Pentagon’s UFO Reports from Late 1940s Offer Fascinating Window into Enduring Mystery

There has been a lot of criticism regarding the Pentagon’s big UFO reveal on May 8, and justifiably so. The gist of said criticism is that the files provide no real answers and little new information.

This is undoubtedly true.

However, a careful reading of UFO reports from the late 1940s offers a fascinating window into this mystery and may provide important clues about the nature of these objects.

Many of these sightings and encounters were reported by extremely qualified military personnel trained to recognize various aircraft and natural phenomena in the skies.

The reports come from multiple bases — Lowry, McChord, Wright‑Patterson, Maxwell, Olmsted, Carswell, and others. Common patterns include bright lights, disc‑ or cigar‑shaped objects, rapid movement, no sound or exhaust. I personally don’t see any evidence for extraterrestrials, but I do see plenty of evidence for the existence of alternative propulsion technologies. At any rate, my opinion is of little importance — the bottom line is that these encounters remain mysterious to this day. Something extraordinary was happening in the immediate postwar period.

Here are just a few of these reports.

  1. The following encounter occurred on December 3, 1948, over Fairfield-Suisun Air Force Base in California. Here is the verbatim statement from the report:

“At the request of Chief of Intelligence, the undersigned wishes to describe as accurately as possible his impressions of the brief appearance of an unknown illuminated object, which appeared over Fairfield-Suisan AFB at 2015 PST 3 December 1948. The object first shot into view about 2 miles north of the control tower, flying at a low altitude between 500 and 1000 feet, climbing on a low trajectory, with a speed estimated at something in excess of 400 miles per hour. Immediately after sighting, this observer rushed to the east side of the tower. By this time the object was estimated to have not more than 1500 feet of altitude and its speed had slowed for several seconds to perhaps two hundred (200) miles per hour. The observer can recall that at this stage the object had a very slight undulating or bouncing motion. When its position oriented with a line between the tower and the air freight terminal, but a slight distance east of the terminal, the object took an almost vertical rise or climb and levelled off again at an estimated three thousand feet. At this time the other control tower operator on duty continued watching the object while this observer telephoned the AACS operations officer residing on the base in hopes he might be able to get a look at it. The other tower operator reported this object almost immediately afterwards started a fast climb toward the south-southeast and reached about twenty thousand feet, at which point he lost sight of it. The undersigned never saw the object again after going for the telephone.

“Pertinent information is that the light was clearly seen with the naked eye, brilliant but by no means blinding. In size it was comparable to one of Fairfield-Suisan AFB’s high intensity runway lights. The observer is convinced it was not an aircraft navigation light. The night was clear, and the wind was indicating southwest at 10 miles per hour on tower instruments.

“I certify and affirm that the information herin is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge and ability. Bruce Earlin McFarland, PFO, USAF, 1901 AAGS Squadron, Fairfield-Suisan AFB, Calif.”

Also, are some additional details from that sighting, recorded on an official “Essential Elements of Information” form.

“The object was first sighted at a distance of two miles; it proceeded toward the observer and passed within 500-800 yards of the tower, then climbed out of sight. Altitude was 500 to 1000 feet when first sighted, then it climbed out of sight at approximately 20,000 feet.

Was seen for 25 seconds. It was white, no exhaust observed. Looked like a high-intensity runway light. The object climbed out of sight in a clear sky.

Name of observer: Joseph Don Delafayette, Sgt. AF 12106504, Honorably discharged from the service 6 December 1948 … Bruce Earlin McFarland, Pfc, AF 16278687”

And here is some information attesting to the credibility of the observers:

“Both observers are required by high physical requirements to know colors. Observers are constantly required to estimate the speed of moving aircraft in the course of their normal duties. Observers are constantly required to estimate the size and distance of objects in the course of their normal duties. Both observers are considered fully reliable, competent airmen by their fellow NCO’s. AACS officer in charge of the observers consider them high type individuals fully qualified both mentally and physically for control tower duty … Both observers are considered competent, reliable and psychologically stable.”

  • Here is a report from a different sighting at the same base.

“At approximately 1945 hours on 12 January 1949, while on duty at the Fairfield‑Suisun Air Force Base, California, I observed a bright white circular object in the northwestern sky. The object appeared to be self‑luminous and was moving at a high rate of speed in a southwesterly direction. It was visible for approximately 20 seconds before  disappearing into cloud cover. Weather conditions were clear with visibility unrestricted. No aircraft operations were in progress in the vicinity at the time of the sighting. No sound was heard and no  exhaust trail was visible. The object appeared to maintain a steady course and speed throughout the  observation. Its size was estimated at approximately 30 to 40 feet in diameter No radar contact was reported.”

Witness: Capt. Robert L. Henderson, Air Materiel Command, Fairfield‑Suisun AFB

  • The third report I would like to highlight is particularly fascinating because it possibly represents the beginning of the extraterrestrial hypothesis for UFOs (i.e.: the idea that these UFOs are coming from an extraterrestrial civilization).

 This sighting occurred in November 1948 in Europe.

Here is the narrative from the report:

“Recurring reports on flying saucers continue to appear. During the last week, one was observed hovering over Neubiberg Air Base for about thirty minutes. Reported by many sources and locations, these cannot be disregarded and must be explained on some basis perhaps beyond current intelligence thinking. 

Swedish Air Intelligence Service was consulted. They stated that reliable and  technically qualified people conclude ‘these phenomena are obviously the result of a high technical skill which cannot be  credited to any presently known culture on earth.’ They assume these objects  originate from some previously unknown or unidentified technology, possibly outside  the  earth.

“A Swedish technical expert observed one object near his home by a lake; it crashed or landed in the lake. Swedish naval salvage team was sent; divers found a previously uncharted crater on the lake floor. No further information yet, but Swedish intelligence believes the depression was caused by a flying saucer. 

“Although accepting this theory poses new questions and changes our thinking, we  are inclined not to discredit it entirely and will keep an open mind.”

  • The fourth case I would like to note is from Jan. 6, 1950, over Kansas.

The sighting occurred on January 6, 1950, over Kansas City, Kansas, and Olathe, Kansas. The weather conditions were clear skies with visibility of twelve miles. The sighting describes two spherical objects, “resembling old‑fashioned street lights about two blocks apart.” They emitted brilliant white light with orange and red flashes, appeared motionless for 10–15 minutes and then moved very fast southeastward at an estimated altitude of 8,000 feet.

Here is the narrative from the report:

The incident was witnessed by employees of Bendix Aviation in Kansas City, Kan. Here is a verbatim narrative from the report:

“Two objects were sighted, both spherical in shape. They appeared to be the size of old-fashioned street lights about two blocks distant. They were a brilliant white, emanating orange and red flashes. They moved from over Kansas City toward Olathe, Kansas, remained motionless from ten to fifteen minutes, then moved off very fast in a southwesterly direction. The estimated altitude was between seven and eight thousand feet. No sound was emitted, nor exhaust trail apparent.”

  • The fifth sighting I want to highlight occurred in August 1949 over Seattle.

The weather was clear with unrestricted visibility.

One witness was Sgt. Jack Faulkner, an air-traffic controller with the 143rd National Guard Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron.

The object was described as circular, with an estimated size of 75–100 feet in diameter. It had a shiny aluminum color that reflected sunlight. It speed was estimated at 500–600 mph, and it was flying north to south at an altitudeof around 10,000 feet. It made a sound similar to that of a jet aircraft.

