Unknown: Sarbacher on 1940s UFO recoveries
On November 29, 1983, Robert Sarbacher responded to UFO researcher William S. Steinman, confirming invitations to discussions on late 1940s UFO recoveries, though he did not attend. He noted the materials were very light yet strong, and heard aliens resembled certain Earth insects.
Background
Background
Robert Sarbacher, a physicist and consultant to the US Department of Defense, wrote to William S. Steinman, a UFO researcher, on November 29, 1983. In it he answered questions about supposed crashes and recoveries of UFOs in the late 1940s.
Key Statements
Sarbacher stated that he had been invited to several meetings about reported UFO recoveries but had been unable to attend. He described the recovered material as extremely light and very resistant. He had also heard that the occupants were built like certain terrestrial insects, with a low weight that would withstand high accelerations.
Witnesses and Evidence
Sarbacher was a respected scientist with a substantial background, including work for the Navy and a spell as president of a technology institute. His letter serves as the primary document, cited in works such as Eberhart's timeline and other UFO sources. Earlier contacts, for instance with Wilbert B. Smith in 1950, have been cited in support of his account.
Significance
The statement is a rare confirmation of crash retrievals by a government consultant with insider standing. It suggests secret discussions and analyses of non-human materials, although the locations and details remain unclear. Sarbacher's consistency across interviews adds weight, despite the absence of independent verification.