On May 20, 1953, an alleged UFO crash is said to have occurred in a remote area south of Kingman, Arizona. Although this incident might be considered less prominent or lesser known when compared to other famous alleged UFO crashes, such as the widely discussed Roswell event that captivated public attention in the summer of 1947, the apparent crash and subsequent recovery of what some describe as an extraterrestrial vehicle that transpired there in the spring of 1953 is potentially one of the most controversial and credible claims of its kind. In most instances involving UFO sightings or crashes, despite the obvious caution and skepticism that many people maintain, these claims usually tend to fall into one category or another based on various levels of evidence. However, with the Kingman UFO crash, intriguing and compelling arguments are made on both sides.
The intriguing case of the Kingman UFO retrieval was subsequently brought to the public's attention by the well-respected UFO researcher Raymond Fowler in June of 1973. This extraordinary incident involved an engineer who took preliminary measurements to meticulously assess the momentum of a crashing craft, measurements that turned out to be highly useful for any potential reverse engineering efforts. The engineer who brought this astonishing story to light was Arthur G. Stancil, who was previously known by the pseudonym "Fritz Werner." Stancil graduated from Ohio University in 1949 and quickly secured a position with Air Material Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, where he worked as a mechanical engineer focused on testing various Air Force aircraft engines. Dr. Eric Wang, who was suspected of leading a highly secretive reverse engineering team on alien craft, headed the Installations Division within the Office of Special Studies, where Arthur Stancil was employed during this remarkable period.
Stancil signed a comprehensive legal affidavit affirming the honesty and accuracy of his testimony, which was subsequently published by Ray Fowler in the renowned UFO Magazine in April of the year 1976.
Stancil shared that he was temporarily loaned out to the Atomic Energy Commission and was officially designated as a project engineer on a series of atomic bomb tests that were referred to as "Operation Upshot Knothole." These significant tests took place at Frenchman's Flats, which is located at the southern end of the expansive Nevada Test Site. At the helm of these intricate operations was none other than Dr. Ed Doll, the test director overseeing the various phases of the project.
On May 21, 1953, Stancil received an urgent summons from his boss, who directed him to report immediately for a highly classified special assignment at the Indian Springs Air Force Base. Upon his arrival, he found himself joined by a select group of 15 other specialists, each with unique skills critical to the mission at hand. They were swiftly flown by military aircraft to Phoenix, where they subsequently boarded a bus equipped with blacked-out windows, allowing no glimpse of the outside world as they traveled. This ride lasted for an estimated four hours, shrouded in secrecy and anticipation. When they finally arrived at their destination, situated somewhere southeast of Kingman, nestled in the shadows of the imposing Hulapai Mountains, they were greeted by an Air Force Colonel. He proceeded to brief them on the urgent nature of their task: to investigate the crash of an extremely sensitive super-secret test vehicle. Stancil and his colleagues were sternly instructed not to communicate with one another under any circumstances, emphasizing the gravity of the situation. Stancil's specific role was to meticulously determine the forward and vertical velocities of the vehicle at the moment it impacted the soft sand, a task vital to understanding the circumstances of the crash.
Stancil was escorted to the intriguing site by military police, who maintained a watchful presence. Two powerful military arc-lights illuminated the mysterious saucer, which appeared to be made up of two convex oval plates inverted over each other, measuring approximately 30 feet in diameter. The saucer was inexplicably embedded in the sand to a depth of about 20 inches. From this observation, Stancil had determined that the saucer must have crashed at a remarkable velocity of approximately 100 knots, yet it bore no visible dents, marks, or scratches on its strikingly burnished aluminum surface. Remarkably, it was constructed of a dull silver metal that resembled brushed aluminum. Another specialist on the scene had managed to get a glimpse inside the craft, as a 1.5 x 3.5 foot hatch was discovered to be open, revealing an oval-shaped interior cabin that housed two swivel seats and numerous instruments with unreadable panels. Stancil also noted that he observed one body being recovered from the crash site. This entity was humanoid, approximately 4 feet tall, with a distinctive brown skin texture and was clad in a tightly fitted silver-metallic flight suit that seemed to glisten under the lights.
Whilst they were back on the bus, being taken back to their original destination, they were made to sign the 'Official Secrets' Act and were explicitly instructed never to discuss or disclose any information regarding this bizarre incident. Obviously, he did not adhere to the “Official Secrets” mandate, since later on, Stancil would boldly claim that he had seen the body of a small creature, measuring about 4 feet tall, inside a small medical tent that was set up nearby. The creature was notably wearing a distinctive skull-cap and a shiny silver one-piece suit, which left a profound impression on him.
