The Case for the Existence of UFOs and the Extraterrestrial Hypothesis
The study of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) is called ufology. Even though it is frowned upon by many of the scientific community it is beginning to gain more respect as a real science with the scientific community, government, and society. The large amounts of eyewitness reports, physical evidence, and official government research, support the existence of UFOs and the validity of the extraterrestrial hypothesis. The extraterrestrial hypothesis is the theory that UFOs are piloted by intelligent beings not from Earth.
Dr. J. Allen Hynek, a professor of Astronomy at Northwestern University, developed two classification systems, one for distant sightings and one for closer encounters. He developed these classification systems while working as a scientific consultant for the United States Air Force’s UFO investigations. According to his system, there are three different types of distant sightings: nocturnal lights, daylight disks, and radar visuals. Lights seen in the night sky that are not man-made or natural phenomena are classified as nocturnal lights. Daylight disks are unknown objects of any size or shape that are seen in the day. And radar visuals are anomalies recorded by machinery, such as radar or motion sensors. Hynek also classified close encounters into four different groups. A highly controversial fifth group has been added by some researchers, but there is no way to scientifically collect data on the fifth group. The four major groups are: close encounters of the first kind (CEI), close encounters of the second kind (CEII), close encounters of the third kind (CEIII), and close encounters of the fourth kind (CEIV). CEI’s occur when the UFO comes within 500 feet of the witness, but otherwise the UFO does not interact in any way with the environment. CEII’s occur when the UFO actually causes physical change in the environment, such as burn marks or causing animals to become frightened. CEIII’s occur when the occupants of the UFO are seen, but not actually interacted with. And CEIV’s occur when the witness actually comes into contact with the occupants of the UFO. This can often cause post-traumatic stress; and missing time and/or memory lapses are also usually reported with this type of encounter.
“Eyewitnesses with little to gain continue to report seeing strange craft in the sky, for which science can offer no explanation” (Time 57). One of the first, and most famous, flying saucer sightings occurred over the Cascade Mountains in Washington. Pilot Kenneth Arnold spotted nine disk-like objects flying at 1,200 mph in formation above the mountains (Time 52). This sighting occurred on June 24, 1947 (Time 52), and was featured in the July 14, 1947, issue of TIME magazine (Time 57). An U.S. Air Force mechanic named Paul Villa claimed to be in contact with people from another world. This is an important claim because Villa was one of very few contactees (a contactee is a person who claims to be in contact with aliens from another world) who did not try to use their story to gain publicity, fame, and fortune. He did, however, try to use it to promote world peace; this was an idea that was often promoted by contactees in this time period (Glenday 63). On November 17, 1986, Captain Kenju Terauchi and the crew of Japan Airlines flight 1628 spotted an unknown object at 39,000 feet near Anchorage, Alaska. This sighting was confirmed using radar by the US Federal Aviation Authority. A military Hercules was sent to confirm the sighting, but the object had disappeared by the time it arrived (Glenday 37). On April 24, 1964, Patrolman Sergeant Dionicio “Lonnie” Zamora discovered an oval craft that had landed near Socorro, New Mexico. He also spotted two human-like figures dressed in white coveralls outside the craft; upon noticing Zamora, the figures retreated into the craft and took off (Glenday 39). During early 1997, a large craft was seen over numerous areas in Arizona. It was spotted by hundreds of people in the area and was photographed and video taped by many. Air traffic controllers confirmed these sightings (Glenday 40). While on a fishing trip, Sam Johnson and Ted Jasper saw a long, silver craft hovering over the water. They were brought on board by human-like figures. Upon waking up back on the boat, Sam remembered all the details, but Ted had no recollection of the event (Dils 121-129). This makes it seem like it was possibly just a dream that Sam had, but when he mentioned it to the local sheriff, the sheriff said that he had already heard two reports identical to Sam’s that morning (Dils 129). During 1989 and 1990, a black triangular object was seen by more than 2,000 people in Belgium; among the witnesses was Leon Brenig, a professor of physics at a local university, who noted that the object in no way behaved like an ordinary aircraft (Glenday 41). Millions of UFO sightings have been reported in the past and hundreds more are reported each year.
