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 UFO’s, unidentified flying objects, are perhaps the most discussed and misunderstood phenomenon there is. Countless groups, forums, even governments, have circled around the phenomenon of UFO’s… but none have ever touched on an answer.
A rather vague report was made in the 1500’s of a UFO sighting. Documented cases of UFO sightings from the 18th century are more detailed. Nuremburg, Germany was the site of a reported battle in the sky, ending with a large smoke-filled crash just beyond the city. Another reported sighting occurred in Maracaibo, Venezuela in 1886, in which a bright and humming object appeared during a thunderstorm. Listed in the Scientific American, this reported UFO sighting caused multiple villagers to exhibit symptoms similar to that of radiation poisoning. The trees surrounding the hut in which these villagers were subsequently died. Even Winston Churchill reported a strange airship in Kent, England, on October 14, 1912. It was the first case of a UFO being "officially" reported.
Since those early reports, a multitude of sightings have been reported on a consistent, and worldwide, basis. As the reports continued, each report lent credence to the next, reinforcing what many already believed to be true; UFOs were real. One of the early projects to examine the probability of UFOs was Project Sign. One opinion from this project, dated 1948, stated “UFO reports probably had an extraterrestrial explanation.” The Swedish military opinion stated some of their analysts agreed, in reference to the 1946 ghost rockets reports. West Germany arrived at the same conclusion a few years later, in 1954.
Numerous projects and investigations followed in the wake of these early determinations. Project Sign evolved into Project Grudge, where the investigations of UFOs stalled in ineptitude. The re-energized Project Blue Book began in 1951 and concluded in 1970, sighting negative results. Interestingly, around this time, Title 14, Section 1211 of the Code of Federal regulations, implemented on July 16, 1969, makes it illegal for U.S. citizens to have any contact with extraterrestrials or their vehicles.
What was particularly intriguing to those believing in UFOs, was the emergence of solid data and testimony contrary to what was reported publicly. An example can best be found in the “Bolender memo.” Project Blue Book was closed in 1970 citing negative investigation results. The Bolender memo, dated 1969, stated “reports of unidentified flying objects that could affect national security are not part of the Blue Book system.” This blatant contradiction of a previously public report is direct confirmation there is, indeed, a cover-up. The Bolender memo indicated reports of UFO’s were handled outside of the scope of the Blue Book investigation, in the interest of national security. The conundrum arising from the governments’ denial of UFO’s, and subsequent statement to keep such investigations outside of public scrutiny, is this: either statement is direct confirmation of the existence of UFO’s. A Gallup poll in 1996 said that 71 percent of Americans believe the government knows more than it is telling us about UFOs.
Since Project Blue Book closed, the government has stopped public funding for the investigation into UFO’s. Private organizations and groups have shouldered the responsibility and provided the public forums in which to report and discuss UFO encounters. Some of the more prominent organizations are NICAP, CUFOS, NUFORC, MUFON and APRO. These organizations and groups have systematic reporting systems and many are highly organized. A difficulty in determining which category to place reports has made some statistics unreliable. The organization MUFON recently admitted their statistics may be off by as much as 20% of those reflected.
There are on average 70,000 reported UFO sightings every year, worldwide. That's an average of 192 per day. Some are blatant hoaxes, easily revealed through reporting as juvenile. Many reported UFO sightings and phenomenon are unexplained. Perhaps one of the most intriguing UFO investigations may be of that of Betty and Barney Hill.
In 1963, Betty and Barney Hill reported a strange light in the sky, while driving home one evening. After stating they had lost several hours after watching the light, both then began to complain of nightmares in the weeks ahead. Under hypnosis, both described an alien encounter, complete with physical exams. Dismissal of every aspect of their story may be easy, save one fact. Betty was able to draw a detailed map of an unknown star system, claiming aliens had revealed this to her. A star system matching Betty’s drawing was discovered six years later, in 1969. Ohio State University, one of the leading in the nation, examined and concluded both maps were the same.
Throughout all of the mystery and intrigue surrounding UFO phenomena, the question has remained “Is there something out there.” Perhaps, in light of such compelling investigations, one might add “How could there not be.”
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