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OCTOBER 1917, YOUNGSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, USA, JOHN BOBACK:

BRIEF SUMMARY OF EVENT AND FOLLOW-UP:

In his self-published book, ufologist Orvil Hartle reported in 1963 that in Youngstown, Pennsylvania, USA, John Boback, 17 years old, walked along the railway between Youngstown and Mount Braddock in October 1917, or on October 13, 1917 at 12:30 according to certain late sources, when he saw, posed in a field within 30 meters on his left, an object in the shape of a saucer with a platform and rows of lights.

Its size was that of an average car, and the top of the object was a dome with lengthened windows through which silhouettes were distinguished.

He looked at this object during one or two minutes, until it left with a very high-pitched sound, rising gradually and slowly like a plane.

BASIC INFORMATION SUMMARY:

NARRATIVES:

[Ref. jv1:] JACQUES VALLEE:

In his catalogue of UFO landings, Jacques Vallée indicates that in October 1917, in Youngstown, Pennsylvania, John Boback, 17, was walking along the railroad tracks between Youngstown and Mt. Braddock when he saw a saucer-shaped object with a platform and rows of lights, sitting in a field 30 meters to his left.

He watched the object for 1 or 2 minutes until it took off with a high-pitched sound, rising gradually like a slow plane. Its size was that of an average car. The top of the object was a dome with elongated windows through which figures could be seen.

Vallée indicates that the source is "Hartle 157."

[Ref. mb1:] MICHEL BOUGARD:

This ufologist reports that on October 13, 1917, in Youngstown, Pennsylvania, USA, John Boback, aged 17, observed a flying saucer whereas he was walking along the railway. It was in a field within 30 meters of him and it was an object in the shape of disc with a platform and rows of lights.

After approximately two minutes, the machine slowly rose with a high-pitched sound, and he saw that silhouettes were detached behind kinds of illuminated windows.

[Ref. tp1:] T. PETER PARKS:

The author indicates that John Boback, aged 17, of Youngstown, Pennsylvania, was walking along the railroad tracks between Youngstown and Mt. Braddock one day in October, 1917, when he saw a saucer-shaped object with a platform and rows of lights, sitting in a field 30 yards to his left.

He watched the object for 1 or 2 minutes, until it took off with a high-pitched sound, rising gradually like a slow airplane. It was the size of an average car.

The top of the object was a dome with elongated windows, through which Boback could see figures.

The author indicates that the source is Vallee, Passport to Magonia, p. 188, case 47, citing Hartle, A Carbon Experiment (118 Oberreich St, La Porte, Indiana 46350), p. 157.

[Ref. ar1:] ALBERT ROSALES:

Albert Rosales indicates in his catalogue that near Youngstown, Pennsylvania, in October 1917 at 12:30, John Boback, aged 17, was walking along the railroad tracks between Youngstown and Mt Braddock when he saw a saucer shaped object with a platform and rows of lights, sitting in a field 30 yards to his left.

He watched the object for one or two minutes until it took off with a high-pitched sound, rising gradually like a slow plane. Its size was that of an average car.

The top of the object was a dome with elongated windows, through which figures could be seen.

Albert Rosales indicates that the source is "A Carbon Experiment" by Orvil Hartle.

[Ref. jb1:] JEROME BEAU:

Jerome Beau indicates that in Youngstown, Pennsylvania, John Boback, aged 17, was walking along the railway between this city and Mount Braddock, when he saw posed in a field 30 meters on his left an object in the shape of a saucer with a platform and rows of lights.

He was afraid. He looked at the object during 1 or 2 minutes until it leaves with a very high-pitched sound while rising gradually and slowly like a plane.

Its size was that of an average car, and the top of the object was a dome with lengthened windows by which one could see silhouettes.

Jérôme Beau indicates that his source is "Hartle 157."

POINTS TO CONSIDER:

Orvil Hartle, who is the most primary source for the case, was the Chairman of the LaPorte, Indiana NICAP Subcommittee. On August 6, 1963, on a brief visit to Sanford, Florida, he observed a UFO himself, and obtained a full report with signatures of 13 additional witnesses.

He has published several accounts of early 20th century UFO landings reports in his book "A Carbon Experiment", which include this case.

The case itself cannot really be assessed from the sparse information currently available to me. Nothing allows to seriously discard a simple hoax, or some confusion for example with some train or locomotive, or some extraterrestrial spaceship.

LIST OF ISSUES:

EVALUATION:

Extraterrestrial visitors or hoax or confusion. Insufficient data.

BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES:

* = Source I checked.
? = Source I am told about but could not check yet. Help appreciated.

• [---] ? "A Carbon Experiment", book by Orvil R. Hartle, 118 Oberreich St, La Porte, Indiana 46350, USA, Indiana University Press, page 157, 1963.
• [jv1] * "Passport to Magonia - On UFOs, Folklore, and Parallel Worlds", book by Jacques Vallée, Contemporary Books publisher, USA, page 111, 1969.
• [jv1] * "Chronique des Apparitions Extra-Terrestres", French translation of "Passport to Magonia", book by Jacques Vallée, Denoel publisher, France, pp 165-166, 1972.
• [mb1] * "La Chronique des OVNI", book by Michel Bougard, Delarge publisher, France, page 228, 1977.
• [tp1] * "Good-Bye Mermaids, Hello Crop Circles? - Part I - Historical Succession or Development of Anomalies", article written by T. Peter Park, to the Forteana mailing list, USA, 2004.
• [jb1] * "1917", web page by Jérôme Beau, circa 2004, at www.rr0.org/1917.html
• [ar1] * "1984 Humanoid Sightings", compiled by Albert Rosales, circa 2001, at www.ufoinfo.com/humanoid/humanoid1984.shtml

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This page was last updated on August 31, 2007