Betty
and Barney Hill’s case is the first well documented UFO abduction in history. In
the early 1960s, a time before Civil Rights movement began under President Johnson;
the last thing the Hills wanted was national publicity.
and Barney Hill’s case is the first well documented UFO abduction in history. In
the early 1960s, a time before Civil Rights movement began under President Johnson;
the last thing the Hills wanted was national publicity.
Before:
Betty
and Barney Hill was an American interracial couple who lived in Portsmouth, New
Hampshire. Both were loved and respected in their community, active in their
local Unitarian Congregation and members of the National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Barney, who was African American
(1922-1969) was employed by the United States Postal Service, and Betty (1919 –
2004) was a social worker. Even during the sensitive workings on the Civil
Rights movement, they both were committed to their jobs and relationship and
were even community leaders and sat on the local board of the U.S. Civil rights
commission.
and Barney Hill was an American interracial couple who lived in Portsmouth, New
Hampshire. Both were loved and respected in their community, active in their
local Unitarian Congregation and members of the National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Barney, who was African American
(1922-1969) was employed by the United States Postal Service, and Betty (1919 –
2004) was a social worker. Even during the sensitive workings on the Civil
Rights movement, they both were committed to their jobs and relationship and
were even community leaders and sat on the local board of the U.S. Civil rights
commission.
But
their once comfortable and certain life became unsettling after just a few
hours one night when they were traveling home.
their once comfortable and certain life became unsettling after just a few
hours one night when they were traveling home.
Event:
On
September 19, 1961 Betty and Barney Hill were traveling back from vacationing
in Montreal, Canada, they were on the road to Portsmouth at night when they
first saw the light. Betty believed that it was a satellite that the United
States had just launched, while Barney thought it was a plane that just had an
unusual bright light against the dark sky, but they couldn’t be more wrong. In
seconds the light got brighter and closer, following them as if tracking their
movements.
September 19, 1961 Betty and Barney Hill were traveling back from vacationing
in Montreal, Canada, they were on the road to Portsmouth at night when they
first saw the light. Betty believed that it was a satellite that the United
States had just launched, while Barney thought it was a plane that just had an
unusual bright light against the dark sky, but they couldn’t be more wrong. In
seconds the light got brighter and closer, following them as if tracking their
movements.
As
the light got closer, Barney, who suffered from Hypertension, was getting nervous;
Betty continued to insist that it was only a satellite and even felt safe
enough to urge Barney to stop the car so
they can get out and have a better look and they did. Betty pulled out a pair of
binoculars and used them to get a better look but what she saw shocked her. It
wasn’t a satellite, but something that was illuminated with multicolored
lights.
the light got closer, Barney, who suffered from Hypertension, was getting nervous;
Betty continued to insist that it was only a satellite and even felt safe
enough to urge Barney to stop the car so
they can get out and have a better look and they did. Betty pulled out a pair of
binoculars and used them to get a better look but what she saw shocked her. It
wasn’t a satellite, but something that was illuminated with multicolored
lights.
Right
then, Betty and Barney got the feeling that the objected suddenly noticed them.
Becoming nervous, they got back in their car and raced off, but not fast
enough. The light followed them for a few miles, and then the object began
descending towards their car. Barney stopped their car in the middle of the
road, grabbed his pistol he had been carrying and the binoculars and got out of
his vehicle. Just a hundred feet in front of them, the object hovered in place,
lowering just right above the road.
then, Betty and Barney got the feeling that the objected suddenly noticed them.
Becoming nervous, they got back in their car and raced off, but not fast
enough. The light followed them for a few miles, and then the object began
descending towards their car. Barney stopped their car in the middle of the
road, grabbed his pistol he had been carrying and the binoculars and got out of
his vehicle. Just a hundred feet in front of them, the object hovered in place,
lowering just right above the road.
Barney
slowly approached the craft, as he did he looked through the binoculars – and
through a window on the craft he could see humanoid creatures that looked too
much like humans…but not enough to be humans. He had the sudden impression that
he was being ordered to stay where he was and wait, and as the humanoids began
descending from their craft; he knew he was going to be captured.
slowly approached the craft, as he did he looked through the binoculars – and
through a window on the craft he could see humanoid creatures that looked too
much like humans…but not enough to be humans. He had the sudden impression that
he was being ordered to stay where he was and wait, and as the humanoids began
descending from their craft; he knew he was going to be captured.
