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'''John Olson Lear''' (December 3, 1942 - ) is an influential conspiracy theorist, a pilot, and a one-time candidate for State Senate. Lear has promoted the "Dark Hypothesis", a story of alien collusion with secret governmental forces.<ref name="Pioneer">https://newrepublic.com/article/150922/pioneer-paranoia</ref> Lear left a lasting influence on the UFO movement; One author observed "in the early years [UFO writers] did not, by and large, embrace strong political positions. [Lear and his partner] were the tip of a spear asserting that the number one thing we had to fear was not little green men, but the government that colluded with them, appropriating their technology against us." <ref name="Pioneer"/>
'''John Olsen Lear''' (December 3, 1942 - March 29, 2022) was an influential conspiracy theorist, a record-breaking pilot, and a one-time candidate for State Senate.<ref name="Pioneer"/><ref name="Rider"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TQ3BBAAAQBAJ|title=Mirage Men: A Journey into Disinformation, Paranoia and UFOs.|first=Mark|last=Pilkington|date=July 29, 2010|publisher=Little, Brown Book Group|via=Google Books}}</ref>

Unlike previous UFO conspiracy theorists, Lear promoted a story of alien collusion with secret governmental forces.<ref name="Pioneer">{{Cite web|url=https://newrepublic.com/article/150922/pioneer-paranoia|title=A Pioneer of Paranoia|first=Colin|last=Dickey|date=August 28, 2018|via=The New Republic}}</ref> Lear's tale left a lasting influence on the UFO movement -- one author observed "in the early years [UFO writers] did not, by and large, embrace strong political positions. [Lear and his partner] were the tip of a spear asserting that the number one thing we had to fear was not little green men, but the government that colluded with them, appropriating their technology against us." <ref name="Pioneer"/><ref name="Rider"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UugAST0XW9gC|title=Project Beta: The Story of Paul Bennewitz, National Security, and the Creation of a Modern UFO Myth|first=Greg|last=Bishop|date=February 8, 2005|publisher=Simon and Schuster|via=Google Books}}</ref>


==Early life==
==Early life==


John Olson Lear was born on December 3, 1942 to industrialist and future [[Learjet]] founder [[Bill Lear]] and his wife Moya Marie.<ref name="1943"/><ref>https://www.newspapers.com/image/391944501</ref> He was named after his maternal grandfather, famous comedian [[Olsen and Johnson|John Olsen]].<ref name="1943">https://www.newspapers.com/image/116888221/</ref> His second and third birthday parties was covered in the "Society" page of an Ohio paper.<ref>https://www.newspapers.com/image/45780916/</ref><ref>https://www.newspapers.com/image/47035669</ref>
John Olsen Lear was born on December 3, 1942 to industrialist and future [[Learjet]] founder [[Bill Lear]] and his wife [[Moya Lear|Moya Marie Olsen Lear]].<ref name="1943a"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/391944501/|title=9 Dec 1942, 5 - The Dayton Herald at Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com}}</ref> He was named after his maternal grandfather, famous comedian [[Olsen and Johnson|John Olsen]].<ref name="1943a">{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/116888221/|title=5 May 1943, Page 10 - Arizona Republic at Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com}}</ref> His second and third birthday parties were covered in the "Society" page of an Ohio paper.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/45780916/|title=8 Dec 1944, Page 2 - The Piqua Daily Call at Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/47035669/|title=5 Feb 1943, Page 2 - The Piqua Daily Call at Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

Lear graduated from the [[Institut Le Rosey]] boarding school in Switzerland and attended [[Wichita State University]].<ref name="marriage"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/148040498/|title=24 Jun 1971, Page 16 - Reno Gazette-Journal at Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Lear claimed that in 1959 he had become the youngest American to ever climb Switzerland's Matterhorn.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.coasttocoastam.com/show/2003-11-02-show/|title=Aerial Revelations|website=Coast to Coast AM}}</ref>

