Throughout the 1950s CIA files clearly document an explosion of activity by US intelligence and military bodies concerned with studying every possible implication for the US, and other Western democracies, of UFOs. The phenomenon, so adored by the cinematic world, was reflected in the CIA’s fixations. Indeed, while highly educated CIA employees experimented by giving each other surprise LSD trips in 1953, there were others, in other parts of the agency, dealing with a flood of UFO reports.

But significantly, after a burst of intense scrutiny in the early ’50s, the available documents effectively go cold. Why? The Kafkaesque explanation provided is that few files were kept because these would only confirm that the CIA was investigating UFOs. A 1995 CIA review stated: “There was no formal or official UFO project within the agency in the ’80s, and agency officials purposely kept files on UFOs to a minimum to avoid creating records that might mislead the public if released.”

While most UFO sightings were explained away as hoaxes or natural phenomenon, there were cases that sent a chill through our government. Read Plan 9 from Outer Space to learn more.