UFO Unknowns—Part 1

The mystery of UFOs (unidentified flying objects) has been with us for millennia—ever since humans looked up in the night sky and saw strange lights. Long before we were able to fly, these sightings probably seemed more like apparitions—ghostlike or godlike in origin. It wasn't until we developed flying craft that we began to interpret these phenomena as flying objects. In fact, they did not acquire the designation UFO until well into the 20^th century.

The modern era of UFOs began in1947, when someone spotted an object in New Mexico that was described as something like a saucer skipping across the sky—giving birth to the alternative designation “flying saucer.” The late 1940s was the beginning of the Cold War between the USSR and the USA, which included a race to arm each side with nuclear weapons. Americans were fearful, if not paranoid, of the Soviets, and so were often inclined to shudder at the possibility of the enemy having developed a secret flying weapon that threatened our existence.

UFO sightings proliferated in the USA in the mid 20^th century's Cold War atmosphere. As evidence that most of these events may be traced to American fears, analysts have pointed out that the number of North American sightings dropped off dramatically, north and south of the US border. Neither Mexicans nor Canadians reported anywhere near the incidents recorded in America.

I think this factor of public perception is crucial in framing the UFO phenomenon in the US, as well as the rest of the world. A persistent question throughout these sightings is, What are they? Russian craft? Public hallucinations? Extraterrestrial visitors? Weather balloons? Natural aerial events? Airplanes? Planets? (Venus has caused many reports.)

In fact, some 95% of incidents have been shown to be explained, not by human or alien craft, but due to some of the other causes listed above. There is no reason, for example, why UFOs should cluster around the USA—regardless of their origin. Fears and insecurities can play a major role in people’s reactions and imaginations.

Due to the concerns that these reports might possibly be caused by Soviet technological advances, the response of the US government in the early UFO days was assigned to the military. The investigations were held behind secretive doors, which fed public rumor that the truth was being suppressed. Conspiracies bloomed: a UFO had crashed in the American desert and the incident was being covered up by the military. The controversy simmered along, for the remainder of the 20^th century.

Many analyses were conducted, and the vast majority (that 95%) were shown to be explained by natural events and human craft. But the unresolved 5% continued to cause legitimate concern. Because the study of UFOs was being conducted by the US military, rather than a systematic scientific investigation, little progress was made. The US military established several programs in the last half of the 20^th century—each one with a different perspective. Each one was headed by a military officer who had his own biased slant on the issue. One program after another concluded its study with a different opinion, and none of them shed any light on the issue—let alone informed the public of its findings. The public was free to speculate about the truth of UFOs, in the absence of government candor on the issue.