==Career==
⚫
In 1965, Lear was employed by the Paul Kelly Flying Service when its founder was killed while piloting a LearJet. Lear testified at the [[Civil Aeronautics Board]] investigation into the crash.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/694531330/|title=2 Mar 1966, 10 - The Wichita Beacon at Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

Between May 23 and 26, 1966, Lear and a crewmmate flew a record-breaking flight around the world in a LearJet that covered 22,000 miles in 50 hours and 39 minutes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.si.edu/object/lear-jet-23%3Anasm_A19780122000|title=Lear Jet 23|website=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>


⚫
In August 1966, Lear was featured in the Wichita Press after he piloted a LearJet carrying the rock band [[The Byrds]] and the trip inspired them to write a song about the plane.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/695745835/|title=28 Aug 1966, 63 - The Wichita Eagle at Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The track, titled "2-4-2 Foxtrot (The Lear Jet Song)", samples Lear's voice as he speaks over the radio.<ref name="auto"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EitHMUG69eI|title=2-4-2 Fox Trot (The Lear Jet Song)|via=www.youtube.com}}</ref>
Lear graduated from the [[Institut Le Rosey]] boarding school in Switzerland and attended [[Wichita State University]].<ref name="marriage"/><ref>https://www.newspapers.com/image/148040498</ref>


⚫
In 1968, Air Force personnel from Hamilton Air Force Base launched a rescue effort to help Lear land after heavy San Francisco fog interfered with landing. Traffic was cleared from the Golden Gate Bridge in anticipation of a forced landing. After a helicopter pilot established visual contact, Lear was able to successfully land at the base.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/41570448/|title=23 Oct 1968, Page 24 - News Record at Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
⚫
In 1965, Lear was employed by the Paul Kelly Flying Service when its founder was killed while piloting a LearJet. Lear testified at the [[Civil Aeronautics Board]] investigation into the crash.<ref>https://www.newspapers.com/image/694531330</ref>


⚫
Lear claimed to fly "secret missions for the CIA" between 1967 and 1983.<ref>[https://www.wanttoknow.nl/wp-content/uploads/911-lear-affidavit.pdf Affadaviit] by John Lear</ref>{{better|date=March 2022}}
⚫
Between May 23 and 26, 1966, Lear and crewmmate flew a record-breaking flight around the world in a LearJet that covered 22,000 miles in 50 hours and 39 minutes.<ref>https://www.si.edu/object/lear-jet-23%3Anasm_A19780122000</ref> In August 1966, Lear was featured in the Wichita Press after he piloted a LearJet carrying the rock band [[The Byrds]] and the trip inspired them to write a song about the plane.<ref>https://www.newspapers.com/image/695745835</ref> The track, titled "2-4-2 Foxtrot (The Lear Jet Song)", samples Lear's voice as he speaks over the radio.<ref>https://www.newspapers.com/image/695745835</ref><ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EitHMUG69eI</ref>


==UFO claims==
In 1987, Lear released a press statement claiming that the US government has close contacts with extraterrestrial and were secretly "promoting" films like ''E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial'' and ''Close Encounters of the Third Kind'' to influence the public to see extraterrestrials as "space brothers".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LiwjVsNBw-cC|title=A Culture of Conspiracy: Apocalyptic Visions in Contemporary America|first=Michael|last=Barkun|date=March 31, 2003|publisher=University of California Press|via=Google Books}}</ref>


