Orfeo Angelucci’s First Contact Experience

Orfeo Angelucci (1912-1993)

As mentioned in previous articles, figurative language—and especially proverbs—communicated by a manifesting transcendental intelligence in various ways provide unexpected evidence of authenticity in case studies of the so-called “contactees” among many other cases of 'paranormal' or unexplained phenomena.  Similar to the events chronicled in autobiographical books about Truman Bethurum and Daniel Fry, Orfeo Angelucci’s original chronicle of his case includes proverbs within the quoted discourses of his contact experiences.

Angelucci self-published Twentieth Century Times Vol. 1, No. 1 in 1953.  He explained at the conclusion of his 1955 case study The Secret of the Saucers:

. . . I am now telling my story more completely.  Parts of my story have previously appeared in the single issue of my own newspaper, The Twentieth Century Times, and parts have been published in MYSTIC magazine, but never before has the entire account appeared in print.  Only now has the mystery of the saucer phenomena come to an apparent dead-end which requires elucidation before anything further may be gained from extra-terrestrials.

For those who haven't read this epochal book nor Angelucci's initial presentation of his experiences, I am presenting the description of his first contact experience from his original report.  An unseen communicator expressed knowledge about earlier events in Angelucci's life, mentioning his 1946 experiment entailing sending the mold Aspergillus clavatus into the upper atmosphere via balloons.  The balloons broke away prematurely and were lost as a presumed airplane with a strange circular structure was sighted.  Prior to the contacts chronicled by Angelucci, he had written an amateur screenplay "Worlds are Mad Tonight" about space travel with characters having names such as 'Neptune,' 'Orion,' 'Vega' and 'Lyra.'  An earlier cosmological “thesis” written by Angelucci was entitled “The Nature of Infinite Entities."  In Twentieth Century Times he professed his personal research interests had encompassed "The virus, the atom, bacteria, static electricity, the brain, metallurgy—the universe."  Prior to his contact experiences, he had considered the subject of 'flying saucers' as being "for those who had time to waste upon them."

Angelucci had been hired by the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation in 1952.  He commented in the Foreword of his 1955 autobiographical case study The Secret of the Saucers, "As I look back now it appears that an occult power of some sort had neatly arranged  every smallest detail in advance including the particular type of job I was in as well as the two men who were to be closest to me through all of my incredible experiences.  Ours was the swing shift.  The unusual hours appealed to me as well as the excitement of the new work and the motley assortment of people at the plant.  But I did not know then what infinitely strange destiny fate held in store for me." 

The banner headline of Twentieth Century Times was “SAUCERS FIRST CONTACT REVEALED.”  Here is how Orfeo Angelucci described his first contact experience in his eight-page newspaper-style account.  Several misspelled words have been corrected.

Friday, May 23, 1952.  This night, at 11:00 o'clock he felt strangely ill, symptoms struck him which were not familiar ones.  Between the shoulders persistent, prickly tension, as of electrical currents "leaking" out from the spine knob located there, into the system.  The right arm and hand felt it acutely.  The chest seemed to well-up in a hot sensation.  The heart palpitated, and was barely at the edge of pain.  The back of the neck and the head became tense.

A thirst seized him, that no water could quench.  His eyes and forehead felt as though they would burst.

Yet in this entire syndrome there was not a sign of pain.  Never had his "nerves" before followed such a pattern of behavior.  It seemed that death was imminent.  But from what?  How and when?  Somehow he supported these with a measure of equanimity.  Nevertheless he went outside for a time, to be near the exit gate in case he became worse.

As there was no change he continued to work, but now in some degree of apprehension.  He remained rather quiet, and was asked several times what had come over him.  But his only concern was to see quitting time and hurry home.  Perhaps to die.

Life can be sweet at such times.  Orfeo dreaded the return of years of insufferable nervous debility and symptoms, which seemed far in the past.  Also, these new affairs were more persistent, more determined to break down his ingrown fortitude developed by time and trials.

The blessed whistle finally droned, and they were done for the night.  His symptoms had somewhat subsided, but the deep thirst persisted, and Orfeo thought he would stop for something to drink.

He was now driving southeastward on Victory Boulevard.  When he decided to stop, the symptoms returned with renewed vigor, and the new onslaught was frightening.  So refreshment was forgotten.  He must hurry home.  Also, it now seemed that his ears had become numbed, and traffic was a muffled, half-real rhythm of autos.

At Alameda Boulevard a red light stopped them.  Now his forehead, temples and eyes seemed to swell up so they might burst.  But still no pain was felt.  It appeared that the night became brighter, as a twilight haze.

Directly ahead, and a little higher than the car, a deep red, very faint oval object came in view.  It was nearly a circle.  The length was about five times the diameter of the traffic light.  It held his attention, and momentarily all symptoms were forgotten.

So red it was, yet so dim, that it appeared to be removed from substance or reality.

