The incident in Roswell, New Mexico, which happened in 1947, involved the recovery of rubber and metallic debris from a ranch. It sparked conspiracy theories about a flying saucer and the involvement of the US government. The debris was found by officers from the Roswell Army Air Field.
On July 8, 1947, the Roswell Army Air Field released a press release stating that it had recovered a flying saucer. However, it was later revealed that the object was a weather balloon. In 1994, the US Air Force identified the object as a surveillance balloon that was part of a nuclear test project known as Project Mogul.
The incident was not widely discussed during the 1970s. In an interview with Stanton Friedman, Jesse Marcel, a former lieutenant colonel, said that he believed that the debris found in Roswell was extraterrestrial. Ufologists then started promoting various conspiracy theories about the incident. They claimed that the saucer was an alien spacecraft, and that the military had recovered the occupants.
Despite the various conspiracy theories about the incident, the story about the incident continues to be talked about in the media. It has been regarded as the most thoroughly debunked UFO claim ever made.
0:00 Jesse Marcel Sr.
1:07 Jesse Marcel Jr.
3:05 Bill Brazel Jr., son of W.W. “Mac” Brazel
9:09 Marian Strickland, neighbor of W.W. “Mac” Brazel
11:20 Loretta Proctor, neighbor of W.W. “Mac” Brazel
The craziest UFO event!