Fowler made several thorough checks as to the overall integrity of Stancil, and everyone who had the opportunity to know him personally said that he was indeed a man of considerable integrity and notable scientific ability.
Another intriguing story that lends support to the crash incident near Kingman emerged in the year 1977, as it was relayed to the well-known UFO researcher Len Stringfield. A man who was serving in the National Guard at Wright Patterson Air Force Base came forth with a remarkable claim, stating that he had been a direct witness to a delivery that originated from a 'crash site in Arizona' in the year 1953. According to his account, three bodies had been recovered from the site, and these were packed meticulously in dry ice. He described the entities as being approximately 4 feet tall, possessing unusually large heads, and featuring a distinctive brownish skin tone that set them apart from any human characteristics. This testimony added another layer of mystery to the ongoing investigation into unexplained aerial phenomena.
An almost identical story was reported to researcher Charles Wilhelm in 1966 by a man who earnestly claimed that his father had shared the extraordinary story with him as a heartfelt death-bed confession, revealing long-held secrets that weighed heavily on his conscience.
In 1995, an intriguing individual who went by the code name of Jarod-2 remarkably reached out to the Internet publication known as The Groom Lake Desert Rat. He conveyed a fascinating story, claiming that he had previously worked for the United States Air Force on a highly classified project that was designed to create a flying saucer simulator. This ambitious project had reportedly commenced at the conclusion of the 1940s and had gathered an extensive amount of material sourced from the infamous crash sites at Roswell and Kingman, which are forever etched in the annals of UFO lore.
Besides the various events and individuals involved in this ongoing investigation, it is important to note that this narrative does not encompass the entire story. While there is not as much concrete evidence available for these subsequent events, these captivating stories have been circulating within the rich lore of UFO and UAP history for quite some time. Given that recent developments are revealing many phenomena once dismissed as mere conspiracy theories or unfounded claims are increasingly being acknowledged as truths, I feel it is pertinent to include these intriguing events in our discussion.
On Thursday, May 22, a group of locals in the small town witnessed an astonishing and mind-boggling sight of eight distinct flying saucers soaring gracefully and effortlessly over Del Rio Springs, Arizona. Among those who had the rare opportunity to observe this peculiar and extraordinary event were three notable men – Bill Beers, the respected president of the Prescott Sportsmen’s Club, Ray Temple, an industrious and dedicated post office employee, and O. Ed Olson, who all stood in utter awe and wonder as they took in the unusual and surprising sight before them. This remarkable occurrence unfolded in the expansive and breathtaking sky above Del Rio Springs Creek, which is located approximately 20 miles north of Prescott, Arizona, during the early morning hours when the day was just beginning to unfold.
On Thursday, May 21st, 1953, an unidentified object suddenly crashed into the remote Red Lake area, generating significant local interest and curiosity. However, it is important to note that only limited data exists regarding this intriguing crash incident. Notably, researcher Harry Drew has claimed that a second object also came down and subsequently crashed in close proximity to the Red Lake area, located in Arizona, raising further questions and fueling speculation about the nature of these events.
Then, on the intriguing day of Friday, May 22nd, 1953, the Prescott Evening Courier made waves with the sensational headline ‘Flying Saucers Returned to Prescott’. This prominent local Prescott newspaper published a detailed story about an extraordinary reported encounter at Del Rio Springs. The article recounted how a fleet of eight unidentified flying discs was astonishingly witnessed, hovering in the sky approximately 20 miles north of Prescott, Arizona. This remarkable sighting occurred at a site known as Del Rio Springs, which is situated roughly 80 miles east of the majestic Hualapai Mountain range and about 90 miles from the bustling town of Kingman.
Finally, on Sunday, May 24th, 1953, yet another mysterious object made its descent and crashed onto the Earth. Unfortunately, very limited data exists regarding this particular crash incident, making it difficult to draw any definitive conclusions. However, it is worth noting that once again, Harry Drew asserted on Friday, May 22, 1953, that a third unidentified flying object had come down that week over the vast expanse of Arizona. This third UFO allegedly crashed into the steep, rugged side of the Hualapai Mountain range, adding to the intrigue surrounding these unexplained events.
With the recent and highly significant whistleblower testimonies emerging from the Pentagon, alongside compelling accounts from various military personnel regarding alleged UAP crash retrieval programs, it seems that it may be just a matter of time before we receive a great deal more information on intriguing cases such as this, along with many others that have remained shrouded in mystery for far too long.