FBI Relents, Confirms Previously-Denied UFO Investigation (muckrock.com)

Long-time Slashdot reader v3rgEz writes: A Freedom of Information Act request for FBI files on a figure at the center of dozens of 20th century conspiracy theories reveals a rare glimpse into the Bureau's real-life "X-Files" -- which the agency had long maintained don't exist. And while there's no evidence yet of Mulder or Scully, the files do include a story of flying saucers and secret assassins stranger than anything on the show.
Specifically the documents detail the FBI's 1947 investigation into "flying discs" reported by early conspiracy theorist Fred Lee Crisman, describing "the Maury Island Incident" (picked up by U.S newspapers) which helped popularize the legend of UFO witnesses being detained by "men in black". Ironically, Crisman was later linked to one of the CIA's anti-Castro groups, connecting him another popular topic for conspiracy theorists: the assassination of President Kennedy.

Comments

Possible explanation

[zifn4b]

Perhaps they didn't admit to the investigation because it's embarrassing how much time and energy was put into investigating a hoax?

Re:Possible explanation

[Anonymous Coward]

Even if they were "Hoax(s)" that doesn't mean investigating them wasn't worth doing.

Look at the crop circles fad that happened in the 90s, etc. That ended up proving several new geometric proofs (in relationship between circles and triangles IIRC)

Investigating Hoax(s) are worth the time of the FBI, if nothing else than to produce a back-catalog of hoaxes and how they were preformed.... BUT... the key to this is transparency and oversight... something the FBI has NEVER wanted (Ignoring the events over the past 6mos that are a prime example)

Re:Possible explanation

[Calydor]

Hell, even if the FBI laughed their butts off at the idea of an extra-terrestrial craft crashing on Earth they would STILL go check that it wasn't a Soviet nuke!

Re:Possible explanation

[lgw]

Heck, the FBI was involved in the one big conspiracy-coverup we know was true from the 20th century - and the UFO investigations were key to it.

When game-changing new airplane designs from stealth technology to the SR-71 were being invented, during the height of the cold war, it was all about secrecy - but what do you do about eye-witnesses to these odd-looking planes, including people like pilots that it's hard to write off as kooks? You investigate each reported sighting as a "UFO sighting", and then loudly deny that you're investigating UFO sightings.

The plan seems to have worked pretty well - eye witness reports and even some photographs of experimental aircraft were dismissed as fakes by the public - and as far as we know, by the Russians. The more interesting the reports - triangular aircraft with no tails, aircraft moving faster and higher than anything known - the more easily it was dismissed as "UFO nuts". Brilliant plan, really, and the only modern conspiracy I know of that actually kept a secret long enough to matter.

Re:Brilliant Timing

[Sperbels]

the evil scary Russians are haxxoring the election

I don't see why this wouldn't be considered a possibility. The CIA has engineered the leadership nations all over the world to make sure they maintain subservient to US interests. Why wouldn't Russia attempt to gain a favorable outcome from a system which is demonstrably vulnerable to tampering?

Huh?

[93 Escort Wagon]

"Ironically, Crisman was later linked to one of the CIA's anti-Castro groups, connecting him another popular topic for conspiracy theorists: the assassination of President Kennedy."

Okay, I'll bite. How is this ironic in any way, shape, or form?