The Pascagoula Abduction

On the evening of October 11, 1973, shipyard workers Charles Hickson (42) and Calvin Parker (19) were fishing on the Pascagoula River when they were allegedly abducted by strange beings from a UFO. Their case became one of the most investigated abductions in UFO history.

The Encounter

Around 9:00 PM, Hickson and Parker were fishing from an old pier:

• A blue light appeared over the water
• An oval-shaped craft descended
• The craft hovered about two feet off the ground
• Three creatures emerged

The Beings

The witnesses described unusual entities:

• Approximately five feet tall
• Pale, wrinkled skin
• No visible eyes or mouths
• Claw-like hands
• Feet that seemed fused together
• Robotic or mechanical movement
• Floating rather than walking

The Abduction

According to Hickson and Parker:

• The beings floated toward them
• They were paralyzed, unable to move
• The creatures grabbed them
• They were floated into the craft
• Inside, a large eye-like device examined Hickson
• Parker apparently fainted

The Examination

Hickson recalled:

• Being floated in a brightly lit room
• A football-shaped object scanning his body
• No pain but complete paralysis
• Approximately 15-20 minutes inside
• Being returned to the pier

Immediate Aftermath

After the encounter:

• Both men were terrified
• They considered not reporting the incident
• They eventually drove to the sheriff’s office
• They appeared genuinely traumatized

The Secret Recording

Sheriff Fred Diamond:

• Interviewed both men separately
• Left a hidden tape recorder running when he left the room
• Recorded their private conversation
• Both men continued discussing their terror when alone
• This convinced investigators they weren’t hoaxing

The Recording’s Significance

The secretly recorded conversation revealed:

• Both men clearly believed what happened was real
• Parker was especially traumatized
• Neither suggested fabrication
• Their private discussion matched their public account

Investigation

The case was extensively investigated:

• Sheriff’s department
• Air Force personnel
• Dr. J. Allen Hynek
• Multiple UFO researchers
• Both men passed polygraph tests

Calvin Parker’s Trauma

Calvin Parker:

• Was more severely affected
• Required psychiatric care
• Avoided publicity for years
• Eventually wrote a book about his experience
• Maintained his account until his death in 2023

Charles Hickson

Charles Hickson:

• Became more publicly active
• Spoke at UFO conferences
• Wrote about his experience
• Maintained his account until his death in 2011
• Was considered highly credible by investigators

Significance

The Pascagoula case is significant for:

• Secret recording showing genuine fear
• Two witnesses corroborating each other
• Immediate report to authorities
• Extensive professional investigation
• Consistent accounts over decades
• Witnesses’ transformed lives

Legacy

The Pascagoula abduction remains one of the most compelling abduction cases:

• The secret recording is nearly unique evidence
• Both witnesses maintained their accounts for life
• Professional investigators found them credible
• The case set standards for abduction investigation

The community has commemorated the event with a historical marker at the site.