Maj. Jesse E. Stay

Major Jesse A. Marcel (1906-1986) was an American Army Air Forces intelligence officer during World War II and post-war atomic tests at Bikini Atoll. In July 1947, as intelligence officer at Roswell Army Air Field, New Mexico, he led the recovery of unusual debris from a ranch, initially announced as a 'flying disc' before being officially deemed a weather balloon. The incident faded until 1978, when retired Lt. Col. Marcel told ufologist Stanton Friedman the balloon story was a cover-up and debris was extraterrestrial, sparking Roswell UFO crash theories. His claims fueled books like 'The Roswell Incident' and documentaries, despite Air Force 1994 reports attributing debris to Project Mogul spy balloons. Marcel's testimony remains central to UAP conspiracy narratives, though criticized for inconsistencies.