A retired US Air Force colonel has claimed that a secret recovery mission involving non-human entities took place in Brazil in 1996, sparking renewed interest in one of the most notable UFO incidents in history. Colonel Fred Claussen, speaking at a press conference organized by filmmaker James Fox, suggested that substantial documentation exists to support the accounts of the incident in Varginha, Brazil, which has often been referred to as the “Brazilian Roswell.”
The incident reportedly began on January 13, 1996, when local residents reported a UFO crash-landing in a field outside Varginha. Witnesses described seeing strange, bipedal creatures with oily brown skin and large red eyes. According to testimonies from three young women, one of these beings was found hiding behind a wall near the crash site. Brazilian authorities, including police and military personnel, allegedly captured at least two of these entities in the days following the crash.
Claussen emphasized that if the US military was indeed involved in a recovery mission, it would have necessitated a significant operational footprint. “If true, I am certain that 30 to 40 Americans had direct knowledge of this flight and its purpose,” he stated. Claussen explained that such missions typically require extensive coordination among military personnel, creating a “paper trail” that documents their existence.
He elaborated that the operation would likely have originated from Scott Air Force Base in Illinois, where initial orders would have been issued to deploy a C-17 cargo plane. Claussen pointed out that even classified missions necessitate an international flight plan. He believes that a specific Air Mobility Wing at Charleston Air Force Base in South Carolina would have received detailed mission orders, engaging numerous personnel in the process. “Pilots, loadmasters, schedulers, and commanders would all have been in the loop in 1996,” he noted.
The incident, which unfolded over several days, involved not only the capture of alleged extraterrestrial beings but also the tragic death of Brazilian police officer Marco Eli Chereze. Witnesses reported that Chereze sustained a serious injury while attempting to capture one of the beings, leading to a fatal infection. Forensic pathologist Dr. Armando Monteiro, who conducted Chereze’s autopsy, revealed that he found a rare bacterium in the officer’s wound, which some speculated could have originated from the extraterrestrial being.
In the aftermath of the crash, there were claims that debris and captured beings were transported to a Brazilian airport, where a C-17 aircraft allegedly loaded them for transport back to the United States. Despite these assertions, the US military has consistently denied the existence of any physical evidence supporting claims of UFOs or alien life, and has not confirmed any recovery operations related to the Varginha incident.
Witness accounts, like those from Carlos de Souza, who attended the press conference, add another layer of complexity to the narrative. De Souza described his experience of encountering debris from the crash and being coerced into silence by unidentified individuals shortly thereafter. He recounted, “You saw nothing. You know nothing. Or you will have problems for the rest of your life,” referring to threats he received to keep quiet about what he observed.
As the discussion around the Varginha incident continues to evolve, Claussen and other witnesses are calling for transparency. During the press event, he urged former military personnel involved in the alleged recovery mission to come forward. “We know this mission happened, and you know it, too. Come forward. The time is now,” he asserted, emphasizing the importance of uncovering the truth about what transpired in Brazil three decades ago.
As the conversation surrounding unidentified aerial phenomena gains momentum, the Varginha case remains a focal point for researchers and enthusiasts alike, raising questions about the implications of government secrecy and the potential existence of extraterrestrial life.