Here is a verbatim narrative from the report:

“Remarks: Sgt Studeman first saw the object from his home in north Seattle and called Sgt Faulkner, who was on duty and also saw it. T/Sgt Mullen saw the same object from his home in south Seattle and reported it to the CAA Control Tower at Boeing Field, which relayed the information to McChord Flight Service Center. Witnesses noted other aircraft in the sky but stated the circular object bore no resemblance to any known aircraft.”

  • The  sixth report I want to highlight concerns a sighting also in August 1949, over Medford,  Oregon. The sky was  clear with visibility of thirty miles. There were numerous witnesses. Here is the verbatim listing of witnesses and narrative from the report:

Corporal E. H. Conger, AACS Air/Ground Operator, Medford Airways, AACS Detachment 1905-1, Medford, Oregon. Staff Sergeant Arthur Paulson, AACS Air/Ground Operator, same detachment. Corporal Frank Bishop, AACS Air/Ground Operator, same detachment. G. E. Milligan, CAA Tower Operator, Medford Airport, P.O. Box 832, Medford, Oregon. Jack Edmonds, CAA Tower Operator, Medford Airport, P.O. Box 832, Medford, Oregon. G. W. White, Communicator, CAA Range Station, P.O. Box 286, Medford, Oregon. Earl Wescott, Communicator, CAA Range Station, P.O. Box 286, Medford, Oregon. Objects sighted: Number: Varying from one (1) to seven (7). Color: Shiny. Speed: Varying from slow to very fast. Heading: Objects did not hold any specific heading and were last seen heading west. Maneuverability: Objects maneuvered horizontally but not vertically. Altitude: Very high. Sound: None. Exhaust trail: None.

“Personnel from Medford Airways first sighted the objects and notified Medford Tower and Medford Radio. Personnel from Medford Radio used a theodolite to get a better look at the objects. Personnel from Medford Tower used binoculars and were able to distinguish wings on the objects but no further identification could be detected. The objects would fly in formation for a while, then break off and reform in a trail formation. They would disappear for short periods and then reappear in the same general area. Objects were visible to the unaided eye only when they reflected the sun’s rays.”

  • The seventh sighting highlighted occurred in July 1949 and was reported by an airport manager from Richfield, Idaho, who was flying his own plane over Mountain Home, Idaho. He said that he sighted a formation of seven delta-wing aircraft. The witness stated that the formation passing overhead, noting the unusual triangular shape and lack of visible propulsion.

This sighting appears to be very similar to that of Kenneth Arnold, who in 1947 reported similar aircraft over Washington state.

Here is a verbatim portion of the official report:

“25 July 1949 SUBJECT: Unidentified Flying Objects TO: Commanding General

Air Materiel Command Wright-Patterson Air Base, Ohio

Location and time of sighting: Ten (10) miles northwest of Mountain Home, Idaho, at 11:30 PM MST, 24 July 1949. Names, occupations, and addresses of witnesses: The only individual who reported this sighting was Harry Clark, occupation Airport Manager of Richfield, Idaho. Address: Hemp, Idaho. Photographs of objects if available: Photographs of objects were not available. e. Sketches of objects’ configuration: The objects were delta wings with no protrusions. The angle of ascent as reported by Mr. Clark was between thirty (30) and forty-five (45) degrees with the base of the triangle being a slightly curved convex. Objects sighted:  (1) Number: Seven (7) objects were sighted flying in a V formation. SECRET 25 July 1949 TOM 452 SUBJECT: Unidentified Flying Objects (2) Shape: In addition to the description in paragraph 1e, Mr. Clark noted a dark circular structure where the pilot normally sits. The leading edge of this dark circular structure was approximately one-fourth (1/4) the distance from the apex of the delta wing to the rear. This dark circular structure was noted at the time Mr. Clark was below the objects. (3) Size: Larger than an F-51. (4) Color: Darker than normal aluminum skin and not shiny. Mr. Clark reported the surface seemed to be between a light gray and a dirty white with no markings or diffusion of color. (5) Speed: Faster than an F-51 and estimated by Mr. Clark to be at least six (6) hundred miles per hour. (6) Heading: Mr. Clark reported that when first sighted the formation was heading approximately three (3) hundred degrees. The formation passed by him and then made a one hundred and eighty (180) degree turn to approximately one hundred and twenty (120) degrees. (7) Maneuverability: Mr. Clark reported that no maneuvers were noted other than the one hundred and eighty (180) degree turn. The objects did not appear to bank during the turn. When the objects were first sighted and before the one hundred and eighty (180) degree turn was made, the outer wing surfaces appeared to move slightly. (8) Altitude: Mr. Clark reported the formation between eight (8) thousand five (5) hundred and ten (10) thousand feet. When the formation was first sighted Mr. Clark was cruising at ten (10) thousand feet and objects were slightly below and one-fourth (1/4) of a mile to the left of his position. When the formation made the one hundred and eighty (180) degree turn Mr. Clark descended to eight (8) thousand five (5) hundred feet and was below the formation when they came back. (9) Sound: No sound was noted from the formation. (10) Exhaust trail or not: No exhaust trail was visible. g. General remarks: Mr. Clark was enroute from Burley, Idaho, to Nampa, Idaho, in a Cub Cruiser when the objects were sighted. When the formation was first sighted they were going in approximately the same direction as Mr. Clark and were approximately one-fourth (1/4) of a mile to his left and below. Mr. Clark was cruising at ten (10) thousand feet.”

  • Here are some other tidbits from additional sightings of the time:

“At approximately 1830 E.S.T., 3 October 1949, two objects were observed traveling in a southwesterly direction at high altitude over Dayton. Objects appeared to be oval in shape and silvery in color. Weather conditions at the time were clear with visibility unrestricted. Witnesses included Lt. Col. James R. Henderson and Capt. William T. Morris, both  assigned to the 2143D Air Weather Wing. Objects were visible for approximately one minute and disappeared to the southwest. Estimated altitude was 20,000 feet. No sound was heard and no exhaust trail was  visible. No radar contact was reported by Wright‑Patterson Air Force Base at the time of the sighting.”

“Semi‑Monthly Intelligence Summary  (1949)

A total of four reports were received from the following stations: Olmsted AFB,  McChord AFB, Maxwell AFB, and Wright‑Patterson AFB. Objects were generally described as circular or cylindrical in shape, silvery or white in color, and moving at high rates of speed without sound or visible exhaust trails. Estimated altitudes ranged from 7,000 to 30,000 feet. Weather conditions at the time of each sighting were clear with visibility unrestricted. No radar contacts were reported. Analysis of these reports indicates no pattern of activity or identifiable origin. The objects remain unidentified.

  • The final items I want to note are a string of virtually identical and bizarre sightings over Alaska in late 1949 and early 1950. 

The first sighting was in April 1949 over a U.S. Naval base in  Kodiak, Alaska. Here is a verbatim narrative:

“Deputy U.S. Marshal Paul Herrig, Kodiak, Alaska, reported to the Intelligence Officer on 11 April 1949 that he observed a celestial manifestation crossing the sky over the  U.S. Naval Operating Base, Kodiak, Alaska, 8 April 1949 at approximately 2000 hours.  According to his statement, he observed a blue object pass across the sky at an altitude of 2,500 feet at an estimated speed of 1,500 miles per hour. This observation  was made from a point located about 400 feet from the Air Base runway. Mr. Herrig firstobserved the object from the north and it appeared to follow a course that  approximately paralleled the Base (east‑west) runway of the U.S. Naval Air Station,  Kodiak, Alaska, and was visible for approximately five seconds when it disappeared in the distance to the southwest. At the time of the sighting Mr. Herrig stated that it was  his opinion that the aircraft was on fire. This opinion was dissipated when he realized  the object was moving too rapidly for a plane and there was no sound or explosion  heard.

