1 / 1

Sighting record / 1963

The Wayne City "Washtub" Light Pursuit: Ronnie Austin and Phyllis Bruce

August 4, 1963 · Illinois Route 15 to Wayne City and rural Keenes, Wayne County, Illinois, United States
23Thinly documented UAP Orb / light 17 sources

August 4, 1963. Two eighteen-year-olds were driving home from a drive-in in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. Ronnie Austin was at the wheel. Phyllis Bruce sat beside him. Then a big white light appeared at treetop level. Fuzzy. About the size of a washtub. When the car sped up, the light seemed to speed up. When it slowed, so did the light. Later, alone on the gravel roads, Ronnie saw it flare bright orange and come over his car. The radio went crazy with static. The engine started missing. By the time he reached the family farm near Keenes, he could hardly talk. The Air Force sent a team. Its answer was the Moon and Jupiter.

▶ Narrate · Pro
Find similar Spatial reconstruction Show on timeline ☆ Save + Follow · Pro

A drive home

Sunday, August 4, 1963. Southern Illinois. Ronnie Austin and Phyllis Bruce, both 18, had been to a drive-in movie in Mt. Vernon. At about 11:30 PM they headed east on Illinois Route 15 toward Wayne City, past the airport.

Sources (17, most influential first)

  1. Wayne City case report · NICAP (Francis L. Ridge) · Research organisation · org report
  2. Wayne City case directory · NICAP · Research organisation · org report
  3. Blue Book Analysis Analyzed · NICAP (Francis L. Ridge) · Research organisation · org report
  4. Keenes Boy sighting · Wayne County Press (NICAP transcription)· 1963-08-05 · Press, book, documentary · news
  5. Official explanation · Evansville Courier (NICAP transcription)· 1963-08-16 · Press, book, documentary · news