Buzz
The fascination with UFOs has become a captivating and enduring aspect of modern folklore, fueling public unease, speculative ideas, and shaping popular culture through tales of otherworldly visitors soaring above us. Reports of these mysterious sightings have emerged globally, prompting several nations to delve into the subject over the past century, driven by concerns over potential extraterrestrial threats to national security.
10. Office for the Investigation of Anomalous Aerial Phenomena - Peru
After the fall of Alberto Fujimori’s government in 2001, the Peruvian Air Force established a dedicated office to study UFOs, known as the Oficina de Investigacion de Fenomenos Aereos Anomalos (OIFAA). A surge in UFO sightings over Lima prompted the need to assess potential risks posed by unexplained aerial occurrences. Fujimori’s rumored UFO encounter in 1991 further fueled interest in the subject. Allegedly, during a fishing expedition on the Amazon, the former President and a group of military officials witnessed a massive metallic object hovering 300 meters (1,000 ft) above them. To avoid political fallout, Fujimori reportedly ordered the incident kept confidential, but the military’s curiosity about UFOs persisted.
Initially based in Lima’s Miraflores district, the OIFAA maintained transparency, engaging with the media, civilians, and UFO researchers. Air Force Commander Julio Cesar Chamorro shared an anecdote about rural farmers contacting the Office, not out of fear of an alien invasion, but to seek help in preventing UFOs from disturbing their livestock. This openness traces back to 1980, when Captain Oscar Santa María Huertas fired at a UFO resembling a gigantic mercury droplet hovering over La Jolla airbase, witnessed by nearly 2,000 people. Another pilot reported losing three hours of time mid-flight without any fuel discrepancy.
The OIFAA ceased operations in 2008 due to administrative challenges, but the Air Force’s Division of Aerospace Interests continued to accept UFO reports. In 2013, the OIFAA was revived after a series of new sightings, including glowing objects observed over Marabamba in the central Andes. The Air Force, along with sociologists, archaeologists, and astronomers, analyzes UFO-related data, assuring the public that an official body exists to review all collected information on these “apparently unconventional phenomena.”
9. RAAF Investigations - Australia
Australia’s first government-led UFO inquiry took place in 1930. Squadron Leader George Jones of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) was dispatched to Warrnambool, Victoria, to examine reports of unidentified aircraft over the Bass Strait. Official interest fluctuated until August 23, 1953, when Tom Drury, Deputy Director of the Department of Civil Aviation, captured a UFO on film in Papua New Guinea. While recording a boy spearfishing, Drury observed a dense, white cloud forming in the clear sky, followed by a silver, bullet-shaped object that swiftly departed. This incident raised concerns within the RAAF’s Directorate of Air Force Intelligence (DAFI) about potential national security risks.
The RAAF documented and examined UFO reports until Operation Close Encounter in 1983, when Mirage jets were prepared to intercept UFOs detected on radar at Sydney’s Mascot Airport. The operation consumed 66.5 days of overtime and 1,000 kilometers (620 mi) of staff travel, only to conclude that the sightings were caused by radar interference. Subsequently, the RAAF narrowed its focus to credible defense threats and ceased all UFO research in 1994. In 2001, defense officials announced they would no longer address cases of “unusual aerial sightings.” In 2011, the Sydney Morning Herald sought access to RAAF UFO files under Freedom of Information laws but was informed the records were either missing or destroyed. It took the Department of Defence another year to locate the files and release them to the National Archives.
8. CRIDOVNI - Uruguay
Established in 1979 by the Uruguayan Air Force, the Comision Receptora e Investigadora de Denuncias sobre Objetos Voladores no Identificados (CRIDOVNI), or the Commission for Receiving and Investigating Reports of Unidentified Flying Objects, became South America’s first official government body dedicated to UFO research. Its team consists of paid Uruguayan Air Force personnel who work autonomously, free from military oversight. Although only about 2 percent of cases remain unexplained, these include incidents like military jet disappearances, civilian abductions, livestock mutilations, and physical traces of UFO landings. Colonel Ariel Sanchez, CRIDOVNI’s chairman, noted that soil near suspected landing sites showed altered chemical compositions. The commission’s scientists have explored theories ranging from atmospheric anomalies to traces of foreign aircraft and space-based monitoring probes.
CRIDOVNI maintains strong ties with its civilian counterpart, the Regional Center for Investigation of Aerospace and Terrestrial Phenomena (CRIFAT), and adopts an open-minded approach when engaging with UFO researchers. Colonel Sanchez emphasized that CRIDOVNI operates with neutrality, objectivity, and efficiency. “We still have no definitive answers about the UFO phenomenon, including the nature and origin of these vehicles, but we remain committed to thorough research. As representatives of Uruguay, we must remain impartial, neither promoting nor dismissing any specific viewpoint.”