In the events of CEII’s, CEIII’s, or CEIV’s, actual physical evidence of the event is often left behind. Commonly this evidence is merely imprints or scorch marks from landed craft or psychological impact on humans and/or animals. Sometimes, increased levels of radiation are also reported in the area after the craft has left. And even rarer are when the craft leaves behind actual physical material, as in the case of a ring of phorescent dust left by a craft on the Johnson farm near Delphos, Kansas, on November 2, 1971. When Mrs. Johnson touched the dust with her finger, it became paralyzed and remained numb for several weeks. This occurrence was investigated by Ted Phillips, a civil engineer. He noted that the ring of soil remained aglow for four days after the incident. He also discovered that the affected soil became completely dehydrated and could not absorb any moisture at all. He returned later that year after a heavy snowfall to find that he ring of soil would still not absorb water (Glenday 46). Over Bass Straight, Australia on October 21, 1978, a green, star-shaped object appeared in the sky. The object was seen and photographed by many witnesses before a Cessna aircraft piloted by Frederick Valentich encountered the object at 4,500 feet. The object, Valentich, and his plane suddenly vanished without a trace. Neither his body nor his plane has ever been found (Glenday 40). On December 28, 1980, Betty Cash, Vicki Landrum, and Colby Landrum were driving towards Dayton, Texas when they encountered a craft surrounded with flame hovering above the road. They left the car to investigate, but became frightened and drove off (Glenday 40). Later they all experienced symptoms of severe radiation sickness that doctors could not explain and Betty Cash developed breast cancer (Glenday 57). On November 5, 1975, Travis Walton and six friends encountered a glowing, metallic disk hovering over the road. Travis left the car to investigate and was zapped by an energy bolt by the craft. His friends panicked and drove off. When they returned to rescue Travis, he was gone. He was found a week later, naked and delirious, in a phone booth. The full details of his story were recounted in the book Fire in the Sky (Glenday 25). In South America in 1946, a UFO caused one of the most disturbing physical effects recorded. Farmer Joo Prestes Filho was knocked to the ground by a blinding light just outside of his home. He got up and ran to town to get help and was met by the local fiscal inspector on the way. The fiscal inspector noticed that Filho’s skin had begun to cook and fall away from the bone. Filho died on the way to the hospital (Glenday 57). Cropcircles have been found all over the world for centuries. However, they were usually thought to be the works of demons, faeries, or similar creatures. “During the 1980’s, they were often presented as concrete, physical proof of alien visitation” (Glenday 44). Unfortunately, with the rising number of hoaxes, it is increasingly difficult to discover the real cause of the actual authentic cropcircles. A more modern experience is the abduction experience. “Approximately two percent of Americans now undergo the classic abduction experience []” (Glenday 68). The classic abduction often includes a sense of paralysis and fear, and then they are moved onto the craft and go through a thorough medical examination. Sometimes, the abductee is given some sort of message for humanity or a tour of the ship before being returned to where they came from. There have been rare reports that actual implants were placed inside of the human subject; what these implants actually are is unknown. Some implants have been studied by doctors, but they were unable to conclude what they were or how they got there. Dr. Thomas “Eddie” Bullard, a folklorist from Indiana University, has extensively researched abduction cases in an effort to link the alien abduction experience to older folklore accounts of creatures such as angels, demons, or faeries. So far, he has not been able to make this connection and has concluded that the alien abduction experience is a separate experience outside of the realms of standard folklore.
Some ufologists have gone as far as to try to find references of extraterrestrials in the Bible. They claim that records of angels and demons in the Bible are actually encounters with extraterrestrials. They have also claimed that the flaming chariot that descended to carry the prophet Ezekiel to Heaven was actually a UFO. Some ufologists have gone even farther and claimed that the founders of the major religions were actually extraterrestrials themselves. However, the scientific community has always frowned upon the attempt to use religious beliefs in scientific research. Many historical documents and artifacts have been discovered that seem to point to extraterrestrial visitation. A woodcut made in 1566 in Basel, Switzerland depicts many unknown circular objects in the sky above the town, with the citizens looking up to the object (Glenday 15). In prehistoric France, cave paintings seem to depict saucer-like objects flying above humans (Glenday 15). Many ancient cultures worshiped gods that they believed came to Earth to create humans and often returned to meddle in human affairs. Many of these cultures also left behind artifacts depicting objects resembling spacecraft and human-like figures resembling modern-day astronauts in suits. These historical references to extraterrestrials are thoroughly explored in the book Chariots of the Gods.
