Frank Scully

Frank Scully was an American journalist and author who worked as a columnist for Variety magazine from 1933 to 1951. He gained notoriety in 1950 with the publication of "Behind the Flying Saucers," one of the first books to claim that the U.S. government had recovered crashed UFOs and alien bodies. Scully's book presented detailed accounts of alleged UFO crashes in New Mexico, including claims about recovered spacecraft and extraterrestrial beings. The book became a bestseller and influenced UFO conspiracy theories for decades. However, Scully's sources were later exposed as con men who had fabricated the stories to sell a supposed alien detection device. Before his UFO writing, Scully worked as a Hollywood correspondent and wrote several other books on entertainment industry topics. His UFO claims were debunked by investigators, but "Behind the Flying Saucers" remains historically significant as an early example of UFO conspiracy literature that shaped public perception of government cover-ups.

Reader reviews of "Behind the Flying Saucers" show divided opinions about Scully's work. UFO enthusiasts appreciate the book's historical importance as one of the first to present detailed crash retrieval claims. Many readers find the accounts engaging and note Scully's journalistic background lends credibility to his presentation. Readers praise Scully's writing style as clear and accessible. Some view the book as an important document in UFO history, regardless of the accuracy of its claims. UFO researchers value it as a foundational text that influenced later conspiracy theories about government secrecy. Critics point out that Scully's sources were proven fraudulent and that the book contains fabricated information. Skeptical readers describe the accounts as unsubstantiated and criticize Scully for not properly vetting his informants. Some readers express disappointment that such an influential book was based on hoaxes. Modern readers often approach the book as a curiosity or historical artifact rather than factual reporting.