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Former CIA physicist claims US has recovered over ten crashed UFOs since 1940s

Tuesday, 6 May 2025 12:09AM UTC

Dr Hal Puthoff, a former CIA physicist and remote viewing pioneer, reveals on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast that the US military has retrieved multiple crashed UFOs since the 1940s and asserts that alien technology is kept under extreme secrecy, with disclosure seen as unlikely.

In a recent episode of the "Joe Rogan Experience" podcast, Dr Hal Puthoff, a former CIA physicist and electrical engineer, captivated listeners by discussing claims surrounding the United States' alleged possession of alien technology. Puthoff, 88, who has previously worked on various government projects involving psychic phenomena and UFO research, stated that the U.S. military has recovered more than ten crashed UFOs since the 1940s.

Puthoff's career includes notable contributions to laser physics and remote viewing programs, where talented individuals were trained to gather intelligence through psychic means. He co-founded the Defence Intelligence Agency’s and CIA’s remote viewing programme in the 1970s and 1980s, which examined the potential uses of psychic abilities for military and intelligence operations. His involvement in these projects positioned him as an authority within government circles, often consulted for top-secret investigations into UFOs.

During the podcast, he detailed that not only has the U.S. military recovered several crashed UFOs, but other countries have allegedly found similar non-human craft. He mentioned that some of these "donations" of technology were made to various nations to observe who would advance in their scientific knowledge the quickest. Puthoff remarked, “They donate something here, something in China, something in Russia, and see who is best at moving forward just as part of their ISR [intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance] evaluation of us.”

Puthoff, who has openly expressed his belief in extraterrestrial life, referenced the infamous 1947 Roswell crash in New Mexico, asserting that it was indeed a “true non-human intelligence craft.” According to him, debris from this incident was transported to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, where fellow physicist Dr Eric Davis corroborated its authenticity during a recent congressional hearing. Davis revealed that a secret programme focused on the recovery of alien craft has been in operation since the Eisenhower administration in the 1950s, progressing without the knowledge of Congress.

Despite the intrigue surrounding these revelations, Puthoff indicated that the analysis of the recovered materials is kept under stringent secrecy, stating, "Not that the public would hear about... Not that I could disclose." He described the level of classified information as "really obscene," emphasising the isolation under which teams operate on these top-secret projects. Puthoff and his associates believe these crafts may have visited Earth for thousands of years, hidden away in remote mountain ranges or underwater.

While discussing the ramifications of disclosing such information, Puthoff shared insights from a confidential project initiated in 2004, where a collective of scientists and intelligence experts was tasked with examining the societal impacts of revealing the existence of extraterrestrial life. The group's findings suggested that public disclosure could lead to widespread negative consequences across various sectors, from religion to the economy. Puthoff recounted a hypothetical scenario in which the government would provide alien technology to one business over another, ultimately resulting in lawsuits from companies adversely affected by the exclusivity of technology access.

Puthoff’s assertions have evoked a spectrum of reactions, raising questions about the ethics of secrecy in government operations concerning potential extraterrestrial contact. As he concluded, “if you’re thinking about disclosure, forget it,” leaving listeners to ponder the complexities surrounding the control and dissemination of information regarding otherworldly phenomena.

Source: Noah Wire Services

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 7

Notes: The narrative references Dr Hal Puthoff, an 88-year-old former CIA physicist, discussing events dating back to the 1940s and 1950s, including the Roswell crash and programs from the Eisenhower era. These historical references are accurate given the time frame, but the discussion is presented as recent from a recent Joe Rogan podcast. There is no indication the information is recycled from older press releases, though some claims (such as the Roswell incident) have been discussed publicly for decades. Absence of explicit publication date on the narrative makes precise freshness assessment harder.

Quotes check

Score: 6

Notes: Direct quotes attributed to Dr Hal Puthoff and Dr Eric Davis are specific and detailed but cannot be traced to an earlier verifiable source online besides the recent Joe Rogan podcast episode itself. This suggests the quotes may be original to this podcast appearance, although Puthoff’s views on UFOs and government secrecy have appeared in other contexts. The lack of prior records reduces the ability to verify but increases originality score slightly.

Source reliability

Score: 5

Notes: The narrative originates from a Daily Mail piece, which is a well-known but tabloid-style publication with a mixed reputation for accuracy and sensationalism. While it often covers popular culture and unusual topics, it is less trusted than major reputed outlets like BBC or Reuters. This lowers confidence in the narrative’s reliability but does not invalidate the factual basis of Puthoff’s statements, which can be corroborated by his known history and credentials.

Plausability check

Score: 5

Notes: Claims about U.S. military recovery of crashed UFOs and secret programmes dating back to the 1950s have been part of public discourse in the UFO community for decades. Puthoff’s career in remote viewing and government projects lends plausibility to his involvement but the extraordinary nature of some claims (e.g., distribution of alien technology to other nations) lack independent verification. The secrecy mentioned aligns with known government practices around classified projects. The scenario of societal impact and litigation due to alien technology disclosure remains speculative.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM

Summary: The narrative presents a recent discussion featuring a known figure, Dr Hal Puthoff, on longstanding claims about UFOs and alien technology. While the information is timely based on a recent podcast, much of the content references historical events well-discussed previously, limiting freshness. Quotes appear original to the podcast but cannot be independently verified online. The Daily Mail’s reputation lowers source reliability, and the extraordinary claims reduce plausibility without further solid evidence. Therefore, the narrative should be considered an interesting report with medium confidence but requiring further verification.

UFOs
Joe Rogan Experience
Hal Puthoff
US military
extraterrestrial technology
classified information

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