They
both were caught by the humanoids, and dragged into a clearing in the woods 150
feet away from their car.
both were caught by the humanoids, and dragged into a clearing in the woods 150
feet away from their car.
That’s
all they remembered. The next thing they knew, they were in their car driving
along a very familiar road and entering their driveway. By then, it was almost
dawn and they had no idea where they had been for the previous few hours.
all they remembered. The next thing they knew, they were in their car driving
along a very familiar road and entering their driveway. By then, it was almost
dawn and they had no idea where they had been for the previous few hours.
Back
to reality:
to reality:
They
tried to go back to their simple lives but found it impossible. Barney, who
suffered from hypertension – a disease that killed him – started to feel uneasy
and had strange symptoms. He was unusually worried about his genitals and
complained that they pained him, along with his stomach bothering him and
sleeping eluding him. He also seemed to be easily irritable, as if something
was eating him up that he couldn’t resolve.
tried to go back to their simple lives but found it impossible. Barney, who
suffered from hypertension – a disease that killed him – started to feel uneasy
and had strange symptoms. He was unusually worried about his genitals and
complained that they pained him, along with his stomach bothering him and
sleeping eluding him. He also seemed to be easily irritable, as if something
was eating him up that he couldn’t resolve.
Betty
didn’t suffer from any physical pains but instead she was having terrible
nightmares, dreams filled with horrible repressed memories that only resurfaced
while she slept. Worried for her husband, she took him to the family doctor but
beyond high blood pressure, the doctor couldn’t find anything wrong with him.
didn’t suffer from any physical pains but instead she was having terrible
nightmares, dreams filled with horrible repressed memories that only resurfaced
while she slept. Worried for her husband, she took him to the family doctor but
beyond high blood pressure, the doctor couldn’t find anything wrong with him.
With
no physical illness or affliction they would have had serious doubt that maybe
something didn’t happen – but they had proof. The dress Betty wore the night of
the occurrence, had odd pink stains where she remembered the humanoids had
touched her. So sure of what happened, Betty reported the incident to the Pease
Air Force Base near Portsmouth, New Hampshire. An investigator from Pease
called her back, interviewed her then reported that Betty had probably only
seen the planet Jupiter.
no physical illness or affliction they would have had serious doubt that maybe
something didn’t happen – but they had proof. The dress Betty wore the night of
the occurrence, had odd pink stains where she remembered the humanoids had
touched her. So sure of what happened, Betty reported the incident to the Pease
Air Force Base near Portsmouth, New Hampshire. An investigator from Pease
called her back, interviewed her then reported that Betty had probably only
seen the planet Jupiter.
However,
Betty left out many important details of her encounter because she was afraid
the investigator would claim she was insane. The Hills incident became part of
the Air Force’s project Blue Book.
Betty left out many important details of her encounter because she was afraid
the investigator would claim she was insane. The Hills incident became part of
the Air Force’s project Blue Book.
Psychosis:
After
the physical exam and finding nothing, Barney’s doctor suggested that the problem
may be an underlying emotional issue that was manifesting itself as physical
symptoms. Upon their doctor’s advice, Barney visited a psychiatrist. After only
one session in which the psychiatrist learned of Barney’s loss of memory, the
psychiatrist referred him to Dr. Benjamin Simon – a man who had helped World
War 2 pilots suffering from hysterical symptoms recover lost memories and to
control and integrate the underlying trauma.
the physical exam and finding nothing, Barney’s doctor suggested that the problem
may be an underlying emotional issue that was manifesting itself as physical
symptoms. Upon their doctor’s advice, Barney visited a psychiatrist. After only
one session in which the psychiatrist learned of Barney’s loss of memory, the
psychiatrist referred him to Dr. Benjamin Simon – a man who had helped World
War 2 pilots suffering from hysterical symptoms recover lost memories and to
control and integrate the underlying trauma.
