“They did not appear to be of earthly origin”: Did a Space Shuttle Astronaut View a Film of Recovered Alien Bodies?

Former NASA Spacecraft Operator (SCO) Clark C. McClelland has published a revelatory article on his Stargate Chronicles website, regarding a conversation he had with the late lieutenant colonel Ellison Onizuka, Mission Specialist on the Space Shuttle Challenger’s ill-fated STS-51-L mission. The article recounts Onizuka’s recollection of being shown a video of what might have been alien bodies, possibly recovered from a crash site like Roswell.

Onizuka had reportedly approached McClelland while he was working at NASA, asking him about his thoughts on intelligent life in the universe, and their possible presence here on Earth. McClelland was apparently known by other NASA personnel for his work with various UFO organizations, including MUFON and NICAP. Onizuka then told him of a startling occurrence that he experienced earlier in his career with the USAF.

While performing specialized training duties at McClellan AFB in either 1969 or 1970, Onizuka says he and his group were directed to report to a viewing room. Forgoing the usual official introduction as to what was about to be presented, the group was shown a film of what appeared to be small bodies, lying on slabs in what appeared to be a medical examination room. According to McClelland’s account of what Onizuka said, "The small, strange looking creatures were humanoid in shape, and appeared similar to those described by alleged witnesses at the well-known Roswell site in the Southwest USA in 1947. They all had large heads, large eyes, slight torsos, arms, and legs. They did not appear to be of earthly origin."

After the film ended, Onizuka’s group was sent back to resume their duties, as if nothing odd had happened, and were not given an opportunity to discuss the contents of the film afterward. Onizuka remained unsure as to whether or not the creatures presented in the film were real or not, as it may have been a fabrication designed to psychologically evaluate personnel. "Perhaps it was a planned USAF psychological test for military reasons. Who knows, NASA may have evaluated it in my selection as an astronaut in 1978. You know, what would my reaction be if I actually saw an alien being?"

Unfortunately, McClelland was unable to follow up on their conversation, as Onizuka was killed, along with his crewmates, Gregory Jarvis, Christa McAuliffe, Ronald McNair, Judy Resnik, Dick Scobee and Michael Smith, when the Space Shuttle Challenger was destroyed 73 seconds after launch on January 28, 1986.