The Chase That Destroyed a Life

Deputy Sheriff Dale Spaur and his partner chased a brilliant UFO for 86 miles into Pennsylvania. Other officers saw and followed it. The Air Force blamed Venus. Spaur lost his career, his wife, and nearly his mind—all for telling the truth.

Dale Spaur

Before:

• Deputy Sheriff
• Portage County, Ohio
• Respected officer
• Good career
• Family man

April 17, 1966

The call:

• 5:00 AM
• Abandoned car report
• Route 224
• With Deputy Neff
• Routine response

The Object Appears

What they saw:

• Light rose from trees
• Massive
• Brilliant white
• Football-shaped
• 40-50 feet

The Illumination

How bright:

• Area lit up
• Like daylight
• Ground visible
• Both saw it
• Unmistakable

Beginning the Chase

Their decision:

• Radioed in
• Began pursuit
• Object moved east
• They followed
• 86 miles began

The Speeds

How fast:

• Up to 105 mph
• Object stayed ahead
• Maintained distance
• Controlled gap
• Intelligent behavior

Officer Huston

Second police department:

• East Palestine, Ohio
• Saw same object
• Joined chase
• Multiple officers now
• Corroboration

Officer Panzanella

Pennsylvania:

• Conway, PA
• End of chase
• Watched object
• Rise into clouds
• Final witness

The Air Force

Project Blue Book:

• Sent investigator
• Two hours on site
• Conclusion: Venus
• Satellite echoes
• Case closed

The Absurdity

Why Venus fails:

• You can’t chase Venus
• Venus doesn’t move
• Multiple officers
• Same description
• Insulting claim

J. Allen Hynek

The astronomer:

• Blue Book consultant
• Forced to explain
• Later admitted embarrassment
• “I was ordered”
• Venus explanation

The Aftermath

Spaur’s fate:

• Ridiculed
• Career destroyed
• Wife left
• Mental problems
• Life ruined

His Words

What Spaur said:

• “If I could go back”
• “I’d never chase it”
• Lost everything
• For truth
• Deep regret

Neff’s Experience

Same result:

• Also ridiculed
• Career damaged
• Maintained account
• Both suffered
• Both paid

The Lesson

What it means:

• Truth is punished
• UFO witnesses destroyed
• Careers ended
• Families broken
• Deliberate suppression

Significance

An 86-mile multi-officer UFO pursuit dismissed with a lie that destroyed the witnesses’ lives.

Legacy

Dale Spaur proved that telling the truth about UFOs can cost you everything. The Air Force knew he didn’t chase Venus. They said it anyway. He paid the price.