MUFON
From the UAP Encyclopedia, the open encyclopedia of UFO and UAP history · 🏢 Organization
Contents 6
| Type | Organization |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Mutual UFO Network |
| On the Timeline | 15 events, 1948–2008 |
The Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) is an American nonprofit organisation of volunteers who investigate UFO reports. Founded in 1969, it is the largest and longest-running civilian UFO group in the United States, with chapters in every state and more than 4,000 members worldwide, and is headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. Its stated purpose is "the scientific study of UFOs for the benefit of humanity".[1][2]
History
MUFON was founded on 31 May 1969 in Quincy, Illinois, as the Midwest UFO Network, by Allen Utke, Walter Andrus, John Schuessler and others. Many early members came from the newsletter Skylook and from the older Aerial Phenomena Research Organization (APRO). It took its present name in 1973 as it expanded beyond the Midwest. Andrus led the organisation for decades.[1][3]
Activities
MUFON trains unpaid field investigators, who must pass an exam based on a lengthy investigator's manual and a background check; it claims more than 500 investigators and specialised teams. It runs an online case management system where the public can report sightings, publishes the monthly MUFON UFO Journal, and holds an annual international symposium. In 2015 it set up an online training institution, MUFON University, which is not accredited.[1]
MUFON symposiums have been the setting for important moments in UFO history: in 1978 Leonard Stringfield presented his first report on crash-retrieval claims there, and in 1989 researcher William Moore admitted at the Las Vegas symposium to helping Air Force agents spread disinformation. Between 2008 and 2010 MUFON shared case reports with Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies, the contractor running the Pentagon's AAWSAP program.[4][5]
Controversies
In July 2020 executive director Jan Harzan was arrested in Newport Beach, California, in a police sting and charged with attempting to arrange to meet a minor for sex; MUFON said he was permanently removed. In 2018 Newsweek reported that some officials and donors had expressed bigoted views, leading to several resignations.[1][6]
Criticism
Science writer Sharon Hill and others have criticised MUFON for promoting abduction claims, conspiracy theories and hypnotic regression at its events, and for relying on volunteers with varied qualifications. Skeptics also note that its database contains many sightings with ordinary explanations. Supporters say it fills a gap left by the lack of official investigation of civilian reports.[1][7]
On the UAP Timeline
- Laredo UFO crash claim (1948) (1948) — An anonymous retired colonel claims a craft crashed near Laredo, Texas, and witnesses were sworn to secrecy.
- Bell Labs source on 1950 crash files (1950) — A Bell Labs source says a former NASA employee had technical files on a 1950 crash retrieval.
- Wright-Patterson guard and the tarp-covered craft (1952) (1952) — A former guard is said to have seen a tarp-covered craft taken into a secure area at Wright-Patterson.
- Air Force officer's crash-retrieval remark (1952) (1952) — A source says an Air Force officer told an aerospace meeting he had been at a crash retrieval scene.
- Fort Monmouth desert-disc film (1953) — A radar technician says he was shown a film of a silver disc embedded in the desert at Fort Monmouth.
- White Sands landing reports (1956) (September 1956) — Unconfirmed reports describe a domed disc landing in front of personnel at White Sands.
- Dyess AFB weapons storage incident (1973) (October 1973) — A security policeman at Dyess AFB says his squadron encountered a UAP near nuclear bombers.
- Sgt. M.S. and the Wright-Patterson general (1977) — An Air Force sergeant says a general at Wright-Patterson told him about recovered material.
- Ohio crash with survivor claim (1978) (1978) — An Air Force officer reportedly heard of a crash with two dead and one live occupant near Ohio.
- Three air bases claim (1978) (August 1978) — A source tells Leonard Stringfield that three air bases held alien craft or bodies.
- Weitzel letter (1980) (July 1980) — Air Force counterintelligence officer Richard Doty delivers a forged letter to a civilian UAP group.
- Bruce Maccabee's CIA talk (1987) (7 July 1987) — Navy physicist Bruce Maccabee says he lectured about UAP at CIA headquarters.
- Vallée on the disinformation campaign (1989) (17 September 1989) — Vallée writes there is a large disinformation campaign around UAP.
- Ray Boeche's meeting with two DoD scientists (25 November 1991) — Two scientists tied to the DIA and NSA claim secret programs try to control non-human intelligence.
- MUFON–BAASS contract (17 October 2008) — MUFON forms a technical team that signs a contract with Bigelow's company.
References
- Mutual UFO Network — Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org · archived copy
- "Mutual UFO Network investigates sightings", Evansville Courier & Press (15 Oct 2012) · web.archive.org · archived copy
- John Schuessler, "A Brief History of MUFON", MUFON · web.archive.org · archived copy
- Leonard H. Stringfield — Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org · archived copy
- Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program — Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org · archived copy
- "Head of Major UFO Organization Arrested on Child Solicitation Charges", Vice (14 Jul 2020) · vice.com · archived copy
- Sharon Hill, "UFO research is up in the air: Can it be scientific?", Skeptical Inquirer · csicop.org · archived copy
This page was last edited on 29 October 2026. Articles are written in our own words from the sources listed under References; disputed claims are attributed to the people who made them.
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