Swamp Gas: J Allen Hynek, Project Blue Book, 1966 Michigan UFOs, Plasma, Magnetic Anomalies, Gerald Ford, UFO Hearings, & Solar Flares

In this episode I'm diving into one of the most constroversial UFO press breifings in American history: the infamous "Swamp Gas" briefing given to the Detroit Press Club on March 25,1966 by Dr. J. Allen Hynek of Project Blue Book. In his report, made on behalf of the U.S. Air Force, Hynek basically dismissed the flap of UFO sightings that happened in Washtenaw and Hillsdale Counties in the Ann Arbor region of Michigan from March 14th through March 22nd of 1966. I cover Frank Mannor's sighting and the UFO drawing that accompanies it, and his feature on Walter Cronkite's CBS Report on UFOs, the Hillsdale College sighting, Hynek's investigation and the credible witnesses he interviewed, his lack of resources and flippant attitude, enlisting scientists from the Univeristy of Michigan, Hynek's report, noble gases, plasma physics, and magnetic anomalies, decaying vegetation, orbs, ball lighting, the correlation between intense solar activity, magnetic anomalies in Michigan, and these sightings which hints at a complex interaction of natural phenomena, Gerald Ford's reaction to Hynek and letter to the L. Mendel Rivers, L. Mendel Rivers's connection to me, the House Armed Services Committee firt ever hearing on UFOs, and solar flares. This episode gets into what Hynek and credible witnesses couldn’t say openly: that these phenomena might be plasma portals, cryptid amalgams, or dark, demonic entities hidden in liminal swampy spaces.Extra MaterialDr. J. Allen Hynek on Merv Griffin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MO4zHyfwWkEThe Great Michigan UFO Chase: https://www.ufocasebook.com/michigan1966chase.htmlBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-awakened-podcast--6379313/support.The Awakened PodcastWebsite: https://www.theawakenedpodcast.comMusic LicensingIntro 1 Music licensed for use by [Awakened Media/The Awakened Podcast]. “Thriller” by HardProSound — used under license. Proof of license available upon request.  Intro 2Music licensed for use by [Awakened Media/The Awakened Podcast]. “Quirky Hype Rap Beat” by Artlss — used under license. Proof of license available upon request.Radio Imaging SquelchSFX licensed for use by [Awakened Media/The Awakened Podcast]. “Radio Imaging Pack” by Karbarsegyan — used under license. Proof of license available upon request.Outro MusicMusic licensed for use by [Awakened Media/The Awakened Podcast]. “Standing at the Crossroads” by Jebb Mac Band — used under license/written permission. Proof of license/written permission available upon request.