Taylor Library hosts renowned UFO researcher  – The News Herald

Taylor Community Library will host a talk by renowned UFO researcher and author Raymond Szymanski on Oct. 16. As an acclaimed expert in UFO investigations, Szymanski will share experiences with his deep dives into extraterrestrial phenomena, bolstered by his 40-year career at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB).

His talk, “Not ‘Swamp Gas’: The True Story of the 1966 Michigan UFOs,” will offer Szymanski’s perspective on one of the most significant UFO waves in American history—the 1966 Dexter-Hillsdale sightings.

Szymanski’s journey into UFO research began at WPAFB, a base infamous for its alleged connection to extraterrestrial activity, including the 1947 Roswell incident.

“In my first week there in 1973, as a co-op student, my mentor asked me, ‘Have you heard about our aliens?’ That’s when I thought, ‘Whoa, what kind of special place did I land in?’” Szymanski said. His initial exposure to rumors of alien connections at WPAFB sparked a lifelong passion for uncovering the truth.

Over his four decades at WPAFB, Szymanski honed his investigative skills and built a network of colleagues that granted him rare access to information related to UFO activity.

“You gain a lot of confidence over years of working, and the network gives you an instant pass,” he said. “With all the information I had gleaned while working there, I started doing some serious field research. I didn’t care if I found evidence for or against it—I just wanted to find the truth.”

This meticulous, logical approach laid the foundation for his books, including “Fifty Shades of Greys,” “Victoria’s Secret Truth,” and “Swamp Gas My Ass.”

The Dexter UFO Incident of 1966

Szymanski’s upcoming talk at Taylor Community Library will focus on the Dexter UFO sightings of March 20, 1966, an event that left an indelible mark on southeastern Michigan. UFO sightings surged across the region during this period, and the Dexter-Hillsdale incidents were among the most widely reported. Police officers, residents, and even military personnel filed official reports describing flying saucers with capabilities far beyond earthly technology.

Szymanski will explore these events in detail, offering new insights based on his research for his book Swamp Gas My Ass. One of the critical elements of this investigation involves first-hand accounts from witnesses like Connie Bell, who encountered a UFO near Peach Mountain. Szymanski recorded her testimony, where she described seeing a craft with flashing red and white lights—an encounter that has only been shared once publicly. Szymanski will share the audio testimony during his library talk.

He said the Dexter case was particularly significant because of the credibility of the witnesses.

“Before the night was over, 12 police officers were running through the property, chasing these lights,” Szymanski said, adding that in a different sighting that night, a patrolman observed an object hovering over his car for 10 to 15 minutes, joined by three other objects before they all disappeared together. The consistency of these accounts adds weight to the mystery, and Szymanski aims to shed light on how authorities systematically minimized such reports at the time.

Wright-Patterson’s alien lore

Wright-Patterson Air Force Base has long been rumored to be a focal point for alien research, particularly in connection with the 1947 Roswell crash.

“Aliens who supposedly crashed near Roswell, along with their ship, have been said to be stored in a Wright-Patt hangar,” Szymanski said. “Over the years, stories about secret projects like Project Blue Book, a government investigation into UFO sightings, have fueled speculation that WPAFB harbors the remains of extraterrestrial craft and even bodies.”

Szymanski’s experience at WPAFB allowed him to conduct direct field research to investigate the truth behind these rumors.

He said the recent shift in governmental attitudes toward UFOs, marked by the June 2021 release of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence’s UAP report, has further validated his decades of research. Szymanski views this document as one of the most important developments in UFO history.

“It confirmed three key things: these are real physical objects, they present a flight hazard, and they are potentially a national security issue,” he said.

A future of ongoing exploration

As UFO sightings continue to rise globally and the possibility of extraterrestrial life becomes more accepted, Szymanski remains at the forefront of UFO research. The UFO phenomenon, once relegated to the fringes of science, is now gaining mainstream recognition, with individuals from all walks of life eager to share their experiences.

“People want to tell their stories,” he said. “As the stigma of reporting sightings lessens, non-stop, people are coming forward more and more, saying, ‘I know I’m not crazy.’”

In addition to his UFO investigations, Szymanski is also working on other projects, including a book on metal detecting and possibly publishing hundreds of stories shared by everyday citizens about their UFO encounters. His presentation at Taylor Public Library offers a rare opportunity to hear directly from one of the most knowledgeable experts on UFO activity in the United States.

Event details

Raymond Szymanski’s presentation, titled Not Swamp Gas: The True Story of the 1966 Michigan UFOs, will take place on Oct.16 at 6 p.m. at the Taylor Community Library, located at 12303 Pardee Rd, Taylor. The event is free, but registration is required. Szymanski will also hold a book signing after the talk, offering autographed copies of his Alien Shades of Greys trilogy. To register, visit https://shorturl.at/XGYcy