Researcher Jerome Clark describes the account as "surely the most outlandish story in early UFO history [and] also one of the most obscure". The story earned a brief, 11 paragraph, mention in a local newspaper in 1950 (on April 1, leading some to suspect the entire story was a hoax or prank), and the full story was not publicized until more than three decades afterwards.
Researcher Jerome Clark considers this account "undoubtedly the most extraordinary story from early UFO history" and also one of the least recognized. The tale was briefly mentioned in a local newspaper on April 1, 1950 (which led some to suspect it might be a hoax or prank), and the full details were not revealed until after several decades.