1940’s: The Dawn of the Modern UFO Era

1941: The Cape Girardeau Incident: This incident reportedly took place in Missouri, where a UFO allegedly crashed, and the U.S. military supposedly recovered alien bodies. While the details are limited and contested, it remains a frequent reference among UFO researchers.

1947: The Kenneth Arnold Sighting: On June 24, Kenneth Arnold observed nine "flying saucers" near Mount Rainier, Washington. This sighting introduced the term that would become synonymous with UFOs and is often regarded as the start of the modern UFO era.

1947: The Roswell Incident: In July, an object crashed near Roswell, New Mexico, sparking widespread speculation that it was a UFO. Initially, the U.S. military claimed to have recovered a "flying disc," but later changed their story, asserting it was merely a weather balloon.

1948: The Mantell UFO Incident: On January 7, Captain Thomas F. Mantell, a pilot in the Kentucky Air National Guard, tragically died while pursuing a UFO. The object was later identified as a skyhook balloon, though some debate around the incident continues.

1948: Project Sign: Launched by the U.S. Air Force, Project Sign marked the first official government investigation into UFOs, aiming to assess whether they posed a threat to national security. It was followed by Project Grudge in 1949.