For years, reports of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) have consumed literature, from newspapers to tabloids, bulletins to science fiction books. Alexander the Great’s army reportedly saw saucers flying in the sky in 329 BC; the Japanese army told of more strange sightings in 1235 AD; eyewitnesses watched the sky dance with light in 1561 in Nuremberg, Germany; aerial combat during World War II saw much more than just flying debris – balls of light began stalking aircraft on either side of the Allied and Axis powers.
Soldiers called them “Foo fighters.” Science fiction books refer to them as flying saucers. In any case, a UFO is an apparition in the sky that moves erratically, and can't be readily identified.
But do they really exist, or are they just hyperactive comets? Weather balloons set on fire? Debris from the space station? Is there any proof that UFOs exist?
Speculations began to mount early in the 20th century, as the US army, in cooperation with intelligence agencies, began a formal investigation into the UFO sightings. This led to the establishment of Project Blue Book, the Air Forces' official UFO investigation unit. All around the world, interest grew, and academics from Canada, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, and France organized their own study groups.
There were two things these groups had in common: one was that they were keeping most of their work under wraps; the other was that they were asking for evidence, then returning it tainted or destroyed. Some eyewitnesses reported that their films had been burned, or their UFO pictures never given back, or their testimonies changed without their permission.
If UFOs were mere weather balloons or shuttle debris, why the secrecy?
Much more than the indirect proof of UFOs’ existence is the direct proof that comes in the form of physical evidence, the tangible path they leave behind. Aside from visual sightings, the following sometimes occur after a UFO visit:
• The ground is burned where the UFOs reportedly landed. The ground will also contain high radiation levels and traces of rare metals
• People or animals close to the sighting experience temporary paralysis, skin burns, rashes, and symptoms similar to radiation poisoning
• Cattle are found mutilated
• Plants near the site either grow actively, or are killed immediately
If UFOs were mere comets or imagined ships, why the damage?
Whether direct or indirect, such secrecy and damage should not be taken lightly. Unidentified flying objects do exist, and when they arrive, they – and their occupants – should be received with caution.
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Unidentified flying objects or UFOs refer to spacecrafts that are not readily identifiable. Strange sky apparitions have been reported throughout history. Some were identified overtime as bright meteors, comets, or other atmospheric phenomena. However, others were still unexplained and are simply tagged as Unidentified Flying Objects.
After World War II, there were many reported sightings in the United States. One businessman named Kenneth Arnold claimed that on June 1947 he saw nine flying objects across Washington sky. He later described them as ‘flying like saucers” that gave way to terms flying disk and flying saucers.
This was quickly followed by several sightings in the United States and other countries. However, the one that stood out the most was a sighting reported by a crew of United Airlines who claimed that they saw the same 9 flying saucers supporting Kenneth Arnold’s sighting.
These reported sightings have immediately caught media attention and the government became more concerned. After a month of the initial sighting, the US government conducted an investigation about flying saucers. The investigation proved that reported sightings were real and there were indeed flying objects. Technical and intelligence divisions of the US air force supported these findings. These investigations led to the creation of “Project Blue Book” to further study and understand flying saucers.
It was in 1952 when the term flying saucer was officially replaced with UFO or unidentified flying objects to reflect the sightings diversity. In 1954, the director of project blue book issued a statement formally defining UFO as any airborne flying objects that has aerodynamic characteristics and unusual features and doesn't conform to known missile or aircraft types. It also means objects that aren't presently known or can't be identified positively as familiar objects. UFOs were later categorized based on their features: Categories include:
1. Objects that rapidly change route and have fast moving lights.
2. Disk-shaped objects that don't have audible or visible propulsion.
3. Large triangular objects that have the same light pattern.
4. Cigar-shaped objects that have lighted windows.
Aside from visual sightings, UFOs were associated with physical evidence. The most popular evidence was landing traces or ground impressions. Experts believe that UFOs leave burned or desiccated soil with metallic traces.
Today, there are still UFO sightings throughout the world that continue to amaze all kinds of people. Until they are identified or come in contact with experts, they will remain Unidentified Flying objects.
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