Dr.
Simon put them both under hypnosis during separate treatment sessions, recorded
their responses on tape and through transcription. Barney and Betty told the
same account of their abduction:
Simon put them both under hypnosis during separate treatment sessions, recorded
their responses on tape and through transcription. Barney and Betty told the
same account of their abduction:
They
said they were placed into a trance-like state by the humanoids and taken from
the clearing by force onto what they both described as “a craft of some sort.”
Once on the craft they were placed under restraint on examination tables where
they were subjected to painful and invasive medical-type examinations.
said they were placed into a trance-like state by the humanoids and taken from
the clearing by force onto what they both described as “a craft of some sort.”
Once on the craft they were placed under restraint on examination tables where
they were subjected to painful and invasive medical-type examinations.
Barney
Hill’s was particularly embarrassing and painful, and though never described in
detail, the humanoids examined his genitals.
Hill’s was particularly embarrassing and painful, and though never described in
detail, the humanoids examined his genitals.
Betty’s
experience of the creatures was of them inserting a thin rod into her abdomen
where they took a sample of fluid from her womb. They also tried pulling out
her teeth after they were able to remove Barney’s dentures. Betty tried to
explain to them that some people lose their teeth as they age and this
intrigued them. She would then ask the ‘leader’ where he was from, and she was
shown a star chart.
experience of the creatures was of them inserting a thin rod into her abdomen
where they took a sample of fluid from her womb. They also tried pulling out
her teeth after they were able to remove Barney’s dentures. Betty tried to
explain to them that some people lose their teeth as they age and this
intrigued them. She would then ask the ‘leader’ where he was from, and she was
shown a star chart.
These
examinations would indicate that the Hills could have been used as test cases
of some sort of alien/humanoid cross-fertilization. Betty was then given the
post hypnotic suggestion that she could draw the star chart that she had been
shown and she did. She said that the solid lines linking the stars were trade
routes and the dotted lines were less traveled too stars. The oddity of the map
was the fact the map was identified as being from the view point of Zeta
Reticuli, a twin star system not far from our own. The information on this
system was not available to Betty or to astronomers until 1965.
examinations would indicate that the Hills could have been used as test cases
of some sort of alien/humanoid cross-fertilization. Betty was then given the
post hypnotic suggestion that she could draw the star chart that she had been
shown and she did. She said that the solid lines linking the stars were trade
routes and the dotted lines were less traveled too stars. The oddity of the map
was the fact the map was identified as being from the view point of Zeta
Reticuli, a twin star system not far from our own. The information on this
system was not available to Betty or to astronomers until 1965.
At first Dr.
Simon was skeptical about the nature of their encounter, suggesting that maybe
Betty’s abduction nightmares implicated the same story to Barney who repeated
it under hypnosis as well. But he soon truly believed that the Hill’s truly
believed that their tales to be truth and he couldn’t ignore that the couples
stories did offer different perspectives. Dr. Simon believed that the amnesia
may have been resulted from some sort of shock but the Hills’ claimed that the
memory loss was induced.
Simon was skeptical about the nature of their encounter, suggesting that maybe
Betty’s abduction nightmares implicated the same story to Barney who repeated
it under hypnosis as well. But he soon truly believed that the Hill’s truly
believed that their tales to be truth and he couldn’t ignore that the couples
stories did offer different perspectives. Dr. Simon believed that the amnesia
may have been resulted from some sort of shock but the Hills’ claimed that the
memory loss was induced.
After:
The
therapy helped. Betty and Barney fully integrated their experiences into their
conscious lives and began to speak openly about the events at local UFO meetings.
They were interviewed by UFO researchers and investigators and were forth
coming about their stories.
therapy helped. Betty and Barney fully integrated their experiences into their
conscious lives and began to speak openly about the events at local UFO meetings.
They were interviewed by UFO researchers and investigators and were forth
coming about their stories.
