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FBI opens online vault, revealing UFO, Roswell files
Real-life 'X-Files' reveal policy of destroying documents related to UFO investigations because they would have taken up too much filing space.
Tue, Apr 12 2011 at 10:21 AM
Photo: Markus Ram/Flickr
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated hundreds of UFO sightings in the 1940s and '50s, but the agency had a policy of destroying investigation records because they took up too much space.
Some of the papers related to these UFO sightings went online this weekend through the FBI's newly revamped electronic reading room, dubbed The Vault. Previously known as the FBI Records/Freedom of Information and Privacy Act website, the site contains more than 2,000 FBI documents that were scanned from the original paper files. Many of these documents are available to the public for the first time.
One section of the Vault is reserved for documents related to UFO sightings. Among the files, reports the Guardian, is a 1949 memo to FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover describes the policy of the Bureau's San Antonio office to destroy files related to UFO investigations because they contained "nothing of interest to the FBI" and were too plentiful to store. "It is pointed out that the filing of these would result in the rapid accumulation of very bulky files," the unsigned memo says.
A memo from 1950 details an investigation of three "flying saucers" that a witness claimed crash-landed in New Mexico, an incident unrelated to the 1947 event in Roswell, N.M., that spawned conspiracy theories about an alien crash. In the 1950 memo, special agent Guy Hottel repeats an Air Force investigator's report that three flying saucers crashed and were recovered, along with the bodies of nine alien crew members. According to the memo, each ship "was occupied by three bodies of human shape but only three feet tall, dressed in metallic cloth of a very fine texture. Each body was bandaged in a manner similar to the blackout suits used by speed flyers and test pilots."
The investigation ended there, and the memo concludes with the statement "No further evaluation was attempted." The informant's name is redacted in the file.
But the memo doesn't tell the whole story. According to the International Business Times, the "Hottel memo," which was never classified, repeats a hoax first reported in a Kansas City newspaper. The two con men responsible were later convicted of fraud.
But speaking of Roswell, another document makes it clear that the 1947 crash was, indeed, a weather balloon, although its exact origin remains uncertain. ABC News cites a 1947 memo with the word "Roswell" handwritten on the top of the page detailing the discovery of a "flying disc" near the New Mexico town. "The disc is hexagonal in shape and was suspended from a balloon by cable. The object found resembles a high-altitude weather balloon with a radar reflector."
The new version of the Vault has been heavily enhanced for online searching and viewing of documents on the Web. It also contains documents related to mobster Al Capone, actress Marilyn Monroe, rapper Notorious B.I.G. and the Sept. 11, 2001, hijackers. The FBI says additional documents will be added every month.
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oh yea and great book to chose
the bible its been changed around so many times nothing on there is real tbh
they are all fake man
you believe in in something that was created by a human.
and im sure u have never heard of nikola tesla the guy that invented the flying saucers
At issue are the facts not speculation about aliens. There have been mentions of flying disks through out history. The History Channel has a series called “Ancient Aliens” which talks about sightings of flying saucers found in the bible.
I wonder how many believers will come to this article based on the headline, be disappointed that documents were destroyed and some disprove certain sitings, and then dismiss this because they don't trust the FBI/government.
They will come by the thousands and form a critical mass of misinformed rage
The most surprising thing about this article, is the amount of comments.
There are 'that' many people who read 'Mother Nature Network?'
Never heard of it before in my life....
We're glad to see you here at Mother Nature! There are lots of us here. Jump on in & explore around...here's a good page to start: http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/responsible-living/stories/welcome-to-mnn
that alien life will be far more advanced then ours? Just because they might have the engineering/materials to travel in our space? I know many of Engineers, that outside their box all other intelligence is null and void. Maybe it would be a planet of "Dilberts"? Just saying
because they'd have to have come from outside our range of detection... unless they're hiding on the moon or mars, they've outpaced our own technology just by being able to travel to earth.
Based on the posts here the aliens won't have much difficulty conquering America with so many trying the one-up the next person with adolescent responses. You can choose to be adult in responding. FYI, there is really only one conspiracy and that is JFK and the floodgates will open if that determination happens. I don't know about aliens or JFK but would like to know the truth.
There's all kinds of atmospheric disturbances, reflections and bounces off inversion layers, military pilots flying at low altitudes, etc. that can cause UFO sightings. At the same time, it's inconceivable that organic life hasn't developed on other planets. Whether this alien life is smart enough to invent TV, robots, Kool-Aid or spaceships is another matter however.
It's inconceivable, eh? You know, in order for there to be life in the universe, ONE planet had to be the first. We very well could be that planet and life could definitely be next to impossible to start up anywhere else...
But I'm sure you want life to exist out there so incredibly bad that you're willing to ignore everything I just said...
So we are to believe that in the great vastness of space, the only life is found on this one speck of dirt known to us as the earth? Foolish and pessimistic.
You people are funny. I landed here 20 years from now. I'm studying all of you right now.
This is the best laugh I have had in a while.
im twenty seven and i controll the weather, and other...
This is the best laugh I have had in a while.
Creepy
.yeah, we're a funny bunch. excess coal burning cuz we like century old tech, estrogens in our water via a sea of plastic, poor practices in nuclear fusion not to mention adult laser tag off warships. We're hoping to get your attention (so we can knock a mother ship out of the sky and plagiarize like it was our grandminds once again. Hey how bout implanting moms, shes getting out and we're tired of chasin her around. thanx
Do you have a greencard?
And you felt the need to post this twice? Alien n00b.
I'll sure miss Chicken Thursdays!
You keep sending signals out there and sooner or later they will come. And when they come they will either conquer us and then eat us like we eat everything.
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