The Rex Heflin UFO Photographs

Date: August 3, 1965

Location: Santa Ana, California, United States

Rex Heflin, an Orange County highway inspector, was at work in a county vehicle at 12:37 P.M when he saw a hat-shaped (disc with dome) object hovering above the road. He grabbed his Polaroid camera and took three photographs of the metallic-appearing object and a fourth of a black "smoke ring" left behind by the object.

Source: STUDIOVNI

Rex Heflin, an Orange County highway inspector, was at work in a county vehicle at 12:37 P.M when he saw a hat-shaped (disc with dome) object hovering above the road. He grabbed his Polaroid camera normally used to record highway obstructions or other problems and took three photographs of the metallic-appearing object and a fourth of a black "smoke ring" left behind by the object after it departed at high speed. He reported seeing a rotating band of light on the underside of the object (like the sweep of a radar beam). 

Heflin twice tried to radio his base, during the sighting, but the radio would not work. (It functioned normally after the object departed.) One of the photographs was published by the Santa Ana Register on September 20, 1965; then the story was picked up by the national newswire services. 

The Los Angeles Subcommittee of NICAP, headed by Idabel Epperson, conducted a thorough investigation of the case, including a detailed character and background check, on-site investigation and measurements (by engineer John Gray), and photoanalysis. Both Heflin and the newspaper cooperated fully in the investigation. 

Computer enhancement and photoanalysis was conducted by Robert Nathan at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, working with first-generation prints and copy negatives made by the newspaper. Among other things, the analysis established photographic evidence to confirm the "light beam" on the underside of the object. The Air Force issued a statement declaring the photographs a hoax, which was strongly disputed by NICAP. Nathan specifically ruled out a model suspended by a string as the explanation. 

Unknown parties later attempted to tamper with the evidence and manipulate information. The copy negatives were obtained from Heflin under false pretenses, by someone pretending to be from the North American Air Defense Command. (Click here for copy of letter from Lt. Gen. Wheless). Years later, Bill Spaulding of Ground Saucer Watch using computer enhancement techniques reported finding a linelike marking above the object, suggestive of a supporting string, implying that the UFO was hoaxed by using a small model. However, the alleged "line" clearly was either an artifact created by multigenerational copying of the photographs or a deliberately introduced marking to discredit Heflin. No such line was found in the originals by Nathan, the newspaper, or NICAP analysts. 

In 1993, MUFON photoanalyst Jeffrey Sainio re-examined Spaulding's work and rejected the string hypothesis. 

Technical data: Polaroid Model 101,114 mm focal length, variable aperture, built-in light meter, automatic settings; Type 107 black & white film, ASA 3000. 

Conclusion: "A highly credible, thoroughly investigated case that meets all the criteria for significant evidence of a real, structured, craftlike UFO." (Richard Hall in The UFO Evidence, Volume II)

Summary: Here is some background information on the Rex Heflin photo case, which was investigated from August 1965 on by the Los Angeles NICAP Subcommittee (LANS).

Here is some background information on the Rex Heflin photo case, which was investigated from August 1965 on by the Los Angeles NICAP Subcommittee (LANS). NICAP was fortunate to have many meticulous investigators (including Ray Fowler, Walt Webb, and Fran Ridge) who intensively researched cases of this potential importance. 

The leader of LANS was an unheralded woman, Idabel Epperson, who was a superb and articulate leader, organizer, recruiter of high-level scientific and analytical talent, and a shrewd judge of character. She was thorough, discreet, diplomatic, and as skilled an investigator as there was. 

Over the years she and I stayed in touch, and I have just gone through a thick file of correspondence with her. What it shows is that even 10-12 years after 1965, through the demise of NICAP and the rise of the Mutual UFO Network (we both later became active in MUFON), the LANS personnel remained in touch with Rex Heflin and continued to gather pertinent information about the case. 

