I'm not a fan of the UFO cases, but I find this one interesting because this isn't just a story about a UFO sighting, but it also involves the continued harassment one man allegedly endured because of his interest in the phenomena. I searched on here and didn't find many relevant discussions, so I figured I would start this thread and put it to the masses.

What do you think of Danny Gordon's claims?

Danny Gordon was a radio personality in the town of Wytheville, Virginia. In the mid to late eighties, there was an apparent rash of UFO sightings in the skies over Wytheville. Gordon was skeptical, and mentioned the sightings as a joke on one of radio programs, but was surprised when many residents began calling him and telling them about their own encounters.

Thus began Danny Gordon's unusual odyssey investigating the veracity of these sightings, and having a few of his own in the process.

I don't want to rehash the segment, but a few key points to consider:

- Gordon claims to have seen UFOs on a few different occasions. On at least two such occasions he provides photographic proof.

- One of the encounters was at a very close range. Danny Gordon admits he and a friend both had cameras yet didn't take any pictures, which seems suspicious.

- On the second encounter, there may have been as many as a hundred witnesses. If the UM re-enactment is to be believed, a school bus full of high school students and possibly others observed UFOs in flight over a shopping mall while Danny Gordon took photos.

- Gordon was planning on going out of town to give a lecture on UFOs when he received an anonymous phone call from a man who claimed to be retired military. The man basically told Danny that he was getting too close and needed to back off or stop his investigations for the sake of his family. The man further claimed that he believed his own research into UFOs cost the life of his son.

- As part of his research, Danny Gordon contacted the Pentagon and was told that there was no air force activity occurring over Wythville.

- Danny Gordon's house was broken in to on a few different occasions.

- Danny Gordon claims that two men who claimed to be writers for a magazine came to his home and asked for an interview. He says that these men were interested in his UFO research. Danny talked with the men at great length and also showed them his UFO photos. When Danny contacted the magazine some time later to find out why the article hadn't been published, the magazine disavowed knowledge of the incident and had not dispatched anyone to conduct an interview.

- After this "interview" Danny Gordon realized that the negatives of his UFO photographs were missing.

- These events culminated when Danny Gordon had a heart attack brought on by "severe exhaustion".

Those are some of the key events from the segment. As I was typing all of this up, I came to realization that these events as described by Danny Gordon could be legitimate. I think it's possible that the military was testing some new or experimental aircraft over Wythville and this is what people saw. Maybe Danny Gordon got a little "too close" for comfort so the feds, or someone else, went after him? I'm not one for conspiracy theories, but that seems like the most logical conclusion.

I'm sorry, what UFO segment is this, again? Is it on one of the released DVDs?

Definitely sounds like this guy took a look at an experimental plane of some sort.

I'm sorry, what UFO segment is this, again? Is it on one of the released DVDs?

Definitely sounds like this guy took a look at an experimental plane of some sort.

Yes, I believe it is on the First Look UFO box set collection.

I know the segment was shown on Lifetime. Not sure about Spike though.

EDIT: Just checked Amazon. It's called "UFO Odyssey" on the box set.

I have not seen this case in some time but what I recall from it always made me believe that he likely saw experimental craft.

Just to put my own beliefs out there on the subject, I do believe it is entirely possible we are not alone in this universe. I also feel that there is a very good chance that at least a few of the more well known "sightings" or "encounters" could be alien in nature (Roswell for example). That being said, I think that most of the unexplained UFO sightings reported are likely just something mistaken for something else, or like I believe in this case, experimental government craft.

When the term "conspiracy" is used in a conversation such as this, I think it puts the converstation in a different tone. People generally think of conspiracies as something negative or bad. What they don't realize is by definition, if you and a few other people plan a suprise B-day party for someone, that fits the definition of conspiracy.

I think that to some extent given the world we live in, if the government is testing craft of this kind, they probably should conspire to keep it too well known from public knowledge. When they hurt innocents to do so is when I feel it is wrong. It isn't right for them to hurt or kill someone just because they "saw too much".

The other side to this could be simply that Gordon saw nothing at all and took advantage of what others saw or thought they saw and "investigated" it in order to bring publicity for his radio show. I don't personally feel this is what happened, I think he indeed saw something. As to what that something is, I don't know, but I feel it was likely operated by someone on government payroll.

I met Danny Gordon at WYVE about seven years ago, and while I did not bring up the UFO sightings and his appearance on Unsolved Mysteries (I concluded he'd heard enough of UFOs), I'd have to conclude he was completely forthright about what he saw in the sky. I don't think he made anything up. From briefly meeting him, he did not seem like a pretentious or publicity-seeking person. That, and if you go on the WYVE website and read his biography (he still works at WYVE after an impressive 24 year run...rare in radio), there's no mention of his national television interview. I know people who work in radio who would give both arms, both legs and a first born for a quote in the local daily newspaper, and even more to be on NBC prime time (plus countless reruns on cable over 20 years).