Many official government investigations in UFOs have been conducted. The U.S. Air Force conducted investigations in the U.S. from 1948 to 1969. The investigation was known as Project Blue Book. While many of the investigated incidents were passed off as mundane objects, meteorological, or astronomical phenomena, many of the cases still remain unexplained. One of the consultants, Dr. J. Allen Hynek, became convinced of the reality of UFOs during the project and created the Hynek Center for the Study of UFOs after Project Blue Book was disbanded due to lack of funding and official interest. Many other governments, such as the British, German, Russian, and French, have all conducted similar investigations and also found some unexplainable cases. The heads of the foreign projects became very convinced of the reality of UFOs. However, much speculation about the government’s honesty when it comes to UFOs has gone on for decades ever since an event known as the Roswell Incident. The Roswell Incident was an event where a reported flying saucer crashed into a ranch field near Roswell, New Mexico in the summer of 1947. Newspapers everywhere reported that it was a flying saucer crash, but a week later the military began claiming it was really a weather balloon. In 1997, a poll done by TIME magazine showed that 65% of Americans believed that the Roswell Incident was really a UFO crash that was being covered up (Time 55). And also in 1997, 80% of Americans told TIME magazine that the government knew more about UFOs then it was telling (Time 57). Of course, there is no way currently to really test these beliefs of the American populace. Even though, many civilian groups have attempted to sue the government in the Supreme Court to make public more of its UFO findings, none of them have succeeded.
There is an overwhelming amount of evidence in support of the existence of UFOs and extraterrestrials. While skeptics continue to try to hand out explanations such as meteorological or astronomical phenomena, there still remains many unexplained cases that current science cannot account for. It takes science many years to accept new things even with large amounts of scientific evidence. This was shown with the acceptance of a phenomenon known as ball lightning. All that can be done to help UFOs and extraterrestrials be accepted by mainstream science is to wait and collect more data. However, science will eventually have to accept the existence of UFOs and extraterrestrials due to the overwhelming amounts of evidence in favor of it.
Works Consulted
Hervey, Michael. UFOs: The American Scene. New York: St. Martin’s Press, Inc., 1976.
Hynek, J. Allen. The UFO Experience: A Scientific Inquiry. London: Transworld Publishers Ltd., 1974.
Randle, Kevin D. and Donald R. Schmitt. UFO Crash at Roswell. New York: Avon Books, 1991
Reader’s Digest. UFO: The Continuing Enigma. New York: The Reader’s Digest Association, Inc., 1991
Strieber, Whitley. Communion: A True Story. New York: Avon Books, 1988.
Sturrock, Peter A. The UFO Enigma. New York: Warner Book, Inc., 1999.
United States. Air Force. Analysis of Reports of Unidentified Aerial Objects. Dayton, Ohio: Air Technical Intelligence Center, May 1955
United States. Air Force. Status Report No. 1: Project Grudge. Dayton, Ohio: Air Technical Intelligence Center, November 1951.
United States. Air Force. Status Report No. 2: Project Grudge. Dayton, Ohio: Air Technical Intelligence Center, December 1951.
United States. Air Force. Status Report No. 3: Project Grudge. Dayton, Ohio: Air Technical Intelligence Center, January 1952
United States. Air Force. Status Report No. 4: Project Grudge. Dayton, Ohio: Air Technical Intelligence Center, February 1952
United States. Air Force. Status Report No. 5: Project Blue Book. Dayton, Ohio: Air Technical Intelligence Center, March 1952.
United States. Air Force. Status Report No. 6: Project Blue Book. Dayton, Ohio: Air Technical Intelligence Center, April 1952.
United States. Air Force. Status Report No. 7: Project Blue Book. Dayton, Ohio: Air Technical Intelligence Center, May 1952.
United States. Air Force. Status Report No. 8: Project Blue Book. Dayton, Ohio: Air Technical Intelligence Center, December 1952.
United States. Air Force. Status Report No. 9: Project Blue Book. Dayton, Ohio: Air Technical Intelligence Center, January 1953.
United States. Air Force. Status Report No. 10: Project Blue Book. Dayton, Ohio: Air Technical Intelligence Center, February 1953.
United States. Air Force. Status Report No. 11: Project Blue Book. Dayton, Ohio: Air Technical Intelligence Center, May 1953.
United States. Air Force. Status Report No. 12: Project Blue Book. Dayton, Ohio: Air Technical Intelligence Center, September 1953.
Works Cited
Dils, Tracey. Real-Life Strange Encounters. Florida: PAGES Publishing Group, 1998.
Glenday, Craig. The UFO Investigator’s Handbook. London: Eddison Sadd Editions Limited, 1999.
Time. Exploring the Unexplained. New York: Time, Inc., 2006.
