Ganado Arizona: Boomerang Craft Lands Near Navajo Elder Home, Small Beings Emerge Over Multiple Months
Beginning in late January 2009, the extended Gill family — an elderly Navajo couple and their adult children — on a remote property south of Ganado, Arizona on the Navajo Nation experienced a series of UAP encounters spanning approximately six months. The initial and most dramatic incident involved a boomerang-shaped craft attempting to land at the mouth of the family's driveway around 21:00. The craft emitted a bright white light and appeared to struggle with the tree line.
Four or five small beings, approximately four feet tall, emerged from a central door and walked in single file along the dirt road carrying bright flashlights. The beings showed particular interest in solar path lights, stopping at each one — every light extinguished as the beings examined it. Only one of the affected solar lights ever functioned again. Fresh snow from that afternoon revealed no footprints the next morning, despite the beings' path being clearly established.
A subsequent sighting approximately two to three weeks later provided size measurements: the craft was roughly 46 feet wide and 50 feet across, estimated at six feet tall. It appeared semi-translucent — the witnesses could see through the hull and observe small figures inside. Later sightings by other family members through June 2009 included two objects signaling to each other with red light flashes and a separate sighting of a multicolored light cluster.
Animal anomalies followed: one dog suffered a precise scalpel-type wound running shoulder to shoulder with all hair and skin removed; it later became aggressive and had to be destroyed. A second dog that had confronted the beings also became violent. Seven puppies disappeared simultaneously. BAASS and the Navajo Rangers investigated the site in July 2010; all instrument readings (radiation, electromagnetic, soil elemental analysis) were within normal ranges.
Background
The Ganado boomerang encounters of 2009 represent one of the most sustained and multi-witness UAP cases investigated by BAASS under the AAWSAP program. The Gill family—a full-blooded Navajo elder (Richard Gill), his wife (Betty Gill), and their adult children—experienced anomalous craft and beings over approximately six months from late January to June 2009 on their remote property south of Ganado, Arizona.
Incident 1 Late January 2009, approximately 21:00: Richard Gill was alone (Betty hospitalized). Alerted by his dog's barking, he observed a boomerang-shaped craft radiating bright white light near the driveway mouth.
The craft attempted landing but was impeded by trees, bobbing up and down. Four or five small beings (~four feet tall) exited through a central door, proceeding in single file along the dirt road with flashlights emitting intensely white light.
They examined solar path lights to the outhouse; each light went out upon inspection—only one functioned again. The dog ran toward them, yelped from the tree line, and changed behavior permanently; no footprints in fresh snow; beings wore dark goggles, floated silently, vanished when Richard tripped outside.
Incident 2 Early to mid-February 2009: Richard and Betty observed the craft from their vehicle on the main road, positioned low on the north side.
It appeared white, dull, semi-translucent; they saw small people moving inside. BAASS calculated ~46 feet wide by 50 feet across, height ~six feet via landmarks and beings' scale.
Subsequent Sightings - Austin Gill (eldest son): Boomerang hovering along southwest ridgeline ~5 minutes; initially cylindrical, turned to reveal shape; blue-green light confined to craft vicinity, not illuminating snow below. - Mitchell Gill and Richard: Two objects with red lights on ridge signaling— one flashed multiple times, other responded identically. - Adam Gill (grandson), June 2009: Bright round orange-red light (campfire-colored) with three smaller lights (red on sides, blue below) in triangle; motionless ~10 minutes before fading.
Animal Anomalies - Richard's dog (confronted beings): Became permanently aggressive, bit Austin multiple times on arm/wrist ~1 month later; destroyed. - Sheepdog at secondary property (~1 mile south): Precise scalpel-type wound shoulder-to-shoulder, 1-2 inches wide, hair/skin cleanly removed; inconsistent with attack/accident; maimed lambs 2 weeks later, destroyed. - Seven puppies of aunt (Maria Wood) in first hogan disappeared simultaneously; family deemed anomalous.
Investigation BAASS/Navajo Rangers, July 12-15, 2010: Discovered via news article on separate Whiteriver, AZ incident, contacted Navajo Rangers.
Lt. Jonathan Dover confirmed Rangers' credible assessment of Gills. Led by Larry Grossmann (BAASS Chief of Investigations/Security) and Dr. Leon Campbell (BAASS Senior Scientist); assisted by Sgt. Stanley Milford Jr., interpreter Ranger Roger Singer (Richard spoke no English).
Findings:
- Alpha, beta, gamma radiation: Normal.
- Soil XRF: Normal elements (iron, titanium, calcium, potassium); barium/strontium elevated but geology-consistent.
- EM/RF sweep (100 kHz-9.4 GHz): Expected signals only.
- 3D static magnetic field: Normal Earth values.