In 1989, Lear served as "State Director" for [[MUFON]], hosting the 1989 symposium "The UFO Cover-Up: A Government Conspiracy?"<ref name="Rider">{{cite book
⚫
In 1968, Air Force personnel from Hamilton Air Force Base launched a rescue effort to help Lear land after heavy San Francisco fog interfered with landing. Traffic was cleared from the Golden Gate Bridge in anticipation of a forced landing. After a helicopter pilot established visual contract, Lear was able to successfully land at the base.<ref>https://www.newspapers.com/image/41570448/</ref>
| last = Jacobson
| first = Mark
| year = 2018
| title = Pale Horse Rider: William Cooper, the Rise of Conspiracy, and the Fall of Trust in America
| publisher = Blue Rider Press
| isbn = 978-0399169953
}}</ref> Despite initial objections from MUFON founder Walt Andrus, Lear was able to submit a slate of speakers after he threatened to split the symposium. <ref name="Rider"/> At that same symposium, Roswell author [[Bill Moore]] tearfully confessed to having intentionally spread disinformation to UFO researcher [[Paul Bennewitz]] on behalf of purported counter-intelligence agent [[Richard Doty]]. <ref name="Rider"/> Lear's speakers were slated to provide allegedly-independent verification of the Bennewitz claims. <ref name="Rider"/> One of those speakers, [[Milton William Cooper|Bill Cooper]], would later break with Lear after accusing him of being an intelligence agent.<ref name="Pioneer"/>


Lear made multiple appearances on fringe TV shows, including [[Ancient Aliens]], [[America's Book of Secrets]],[[Brad Meltzer's Decoded]], and [[The Unexplained Files]]. <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3385553/|title=John Lear|website=IMDb}}</ref> From 2003 to 2015, Lear was a regular guest on [[Coast to Coast AM]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.coasttocoastam.com/guest/lear-john-6252/|title=John Lear|website=Coast to Coast AM}}</ref>


⚫
==Personal life and death==
⚫
Lear claimed to fly "secret missions for the CIA" between 1967 and 1983.<ref>https://www.wanttoknow.nl/wp-content/uploads/911-lear-affidavit.pdf</ref>{{better}}
⚫
In 1970, Lear married Marilee Higginbotham, the owner of a California fashion modelling agency, at a ceremony in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles.<ref name="marriage">{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/384761900/|title=14 Sep 1970, 42 - The Los Angeles Times at Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com}}</ref>


Lear died on March 29,2022.<ref>[https://twitter.com/g_knapp/status/1509313256409616384 Statement] from journalist [[George Knapp (television journalist)|George Knapp]]</ref>
⚫
==Personal life==
⚫
In 1970, Lear married Marilee Higginbotham, the owner of a California fashion modelling agency, at a ceremony in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles.<ref name="marriage">https://www.newspapers.com/image/384761900</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
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[[Category:2022 deaths]]
[[Category:American radio personalities]]
[[Category:American conspiracy theorists]]
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Latest revision as of 06:43, 31 March 2022

John Olsen Lear (December 3, 1942 - March 29, 2022) was an influential conspiracy theorist, a record-breaking pilot, and a one-time candidate for State Senate.[1][2][3]

Unlike previous UFO conspiracy theorists, Lear promoted a story of alien collusion with secret governmental forces.[1] Lear's tale left a lasting influence on the UFO movement -- one author observed "in the early years [UFO writers] did not, by and large, embrace strong political positions. [Lear and his partner] were the tip of a spear asserting that the number one thing we had to fear was not little green men, but the government that colluded with them, appropriating their technology against us." [1][2][4]

Early life

[edit]

John Olsen Lear was born on December 3, 1942 to industrialist and future Learjet founder Bill Lear and his wife Moya Marie Olsen Lear.[5][6] He was named after his maternal grandfather, famous comedian John Olsen.[5] His second and third birthday parties were covered in the "Society" page of an Ohio paper.[7][8]

Lear graduated from the Institut Le Rosey boarding school in Switzerland and attended Wichita State University.[9][10] Lear claimed that in 1959 he had become the youngest American to ever climb Switzerland's Matterhorn.[11]

Career

[edit]

In 1965, Lear was employed by the Paul Kelly Flying Service when its founder was killed while piloting a LearJet. Lear testified at the Civil Aeronautics Board investigation into the crash.[12]

Between May 23 and 26, 1966, Lear and a crewmmate flew a record-breaking flight around the world in a LearJet that covered 22,000 miles in 50 hours and 39 minutes.[13]

