Interview of Gerald Anderson, 07/24/1991
Summary
This video features an interview with Gerald Anderson, recounting his experience as a child witnessing a crashed flying saucer near Socorro, New Mexico, in July 1947. He details the object's appearance, the discovery of four non-human bodies (two deceased, one injured, one seemingly unharmed), and the subsequent military cover-up. Anderson describes the advanced technology, the cold temperature emanating from the craft, and a telepathic-like communication from the injured entity. The account includes the arrival of an archaeological team and a figure resembling Harry Truman, followed by a large military operation that secured the site, dispersed witnesses, and warned them to remain silent.
Key Insights
The crash site exhibited unusual temperature and olfactory anomalies.
Despite the outside heat of the New Mexico desert, the area around the craft was surprisingly cool, like refrigerated air-conditioning. Touching the craft's surface revealed it was ice-cold and very smooth. A smell resembling acetone emanated from the gash.
The unharmed entity appeared to communicate with Gerald telepathically.
The unharmed creature turned and looked directly at Gerald. Suddenly, he experienced an overwhelming influx of emotions: depression, loneliness, fear, and other awful feelings. He speculates this might have been telepathic communication, perhaps because he was a child and more receptive.
Sections
Introduction by Stanton Friedman
Stanton Friedman, a nuclear physicist and UFO enthusiast, introduces Gerald Anderson as a key witness.
Stanton Friedman introduces himself as a nuclear physicist with a strong interest in flying saucers. He is in Kansas City, Missouri, on July 24th, 1991, to interview Gerald Anderson, a witness to a crashed flying saucer recovery in New Mexico in July 1947. Friedman mentions that a polygraph examiner found no evidence of deception after several hours of questioning, primarily with Gerald. A full report is promised.
Gerald Anderson's birth details and initial location.
Gerald Anderson states his name and that he was born on October 4th, 1941, in Annapolis, Indiana.
The 1947 Incident: Discovery of the Crash Site
Family trip to New Mexico to search for agates culminates in finding a crashed disc.
Gerald Anderson recounts that his family (uncle Ted, cousin Victor, father, brother Glenn, and himself) moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, on July 4th, 1947. They drove to the plains of San Agustin, west of Socorro, to look for banded moss agate, which his uncle and cousin considered perfect for amateur rock collecting. They also intended to visit relatives in Magdalena. After parking, they walked down a hillside and into an arroyo (dry wash).
Description of the crashed flying saucer.
Coming around a bend in the arroyo, they saw a large silver disc-shaped object embedded in the side of a ridgeline. Gerald estimates its diameter as about 35 feet from an adult perspective, though others present thought it was closer to 50 feet.
Discovery of four deceased or injured non-human occupants.
Upon reaching the craft, they found four non-human bodies. Two were deceased, one was severely injured, and one appeared unharmed. The unharmed creature was sitting near the craft, possibly attempting to help the injured one by unrolling material that looked like unrolled tinfoil, placing it on the ground like a shock blanket. There were also boxes nearby.
The unharmed entity reacted with fear upon initial approach.
When the family approached, the unharmed creature reacted fearfully, pulling back as if anticipating harm. Adults attempted communication with it verbally and through sign language, but the creature merely observed them.
Detailed description of the alien occupants.
The creatures were all about four to four and a half feet tall. They had very large heads, wider at the top and tapering downwards. Their eyes were large, oval, or almond-shaped, black, and highly reflective with a bluish tint. Their skin had a bluish-tinted milky appearance, similar to someone in shock. The injured and deceased looked more so. They had no visible ears beyond a slight rise and a hole. The nose was almost imperceptible with just two holes. The lips were a thin straight line. They were completely bald and made no sound. They had three fingers and a thumb, with the center digit being longer than the others, appearing delicate.
The occupants wore identical silver-gray, one-piece suits.
All four occupants wore identical one-piece suits of a shiny, silvery-gray color with no zippers or buttons. The only variation was a trim around the seams, collar, and shoulders that appeared to be made of 'lacing' or 'cord'. The suits were continuous with what appeared to be boots or shoes, which seemed less pliable than the rest of the suit.
Family members' reactions and initial observations of the craft's interior.
Gerald's brother remarked, 'That's a goddamn spaceship.' Gerald's cousin Victor and brother Glenn peered into a large gash on the side of the disc-like craft, which had a round dome on top. The opening revealed a double hull with rows of components and flashing lights. Debris and material were hanging out of the hole.
Evidence of fire and an impact mark on the craft's side.
There was evidence of burning along the edge of the gash, which did not appear to be from the initial crash impact. An elliptical imprint, roughly the diameter of the disc, was found on the side, suggesting a secondary impact. The metal was crumpled and ripped open.
The crash site exhibited unusual temperature and olfactory anomalies.
Despite the outside heat of the New Mexico desert, the area around the craft was surprisingly cool, like refrigerated air-conditioning. Touching the craft's surface revealed it was ice-cold and very smooth. A smell resembling acetone emanated from the gash.
Gerald Anderson's realization that the 'dolls' were real alien bodies.
Initially thinking the bodies were plastic dolls, Gerald touched one and realized it was a deceased entity, a realization that frightened him. He ran behind his father and uncle as the unharmed creature observed them.
The unharmed entity appeared to communicate with Gerald telepathically.
The unharmed creature turned and looked directly at Gerald. Suddenly, he experienced an overwhelming influx of emotions: depression, loneliness, fear, and other awful feelings. He speculates this might have been telepathic communication, perhaps because he was a child and more receptive.
Arrival of Other Witnesses and Military Intervention
An archaeological team discovers the crash site independently.
