REF: UAP/1940s/023Hoax / Debunked
1948-03-25
Aztec 'crash' (hoax benchmark)
Aztec, NM · USA·Crash claim (documented hoax)·1940s
Hoax / Debunked
§ ASummary
Con men Newton & GeBauer sold 'saucer science' from a fabricated crash story popularized by Frank Scully; exposed by True (1952-56) and fraud convictions.
§ BWitnesses
Silas Newton, Leo GeBauer (perpetrators)
§ CEvidence & Documentation
Fraud trial records (1953); Cahn exposes
§ DOfficial Investigation
FBI file on Newton
§ EStatus Assessment
Documented hoax — key cautionary case
§ FVerifiable Sources
Cahn, True magazine 1952/1956; Scully, 'Behind the Flying Saucers' (1950); FBI files
§ GCross-referenced cases6
1947-06-21🇺🇸 USA
Maury Island incident
Crash-debris claim (hoax)
1947-06-24🇺🇸 USA
Kenneth Arnold sighting
Pilot sighting (origin of 'flying saucer')
1947-07-08🇺🇸 USA
Roswell incident
Crash-debris recovery
1947-07-04🇺🇸 USA
United Air Lines Flight 105
Airline crew sighting
1947-07-07🇺🇸 USA
Rhodes photographs
Photographic
1947-07-08🇺🇸 USA
Muroc AFB (Edwards) sightings
Military base multi-sighting