Supporters, skeptics and sightings: A history of UFO phenomena

The Secret Six

History has seen, disregarded and applauded more paranormal sightings, hoaxes and apparitions then it can reasonably account for.

Six events in particular have stood out to civilian and scientist as completely baffling.

Whether life on other planets, an elaborate deception or something the world is simply not ready to come to terms with, these particular events remain haunting reminders of a world outside of our own, one as of yet inexplicable and unidentified. The accounts, evidence and photographic documentation speak for themselves.Although the clarity of these photos led to skepticism, it also provided undisputable evidence, in addition to the fact that two deputy police officers admitted to having seen the outline of these objects in the sky.

McMinnville, Oregon [May 11, 1950]

Cited as the most "creditable UFO photo ever taken," this flying object was only seen by three people, a farmer, his wife and father-in-law yet is applauded to be the most inexplicable photograph ever taken - or the best hoax of the 20th century.

Allegedly, the wife was on an uneventful walk outdoors when a rustle in her skirt made her look up into the sky.

Thinking that the government was once again experimenting with their army equipment, she asked for her husband to come with the camera and take some photos of the exciting activity in the sky.

What they captured was a parachute-like canopy, not any sort of military aircraft at all.

After showing the photos to a few friends and neighbours, Paul Trent was encouraged to submit his findings to a higher authority - and no one has been able to figure them out since.

Trindade, Brazil [Jan. 16, 1958]

Pilot, military officers and ship captains are often consider among the most reputable of otherworldly observers.

Individual accounts, family or friend findings and events not captured on film are among the least likely to be true, according to investigators - and certainly the least likely to be taken into consideration.

A record 47 crew members of the Brazilian naval vessel Almirante Saldanha captured an unidentified flying object hovering languidly along a mountaintop before moving along.

Multiple photographic accounts, complete consensus among passengers and seemingly veritable authenticity of the photographs have left naysayers baffled for decades.

Zanesville, Ohio [Nov. 13, 1966]

Ohio has long held special attention from alien enthusiasts. The site of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Intelligence Agency and alleged dumped debris from UFOs and alien bodies have left the state with more than a legend.

In 1966, a local barber and amateur astronomist took several impeccably detailed photos of a UFO hovering right above his home.

Hillside, Michigan [March 21, 1966]

Hillside is an interesting instance of UFO phenomenon as it was witnessed by self-proclaimed skeptic and University of Chicago trained astrophysicist Josef Allen Hynek.

The event occurred at Hillside College with not only photographic evidence, but high levels of radiation recorded during the exact time of the sighting.

Hynek later changed his stance completely on the whole UFO debate.

Sheraz, Iran [Oct. 8, 1978]

This event is unique in UFO history, as it is said to have been a repeat photograph of the same spacecraft.

Two young boys in Iran photographed the craft on two separate occasions, the same flying object that American pilots claimed to have spotted and attested to the validity of early on in their summer military surveillance.

Bentwaters, England [Dec. 27, 1980]

This event has come to be known as England's Roswell and occurred on a U.S. Air Force base in Bentwaters.

Not only were the strange skylights captured on film as an alien object, but the craft additionally appeared to have contact with the earth, unlike average sightings and similar to the events of Roswell.

The next day circular depressions in the grass and shattered tree limbs were revealed in the light.

What is more, reports from the U.S. Air Force recorded a craft flying in the air at an insurmountable speed, the same time the sighting took place.

Fewer inexplicable sightings have been recognized in the past years as modern technologies allow for a more advanced doctoring of photos and film, therefore less verifiable credible accounts.

This has not, however, stopped the sightings, nor has the general public lost interest in this engaging phenomenon.

In addition to Unidentified Flying Objects making their way into nightly skies, there is an equal amount of attention directed towards claims of extraterrestrial visitation and even abduction.

Accounts have ranged from mere sightings to claims of medical experimentation.

Although the clarity of these photos led to skepticism, it also provided undisputable evidence, in addition to the fact that two deputy police officers admitted to having seen the outline of these objects in the sky.

Hillside, Michigan [March 21, 1966]

Hillside is an interesting instance of UFO phenomenon as it was witnessed by self-proclaimed skeptic and University of Chicago trained astrophysicist Josef Allen Hynek.

The event occurred at Hillside College with not only photographic evidence, but also high levels of radiation.

Hynek later changed his stance completely on the whole UFO debate.

Not only were the strange skylights captured on film as an alien object, but the craft additionally appeared to have contact with the earth, unlike most sightings and similar to that of Roswell.

The next day circular depressions in the grass and shattered tree limbs were revealed in the light. What is more, reports from the U.S. Air Force recorded a craft flying in the air at an insurmountable speed, the same time the sighting took place.