Laboratory Analysis Results Of 1966 `Swampgas Case'
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This information was obtained by Mr.Dale Goudie, Director of Puget Sound
Aerial Phenomena Research and Information Director for the UFO Reporting and
Information Service in Seattle, Washington.
The broad details of this case have long been known. This is the case in
which Dr. J. Allen Hynek, at the time a consultant to the U.S. Air Force,
issued his quickly condemned opinion that the lights seen could have been
swamp gas.
New additional information about the famed 1966 Swamp Gas case in Michigan
surfaced in 1984 shedding new light on this incident.
The material consists of a news release issued at the time by William E. Van
Horn, the Civil Defense Director for Hillsdale County, Michigan. It contains
a hitherto unknown laboratory report covering the scientific analysis of
soil, water and animal life in the area of the reported landing. For those
unfamiliar with the case, here are excepts from a statement made at the time
by Mr. Van Horn:
On the evening of March 21,1966 at 10:32 p.m., a call was received from the
New Woman's Dormitory at Hillsdale College by the Office Of Civil Defense...
from a student reporting that some type of craft had descended from the
Northeast, flashed by their dormitory and disappeared to the South. At this
time, the girl described as well as later, the observing of red, green and
white pulsating lights. There were 17 of the college students that made this
ovservation.
At approximately 11 p.m., a second call was made by the girl to the Civil
Defense Office informing them that the object had reappeared and had settled
close to the ground approximately one half mile from the dormitory. Van Horn
at once called for help from the Police Department and three cars plus
himself were sent in a two mile area from the dormitory to the East. Van
Horn checked the area at the half mile point and after he was unable to
locate anything. He at once returned to the dormitory.
Upon arriving at the dormitory, he was escorted to the second floor and taken
to a room facing the east, from where he made the following observation. He
observed that there was an object which was at an approximate distance of
1,500 to 1,700 feet away from them... settled into a hollow and was
apparently either near or on the ground. The two lights upon his first
observation were what he would describe as a dim orange on the right and a
dirty white on the left. After observing this for a period of about 10
minutes the lights began to grow in brilliance, the dim orange became red and
true in color and the white became a true white. As the lights became more
brilliant, the object or vehicle began to rise.
It would rise to a height of approximately 100 to 150 feet, stop momentarily
and began to descend. This occurred several times. At one time upon
descending, a glow from the side opposite them came from somewhere and he was
able to see a convexed surface.
The vehicle was also observed to move right to left, and left to right, and
did so in a very smooth manner. The acsent and descent were at an estimated
rate of 25 to 30 feet per minute. (This was estimated from Van Horns
experience as a commercial pilot.) At no time were any of the witnesses able
to detect any type of sound or noise.
At approximately 4:30 a.m., those still observing the scene noticed the
lights disappear and this was the last that was seen of it.
The area that this was observed in was by no means a swamp but rather an area
which is cultivated by Hillsdale College as a park.
Goudie also states that there will be additional information up coming and
will be released in a short time by the UfO Reporting and Information Service
in Seattle. This new information will even bring us closer to the reality of
this case and keep this in mind that this case was investigated very
carefully.
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Lab Results Of 1966 Swamp Gas Case
page 2
1. SOIL TESTS
a. Acid-Base Test b. Solubility Test
Acid content of three, which is very The soil was very soluble in a
heavy, and Base content of seven or water solution.
eight, which is almost neutral.
c. Composition Test d. Radiological Test
There was no change in soil The radiation reading on the
composition except for a slight soil was thirtyone hundredths
additive of Boron. roentgens per hour. (.31 r/hr)
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2. PLANT TESTS
( Green and Fungi )
a. Paper Chromatography Test b. Tests for Measuring Life
Functions
There were found only green and The plants were found to be
yellow pigments in this test; the healthy.
blue pigment did not show up in
this test, so we presume the blue
pigment was destroyed.
c. Starch Test d. Clorophyll Test
This was found to be normal. This was found to be normal.
e. Radiological Test f. Spectrum Test On Plant
Clorophyll
The reading on the plants was The blue pigment was gone; it
three/hundred fifteen thousandths did not show up in this test,
roentgens per hour. (.315 r/hr) presuming again that the blue
pigment was completely
destroyed.
