Gallup Poll: 57% of Americans Believe UFOs Are Real

EVENT TITLE: Gallup Poll: 57% of Americans Believe UFOs Are Real
EVENT DATE: 1978-02-01
EVENT TYPE: investigation

A Gallup poll conducted in February 1978 revealed that a majority of adult Americans believed UFOs were 'real'. The poll also surveyed Canadians, with a slightly smaller percentage expressing the same belief.

The Incident A Canadian-based Gallup poll in February 1978 indicated that 57% of adult Americans believed UFOs are 'real,' while 46% of Canadians felt the same. The highest levels of belief came from those with a college education and people under 30. Ten percent of Canadian respondents and nine percent of American respondents claimed to have personally witnessed a UFO.

Investigation The source text does not describe any official investigation into the poll itself. However, it mentions a symposium held in Dayton, Ohio, in 1978, where Leonard Stringfield presented information about alleged retrievals or storage of alien craft and deceased alien humanoids. Stringfield claimed to have over fifty sources and presented seventeen witness testimonies suggesting nine or ten retrievals of crashed or downed UFOs.

Stringfield's research focused on the possibility of a grand official cover-up. He acknowledged criticisms of his methods, including accusations of gullibility and unwillingness to name his informants. Stringfield conceded that some sources could have been hoaxing him, but he believed most were legitimate. Air Force representatives at Wright-Patterson AFB denied knowledge of Stringfield’s allegations.

Significance The Gallup poll demonstrates a significant level of public belief in UFOs during the late 1970s. This widespread belief, coupled with claims of recovered alien craft and government cover-ups, contributed to growing public interest and scrutiny of the UFO phenomenon. Stringfield's work, while controversial, highlighted the persistent rumors and allegations surrounding UFO retrievals and their potential implications. The poll results and Stringfield's claims occurred during a period of increasing public awareness and discussion about UFOs.