1997 Peru UFO Crash Retrieval - the Story of Jonathan Weygandt | May 17, 2025

Source: UAP Gerb youtube

Description:
In March-April of 1997, while deployed in Peru for USSOUTHCOM Operation Laser Strike, LCpl Weygandt was tasked with fellow marines to investigate a downed aircraft in the area. Upon reaching the crash site, Weygandt and the other marines discovered an enormous, egg-shaped UFO crashed into a rocky cliff face.

While investigating the crash site, the marines were intercepted by unmarked operators wearing black fatigues and a subsequent Department of Energy team outfitted in MOPP (Mission Oriented Protective Posture) gear.

Wegyadnt was isolated from his fellow marines and forcefully taken to an unknown location and interrogated.

The Lance Corporal famously disclosed this experience in 2000, but only spoke publicly about the encounter once more in 2023. Today, I am proud to announce TWO pieces with Jonathan Weygandt - an in-person interview coming soon, and this in-depth investigation with Weygandt to investigate this harrowing testimony.

With the help of Weygandt, this investigation seeks to:
- Recap his experience
- Determine plausible locations for the UFO crash site
- Identify the DOE team and point of origin
- Uncover the station of the "black ops" in black fatigues with no insignia
- Contact the other marines with Jonathan on this encounter
- Determine if Defense Support Program Satellites monitored this nonhuman craft

Timestamps

0:00:00 Intro
0:06:30 Operation Laser Strike
0:13:25 UFO Crash Retrieval
0:43:41 DOE Nest & Black Ops
1:09:48 Recreating the Retrieval
1:26:56 The Other Marines
1:33:18 Similar Crash Retrieval Cases
1:43:49 Conclusion

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Below is a summary of based on the provided transcript, distilled into key takeaways. These include actionable insights, main arguments, crucial statistics, and detailed analysis of the alleged 1997 UFO crash retrieval incident in Peru as recounted by former U.S. Marine Lance Corporal Jonathan Weygandt.

The video, hosted by @UAPGERB, serves as a comprehensive investigation and precursor to an in-person interview with Weygandt, analyzing his testimony from 2000 and 2023, supplemented by new details and investigative efforts.

Key Takeaways

Incident Overview and Context

• Event Date and Location: The alleged UFO crash occurred between March and April 1997 in the Peruvian jungle, during Operation Laser Strike, a U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) counter-narcotics mission.
• Weygandt’s Role: Lance Corporal Jonathan Weygandt, a U.S. Marine with the 2nd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion (MAC G-28), was tasked with perimeter security for radar installations in Peru.
• Initial Mission: Weygandt and fellow Marines were dispatched to secure what was believed to be a downed friendly aircraft or drug-smuggling plane, informed around 11:00 PM to midnight.
• Operation Laser Strike: A classified USSOUTHCOM operation involving up to 20 U.S. agencies (e.g., USMC, DEA, CIA, Air Force) to counter narcotics trafficking in Peru, with bases in Pukalpa, Iquitos, and Andoas.
• Crash Discovery: Around 6:00–7:00 AM, after driving Humvees and trekking, Weygandt’s unit found a crashed egg-shaped UFO embedded in a granite cliff, not a conventional aircraft.
• Timeline: From intelligence to arrival, the Marines took ~8 hours to reach the crash site, suggesting proximity to their base, likely Iquitos, Peru.
• Crash Site Description: A large gash in the landscape indicated the craft’s path, with minimal debris but a clean cut through vegetation, as if sliced by a laser.
• Craft Size: The UFO was massive, ~10 meters high and ~20 meters long, roughly the width of four 53-foot trailers (~16 meters).
• Craft Shape and Features: Egg or teardrop-shaped, metallic yet organic, with large vents resembling fish gills, three hatches (one half-open), and no visible machined parts.
• Color and Appearance: Purplish-green, fluctuating like gasoline on water (mother-of-pearl effect), sometimes near-translucent or silver.
• Light Absorption: The craft absorbed sunlight, casting no shadow except from its vents, suggesting advanced material properties.
• Liquid Leakage: A clear, syrupy liquid (viscosity like maple syrup) dripped from the craft, covering foliage and Weygandt’s uniform, causing skin irritation and hair loss.
• Sound and Light: A deep, bass-like hum (like a guitar amp) emanated from the craft, accompanied by a sweeping light that slowed as the craft powered down.
• Damage: A large gash in the rear suggested damage from a Hawk MIM-23 missile, likely from Peruvian forces, as U.S. forces phased out Hawk systems by 1997.
• Hawk Missile Theory: Weygandt theorized fragmentation from a Hawk missile caused the crash, based on studying MIM-23 ballistics, though he lacks direct evidence.

