THINK ABOUTIT UFO SIGHTING REPORT
Date: 1952
Sighting Time:
Day/Night: daytime
Location: Mount Spokane Washington
Urban or Rural: Rural
Hynek Classification: CE-III (Close Encounter III) Close observation with animate beings associated with the object.
Duration:
No. of Object(s): 1
Size of Object(s):
Distance to Object(s):
Shape of Object(s): a domed disc-shaped object with windows
Color of Object(s):
Number of Witnesses: 1
Special Characteristics: three men wearing shiny silvery coveralls
Source: UFONS # 220
Summary/Description: The witness had been skidding with a horse when he saw a domed disc-shaped object with windows land on some brush nearby on three metallic legs. A strong rush of wind accompanied the object. A long ramp descended from the object and three men wearing shiny silvery coveralls emerged. The men looked very human and spoke in an unknown language and took interest in the witness horse, which acted frightened during the encounter.
Animal Reactions and High Strangeness
One of the most compelling aspects of the Mount Spokane encounter is the reaction of the witness’s horse. In many Close Encounters of the Third Kind, domestic animals act as “biological sensors,” often detecting the presence of a craft or entity before the human witness does. The horse’s frightened behavior provides a level of physical corroboration for the event, suggesting that the “strong rush of wind” and the descent of the metallic legs were not merely psychological phenomena but had a tangible physical presence in the environment.
The “Silvery Coveralls” Archetype
The description of the three occupants wearing shiny silvery coveralls is a recurring motif in 1950s ufology. These “human-looking” entities, often referred to in the era’s literature as “Nordic” types, were frequently reported as being polite but speaking in an incomprehensible tongue. The fact that they took a specific interest in the witness’s horse is a unique detail, perhaps suggesting a curiosity about Earth’s fauna similar to the interest shown in our atomic energy or natural resources in other cases from the 1952 flap.
A Classic Domed Disc Landing
The craft itself—a domed disc-shaped object with windows—is the quintessential “flying saucer” design of the early 1950s. The presence of metallic landing legs and a descending ramp indicates a physical, mechanical craft rather than a purely energetic or light-based phenomenon. This sighting, recorded in UFONS #220, serves as a significant example of the structured, landed-craft reports that characterized the Pacific Northwest’s contribution to the great UFO wave of 1952.
The 1952 encounter on Mount Spokane remains a hallmark of Pacific Northwest ufology due to its rare combination of physical craft details and direct entity interaction. Unlike many sightings that occur at a distance, this Close Encounter of the Third Kind provided a clear look at both advanced technology—specifically the landing gear and ramp mechanisms—and the enigmatic “men in silver” who seemed more curious than hostile. The horse’s visceral reaction serves as a powerful reminder that these events often leave a physical and psychological mark on all living things present. Decades later, as researchers look back at the 1952 wave, this case stands out as a critical data point in understanding the behavior and appearance of these mysterious visitors during one of the most active years in UFO history.
