Unveiling the Myth of MJ-12: A Tale of UFO Sightings and Disinformation
The Bennewitz Incident: A Closer Look at UAP Encounters
In February 1981, William Moore was reportedly given the Aquarius Telex, a document he was to hand over to Paul Bennewitz, a New Mexico businessman and physicist. Bennewitz believed he had intercepted electromagnetic signals used by extraterrestrials to control human activities. His interest in UFO sightings heightened when he captured footage of what he identified as alien spacecraft flying over Manzano Nuclear Weapons Storage Facility and the Coyote Canyon test area near Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The Air Force’s Investigation into Alien Abductions
Taking Bennewitz’s claims seriously, the Air Force initiated an investigation on October 24, 1980. Richard Doty from the Air Force Office of Special Investigation took Bennewitz’s evidence to Major Thomas A. Cseh, who documented the findings. This report, obtained via the Freedom of Information Act, detailed the evidence Bennewitz presented, including electronic recordings and photographs of unidentified aerial phenomena, commonly linked to UFO sightings.
The Role of Disinformation: Was Bennewitz a Target?
Connecting Bennewitz with Doty, the military thus inserted itself into a situation that later suggested a ploy of deception. Moore contends the Aquarius Telex was given to him to push Bennewitz towards the media, enabling the Air Force to debunk it as a hoax, thereby damaging Bennewitz’s credibility. Yet, Bennewitz never publicized the document, indicating a failed attempt at disinformation.
The Spread of the Aquarius Telex: From Moore to the UFO Community
Despite Bennewitz’s silence, Moore circulated the memo within the UFO community, inadvertently or otherwise bringing it into the mainstream. Information was passed to Tracy Torme, and subsequently to the Canadian UFO Research Network, which published details of the encounter, escalating its dissemination.
Breaking into UFO Secrecy: The Mystery Around the Stolen Documents
A twist in the tale emerged when Moore’s briefcase, containing a copy of the Aquarius Telex, was stolen in 1982. Shortly thereafter, attorney Peter Gersten appeared on national television, displaying the document. Moore’s recollections contrast with his public accounts, adding complexity to the narrative.
Project Aquarius and the Falcon Connection: Unearthing More Mysteries
Moore later claimed to have seen another version of the document, shown to him by an Air Force officer known as "Falcon". During a meeting in March 1981, Moore reviewed the original telex and noted its existence well before the famed MJ-12 documents, sparking further intrigue around these classified projects.
The Controversial Retyping of the AFOSI Document
Discrepancies in the documents escalated when accusations of retyping surfaced. Dick Hall, in a letter dated March 20, 1989, implied that Moore might have altered the AFOSI document. Although these actions were purportedly for readability, they raised questions about authenticity and intent within UFO research communities.
The Legacy of the MJ-12 Myth: UFO Sightings and Beyond
This story highlights persistent intrigue around UFO sightings and government secrecy. Moore’s interactions with both the telex and the broader UFO community underline ongoing debates about MJ-12 and related phenomena. The tale of Paul Bennewitz and the Aquarius Telex remains a pivotal piece of the broader mystery surrounding Project Aquarius and UAP encounters.
References
For further reading on these topics, explore Kevin Randle’s article, "The Myth of MJ-12," published on June 30, 2014:
