The Hopkinsville (Kentucky) Goblins

The Kelly-Hopkinsville Goblin Encounter of August 21, 1955, involved multiple witnesses, including the Sutton family, who described bizarre humanoid creatures following a UFO sighting. Despite extensive investigation and lack of physical evidence, the witnesses’ consistent accounts lend credibility to the incident, marking it as a significant event in UFO history.

Perhaps the weirdest (credible) report of a UFO encounter in the history of UFOs. Most of the weirdness is due to the description of the phenomenon encountered that night of August 21, 1955 in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. The description of the creatures as “goblins” conjures a mythological or fantastical explanation. Yet, the “Kelly-Hopkinsville Goblin Encounter” most definitely began (like so many stories of high strangeness) as a UFO story.

From the Fortean Winds POV, the first thing to understand about encounters with the pilots of UFOs…is they’re often absurd. This is not to say they are not credible. In fact, many cases of encounters with UFO pilots have been recorded by first responders and multiple witnesses.

In their important book “Close Encounters at Kelly and Others of 1955” Isabel Davis and Ted Bloecher detail the following:

On July 7, during a flurry of object sightings at Tacoma, Washington, residents of the Center and J Street neighborhood, Gene Gamachi, I.W. Martenson, and others, told of seeing a number of objects, some of which landed on nearby roofs. Witnesses saw several “little people” who disappeared upon the arrival of newsmen (3). On July 8, during a concentration of sightings all over Texas, an unidentified merchant seaman in the Acres Home suburb of Houston observed the landing of a “silver saucer.” From it emerged a dimunitive pilot no more than two feet tall with a round head “the size of a basketball” who greeted the seaman, re-entered his vehicle, and took off.

Close Encounters at Kelly

The airship sightings of 1897 detailed similar bufoonery. Pilots floating down from airships to chat with earthlings, or attempting to fish from the edges of what would later become blimps. It all sounds like something out there having a bit of a laugh at our expense. Newspapers recorded numerous odd airship sightings during this period from 1876 to 1897 (some of them were hoaxes, others were not). Many of these sightings sound similar to UFO reports in the present.

Mystery Airship San Francisco Call Nov. 1896

What does all that have to do with Kentucky Goblins? Nothing. Yet, it’s important to establish for the last one hundred years or so, encounters with UFO pilots are often ridiculous. This likely involves the same trickster phenomenon and behavior evidenced at Skinwalker Ranch. Except this time, it decided to show up with floppy ears.

Image from J. Allen Hynek Center for UFO Studies

Eight adults and three children were witness to the events of August 21, 1955. The Sutton farm where the encounter occurred was a small three bedroom house which did not have running water or a telephone. This is relevant as a family friend by the name of Billy Ray Taylor left the house to get water from the well when he saw a bright silver disk pass over the house and land nearby.

He went into the house to tell the others, but they did not believe him. Billy worked in a traveling carnival, and was quite a character. However, an hour later Billy and Lucky Sutton saw a humanoid creature resembling the photo above and described it as follows:

“oversized head…almost perfectly round, [its] arms extended almost to the ground, [its] hands had talons…and [its oversized] eyes glowed with a yellowish light.” The body gave off an eerie shimmer in the light of the night’s new moon, they said—as if made of “silver metal.”

Confused and frightened Billy and Lucky proceeded to shoot the “little green man” with a 20 gauge shotgun and a .22 rifle. They reported it flipped when shot, as if it felt the impact, but then popped back up and fled into the night. It returned and appeared outside of a window. The two men shot at it through the window screen and it, again, flipped and ran off into the night.

To many investigators at the time, Mrs. Lankford who owned the home, seemed the most credible of all the witnesses. A middle-aged Godly woman. She did not allow liquor in her home and told the same story of the incident throughout her life. Mrs. Lankford described the creatures in her statement to the USAF below.

USAF Memo

According to the witnesses. The creatures continued to approach the house and one of them touched Billy Ray Taylor’s head when he was on the porch. The hand came from above him, as if the creature were atop the porch. The witnesses saw the hand and pulled Taylor back inside.

