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They Knew Too Much About Flying Saucers by Gray Barker
Evidence envelope containing the dust jacket of Gray Barker's book alleging leading flying saucer researchers were systematically silenced by mysterious 'three men in dark suits.'
Analysis
The origin story of the Men in Black -- before Will Smith, before the comic book. Gray Barker's "They Knew Too Much About Flying Saucers" alleged that leading civilian saucer researchers were being silenced by visits from "three men in dark suits" who'd appear after investigations got too close to something. Barker started digging after a 1952 UFO allegedly landed near his home in Clarksburg, West Virginia. The FBI kept the book jacket and promo material in their flying discs file, almost certainly as intelligence on civilian research organizations and their claims of government intimidation. The three-page serial is just a dust jacket, but it's the earliest documented instance of the MIB mythology entering official channels.
Key Findings
- Book alleges systematic silencing of civilian flying saucer researchers
- "Three men in dark suits" visited leading researchers, who then ceased publishing
- Author speculates visitors may be government agents or extraterrestrial beings
- Gray Barker investigated after a 1952 UFO allegedly landed near Clarksburg, West Virginia
- Book described as "behind-the-scenes chronicle of civilian saucer research"
- Published by University Books, Inc., 404 Fourth Avenue, New York
- Barker also published "The Saucerian," a flying saucer periodical
- This is an early reference to what later became known as the "Men in Black" phenomenon
Page Extractions 3 pages
Page 1
View PDF ↗statushas_content
doc_typeform
classificationnone visible (declassified)
page_descriptionEnvelope/cover page for FBI file Serial 403 from case 62-HQ-83894, marked as property of FBI Central Records Center.
references
- 62-HQ-83894 | FBI case file identifier (flying discs/UFO case)
- Serial 403 | document serial number
- FBI Central Records Center | file storage location
- Class/Case# 0062 | case classification number
- Sub Vol. 1 | sub-volume identifier
- IPA# LIJ~C\?- 0062 | internal case number
- 9/18/226771 | archive reference number
- DIPA # LIJ 22292 | declassification information package number
redactions
- "DO NOT DESTROY" marking visible on envelope
- Handwritten notation "62-HQ-83894-403" in red ink
organizations
- FBI - Central Records Center | government_agency
- FBI Headquarters | government_agency
quotes
- "62-HQ-83894" | case file number
- "Serial 403" | serial designation
- "EBF" | file code
- "FBI - CENTRAL RECORDS CENTER" | custodian
- "HQ - HEADQUARTERS" | file location
- "DO NOT DESTROY" | preservation instruction
- "Declassification authority derived from FBI Automatic Declassification Guide, issued May 24, 2007." | declassification authority
Page 2
View PDF ↗statushas_content
doc_typebook
classificationnone visible
page_descriptionBook jacket and promotional material for "They Knew Too Much About Flying Saucers" by Gray Barker, discussing alleged intimidation of flying saucer researchers.
dates1952 | year of alleged UFO landing near author's home in West Virginia
people
- Gray Barker | author/businessman | Clarksburg, West Virginia | author
- H. G. Rhawn | publisher and owner | Clarksburg News | endorser of book
- "Three men in dark suits" | visitors/agents | [agency unknown] | alleged intimidators of researchers
organizations
- University Books | publisher
- Clarksburg News | newspaper
- Gropper Associates, Inc. | jacket designer
- Flying saucer researchers community | research organization
locations
- Clarksburg, West Virginia | author's home town
- Clarksburg News Building | location of author's business
- West Virginia | location of alleged UFO landing (1952)
observations
- UFO allegedly landed near Clarksburg, West Virginia in 1952
- Multiple flying saucer researchers encountered after years of investigation
- "Three men in dark suits" visited leading saucer researchers
- Researchers ceased publishing saucer research material after visits
- Researchers refused to discuss saucers or reason for silence
- All apparent intimidation occurred with no outward harm to researchers
- Researchers remained alive and living in same locations
assessments
- Three dark-suited visitors may be government agents, may be from outer space, or may have muscled in on situation | author theory
- Flying saucer researchers' silence suggests they discovered something significant | author implication
- Saucer researchers deserve serious investigation | H. G. Rhawn (publisher)
references
- UFO sighting near author's home in West Virginia (1952) | basis for investigation
- Leading figures in flying saucer research field | subject of investigation
quotes
- "One by one, the leading figures among flying saucer researchers, who have challenged the government denial that saucers come from outer space, have been silenced." | book description
- "Three men in dark suits have visited these saucer researchers. Nobody knows what they said, but it was enough to reduce their hearers to silence." | book description
- "Mr. Barker never was interested in flying saucers until 1952 when one of the most astonishing ones allegedly landed near his home in West Virginia and he investigated the story and found the shaken and fearful eye witnesses convincing enough to go on with further investigations." | book description
- "Then, after several years of close contact with the leading men in the field, he found them suddenly silenced, one by one." | book description
- "The Knew Too Much About Flying Saucers is a [continued on back flap]" | promotional text
Page 3
View PDF ↗statushas_content
doc_typebook
classificationnone visible
page_descriptionBack flap and biographical information about Gray Barker, author of "They Knew Too Much About Flying Saucers," with publisher information.
peopleGray Barker | author | businessman | author biography
organizations
- University Books, Inc. | publisher
- English department | Maryland school system
- School supplier | audio-visual education consultant employer
- The Saucerian | flying saucer periodical (published by Barker)
- Educational journals | publication outlets
- Motion picture technical magazines | publication outlets
locations
- West Virginia farming country | Barker's childhood location
- Maryland | location of English department where Barker worked
- 404 Fourth Avenue | University Books publisher address
- New York 16, N.Y. | publisher location
assessments
- Book described as "immensely readable" | publisher
- Reader likely to be unable to put book down | publisher assessment
- Author's storytelling manner is "straightforward and documentary" | publisher
- Content described as having "terrifying inside facts" | publisher
- Saucer research has "stark reality behind the mystery" | author's realization
referencesThe Saucerian | periodical published by author
quotes
- "(continued from front flap)" | continuation marker
- "behind-the-scenes chronicle of civilian saucer research." | book description
- "It is an immensely readable book. We suggest you do not pick it up if you have work to do, for you will be unable to put it down until you reach the amazing climax." | publisher
- "Mr. Barker tells the story in such a straightforward and documentary manner that the reader's first moment of incredulity will give way to conviction as he is acquainted, page-by-page, with the terrifying inside facts." | publisher
- "A six-footer, handsome, and with a warm, infectious laugh, Mr. Barker retains in his voice just a trace of the accent of the West Virginia farming country where he grew up" | biographical description
- "He has been head of an English department in a Maryland school system, an audio-visual education consultant for a large school supplier, theatre manager and motion picture projection technician." | biography
- "Begun as a hobby, saucer research has taken more and more of his time as he has realized the stark reality behind the mystery." | author biography
- "Finding time for his literary career between details of operating his business, he publishes The Saucerian, a flying saucer periodical, and contributes to educational journals and motion picture technical magazines." | author biography
- "UNIVERSITY BOOKS, INC" | publisher name
- "404 Fourth Avenue • New York 16, N. Y." | publisher address