The Cisco Grove UFO Incident: Don Shrum's 1964 Alien Encounter in Tahoe National Forest
The bizarre events of September 1964 in Northern California's Tahoe National Forest stand at the intersection of military investigation and unexplained aerial phenomena. Captain McLoy and Sergeant Barnes, dispatched from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, traveled cross-country to investigate what was classified as a high-priority UFO sighting involving reported entities. While the Air Force regularly dismissed 99% of such reports as explainable phenomena or hoaxes, this case carried unusual significance, warranting immediate attention under "usual protocols."
At the center of this mysterious incident was Donald Shrum, a missile technician from Aerojet Corporation who had been bow hunting with friends when he became separated in the wilderness. What began as a simple hunting trip transformed into a terrifying night-long encounter when Shrum, seeking safety in a tall pine tree, witnessed unusual lights and what appeared to be a massive cylindrical craft with illuminated openings. The experience challenged everything Shrum believed about reality as he observed what seemed to be smaller craft and heard something approaching his position through the underbrush.
Key Takeaways
A high-priority UFO investigation in 1964 dispatched Air Force personnel across the country to California's Tahoe National Forest.
Donald Shrum, a missile technician, reported encountering a massive cylindrical craft while stranded alone in the wilderness.
The case represents one of the rare 1% of UFO reports that defied conventional explanation and warranted special military attention.
The Dispatch from Wright-Patterson AFB
In September 1964, Captain McLoy and Sergeant Barnes were sent from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base to investigate an unusual UFO sighting in Northern California. This wasn't a routine mission - the cross-country deployment indicated the Air Force considered this case significant.
Wright-Patterson regularly processed UFO reports, with 99% typically having conventional explanations. Many were simply hoaxes from attention-seekers. The remaining 1% received the official UFO classification and were forwarded to Project Blue Book for further investigation.
The teletype report McLoy carried bore an unusual priority stamp. Its contents were striking: "UFO landing with entities reported by missile technician in Tahoe NF Sacramento orders investigate and contain via usual protocols ASAP." For McLoy, a 17-year veteran investigator, this would prove to be his strangest case yet.
The witness was Donald Shum, an Aerojet Corporation welder who worked on Polaris and Titan nuclear missiles. Shum had been bow hunting with two colleagues, Vincent Alvarez and Tim Blood, in the Tahoe National Forest when he became separated from his group.
Finding himself lost as darkness fell, Shum climbed a large pine tree on a cliff to avoid predators. He secured himself with his military-style belt and prepared to stay awake through the night. While fighting sleep, he spotted a light through the trees.
Initially believing it was a rescue helicopter, Shum lit signal fires and began waving. As the light approached within 50 yards, he realized it made no sound. Quickly extinguishing his fires, he returned to his perch in the tree, hoping his camouflage clothing would conceal him.
The light, approximately 8-10 inches across, moved slowly through the darkness. As it swayed, Shum could make out the true form of the craft - an enormous black cylinder about 150 feet long, comparable to a 14-story building on its side.
Three horizontal slits of light appeared on the craft's hull, expanding into tall rectangular openings. From the middle opening, a flash preceded the launch of a smaller craft that shot down the canyon. This smaller vessel, resembling the classic flying saucer shape, eventually floated up to the ridge near Shum's location.
Terrified but motionless, Shum could hear only the wind and his pounding heartbeat. After what felt like an eternity, the silence was broken by the sound of branches breaking and undergrowth rustling. Something was approaching his tree.
Project Blue Book and UFO Investigations
Project Blue Book served as the U.S. Air Force's systematic study of unidentified flying objects from 1952 to 1969. Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio functioned as the central hub for collecting and investigating UFO reports nationwide. Air Force personnel like Captain McLoy and Sergeant Barnes regularly conducted field investigations of significant sightings.
Most UFO reports (approximately 99%) received logical explanations through investigation. These included misidentified aircraft, weather phenomena, and deliberate hoaxes. The remaining cases, classified as unexplained, were forwarded to Project Blue Book for further analysis.
The investigation process followed standard protocols. When significant cases emerged, Air Force personnel would travel to interview witnesses, gather evidence, and document findings. Priority notifications marked particularly unusual reports that required immediate attention.
In September 1964, one such case emerged when Donald Shum, a missile technician from Sacramento working for Aerojet Corporation, reported an encounter in the Tahoe National Forest. The Air Force considered this case notable because:
The witness had technical expertise (worked on Polaris and Titan nuclear missiles)
The report included claims of a craft and entities
The location was near strategic military installations
The official report contained these key details:
Date: September 4, 1964
Location: Cisco Grove area, Tahoe National Forest
Witness: Donald Shum (missile technician)
Description: Large cylindrical craft approximately 150 feet long with horizontal light slits
Investigators documented Shum's account of being separated from his hunting companions and climbing a tree for safety. From this vantage point, he observed an unusual light approach, which he initially mistook for a rescue helicopter. The witness claimed the craft deployed a smaller vessel described as saucer-shaped with a blinking light.
