In 1973, Walter Cronkite was working on a CBS story involving UFOs. He interviewed leading UFO researchers to find material and stories about incidents for the special. The most remarkable story however was apparently not covered. According to a UFO researcher, that is Cronkite’s own UFO experience during the 1950s when covering a U.S. missile launch in the Pacific.
Bill Knell in 1973 was only beginning his career in UFO research. He claims that during his interview by Cronkite for the CBS special, Cronkite shared his own UFO experience. Knell explained that Cronkite and the other reporters covering the missile test were not allowed to take photos or audio. Reporters could only write about the test. There would be no photographic or audio record of the surprising event that would happen. Knell writes:
As Air Force Security personnel walked around the perimeter of the test area with guard dogs and the news reporters watched, the missile was fired-up and about to be released. Just then, a large disc-type UFO appeared on the scene.
Cronkite guessed that the object was about 50-60 feet in diameter, a dull grey color and had no visible means of propulsion. Because the noise of activity around him and the missile engine was so loud, he couldn't tell whether the disc made any noise. He did not notice any coming directly from the object.
As Air Force guards ran toward the UFO with their dogs, the disc hovered about 30 feet off of the ground. It suddenly sent out a blue beam of light which struck the missile, a guard and a dog all at the same time. The missile was frozen in mid-air about 70 feet from the launcher as it had taken off. A guard was frozen in mid-step and a dog frozen in mid-air as it had jumped at the disc. Cronkite reminded me that this all happened within the space of about five minutes or less.
Suddenly, the missile exploded! After that, the disc vanished. The guard and dog looked alright, but were quickly taken away by medical personnel always present at tests in case anyone became injured. At the same time, guards rapidly ushered the reporters into a concrete observation bunker.
About thirty minutes after the incident an Air Force Colonel debriefed Cronkite and the other reporters. Knell continues:
The officer told them, "It was all part of the test." Obviously making it up as he went along, the Colonel said that the event was "staged" to test media reaction to UFOs. He reinforced the usual line to the reporters that Flying Saucers were probably not extra-terrestrial, but what people were actually seeing was secret planes being tested by the Air Force. This test was designed to show the media how "shocking" it could be to suddenly view a new technology. Well, Cronkite was certain that what he viewed was a new technology, but he was also sure it was not an Earthly one! He didn't believe the Air Force explanation then, and he still didn't believe it at the time when he told me the story.
Luctor et Emergo.
Netherlands
United States
