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In an era where UFOs and UAPs (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena) are once again capturing headlines, it’s worth noting that the public’s fascination with these mysterious sightings isn’t a new phenomenon. From the late 19th century airship waves to the notorious Roswell incident, the narrative of unidentified objects in the sky has been interwoven with tales of government secrecy and technological marvels.
The modern UFO craze arguably began with Kenneth Arnold’s sighting on June 24, 1947, near Mount Rainier, Washington. Arnold reported seeing nine objects flying in formation, initially describing them as “discs,” he later amended this to a more boomerang-like shape. This description eerily resembles later declassified designs of CIA spy planes like the U-2 and SR-71 Blackbird, suggesting that some of these early sightings might have been glimpses into secret military technology.
However, the intrigue with aerial mysteries predates even Arnold’s sighting. In the late 1890s, the United States experienced what’s known as the “Mystery Airship” wave. Reports from California to Texas described strange, cigar-shaped or torpedo-like crafts. Witnesses claimed interactions with pilots who often stated they were testing experimental aircraft or working for the government. For instance, in Sacramento in November 1896, one such airship was supposedly piloted by an “inventor” from Iowa. In Everly, Iowa, in 1897, a farmer named Sherman Church recounted a pilot claiming to be on a secretive government mission. These accounts, found in historical newspapers, illustrate a long-standing human curiosity about flight and the unknown, often mixed with elements of government involvement.
The most iconic UFO story, the Roswell incident of 1947, initially involved the U.S. military announcing the recovery of a “flying disc,” only to retract this statement in favor of claiming it was a weather balloon. This event didn’t achieve its legendary status until the publication of “The Roswell Incident” by Bill Moore in 1980, which popularized the narrative of a UFO crash and government cover-up. However, Moore’s credibility was later questioned when he admitted to participating in a government disinformation campaign against UFO researcher Paul Bennewitz.
Paul Bennewitz, who lived near Kirtland Air Force Base, believed he had intercepted communications proving government collaboration with extraterrestrials at an underground base in Dulce, New Mexico. This led to a targeted operation by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI) and CIA agent Richard Doty, known for spreading disinformation. They fed Bennewitz fabricated documents and misinformation, aiming to discredit him and protect sensitive military projects, particularly those involving stealth technology. This psychological warfare reportedly led to Bennewitz’s mental breakdown and eventual suicide, highlighting the lengths to which authorities might go to preserve secrecy.
The question remains: were they covering up UFOs or simply top-secret military aircraft? Many early UFO sightings, like those described by Arnold, bear a striking resemblance to later revealed spy planes, suggesting that some incidents might have been misinterpretations of classified projects. Yet, not all sightings can be so easily dismissed. The complexity and maneuvers of some UAPs reported by military personnel in recent decades suggest technology or phenomena beyond current known capabilities, unless these are indeed far more advanced than acknowledged.
This narrative of secrecy and advanced technology has persisted into the modern era. British hacker Gary McKinnon, who accessed U.S. military computers in the early 2000s, claimed to have found evidence of a “secret space program,” including lists of non-terrestrial officers. Despite U.S. efforts to extradite him, British Prime Minister refused citing human rights concerns.
Adding to the lore, Project Serpo, supposedly a human-alien exchange program, echoes themes from popular the science fiction movie “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.” While largely considered a hoax, it was initially propagated through emails by an anonymous source, later linked to Richard Doty, indicating how disinformation can fuel UFO mythology.
UFO research has transitioned from a niche interest to a vast, often lucrative, industry, with figures like Dr. Steven Greer and Tom DeLonge becoming central to the narrative.
Dr. Steven Greer, a former emergency room doctor, founded the Center for the Study of Extraterrestrial Intelligence (CSETI) in 1990 and later the Disclosure Project in 1993, aiming to reveal government-held secrets about UFOs and extraterrestrial life.
Greer has claimed to possess thousands of documents and testimonies from whistleblowers supporting the existence of UFOs and government cover-ups. He has organized numerous press conferences, including a notable one in 2001 at the National Press Club with military and government witnesses.
He advocates for “Close Encounters of the Fifth Kind” (CE-5), a method for humans to initiate contact with extraterrestrial beings through meditation and signaling.
His documentaries like “Sirius” and “Unacknowledged” have gained him a following. His work has occasionally been cited by mainstream media, adding to his perceived legitimacy.
Greer’s sensational claims, such as the existence of secret extraterrestrial bases or the ability to summon UFOs, have led skeptics to question his motives, suggesting he might be driven by fame and financial gain. His involvement in projects like the Atacama Skeleton has drawn scrutiny for potentially misleading claims.
Former Blink-182 frontman, Tom DeLonge, transitioned into UFO research, founding TTSA (To The Stars Academy) in 2017 to advance research into UFOs/UAPs and potentially revolutionary technologies.
Christopher Mellon is a part of the team. Mellon was a Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, adding a veneer of authenticity to TTSA due to his government background. However, his involvement has led to theories about the organization being a front for disinformation.
Other members include former intelligence and military personnel like Luis Elizondo, who ran the Pentagon’s AATIP (Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program).
DeLonge’s venture has faced skepticism over its financial management and the actual impact of its research, with some alleging it’s more about publicity than substantive disclosure.
Given Mellon’s background and the involvement of others with government connections, there’s speculation that TTSA might be part of a larger disinformation campaign or serve to control the narrative on UFOs.
Dr. Garry Nolan a respected immunologist at Stanford University has been involved in UFO research. Nolan has over 300 published research articles and holds numerous patents, giving him significant scientific credibility.
UFO Research:
Nolan has been involved in analyzing materials from alleged UFO crash sites. He worked on the Ubatuba incident samples, which displayed unusual isotopic ratios of magnesium, suggesting they might not be of terrestrial origin.
He has also examined the brains of individuals claiming to have had close encounters with UFOs, looking for physical evidence of changes possibly linked to these experiences
Nolan was featured in Greer’s documentary “Sirius,” where they initially believed a small skeleton from Chile’s Atacama Desert might be alien. Subsequent genetic analysis by Nolan proved it was human, with mutations associated with dwarfism, though this was a learning moment for the scientific approach to UFO artifacts.
Nolan’s work at Stanford involves rigorous scientific methods, contrasting with some of the more sensationalistic aspects of UFO research. His approach aims to bring scientific scrutiny to UAP studies, which has helped in legitimizing parts of the field that might otherwise be dismissed.
The complexity of the UFO research landscape, with its blend of passionate advocacy, potential for profit, and genuine scientific inquiry, illustrates the challenge of separating fact from fiction. Figures like Greer and DeLonge have popularized the subject, but it’s scientists like Nolan who are pushing for a more evidence-based understanding, highlighting the dichotomy between the sensational and the scientific in UFOlogy.
Today, with politicians and whistleblowers like David Grusch discussing government knowledge of UFOs or UAPs, the public’s hunger for truth about extraterrestrial life or advanced technology is fed by a blend of genuine curiosity, media sensationalism, and ongoing government opacity. Whether these sightings represent alien visitors, secret human technology, or perhaps a mix of both, remains one of the most enduring mysteries of our time, echoing the same questions asked over a century ago during the airship waves and continuing through the Roswell saga to the present day.