USAF: No support for UFO-hoax film 'The Thing'
On September 13, 1950, the U.S. Air Force denied producer Howard Hawks' request for military aid in filming The Thing from Another World, citing policy against promoting UFO hoaxes.
Background
Background
In September 1950, the film producer Howard Hawks requested the use of US Air Force sites, personnel, and equipment for his science fiction horror film The Thing from Another World. The plot concerns an Arctic research station threatened by an extraterrestrial being.
Air Force Response
The Air Force refused any involvement and objected to the portrayal of its personnel or materiel. The reason: a policy of not supporting projects that might sustain the UFO myth. This reflects the official position of treating UFO sightings as misperception.
Significance
The case points to the sensitivity of the US military on UFO matters amid increasing reports. The film, released in 1951, popularised warnings such as "Watch the skies", but paradoxically reinforced the authorities' scepticism. No witnesses are named; the evidence comes from internal documents.