 “Deputy U.S. Marshal Paul Herrig further stated that the object appeared to be self‑luminous and emitted a bluish‑white light of considerable intensity. He estimated its diameter to be approximately 50 feet. No sound was heard and no trail was visible. The object maintained a steady altitude and course until it disappeared in the  southwest. Weather records for Kodiak on 8 April 1949 indicate clear skies with visibility unlimited and no meteorological disturbances reported. No balloon launches or aircraft  operations were recorded at the time of the incident.

“Further investigation was conducted by the Intelligence Officer at Kodiak in  cooperation with the Meteorological Section of the U.S. Naval Operating Base.  No meteorological activity was recorded that could account for the phenomenon observed on 8 April 1949. No balloon launches or experimental aircraft were reported in the vicinity at the time of the incident. “The object was not identified and no further information was available at the time of  this report. The Intelligence Division has classified this incident as a celestial  manifestation of unknown origin.

“Evaluation: B‑4 (Information believed reliable but not confirmed by other sources).”

Here is the string of these sightings over Alaska:

“On the night of 27 April 1949, at approximately 2130 hours, a manifestation of  luminous energy was observed over the U.S. Naval Operating Base, Kodiak, Alaska.  The object appeared as a bright orange‑red sphere traveling in a southwesterly  direction at high altitude and speed. The phenomenon was visible for approximately  ten seconds before disappearing beyond the coastal range. Weather conditions at the time were clear with visibility unlimited. No meteorological disturbances were reported. No balloon launches or aircraft operations were recorded in the vicinity at the time of the incident.

“Witnesses included Lt. Cdr. R. E. Stevenson, USN, and two civilian observers  attached to the Naval Operating Base. No sound was heard and no trail was visible.  The object maintained a steady course and speed until it disappeared from view. … Evaluation: B‑4 (Information believed reliable but not confirmed by other sources).”

“On the night of 30 April 1949, at approximately 2200 hours, a manifestation of  luminous energy was observed over Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. The object  appeared as a brilliant white sphere traveling in a northwesterly direction at high  altitude and speed. The phenomenon was visible for approximately eight seconds before disappearing beyond the mountain range to the northwest. Weather conditions at the time were clear with visibility unlimited. No meteorological disturbances were reported. No balloon launches or aircraft operations were recorded in the vicinity at the time of the incident. Witnesses included Capt. H. L. Thompson, USN, and two civilian observers attached  to the Air Weather Service. No sound was heard and no trail was visible. The object maintained a steady course and speed until it disappeared from view.

Evaluation: B‑4 (Information believed reliable but not confirmed by other sources).”

“On the night of 3 May 1949, at approximately 2100 hours, a manifestation of luminous energy was observed over Anchorage, Alaska. The object appeared as a bright yellow‑white sphere traveling in a northwesterly direction at high altitude and speed. The  phenomenon was visible for approximately twelve seconds before disappearing  beyond the mountain range to the northwest. Weather conditions at the time were clear with visibility unlimited. No meteorological disturbances were reported. No balloon launches or aircraft operations were recorded in the vicinity at the time of the incident.

“Witnesses included Lt. Cdr. R. E. Stevenson, USN, and two civilian observers attached to the Air Weather Service. No sound was heard and no trail was visible. The object  maintained a steady course and speed until it disappeared from view.

“Evaluation: B‑4 (Information believed reliable but not confirmed by other sources).”

“On the night of 6 May 1949, at approximately 2230 hours, a manifestation of luminous energy was observed over Fairbanks, Alaska. The object appeared as a brilliant orange‑white sphere traveling in a southerly direction at high altitude and speed. The phenomenon was visible for approximately fifteen seconds before disappearing beyond the  mountain range to the south.

“Evaluation: B‑4 (Information believed reliable but not confirmed by other sources).”

“On the night of 8 May 1949, at approximately 2130 hours, a manifestation of luminous energy was observed over Nome, Alaska. The object appeared as a bright orange‑red  sphere traveling in a southerly direction at high altitude and speed. The phenomenon was visible for approximately ten seconds before disappearing beyond the mountain  range to the south.

“Evaluation: B‑4 (Information believed reliable but not confirmed by other sources).”

“On the night of 10 May 1949, at approximately 2145 hours, a manifestation of luminous energy was observed over Juneau, Alaska. The object appeared as a brilliant  white‑blue sphere traveling in a southerly direction at high altitude and speed. The  phenomenon was visible for approximately twelve seconds before disappearing  beyond the mountain range to the south.

“Evaluation: B‑4 (Information believed reliable but not confirmed by other sources).”

“On the night of 12 May 1949, at approximately 2215 hours, a manifestation of  luminous energy was observed over Bethel, Alaska. The object appeared as a bright orange‑yellow sphere traveling in a northwesterly direction at high altitude and speed.  The phenomenon was visible for approximately ten seconds before disappearing beyond the mountain range to the northwest.

Evaluation: B‑4 (Information believed reliable but not confirmed by other sources).”

“On the night of 14 May 1949, at approximately 2230 hours, a manifestation of  luminous energy was observed over Barrow, Alaska. The object appeared as a brilliant orange‑white sphere traveling in a southerly direction at high altitude and speed. The  phenomenon was visible for approximately fifteen seconds before disappearing  beyond the mountain range to the south.

“Evaluation: B‑4 (Information believed reliable but not confirmed by other sources).”

“On the night of 16 May 1949, at approximately 2200 hours, a manifestation of  luminous energy was observed over Point Barrow, Alaska. The object appeared as a bright white‑blue sphere traveling in a southerly direction at high altitude and speed. The phenomenon was visible for approximately ten seconds before disappearing beyond  the mountain range to the south.

“Evaluation: B‑4 (Information believed reliable but not confirmed by other sources).”

“On the night of 18 May 1949, at approximately 2200 hours, a manifestation of  luminous energy was observed over Fort Richardson, Alaska. The object appeared as a brilliant white‑orange sphere traveling in a southerly direction at high altitude and  speed. The phenomenon was visible for approximately twelve seconds before d isappearing beyond the mountain range to the south.

“Evaluation: B‑4 (Information believed reliable but not confirmed by other sources).”

“On the night of 20 May 1949, at approximately 2215 hours, a manifestation of luminous energy was observed over Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. The object  appeared as a bright white‑orange sphere traveling in a northwesterly direction at high altitude and speed. The phenomenon was visible for approximately ten seconds  before disappearing beyond the mountain range to the northwest.

“Evaluation: B‑4 (Information believed reliable but not confirmed by other sources).”

 “On the night of 22 May 1949, at approximately 2130 hours, a manifestation of  luminous energy was observed over Adak, Alaska. The object appeared as a bright  orange‑white sphere traveling in a southwesterly direction at high altitude and speed. The phenomenon was visible for approximately ten seconds before disappearing beyond the mountain range to the southwest.

“Evaluation: B‑4 (Information believed reliable but not confirmed by other sources).”

“On the night of 24 May 1949, at approximately 2145 hours, a manifestation of  luminous energy was observed over Dutch Harbor, Alaska. The object appeared as a  bright orange‑red sphere traveling in a southerly direction at high altitude and speed.  The phenomenon was visible for approximately twelve seconds before disappearing  beyond the mountain range to the south.

“Evaluation: B‑4 (Information believed reliable but not confirmed by other sources).”

