wanto-to-believe" crowd. But I would submit that this case is as good as it gets. Reliable witnesses with nothing to gain, physical evidence that remains to this day, heavily investigated, physical reponses to the leftover remains of the craft. We really do have a genuine mystery on our hands here in Kansas.