Roswell Incident (July 1947)
Rancher William “Mac” Brazel discovered unusual debris scattered across his New Mexico property, triggering one of the most famous UFO cases in history. The military initially declared they had recovered a “flying disc,” but quickly changed their story to a weather balloon explanation. The incident gained worldwide attention when local newspapers published the original military statement. Witnesses described materials with unusual properties, including metal that would return to its original shape after being crumpled. The contradictory official statements and the military’s rapid secure-and-contain response fueled decades of speculation about government cover-ups.