“On the night of 26 May 1949, at approximately 2200 hours, a manifestation of  luminous energy was observed over Cold Bay, Alaska. The object appeared as a bright yellow‑white sphere traveling in a southerly direction at high altitude and speed. The phenomenon was visible for approximately ten seconds before disappearing beyond  the mountain range to the south.

“Evaluation: B‑4 (Information believed reliable but not confirmed by other sources).”

“On the night of 28 May 1949, at approximately 2210 hours, a manifestation of  luminous energy was observed over King Salmon, Alaska. The object appeared as a  bright orange‑white sphere traveling in a northwesterly direction at high altitude and  speed. The phenomenon was visible for approximately ten seconds before  disappearing beyond the mountain range to the northwest.

“Evaluation: B‑4 (Information believed reliable but not confirmed by other sources).”

“On the night of 30 May 1949, at approximately 2230 hours, a manifestation of  luminous energy was observed over McGrath, Alaska. The object appeared as a bright orange‑white sphere traveling in a southerly direction at high altitude and speed. The   phenomenon was visible for approximately twelve seconds before disappearing  beyond the mountain range to the south.

“Evaluation: B‑4 (Information believed reliable but not confirmed by other sources).”

“On the night of 1 June 1949, at approximately 2200 hours, a manifestation of luminous energy was observed over Tanana, Alaska. The object appeared as a bright  yellow‑white sphere traveling in a southerly direction at high altitude and speed. The  phenomenon was visible for approximately ten seconds before disappearing beyond  the mountain range to the south.

“Evaluation: B‑4 (Information believed reliable but not confirmed by other sources).”

“On the night of 3 June 1949, at approximately 2200 hours, a manifestation of luminous energy was observed over Nome Field Station, Alaska. The object appeared as a bright orange‑white sphere traveling in a southerly direction at high altitude and speed. The phenomenon was visible for approximately twelve seconds before disappearing  beyond the mountain range to the south.

“Evaluation: B‑4 (Information believed reliable but not confirmed by other sources).”

Trump’s Trove of UFO Memorabilia Reminds us of the Famed Foo Fighters of Yore

I, like millions of other curious souls, downloaded many of the UFO files released on Friday, May 8, 2026.

 And although they didn’t offer any revelations, I did find the U.S. military reports concerning Foo Fighters quite entertaining.

These were reported by the 415th Night Fighter Squadron over Europe in December 1944 and January 1945.

Although these sightings are still a mystery, officials speculated that they might have been German jet fighters or flak rockets.

But I’m still thinking that at least some of these were top secret Nazi prototypes that employed a new type of propulsion technology … technology that was later scooped up by the U.S. military and developed into a new class of weapons that remain hidden from the public to this day. Some type of electromagnetic field propulsion, or antigravity, if you like.

I don’t see any evidence of extraterrestrials in any of the files, or, indeed, of any UFO reports over the years. But I do see plenty of evidence for top-secret propulsion systems going all the way back to the immediate postwar period. Systems that have been tested and refined over many decades, fed by the Pentagon’s expansive black budget. A parallel air and space program far more capable than anything known to the public, Congress and the president of the United States.

Anyway, here are some notes from the reports concerning Foo Fighters, in bold print and quote marks.

The following is quoted from training tactical information supplied by the 415th Night Fighter Squadron for the month of December 1944.

“We have encountered a phenomenon which we cannot explain; crews have been followed by lights that blink on and off changing colors etc. The lights come very close and fly formation with our planes. They are agitating and keep the crews on edge when they encounter them, mainly because they cannot explain them. It is requested further information be furnished on this subject, such as similar experiences of other night units”.

“Night of 14-15 December 1944, ‘in the vicinity of Erstein flying at 1000 ft. observed large red light at 2000 ft going east at 18:40 hours traveling at approximately 200 mph.’

“Night of 16-17 December 1944, ‘20  miles north of Breisach at 800 ft observed 5 or 6 flashing red and green lights in “T” shape. Thought they were flak. About 10 minutes later saw the same lights much closer and behind me. We turned port and starboard and the lights followed. They closed in to about 8 o’clock and 1000 ft and remained in that position for several minutes and then disappeared.’

“Night of 22-23 December 1944, ‘Patrolling at Angels 10 from Sarrebourg to Strasbourg North and South of highway. At 6:00 hrs saw two lights coming toward A/C from the ground. Upon reaching altitude of plane, they leveled off and stayed on my tail for approximately 2 minutes. Lights appeared to be a large orange glow. After staying with the A/C for approximately 2 minutes, they would peel off and turn away, fly along level for a few minutes and then go out. They appeared to be under perfect control at all times. Lights were seen somewhere in vicinity of Magenau.’

“Night of 23-24 December 1944, ‘Observed reddish colored flames at considerable distance and at approximately 10,000 ft.’

“Night of 23-24 December 1944, ‘Approximately 10 miles south of Point X noticed to NE approximately 5 miles a glowing red object shooting straight up. Change suddenly to plane view of A/C doing a wing over and going into a dive an disappearing.’

“Night of 26-27 December 1944, ‘At 01:45 hrs. saw two yellow streaks of flame flying at same level at approximately 3000 ft. off port side. We also saw red balls of fire that stayed up for 10 seconds approximately 45 miles away. After seeing yellow streaks, made starboard vector lost altitude and streaks disappeared from view. Called GCI Blunde and asked if any E/A were in vicinity. They answered No. Instructed to return to Angels 10. We felt what was thought to be prop wash; very distinct. Noticed several groups of lights off port while patrolling vicinity of Q-9050 and R-1566. Lights made distinct lines somewhat like arrows.’

“Night of 26-27 December 1944, ‘While on vector 090 near V-7050 during patrol we observed airborne white lights. They were staggered evenly vertically and we could see from 1 to 4 swing at once. They appeared stationary at 10,000 ft.’

“Night of 26-27 December 1944, ‘Observed light at same altitude while in vicinity of Worms.  Observer saw light come within 100 ft. Peeled off and took evasive action but light continued to follow for 5 minutes. Light then pulled up rapidly and went out of sight.’

“Night of 27-28 December 1944, ‘While on north heading in patrol area noticed in vicinity of Q-1378 lights suspended in air moving slowly and would then disappear. Were orange in color. Lights appeared singly and in pairs. Observed these lights four or five times during period.’

“Night of 27-28 December 1944, ‘Eight miles NE of Luneville at 19:10 hrs. saw three sets of three lights (red and white) one on starboard and one on port from 1000 ft. to 2000 ft. to rear and closing in at Angels 10. Pulled up to Angels 8 and lights went out. Called Churchman to see if there was anything in area. Received a negative reply.”

“Night of 30-31 December 1944, ‘Saw a group of lights flying through the air 30 or 40 miles East of base while flying at Angels 9-10.’

“Night of 1-2 January 1945, ‘Saw Foofighters North of Strasbourg and North of Saverne.’

“Night of 14-15 January 1945, ‘Observed a large orange glow in sky approx. 5 ft. in diameter in vicinity of Ingweiller at 6000 ft. at 20:00 hrs.’

Night of 29-30 January 1945, ‘At about 00:00 hrs. sighted a Foofighter about half way between Weissembourg and Landau. Foofighter was off to the starboard and rear at Angels 2. Lights were amber and one was 20-50 ft. above the other and of about 30 seconds duration. Foofighter was about 1000 ft. away and following. The lights were about a foot in diameter. Lights disappeared when Travel 34 turned into them.’

“In every case where pilot called GCI Control and asked if there was a Bogey A/C in the area he received a negative answer.’

Is Rep. Burchett Trying to Kill the Pentagon’s UFO Office, and, if so, Why?