The record also shows that the first hypothesis to be fully investigated was the possibility of a suspended model. Further, there have been previous "re-investigations" of the case (notably in 1977) ordinarily consisting of someone deciding that the photos were faked, but offering no real evidence of that and betraying ignorance of the thorough NICAP investigation which, to us, removed all doubt about the authenticity of the photos and the integrity of Rex Heflin. For the benefit of those currently re-examining the case and attempting new analysis of the photographs, here are some 

excerpts from my Epperson file: 

August 1967; LANS report and taped interview transcript of witnesses to a disc with dome seen in Santa Ana, California, during the first week of August in 1965 (the exact date could not be pinned down). While driving along the Santa Ana freeway a family saw a disc with dome hovering just above electric power lines. It was night and the object was glowing brightly. It appeared to be about 40 feet in diameter. As they slowed to a crawl to observe the object, it moved back and forth above the power lines for a distance of about 60 feet in the vicinity of the Broadway Street overpass. Other motorists also were stopped and looking at the object. 

C.E. (Bud) Miller to Idabel Epperson, Nov. 10, 1973; annotated copy to Richard Hall. Miller reports that his sister hired a surveyor by the name of Mike Boehm to map out some parcels on her property. When the subject of UFOs came up in his presence, Boehm said that "he and his crew of surveyors who were working on the Santa Ana Freeway that day saw this disc out in a field and were watching it when it suddenly took off." Regrettably, Boehm was killed in an automobile accident soon after this chance encounter. 

Idabel Epperson annotation on copy to Richard Hall: "Rex told us in the beginning that there had been a surveyor crew working near the Santa Ana Freeway - and that he wondered why they had not seen the UFO - and reported it. He was right - they were working near the Freeway - not on it. We did not locate them at the time, but we are going to try very hard (at this late date) to locate some of them." 

In 1976 William Spaulding of Ground Saucer Watch issued a report based on computer enhancement analysis techniques charging that the Heflin photographs were fakes, alleging that a line was discovered about the object. Supposedly the analysis was based on four different sets of the photographs, but the origins and generations of the photographs were never determined. This generated a new round of controversy. 

Various LANS and NICAP personnel responded to queries about this charge. In a letter to David A. Schroth dated July 29, 1976, John R. Gray (engineer) stated: "It would seem that Mr. Spaulding has become victim of the same pitfalls encountered by previous skeptics of this particular sighting - namely, unfamiliarity (or gross disregard?) with the intrinsic peculiarities of the images in the photos. =85As one of the original NICAP field investigators involved in researching this case, I have only the highest regards for Mr. Heflin. Having the privilege of becoming acquainted with him in the ensuing years, I cannot conceive his character as ever permitting the perpetuation of a hoax." 

Idabel Epperson to David A. Schroth, Aug. 10, 1976, reporting on the analysis by Dr. Robert Nathan at Jet Propulsion Laboratory, whom she protectively identifies only as Dr. A. "At first he was extremely reluctant to become involved - he said the pictures looked like a :straw hat." =85[After discussing the case with him over a period of several months] finally he agreed to examine the photographs=85.With the type of equipment that he had to work with it was only natural that he should discover much detail that had not been visible to the others. 

"He phoned me one day and seemed excited and exclaimed, `This object is unearthly!' I asked why, and he answered ~There is a shimmering surrounding it.' Another time when he phoned me he told me the object had a dome and that the black band around it was `particulate matter'; in other words, smoke or smog and particles. I wasn't too surprised when he announced to me a few days later that he was going to conduct his own investigation of the Heflin case. I was delighted. Of course he was going over ground that we had covered but that was all to the good. I had given him all of John Gray's calculations. 

"Dr. A. telephoned Rex and talked with him and called Rex's supervisor and talked with him to the Chief of Police in Newport Beach, who had known Rex for many years. Dr. A. told me that the Chief of Police said, `Rex Heflin is the last man on this earth who would perpetrate a hoax.' By this time Dr. A was completely convinced, by scientific examination of the UFO photos that they were real and not a hoax and that Rex Heflin was an honest man=85." 

