John Lear, born on December 3, 1942, was an American conspiracy theorist and aviator, known for his influential role in UFO conspiracy theories, particularly in the 1980s. The son of Learjet magnate Bill Lear, John Lear had an impressive career as a pilot, including flying cargo planes for the CIA during the Vietnam era. In the latter half of the 1980s, Lear emerged as a significant figure in the realm of UFO conspiracy theories, becoming one of the most influential sources in this field.
Lear’s theories and claims were often intertwined with elements from extreme political literature and saucer folklore. He was a prominent figure in what has been termed the “dark side movement” in ufology. This movement is characterized by its adoption of extreme paranoia and conspiracy theories, often involving a “secret government” that controls the world and is involved in various malevolent activities. According to Lear and others in this movement, this secret government was in collusion with alien races, known as the “grays,” and engaged in activities like human abductions in exchange for advanced alien technology.
It’s important to note that these theories and claims lack credible evidence and are generally considered to be part of fringe conspiracy thinking. Lear’s ideas were a mixture of various elements from different sources, including a 1977 British mock-documentary titled “Alternative 3,” which was intended as satire but was unfortunately taken as fact by some.
Lear’s influence extended to his relationship with other conspiracy theorists, like Milton William Cooper. Cooper, a retired Navy petty officer, initially collaborated with Lear but eventually accused him of being a CIA plant. Cooper’s own theories evolved over time, moving from UFOs to broader conspiracies involving a “One World Government” controlled by the Illuminati.
About Alternative 3
“Alternative 3” was a British mock-documentary that aired in 1977 and played a significant role in shaping some of the conspiracy theories promoted by John Lear and others. The program was designed as a fictional narrative, intended to be a satire on popular credulity and paranoia. It presented a scenario where scientists had determined that Earth’s surface would soon be unable to support life due to pollution leading to catastrophic climate change. The show proposed three radical solutions: reducing the human population, constructing underground shelters, or colonizing Mars via a way station on the Moon.
Despite its fictional nature, the program caused a significant stir. Immediately after its airing, the producers of “Alternative 3” received numerous calls from viewers who were alarmed and sought more information, leading them to clarify that it was a hoax. This didn’t stop the program from influencing conspiracy theories. Some elements of the mock-documentary, such as the existence of a secret government and collaboration with extraterrestrial beings, found their way into the fabric of various conspiracy narratives, including those advocated by John Lear.
“Alternative 3” had an enduring impact beyond its initial broadcast. The program’s fictional claims, such as secret space missions and the establishment of off-planet colonies, were later incorporated into broader conspiracy theories about UFOs and secret government activities. Lear and others in the “dark side movement” of ufology drew upon these themes, blending them with other sources like saucer folklore and extremist political literature to create elaborate and nightmarish conspiracy theories. These theories included ideas about secret governments working with aliens, human abductions in exchange for alien technology, and the existence of vast underground bases for nefarious purposes.