Just ran across this astonishing bit of breaking news from Newsweek:

https://www.newsweek.com/pentagon-ufo-office-elimination-bill-burchett-uap-11801961

This is all-the-more bizarre considering Rep. Burchett’s incredibly sensational claims lately. Here are two stories attesting to said claims:

https://www.aol.com/articles/americans-night-worrying-knew-truth-051909947.html

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/congressman-tim-burchett-says-aliens-204253614.html

So, not only does he say that he has been informed by government officials that UFOs are extraterrestrial, but also that we have actually made contact with space aliens.

This leads me to ask whether Rep. Burchett is possibly being fed disinformation or whether he is getting the real scoop.

At any rate, it should be interesting to hear what his thinking is and also whether the effort is likely to succeed.

Either way, the whole UFO saga continues to get crazier by the day.

Regarding President Trump’s Order to Release the UFO/Alien Files: Let the Redactions Begin!

President Trump ordering the release of all UFO/space-alien records and documents at the Pentagon and various other federal agencies is the biggest crock I’ve heard in years.

First of all, the only people who will benefit from such a fiasco are the manufacturers of black ink, which will flow in copious volumes to support the multifarious redactions this will entail.

The notion that any one president could snap his or her fingers and demand transparency on this issue is laughable.

If you fall for this, you’re beyond gullible. When it comes to the entire subject of UFOs, the executive branch is not in control of public disclosure. Only the Pentagon can dictate such disclosure.

Since most, if not ALL, of the unsolved UFO cases on the books are rooted in top-secret U.S. military technologies, NOT extraterrestrials, these documents will NEVER be released to the public. They simply cannot be released to the public because doing so would constitute a breach of national security on a scale never before realized.

If people want to believe the UFO phenomenon is based on E.T. visitations, bless their hearts.

At any rate, I refer you to an excellent column by New York Times writer Ross Douthat, published today (Feb. 21, 2026)

Here is just a brief portion, bolded, in quotation marks and in brackets, and a link to his interesting piece. I encourage all to read his appraisal of the situation: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/21/opinion/obama-trump-aliens.html:

[“… Second, why has the national security state produced a steady supply of would-be whistle-blowers who claim to have encountered some sort of hidden “legacy program” dedicated to contact with nonhuman intelligence? Are these figures liars? Are they self-deceived, perhaps through some kind of misunderstanding of normal classified programs? Is this all just circulation of rumors associated with the former Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, and his creation of a clandestine U.F.O.-studying group inside the Pentagon? Is it possible that some permanent government disinformation apparatus exists to encourage false U.F.O.-related beliefs in government officials? And if so, is it part of a continuing effort to deceive the public as well? … If it can’t or won’t resolve any of them, though, it will only strengthen my sense that parts of our government, for some unknown reason, are very happy to encourage Americans to wander in a strange and haunted fog.”]

Thank you Mr. Douthat, and if I may, let me be so presumptuous as to opine on what I believe the “unknown reason” is for keeping Americans in this disinformation-induced fog.

It is almost certainly because the Pentagon has developed advanced propulsion technologies far and away more capable than conventional systems, a secret so immense, a quantum leap so monumental, that it requires ANY means of subterfuge necessary to keep the public, and Congress, in the dark.

I am talking about, at the very least, some form of electromagnetic field propulsion system, the kind first witnessed by Kenneth Arnold in his seminal 1947 encounter in Washington state. The kind of propulsion advance that wowed then-President Harry Truman in a demonstration he himself likely ordered over Washington, D.C., in 1952. The kind that baffled and befuddled onlookers of giant delta-shaped UFOs over the Hudson Valley and Belgium in the 1980s and 1990s and over rural Illinois in the year 2000. The kind that shut down nuclear missile control systems when UFOs were inexplicably seen hovering over silos in the 1960s. The kind that was behind the confounding encounter of a disc-shaped craft seen floating over Chicago O’Hare International Airport in 2006, etc., etc., etc.

I propose that ALL of these instances represent tests of this kind of technology. A technology that isn’t new, but rather has been in development and refinement for many decades, hidden under the veil of the Pentagon’s burgeoning black budget. A technology that cannot be rolled out on the tarmac for the public to see because then, soon afterward, everyone would have it. Soon afterward, our adversaries would have it, and then we would longer enjoy a monopoly of this technology.

Anyway, let’s call this viewpoint the “terrestrial hypothesis” for UFOs, as opposed to the extraterrestrial hypothesis (i.e., the UFOs are space aliens), which has dominated the whole national conversation about this phenomenon since the beginning.

Well, then, the terrestrial hypothesis would suggest that the whole bizarre inventory of encounters involving U.S. military personnel and civilians alike have always been top-secret Pentagon technologies known only to a small circle with a “need to know.”

So, why the disinformation? Because as soon as you entangle the entire subject of UFOs within the rhetorical quagmire of space aliens you relegate the whole story to the fringe. The public and the media don’t take it seriously. The only people who do take it seriously are those who are already convinced that it’s E.T. or are just cynically profiting from the space-alien hype.

Over the decades, we’ve seen a series of books and articles by former military personnel who claim to have encountered extraterrestrials. It’s a legacy that in my opinion goes back many years and includes The Day After Roswell, published in 1997. (If you are interested, please read my review of The Day After Roswell, which I regard as a masterpiece of disinformation, here, https://emilvenere.com/files/138490884.pdf)

The goal of this disinformation is not necessarily to convince people that the UFOs are extraterrestrial, but to muddy the whole subject, to distract people who might otherwise suspect that the Pentagon has achieved amazing propulsion breakthroughs that would be highly disruptive if they became known to the public. Breakthroughs that have nothing to do with extraterrestrials, but that were dreamed up and perfected by the same species that has brought us a host of other powerful innovations, from nuclear weapons to lasers, microchips to advanced medical imaging and so on and so forth.

No assist from space aliens needed!

As to why the Pentagon would sometimes be flying these weapons over populated areas, perhaps it’s real-world training, a “living lab” to hone tactics and to study how well they perform against state-of-the-art, white-world technologies like F-16s. There have been examples of military training exercises taking place over populated areas. This excellent article in The War Zone documents one such exercise over Los Angeles: https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/38753/those-mysterious-gray-helicopters-were-landing-on-multiple-downtown-la-rooftops-last-night

Anyway, this terrestrial hypothesis for UFOs leads to many follow-up questions and concerns, chief among them: Is there a shadow space program that runs parallel to NASA and the Space Force that is far more capable than either of those entities? If so, how far have we gone? Do we have military bases in deep space?  Are any of these top-secret platforms nuclear-powered? Have we gone interstellar?

Obama’s Aliens-are-Real Episode Illustrates a Sad Truth: Presidents Don’t Have a ‘Need to Know’ About UFOs, and These Objects Likely Aren’t E.T.

All the online excitement over former President Barack Obama’s whimsical remark that aliens are real, only to witness him walking it back in a clarification the next day, only serves to illustrate that presidents don’t know anything when it comes to UFOs. Presidents, at least those in the modern era, aren’t told what’s going on, and they are just as much in the dark about the phenomenon as is the general public.

Taking this line of reasoning a step further, the whole Obama episode might serve to support the hypothesis that the UFOs have nothing to do with space aliens but have always been entirely a product of human ingenuity.

Anyway, here is one retelling of Obama’s statements, as reported in The Guardian newspaper, excerpted in bold print and enclosed in brackets, and a link to the article, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/16/barack-obama-no-evidence-aliens-real-interview-podcast:

[In a conversation with the American podcast host Brian Tyler Cohen over the weekend, Obama appeared to confirm the apparent existence of aliens during a speed round of questioning where the host asks guests quick questions and the guests respond with brief answers.