Non-Human Presence

• Telepathic Communication: Weygandt felt a presence, as if the craft’s occupants were communicating telepathically, projecting calm and a plea for help.
• Biologic Observation: A four-fingered arm hung limply from a half-open hatch, suggesting a dying or dead occupant, a detail allegedly cut from 2000 testimony.
• Occupant Description: In later reflections, Weygandt described tall (8–10 feet), gray-like beings with elongated, oval heads, large dark eyes, small mouths, and no ears.
• Number of Occupants: Weygandt estimated 4–5 beings on the craft, based on telepathic impressions, though only one arm was visible.
• Psionics Hypothesis: The craft’s operation appeared linked to thought control, aligning with 2025 discussions of psionics (e.g., Jake Barber’s testimony).
• Emotional Impact: The beings projected that they meant no harm, causing Weygandt to ignore his sergeants’ warnings to stay back, indicating a strong psychological effect.

Military Response and Retrieval

• Marine Vanguard: Weygandt, Sergeant Allen, and Sergeant Atkins were the first to approach the craft, ~10–20 meters ahead of 8–10 other Marines.
• Rapid Response Team: Within 15–20 minutes of the Marines’ arrival, 2–4 U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook helicopters landed, deploying ~30 personnel.
• DOE Involvement: Personnel in rain jackets and hazmat suits marked “DOE” (Department of Energy) were identified, suggesting a specialized retrieval team.
• Black Ops Team: Armed men in black fatigues (no insignia, American dialects, late 30s–40s) arrived first, likely U.S. Army 7th Special Forces or a DOE SRT team.
• Hostile Encounter: The black ops team disarmed and restrained the Marines, with Weygandt beaten after striking an operator.
• Contamination Concerns: DOE personnel stripped Weygandt’s liquid-covered clothes, citing contamination risks, and bound him to a stretcher.
• Isolation: Weygandt was separated from Allen, Atkins, and others, flown to an unknown base, and interrogated for ~2 days.
• Interrogation Site: The base had permanent structures, likely Peruvian military, with multinational personnel (Americans, Chinese, Germans).
• Threats and NDAs: A USAF lieutenant colonel (no name tag) threatened Weygandt’s life and forced him to sign confidentiality agreements.
• Return to Base: Weygandt was driven (not flown) back to his radar base, suggesting proximity to the interrogation site, and segregated for 3 weeks.
• Nest Team Hypothesis: The DOE team is theorized to be a NEST (Nuclear Emergency Support Team) unit, possibly from Sandia National Labs, mobilized within ~9 hours.
• CH-47 Origins: Helicopters likely belonged to the 160th SOAR Nightstalkers or 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation (JTF Bravo), stationed in USSOUTHCOM territory.
• Rapid Mobilization: The DOE team’s 8–9 hour response time suggests advanced signals intelligence, possibly from NRO-managed DSP satellites.
• Multinational Presence: Armed Chinese and German personnel at the interrogation site suggest a multinational recovery operation, possibly Five Eyes-related.