In August 1966, Lear was featured in the Wichita Press after he piloted a LearJet carrying the rock band The Byrds and the trip inspired them to write a song about the plane.[14] The track, titled "2-4-2 Foxtrot (The Lear Jet Song)", samples Lear's voice as he speaks over the radio.[14][15]

In 1968, Air Force personnel from Hamilton Air Force Base launched a rescue effort to help Lear land after heavy San Francisco fog interfered with landing. Traffic was cleared from the Golden Gate Bridge in anticipation of a forced landing. After a helicopter pilot established visual contact, Lear was able to successfully land at the base.[16]

Lear claimed to fly "secret missions for the CIA" between 1967 and 1983.[17][better source needed]

UFO claims

[edit]

In 1987, Lear released a press statement claiming that the US government has close contacts with extraterrestrial and were secretly "promoting" films like E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial and Close Encounters of the Third Kind to influence the public to see extraterrestrials as "space brothers".[18]

In 1989, Lear served as "State Director" for MUFON, hosting the 1989 symposium "The UFO Cover-Up: A Government Conspiracy?"[2] Despite initial objections from MUFON founder Walt Andrus, Lear was able to submit a slate of speakers after he threatened to split the symposium. [2] At that same symposium, Roswell author Bill Moore tearfully confessed to having intentionally spread disinformation to UFO researcher Paul Bennewitz on behalf of purported counter-intelligence agent Richard Doty. [2] Lear's speakers were slated to provide allegedly-independent verification of the Bennewitz claims. [2] One of those speakers, Bill Cooper, would later break with Lear after accusing him of being an intelligence agent.[1]

Lear made multiple appearances on fringe TV shows, including Ancient Aliens, America's Book of Secrets,Brad Meltzer's Decoded, and The Unexplained Files. [19] From 2003 to 2015, Lear was a regular guest on Coast to Coast AM.[20]

Personal life and death

[edit]

In 1970, Lear married Marilee Higginbotham, the owner of a California fashion modelling agency, at a ceremony in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles.[9]

Lear died on March 29,2022.[21]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d Dickey, Colin (August 28, 2018). "A Pioneer of Paranoia" – via The New Republic.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Jacobson, Mark (2018). Pale Horse Rider: William Cooper, the Rise of Conspiracy, and the Fall of Trust in America. Blue Rider Press. ISBN 978-0399169953.
  3. ^ Pilkington, Mark (July 29, 2010). "Mirage Men: A Journey into Disinformation, Paranoia and UFOs". Little, Brown Book Group – via Google Books.
  4. ^ Bishop, Greg (February 8, 2005). "Project Beta: The Story of Paul Bennewitz, National Security, and the Creation of a Modern UFO Myth". Simon and Schuster – via Google Books.
  5. ^ a b "5 May 1943, Page 10 - Arizona Republic at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "9 Dec 1942, 5 - The Dayton Herald at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "8 Dec 1944, Page 2 - The Piqua Daily Call at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "5 Feb 1943, Page 2 - The Piqua Daily Call at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ a b "14 Sep 1970, 42 - The Los Angeles Times at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "24 Jun 1971, Page 16 - Reno Gazette-Journal at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Aerial Revelations". Coast to Coast AM.
  12. ^ "2 Mar 1966, 10 - The Wichita Beacon at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Lear Jet 23". Smithsonian Institution.
  14. ^ a b "28 Aug 1966, 63 - The Wichita Eagle at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "2-4-2 Fox Trot (The Lear Jet Song)" – via www.youtube.com.
  16. ^ "23 Oct 1968, Page 24 - News Record at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ Affadaviit by John Lear
  18. ^ Barkun, Michael (March 31, 2003). "A Culture of Conspiracy: Apocalyptic Visions in Contemporary America". University of California Press – via Google Books.
  19. ^ "John Lear". IMDb.
  20. ^ "John Lear". Coast to Coast AM.
  21. ^ Statement from journalist George Knapp
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