After he was asked “Are aliens real?”, Obama said: “They’re real but I haven’t seen them.”

He went on: “They’re not being kept at Area 51. There’s no underground facility unless there’s this enormous conspiracy and they hid it from the president of the United States.”

… However, following the media frenzy, Obama released a statement on Instagram on Sunday evening.

“I was trying to stick with the spirit of the speed round, but since it’s gotten attention let me clarify. Statistically, the universe is so vast that the odds are good there’s life out there,” he said. “But the distances between solar systems are so great that the chances we’ve been visited by aliens is low, and I saw no evidence during my presidency that extraterrestrials have made contact with us. Really!”]

Let’s all get one thing straight: UFOs are very real, but they’re not necessarily synonymous with extraterrestrials. There have been too many examples of credible witnesses observing them, often at close range.

To support this fact, I will note just a few high-profile encounters from UFO lore.

In the 1960s UFOs were observed hovering over U.S. nuclear missile launch facilities. During these encounters, the launch-control systems were shut down, and there has been much speculation over the years that space aliens were involved. However, the Wall Street Journal in 2025 revealed that these encounters actually stemmed from a Defense Department operation. The Journal revealed that the Pentagon ran these top-secret electromagnetic tests over U.S. nuclear missile systems to learn whether the nuclear bunkers would still function if they received a direct hit from Soviet nukes. This fact, however, was never revealed to the public.

In the year 2000 police officers from several jurisdictions in rural Illinois encountered a large delta- or triangular-shaped object moving slowly at low altitude and then suddenly darting around the night sky. The object accelerated instantaneously, and I have proposed the technology might have been using the Casimir effect.

One of the officers took a photo of the object with his Polaroid camera, and although the photo is very low quality, it does reveal an object in the sky. It was there. So, this object was quite real, but rather than jumping automatically to the extraterrestrial hypothesis for UFOs, it would be wise to first exhaust ALL other possible explanations.

The one possible explanation that I have been fixated on for years is that the Pentagon has possibly developed a range of extraordinary advances in propulsion that have been kept from the public ever since the first important UFO encounter after World War II, that of Kenneth Arnold in 1947.

I further propose that the UFOs over Washington, D.C., in 1952 were likely the result of a deliberate test ordered by then-president Harry Truman, who ordered a similar demonstration of the Flying Wing aircraft a few years earlier, when the aircraft flew at low altitude over our nation’s capital. I suggest that he likely ordered the 1952 operation to determine whether platforms equipped with an advanced field propulsion system could out-maneuver conventional aircraft. I further propose that the reason these encounters happened on two separate occasions exactly one week apart was that the president was not satisfied with the first flyover and wanted to see how well these platforms would perform against state-of-the-art jet fighters.  

There are so many other examples of UFO encounters involving credible witnesses that have yet to be adequately explained.

At any rate, whether we want to believe in the extraterrestrial hypothesis for UFOs or the terrestrial hypothesis for UFOs, the fact remains that there isn’t a shred of solid evidence supporting the former. That means either hypothesis carries equal weight.

I Agree With Elon Musk: UFOs Are Real, But They Have Nothing To Do With Space Aliens

Interesting to see Elon Musk repeating previous statements casting serious doubt on the extraterrestrial hypothesis for UFOs.

His latest comments came during a Katie Miller podcast, as reported in this article in the International Business Times on Dec. 12, 2025.

https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/musk-claims-ufos-are-not-aliens-they-could-new-weapons-program-1762436

Here are the most relevant bits from the article, bold and in brackets:

[‘I have seen no evidence of aliens,’ Musk told Miller, before addressing the notion that a major player like SpaceX might be withholding cosmic knowledge. He confirmed he had directly questioned his highest-level staff. ‘No one on the SpaceX senior team has any evidence of aliens … For Musk, these mysterious objects aren’t vehicles from another star system, but rather terrestrial prototypes developed by governments right here on Earth, likely the US government. His assessment is cold, cynical, and centred firmly on national security, suggesting these are not interstellar explorers but rather advanced military hardware.

‘UFOs… it could be like a new weapons programme… or hypersonic missiles. It’s just basically a weapons prototype. It’s not aliens.’]

So, this would suggest that all of UFO sightings and encounters reported by everyone from Gordon Cooper to Jimmy Carter were actually top-secret Pentagon platforms known only to a small circle of people with the appropriate classification status.

In other words, hardly anyone really has a need to know because these technologies are so important to the national defense.

This is a viewpoint that I share, but it doesn’t explain why we have numerous former U.S. military personnel going on national television claiming to have evidence that these UFOs are extraterrestrial.

However, there is one very plausible reason for this: A concerted, organized and professional-grade disinformation program designed to confuse the public and journalists alike about the nature of these vehicles. After all, if it’s E.T., then it couldn’t be the Pentagon. The secret remains safe.

Why would such a disinformation program be warranted?

Because the secret is so profound, the breakthroughs in propulsion (which have nothing to do with extraterrestrials) are so sensational, that keeping these technologies hidden from the public is a major priority. Once the secret is out, it wouldn’t be long before everyone would figure it out, much as other nations acquired nuclear weapons after World War II.

At the same time, we are not seeing this kind of disinformation in any other country. Now, why is that? Perhaps because there isn’t a need for it in any other country.

People have asked the perfectly logical question: If the United States possessed such a propulsion advance, why not use it, to, say, beat China back to the Moon. The reason is quite simple: because then it would be out, and then soon everyone would have it.

So, you see, these platforms cannot be employed for any overt purposes.

Based on the historical record, it would seem that these propulsion breakthroughs go all the way back to the first truly important UFO sighting, that of Kenneth Arnold in 1947.

If is my hypothesis that the sightings of 1952 over Washington, D.C., were likely a technology test ordered by then President Harry Truman, much as he had earlier ordered a test of the Flying Wing aircraft, when the experimental plane flew at low altitude over our nation’s capital in 1949. (I explore this idea in my novel Flying Saucers.)

You might say this is a crazy idea, but is it any crazier than space aliens traveling trillions of miles from another solar system, only to forget how to land, crashing not once, but numerous times?

It’s worth noting that the only time in spaceflight history that humans landed on another planetary body we managed to do so without crashing, and more than once. That’s what that whole ‘The Eagle has landed” thing was all about.

We know the UFOs are real. They are not a figment of anyone’s imagination. I will point to just one case, that of the giant triangular craft spotted by police offices in rural Illinois in 2000. It was observed at low altitude by cops, one of whom took a photo of it with his Polaroid camera. Granted, the photo is blurred, but you don’t try to take a photo of an illusion or a hallucination. You just don’t.

Moreover, Musk suggests these sightings are possibly “prototypes,” but I would suggest these are not prototypes but fully operational platforms. The “tic tac” encounter was in 2004, so if it was a prototype then, it surely wouldn’t be by now. Anyway, that’s my take on the mysterious realm of UFOs, which continues and is very real.

Congress Just Presented Pentagon UFO Disinformation, And It Was Perfect

The U.S. Congress on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025, delivered a very effective form of Pentagon UFO disinformation. A video of a missile fired by a U.S. drone hitting an unidentified object – probably a balloon, missile or drone – not E.T.

Here’s an excellent breakdown by The War Zone:

https://www.twz.com/news-features/revelation-that-mq-9-reapers-are-now-engaging-aerial-targets-comes-from-uap-hearing

The video was delivered to Rep. Eric Burlison without any explanation by an anonymous source shortly before a hearing about UFOs.

