Buck Nelson

Buck Nelson was an American farmer whose story of a UFO encounter in 1954 captured the imagination of many. Living in Missouri at the time, Nelson recounted seeing three flying saucers over his farmhouse. Attempting to signal them with a flashlight, he was suddenly bathed in a beam of light much brighter and hotter than the sun. He claimed this beam cured his chronic lumbago and dramatically improved his eyesight. Later that evening, Nelson said he was visited by three "friendly human spacemen" accompanied by a large dog. He believed these beings were humans from Venus. According to his account, they took him on an extraordinary journey to Mars, Venus, and the moon. Nelson detailed his experiences in a 1956 booklet titled "My Trip to Mars, the Moon, and Venus". His story became one of the earliest claims of alien contact and abduction in the United States. Nelson's tale didn't just end with his writings; he went on to organize annual UFO conventions on his ranch, creating a hub for enthusiasts and contributing further to his legacy in UFO lore.