7. GEPAN, SEPRA & GEIPAN - France
Following World War II, the French Air Force’s Bureau Prospective et Etudes (EMAA/BPE, “Office of Long-term Studies”) began collecting and archiving UFO sightings. The Gendarmerie Nationale’s military police also started documenting such reports, with many military personnel showing interest in soucoupes volantes, or flying saucers.
The first serious effort to investigate UFOs emerged in the 1960s when Alain Peyrefitte, the scientific research minister, tasked Jean-Luc Bruneau, a former Atomic Energy Commission scientist, with forming an independent UFO research commission. This initiative was reportedly influenced by President De Gaulle’s staff, who were concerned about a UFO sighting over Tananarive, Madagascar, in 1954. The proposed group aimed to assess the likelihood of extraterrestrial intelligence, explore potential interactions through space, and study phenomenes aerospatiaux nonidentifies (unidentified aerospace phenomena). Although approved, the project was delayed indefinitely due to the political turmoil of May 1968.
In response to a surge in UFO sightings during the 1970s, Claude Poher, an engineer from France’s space agency, CNES, proposed a UFO research group involving the Air Force, gendarmerie, civil aviation, and the national meteorology office. This led to the creation of the Group d’Etudes Des Phenomenes Aerospatiaux Non-ldentifiees (GEPAN) in 1977, a CNES department tasked with investigating credible UFO reports dating back to 1966. From 1978, investigations were conducted by four-member teams, always including a psychologist to evaluate witness accounts. One notable case involved a 1982 GEPAN report on the effects of a UFO encounter on amaranth plants in Nancy, later published in the U.S. by the Journal of Scientific Exploration.
GEPAN operated until 1989, when it was quietly replaced by the Service d’Expertise des Phenomenes de Rentrees Atmospheriques (SEPRA), or the Atmospheric Re-entry Phenomena Expertise Department. While officially focused on satellite and rocket debris, SEPRA continued UFO research discreetly. After an audit in 2005, SEPRA was dissolved, but a new department, Groupe d’Etudes et d’Information des Phenomenes Aerospatiaux Non Identifies (GEIPAN), was established in 2006. Yves Sillard, GEIPAN’s first director and former NATO Assistant Secretary General for Environmental and Scientific Affairs, emphasized the importance of UFO research in an interview with Radio France International:
“I believe the Americans invest significantly more effort into UFO investigations than any other nation, employing a deliberate policy of misinformation. Why? Is it fear of losing their supremacy if confronted by a far more advanced civilization? Is it their desire to monopolize potential technological advancements? Or perhaps... something else entirely? Who knows?”
6. Flying Saucer Working Party - United Kingdom
British government interest in UFOs began with investigations into mysterious “foo fighters” observed during World War I and World War II. In August 1950, the Ministry of Defence established the Flying Saucer Working Party (FWSP) to explore whether UFOs had extraterrestrial origins by analyzing reports and collaborating with the CIA. The FWSP comprised five experts from the Air Ministry, Admiralty, War Office, and Ministry of Defence’s Technical Intelligence divisions. They spent eight months in a Trafalgar Square hotel, reviewing UFO reports from the RAAF and Royal Navy. The FWSP concluded that most sightings were false, with the few unexplained cases likely being optical illusions. Their final report in June 1951 advised the government to discredit sightings and conceal information about unexplainable events.
Between 1959 and 2007, the Ministry of Defence recorded over 11,000 UFO reports, though few pre-1962 records survive due to a policy of destroying non-threatening reports after five years. In 1967, UFO sightings over southern England prompted military and police mobilization, later revealed as a hoax by Farnborough Technical College engineering students. Despite skepticism, the Earl of Clancarty convinced the House of Lords to debate UFOs in 1979, leading to discussions on government censorship. The Bishop of Norwich even suggested that Jesus Christ’s sacrifice extended to intelligent beings across the universe, resulting in the formation of a House of Lords All Party UFO Study Group. However, the Ministry of Defence discontinued its UFO hotline in 2009, citing a waste of resources after 50 years of investigations yielded no security threats.
5. Project Magnet and Project Second Storey - Canada
In 1950, Wilbert B. Smith, a radio engineer with the Canadian Department of Transport, proposed using state laboratories and field equipment to study UFOs and uncover the physics behind their flight. Smith theorized that UFOs might harness the Earth’s magnetic field for propulsion, leading to the establishment of Project Magnet. Smith’s fascination with flying saucers led him to remark:
“These objects are often over 100 feet in diameter, capable of traveling thousands of miles per hour and reaching altitudes beyond the limits of conventional aircraft or balloons. They possess immense power and maneuverability... Given these capabilities, it’s challenging to align their performance with known human technology. Unless a terrestrial nation has made undisclosed advancements, we must consider the possibility that these vehicles are extraterrestrial, despite our inherent biases.”