And it was very effective: The UFO faithful hailed it as yet further proof of space aliens visiting Earth; most others disregarded it as more of the same, and there was very little media coverage by the big news organs.

In other words, it was perfect disinformation because it achieved its main objectives:

  1. The big mainstream media ignored the hearing.
  2. People who think the UFOs are extraterrestrials had a field day.
  3. The UFO issue was further marginalized … shunted further off into the tall grass of fringe E.T. conspiracy theories.

This is the intention because the Pentagon has developed astonishing propulsion breakthroughs – technologies that could easily be mistaken for E.T. if observed by those lacking a “need to know.”

Secrets that must be protected at all cost, even if that means shrouding these breakthroughs from everyone, including our elected representatives.

Anyway, as long as everyone thinks these technologies are E.T. or nothing at all, these capabilities will remain exclusive to the Pentagon. The more the public, Congress and the media are confused, the better.

I salute our Pentagon disinformation architects.

This is genius!

Fascinating Research Paper Links Fleeting Star-Like Points of Light with Nuclear Weapons Testing and 1952 UFO Encounters Over Washington, D.C.  

A fascinating research paper regarding transient light sources detected by the Palomar Observatory between 1949 and 1957 has provided an apparent link between these events, UFO reports and above-ground nuclear testing.

The paper is described in this excellent article published on Aug. 8, 2025, in IFLScience. https://www.iflscience.com/uap-researchers-search-for-transient-events-in-earths-shadow-finding-unexplained-events-80323.

Also, here is a link to the paper itself, posted on July 25 on the website Research Square, https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-6347224/v1.

The researchers analyzed data regarding “transient star-like objects of unknown origin” that were identified in the first Palomar Observatory Sky Survey.

Basically, the bottom line is that there are statistically significant correlations between these fleeting points of light, nuclear testing and UFO reports, notably the 1952 UFO flap over Washington D.C.

Importantly, the paper specifies that these transient lights were recorded before the launch of any artificial satellites. However, I would like to add the caveat, “that we know of …”

I have speculated that the sensational 1952 UFO encounters over Washington actually represent a huge milestone in U.S. military history, the testing of a top-secret Pentagon weapons platform that harnessed a different type of propulsion technology and that these demonstrations were ordered by then President Harry Truman. After all, Truman had ordered a similar demonstration over Washington for the experimental Flying Wing aircraft in 1949. I further speculate that the reason the 1952 UFO event occurred on two consecutive weekends in July was that the president was not satisfied with the first demonstration of this technology, so a second demonstration was ordered.

At any rate, the research also draws an intriguing link between the transient points of light detected by the observatory and above-ground nuclear tests. While the UFO community has long speculated that space aliens have been monitoring nuclear testing, I suggest the UFOs were actually top-secret Pentagon platforms that were used in conjunction with nuclear testing, perhaps for observation and data collection or for security purposes.

Of course, this is all wild conjecture, but this paper would appear to represent important scientific data linking transient light sources with UFOs and nuclear weapons tests. Kudos to the researchers and IFLScience!

Pulp Fiction Book “Flying Saucers” Predicted Wall Street Journal’s Revelation About Pentagon Electromagnetic Tests Over U.S. Nuclear Missile Silos

It’s worth pointing out that the pulp fiction work Flying Saucers, published in 2014 and revised various times since, predicted the Wall Street Journal’s astonishing revelation that the Pentagon ran electromagnetic tests over U.S. nuclear missile silos in the 1960s, leading to one of the most enduring UFO mysteries of the modern era.

However, whereas the Journal’s investigation found that the Pentagon tests were aimed at learning whether the nuclear bunkers would still function if they received a direct hit, my thought was that the military was testing a new anti-missile technology using electromagnetic pulses to temporarily shut down the controls.

Anyway, here is the relevant passage, from page 150, Flying Saucers:

Air Force General Curtis LeMay, a key player in antigravity R&D, informed McNamara that the saucers were by design the perfect foil against Soviet intercontinental ballistic missiles. LeMay, who despised McNamara and his intellectual disposition, strong armed the defense secretary into boosting resources for the antigravity program.

Tests ordered by LeMay were conclusive: Just flying alongside missiles and unloading a few hundred rounds from a 30-millimeter cannon was all it would take to neutralize nukes. Or, better yet, hover over a missile silo and barrage it with electromagnetic pulses to overwhelm the controls.

The weapons people were testing both options by 1967, inducing terror in the hearts and minds of military personnel on both sides of the Cold War.

Missile silo operators at U.S. and Soviet bases reported UFO encounters that temporarily shut them down. On other occasions, Air Force and Army engineers reviewing films of missile tests were surprised to see flying saucers shadowing their rockets and shooting what appeared to be a ray gun. The “ray gun” was actually a high-intensity strobe lamp flashing rapidly to simulate cannon fire. Sometimes word leaked out to the press, fueling speculation of alien visitation and interstellar intrigue. All films were sent to the Pentagon and studied by project leaders. Analyses confirmed that flying saucers were the only effective defensive weapon against ICBMs.

 This sort of testing represented a dramatic development: The big brains in charge of antigravity realized the best way to evaluate their new weapon was in the real world. Cribbing a page from Truman’s playbook, they’d fly over cities and near military bases in America and Europe and then watch the fireworks.

The idea was to pit antigravity vehicles against first class air defenses and radar systems. America was fine-tuning the ultimate weapon, and the program got a big boost during the Reagan years, when the black budget tripled.

Pulp Fiction Book “Flying Saucers” Predicted Wall Street Journal’s Pentagon UFO Disinformation Revelations

Well, I’ve been reading all about the Wall Street Journal’s incredible blockbuster story revealing the Pentagon’s UFO disinformation machinery, and you know what I thought?

Jeez, that pulp-fiction book Flying Saucers, published in 2014 and revised various times since, predicted the whole Pentagon UFO disinformation machine.

Here are the relevant passages:

From page 72, Flying Saucers:

“It’s bloody brilliant!” he said. “A breakthrough that seems so much more advanced than anything on the planet couldn’t possibly be from the U.S. military. A program more secret than the Manhattan Project. A decades-long government disinformation scheme to convince everyone that flying saucers are alien spacecraft. There’s never been any real media investigation, you know.”

Page 104, Flying Saucers:

There were other intriguing clues about the secret project, including lofty suggestions that a new class of “gravity engines” could change the face of civilization, offering everything from levitating cars and trains to interplanetary spacecraft.

 “The jet engine will soon be obsolete,” one aviation doyen proclaimed in an article in 1955, jubilantly adding, “We are on the verge of fielding an entirely new type of transportation technology that will usher in the space age.”

 Various industry big shots concurred. They said the nation was close to perfecting antigravity propulsion, and their comments were published in aviation magazines. Sensational remarks attributed to CEOs from several prominent military contractors; the corporate cognoscente who had provided the bulk of U.S. air power for World War II and were now in the forefront of advances in jet turbines and rocketry. Heavy hitters in the fast-emerging military-industrial complex.

 One of the articles was a sensational cover story illustrated with a drawing that depicted a sleek wingless craft floating a few feet off the ground, its hatch swung open and stairs extended invitingly. A headline, in sixty-point Bodoni bold, screamed “The Gravity Engines are Coming!” A subhead followed, “A New Class of Vehicles Will Travel Faster Than Light.”

The article quoted a reputable aviation-industry executive.