Investigative Efforts

• Primary Source: Weygandt’s 2000 testimony with Steven Greer (DPI archive) and 2023 podcast with Martin Willis provide the core narrative, with new details from 2025 discussions.
• Greer’s Editing: Greer omitted details (e.g., four-fingered arm) from the 2000 testimony, necessitating use of unedited DPI archive tapes.
• UAPGERB’s Role: The host, @UAPGERB, conducted extensive research, contacting Marines and analyzing military records, radar logs, and similar cases.
• Marine Outreach: UAPGERB contacted Sergeants Allen, Atkins, and Montgre, confirming their USMC service, but only one responded, denying the incident.
• Classified Operation: Laser Strike’s classified status limits corroboration, as one Marine cited classification restrictions.
• Sergeant’s Response: The responding Marine claimed Weygandt never deployed to Laser Strike and had a medical condition, dismissing the story.
• Counterargument: UAPGERB disputes the sergeant’s claims, noting MAC G-28’s documented deployment and Weygandt’s accurate Laser Strike details.
• Iquitos Theory: UAPGERB theorizes Weygandt was stationed at USF Detachment 5 in Iquitos, not Pukalpa, based on flight times and permanent structures.
• NAMRU South Hypothesis: The interrogation site is proposed as NAMRU South (Iquitos or Lima), a Navy medical research unit suitable for quarantine.
• Crash Location Estimate: The crash likely occurred ~90 miles from Iquitos, near the Colombian or Brazilian border, based on travel time calculations.
• Bolivian Border Error: Weygandt’s mention of the Bolivian border is likely a mistake, confusing it with Colombia or Brazil, given Iquitos’ location.
• Radar Data: Weygandt overheard USAF personnel discussing aircraft moving at Mach 10+, with logs confiscated by a colonel, suggesting UFO tracking.
• Historical Context: Laser Strike tracked 45,000 aircraft (1996–97), with 5,390 “tracks of interest,” 150 suspected drug planes, and 21 shot down.
• Special Forces Presence: The 7th Special Forces and JTF Bravo’s 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation had a history in northern Peru, supporting the black ops team theory.
• Sandia Labs Connection: A NEST team from Sandia National Labs could have flown to Iquitos via Cessna Citation 2 (~7.5 hours) and used CH-47s (~30 minutes).

Health and Aftermath

• Physical Effects: The syrupy liquid caused hair loss on Weygandt’s legs and skin irritation, with no hair regrowth to date.
• Psychological Impact: Post-incident, Weygandt experienced nightmares, missing time, and dreams of gray-like beings, unprecedented before the event.
• Military Reprisals: Weygandt claims the USMC (MAC G-28 and CID) attempted to portray him as unstable, leading to his 1998 discharge.
• Substance Use: Weygandt admitted to using banned substances to secure a discharge, escaping harassment after the incident.
• Long-Term Effects: Despite trauma, Weygandt maintains a successful career and relationships, countering claims of mental instability.

Similar Cases and Corroboration

• Kecksburg 1965: Witnesses reported a bell-shaped craft with visible appendages, similar to Weygandt’s four-fingered arm, and “moon suit” retrieval teams.
• Camp Polk 1953: A U.S. Army sergeant (HJ) described an egg-shaped UFO crash, with a rotating fin-like protrusion and biologics, akin to Weygandt’s craft.
• Berkeley 1947: Metallurgist Albert Bruce Collins observed an egg-shaped UFO with a gash, studied at UC Berkeley, suggesting multi-agency involvement.
• Great Lakes 1973: A naval instructor (RK) saw a teardrop-shaped UFO, allegedly shot down, resembling Weygandt’s craft in shape and retrieval context.
• Stringfield’s Research: Leonard Stringfield’s work documents multiple egg-shaped UFO retrievals, supporting Weygandt’s account with historical parallels.
• Majestic 12 Connection: Collins’ claims of Vatican and multi-agency UFO projects (e.g., Archangel, Black Book) align with broader UFO program narratives.
• Michael Herrera’s Testimony: Herrera described a similar guitar-amp-like hum from an alien reproduction vehicle, corroborating Weygandt’s sound description.