The family continued to hear sounds of scratching on the roof over a period of several hours, until they decided to make a run for their cars and the local police station. The police who received the terrified family confirmed their terror appeared genuine.

Police investigators and representatives from Fort Campbell examined the scene the following day. They could not find any evidence of a UFO landing or remains of unexplained creatures. They did find the spent shell casings from the rounds Taylor and Sutton had fired off. USAF Blue Book investigators followed up after the police and decided to no longer pursue the matter.

There didn’t appear to be any evidence to pursue. Yet, most investigators at the time found the witness accounts credible and consistent beyond the point of coincidence. While this incident would not yield any further UFO data, it did spawn several UFO tropes that survive to this day. It reinforced or (some say) began the description of UFO Pilots as “Little Green Men.”

Billy Ray Taylor became the stereotype of the country “bumpkin” who encountered a flying saucer. He gave many interviews and enjoyed the limelight. He and Lucky were working as Carnies before the incident. So, his penchant for showmanship and a quick buck lead many to doubt his accounts.

It also began the popularity of “Kentucky Goblin” tales. Which continue to some extent in the present on the TV show Hellier on Amazon Prime. We have to admit. We love a good Kentucky Goblin story. It’s just a fun piece of Americana, but there are a couple key takeaways here.

#1) The Kentucky Goblin story is a UFO story. Specifically, a UFO pilot story. Multiple witnesses saw the craft and occupants. Military and police investigators saw no reason to doubt the witnesses on the surface. Which leads us to believe the incident was quite likely real.

#2) The description of the occupants as goblins was rare. None of the witnesses claimed these goblins attempted to or appeared as if they wanted to hurt them. In fact, Mrs. Lankford said it appeared they were approaching with their hands up in order to establish contact. When they were struck by bullets, they ran away on all fours like an animal.

Conclusion: The Kelly-Hopkinsville (Goblin) Story is quite likely credible and legitimate. The consistency of the story among most (we’re looking at you Billy Ray) of the witnesses, the character of Mrs. Lankford, and the fact the police believed they encountered something…make this one of the weirder credible accounts in UFO history.

It’s also notable that a similar event, allegedly, occurred in the Ohio River Valley a week before the Kelly-Hopkinsville Encounter. In the book “Mysterious Events” (published by NN) the author notes the Ohio River encounter was seen by many witnesses.

“A claim is also made for another encounter with allegedly the same creatures in another part of the United States along the Ohio River a week prior to the incidents in Kentucky, which itself had numerous witnesses.

There were dozens of eyewitnesses to the incidents, which included two families present at the farmhouse and in others in the area; other civilians, some of whom had no connection to the families at the farmhouse and even one in another state. The witnesses also included several local policeman and a state trooper who saw and heard strange phenomena such as unexplained lights in the night sky and noises the same night.

Mysterious Events – NN

Similar events were reported nearby. The fact civilian ufologists, Air Force Investigators and the Police found no evidence of a hoax is significant. They did find the dispensed ammunition. You either believe the fine people of Kentucky shot up their house and raced to the police station to create a lifelong hoax, or you believe they encountered something real. Now that we know UFOs are real this case deserves consideration.

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The Return of The Extra-Terrestrial Hypothesis

The discussion surrounding UFOs intensified in November 2021 after NASA Administrator Bill Nelson noted the experiences of pilots with seemingly advanced, non-human technology. The analysis speculates on the origins of these objects, proposing they may predate humanity or have engaged with us since then. Theories also suggest their lack of contact might stem from observation and evolution considerations.

How can something return if it never really went away?  UFOs have always had a very real possibility of being extra-terrestrial.  Why is it suddenly being talked about in November of 2021? 

Perhaps it’s because Nasa Administrator Bill Nelson mentioned in a press conference that he’d spoken to the pilots involved in UFO encounters and believed them when they said the objects appeared to teleport or slip through time and space.