At this point Nathan decided to tell Brian O'Brien, a prominent Air Force advisory board scientist, his convictions about the Heflin case. Afterwards he told Epperson that he was "shocked and angry" when "O'Brien was not receptive and extremely sarcastic." Colorado Project (Condon Committee) personnel began to take Nathan along on UFO investigations in the area, and gradually Epperson noticed that his attitude toward UFOs was changing, and he appeared to lose interest. "He can't be blamed for putting his career first," she concluded. 

Epperson then quotes a number of statements supportive of Heflin and the photographs made by Capt. Charles F. Reichmuth, investigating office for the Air Force Systems Command in a lengthy report based on a 3-1/2 hour interview with Heflin and on-site investigation. Heflin had reported seeing a rotating band of light on the underside of the object. Reichmuth (p. 138) 

noted: 

"In photo Nr. 2 there is a faint indication of such a line running from the center outward at a relative bearing of about 280 degrees. Officials in the G-2 office at El Toro [Marine Air Station] stated that the line was clearly visible in the original photo." Reichmuth also quotes positive character 

statements about Heflin obtained from his co-workers and based on his own interview, concluding, "It appeared that he was a normal, upright and tolerant citizen. From all appearances he is not attempting to perpetrate a hoax." 

Later in her lengthy and cordial letter to Schroth, Epperson says: "Mr. Schroth, this is a small part of the story=85.one which we lived with for a long time - and apparently it isn't over yet. But we can't let something that is so patently false go unchallenged. This latest attack upon Heflin (eleven years late), with no attempt to check with the original investigators seems very curious." 

Idabel Epperson to Richard Hall, May 24, 1977, re: the Spaulding hoax charge and the renewed controversy: "Well, I could not stand by and watch is [Heflin's] name dragged through the mud by an individual that doesn't know what he is talking about at all, and whose motives are certainly 

questionable. Dick, I'm not one of those investigators who become subjective after getting acquainted with the witness. 

Even though I felt from the beginning that Heflin was honest, for several years afterwards I listened carefully to everything he said for any slip of the tongue that might give something away - but there was never even the slightest thing. Incidentally, he is still with the Orange County Road Dept. and 

has promotions and has a very important job now." 

Idabel Epperson to Richard Hall, Aug. 17, 1977: 

(Pop-schlock newsstand UFO magazines with almost non-existent editorial standards sprung up like mushrooms in the 1970s. One of them, Argosy, published a 1977 annual including an article by Hayden Hewes and William Spaulding. ) "As you can guess," Epperson said, "Rex Heflin takes a beating. This sentence is interesting (and infuriating); `This case became a cause celebre in ufological circles due to some visits Heflin claimed to have received from alleged Air Force personnel, and their confiscation of the original prints.' 

"The prints were NOT confiscated - and there were no threats of confiscation - and at no time did Heflin ever say or hint of such a thing. Heflin gave them free and unhesitatingly when men appeared with identifications of one of the military branches. He was bitterly criticized for doing just that and no one knew why he did it. 

"Later when Rex became more acquainted with us he confided in me and told me the reason for this.=85 Since he did not believe in flying saucers and felt so certain that he had taken pictures of one of our own government's experimental craft - and then suffered pangs of guilt for having taken the pictures and felt that he had no right to have them - he gave them to members of the military readily because as he told me in confidence, `I 

felt that they had more right to them than I did.' 

"Rex explained to me that the government owned all that land where the El Toro Marine Base was and in fact also included the land where the UFO appeared. Each side of Myford Road was lined with tall grass, highly inflammable, and Orange County Road Dept. had notified the Marine Base several times to clean it up. Everyone else in the area had cleaned up their dry grass - but not the government. And it was a hazard. 

"Rex was driving slowly down Myford Road feeling quite resentful and thinking to himself that they thought they were above the law and refused to obey it even though it was a very bad hazard. It was in this mood of pique when he saw the object that he thought belonged to the Marine Base, and in a `split second' he reacted with the thought that he was `getting back at them' by taking pictures of their experimental craft. By nature Rex is a 

very conscientious person, and also patriotic too. So it was quite natural that he had second thoughts when he had `cooled off' and decided that he had done the wrong thing." 