Of
course that also means the news of the event leaked out, getting to the ear of
a reporter from the Boston Travel, John Lutrell, who managed to get a hold of
one of the transcripts of the Hills’ sessions. This personal, and confidential
information, was then published, forcing Betty and Barney down the center of a
publicity firestorm. Something they never wanted to occur. Ultimately, they told
their story to John Fuller, who wrote the book “Interrupted Journey” (1966)
based on their events.
course that also means the news of the event leaked out, getting to the ear of
a reporter from the Boston Travel, John Lutrell, who managed to get a hold of
one of the transcripts of the Hills’ sessions. This personal, and confidential
information, was then published, forcing Betty and Barney down the center of a
publicity firestorm. Something they never wanted to occur. Ultimately, they told
their story to John Fuller, who wrote the book “Interrupted Journey” (1966)
based on their events.
Though
surrounded by great skeptism there is raising evidence on the events that
occurred. For one, the Zeta Reticuli system that Betty drew up for Dr. Simon is
indeed twin-star systems whose information wasn’t available to Betty or even
astronomers at the time. The second evidence is the dress Betty wore, at which
she kept preserved since the event, and the pink stains that were on them where
the creatures had grabbed her was analyzed by organic chemist Dr. Phyllis
Budinger. He was able to find protein remains left on the pink stains.
surrounded by great skeptism there is raising evidence on the events that
occurred. For one, the Zeta Reticuli system that Betty drew up for Dr. Simon is
indeed twin-star systems whose information wasn’t available to Betty or even
astronomers at the time. The second evidence is the dress Betty wore, at which
she kept preserved since the event, and the pink stains that were on them where
the creatures had grabbed her was analyzed by organic chemist Dr. Phyllis
Budinger. He was able to find protein remains left on the pink stains.
Arguments
raged over the veracity of the Hills story even till this day. Some going as
far as suggesting that Barney’s recollections were simply dreams that were
prompted by an episode of “Outer Limits,” that aired two weeks earlier. Others
have argued that there never was a UFO, only a spotlight on the top of a
mountain tower that appeared to be following their car. I couldn’t find any
information on there ever being tower spotlights on mountains in that area but
even if there were why would it follow a car and how would it explain the
Hill’s conscious memories of the events. There are also theories as low as the
legitimacy of the hypnotic session and the questions asked, but this neglect to
acknowledge the Hill’s talked about these events before meeting Dr. Simon. Let
alone if he coaxed the stories he’d ruin his reputation and could lose his job.
raged over the veracity of the Hills story even till this day. Some going as
far as suggesting that Barney’s recollections were simply dreams that were
prompted by an episode of “Outer Limits,” that aired two weeks earlier. Others
have argued that there never was a UFO, only a spotlight on the top of a
mountain tower that appeared to be following their car. I couldn’t find any
information on there ever being tower spotlights on mountains in that area but
even if there were why would it follow a car and how would it explain the
Hill’s conscious memories of the events. There are also theories as low as the
legitimacy of the hypnotic session and the questions asked, but this neglect to
acknowledge the Hill’s talked about these events before meeting Dr. Simon. Let
alone if he coaxed the stories he’d ruin his reputation and could lose his job.
Still
a widely debated case, it goes on as the most memorable. With Barney having
passed away in 1969, Betty continued to talk about the event and go to UFO
meetings to continue their story even till her passing in 2004. The case and
Betty and Barney Hill will always be remembered.
a widely debated case, it goes on as the most memorable. With Barney having
passed away in 1969, Betty continued to talk about the event and go to UFO
meetings to continue their story even till her passing in 2004. The case and
Betty and Barney Hill will always be remembered.
For
more dark and mysterious, please stay tuned.
more dark and mysterious, please stay tuned.
Pop Culture:
-
1975 television movie “The UFO Incident”
1975 television movie “The UFO Incident”
-
1996 television series “Dark Skies”
1996 television series “Dark Skies”
-
Portrayed in the 12th episode of “Encyclopedia
Galactica”
Portrayed in the 12th episode of “Encyclopedia
Galactica”
-
Details of the Hills’ case were used in “X-Files”
Details of the Hills’ case were used in “X-Files”
-
Has an episode of the Travel Channel “Mysteries
at the Museum”
Has an episode of the Travel Channel “Mysteries
at the Museum”
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