Nelson “hopes” these objects are not a foreign adversary with highly advanced technology. Yet, at this point we would like to remind you the Nimitz encounter (birth of the tic-tac video) took place in 2004.

You would have to believe a foreign adversary had wormhole technology in 2004. Then you would have to believe the same foreign adversary had the technology in World War 2 when pilots referred to them as Foo Fighters.

Foo Fighter UFO 1944 – Fortean Picture Library

So, no. It’s not foreign tech. I think we at Fortean Winds are prepared to go on record as saying this is not foreign adversary technology. It’s not human (as we know it) technology. It phases through states of matter.

It goes from a solid to a ? state of matter. We know this because it goes through the water at the same speed as the air and/or enters the water without disruption.

Therefore, this “technology” existed more than 70 years ago. When did it get here? We will leave you with only two possibilities to consider and in a rare moment of clarity in the research of the unexplained, we can guarantee you it is one of these two answers. Answer 1) It came here before humans. Answer 2) It came here after humans.

Why is this the central question? Because Answer 1 means they are tied to (or have been interacting us) since we became self-aware, and Answer 2 means they started interacting with us sometime after we became self-aware. If they were here before us, they are likely to be tied to our origins. We even have to ask ourselves if WE are really from here?

If they began interacting with us sometime after, the options start to open up more. Some researchers theorize these objects were drawn to us by the explosion of atomic weapons at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This theory was interesting to us at first, as exploding atomic weapons light up the electromagnetic spectrum like a Christmas tree.

However, the theory (these objects were extra-terrestrials) were drawn to us by the explosion of our first atom, fell apart when credible evidence such as the picture above with Foo Fighters in 1944 (1 year before Atomic Weapons dropped on Japan) surfaced. This does not mean the objects are not extra-terrestrial. It means we have to accept they did not just get here.

If they did not just get here (and they are extra-terrestrial) why no contact? The prominent theory is they’re waiting for us to evolve to a point where communication would be more acceptable. They’ve been waiting for our tiny little minds to be able to accept their existence. Another possible explanation for their lack of communication is zoo theory. Which we explain in the image below.

Good News Everybody! love Fw

These theories hold water as we’re all still here. If they wanted to wipe us out, we’d very likely be gone. Unless something up there is bigger and badder than the other Chewbaccas, and it says “hands off the little guys.”

Which is the other possibility. It might even be a federation of friendly Chewbaccas according to Haim Eshad. The former Israeli Space Chief, was taken out of context when he suggested a galactic federation of ETs were in contact with the US.

His colleagues walked back his statement you can find in the link above. However, Eshad is a serious scientist and respected leader during the last 30 years of space exploration. When he suggested we might have a federation of ETs floating over us, it’s not a crazy idea. A plausible ET theory has to explain why we have had, suspiciously, no contact with ET life and why we’re all still here. Eshad’s theory does that.

To further throw fuel on the re-emergence of discussion of the ET theory in November of 2021, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines followed Bill Nelson’s remarks by discussing how UAP analysis is conducted and the challenge with identifying this as extra-terrestrial. Which we at Fw would summarize by simply asking: how would we know what ET looks like?

We take you to the moment Avril Haines is discussing UAP in this clip

So, we’ve established there has never been a reason to discount the extra-terrestrial hypothesis. Yet, again we must point out the point of origin of these objects seems less a priority, than the nature of their interactions with humanity.

How have they impacted our lives, and how could they in the future? As we point out in our UFO analysis: whether their point of origin is Planet 9, 3049 AD or Dimension X. Their capabilities are far beyond ours and they have an interest in us. Determining what their interest in us is, must be our greatest priority.

Why would a NASA administrator need to reinforce these objects might be Extra-Terrestrial? This is most likely due to the publicity surrounding the recent disclosures involving Skinwalker Ranch.

The phenomenon observed at this location (and others) involve a variety of experiences normally described as paranormal. Such as: poltergeists, cryptids, portals and UFOs. We recap this in our article: Skinwalker Ranch: Tricksters & Flying Saucers.

