Unusual and unexplained encounters have long fueled curiosity and debate, especially when they occur in regions marked by conflict. Incidents in Vietnam during the late 1960s, from sightings of winged figures to strange aerial phenomena, continue to intrigue those interested in military history and the paranormal alike.

Testimonies from soldiers and engineers stationed in remote areas detail mysterious creatures and encounters with objects far outside ordinary experience. These reports remain the subject of ongoing discussion, raising questions that linger to this day.

Key Takeaways

Events in Vietnam during the late 1960s featured unexplained sightings and phenomena.
Eyewitnesses included both military personnel and engineers in isolated locations.
The legacy of these incidents continues to spark debate and investigation.

The Winged Woman in Vietnam

Firsthand Report from Earl Morrison

US Marine Earl Morrison recounted that in August 1969, while stationed in a camp near Da Nang, he and other soldiers observed an unusual flying figure. Morrison said that the figure hovered above them for some time, and several Marines witnessed the event together. The men were unsettled by the encounter, with Morrison emphasizing the group’s confusion and disbelief at what they had just seen.

Appearance and Details of the Figure

The witnessed entity was described as a humanlike female with black skin who appeared unclothed. Notably, she had prominent dark wings, which she used to hover and move through the air. According to multiple witnesses, at one point her presence even obstructed the view of the moon. The figure eventually departed, flapping her wings and fading into the darkness.

Key Attributes:

Feature Description Gender Female Skin Color Black Clothing None observed Wings Large, dark, bat-like Behavior Hovered, gazed at witnesses, flew away

Theories and Unexplained Aspects

Writers and researchers have frequently discussed this case and debated its possible explanations. Some have classified the event under the broader category of paranormal or unexplained phenomena due to the humanoid appearance and flight ability.

Several possible interpretations have been raised:

Supernatural entity: Some suggest the figure could be a manifestation of a mythological or unknown being.
Psychological or group experience: Others propose that stress, fear, or environmental factors during wartime may have led to a shared misperception.
Paranormal evidence: Interested parties in UFO and unexplained encounters often cite this sighting as notable due to multiple eyewitnesses and detailed descriptions.

Despite varied speculation, no definitive explanation has been offered for the presence or identity of the winged woman observed by the Marines.

The 1968 North Vietnam UFO Incident

Circumstances Before the Sighted Event

Five Soviet engineers were stationed in a secluded forested area near Chao Bang, North Vietnam, to work on a hydroelectric project. On the night of August 12, 1968, they were startled awake by the noise of engines overhead. Suspecting American B-52 bombers, the group rushed outside only to discover something entirely unexpected above them.

Appearance of the Angular Black Craft

Looking up, the team observed a large, dark, diamond-shaped object in the sky. It was estimated to be twice the size of the moon and emitted a greenish-blue glow. The shape and lighting of the object stood in stark contrast to what they had anticipated, offering no resemblance to any known aircraft.

Key characteristics:

Feature Description Shape Angular, diamond-like Size Approx. double the full moon Color/Lighting Black with greenish-blue emission

The Fireball and Resulting Blast

Suddenly, the dark was disrupted by the launch of a fiery, comet-shaped projectile from the ground. This projectile streaked toward the airborne diamond object. There was an immediate and intense white flash upon contact, followed by a shock wave that knocked the engineers off their feet and damaged their camp. Despite the force, the men only received minor injuries.

Subsequent Events and Breakdown of Communication

Attempts to use radio and other communication gear failed for hours, yielding only static. Only at daybreak did the equipment work, allowing the men to contact their base. A visit to a nearby village revealed local people had only experienced what they described as a loud thunderstorm the previous night, with no knowledge of the event.

Days later, the engineers discovered a mysterious black hemisphere about three meters in diameter, a kilometer from camp. The object was cool, slippery, and unusually non-reflective—sunlight seemed to bend around it, and it cast no shadow. When they informed their base, they were told to guard the object without approaching within 20 meters until a specialized unit arrived.

As the night progressed, a series of disturbing events occurred: one by one, four of the men wandered into the forest toward the object and vanished, leaving only one engineer remaining, who injured himself to break free from the compulsion to approach the sphere. By morning, he was found by Special Forces; the object and his fellow engineers were missing. The disappearances were never resolved.

Uncovering the Mysterious Black Sphere

Unique Features and Surface Qualities

The object found in the Vietnamese forest was a half-sphere, matte black in color, and about 3 meters in diameter. Its surface was peculiar—no light reflected off it, and it did not cast a shadow even in direct sunlight. The area around the object was illuminated, but the sphere itself seemed to absorb all light.

Texture: Cool and slippery to the touch, as though it was coated in cold soapy water.
Durability: Attempts to scratch the surface with a knife were unsuccessful.
Optical Effect: The rays of the low evening sun bent around the object, leaving the high grass lit but the sphere untouched by light.

A summary table:

Feature Description Shape Half-spherical Size ~3 meters in diameter Color Deep black, no reflection Shadow Did not cast a shadow Texture Cool, slippery, resistant to scratches Optical Interaction Absorbed or bent light around itself

Orders and Security Measures from Military

Upon the discovery, the men immediately contacted their base to report the oddity. They were instructed to establish a guarded perimeter around the sphere and were warned not to approach within 20 meters or make any physical contact.

