Black helicopter: Difference between revisions
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==Overview== |
==Overview== |
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The theory was first popularized in the early [[1990s]] by [[Mark Koernke]]<ref>[http://www.adl.org/learn/ext_us/koernke.asp?LEARN_Cat=Extremism&LEARN_SubCat=Extremism_in_America&xpicked=2&item=koernke Mark Koernke<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> (also known as Mark from [[Michigan]]) in appearances on |
The theory was first popularized in the early [[1990s]] by [[Mark Koernke]]<ref>[http://www.adl.org/learn/ext_us/koernke.asp?LEARN_Cat=Extremism&LEARN_SubCat=Extremism_in_America&xpicked=2&item=koernke Mark Koernke<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> (also known as Mark from [[Michigan]]) in appearances on Tom Valentine's radio show and in public speeches which were widely circulated on videocassette, and shortly thereafter by [[Linda Thompson (attorney)|Linda Thompson]] in her film ''[[Linda Thompson (attorney)#Black helicopters|America Under Siege]]''. In Alex Jones' film ''[[Alex Jones (radio)|Police State 2000]]'' unmarked black helicopters are shown flying low in surprise urban warfare training missions with [[Delta Force]] operators and foreign troops. |
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Two books on the subject: ''Black Helicopters Over America: Strikeforce for the New World Order'' (1995), and ''Black Helicopters II : The End Game Strategy'' (1998), are from the now-defunct Illuminet Press and were written by the late [[Jim Keith]]. |
Two books on the subject: ''Black Helicopters Over America: Strikeforce for the New World Order'' (1995), and ''Black Helicopters II : The End Game Strategy'' (1998), are from the now-defunct Illuminet Press and were written by the late [[Jim Keith]]. |
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Revision as of 10:41, 24 May 2008
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (July 2007) |
 | The examples and perspective in this article may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. |
Black helicopters are part of a conspiracy theory, especially prevalent among the United States militia movement, that claims that special unmarked black helicopters are used by secret agents of the New World Order, United Nations troops, and/or the Men in Black preparing to take control of the United States, or for other nefarious purposes.
In the United Kingdom a similar phenomenon known as "Phantom Helicopters" has been reported since the mid 1970s.[1]
Overview
The theory was first popularized in the early 1990s by Mark Koernke[2] (also known as Mark from Michigan) in appearances on Tom Valentine's radio show and in public speeches which were widely circulated on videocassette, and shortly thereafter by Linda Thompson in her film America Under Siege. In Alex Jones' film Police State 2000 unmarked black helicopters are shown flying low in surprise urban warfare training missions with Delta Force operators and foreign troops.
Two books on the subject: Black Helicopters Over America: Strikeforce for the New World Order (1995), and Black Helicopters II : The End Game Strategy (1998), are from the now-defunct Illuminet Press and were written by the late Jim Keith.
The greatest media attention to black helicopters was most probably paid in February 1995, when first-term Republican northern Idaho Representative Helen Chenoweth charged that armed federal agents were landing black helicopters on Idaho ranchers' property to enforce the Endangered Species Act. "I have never seen them," Chenoweth said in an interview in The New York Times. "But enough people in my district have become concerned that I can't just ignore it. We do have some proof."[3] Chenoweth made the charges at a press conference without ever consulting with the Department of the Interior.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which enforces the act, says that they do not own any helicopters nor have ever used any in Idaho. The only green and black military helicopters known to be used in Idaho are used by the National Guard. Black helicopters without FAA-required running lights are regularly used by the drug interdiction office of the DEA. In addition, most U.S. Army helicopters (such as the Black Hawk) are finished in a very dark chocolate or olive matte paint.
Parapsychologist John Keel has argued that mystery helicopters (not always black in color) have an origin similar to that of UFOs, ghosts and fairies: events staged by an intelligent non-human entity in order to propagate and reinforce certain erroneous belief systems and as a cover for real phenomena.[citation needed]
Black helicopters have also been reported in the areas where cattle mutilation has been reported.[4] The black helicopters theory resonates well with the belief held by some in the militia movement that troops from the United Nations might invade the United States.
The John Birch Society [5] published an article in The New American detailing how the existence of the covert aircraft was mostly the product of visual errors and fear mongering.
Possible explanations
The following explanations have been provided by various organizations and experts, including government agencies, regarding the alleged black helicopters:
- At least some sightings of black helicopters are very likely to have been helicopters on exercises and/or missions. Real black helicopters (as in helicopters that are colored black) do exist. Some of them are flown by units of the Army National Guard and are actually black (not dark olive or chocolate brown) when seen in ordinary light. The Department of Homeland Security operates a dozen black-and-gold UH-60 Blackhawk under the US Customs Service.[1] The American military does in fact operate helicopters painted in black or dark colors, particularly the Pave Low which is optimized for long-range stealthy insertion and extraction of personnel, including combat search and rescue.
- U.S. Army and National Guard helicopters painted olive drab will appear to be black in the reddish light of dawn or dusk, or under other low light conditions during the day when their shadow side is viewed against the sky with the naked eye.
- The U.S. Army regularly conducts both exercises and operational missions in American airspace. Some of these exercises have taken place in densely populated areas, including Los Angeles, Detroit, San Francisco, Oakland and Washington, D.C. Most operational missions are tasked in narcotics interdiction in the American Southwest and out of Florida and Puerto Rico. By extensive use of GPS and night vision devices, as well as other classified means, they are able to fly in zero visibility conditions with no running lights. At this high intensity level of operation, training is necessarily almost as dangerous to pilots, other air traffic, and the public as actual combat. Frequent practice is necessary to retain proficiency.
- Many defense contractors and helicopter manufacturers also conduct public flight testing of aircraft and components or fly aircraft in public view to test ranges or other corporate airfields for training or demonstrations. Occasionally, some of these aircraft will be made for military clients and are painted in black or dark colors.
- In the UK, Police Helicopters are required by the CAA to be marked in a standard 'high conspicuosity' paint scheme, to make them more visible and avoid the possibility of air proximity hazards with other low flying aircraft. This paint scheme, also used by UK millitary training helicopters, requires them to be black on the sides and underneath, and yellow on top. When seen from the ground, these helicopters are black but this is to make them more visible against the sky as a safety feature (and yellow against the ground when seen from above).
Pejorative use
The term has been used, sometimes pejoratively, to label those who believe various conspiracy theories. For instance, a Slate article on basketball refereeing, said: "In the wake of this scandal, every game will be in question, and not only by fans disposed to seeing black helicopters outside the arena."[6]