Such phenomenon describe something our science fiction has normally associated with dimensional entities. Yet, our science fiction is just smart people guessing.

Conclusion: Extra-Terrestrials could have all of the capabilities and attributes we would associate with “extra-dimensional” beings in popular fiction. That is a very real (even likely) possibility.

It has to be fairly obvious…even the FBI caught on in November of 2021..

Skinwalker Ranch : All Kinds of Crazy

Skinwalker Ranch in Utah is famous for its paranormal reports, including UFO sightings, cattle mutilations, and cryptids, many observed by scientists. The Shermans, its former owners, reported unusual phenomena, prompting investigations by billionaire Robert Bigelow and later by the government. Recent studies have provided intriguing evidence, yet the mysteries continue.

Skinwalker Ranch (located in Uintah County, Utah), is a choose your own adventure of paranormal phenomenon. A veritable cornucopia of weird. Reports of cryptids, poltergeist activity, lots of mutilated cattle and (of course, wherever there is general weirdness) UFOs. What makes this more notable than most reports of general weirdness? Many of the reports were made by scientists and teams actively studying the ranch.

Let’s start with why they were studying it in the first place. The government interest and current events begin with the ownership of the ranch by the Sherman Family in the mid 1990’s. The Sherman family reported crop circles and cattle mutilations to their local paper along with UFOs.

“The Shermans, their teenage son and 10-year-old daughter have seen three specific types of UFOs repeatedly during the past 15 months – a small boxlike craft with a white light, a 40-foot-long object and a huge ship the size of several football fields. They’ve seen one craft emit a wavy red ray or light beam as it flies along. They’ve seen other airborne lights, some of which have emerged from orange, circular doorways that seem to appear in midair. They’ve videotaped two of the sightings.”

Desert News June 30, 1996

Of course, whatever is in the Uintah Valley could care less about deed and property lines. Residents and visitors to the valley have reported numerous UFO sightings since the 1950’s. Prior to the trouble the Sherman’s had in the 1990’s, the area was long rumored to be haunted by the local Ute Tribe.

The tribe believed their alliance with the Navajo which ended in blood and betrayal, lead the Navajo to place a curse on the land. They believed witches named “Skinwalkers” roamed the land, and were able to change shape. The shapes chosen were of large, unnatural, misshapen or mismatched animals. The Ute people avoided the area for this reason.

The Sherman’s reported a large wolf-like creature which would not fall when shot with a firearm. Several other humanoid shapes have been reported at the ranch as well. Interesting note: we found plenty of legends of the Navajo tribe (and online rumors) which placed the home of the Skinwalker’s in the area around “Dark Canyon” also in Utah.

More than one report of Cryptids made by credible observers from different groups, and at different times, make some form of Cryptid sighting at Skinwalker Ranch seem more likely. Yet, none were caught on tape. UFOs have been tracked numerous times at the Ranch, but at least one was caught on camera in public footage.

One UFO is enough to establish that UFOs are there. From the Fortean Winds POV, Unidentified Flying Objects exist. If one has been established there, and the government has numerous reports of flying objects at the location, we see no reason not to simply accept this as part of what’s happening at Skinwalker Ranch.

Much like Point Pleasant, West Virginia in the 1960’s and the Chicago, O’hare area in the present, we find reports of Cryptids and UFOs in the same location, but this time they’re officially studied by the USG.

A somewhat unique event was reported by the Shermans as well: Teleportation with a wicked sense of humor. The Shermans reported leaving the ranch one day and discussing how they would be ruined if their prize bulls were lost. Upon returning, they couldn’t find the bulls. They eventually found them locked in a smaller trailer on the property in a daze. Upon being discovered, the bulls awoke and destroyed the trailer.

The above might be the most interesting story to come out of the ranch. We’ll do a separate post on the bulls in the future. It shows a certain character to the phenomenon. It did something naughty, but it didn’t hurt anything. Like an especially dangerous child seeking negative attention.

