A recent Wall Street Journal article, “The Pentagon Disinformation That Fueled America’s UFO Mythology” (June 6, 2025), claims to expose how the U.S. military used UFO stories to hide secret weapons programs. But a deeper analysis reveals something far more troubling—the article itself may be part of a new Pentagon disinformation campaign, manipulating public perception under the guise of transparency.
The WSJ report confirms that since the 1950s, the Pentagon spread fake photos and false UFO stories—like altered “flying saucer” images at Area 51—to mislead the public and conceal advanced weapons projects, such as stealth aircraft. Rather than hiding alien technology, the military was protecting Cold War-era national security secrets.
A congressionally-mandated Pentagon investigation, led by chief scientist Sean Kirkpatrick, found that misinformation was spread by military officials and possibly institutional programs, fueling decades of UFO myths. Some of these myths were deliberately allowed to flourish to misdirect foreign intelligence, particularly the Soviet Union.
In 2023, investigators uncovered a bizarre “hazing” ritual in Air Force classified programs where new commanders were shown fake antigravity vehicle photos and told to keep them secret—further spreading false narratives. The Pentagon plans to release a follow-up report soon, but its 2024 UAP (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena) report already omitted critical details, raising suspicions.
Dismissing UFOs as Cold War Pranks
While the WSJ article admits past deception, it also pushes a new narrative: that all major UFO incidents—including nuclear missile disruptions—were either mistaken sightings, military pranks, or misunderstandings. This dual tactic (admitting past lies while dismissing modern evidence) doesn’t clarify the truth—it muddies it further.
One of the most glaring distortions involves the 1967 Malmstrom Air Force Base incident, where ten nuclear missiles suddenly shut down during a reported UFO encounter. Captain Robert Salas, an officer on duty that night, has repeatedly stated that a glowing object hovered above the facility before the missiles malfunctioned.