Instructions Provided:

Maintain a secure parameter.
Do not touch or closely approach the sphere.
Wait for a specialized team to arrive.

Despite carrying rifles, the men felt a strong sense of unease and anxiety as they awaited further support. Their focus remained on the unexplained object until further events unfolded during the night. The atmosphere was tense and filled with uncertainty as they remained on guard, following strict orders without additional information.

Strange Vanishings Among Soviet Technical Staff

Early Events and Initial Searches

In August 1968, a group of five Soviet engineers constructing a hydroelectric facility near Chau Bang encountered an unusual event late at night. They spotted a large, dark, diamond-shaped object emitting a green-blue glow overhead and then witnessed a bright, comet-like flash. The explosion that followed knocked them off their feet, damaged equipment, and disrupted their communications until morning.

After reporting the events, the engineers made thorough checks of the nearby area and discovered a mysterious black hemisphere roughly three meters across. This object absorbed light, cast no shadow, and felt cold and slick to the touch. They followed instructions to secure the site and awaited the arrival of a specialized team.

Event Description Unusual aerial sighting Observed diamond-shaped object and bright flash Area search Discovered black, hemisphere-shaped object Communication interference Equipment emitted only static for several hours

Heightened Anxiety and Odd Conduct

As the night wore on, a mounting sense of alarm took hold among the engineers, despite their being armed. The first to vanish was Vaslov, who silently walked off toward the sphere and into the forest, never to be seen again. The group searched but found no trace.

Roughly an hour later, Peter followed the same path in a dazed state, but the remaining men were too uneasy to mount another search. Over the next few hours, two more, Vladimir and Sergey, departed in a similar trance-like manner, walking away into the darkness without returning.

Sequence of Disappearances:

Vaslov left toward the sphere and vanished.
Peter departed without a word under mysterious influence.
Vladimir and Sergey followed, displaying signs of being in a trance.

Throughout these events, those left behind felt an overwhelming compulsion to leave, yet they were unable to act on it, almost as if held in place against their will.

Boris Ivanov’s Account and Rescue

Boris Ivanov became the only survivor by acting abruptly. Realizing he was moments from succumbing to the same influence, he shot himself in the leg in a last-ditch effort to prevent leaving the camp. This injury appeared to break the hold over him, rendering him immobile and possibly saving him from sharing his colleagues’ fate.

Ivanov lost consciousness from blood loss and was discovered by arriving Special Forces the next morning. The mysterious sphere and his four colleagues had both disappeared overnight. Despite immediate search efforts, there were no further traces of the missing engineers. Ivanov was evacuated for medical treatment, remaining the lone witness to the unexplained sequence of events.

Evaluation of Official Reports and Lingering Mysteries

Government Response and Remaining Mysteries

Authorities quickly intervened when the Soviet engineers reported their experience with the mysterious black sphere in North Vietnam. The engineers received strict orders to establish a secure perimeter and avoid direct contact with the object until specialized personnel arrived. Despite the arrival of this unit, the sphere and the missing engineers were never located again, leaving their fates uncertain.

A table of observed details:

Observation Description Shape Black hemisphere, 3 meters in diameter Surface Non-reflective, cool, slippery Shadow Did not cast a shadow Physical Effects Communication failure, "hypnotic" influence Witnesses Outcome Four missing men, one with self-inflicted gunshot wound

Unanswered questions remain about the sphere's true nature, its sudden vanishing, and the psychological effect it appeared to have on the group. Official records do not clarify what caused these events, leaving researchers to speculate about military experiments, environmental phenomena, or something unknown.

Influence on UFO Studies and Paranormal Stories

These Vietnam incidents have captured the attention of UFO investigators and writers for decades. Notably, the stories have been referenced in books, newsletters, and by researchers interested in military encounters with unexplained phenomena. The reports from Soviet engineers and American Marines have joined a wider archive of global cases involving bizarre aerial objects and strange creatures.

A summarized list of impacts:

Cited by multiple paranormal and UFO researchers
Expanded discussion of hypnotic effects and disappearances during UFO encounters
Provided case studies for those examining psychological influences linked to unidentified phenomena

The events have helped shape both public curiosity and skepticism about unexplained encounters in conflict zones. They remain points of discussion in the study of UFOs and strange phenomena, contributing data and mystery to ongoing debates.

Final Thoughts

Several remarkable events in Vietnam during the late 1960s involved inexplicable encounters. These include sightings of unusual flying beings and incidents with unidentified objects. Such cases left witnesses unsettled and raised questions among both military personnel and researchers.

Key Observations:

Eyewitness reports described entities with human-like features and wings.
In another instance, a group of engineers interacted with a non-reflective, hemispherical object after a dramatic encounter in the night.
Attempts to investigate or understand these phenomena resulted in unexplained disappearances and strong emotional responses.

The following table highlights the sequence of critical events:

Date Location Main Event August 1968 Near Chau Bang, Vietnam Engineers observe, then interact with, a sphere August 1969 Da Nang, Vietnam Marines witness a winged humanoid

Physical symptoms among witnesses included disorientation, immobility, and fear, while technical failures were also reported. No clear explanations have been reached for these occurrences.

Further investigation into these cases remains hindered by a lack of physical evidence and the disappearance of witnesses. Reports stress the enduring impact these unexplained events had on those involved.

The Black Sphere: Unexplained Paranormal Encounters During the Vietnam War