This is from the files of AFOSI dated in October 1972. Note that
Blue Book closed it's doors in December 1969 but yet here almost three
years later we see that the Air Force is still collecting UFO reports
then proceeding to classify them. No fictitious names or places were
used in this report. The names and events are real.
On October 14, 1972, Airman First Class(AIC) Steven Briggs and
Airman(AMN) Dennis Hillsgeck were instructed to check the tactical air
navigational (TACAN) facility located eight miles east of McChord Air
Force Base. The TACAN site was situated on government land maintained
by the United State Army, Ft. Lewis. Briggs and Hillsgeck drove to the
TACAN site at approximately 1300 hours. Upon their arrival, they opened
the locked fence surrounding the TACAN facility and entered the
compound. Once inside the compound, they opened the TACAN building and
began to conduct a systems check of the TACAN equipment.
At approximately 1400 hours., Briggs heard a strange sound outside
the building. According to Briggs, it sounded like a high pitch engine.
Briggs exited the building to investigate the sound. Once outside,
Briggs observed a saucer shaped object directly above the TACAN
building. Briggs watched as the object landed just south of the TACAN
compound. Briggs was startled by the object and entered the TACAN
building to summoned Hillsgeck. Once Hillsgeck and Briggs exited the
building together, they observed two "creatures" walking towards the
fence.
Briggs returned to the building and telephoned (555) the base
security police. He yelled that they needed help at the TACAN site
because "intruders" were attempting to enter the facility. The phone
call was received by Sgt David Holmes, the Law Enforcement Desk
Sergeant, 62nd Security Police Squadron. Sgt Holmes dispatched Sgt
Dwight Reid and AIC Michael Tash to the scene. It took the security
police patrol 17 minutes to travel to the TACAN site.
Upon their arrival, they observed Briggs and Hillsgeck standing
near their government vehicle. Both appeared to be in a daze. Neither
could speak. Sgt Reid summoned an USAF Ambulance to the scene.
Hillsgeck appeared to have been burnt around the face. AIC Tash walked
around the area and found marks in the soft Washington state dirt. Then
suddenly, Sgt Reid yelled to AIC Tash that an object was directly over
his head.
A saucer shaped object was hovering just above the TACAN facility.
Sgt Reid attempted to communicate to the security police law
enforcement office by using his Motorola HT-220 portable radio. However
the radio did not function. Sgt Reid then yelled for AIC Tash to return
to the police vehicle. Sgt Reid and AIC Tash retrieved Briggs and
Hillsgeck and drove from the scene.
Approximately one mile from the TACAN site, Sgt Reid was able to
communicate with the security police office, requesting assistance and
declaring a "Covered Wagon." Four additional security policemen arrived
on scene, including, Sgt Darren Alexander and his military dog-Champ.
Sgt Alexander and Champ drove to the scene and started to search the
area. Approximately 400 yards south of the TACAN site, Champ alerted.
Sgt Alexander observed two "creatures" standing near a remote power
station.
Sgt Alexander yelled for the two "creatures" to stand and raise
their hands. Both creatures then moved towards Sgt Alexander. Sgt
Alexander observed that one of the creatures was holding an object,
which Sgt Alexander thought was a weapon. Sgt Alexander fired six
rounds from his military issued Model 15, .38 Caliber Revolver. After
firing the shots, Sgt Alexander returned to his vehicle and radioed Sgt
Reid that he had fired at the creatures. A Security Alert Team (similar
to a police SWAT) arrived. They conducted a search of the area and
observed the saucer shaped object sitting on the ground, directly east
of the power station.
They circled the object and called for a supervisor. Captain Henry
Stone, Security Police Law Enforcement, arrived on scene but the object
departed just as Captain Stone walked towards the object. The object
flew off in an easterly direction and was out of sight in a few
seconds. Office of Special Investigations agents arrived on scene and
conducted an investigation. Statements were taken from all involved.
Evidence was collected from the scene, to include shell casings from
the rounds fired by Sgt Alexander.
This incident was classified as Top Secret and remained in the OSI
files as unsolved.