 “Because the propulsion mechanism is based on gravity, its occupants will feel no G forces, much like people on Earth do not feel the tremendous speed of the planet as it whizzes through space,” he explained. “Whereas pilots in conventional jet aircraft pass out if they try to pull more than a few G’s, these super anti-gravity planes will be able to cruise far faster than is humanly possible in today’s aircraft.”

 Someone stuck the article in Vannevar Bush’s mailbox, and he nearly choked on his smoldering briar pipe when he read it. As head of Majestic Twelve, it was his job to keep such rumors under wraps. The MIT-trained electrical engineer had administered the most covert research programs in American history.

Under his guidance, the United States developed and deployed instruments that turned the tide of World War II. Radar and the proximity fuse chief among these new weapons. He had ably skippered the Manhattan Project and relentlessly fought to protect America’s atomic secrets, even as Roosevelt sought to share nuclear know-how with the British.

 Now, alarmed by the public outing of antigravity, Bush formulated a policy of secrecy and disinformation to squelch any official indiscretions and neutralize high-level gossip. The hammer came down, and it came down hard. Key industry leaders were summoned to a series of tense high-level meetings with Bush and company. The gatherings were preceded by a sharply worded memo hand-delivered to every person invited.

Under National Security Council letterhead, it was signed by a four-star general and contained the following message:

 “On authority of the National Security Council and the National Security Act of 1947 all information regarding MAJESTIC must remain in the confidence of proper federal personnel and must not be discussed openly. Divulging any information pertaining to MAJESTIC will carry the most severe penalty mandated by military law. The special circumstances mandated under this project require that all documents and hardware be housed in prescribed federal facilities.”

 It may have been couched in bureaucratic mumbo jumbo, but the salient point was this: If you ever, ever talk about this the best possible outcome will be that you will live the rest of your life in prison.

From page 139, Flying Saucers:

Donald W. Johnson, Ph.D. in communication theory, was a tall, imposing, chain-smoking man with a resonant, erudite-sounding voice. He would have thrived in academia, but he opted instead for a life of anonymous service to the U.S. government.

Oh, he was paid very handsomely, in both monetary and figurative terms: a true patriot. Yet his brilliant application of communication concepts never would be published in the scientific literature or described in textbooks. His pivotal contributions would remain hidden between the lines of history.

 Johnson was a specialist, a master of mendacity who led efforts to engineer the UFO disinformation machinery. It all started way back in the 1950s, when he was a young post-doctoral fellow at a federally funded think tank. Ever since that nasty rumor circulated that the saucers over Washington might have been manufactured by Boeing as part of some mysterious U.S. defense project, Majestic Twelve recognized that a professional “perception management” campaign would be needed to mislead the public.

Still fresh from the hallowed halls of Harvard University, the feds tapped Johnson to lead a group of propagandists tasked with forging an indelible link between aliens and flying saucers through popular media. Moviemakers had already started this association all by themselves in the 1956 science fiction film Earth Vs. The Flying Saucers. It was one of the first times Johnson could remember seeing aliens depicted as macrocephalic extraterrestrials, an image that would later morph into the iconic “greys” of UFO lore and mythology.

 He had studied the greatest philosophers and communication theorists: Socrates and Plato, McLuhan and Chomsky. Now he distilled their pearls of wisdom into an intoxicating brew of disinformation, feeding it like nectar to an eager populace.

 Dr. Johnson harnessed the expertise of his skilled staff to manipulate the public mind. His team gained access to the impressionable underbelly of the American psyche by engaging its universal angst and insecurities and employing McLuhan’s maxim: The medium is the message. They used vivid images in film and TV programs to engrave the association between aliens and flying saucers on the mass mind. For the various print media, they appealed to more intellectual sensitivities: the human obsessions with fantasy, paranoia and conspiracy thinking.

 The disinformation program represented a natural evolution in a long history of authority sponsored propaganda. Messages designed to foster a pseudoreality bolstered by simple stereotypes and emotional impressions to channel the communal subconscious, corral the bewildered herd. Operating under the mundane-sounding Division of Information Services, it was an effort the likes of which hadn’t been seen since Woodrow Wilson’s Committee on Public Information, an assemblage of the leading persuasion and propaganda experts charged with selling World War I to a wary electorate.

The most effective messages in any such effort were usually rooted in something inherently unsettling: eternal damnation; an alien threat; imminent demise.

 The universal driver was fear.

A fear powerful and pernicious, a fear Dr. Johnson thought was nearly palpable. He could almost feel it pulsating among the masses while riding the subway to and from work. Always there. Omnipresent yet unseen.

An energy source waiting to be tapped. He sensed it while observing others reading their newspapers and magazines, their trite tabloids. That’s why Dr. Johnson, a man of considerable means owing in large part to family wealth, insisted on taking the subway to work nearly every day. Mentally recording the facial expressions, the body language, the nervous conversations. They were like laboratory mice to him.

Or possibly even less significant: paramecia. He likened his manipulations to a rudimentary biology experiment often performed by undergraduates. The task was to introduce a viscous medium onto a microscope slide full of the tiny aquatic critters. You see, paramecia swim too fast for students to observe their ciliated locomotion, but you could slow them down by adding the syrupy liquid to their environment. The disinformation was not unlike that sticky medium: impede cognition so that people never really make the connection between the military and flying saucers.

 The entire affair would have all been so comical if it weren’t such serious business, he often thought with sadistic delight: to watch the people squirm. Johnson and his staff had no idea whether flying saucers existed. They didn’t care. Their job was only to make people associate them with strange and frightening creatures from other worlds. To this end they grooved their imagery into the fabric of existing mainstream culture, then sat back and watched with a detached scientific curiosity at what unfolded.

 One simple message reverberated from a constant background drumbeat of the concepts they cultivated: Aliens ride in flying saucers.

 This overarching theme was muddled because the public initially gave some credence to the idea that human engineers, not aliens, were behind the saucers, a sentiment that had existed ever since one crashed in the New Mexico desert in 1947. General Hap Arnold, the putative father of the U.S. Air Force, let slip that the discs could be “a development of United States scientists” that had not yet been perfected.

Any such associations between saucers and the military, subconscious or otherwise, must be expunged, or, at the very least, overlaid with the alien-saucer paradigm.

Dr. Johnson measured his success by what he read, watched and heard. Always tweaking the messages, the “products” generated by his office. The DIS exploited mainstream culture like a sharp instrument to promote the ET-flying saucer myth. Johnson’s crack team of media experts, psychologists, literary scholars, sociologists, linguists, journalists, advertising and communication wonks would do a number on the American psyche.

 It was a scientific bastion for the nation’s best liars. Most central to their modus operandi was the fundamental truism that propaganda is most powerful when least conspicuous.  Specialists wrote military reports debunking high-profile UFO events. These were masterpieces of deception, filled with mounds of technical jargon and falsified data sculpted into plausible, workaday explanations for the most potentially dangerous sightings, encounters that might lead people to finally start putting two and two together.

Handwriting experts at DIS forged the signatures of everyone from Albert Einstein to Ronald Reagan, their names appearing impressively in reports, memos and dispatches. Documents, photos, reports, illustrations. They did it all, a one-stop shop for disinformation; planting their seeds of subterfuge, then watching them sprout and take root. They provided nourishment over the years with granules of half-truths precisely packaged and distributed for maximum effect.

The greatest concoctions were the well-crafted reports and books and the fabricated witnesses linking flying saucers to alien visitors, and, by extension, to the lunatic fringe. This was a substantial body of work, a brilliant compendium of stealth marketing.

Well, there you have it, Flying Saucers predicted the Pentagon scheme to deceive the public about UFOs. Yet another example of fact mirroring fiction.