It’s the 50th anniversary of the Pascagoula alien abduction. What really happened?

On Oct. 11, 1973, Charles Hickson and Calvin Parker found themselves at the center of an otherworldly encounter that forever altered their lives. The incident, now known as the Pascagoula alien abduction, is set to mark its 50th anniversary this week.

After completing an evening shift at work, voluminous news reports indicate Hickson and Parker decided to take a detour on their way home to fish along the Pascagoula River. According to their testimony, their peaceful night took a bizarre turn when they were confronted by mysterious figures sporting claw-like hands and head spikes.

Both men claimed to have been immobilized and pulled into a portal, where they underwent a 30-minute examination by these strange beings before being released.

Shaken, they contacted Keesler Air Force Base, before being referred to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department. Sheriff Fred Diamond, suspecting a hoax, had the men secretly recorded, expecting to hear the men laughing or discussing a hoax.

To Diamond’s surprise, the men stayed silent, and seemed completely shaken up by the incident, the Sun Herald reported.

In the five decades since that fateful night, the incident has gained international attention, particularly as discussions surrounding UFOs and extraterrestrial phenomena have become more mainstream.

Beyond reasonable doubt

UK based UFO researcher, Philip Mantle, found the incident to be of interest and acquired the rights to Hickson’s 1993 book about the incident. After Hickson’s passing in 2011, Mantle initially intended to interview Parker to add a modern chapter at the end of the original book.

During their meeting, Parker expressed his desire to share his side of the story, leading Mantle to encourage him to write his own account for a more comprehensive and accurate narrative.

Under Mantle’s publishing company, Flying Disk Press, Parker published his first book, “Pascagoula - The Closest Encounter: My Story” in 2018, which detailed his half of the incident. According to Mantle, Parker’s book encouraged others to come forward with their own sightings of the peculiar UFO that night.

“I asked Calvin if he had any documents or photographs, but he said he lost everything in Hurricane Katrina,” said Mantle. “So I set about looking for these documents, newspaper cuttings, photographs.”

As an influx of new witnesses and information emerged, Mantle sought the help of Dr. Irena Scott in Ohio to conduct interviews and research the incident more thoroughly. Dr. Scott carried out approximately 30 interviews, while Mantle authored over 20 new articles on the subject.

“But you can only write so many articles on it,” said Mantle. “So it kind of dawned on us that the 50th anniversary is looming, so maybe we should put it all in a book.”

Together, they unearthed long-forgotten evidence, including medical examinations conducted on Parker and Hickson in the 1970s which corroborated the puncture wounds the figures supposedly caused. Their book also features new eyewitness testimonies, including those who crossed the bridge or were on the opposite side of the river when the event unfolded, as well as the police dispatcher who answered the original police call.

With this newfound information, Mantle and Dr. Scott authored “Beyond Reasonable Doubt: The Pascagoula Alien Abduction” in June. Parker, who provided the foreword, unfortunately passed away back in August.

“We argue at the end of the book that if you could take all these people, these witnesses, plus the documentary evidence into a courtroom, we could prove beyond reasonable doubt that something extraordinary happened that night,” said Mantle. “Its up to you ... the readers are like the jury, here is the evidence ... you decide.”

The 50th anniversary

Mantle emphasizes that this incident stands out because of its unique elements: two abductees, its proximity to busy U.S. 90, multiple witnesses, and the collection of physical evidence and photographs taken immediately afterward. These factors contribute to its lasting cultural significance on the Mississippi Coast, even half a century later.

Mantle said “you will not find all that in any other case.”

To commemorate this iconic event, the city of Pascagoula, in collaboration with Main Street Pascagoula, will host a special celebration dubbed “The Closest Encounter.” The event will be held in Downtown Pascagoula from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Oct. 20.

“Alien costumes are welcomed and encouraged!” an invitation reads. “We invite you all to join us for this celebration of not only a favorite local story, but to celebrate the life of Calvin Parker.”