The fascination with unidentified flying objects has captivated the public imagination for decades, often centered around the infamous Roswell incident of 1947. However, there were several intriguing UFO crash stories that predate Roswell, shrouded in mystery and controversy. Here are five notable UFO crashes that occurred before the Roswell event.
1. Trinity Nuclear Site UFO Crash (1945)
In December 2022, President Joe Biden approved a significant addition to the US military budget, which included a mandate to systematically investigate UFO incidents. This new initiative expanded its scope to include encounters dating back to 1945, prompted by an often-overlooked incident near the Trinity site in New Mexico, where the first atomic bomb was tested in July 1945.
On August 16, 1945, two young boys, Jose Padilla and Reme Bacca, discovered a mysterious crash site while searching for a lost cow near San Antonio, New Mexico. They encountered a large, round metal object with a jagged gash, through which they saw small, rapidly moving figures. The metal fragments from the craft reportedly had an unusual ability to return to their original shape when bent.
Years later, in 2003, after successful careers in law enforcement and politics, Jose and Reme shared their story with Jacques Vallee, a former federal government UFO investigator. They described the beings inside the craft as about four feet tall, with spindly limbs and heads resembling praying mantises. Despite the military’s official claim that the object was a weather balloon, interest in this incident was rekindled by its inclusion in the recent military spending bill.
2. Mussolini’s UFO Crash (Italy, 1933)
In 1933, a UFO reportedly crashed in Italy, and the incident was allegedly covered up by the Vatican and later transferred to the US at the end of World War II. Italian ufologist Roberto Pinotti and US Air Force veteran David Grusch claimed that Italian dictator Mussolini had seized the spacecraft and kept it hidden until the Allies captured Rome.
The evidence includes purportedly classified documents and telegrams from Mussolini’s era, demanding absolute silence about the crash and threatening severe penalties for any leaks. The UFO, described as a bell-shaped object, was allegedly stored until 1944, with all documentation hidden in the Vatican archives. While no physical evidence has been found, and the authenticity of the documents remains in question, the story continues to intrigue researchers.
3. Aurora, Texas (1897)
In April 1897, residents of Aurora, Texas, reported seeing an airship crash into a windmill on the property of Judge J.S. Proctor. The pilot, described as “not of this world,” died in the crash and was buried in the local cemetery. The story, first reported by the Dallas Morning News, claimed the pilot had documents written in undecipherable symbols, and debris from the crash, including metal fragments, was dumped into a nearby well.
Skeptics argue that the incident may have been a hoax aimed at boosting the town’s declining economy. However, the legend endures, with some modern researchers pointing to unusual findings and high illness rates linked to the well as potential evidence of the crash.
4. Cape Girardeau UFO (1941)
In 1941, Reverend William Huffman was called to deliver last rites at a crash site near Cape Girardeau, Missouri. According to his granddaughter, Charlotte Mann, Huffman discovered a disc-shaped craft with three non-human bodies. The beings, described as short with large bulging eyes, were all deceased by the time Huffman arrived.
The military allegedly cordoned off the area, confiscated the debris, and imposed silence on witnesses. Although no contemporary records exist, and no photograph purportedly taken at the scene has been found, the story has been passed down through generations, adding to the lore of pre-Roswell UFO encounters.
5. Dundy County UFO (1884)
In June 1884, cowboys in Dundy County, Nebraska, reported seeing a fiery object crash near the settlement of Max. The Nebraska State Journal detailed the incident, describing fragments of machinery and a cylindrical object about 50 to 60 feet long. A follow-up party, including a local government inspector, reported that the wreckage dissolved in a rainstorm, leaving behind jelly-like pools.
While the Journal’s managing editor later claimed the story was a fabrication, some researchers believe there might be a kernel of truth. The discovery of strange green rocks near the alleged crash site in 2013 has further fueled speculation, though no concrete evidence has been found.
VIDEO: 5 Mysterious UFO Crashes Before Roswell
These five mysterious UFO crash stories, each with its own unique details and controversies, offer a fascinating glimpse into the early reports of unidentified aerial phenomena. Whether true, embellished, or fabricated, these accounts continue to spark curiosity and debate among UFO enthusiasts and skeptics alike, adding rich chapters to the history of UFO lore.