Main Arguments

• UFO Crash Retrieval: Weygandt’s encounter is a rare, credible firsthand account of a UFO crash retrieval, detailing non-human craft and beings.
• Government Cover-Up: The DOE’s rapid response, threats, and NDAs suggest a structured U.S. program to suppress UFO evidence.
• DOE’s Role: The DOE, via NEST or FFRDCs (e.g., Sandia, Los Alamos), is implicated as a key player in UFO retrieval and technology exploitation.
• Military Efficiency: The ~8–9 hour response time suggests a highly organized rapid reaction unit, possibly pre-positioned or alerted by advanced intelligence.
• Non-Human Technology: The craft’s organic appearance, psionic control, and light-absorbing properties suggest advanced non-human engineering.
• Witness Credibility: Weygandt’s consistent testimony over 20+ years, military background, and lack of embellishment bolster his credibility.
• Suppression Tactics: Threats, interrogation, and attempts to discredit Weygandt reflect standard tactics to silence whistleblowers.
• Multinational Involvement: The presence of Chinese and German personnel hints at international cooperation in UFO retrieval, possibly via Five Eyes.
• Historical Precedent: Similar egg-shaped UFO cases (1947–1973) suggest a pattern of crashes and retrievals, supporting Weygandt’s account.
• Psionics and Consciousness: The telepathic communication and thought-controlled craft align with emerging 2025 discussions of UFO psionics.

Actionable Insights

• Research Primary Sources: Access Weygandt’s 2000 DPI archive tapes and 2023 podcast to verify details against edited versions.
• Contact Witnesses: Reach out to Sergeants Allen, Atkins, or Montgre via UAPGERB’s email (UAP@gmail.com) to seek corroboration.
• Investigate Iquitos: Explore USF Detachment 5 and NAMRU South records for evidence of 1997 Marine deployments or DOE activities.
• Analyze Radar Logs: Request declassified Laser Strike radar data to confirm Mach 10+ tracks or log confiscations.
• Study Hawk Missiles: Examine Peruvian Air Force records for 1997 Hawk MIM-23 deployments to validate Weygandt’s missile theory.
• Engage UFO Community: Join X discussions with @UAPGERB, @PodcastUFO, or @planethunter56 to share insights and theories.
• Document Findings: Maintain a personal log of UFO research to track patterns across Weygandt’s case and others (e.g., Kecksburg, Camp Polk).
• Support Disclosure: Advocate for congressional hearings or FOIA requests to declassify Laser Strike and DOE UFO-related documents.
• Cross-Reference Cases: Compare Weygandt’s account with Stringfield’s reports or Collins’ testimony to identify common retrieval protocols.
• Investigate NEST: Research DOE’s NEST operations and FFRDCs (Sandia, Los Alamos) for links to UFO retrieval programs.
• Examine Multinational Claims: Investigate Five Eyes or Vatican involvement in UFO programs, as suggested by Collins and Maguire.
• Protect Whistleblowers: Support platforms like UAPGERB that amplify credible witnesses while respecting their privacy.
• Study Psionics: Explore literature on consciousness-based UFO control (e.g., Corso, Barber) to contextualize Weygandt’s psionic claims.
• Verify Military Records: Request MAC G-28 deployment records from Cherry Point to confirm Weygandt’s Laser Strike participation.
• Pursue NAMRU Leads: Investigate NAMRU South’s 1997 activities for evidence of quarantine or multinational operations.

