Edwards AFB UFO Sightings

Edwards Air Force Base - the home of American experimental aviation, where Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier and the Space Shuttle lands - has its own UFO history. On October 7, 1965, personnel at this elite facility allegedly witnessed and photographed a landed UFO. The incident remains one of the most intriguing military base sightings ever reported.

Edwards Air Force Base

The location makes this case significant:

Premier Test Facility: Edwards AFB is where America tests its most advanced aircraft.

Expert Observers: Personnel are trained to identify aircraft - they see experimental vehicles regularly.

Security: One of the most secure facilities in the country.

Documentation: Everything that happens at Edwards is typically documented extensively.

October 7, 1965

According to accounts, the incident unfolded as follows:

Initial Sighting: A glowing object was observed approaching the base area.

The Landing: The object descended and landed on one of the dry lake beds that Edwards uses as runways.

Witness Response: Base personnel observed the landed object.

Approach: Some accounts suggest personnel approached the craft.

Photography: The object was allegedly photographed.

Departure: After a period on the ground, the object ascended and departed.

The Witnesses

Multiple personnel allegedly observed the event:

Technical Staff: Engineers and technicians saw the object.

Test Pilots: Some accounts include test pilots among witnesses.

Security Personnel: Base security reportedly responded.

Number: Various accounts suggest 10-15 witnesses.

These were not casual observers but professionals at America’s most sophisticated flight test facility.

The Object Described

Witness descriptions included:

Shape: Disc or oval shaped.

Appearance: Metallic, glowing.

Size: Estimates varied but suggested substantial size.

No Sound: Silent or nearly so.

Movement: Controlled landing and departure.

The Photographs

Perhaps most significant were the alleged photographs:

Camera Equipment: Base personnel had access to sophisticated photography equipment.

Multiple Images: Several photographs were supposedly taken.

Fate Unknown: The photographs have never been publicly released.

Classification: They would have been immediately classified if they existed.

Chuck Clark’s Account

Researcher Chuck Clark has investigated this case:

Witness Interviews: He claims to have interviewed some witnesses.

Confirmation: Witnesses allegedly confirmed the basic events.

Photographs: He reports witnesses confirmed photographs were taken.

Classification: All materials were apparently classified immediately.

Gordon Cooper Connection

Astronaut Gordon Cooper has discussed Edwards UFO events:

His Testimony: Cooper reported a UFO filmed at Edwards during his time there (a different incident).

Film Sent to Washington: He stated footage was confiscated and sent to headquarters.

Never Returned: The film allegedly was never returned or acknowledged.

Pattern: This suggests a practice of classifying UFO materials from Edwards.

Documentation Issues

The case faces documentation challenges:

Official Records: Few official records of the incident have surfaced.

Classification: Any records would have been immediately classified.

Witness Reluctance: Base personnel are bound by security agreements.

Declassification: Requests have not produced significant materials.

The Location Factor

Edwards’ role in aviation history matters:

Advanced Aircraft: Personnel see experimental craft daily.

Identification Skills: They can identify aircraft better than almost anyone.

Not Easily Fooled: These are not witnesses who mistake conventional objects.

Credibility: If Edwards personnel say they saw something unusual, it carries weight.

Blue Book and Edwards

Project Blue Book’s relationship with Edwards:

Multiple Reports: Several UFO reports came from Edwards over the years.

Sensitivity: Reports from the base were treated as particularly sensitive.

Investigation: How thoroughly these cases were investigated remains unclear.

Skeptical Considerations

Possible conventional explanations:

Experimental Aircraft: Perhaps a classified project unknown to most personnel. However, Edwards staff typically know about tests even if details are classified.

Test Gone Wrong: An emergency landing of some kind. This should have generated documentation.

Misidentification: Even experts can misidentify under unusual conditions.

Fabrication: Witnesses made up the story. Multiple independent witnesses make this less likely.

The Significance

If accurate, the Edwards 1965 incident matters because:

• It occurred at America’s premier flight test facility
• Witnesses were expert aviation observers
• The object allegedly landed and was photographed
• Personnel could approach and observe
• All evidence was apparently classified

Legacy

The Edwards AFB sighting represents:

• A credible claim from a credible location
• The challenges of researching military base UFO incidents
• Possible photographic evidence that remains classified
• Questions about what the government knows

Whatever landed on that dry lake bed in October 1965 - if anything did - occurred at exactly the place where Americans would be best qualified to know if it was truly unusual.

Sources

• Chuck Clark research
• Gordon Cooper testimonies
• Witness accounts
• Edwards AFB history