In the annals of UFO lore, few incidents have captured the imagination and sparked as much controversy as the Roswell UFO incident of 1947. Over the years, numerous individuals have been associated with the discovery and subsequent cover-up of what some believe to be extraterrestrial visitation. In this article, we delve into the lives, thoughts, and quotes of the key players involved in the Roswell UFO incident, shedding light on their perspectives and contributions.
- Major Jesse Marcel: Major Jesse Marcel, an intelligence officer at the Roswell Army Air Field, was among the first to examine the debris recovered from the alleged crash site. Marcel initially expressed his belief that the materials were from an otherworldly craft. In a quote from a 1979 interview, he stated, “I am convinced that what I personally observed was some kind of craft that did not originate on Earth.”
- Colonel William Blanchard: Colonel William Blanchard, the commanding officer at Roswell Army Air Field during the incident, initially issued a press release stating that a “flying disc” had been recovered. However, the military quickly retracted the statement, attributing it to a misidentification of a weather balloon. Though he never publicly spoke about the incident again, some speculate that Blanchard may have been part of a larger cover-up.
- Glenn Dennis: Glenn Dennis, a mortician in Roswell at the time, claimed to have received a peculiar phone call from the Roswell Army Air Field. According to Dennis, he was asked about the availability of small-sized coffins and recalled encountering military personnel distraught by the recovery of non-human bodies. In a 1991 interview, Dennis stated, “I have no doubt in my mind that what I was told and what I saw was the truth.”
- Frank Kaufmann: Frank Kaufmann was a civilian photographer who allegedly captured images of the wreckage and unusual debris before being ordered to hand over his camera and film to military authorities. Unfortunately, no known photographs taken by Kaufmann have surfaced. However, his account remains a tantalizing aspect of the Roswell UFO saga.
- Jesse Marcel Jr.: Jesse Marcel Jr., the son of Major Jesse Marcel, has been a prominent figure in the Roswell UFO incident. Following in his father’s footsteps, Marcel Jr. corroborated his father’s claims of the extraterrestrial nature of the debris. He dedicated much of his life to investigating and advocating for the truth of the Roswell incident, sharing his father’s belief that a cover-up occurred.
Jesse Marcel- Early Life and Childhood
Jesse Antoine Marcel Sr. was born on May 27, 1907, in Bayou Blue, Louisiana, the youngest of seven children born to Theodule and Adelaide Marcel. He developed an early interest in amateur radio and graduated from Terrebonne High School.
Military Career
In 1924, Marcel began a three-year enlistment in the Louisiana National Guard. In June 1935, he married Viand Aleen Abrams, and the following year, she gave birth to their first child. In 1936, Marcel undertook another three-year enlistment, this time in the Texas National Guard. In March 1942, Marcel was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant in the US Army Air Force. In the summer of 1942, Marcel attended the Army Air Force Intelligence School in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, for training as a Combat Photo Interpreter/Intelligence Officer. Upon graduation from the program, Marcel was promoted to the role of instructor.
Roswell Incident
In July 1947, a mysterious and unidentified object fell into the desert near the Roswell Army Air Field (RAAF). Major Jesse Marcel was one of the first on the scene after being sent to supervise the debris collection and work out what had happened. On July 8th, an RAAF press release described the event as the “crash and recovery” of a “flying disc.”
Life After Roswell
After requesting a hardship discharge to care for an elderly mother, in July 1950 Marcel returned to Houma, Louisiana. In September 1950, Marcel was released from active duty and transferred to the Air Force reserves. He received his final discharge in 1958. In his final years, Marcel was a self-employed television repairman. Jesse Marcel Sr. died on June 23, 1986, in Houma, Louisiana, at the age of 79. He was survived by his wife Viaud Abrams.
Legacy
Jesse Marcel’s involvement in the Roswell incident has made him a central figure in UFO history and conspiracy theories. His son, Jesse Marcel Jr., also claimed to have handled debris from the Roswell crash and continued to speak about the incident until his death in 2013. The Marcel family’s connection to the Roswell incident has been documented in various books, documentaries, and interviews, including Jesse Marcel’s own book, “The Roswell Legacy,” which he co-authored with his wife, Linda Marcel.
Colonel William Blanchard: Early Life and Education
William Hugh Blanchard was born on February 6, 1916, in Boston, Massachusetts. He received his high school education in Chelsea, Massachusetts, and graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy before entering the United States Military Academy in 1934. Blanchard graduated and received his commission in 1938.
Military Career
After completing pilot training at Randolph and Kelly fields, Texas, in 1939, Blanchard held assignments as a flight instructor and as chief of advanced pilot training in the Flying Training Command. In 1943, he was selected for duty with the initial B-29 bomber wing being formed in Salina, Kansas. In 1944, as deputy commander of the 58th Bomb Wing, Blanchard flew the first B-29 into China to begin his participation in strategic bombing operations against the Japanese mainland.
