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I
THE RISE OF THE BLACK HELICOPTERS
n the early to mid-1970s, a new component was added to the ongoing alien abduction phenomenon. It all revolved around what has become notoriously known in the field of ufology as the “black helicopter.” Since at least 1973, there have been numerous reports of helicopters—black in color and with no visible markings or identifying numbers—flying around, usually after dark, and in the vicinity of the homes of those who have been subjected to alien abductions. The most prevalent theory within the domain of UFO research is that the black helicopters are attached to quick-reaction military teams, whose job it is to respond to UFO—and abduction-based—incidents in a rapid fashion. Before we get to the matter of the connection between the black helicopters and alien abductions, let’s first take a look at how the phenomenon began. The 1970s saw the increase of two phenomena in the United States: alien abductions and cattle mutilations. We have seen that alien abductions date back to the 1950s. As for cattle mutilations, they largely began in the mid-1960s. It’s surely no coincidence at all, though, that when both mysteries increased to incredible degrees in the 1970s, the presence of the black helicopters became almost overwhelming. Abductees told of seeing