ArticlesWendelle Stevens Archive

UFO Photographs from Colfax, Wisconsin

The following UFO photos are from the archives of Lt. Col. Wendelle C. Stevens, and the accompanying details have been reproduced as close to the original sighting report as possible.

19 April 1978, Colfax, Wisconsin

On Wednesday 19 April 1978, Mr. S. (name witheld (sic) by specific request) and his girlfriend were driving in the vicinity of Tainter Lake, when they decided to stop and attempt some fishing since most of the ice was already thawed.

They found a spot along the shore where they could do some casting. Mr. S. had also brought along an FM portable radio. They had been at this spot for about a half an hour when the radio began picking up interference. It was then that Mr. S. looked up into the sky, thinking an airplane must be going over-head.

At that point the object “appeared” out of the southwest, moving northeast. He and his girlfriend became very excited and frightened. Remembering that they had a camera with them, (an Instamatic) Mr. S. went and got it to take some pictures. He almost dropped it several times trying to get it out of the case. He finally got it out and started to point it at the object when the object suddenly veered off course in their direction and came towards them. They became even more frightened but Mr. S. was determined to get a photograph of the thing!

At that point, the object began to circle them at a high altitude as Mr. S. began taking pictures. The object flew around the area only once and then disappeared into the sunlight. The whole incident lasted about 3 or 4 minutes.

Mr. S. was hesitant about showing anyone the photos because he was afraid of people thinking the wrong thing. He finally sent a UFO lecturer a copy after attending one of his slide lectures on the UFO subject.

Mr. S. was unable to determine the size of the object for lack of reference, or how fast it was moving. He did say, however, that it gave off a “crackling sound” as it passed around them.

From personal letter:

Photo #1: Shows the object moments after it veered off its original course. Mr. S. said it slowed down considerably after he took the first picture. He said he had “the feeling it knew it was being photographed”.

Colfax UFO Photo #1 (credit: UFO Photo Archive)
UFO Photo Colfax, WI (credit: UFO Photo Archives)

Photo #2: The object is moving slower now as it begins to make its pass. At this point Mr. S. and girlfriend grew apprehensive. Both experienced extreme fear.

Colfax UFO Photo #2 (credit: UFO Photo Archive)
Colfax UFO Photo #2 (credit: UFO Photo Archive)

Photo #3: The object tilts as it begins a “roller coaster” type descent. Mr. S. and friend become increasingly frightened. He has the feeling it is going to “get them”.

Colfax UFO Photo #3 (credit: UFO Photo Archive)
Colfax UFO Photo #3 (credit: UFO Photo Archive)

Photo #4: The object has leveled off and is just above the treetop height. It begins moving toward Mr. S. at a slow gliding pace. No sound comes from the object but Mr. S. remembers he left his transistor radio on and it is “buzzing” and “crackling like crazy”.

Colfax UFO Photo #4 (credit: UFO Photo Archive)
Colfax UFO Photo #4 (credit: UFO Photo Archive)

Photo #5: Mr. S. turns his camera sideways to get this shot of the object as it passes almost directly overhead. At this point Mr. S. experienced a sensation of “heat” as well as “prickling sensation” around and “in” his head and eyes, however Mr. S. stated that he experienced no permenant or temporary after-effects except a bad case of the “jitters”. This shot was taken while Mr. S. was in a crouched position and remembers falling over on his back afterwards. He said he noticed an “amber or orange-red light” underneath in addition to several small lights which would blink on and off erratically for different lengths of time. (See Photograph) He also noticed 4 “pods” or “landing gear”. The bottom appeared to be a “dull” black. The shock of falling backwards prevented him from taking any more pictures of the object as it continued overhead.

Colfax UFO Photo #5 (credit: UFO Photo Archive)
Colfax UFO Photo #5 (credit: UFO Photo Archive)


Photo #6:
The object has now climbed back up into the sky as Mr. S. shoots this picture.

Colfax UFO Photo #6 (credit: UFO Photo Archives)
Colfax UFO Photo #6 (credit: UFO Photo Archives)

Photo #7: Shows the object heading into the sun. At this point it began to pick up speed and soon was lost in the sunlight. Mr. S. took 9 pictures in all, only these 7 turned out.

Colfax UFO Photo #7 (credit: UFO Photo Archive)
Colfax UFO Photo #7 (credit: UFO Photo Archive)

View the: Colfax UFO Case Drawing.

Wendelle Stevens

Lt. Colonel (USAF Ret.) Wendelle C. Stevens was one of the world’s best known UFO researchers. Born in 1923 in Round Prairie, Minn., he enlisted in 1941 in the US Army and was transferred to the Air Corps in 1942. He served in the Pacific Theater during World War II and subsequently in a classified project in Alaska to photograph and map the Arctic land and sea area, where the data collecting equipment onboard B-29s detected UFOs. Stevens also served as US Air Attaché in South America. He retired from the USAF in 1963 and worked for Hamilton Aircraft until 1972.

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