In addition to the usual stuff about Roswell and Area 51 however, Good reveals lesser-known details about other cases. The Ghost Rockets and so-called Foo Fighters of the pre-Roswell era are a particularly interesting, though not often covered, area where both governments were concerned and military men were apparently often engaged.
More recently, Good digs into the story of a "Brazillian Roswell" in the town of Varginha that happened in the nineties. In the story, a UFO is alleged to have crashed in the town, followed by reports of "strange beings" roaming the streets, and even receiving medical attention. This book includes extensive interviews with witnesses, including a doctor said to have treated one of the extraterrestrial patients. In every case, the often fantastic stories are backed with corroborating witnesses and evidence.
Best of all, Good includes more of those juicy government documents that seem to suggest more than the officials are letting on. As fantastic as all of it sounds, Good actually makes a very convincing case here that not only are we not alone, but the government has been in on the world's best kept secret for a very long time. In other words, you can stop thinking you're paranoid. They really are out to get you (okay, maybe that's overstating it a bit).
With Need to Know: UFOs, the Military, and Intelligence, Timothy Good has once again distinguished himself with another classic that lets the facts speak for themselves, and allows the reader to render their own judgment. At the very least, whether or not you are a believer, it is also a provocative and fascinating read.
Article comments
1 - Nolan Lewis
When I came back from Korea I was in charge of the photo lab at Paine Field, Everett,WA. One of my Sergeants was assigned to Project Blue Book, the investigation of all UFO reports. You are right, they were taken very seriouly.
We had a T-33 (two seat jet)and pilot, plus my man who was armed with several cameras, both still and movie. It was my understanding, though I wasn't privy to that sort of information, that there were several such teams around the country.
All information was on a need to know basis but my sergeant told me he wasn't supposed to talk about it but they hadn't ever found any of the reports that were at all creditable that they weren't able to find a logical explaination for. In other words they never found any UFOs.
I believe he still lives on the island across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, although I haven't seen him in over forty years.
nolan
2 - Glen Boyd
Interesting Nolan. So while you are saying that the military took the subject seriously, you are also claiming that they never really found anything of substance? From everything I've ever read, Blue Book was really more of a whitewash designed to discourage public interest than anything else. Or am I completely off-base here? Either way, I appreciate the comment.
-Glen