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The Philadelphia Experiment
Legend claims the US Navy made the USS Eldridge invisible and teleported it from Philadelphia to Norfolk in 1943. Sailors allegedly fused with the ship's structure, went mad, or vanished. The Navy denies it happened. The story originated from letters sent to a UFO researcher in 1955.
1943
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
0 Did the Navy accidentally teleport a ship?
The Legend
October 28, 1943:
- USS Eldridge
- Philadelphia Naval Shipyard
- Invisibility experiment
- Ship disappeared
- Teleported to Norfolk
The Story
What allegedly happened:
- Electromagnetic generators
- Ship turned invisible
- Crew suffered
- Some fused with hull
- Others vanished
The Source
Carl Allen’s letters:
- Written 1955-1956
- To Morris Jessup
- UFO researcher
- Claimed to witness
- Only source
The Evidence
What exists:
- Letters only
- No official documents
- Navy denies experiment
- Ship logs contradict
- Crew interviews skeptical
The Reality
What likely happened:
- Degaussing experiments
- Make ships invisible to mines
- Magnetic, not optical
- Misunderstood technology
- Urban legend grew
Pop Culture
Cultural impact:
- Multiple films
- Books written
- Video games
- Conspiracy staple
- Enduring mystery