The Man in Dark Blue

The Contraption

Everyone knows that the sinister Men in Black travel in threes, drive antique Cadillacs, and wear black suits with matching Homburgs. In reality, few cases conform to this neat stereotype. The MIB who harassed UFO witness Carlo Rossi wore a dark blue suit and had neither hat nor Cadillac. He was, however, equipped with some remarkably potent cigarettes.

Early on the morning of July 25 1952, Rossi set out to fish the River Serchio at San Pietro a Vico. As he was walking along the river bank, he noticed a bright light reflecting in the water downstream. He scrambled up the embankment to get a better view and saw a bizarre circular craft hovering over the water.

carlo rossi

A newspaper illustration of the quaint craft

The central disc section of the craft was 20 meters wide. Spaced around the rim were five propellers The machine was topped by a transparent cupola with three helicopter-style rotors. On the underside was a narrow turret equipped with landing gear.

The craft lowered a tube into the river and began sucking up water. As Rossi stood watching, a porthole in the turret was flung open. A figure wearing an old-fashioned aviators cap and flying goggles peered out and pointed straight at him, as if indicating him to a companion.

Thinking discretion the better part of valour, Rossi took to his heels. Seconds later, a green ray of light shot over his head, giving him a mild electric shock. As he flung himself to the ground, the craft rose slowly above the embankment and sped away.

The Man in Dark Blue

Rossi told no one of his experience for fear of being ridiculed. Nevertheless, one evening two months later while he was fishing at his usual spot, a man in a dark blue suit approached and asked if he had seen any "flying machines" near the river.

The stranger had an oddly angular face and spoke with a strong Scandinavian accent. Rossi was so unnerved by him that he denied seeing anything out of the ordinary.

The man offered him a cigarette branded with an unfamiliar gold mark. Rossi accepted it and lit it. After taking only a couple of puffs he began to feel giddy and nauseous. The stranger snatched the cigarette from his mouth, crumpled it up and threw it into the river. Then he turned and walked away without saying another word.

Related External Links:

Propeller-Powered Saucers
A compilation of cases from Magonia's Martin Kottmeyer.

Sources

Orbis Publishing: The Paranormal Files, pp128-129.