In a P.S. to her Aug. 17, 1977 letter, Epperson added: "In the first part of our investigation of the Heflin case it took us several weeks to finally convince Rex that UFOs really did exist. I don't know if you remember or not that during the first weeks of our investigation that Ed Evers was visiting Rex almost every night or at least phoning him. 

"He lived quite close so it was easy for him to run over and see Rex for a while. Then Ed phoned me every day to report=85. If you remember, Dick, at that time I was writing you short notes about every week to keep you posted of everything that was happening. 

That seems like such a long time ago!" In late summer of 1977 both Jerry Clark and Bruce Maccabee wrote to Robert J. Kirkpatrick of the Santa Ana Register, who had covered the story for his newspaper and had cooperated fully with the NICAP investigators. Both letters were stimulated by the Spaulding allegations. Phil Klass also got into the act, offering to pay for a polygraph examination of Heflin. (Letters and replies on file, from which the following excerpts are taken). 

Kirkpatrick to Jerry Clark, Aug. 20, 1977: "As one of several people in this area intimately familiar with the details of Heflin's sighting and photos, it distresses me to see this Johnny-come-lately Spaulding's dictum that the Heflin photos are a `hoax' go unchallenged. 

"I had the good fortune to be working on the news desk at The Register in Santa Ana when our chief photographer Clay Hiller printed the blow-ups of the Heflin photos and we broke the news story of his sighting and the Polaroid pictures he snapped. 

During the ensuing `flap' - involving a heated dispute with the U.S. Air Force - I became more and more interested in the subsequent developments in the Heflin case and kept thorough documentation of what occurred. 

"Having talked with Heflin myself and having studied the authoritative testimonials supporting his character and the legitimacy of his photos, I am compelled to rush to his defense . I'm submitting here some cogent facts - all documented - which I feel support the genuineness of the Heflin case.The Heflin photos were studied by Marine officials at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station. No suggestion of hoax was made. In fact, their findings substantiated some of Heflin's sighting observations" 

Kirkpatrick to Bruce Maccabee, Sept. 5, 1977: "To be quite blunt about this belated controversy regarding the legitimacy of the Heflin UFO photos, I find it most annoying - 12 years after the photos first appeared - to find detractors, whose professional credentials and expertise I know nothing about, drawing conclusions (and publishing them) in such an irresponsible manner - and using copy photos of undetermined generation." 

Following the new accusations and controversy in 1977, Epperson reported to me in an Oct. 10. 1977 letter that she had reestablished cordial relations with Robert Nathan at JPL, who was extremely dubious of Spaulding's claims. He decided (in September of 1977) to conduct a new, complete computer enhancement study of the Heflin photos using the very latest equipment. The results again found no evidence of a hoax, and 

Nathan said: "The film was clear; there was no scratch whatsoever." Robert Kirkpatrick to Phil Klass, Oct. 14, 1977, acknowledging the proposed polygraph test offer: "There is only one difficulty confronting us: Rex recently [several months previously] sustained a serious back injury while mountain climbing [in Colorado where he fell 60 feet down a mountainside], is suffering excruciating pain and is about to be hospitalized. 

However, he has indicated that he is willing to go along with your proposal after he is discharged from the hospital. "I wish to point out that Heflin volunteered to take a polygraph test back in 1965, but arrangements for the test were dropped when a polygraph expert [a professor at University of 

Southern California] insisted that the results of such a test would be inconclusive. You must recognize that we are dealing with a very embittered man. While cooperating to the fullest with military authorities and the various news media back in 1965, he was subjected to intensive interrogation, was repeatedly maligned, ridiculed and often horribly misquoted. 

"Heflin has not made a Roosevelt dime through his famous photos, yet both his detractors and defenders have used copy prints of his pictures, and profited thereby, in publishing a plethora of newspaper and magazine articles as well as books on the subject of UFOs. It should be understandable that Heflin is embittered to see, at this late date, [new people] enter the scene to make irresponsible claims and attack him libelously, while he has no public forum through which to defend himself. 

"But in view of your own stature as a nationally known UFO skeptic, Heflin is favorably inclined toward a polygraph session."