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3. ANIMAL TESTS
a. Blood Hemoglobin Test b. Metabolism Test
Amphibian: The hemoglobin was Amphibian: had slower that
slightly reduced. normal metabolish but nowt
Crustation: The hemoglobin improving.
showed no change from normal. Crustation: Could detect no
metabolic change from normal.
c. Reflex Test d. Radiological Test
Amphibian: was sluggish when Amphibian: Three thousand
first captured but has not seventy five-tenthousandths.
improved. (.3075 r/hr)
Crustation: No change detected. Crustation: Three thousand one
hundred twenty five-ten
thousandths. (.3125 r/hr)
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4. MINERAL TESTS
a. Acid-Base Test b. Type Of Rock Specimen
All rocks, ingenous, metmorphic 1. Ingenous
and sedimentary were found to be 2. Metamorphic
neutral. 3. Sedimentary
c. Check Of Characteristics d. Radiological Test
All characteristics of the rocks 1. Ingenous ------- .31 r/hr
found to be normal for each type 2. Metamorphic ---- .31 r/hr
of rock. There were no chemical 3. Sedimentary ---- .3125 r/hr
or structural changes.
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5. WATER TESTS
a. Microscopic Analysis b. Acid-Base Test
All microscopic animals and plants The water was neutral of both
dead; cause unknown. acid and base.
c. Composition Of Materials In The d. Radiological Test
Water
The water had a .315 r/hr
All minerals found in the water reading.
normal with the exception of a
slight trace of Boron.
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6. ENVIRONMENTAL TESTS
TAKEN 3/23/66
a. Temperature b. Pond Life
1. Water 42 degrees F 1. Crustation:
2. Air 54 degrees F 2. Amphibians: There was an
No unusual heat shown. unusually large number of
them.
c. Range and Time of Radiological d. Changes of Visible Appearance
Changes Caused by the U.F.O.
The first meter reading the meter No apparent changes in
showed thirty three hundredths environment were visible.
roentgens (.33 r/hr) and its last
reading 3 hours later showed twenty
seven hundredths roentgens (.27 r/hr).
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CONCLUSIONS
1. SOIL:
The soil had above normal radiation and also had abnormal content of
Boron.
2. PLANT:
The plants had above normal radiation. Blue pigments did not show up in
the tests and were presumed to be destroyed, but this did not seem to
effect the life junctions of the plants.
3. POND LIFE:
Crustation and Amphibian radiation was higher than normal but the highest
radiation was recorded in the Amphibian. Also the Amphibian was
affected noiceably where the Crustation was not.
4. MINERAL:
Sedimentary rocks were slightly higher in radiation than either ingenous
or metamorphic rocks. There was no other change either chemical or
structural.
5. WATER:
All microscopic plants animals were dead. The water had above normal
radiation and abnormally contained Boron.
6. ENVIRONMENT:
The environment had above normal radiation and it contained a small amount
of Boron which is foreign to this soil.
7. MAIN CONCLUSION:
The area contained an abnormally high amount of radiation from some
unknown source. The area also strangely contained Boron which was found
in both water and soil. These two facts are the only ones which would
substantiate the presence of a U.F.O. In our opinion, we're not saying
that there was a U.F.O., but we also do not know how to accunt for these
two facts. However, we believe it could not be swamp gas because of the
high winds on the night of the sighting. With these high winds the gas
would not have formed a mass and remained stationary. We also do not
believe it was pranksters because we searched the area thoroughly for any
sign of evidence to explain the phenomenon.
NOTE: Radioactive decay took place at 0.6 milliroentgens per hour over a
period of three hours.
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C U F O N
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Computer UFO Network
Seattle Washington, USA
(206) 776-0382 8 Data Bits, No Parity, 1 Stop Bit 300/1200/2400 bps.
SYSOP - Jim Klotz Information Director - Dale Goudie
UFO Reporting and Information Service
Voice Line - unavailableP.O.Mail unavailable, Mercer Island, WA 98040, USA
- Please credit CUFON as the source of this material -
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