Hearing these stories, lead billionaire Robert Bigelow to purchase the ranch from the Shermans in 1996. Robert Bigelow has stated aliens are “right under people’s noses.” Bigelow’s team wired and studied the ranch until 2007, but were unable to make progress due to the character of the phenomenon. It kept breaking their equipment, yet would appear to them when untracked to keep them interested.

In 2007, US government scientist Dr. Jim Lacatski visited the ranch and witnessed an object morph into a Möbius strip. Analysis: If the object wanted to tempt the government with the secrets to time and space… a Möbius strip might do it.

This event was enough for Dr. Lacatski to support the study of the ranch and the government begins their research. In short, the phenomenon continued to be elusive. Sensors were destroyed, soldiers and scientists working the ranch were witness to more phenomenon, but hard evidence could not be produced and after years of trying, the government concluded whatever was there didn’t want to be found.

Bigelow sold the ranch to (another) billionaire Brandon Fugal in 2016. Who has shown a much more open approach to the study of the Ranch. He’s allowed the History Channel show to publicize the findings of some experiments (yes it’s painful reality TV, but they’re sharing).

They’ve produced some quality UFO footage, odd magnetic readings and suffered medical effects consistent with radiation. As the findings are (thankfully) made public, it’s adding more questions than answers. Recent admissions by Jim Lacatski, which detail reports of “hitchhiker” poltergeist phenomenon are especially disturbing and worthy of more Fortean Winds Research.

Two Skinwalker Ranch Scientists interview by George Knapp

Conclusion: material evidence, UFO video, witness photos, sensor data, crop circles, multiple witnesses of the same event, government documents…all of these make Skinwalker Ranch well worth further study according to our veracity system. There are some doing this research who believe it might even be the key to everything. We have no idea, but expect more Skinwalker posts.

Our follow-up further discusses the character of the phenomenon at the Ranch. Skinwalker Ranch: Tricksters & Flying Saucers.

The 2007 Ohare UFO Sighting: That’s no plane.

On November 7, 2007, United Airlines personnel at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport reported a large grey UFO hovering near Gate 17. Witnesses described the object as saucer-shaped, measuring 24 feet in diameter. Despite concerns for aviation safety, the FAA dismissed the sighting as a weather phenomenon, prompting further investigations and reports.

“Airplanes just don’t react like this” stated a United Airline ramp worker. Several United Airlines pilots, mechanics, ramp workers and tower personnel reported a large grey disk in the sky above Gate 17 at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport on November 7, 2007, making the O’Hare UFO sighting one of the most famous reported. 

Around 4:30 p.m. a variety of witnesses said the object was dark grey and up to 24 feet in diameter. The saucer-like shape silently hovered 1,900 feet below the cloud deck. The airport tower and management were notified, raising the concern that the object would endanger flight operations. 

After approximately 20 minutes the object suddenly takes off, bursts through a thick cloud layer creating a donut hole vacuum, indicating a large energy force. 

Alleged UFO sighting at Ohare

The story, originally reported by the Chicago Tribune, was picked up by various news outlets and was widely discussed by researchers. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) dismissed the incident as a weather phenomenon.  United Airlines has refused to comment on the event. 

Airplanes just don’t react like this

United Airline Ramp worker

NARCAP (National Aviation Reporting Center on Aviation Phenomena) has filed a report that states the FAA failed to detect the presence of this object and did not consider the eyewitnesses. Of which there were many. The report expresses concern with aviation safety.  Which is very similar to the conclusions reached in the 2021 Federal UFO Report.

Through the Freedom of Information Act the audio recording of the tower communications has been obtained we’ve taken you right to that moment in the clip below.

Author: LinX, Editor: RamX

References:

Hilkevitch, Jon (January 1, 2007) “in the sky! A bird? A plane? A….UFO? Chicago Tribune 

NARCAP Technical Report 10 Haines, et al 2007