The subject of UFO research is a controversial one at the best of times. Largely investigated and researcher by keen amateurs it is largely ignored by conventional science. UFO groups around the world both large and small keep the subject alive with their research and investigations, along with lectures, conferences, books and periodicals.

There is little doubt that there is indeed a UFO phenomenon, or even phenomena, but just what is the nature and origin of the elusive UFO is the subject of much debate. Sceptics argue that all UFO reports can be explained in one form or another, while ufologists argue that at least a small percentage of UFO reports remain unexplained after careful and critical examination. It is this remaining few percentage that attracts much of the attention and discussions abound regarding the nature and origin of these 'unexplained' reports.

There are many theories to try and explain this remaining percentage of UFO reports. Such hypotheses range from the sublime to the ridiculous, but there are many sober and sensible theories. One such theory is that the unexplained cases are the result of super secret military hardware, the stealth fighters of the future perhaps. Others ague that they are the result of strange lights called 'Earthlights' produced by the Earth's crust when under pressure. However, it goes without saying that the most popular and most well known hypothesis for UFO's is that they are the result of visiting alien spacecraft from outside our solar system.

For those who subscribe to the so-called 'ETH' (extra terrestrial hypothesis) for an explanation to UFO reports there is one case that stands out among all others. It has been described as the 'Alamo' of all UFO cases by a sceptic of the ETH. It is in fact the case of an alleged UFO crash in the area just outside of Roswell, New Mexico, USA, in the summer of 1947. Numerous books have covered this story so we will not go into it now in any great detail. The basics of the story are that a crashed UFO and its occupants were discovered in July 1947 just outside of Roswell, New Mexico. They were recovered by the US military and a cover-up was put in place which is still in effect to this very day. There are stories of other UFO crashes in other parts of the world as well, but the Roswell case is by far the best well known.

Numerous civilian and military witnesses have gone on the record regarding the UFO crash at Roswell and a battle has continued for many years between those who are convinced that the crash was the result of an alien space craft crashing to Earth, and those that are equally confident that it can be explained in quite mundane ways. A list of recommended reading on this case will be featured towards the back of this book.

Neither side of this argument have any physical proof to support their theories. There are no pieces of a crashed alien space craft to be placed under the microscope for example. Most of the evidence is based on eyewitness testimony and a few related documents of one kind or another. The same applies to the sceptical argument as well.

As the debate continued regarding the alien origin of UFO reports and the sceptics having an answer for everything, a new iron would be thrown into the fire in 1995 in the form of what has become known as the 'alien autopsy' film. The fire indeed was ignited yet again when London music and video producer Ray Santilli launched into the public domain in the summer of 1995, his alien autopsy and debris film.

AA film cartoon: The alien autopsy film has made it into popular culture. A carton here from professional artist and cartoonist Rick Jones. © Rick Jones.

Santilli claimed that this was actual film of the dissection by medical examiners of the aliens found at Roswell, New Mexico, in 1947. Full details of Santilli's story will appear later in this book. It is fair to say that Santilli created the largest controversy in the entire history of UFO research.

His film was shown in over twenty two countries around the world. It was shown by the FOX network in the USA on a show entitled 'ALIEN AUTOPSY -- FACT OR FICTION?' hosted by Jonathan Fraikes, Riker in Star Trek The Next Generation, and in the UK it was shown on Channel 4. Countless newspaper and magazine articles followed and the internet was buzzing with discussions on the film. The film has been scrutinised by millions of people on TV world-wide and it is probably the most controversial film in the whole of cinematic history next to the Zapruder film of the assassination of US President John F. Kennedy. The film also found its way into popular culture, it was mentioned in the US comedy show 'Seinfeld' and of course it made it into the international hit 'The X Files'. In the UK it was re-enacted in the comedy show 'Shooting Stars' and it has spawned an industry of models, badges, games and figures of one kind or another.

Public opinion on the film has largely been influenced by the UFO researchers. These researchers either wrote books on the film or appeared on TV shows discussing it or passed their opinions in newspaper and magazine articles. It is fair to say that the majority of the UFO community are sceptical of the film and there is no way of knowing what the publics attitude is towards it.

Was this film the answers to the ETH supporters dreams, proof positive that the Earth had indeed been visited by aliens, was it some kind of US intelligence propaganda to divert attention from serious 'real' UFO events, or was it nothing more than an elaborate money-making hoax as argued by the sceptics?

As yet there is no proof to prove any of the theories put forward to try and explain the nature and origin of this most controversial of films. There is only evidence. Some of this evidence will support one theory or another. What this book intends to do is to offer you the reader as balanced an approach as possible providing you with all of the evidence at our disposal. You will then have to decide for yourself which theory this evidence fits the best.

Will it fit the claims of Ray Santilli that it is actual footage of an alien autopsy filmed in 1947? Is it a US intelligence film made to dupe the Soviets into believing that the US armed forces had captured alien hardware in their possession? Or is it simply a cynical hoax manufactured simply to generate money for its owners?

ALIEN AUTOPSY INQUEST will present the evidence, but you the reader will reach the verdict.

Alien Autopsy toy. To further emphasise how the alien autopsy film made it into popular culture, this rubber childs toy, complete with take out brain and internal organs, was bought by the author at a toy shop in the USA. © Philip Mantle.