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.
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[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."
[Ref. ud1:] "UFODNA" WEBSITE:
The website says that in October 1917 at "00:30" in Youngstown, Pennsylvania, USA, "Figures could be seen in the windows of a saucer-shaped object with a platform and rows of lights."
"John Boback, 17, was walking along the railroad tracks between Youngstown and Mount 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 1-2 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. An object was sighted that had an appearance and performance beyond the capability of known earthly aircraft."
And: "One saucer, about 20 feet across, was observed by one male 17-year-old witness in a pasture for two minutes. A high-pitched sound was heard. A silhouetted being was seen."
And: "In the 1920 census a John Boback, born 1900, lived in South Union, in the county adjacent to Youngstown."
The sources are indicated as "Webb, David, HUMCAT: Catalogue of Humanoid Reports", "Data-Net Report, Data-Net Report", "Lore, Jr., Gordon I. R., Mysteries of the Skies: UFOs in Perspective, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, 1968", "Vallee, Jacques, A Century of Landings (N = 923), (in JVallee04), Chicago, 1969", "Schoenherr, Luis, Computerized Catalog (N = 3173)", "Hartle, Orvil R., A Carbon Experiment, Author, La Porte, 1963", "Rogerson, Peter, World-Wide Catalog of Type 1 Reports", "Eberhart, George M., A Geo-Bibliography of Anomalies, Greenwood Press, Westport, 1980, ISBN:0-313-21337-2", "Hall, Richard H., From Airships to Arnold: A Preliminary Catalogue of UFO Reports in the Early 20th Century (1900-1946), UFO Research Coalition, Fairfax, 2000, ISBN:1-928957-01-3", "Hatch, Larry, *U* computer database, Author, Redwood City, 2002", "Landsburg, Alan, In Search of Extraterrestrials".
[Ref. js1:] JEAN SIDER:
The author states that in October 1917, at 12:30, Youngstown, Pennsylvania, USA, there was a CE3.
John Bobac, aged 17, was walking along a railroad track in the direction of Mount Braddock, when he saw landed in a field 30 meters on his left, a saucer-shaped object with a platform and rows of lights, the size of an average car. The top of the object had a dome with elongated windows in which silhouettes are visible.
The witness became frightened, contemplated the thing for a minute or two until the craft departed by gradually rising slowly like an airplane, emitting a high pitched sound.
Jean Sider indicates that his source is LDLN #100, p. 7, J. Vallée catalogue citing Harde, 157.
Jean Sider says the word "saucer" reveals that the testimony was made after 1947 probably.
He adds that Rosales writes "Boback", and refers to Hartle, says the firstname is Orvil, and cites the title of his book: A Carbon Experiment."
[Note: the case was not published in LDLN #100 on page 7. And of course LDLN's "Harde" and "Bobac" are more in doubt than "Harde" and "Boback" indicated in [Ref. pr1:] PETER ROGERSON: October 1917 - 1230 hrs YOUNGSTOWN (PENNSYLVANIA : USA) 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 a row of lights sitting in a field 30m to his left. He watched the object for 1-2 minutes, until it took off with a high pitched swishing sound, rising gradually like a slow plane. It was the size of an average car. The top of the object was a dome with elongated windows through which figures could be seen. Vallee Case 42 citing Hartle 1963 p 157 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 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. Extraterrestrial visitors or hoax or confusion. Insufficient data. * = Source I checked.
Lore and Deneault 1969 p104 citing NICAP files (latter source does not mention occupants) Points to consider:
List of issues:
Id:
Topic:
Severity:
Date noted:
Raised by:
Noted by:
Description:
Proposal:
Status:
1
Data
Severe
August 31, 2007
Patrick Gross
Patrick Gross
Apparent primary source by Orvil Hartle not available.
Help needed.
Opened.
2
Ufology
Severe
August 31, 2007
Patrick Gross
Patrick Gross
Single witness.
Help needed.
Opened.
3
Ufology
Severe
August 31, 2007
Patrick Gross
Patrick Gross
No trace of investigation.
Help needed.
Opened.
4
Ufology
Severe
August 31, 2007
Patrick Gross
Patrick Gross
The sighting alleged made at age 17 could have surfaced 46 years later.
Help needed.
Opened.
Evaluation:
Sources references:
? = Source I am told about but could not check yet. Help appreciated.
Document history:
Authoring
Main Author:
Patrick Gross
Contributors:
None
Reviewers:
None
Editor:
Patrick Gross
Changes history
Version:
Created/Changed By:
Date:
Change Description:
0.1
Patrick Gross
August 31, 2007
Creation, [jv1], [mb1], [tp1], [jb1], [ar1].
1.0
Patrick Gross
August 31, 2007
First published.
1.1
Patrick Gross
March 6, 2013
Additions [ud1] [js1], [pr1].
