The Norfolk Nebraska UFO Encounter

On December 17, 1967, Police Sergeant Herbert Schirmer had an encounter with a UFO on a highway near Norfolk, Nebraska, that left him with missing time and, under hypnosis, memories of being taken aboard an alien craft.

The Encounter

At approximately 2:30 AM, Schirmer noticed what he thought were lights on a truck by the highway. As he approached, he saw a football-shaped object with a row of portholes, hovering above the road. The object rose with a whining sound and departed.

The Missing Time

Schirmer returned to the station and logged the sighting. He noted twenty minutes of missing time. He developed a headache and a red mark on his neck. He had nightmares about the encounter.

The Hypnosis

Under hypnotic regression, Schirmer described being taken aboard the craft by humanoid beings. They showed him their ship’s propulsion system and described a base they had underwater. They told him they would return.

The Investigation

Schirmer was investigated by the Condon Committee, the Air Force-sponsored UFO study. The committee found him credible but reached no conclusions about his experience. His career was affected by the publicity.

Assessment

The Schirmer case is controversial due to the hypnotic memories, which some researchers consider unreliable. However, the initial sighting was documented contemporaneously, and Schirmer paid a price professionally for his report.