At the 80s UFO conspiracies were already in full power. But the US government had a few cases of messing with people just for the lulz at that time, so who knows?
Anyway, the idea that aliens were invading seem to have spread at around the time the US government spend a few years flying a lot of weird objects in secret¹. But it may also be a coincidence.
NaibofTabr@infosec.pub 6 days ago
Yeah man, this thing’s just a prototype for airframe design testing:
Image
en.wikipedia.org/…/Lockheed_Martin_RQ-3_DarkStar
Tell me that wouldn’t create UFO sighting reports if it was seen flying around in 1996.
There is a government coverup, but it’s boring, it’s just to protect military secrets. People embellish because they want it to be exciting, otherworldly, special.