The First Modern Abduction

On September 19, 1961, Betty and Barney Hill encountered a UFO while driving through New Hampshire and experienced missing time. Their subsequent hypnosis sessions established the template for modern abduction accounts.

The Couple

Betty and Barney Hill:

• Interracial couple
• New Hampshire residents
• Betty was social worker
• Barney was postal worker
• Both credible

The Drive

September 19-20, 1961:

• Returning from Canada
• White Mountains
• Saw bright light
• Followed them
• Close encounter

The Object

They observed:

• Large structured craft
• Humanoid figures visible
• Through windows
• Barney approached
• Then fled

Missing Time

When they arrived home:

• Two hours missing
• No memory
• Unexplained journey
• Something happened
• No recall

The Hypnosis

Dr. Benjamin Simon:

• Boston psychiatrist
• Separate sessions
• Betty and Barney alone
• Matching accounts
• Detailed recall

What They Recalled

Both described:

• Taken aboard craft
• Medical examination
• Beings present
• Tests conducted
• Then released

Betty’s Star Map

Under hypnosis:

• Betty drew map
• Shown aboard craft
• Later analyzed
• Matched Zeta Reticuli?
• Controversial finding

The Book

“The Interrupted Journey”:

• John Fuller
• Published 1966
• Detailed account
• Bestseller
• Influential

Cultural Impact

The Hills:

• First widely known abduction
• Template for future accounts
• Media coverage
• Movies made
• Historical significance

The State Marker

New Hampshire:

• Historical marker placed
• At abduction site
• Official recognition
• Tourist attraction

Significance

The first widely publicized UFO abduction case, establishing the template for thousands of subsequent accounts.

Legacy

The Betty and Barney Hill case remains foundational, establishing the abduction phenomenon as a subject of serious study and public fascination.