John Lear, born on December 3, 1942, was a notable American aviator and UFO conspiracy theorist. He was the son of Bill Lear, the founder of Learjet, and Moya Marie Olsen Lear. Lear carved out a unique path in aviation, setting multiple records. He notably completed a record flight around the world between May 23 and 26 in 1966, which was highlighted by the Wichita Press.
In addition to his aviation achievements, Lear worked as a CIA pilot, reportedly flying secret missions between 1967 and 1983. He became well-known for his UFO conspiracy theories, claiming, among other things, that a population of 250 million humanoid aliens lived on the moon.
Lear was also involved in various ufology projects and events. In the 1980s, he began posting conspiracies about secret government relations with aliens. His collaboration with UFO witness Bill Cooper and his introduction of journalist George Knapp to UFO whistle-blower Bob Lazar were notable contributions to ufology. He served as State Director for The Mutual UFO Network and hosted their 1989 annual convention in Las Vegas.
John Lear passed away on March 29, 2022, at the age of 79. He died in his sleep at his home in Las Vegas. He was married to Marilee Higginbotham since 1970, and they had a daughter named Allison.