The Schirmer Encounter
On a night patrol, a young police officer saw lights on the highway, and later found 20 minutes he couldn't account for.
What was reported
At about 2:30 am on 3 December 1967, police officer Herbert Schirmer, 22, was on patrol near Ashland when he saw red lights on the highway ahead. Back at the station, he wrote in the log: 'Saw a flying saucer at the junction of highways 6 and 63. Believe it or not!'
He realised later that about 20 minutes were missing from his night. Under hypnosis, arranged by a university study of UFOs, he described being taken aboard a craft and spoken to by its crew.
Explanations offered
The University of Colorado UFO study, known as the Condon Committee, examined the case and concluded there was no good evidence the events happened as Schirmer later described them. Schirmer stood by his account, and the log entry he wrote that night is still cited by supporters.
- When
- 3 December 1967
- Where
- Ashland, Nebraska, USA
- Witnesses
- Police officer Herbert Schirmer
- Status
- Disputed
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.