After Project Blue Book's closure in 1969, thousands of documents were declassified. Many investigation files, including those of unexplained cases, became available to researchers and the public through the Freedom of Information Act.
Encounter in Tahoe National Forest
Official Alert and Response Directive
The incident began with an unusual teletype communication received at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. Unlike the vast majority of UFO reports that came through this facility, this particular alert carried a special priority marker. The directive was explicit: "UFO landing with entities reported by missile technician in Tahoe National Forest, Sacramento. Orders: investigate and contain via established protocols immediately." This notification prompted the immediate dispatch of investigation personnel from Ohio to California—a cross-country deployment that indicated the seriousness with which this report was being treated.
Investigation Methodology and Personnel Assignment
Captain McClory, accompanied by Sergeant Barnes, was tasked with the investigation. Having spent 17 years reviewing UFO claims, McClory approached the case with experienced caution. His standard procedure included thorough witness interviews, site examination, and evidence collection. The Air Force had developed systematic protocols for such incidents, as approximately 99% of reported UFO sightings ultimately received conventional explanations. Many were submitted by attention-seekers, while the remaining 1% were classified as genuine UFOs and forwarded to Project Blue Book for further analysis. McClory's assignment to travel such a significant distance indicated this case had already been flagged as potentially falling within that critical 1% category.
Witness Account from Defense Contractor Employee
On Friday, September 4, 1964, Donald Shum, a missile technician employed by Aerojet Corporation, ventured into Cisco Grove with two colleagues—Vincent Alvarez and Tim Bloodworth. As a welder specializing in Polaris and Titan nuclear missile systems, Don sought relief from workplace stress through bow hunting in Tahoe National Forest. The three men established a base camp before separating to hunt within shouting distance.
By sunset, Don realized he had become disoriented in the forest. Unable to contact his companions and concerned about predators, he climbed a tall pine tree situated on a cliff edge. He secured himself with his military-style belt as a safety harness and prepared to spend the night elevated above ground.
While fighting drowsiness, Don noticed a light moving through the trees. Initially believing it was a search helicopter, he descended to light signal fires. As the light approached to within 50 yards, Don realized it produced no sound. He quickly extinguished his fires and returned to his elevated position.
The light, approximately 8-10 inches across, was emanating from what Don described as an enormous black cylindrical craft approximately 150 feet long. The craft's light beam methodically scanned the canyon before stopping. Three horizontal slits of light appeared on the craft's hull, expanding into tall rectangular openings. From the middle opening, a smaller craft emerged and flew down the canyon before rising to Don's ridge line.
This smaller vessel, resembling the classic "flying saucer" shape with a blinking light on top, stopped near Don's position. Frozen with fear, Don could hear only the wind and his own heartbeat as he gripped his bow with white knuckles. After approximately five minutes, the sound of breaking branches and rustling foliage indicated something was moving through the underbrush directly toward his tree.
The Enigmatic Tale of Donald Shrum
Preparing for a Weekend Hunt
Donald Shrum and his friends Vincent Alvarez and Tim Bloodworth planned a relaxing bow hunting trip to Cisco Grove in September 1964. They traveled approximately 80 miles from Sacramento toward Lake Tahoe, seeking deer in the Tahoe National Forest. As a welder at Aerojet Corporation, Shrum worked on Polaris and Titan nuclear missiles, making this peaceful retreat essential for stress relief. The group chose bow hunting since firearms were prohibited in the National Forest during that season. This suited Shrum perfectly as he preferred the quiet, authentic experience that bow hunting provided.
Navigation Error and Isolation
After setting up camp, the three men spread out through the forest while staying within shouting distance. When dusk approached, Shrum decided to return to camp but soon realized he had become disoriented. His calls to his companions went unanswered. With nightfall approaching and temperatures dropping, Shrum faced a difficult decision. Reports of bears and predators in the area made sleeping on the ground unsafe. He located a tall pine tree on a cliff edge and climbed to a safe height. Using his military-style belt as a harness, he secured himself to a sturdy branch where he intended to remain vigilant through the night.
Unusual Aerial Phenomenon
While fighting drowsiness, Shrum noticed a light moving through the trees. Initially, he believed forest service rescuers were searching for him by helicopter. He quickly descended, lit signal fires, and began waving to attract attention. As the light approached within 50 yards, Shrum realized something was wrong—the object produced no sound. Alarmed, he extinguished his fires and climbed back into the tree. The floating light, approximately 8-10 inches across, began sweeping methodically across the landscape. This scanning motion revealed a massive black cylindrical craft, estimated at 150 feet long—comparable to a 14-story building positioned horizontally. Three horizontal slits of light appeared on the craft, expanding into tall, narrow rectangles. From the middle opening, a flash produced another smaller craft that shot down the canyon.
