The Delphos UFO Landing

On November 2, 1971, 16-year-old Ronald Johnson watched a mushroom-shaped UFO hover over his family’s Kansas farm before landing and leaving a glowing ring on the ground. The ring exhibited unusual physical properties and persisted for years, making this one of the most significant physical trace cases in UFO history.

The Witness

Ronald Johnson:

• 16-year-old farm boy
• Was tending sheep
• Had no prior UFO interest
• Considered reliable

The Sighting

At approximately 7:00 PM:

• Ron noticed a bright object in the sky
• It descended toward the farm
• It hovered about 75 feet away
• Bright enough to hurt his eyes

The Object

Ron described:

• Mushroom-shaped craft
• Approximately 9 feet in diameter
• Multicolored lights on the bottom
• Making a rumbling sound
• Hovering low to the ground

The Landing

The object:

• Descended toward the ground
• Hovered for several minutes
• Produced intense light and sound
• Then rapidly ascended and departed

The Ring

After the object left:

• A glowing ring remained on the ground
• The soil within was crusty and different
• It glowed for an extended period
• The ring measured about 8 feet in diameter

The Parents

Ron called his parents:

• They came out immediately
• The ring was still glowing
• Mrs. Johnson touched it
• Her fingers went numb (the numbness persisted for weeks)

Physical Properties

The ring exhibited strange characteristics:

• Soil wouldn’t absorb water
• It glowed for hours after landing
• Vegetation didn’t grow normally
• The effect persisted for years

Testing

The soil was analyzed:

• Found to be hydrophobic (water-repelling)
• Unusual chemical composition
• Could not be replicated
• Remained anomalous for years

Investigation

Investigated by:

• Local sheriff
• UFO researchers
• Soil scientists
• NICAP (National Investigations Committee)

The Award

The case won the National Enquirer’s prize:

• $5,000 for best UFO case of the year
• Based on physical evidence
• Considered highly credible

Long-Term Effects

The landing site showed effects for years:

• Ring remained visible
• Soil stayed different
• Researchers returned periodically
• No natural explanation found

Significance

The Delphos landing is significant for:

• Clear physical trace evidence
• Tested anomalous soil
• Reliable young witness
• Parent corroboration
• Long-lasting effects
• Multiple analyses confirming anomaly

Legacy

The Delphos case remains the gold standard for UFO physical trace cases. The soil ring, analyzed by multiple laboratories, showed characteristics that could not be explained or replicated—physical evidence that something unusual occurred on that Kansas farm.