John Lear

John Olsen Lear (1942-2022) was an American aviator, UFO conspiracy theorist, and son of Lear Jet inventor William P. Lear. A former pilot for CIA-linked companies, he became prominent in UAP/UFO research during the 1980s 'dark side' movement alongside Bill Cooper. Lear alleged a 40-year government UFO cover-up, including alien contacts since 1940s (e.g., Holloman AFB 1964), underground bases at Dulce with human-alien conflicts, cattle/human mutilations, abductions for alien needs, and bases on Mars. In 1989, as Nevada MUFON State Director, he hosted a controversial Las Vegas symposium on UFO cover-ups, featuring speakers verifying Paul Bennewitz claims. His theories, including moon landing hoaxes and secret government-alien pacts, drew skepticism but influenced ufology.