Treetop Observation and Mounting Fear
The smaller vessel, resembling classic flying saucer descriptions, ascended to the ridgeline near Shrum's tree. It featured a blinking light on top and hovered silently nearby. Shrum remained motionless despite his intense fear. The eerie silence magnified his terror—he could hear wind currents and his own heartbeat pounding in his ears. As a pragmatic man with no previous belief in UFOs, this encounter contradicted everything he understood about reality. Gripping his bow so tightly his knuckles whitened, Shrum endured five minutes of paralyzing fear. Then he heard branches breaking and underbrush rustling—something was approaching his tree directly.
Aftermath of the Extraterrestrial Encounter
Captain McLoy's investigation into the 1964 Tahoe National Forest incident stands as one of the most compelling UFO encounters documented in Project Blue Book records. The high-priority notification from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base—marked "UFO landing with entities reported by missile technician"—distinguished this case from routine reports.
Donald Shum's ordeal began as a simple bow hunting trip with colleagues Vincent Alvarez and Tim Blood. As a missile welder for Aerojet Corporation, Shum sought relaxation in the wilderness, not an otherworldly confrontation.
Finding himself separated from his companions as darkness fell, Shum made a practical decision to climb a tall pine tree for safety. This survival choice inadvertently positioned him as a witness to something extraordinary.
The cylindrical craft he observed measured approximately 150 feet in length—comparable to a fourteen-story building positioned horizontally. Its silent movement and searching beam defied conventional aircraft capabilities of the era.
Most significant was Shum's observation of three illuminated openings on the craft's hull, followed by the deployment of a smaller disc-shaped vessel. The secondary craft's proximity to Shum's position created a terrifying predicament as he struggled to remain motionless despite his fear.
The sound of breaking branches and rustling underbrush approaching his tree position marked a critical escalation in the encounter. Whatever emerged from the craft was now moving directly toward Shum's location.
This case represents the rare 1% of reports that defied explanation and received special classification within Air Force investigations. The fact that investigators were dispatched cross-country from Ohio to California underscores the significance authorities placed on Shum's experience.
Aftermath and Impact on UFO Research
The Cisco Grove incident profoundly affected UFO investigation protocols within military channels. After McLoy and Barnes completed their investigation from Wright Patterson Air Force Base, the case was classified among the rare 1% of sightings forwarded to Project Blue Book with the unusual priority notification stamp. This classification procedure highlighted the military's internal ranking system for UFO encounters, particularly those involving reported entities.
Donald Shum's experience transformed from a personal trauma into a significant data point in government UFO research. His professional background as a missile technician at Aerojet Corporation – working specifically on Polaris and Titan nuclear missiles – gave his account additional credibility with military investigators. The technical nature of his employment made his detailed observations particularly valuable to researchers.
The incident contributed to the growing tension between public disclosure and military containment protocols. McLoy and Barnes were dispatched with orders to "investigate and contain via usual protocols," revealing the established procedures for handling high-credibility sightings. These containment measures represented standard operating procedure when civilians encountered phenomena the Air Force preferred to manage discreetly.
Wright Patterson AFB's role as a central collection point for UFO reports became more evident through this case. The base's investigative team had developed significant expertise in distinguishing between the 99% of explainable sightings and the more concerning 1% that required deeper analysis. This sorting function served as a critical filter in the government's UFO information management system.
The case highlighted the geographic reach of military UFO investigations in the mid-1960s. Despite occurring in Northern California's Tahoe National Forest, the incident prompted an immediate cross-country response from Ohio-based personnel, demonstrating the national security implications attached to credible UFO landing reports during this period.
Military investigators' interest in the case stemmed partly from the detailed nature of Shum's encounter. Unlike many vague sightings, Shum described specific dimensions of the craft (approximately 150 feet long), its cylindrical shape, distinctive lighting patterns, and the deployment of a smaller craft. These technical details provided investigators with concrete elements to analyze rather than merely subjective impressions.
The timing of the incident in September 1964 placed it during a significant period in American UFO research history. This era represented the mature phase of Project Blue Book operations before the program's eventual termination in 1969. Cases from this period received thorough documentation within the classified system while public skepticism was simultaneously being encouraged.
Donald Shum's transformation from UFO skeptic to witness exemplified a pattern investigators often encountered. Before his experience, Shum "hadn't believed in UFOs or aliens" and "considered himself a regular guy" – the typical profile of credible witnesses whose worldview was suddenly challenged by inexplicable encounters. This aspect of his testimony likely strengthened the case's credibility in official assessment.
The case demonstrated the psychological impact of close encounters on witnesses. Shum's physical reactions – trembling, tight grip on his bow, and heightened awareness of his own heartbeat – were consistent with genuine fear responses documented in other high-credibility cases. These physiological details often served as important evaluation factors for military investigators assessing witness reliability.
Military investigators recognized the significance of multiple-witness cases versus solo encounters. Although Shum was alone during the actual sighting, his separation from hunting companions Vincent Alvarez and Tim Blood provided investigators with corroborating witnesses who could confirm his normal behavior before the incident and his changed demeanor afterward.
