The extraordinary 1977 nuclear weapons warning was dismissed as a scam – but was it?
On November 26, 1977, a mysterious alien broadcast aired in southern Britain for 6 minutes.
The frightening warning from someone who identified himself as “Vrillon, a representative of the Ashtar Galactic Command”, was never fully explained.
This happened on a Saturday during a routine news broadcast at 5 pm Southern tv, when viewers watched the image of narrator Andrew Gardner sway strangely as a deep hum came from the TV sets.
Then came the bizarre message:
This is the voice of Vrillon, a representative of the Ashtar Galactic Command, speaking to you.
For many years you saw us as lights in the heavens. Now we speak to you in peace and wisdom, as we have done with your brothers and sisters around the world, your planet Earth.
We have come to warn you of the fate of your race and your world, so that you can communicate to your fellowmen the way they must go in order to avert the disaster that threatens your world and the beings of our world around you.
Explaining that the earth was moving into a new era that could lead to an era of peace and harmony for all mankind, the voice warned that it was time to ban all weapons of mass destruction:
All your evil weapons must be removed. The time for conflict has passed and the race of which you are a member can proceed to the higher stages of your evolution if you prove worthy to do so. You have little time to learn to live together in peace and goodwill.
Vrillon, presumably referring to UFO sightings, adds:
We have watched you grow for many years, just as you have watched our lights in your skies. There are more beings on and around your earth than your scientists admit.
He ended the broadcast, warning that false leaders would not be heard, saying:
We are now leaving the plans of your existence… The time has come to evolve into a higher form.
The message was never repeated or explained.
The rational answer is that it was a scam and that someone had “kidnapped” the local TV broadcaster.
A spokeswoman for Southern television told reporters at the time:
A fraudster took over our North Hampshire transmitter, placing another transmitter very close to him.
A spokeswoman for The Independent Broadcasting Authority said that such a scam would require “a considerable amount of technical knowledge.”
But the alleged fraudster never came forward to claim responsibility for the bizarre transmission and managed to keep his secret for 42 years.
Or, of course, it is possible that Vrillon is really out there watching and waiting for us to give up our nuclear weapons so they can welcome us into an interplanetary community.