Project Magnet aimed to decode the principles behind UFO propulsion to potentially replicate the technology. Smith established an observatory in Shirley’s Bay, Ontario, to monitor magnetic and radio disturbances caused by UFOs and analyze their physical characteristics. Initially a classified initiative focused on geomagnetic research, the project soon prioritized UFO studies, hoping to unlock breakthroughs in geomagnetic propulsion. Smith’s unconventional theories were posthumously published in his book, The New Science.
Parallel to Project Magnet, the Defence Research Board launched Project Second Storey. Canadian officials believed the sheer volume and consistency of UFO reports warranted serious investigation. They were skeptical of American UFO analyses due to their lack of precision and realism. To address this, they developed a detailed questionnaire to gather objective and reliable accounts from witnesses. However, the Second Storey committee was dissolved in 1954 amid government discomfort over UFO publicity and the realization that the phenomenon could not be scientifically explained.
4. CEFAA - Chile
The Comite de Estudios de Fenomenos Aereos Anomalos, or the Committee for the Studies of Anomalous Aerial Phenomena, is an official UFO research group under Chile’s Ministerial Department of Civil Aeronautics (DGAC) and the Chilean Air Force. Established in 1997, CEFAA was formed after DGAC officials at Chacalluta Airport witnessed unexplained aerial phenomena over two consecutive nights, sparking media attention and prompting government officials to admit sightings of OVNIs, the Spanish term for UFOs. The committee’s primary goal is to gather data and investigate reports of unidentified aerial phenomena to assess potential risks to Chilean aviation.
Governed by Chile’s 2008 Transparency Law, which mandates openness in government operations, CEFAA stands out by releasing not only documents but also tangible evidence, such as photos, videos, and audio recordings of UFO encounters. In 2014, CEFAA unveiled photos of a disc-shaped object hovering above the Collahuasi copper mine, located in a remote Andean area 4,300 meters (14,000 ft) above sea level. The images were captured by a technician specializing in electricity, electronics, and fluid control, who was among four workers at the site in April 2013. CEFAA dismissed explanations such as weather phenomena, balloons, aircraft, birds, or drones, labeling the object as unidentifiable. A 2014 meeting involving CEFAA, DGAC, the Chilean Air Force, and leading scientists concluded that UFOs do not threaten aircraft. The DGAC Chief of Operations stated:
“If, as numerous witnesses claim, the [UFO phenomena] exhibits ‘intelligent behavior,’ and if we accept this, we must consider the intent behind that intelligence, whether it’s a form of energy or something else—it’s irrelevant. Intelligence is the key. Has it displayed hostility or engaged in threatening maneuvers? Has it attacked our aircraft? So far, there’s no evidence of this. We cannot label something a threat without evidence of harmful intent, especially when its true nature remains unknown!”
3. Project Sign, Project Grudge & Project Blue Book - United States
On June 24, 1947, Kenneth Arnold observed a group of brightly colored, crescent-shaped objects flying at speeds exceeding 1,200 knots near Mount Rainier, Washington. He described their motion as similar to “a saucer skipping on water,” coining the term “flying saucer.” This sighting sparked public fascination, prompting demands for the Air Force to investigate. The first initiative, Project Sign, was launched by the Air Technical Intelligence Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in late 1947. It produced an “Estimate of the Situation,” which, while officially inconclusive, dismissed theories linking UFOs to American experimental aircraft or Soviet-developed “Horten discs” by captured German scientists. The report suggested UFOs were real and likely of extraterrestrial origin. However, after being sent to the Pentagon, it caused a rift among Air Force officials, with some fearing it would undermine public trust in the military. General Hoyt Vandenberg, USAF Chief of Staff, ordered the documents destroyed and Project Sign disbanded.
In 1949, Project Sign was replaced by Project Grudge, and its investigators were reassigned to unrelated tasks. Concerned about public panic following the Roswell incident, the USAF aimed to debunk UFO sightings. Grudge attributed UFO activity to conventional aircraft, weather balloons, meteors, optical illusions, and other ordinary explanations. The project received support from civilian academics, the USAF Air Weather Service, and the United States Weather Bureau. Grudge concluded that UFOs were cases of misidentification, mass hysteria, hoaxes, or psychological issues, recommending the findings be sent to the psychological warfare division.