Just my two cents...

Simply put, I believe him and think he saw some sort of experimental craft. That area of Virginia is within at least driving distance of a number of military posts and properties.

I'm sorry, what UFO segment is this, again? Is it on one of the released DVDs?

Definitely sounds like this guy took a look at an experimental plane of some sort.
Hey Mastermind,

I was wondering where your icon picture was from?

Sorry if this is unrelated to the thread but I just wanted to know.

I have not seen this case in some time but what I recall from it always made me believe that he likely saw experimental craft.

Just to put my own beliefs out there on the subject, I do believe it is entirely possible we are not alone in this universe. I also feel that there is a very good chance that at least a few of the more well known "sightings" or "encounters" could be alien in nature (Roswell for example). That being said, I think that most of the unexplained UFO sightings reported are likely just something mistaken for something else, or like I believe in this case, experimental government craft.

When the term "conspiracy" is used in a conversation such as this, I think it puts the converstation in a different tone. People generally think of conspiracies as something negative or bad. What they don't realize is by definition, if you and a few other people plan a suprise B-day party for someone, that fits the definition of conspiracy.

I think that to some extent given the world we live in, if the government is testing craft of this kind, they probably should conspire to keep it too well known from public knowledge. When they hurt innocents to do so is when I feel it is wrong. It isn't right for them to hurt or kill someone just because they "saw too much".

The other side to this could be simply that Gordon saw nothing at all and took advantage of what others saw or thought they saw and "investigated" it in order to bring publicity for his radio show. I don't personally feel this is what happened, I think he indeed saw something. As to what that something is, I don't know, but I feel it was likely operated by someone on government payroll.

I'd be shocked if were the only beings in the universe. Especially considering how big the universe is. As for Danny Gordon, he probably did see some experimental craft that some powers higher up wanted to be kept confidential. It's a shame Danny and his father (at least that is who I remember he was with) didn't take any photos when they stopped and witnessed a UFO at very close distance. But in retrospect, perhaps it was better for him and his personal life that he didn't get any photos like that.

To me from what I've seen in this case there are too many similiarities between the harassment Danny Gordon suffered and the reports of harassment by the so-called Men In Black.

Calling him up and telling him not to lecture, to 'keep his mouth shut', for instance. That is almost classic MIB behavior. Breaking into his house. Another example, his negatives taken. Some one or something didn't want the pics to leak out.

Similiar to a case where UM profiled a guy named Ray Muniz. The segment is on UFO Files boxed set and is called Men In Black, I believe. The 'men' wanted Ray to be at a certain place so they could ransack his video collection and try to find Ray's tape of a sighting.

If there is a conspiracy, I believe it is of a nature, possibly MIB, to keep things quiet and on the down-low. Whoever 'they' are, 'they' don't want the general public to know too much. Maybe the general public is not supposed to know yet or there'd be mass hysteria. Who knows? It just seems like alot of UFO cases are accompanied by MIB trying to keep things quiet.

I don't know, when I first saw this segment, I thought, "Men In Black" are trying to harass him and keep him quiet...

Just my thougts...

To me from what I've seen in this case there are too many similiarities between the harassment Danny Gordon suffered and the reports of harassment by the so-called Men In Black.

Calling him up and telling him not to lecture, to 'keep his mouth shut', for instance. That is almost classic MIB behavior. Breaking into his house. Another example, his negatives taken. Some one or something didn't want the pics to leak out.

Similiar to a case where UM profiled a guy named Ray Muniz. The segment is on UFO Files boxed set and is called Men In Black, I believe. The 'men' wanted Ray to be at a certain place so they could ransack his video collection and try to find Ray's tape of a sighting.

If there is a conspiracy, I believe it is of a nature, possibly MIB, to keep things quiet and on the down-low. Whoever 'they' are, 'they' don't want the general public to know too much. Maybe the general public is not supposed to know yet or there'd be mass hysteria. Who knows? It just seems like alot of UFO cases are accompanied by MIB trying to keep things quiet.

I don't know, when I first saw this segment, I thought, "Men In Black" are trying to harass him and keep him quiet...

Just my thougts...

MIB encounters are usually accompanied by direct contact with the "groups" though.

MIB encounters are usually accompanied by direct contact with the "groups" though.

True. 'Nobody' or no MIB actually approached Danny Gordon in a black car or in the streets (as far as I know). Just the circmstances he was under and the phone call and break in had some MIB overtones to them that's all. It just made me think some type of intelligence was at work to silence him.

the problem I have with the experimental craft theories is that the technology looks more advanced than stuff we have now

"The UFO was 2 football fields wide...."

:eek: :eek: :eek: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

Most likely he was attention seeking for ratings & to make money-a common DJ tactic & something two others did on the show by inventing a murder confession to boost ratings, he later co-authored a UFO Book so made some money there. All of a sudden after he talks about some cops seeing something in the sky he sets a date where everybody can phone in with their sightings & magically all of these people who had never reported anything suddenly are seeing things-a common trait in UFO cases where people suddenly start looking at the sky & seeing stars, blimps, planes, meteorological occurrences etc.

