The China Lake Possessions

Between 1974 and 1976, a series of alleged demonic possessions occurred among residents of the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake in the Mojave Desert of California. The cases involved military families and attracted the attention of Navy chaplains, who requested exorcism assistance from Catholic authorities.

The Location

China Lake is a remote naval installation in the Mojave Desert, primarily dedicated to weapons testing and development. The isolation, extreme climate, and military environment created unique pressures on the families stationed there.

The Cases

Multiple individuals, primarily women and children from military families, began exhibiting symptoms of possession. These included speaking in altered voices, displaying unusual strength, demonstrating apparent knowledge of hidden things, and reacting violently to religious objects and prayers.

Navy chaplains, confronted with phenomena outside their training, sought guidance from Catholic authorities. An exorcist priest was brought in to assess and treat the cases.

The Exorcisms

Father Malachi Martin, a controversial former Jesuit who later wrote extensively about possession and exorcism, was reportedly involved in some of the China Lake cases. His account suggested that the possessions were genuine and required extended ritual intervention.

The exorcisms were conducted quietly, away from public attention. The military setting ensured unusual secrecy, and many details remain unavailable.

Questions and Controversy

The China Lake possessions have been questioned on several grounds. The involvement of Malachi Martin, whose later writings have been criticized for sensationalism, raises concerns about reliability. The military secrecy makes independent verification impossible.

Some researchers have suggested the cases represented psychological responses to stress, isolation, and the peculiar pressures of military life in a remote desert posting.

Assessment

The China Lake possessions remain obscure compared to better-documented cases. The military context limited publicity and investigation. What occurred in that desert installation during the mid-1970s remains largely unknown to the public.

Whether genuine demonic activity, psychological disturbance, or something else explains the events, they represent an unusual intersection of military culture and spiritual crisis.