Ben Rich Confirms UFO Belief to John Andrews: 'UnFunded Opportunities'
On July 10, 1986, John Andrews, an illustrator for the Testor Corporation and long-time friend of Ben Rich, head of Lockheed's Skunk Works, writes Rich asking whether his belief in UFOs covers both manmade and extraterrestrial categories. Andrews references Dr. Robert Sarbacher's statements about ET crash retrievals. On July 21, Rich replies: 'Yes, I'm a believer in both categories. I feel everything is possible. Many of our man made UFOs are Un Funded Opportunities.' This statement from the head of the world's most prestigious aviation division β the man who managed the F-117 Stealth Fighter program β carries enormous weight, particularly his cryptic reference to manmade UFOs as 'UnFunded Opportunities,' potentially referencing reverse-engineered ET technology.
Background
EVENT TITLE: Ben Rich Confirms UFO Belief to John Andrews: 'UnFunded Opportunities'
EVENT DATE: 1986-07-10
EVENT TYPE: disclosure
EXISTING SUMMARY: On July 10, 1986, John Andrews, an illustrator for the Testor Corporation and long-time friend of Ben Rich, head of Lockheed's Skunk Works, writes Rich asking whether his belief in UFOs covers both manmade and extraterrestrial categories. Andrews references Dr. Robert Sarbacher's statements about ET
On July 10, 1986, John Andrews, an illustrator for the Testor Corporation, contacted his friend Ben Rich, the head of Lockheed's Skunk Works. Andrews inquired about the scope of Rich's belief in UFOs, specifically whether it encompassed both manmade and extraterrestrial origins. Andrews' inquiry alluded to statements made by Dr. Robert Sarbacher regarding extraterrestrial entities.
The Incident
On July 10, 1986, John Andrews, a friend of Ben Rich, sent a letter to Rich. Andrews was an illustrator working for the Testor Corporation. He sought clarification from Rich regarding his views on UFOs.
Andrews specifically asked whether Rich's belief in UFOs extended to both manmade and extraterrestrial categories. The letter also made reference to statements made by Dr. Robert Sarbacher concerning extraterrestrial life. The exact content of Rich's response is not detailed in the provided text.
Investigation
The provided text does not indicate any official investigation into this communication. The exchange appears to be a private correspondence between two individuals. There is no mention of government involvement or any formal inquiry related to the letter.
Significance
This event is potentially significant within the UFO context due to Ben Rich's position as the head of Lockheed's Skunk Works. The Skunk Works was known for its involvement in advanced aerospace projects. Rich's personal beliefs about UFOs, particularly regarding their potential extraterrestrial origin, could be considered noteworthy given his professional background. The reference to Dr. Robert Sarbacher adds another layer of intrigue, as Sarbacher was known for his alleged involvement in classified government projects related to UFOs and extraterrestrial phenomena. The exchange suggests a degree of awareness and interest in the topic of UFOs at high levels within the aerospace industry.
Connections
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