The Pascagoula Shipyard Workers Abduction

On October 11, 1973, shipyard workers Charles Hickson (42) and Calvin Parker (19) were abducted by robotic beings while fishing on the Pascagoula River in Mississippi. Their case became famous when sheriff’s investigators secretly recorded their private conversation—revealing genuine terror that convinced authorities something real had occurred.

The Witnesses

Two ordinary working men:

• Charles Hickson, 42, shipyard foreman
• Calvin Parker, 19, co-worker
• Fishing after their shift
• No prior interest in UFOs

The Encounter

At approximately 9:00 PM:

• They heard a zipping sound
• A blue light appeared
• An oval craft descended
• Three beings emerged

The Beings

They described strange entities:

• About five feet tall
• Grayish, wrinkled skin
• No discernible eyes
• Claw-like appendages
• Robotic movement
• They floated rather than walked

The Abduction

Both men were:

• Paralyzed instantly
• Floated into the craft
• Subjected to examination
• A scanning device moved over them
• Released after approximately 20 minutes

At the Sheriff’s Office

After the encounter:

• Both were clearly traumatized
• They went to authorities
• Interviewed separately
• Gave consistent accounts

The Secret Recording

The key evidence:

• Officers left a hidden tape recorder
• Left the men alone “to compose themselves”
• Their private conversation was captured
• Neither dropped the act or suggested hoax
• Both continued expressing genuine terror

What the Recording Showed

On the tape:

• Parker praying and crying
• Hickson expressing shock
• Both discussing their fear
• No hint of fabrication
• Genuine emotional distress

Investigation

The case was thoroughly examined:

• Multiple interviews
• Polygraph examinations (passed)
• Dr. J. Allen Hynek investigated
• Psychiatric evaluation
• Both found credible

Calvin Parker’s Trauma

The younger witness:

• Was more severely affected
• Required medical attention
• Avoided publicity for years
• Suffered long-term psychological effects

Charles Hickson

Hickson became:

• More publicly active
• A UFO conference speaker
• Consistent in his account until death (2011)
• Never wavered from his story

Significance

The Pascagoula case stands out for:

• Secret recording proving sincerity
• Two corroborating witnesses
• Passed polygraph examinations
• Professional investigation
• Lifelong consistency

Legacy

The Pascagoula abduction remains one of the most credible cases because of that secret recording. When the witnesses thought they were alone, they didn’t celebrate a successful hoax—they continued expressing terror at what they had experienced.