While Gerald's family was at the site, another group arrived, consisting of an older man (addressed as 'Doctor') and five students (three boys, two girls). The leader, wearing a pith helmet, was bald and of a ruddy complexion. They had seen the object crash the night before, initially mistaking it for a meteorite, and came to investigate this morning. They had been collecting debris.
A man resembling Harry Truman appears at the scene.
A man driving an old tan pickup truck with a whip antenna arrived. He wore brown clothes, boots, and a straw hat, strongly resembling President Harry Truman. He stated he worked on the plains, saw the wreckage, and came to investigate what he thought was a plane crash.
Military forces arrive and secure the crash site.
Soon after, a military car with a white star, followed by a six-by military truck full of armed soldiers, and a four-by truck with extensive radio equipment, arrived from the north. They immediately began ordering everyone to get away, identifying the encounter as a 'military secret'.
Military personnel threaten witnesses to ensure silence.
A captain with orange-red hair, identified as Armstrong, was aggressive, threatening to shoot people and imprison them if they spoke about what they saw. He specifically threatened Gerald's father and uncle, warning they'd never see their children again if they didn't keep quiet. The soldiers also hustled the students away.
An altercation occurs when a soldier pushes Gerald's uncle.
When a soldier pushed Uncle Ted, Ted, known for his temper, grabbed the soldier's rifle. The soldier dropped it, and Ted's quick reaction was noted. Amidst the pointing guns, Gerald's father intervened, pulling Ted back to prevent further escalation.
Gerald's family and the archaeological group are forced to leave the area.
The military herded Gerald's family and the archaeological students up the arroyo, away from the crash site. They were escorted back to their car, which was blocked by a Jeep with a mounted machine gun. They were then escorted back to the highway and told to go to Socorro and remain silent.
Extensive military presence and equipment at the highway.
On the highway, the area was filled with military personnel and equipment, including airplanes that had landed on the highway (one identified as a C-47), ambulances, wreckers, cranes, and tankers. It appeared like an 'invasion force', with personnel wearing light khaki uniforms with a distinctive patch.
Dr. Buskirk argues with the military over the witnesses' departure.
As Gerald's family was leaving, he saw Dr. Buskirk arguing with the red-haired officer (Armstrong), pointing back towards the crash site, seemingly insisting on returning or retrieving something. The officer appeared insistent on them leaving.
Family members were warned to keep silent about the event.
Once home, the family's religious reactions led them to believe they had seen 'demons'. Gerald's father and uncle remained fearful. His brother Glenn, a Marine, had instructed them not to reveal his military background to the arriving soldiers, which they complied with. Their names were taken, but questions were cursory.
Aftermath and Public Disclosure
Gerald Anderson's brother and father passed away years later.
Gerald's brother died of a heart attack in Mexico City, and his father also died of a heart attack.
Discovery of a diary belonging to Gerald's uncle Ted.
At his father's funeral in 1978, Gerald received photocopies of his Uncle Ted's diary from his cousin, Val Jean. She mentioned that since Gerald was also present at the crash, he should have a copy. Gerald initially kept quiet about it due to his father's third wife's religious views, fearing it would be seen as demonic.
Gerald Anderson's background and professional qualifications.
Gerald Anderson is a security officer in Missouri, licensed and certified through the state academy as a law enforcement officer. He is also pursuing a nursing degree, holding two associate degrees and working towards a Bachelor of Nursing.
The diary's authenticity and origin of the copies.
Under hypnosis by John Carpenter, Gerald learned that his copy of the diary was a photocopy, and multiple copies had been distributed within the family. Val Jean later confirmed she was in a convent and reluctant to handle the diary, eventually sending the original (partially burnt) to Gerald after persistent contact, with the agreement he would not contact her further. Forensic analysis indicated the ink was from the early 1970s, though the paper could be from 1947, suggesting it wasn't an original from 1947.
Efforts to obtain the original diary and its analysis.
Gerald obtained the original diary, which was partially burnt. He had it analyzed, and the ink dated to the early 1970s, suggesting it was a later creation, though the paper was consistent with 1947. This occurred before the case received significant publicity.
Comparison of witness descriptions with known individuals.
Composite sketches of Gerald's account were made. Dr. Winfred Buskirk, the leader of the archaeological team, was identified as being 39 years old in 1947, bald, and having a ruddy, round face, matching Gerald's description.
Gerald Anderson's decision to go public after decades of silence.
Gerald did not tell his story publicly until the 'Unsolved Mysteries' program aired in January 1990. After seeing inaccuracies in the program, he contacted them to correct the record, feeling compelled to set the story straight since it was already public.
Revisiting the crash site confirmed Gerald's memory.
Gerald, with John Carpenter, revisited the crash site. Although initially unsure of the exact location after 43 years, retracing the route on foot confirmed his memory of the specific ridgeline and the events.
Supportive reactions from the public and colleagues after going public.
After going public, Gerald received overwhelmingly supportive reactions from 99% of people, including colleagues and professors, many of whom were already convinced of extraterrestrial life. Only one professor was vocal about his skepticism. His employer was also very supportive, as the boss is an avid ufologist.
Gerald's limited contact with Kevin Randle.
Gerald had a brief telephone conversation with Kevin Randle but disliked his attitude and accusations of rigged research. He refused further contact with Randle and some other investigators, preferring those he trusted like Don Berliner, Bob Bigelow, and John Carpenter.
Confirmation of participants in a helicopter survey.
Gerald confirms he was in a helicopter survey with Bob Bigelow and pilot Joe Charlie, refueling in Arizona. Later, Don Berliner and Mike Carpenter joined them.
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