A retired US Air Force colonel has brought renewed attention to a controversial incident involving an alleged UFO crash in Brazil during 1996. Colonel Fred Claussen, a decorated veteran with two Distinguished Flying Crosses, claims that substantial evidence exists supporting the idea that a secret recovery mission took place following the event, often referred to as the “Brazilian Roswell.”
The incident began on January 13, 1996, when residents near Varginha reported witnessing a UFO crash in a field. Eyewitnesses described seeing strange, humanoid creatures with oily brown skin and large red eyes. Among the accounts, three young women claimed to have encountered one of these beings hiding behind a wall close to the crash site. Despite claims that Brazilian authorities captured at least two of these extraterrestrial beings, the US Air Force allegedly seized the wreckage and bodies, leading to a purported cover-up lasting three decades.
During a press conference held in Washington, D.C., Claussen stated that he believes a significant number of American military personnel were aware of the incident and the subsequent recovery operation. He emphasized the likelihood of an extensive “paper trail” documenting the mission. Claussen suggested that if the US military conducted a recovery operation, it would have originated from the Air Mobility Command at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois.
Claussen explained that even classified missions generate documentation. He stated, “An international flight plan to Brazil is required even if the mission is classified. Paper trail,” asserting that senior officers would have had knowledge of the operation. Following the initial orders, a specific unit at Charleston Air Force Base in South Carolina would have been involved in preparing a cargo plane for the mission, implying that dozens of personnel would have been aware of the events surrounding the Varginha crash.
This press conference, organized by investigative filmmaker James Fox, aimed to gather witnesses and experts to shed light on what they believe has been hidden regarding the Varginha incident. Claussen challenged any Air Force personnel involved in the alleged mission to come forward, stating, “We know this mission happened, and you know it, too. Come forward. The time is now.”
Witnesses detailed a series of events following the crash, highlighting that a cigar-shaped object, reportedly damaged and emitting white smoke, crashed on a local farm. Carlos de Souza, one of the witnesses, recalled finding debris and a strange, lightweight metal that reshaped itself after being crumpled. He reported being threatened by two unidentified men in suits, warning him to remain silent about what he witnessed.
The situation escalated over the following days, culminating in encounters with non-human beings. On January 20, 1996, the three young women reported another sighting of an alien in a vacant lot, described as frightened and emitting a strong ammonia smell. Subsequently, Brazilian military and police forces reportedly captured at least two of these beings, including one apprehended by Officer Marco Eli Chereze, who suffered a scratch during the encounter. Tragically, Chereze later developed a deadly infection from the injury and passed away weeks later. Forensic pathologist Armando Monteiro, who conducted Chereze’s autopsy, discovered a rare bacterium in the wound, which some speculate may have been of alien origin.
As the investigation continues, the lack of physical evidence from the crash site remains a point of contention. While witnesses assert the reality of their experiences, the official narrative from the US military denies any recovery of alien artifacts or life forms. The recovery of the beings and debris allegedly occurred at a Brazilian airport, where a C-17 cargo plane was said to have transported them back to the United States.
As this story unfolds, the call for transparency regarding the Varginha incident resonates among witnesses and researchers alike. Claussen’s testimony has reignited discussions about the potential implications of unidentified aerial phenomena and the governments’ responses to such incidents.