Due to pressure from senior Air Force officials and increasing reports of unusual radar readings, Project Grudge was revived in 1952 under Captain Edward J. Ruppelt. Renamed “Project Blue Book” after university testing booklets, it continued its work. In 1953, the Air Force and CIA formed the Robertson Panel, a group of scientists tasked with evaluating the UFO phenomenon. The Panel advised scaling back Project Blue Book, citing concerns over resource allocation. Despite this, the project persisted until 1969, amassing 12,618 sightings. Its closure followed a University of Colorado report finding no evidence of advanced technology, extraterrestrial origins, or national security threats. Historian Jeff Underwood noted the cultural shift: “Once Star Trek aired, interest in UFOs waned.”
In early 2015, historian John Greenewald published over 100,000 pages of declassified Blue Book files online. While most sightings were easily explained, around 700 cases remained unresolved. These included a 1964 incident where a New Mexico police officer encountered a craft marked with a red insignia, piloted by “child-like beings,” which left physical evidence. Other U.S. agencies like the CIA, DIA, and NSA also investigated UFOs, but their files either remain classified or are heavily redacted, rendering them unreadable.
2. Setka MO and Setka AS - Soviet Union
On the evening of September 20, 1977, residents of Petrozavodsk observed a large, pulsating object resembling a red star or jellyfish hovering above their town for approximately 10 minutes. Although a nearby hydrometeorological observatory detected no irregularities, the event was witnessed by many, with similar sightings reported as far as Finland. The incident prompted a flood of letters to the Presidium of the Academy of Science from both local officials and citizens, while neighboring countries questioned whether it was related to weapons testing.
The Academy of Sciences enlisted the help of the Military-Industrial Commission (MIC) and the Scientific and Technical Council (STC) to investigate, with support from the Ministry of Defense. The MIC revised its five-year defense plan to include two new research topics: Setka MO, led by the Ministry of Defense, focused on “Studying paranormal atmospheric and space phenomena and their impact on military equipment and personnel,” and Setka AS, led by the Academy of Sciences, aimed at “Investigating the physical nature and mechanisms of paranormal atmospheric and space phenomena.”
The Soviet Union’s official UFO research initiative operated from 1978 to 1990, though they classified such encounters as “paranormal phenomena.” The program was highly classified, with researchers directed to assume UFO activity was linked to military tests. If genuine paranormal activity was confirmed, the knowledge was to be applied for military purposes. Most reports were attributed to optical illusions caused by high-altitude weather balloons or sunlight interacting with dust and gas from rocket launches.
Alongside the Setka program, the KGB division responsible for the air force and aircraft manufacturing also gathered UFO reports. Several initiatives were launched in response, including training missile crews to avoid provoking UFOs during sightings. Retired FSB Major General Vasily Yeremenko, a researcher at the Academy of Sciences, revealed that an experiment to attract UFOs began in the early 1980s. It was observed that these phenomena often occurred during periods of “heightened tension,” such as weapons tests or military movements. By deploying large numbers of combat aircraft or equipment, glowing orbs would appear in the sky. Military and scientific experts concluded that the UFOs were either unidentified natural phenomena, reconnaissance devices from the U.S. or Japan, or extraterrestrial objects.
1. Operacao Prato - Brazil
One of the most extensive official UFO investigations took place in northeastern Brazil under the name Operacao Prato, or Operation Plate. Initial reports emerged from Amazonian villages near the Atlantic coast, with even the mayor of Colares reporting UFO disturbances affecting local fishing. In November 1977, a military unit led by Captain Uyrange Hollanda encountered a UFO hovering directly above them. The disc-shaped object emitted sounds resembling “an air conditioner or a bicycle sprocket pedaling backward” and glowed yellow five times before turning blue and speeding off toward the ocean.
After briefing his base commander in Belem, Hollanda was assigned to lead a top-secret investigation alongside a team of specialists and photographers. The team interviewed over 300 individuals, including fishermen who claimed to witness UFOs entering and exiting the river, as well as strange blue lights beneath the water’s surface. Hundreds of photos were captured using filters, infrared, and ultraviolet film, revealing a wide array of shapes: discs, pyramids, cylinders, and a massive 100-meter-long (330 ft) “mother ship” resembling an oil barrel. Locals dubbed these objects chupa-chupas, referencing their alleged blood-sucking behavior, as many reported being paralyzed by green light or burned by red light, leaving welts on their skin. Hollanda theorized the objects were collecting blood samples, though at least two fatalities were reported.
Once the investigation reports reached Brasilia, Operacao Prato was classified, and participants were sworn to secrecy. In 1997, Colonel Hollanda broke his silence in an interview with a UFO magazine, detailing the operation. Less than two months later, he was found dead in his home, having hanged himself. While some suspected foul play, evidence largely pointed to suicide. In 2009, numerous documents related to Operation Plate and other UFO investigations by the Brazilian military were declassified. In 2013, representatives from the Brazilian Air Force, Navy, and Army met with civilian UFO researchers to explore a collaborative approach to studying flying saucers.