The signal changed and traffic moved forward.  The object did also, keeping its distance as an unreachable mirage.  Orfeo thought it must be some peculiar function of his eyes, and looked out to the left and to the right.  But the oval disc remained only in front.  It were as though an unseen truck rode ahead, with only a burgundy color insignia visible.  But it kept a definite true distance, noiselessly, as no truck on earth could have done.

A little farther ahead Sonora and Riverside merge into Victory Boulevard, and from there it was a clear stretch of Riverside Drive.  At this intersection the signal lights blink on and off in red, and a stop must be made before proceeding on.

As he stopped here all the symptoms became noticeable again.  The ghostly object was on the other side of the intersection, as though waiting for him to cross over, and intelligently active.  Orfeo had kept well to the right side while driving: yet some horns sounded for him to move on, and it occurred suddenly to him that no one else seemed aware of this object.  Perplexed he moved on, crossing to Riverside Drive, the "burgundy companion" keeping its distance, ahead of him.

A few yards ahead a small bridge crosses the Los Angeles River, and immediately past this bridge Forest Lawn Drive goes off to the right, a rather lonely stretch of road.

The object now seemed to come closer, more visible, and for the first time "approachable."  Orfeo's symptoms increased in intensity.  The tenseness and heat in the right arm became "heavy."  The object was now so close it seemed to be master, commanding, almost breathing.  There was yet not a sound from it, but as it went to the right Orfeo was impelled to do likewise, following it on Forest Lawn Drive.  He was in a way dissociated from the world, though at this point three municipalities merge: Los Angeles, Glendale, Burbank.  But something, someone had complete control and guidance of him, though he was at this time benumbed as to the actual situation, and felt associated with only this object, and its ethereal origin.

About one mile down Forest Lawn Drive his "companion" impelled him to drive off the road, onto a dirt platform, on the right side.  The platform ended to a seeming abrupt abyss of space, while to the left a cliff stretched upward.  Between these was the road, and Orfeo was conscious of occasional traffic passing.

At once the red object eased off and away, descending some, then ascending and accelerating away.  It went as a meteor, but disappeared in the sky without leaving even a spark.

Instantly something else took the place where it had just hurtled from.  Two effluorescent green discs, about 30 inches apart, and each about 30 inches in diameter were there, shimmering, like two bubbles perfectly suspended in air.  They appeared to be in a state of extreme agitation.

Hardly two seconds had elapsed from the moment the burgundy color object abruptly disappeared, a most delightful masculine voice suggested . . .

"Come out here."

Orfeo stepped out from the right side door.  Unafraid as yet, he closed it and stayed near to the front fender, unaware of his own movements.  There were only he and these two beautiful green discs.  All else was a dreamlike shadow in the background.  He knew of no world of existence, past or present.

What followed is here set down in the best recollection.  It can only be gathered as to who is doing the talking or the thinking . . .

"Orfeo, beloved friend—Greetings."

" . . . Greetings."

"Do you remember us?"

"Yes, . . . I mean, Yes, indeed."

"Your balloons in New Jersey — beloved friend."

(The voice was as mellow-dipped in the gold of the stars.  Who could know fear at this moment?)

"Yes, I saw your plane go with them."

"They saw, but saw not.  The world sees, but sees not.  This you know.  Orfeo, you are thirsty.  Ever so thirsty.  A bottle of drink for you."

On the fender of the car Orfeo "took up" a bottle, drinking the most satisfying "nectar" he had ever tasted, and thereby all symptoms and thirst vanished at once.  The voice then continued.

"You are still perplexed.  But the author of 'Worlds Are Mad Tonight' should not be.  Do you long to see Orion and Lyra?

"Yes, . . . Oh, yes."

The space between the two circles gradually became visible, as of indirect lighting, and much as a television screen.

Two images emerged, from shoulders up.  It is difficult to say what color hair or eyes, or any such details existed.  It seemed that all hues and colors were blended in one superb end.  Here indeed was a man and a woman near a possible ultimate of perfection.  There were evident no trinkets, no vanities, no artifices.  These exquisite personages conveyed at once a message that penetrated, even though they were silent and seemingly immobile.  There was easily felt a kindness, understanding, experience, moderation, complete joy of the five senses.  Life in full.  All this and not a word spoken.

The only clue that they were projections of living people, and not photographs, was that their eyes were at times looking at different parts of Orfeo, not always directly at his eyes.  Yet no movement had he ever detected.  They appeared anxious to look him over, as in a review rather than as the first time they had looked upon one of us.

These moments seemed interminable, though it is doubtful that more than three minutes elapsed during this projection.  And a world of thoughts were exchanged in complete silence.  He knew his were already known to them.

To think that such an experience were permitted to him.  He felt ashamed, as a criminal in the presence and sight of innocent ones.  Certainly he was far from deserving this.