Roswell Incident
Colonel William Blanchard played a significant role in the Roswell incident, which occurred in July 1947 in New Mexico. As the base commander of the Roswell Army Air Field (RAAF), he was involved in the initial investigation of the mysterious crash. Blanchard sent Major Jesse Marcel, an intelligence officer, to the crash site to collect debris and determine the nature of the incident.On July 8, 1947, Colonel Blanchard issued an official Army Air Force press release stating that the base intelligence office had recovered a so-called “flying disc” or “flying saucer” from a nearby ranch. This press release sparked widespread media attention and fueled conspiracy theories about the incident, which later became known as the Roswell UFO incident.However, Brigadier General Roger Ramey, head of the Eighth Army Air Force in Fort Worth, Texas, quickly pronounced the debris as a misidentified weather balloon. Despite the official explanation, the Roswell incident remains one of the most debated UFO events in history, and Colonel Blanchard’s role in the investigation is a key aspect of the story.
Later Career and Legacy
Blanchard continued to serve in the United States Air Force, eventually attaining the rank of four-star general. He served as Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force from 1965 to 1966. General William H. Blanchard passed away on May 31, 1966, in Washington D.C.Blanchard’s involvement in the Roswell incident has made him a significant figure in UFO history and conspiracy theories. The events surrounding the Roswell crash continue to be the subject of numerous books, documentaries, and interviews, with Blanchard’s role in the investigation remaining a key aspect of the story.
Glenn Davis- Early Life and Education
Glenn Dennis was born on March 24, 1925, in Roswell, New Mexico. He began working as a part-time assistant at the Ballard Funeral Home in 1940 while still attending Roswell High School. After graduation, Dennis was excused from wartime military service due to poor hearing and commenced an apprenticeship as an embalmer at Ballard.
Connection to the Roswell Incident
Glenn Dennis is known for his self-professed witness account of the 1947 Roswell UFO incident. According to Dennis, he received a call from the military requesting child-size coffins following the crash. He also claimed to have known a nurse who was forced to participate in an alien autopsy at the Roswell Airbase. Dennis’s account has been documented in various books, including “Witness to Roswell: Unmasking the 60-Year Cover-Up” by Thomas Carey and Donald Schmitt.
International UFO Museum and Research Center
In September 1991, Glenn Dennis co-founded the International UFO Museum and Research Center in Roswell, New Mexico. The museum is dedicated to the collection and preservation of information and materials related to the Roswell incident and other unexplained phenomena.
Later Life and Death
Glenn Dennis passed away on April 28, 2015, at the age of 90. His firsthand account of the Roswell incident and his role in establishing the International UFO Museum and Research Center have made him a notable figure in UFO history and conspiracy theories.
Frank Kaufmann- Military Career and Connection to the Roswell Incident
Frank Kaufmann served at the Roswell Army Air Field in New Mexico during the 1940s. He claimed to have been involved in the recovery of a crashed UFO near Roswell in July 1947. According to Kaufmann, he was part of a team that was sent to the crash site to secure the area and retrieve the debris. He also alleged that he saw the bodies of extraterrestrial beings at the site.Kaufmann’s account of the Roswell incident has been met with skepticism by some researchers, who question the veracity of his claims. However, his story has been featured in several books and documentaries about the Roswell UFO incident, making him a notable figure in the ongoing debate surrounding the event.
Later Life and Death
After retiring from the military, Frank Kaufmann worked as a civilian employee at the Roswell Army Air Field and later at the Walker Air Force Base. He eventually settled in Roswell, where he lived until his death on July 11, 2001. Kaufmann’s involvement in the Roswell incident and his claims about the recovery of a crashed UFO have contributed to the enduring mystery and fascination surrounding the event.
Jesse Marcel Jr.- Early Life and Education
Jesse Marcel Jr. was born on August 30, 1936, in Houston, Texas. He was the son of Jesse Marcel Sr., a key figure in the 1947 Roswell UFO incident. Growing up, Jesse Jr. was exposed to his father’s stories about the mysterious crash and the debris he had handled.
Medical Career
Jesse Marcel Jr. pursued a career in medicine, becoming a respected physician. He earned his medical degree from Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans and later specialized in otolaryngology. Over the years, he held various positions, including serving as a flight surgeon in the United States Navy and working as a medical officer in the Montana Army National Guard.
Connection to the Roswell Incident
Jesse Marcel Jr. became an important figure in UFO history due to his connection to the Roswell incident through his father. He claimed that, as a child, he had the opportunity to handle some of the debris his father brought home from the crash site. Marcel Jr. supported his father’s belief that the debris was not from a weather balloon, as the official explanation suggested, but rather from an extraterrestrial craft.
Throughout his life, Marcel Jr. spoke about the Roswell incident at conferences and in interviews, sharing his experiences and supporting the idea that the event involved a UFO. He also co-authored a book with his wife, Linda Marcel, titled “The Roswell Legacy,” which details his family’s connection to the incident and their belief in the extraterrestrial explanation.
Later Life and Death
Jesse Marcel Jr. continued to practice medicine and remained active in the UFO community until his death on August 24, 2013. His contributions to the ongoing debate surrounding the Roswell incident have made him a notable figure in UFO history and conspiracy theories, further cementing the Marcel family’s connection to the event.