Then he is out with another guy to see if he can find them but decides not to take his camera-yeah ok & surprise something flies over them but he has no proof, so he sets off again another day this time with his camera & takes the photos, but the quality is pretty average. Other photos he supposedly took mysteriously go missing after a visit from some alleged newspaper guys who when he later checked weren't-classic MIB stuff.

Funnily enough as soon as he stopped reporting on it all the other people stopped reporting sightings as well.

They could put something on the DOORKNOB of your car....

"The UFO was 2 football fields wide...."

:eek: :eek: :eek: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

Which one was this? If it was the one him & his buddy saw then it is quite remarkable that nobody else managed to see it.:crazy:

Which one was this? If it was the one him & his buddy saw then it is quite remarkable that nobody else managed to see it.:crazy:

Yeah, both men saw it and were too wowed to remember to snap some images.

Yeah, both men saw it and were too wowed to remember to snap some images.

The first night he saw something he says neither of them had remembered to bring a camera with them. Personally think he is full of it like Ed Walters.

Never thought he was lying, but don't think he saw extra terrestrials. Probably military test flights.

Never thought he was lying, but don't think he saw extra terrestrials. Probably military test flights.

Yep. And the military/gov't would have a vested interest in keeping reports of said flights under wraps (even if the experimental aircraft were reported as 'UFOs')

I caught this segment again today and I got profound Gulf Breeze vibes from it. This was kind of striking to me, because it honestly never occurred to me before Danny Gordon could have been milking a handful of UFO sightings a la Ed Walters.

What specifically got me thinking about it was that call from the supposed "former intelligence officer."

1. The notion that someone would specifically ask to have a phone conversation recorded so that some "proof" would exist that the recipient was warned should anything happen to him or her is kind of absurd when you think about it. I'm not sure what exactly that act would accomplish, other than to provide "evidence" that Gordon was being threatened by parties who allegedly didn't want him investigating the Wytheville UFO sightings.

2. I live about an hour and a half south of Wytheville. I know what that accent sounds like and the caller has it. I'm certainly not saying a former intelligence officer couldn't be living in Wytheville or the general area. What I am saying is that that's a pretty heavy local accent. What's to say that this wasn't just one of Gordon's buddies helping him stage the call?

I know none of this is profound and there were actually several other things that I picked up, but I didn't want to bore anyone with a long post. Also, I noticed I commented on this thread 12 years ago and whew boy that's like looking a picture of yourself with a bad haircut.

This past summer I stopped by the library in Wytheville so I could read Don’t Look Up. It’s pretty hard to find a copy. I met the man who co-wrote the book with Danny and we talked briefly. He’s a library regular and has authored other books. I did not get to meet Danny but he is still in Wytheville.

I don’t believe Danny was lying. The guy seems like a straight up small town journalist and there are no ratings per se for him to inflate, he was on literally the only station in town. He’s retired but the same operation still exists in Wytheville and they’ve added 2 more stations. I feel he saw something - probably experimental - and if it was attention he wanted he could have milked it for so much more when in fact he ultimately turned away from the spotlight.
Except for the interstate SWVA is very isolated and the long straight peaks and valleys of the Appalachians provide nice hiding places so I could see the government doing some testing there.

PS Wytheville is a cool little town. We spent the afternoon there and enjoyed it.

I know none of this is profound and there were actually several other things that I picked up, but I didn't want to bore anyone with a long post. Also, I noticed I commented on this thread 12 years ago and whew boy that's like looking a picture of yourself with a bad haircut.

:lol:

I cringe at some of my older posts. And I agree with everything you said regarding Danny Gordon. I don't think he was lying, but do think he embellished some details (such as the phone call) to generate more interest into something he legitimately thought he saw, but didn't have concrete proof of it.

The actor who played Danny is a dead ringer for the real Danny. Possibly the most look alike of any UM segment that I can remember.

Whatever happened to alleged UFO experiencer Ed Walters of Gulf Breeze, Florida? It has been estimated that he made $2,000,000 from his book and UFO photographs and films.

James Moseley, the late UFO writer and humorist,suspected that Ed Walters’ claims and photographic evidence were hoaxed. Famous Roswell Incident researcher Kevin Randle believes the Walters case is a hoax.

It was very embarrassing for Ed Walters on an episode of “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” when the late, longtime UFO skeptic, Phillip Klass, called Ed Walters a convicted felon to Walters’ own face on national television.

Still, there are a number of UFO cases: the 1947 Roswell, New Mexico UFO Crash Incident, the 1952 Tremontion, Utah UFO film, the 1957 Levelland, Texas multiple landing case, the 1964 Socorro, New Mexico UFO landings with occupants and the 1975 North Bergen, New Jersey close encounter of the third kind, which makes you wonder if we are being visited by beings from somewhere else?