In July 1947, debris from an unknown object was recovered from a ranch near Roswell, New Mexico, sparking decades of intense speculation about extraterrestrial visitation. Initially announced by the military as a "flying disc," the claim was swiftly retracted and attributed to a weather balloon. This incident became a foundational event in UFO lore, fueling numerous conspiracy theories despite official explanations.1
The Discovery and Initial Announcement
Rancher W.W. "Mac" Brazel discovered unusual wreckage scattered across his property in June 1947, consisting of rubber strips, tinfoil, tough paper, and sticks.2 After hearing reports of "flying saucers," he contacted the local sheriff, who in turn alerted the Roswell Army Air Field (RAAF). Major Jesse Marcel, an intelligence officer, was dispatched to investigate and collect the debris.3 On July 8, 1947, the RAAF issued a press release stating they had recovered a "flying disc," which immediately made international headlines.4
The Military's Retraction and Project Mogul
Within 24 hours, the military dramatically reversed its statement, claiming the debris was merely from a weather balloon.5 Brigadier General Roger M. Ramey and Colonel Thomas J. Dubose publicly identified the metallic fragments as pieces of a weather balloon, a narrative that was widely disseminated. Decades later, in the 1990s, the U.S. Air Force clarified that the recovered debris was from Project Mogul, a top-secret program involving high-altitude balloons designed to detect Soviet nuclear tests.6 The initial "weather balloon" story was a cover-up to conceal the classified nature of Project Mogul.7
Conspiracy Theories and Lasting Legacy
Public interest in the incident largely faded until the late 1970s, when retired Air Force officer Jesse Marcel claimed the weather balloon story was a cover-up, speculating the debris was extraterrestrial.8 This, along with various books and documentaries, fueled elaborate conspiracy theories alleging the military recovered a crashed alien spacecraft and even alien bodies, which the government then covered up. The Air Force reports in the 1990s addressed these claims, stating that "alien bodies" were likely anthropomorphic test dummies used in high-altitude parachute tests.9 Despite official explanations, the Roswell incident remains a central event in UFO lore and continues to be a subject of debate and fascination, symbolizing government secrecy and the enduring belief in extraterrestrial life.10