They faded away, and there was a feeling that he and his whole environs were being swept with them, for he had lost contact even with the two circles on each side of that "screen."  But there they were with an emptiness again between them.  Again the voice:

"Orfeo—you are so confused.  But the ROAD WILL OPEN.  Write again the 'Nature of Infinite Entities.'  The road will open."

"I will.  I know I can—very soon.  Is it correct?"

"Enough.  Beloved friend; the enemy is formidable, and prepares (as yet classified information) . . . Again, the road will open."

"Thank you, great sir."  (Orfeo waited for him to emerge in view.)

"In all the world we came to three likely subjects to touch.  One from India.  One from Rome.  And one from Los Angeles."

"Thank you, sir."  Orfeo felt a fraternal belonging, as if the fine essences of man were one and that he had at this moment stepped over that threshold.

"Beloved Friend—goodnight."

Nothing more.  Silence and quiet.  The two green circles faded perceptibly.  There was a sudden darkness as the night was night again.

The Road Opens

He was alone;  there was now nothing as he remained momentarily looking at the spot.  This time a very faint "swoosh" rose and died at the spot where a moment ago a glowing promise was alive.  It was 2:00 o'clock in the morning, and as though nothing had happened, the city lights and all surroundings were again normal.
 
Two small green lights appeared in the northern sky, in the same location and proceeding in the same direction as the burgundy red disc had soared off in.  They, too, suddenly accelerated and disappeared.  Orfeo had the strange feeling of now not being at all associated with the phenomenon.
 
The realization of being here alone, for no apparent reason, and no vivid recollection of what must have been a "realistic and ordinary dream," opened up seven seas of bewildering fear upon him.  He rushed into the car, keeping collected as best he could, while the vehicle made a sharp left U-turn, screeching and nearly overturning.
 
When he reached home his wife excitedly asked him what was the matter with him in such a state of apprehension.  Orfeo could not bring himself to tell her, and she became fearful that perhaps something terrible had happened.  With great effort he laughed, and related some shadow incidents of which none were associated with the facts.  She was set at ease, yet remained in a distant attitude of askance, and Orfeo wondered sincerely if he were in a twilight world between sanity and insanity.
 
It was a neurotic sleep for him that night, the incident vividly recalled in the usual absurdity of such dream-sleep.

Magnificent Incredibles

In the morning he awoke into a new world.  In one sense reality seemed to have taken wings, while in another a new reality emerged.  It were as though finding oneself as the only person experiencing life, the only life in existence, and others were as phantoms and accessories in a bizarre one-man universe.  Anyone finding themselves in this dissociated feeling would make every effort to get back to the material actualities; to feel secure and let others occupy the hectic fronts of events.

Two days later he returned to the scene, with his son, Richard, 12 years.  Orfeo blurred off some hazy excuse for going there, which caused Richard to ask some questions.

There were many bottles lying around, but the one "out of this world" was nowhere in sight.  He told Richard that he had seen here what may have been a "flying saucer," and an automobile parked.  Surprisingly Richard was not too incredulous, and he pried Orfeo with questions that would do honor to an investigation official.

Raymond, 15 years old, was at home.  Both, as well as their mother, had in the long past solicited Orfeo's opinion on the flying discs, receiving only indifferent and scoffing replies.  Two often we ignore and ridicule our very own, and too often amends are made too late.  He was beginning to pay, for a different man was beginning to emerge; with a little more consideration and feeling.  It hurt to think back.

This would not be all.  Events were to develop that would place him in a position nearly utterly alone.  Life would flow along, and he would feel as an outside spectator, perhaps never again to feel a connected part of it.

Having returned to the scene seemed to bring a refreshing sense of reality, for he felt that the episode was something that had no substance, and would soon fall into the remote recesses of memory.  He felt relief in the fact that the news and public were discussing the aerial phenomena, and somehow the picture would soon become intelligible.  After all, there was science, to whom he could readily turn for practical reassurances.

______

Concerning the "as yet classified information," Angelucci related in Twentieth Century Times that he had contacted by telephone "the proper authorities . . . the important ones seemed to be very much interested . . . (The details, obviously cannot be divulged herein.)"  It would seem that someone had convinced Angelucci that details of his case were contrary to national interests although in the beginning section of his report he had asserted about the 'Space Visitors': "They Are friends . . . They cannot harm us; no more than the sun could.  One reason is that they would not under almost any circumstance . . . The 'flying saucers' actually prevented the free world from a swift and utter defeat, impending because of some secret strategies of 'an enemy.'  (Details are classified information, in our interest.)  For science, they are a first clue that universal forces exist which we have not yet been aware of, or tapped."

Here is the byline used by Angelucci from his publication:

Yours in service,

20th CENTURY TIMES,

Orfeo Angelucci, Editor.

Following Twentieth Century Times, an account of Orfeo Angelucci's first two contact experiences was presented in Mystic Magazine issue no. 1 in 1953.  The nonfiction book The Secret of the Saucers was published in 1955.