Crucial Statistics

• Craft Dimensions: 10 meters high, 20 meters long, ~16 meters wide (four 53-foot trailers).
• Timeline: Crash reported at 11:00 PM–midnight; Marines departed 3:00–4:00 AM; arrived 6:00–7:00 AM (~8 hours total).
• DOE Response Time: ~8–9 hours from intelligence to arrival, including ~7.5-hour flight from Sandia to Iquitos and ~30-minute CH-47 flight.
• Distance Estimate: Crash site ~90 miles (±25%) from Iquitos, based on 2.5 hours driving (35 mph) and 30 minutes trekking (2 miles).
• Laser Strike Scope: Tracked 45,000 aircraft (1996–97), with 5,390 tracks of interest, 150 suspected drug planes, and 21 shot down.
• Personnel Count: ~30 DOE personnel (rain jackets, hazmat suits), 2–4 CH-47s, and 8–10 Marines at the crash site.
• Interrogation Duration: Weygandt held for ~2 days, interrogated for ~15 hours, segregated for 3 weeks post-incident.
• Flight Distance: Sandia to Iquitos ~3,446 miles, flown by Cessna Citation 2 at 464 mph (~7.5 hours).
• Marine Unit Size: 8–10 Marines in 5–6 Humvees, with Weygandt, Allen, and Atkins in the vanguard.
• Occupant Estimate: 4–5 biologics on the craft, based on telepathic impressions.

Additional Details and Analysis

• Craft Propulsion: Vents resembling gills may indicate propulsion, possibly linked to the syrupy liquid or aquatic environment.
• Liquid Speculation: Weygandt theorized the liquid could be part of an aquatic life-support system for the beings, given its origin from the hatch.
• Contamination Protocol: DOE’s immediate removal of Weygandt’s clothes suggests familiarity with the liquid, possibly a known substance in retrievals.
• Underground Facility: The interrogation site’s underground room raises questions about NAMRU’s facilities or a separate secure base.
• Sergeant Denials: The responding Marine’s focus on Hawk missiles and Weygandt’s non-deployment seems evasive, possibly due to classification.
• Weygandt’s Discharge: His 1998 discharge via substance use suggests desperation to escape harassment, not mental instability.
• Telepathic Aftereffects: Recurring dreams of gray-like beings indicate lasting psychological or psionic impact from the encounter.
• Craft Removal Logistics: The craft’s granite embedding poses logistical challenges, possibly requiring heavy-lift helicopters or disassembly.
• Five Eyes Hypothesis: Multinational personnel align with Canadian MP Larry Maguire’s 2023 claims of Five Eyes UFO projects.
• Vatican Connection: Collins’ mention of Vatican projects (Archangel, White Book) echoes Grush’s claims about 1933 Magenta crash intelligence.
• DOE’s Legacy: The DOE’s role in UFO programs is supported by Grush, Sharp, and UAPGERB’s prior work on FFRDCs and transclassified data.
• NRO Satellites: DSP satellites likely provided early warning of the crash, enabling the DOE’s rapid response.
• Hawk Missile Feasibility: Air-burst Hawk rounds could plausibly damage a UFO, as seen in a 1973 naval destroyer incident.

Challenges and Gaps

• Lack of Corroboration: No other Marines have publicly confirmed Weygandt’s account, and classified records limit verification.
• Transcript Edits: Greer’s omissions (e.g., four-fingered arm) complicate reliance on 2000 testimony, requiring DPI archive tapes.
• Memory Fade: After ~30 years, Weygandt admits to forgetting minor details (e.g., insignia, exact craft notches), though major details remain consistent.
• NAMRU Kinks: The lack of medical procedures and short quarantine period challenge the NAMRU South theory.
• Border Confusion: Weygandt’s Bolivian border claim conflicts with Iquitos’ proximity to Colombia and Brazil, suggesting a memory error.
• Sergeant’s Credibility: The responding Marine’s denial of Weygandt’s deployment contradicts MAC G-28 records, raising questions about motives.
• Craft Fate Unknown: No evidence exists on the craft’s removal or destination, leaving a critical gap in the narrative.
• Multinational Motives: The role of armed Chinese and German personnel remains unclear, possibly diplomatic or operational.
• Log Confiscation: The colonel’s seizure of radar logs suggests UFO tracking but lacks documentation for proof.
• Health Claims: The sergeant’s mention of Weygandt’s “medical condition” lacks specifics, resembling discrediting tactics.

Broader Implications

• Disclosure Push: Weygandt’s public testimony supports UFO disclosure efforts, challenging military secrecy.
• Rapid Reaction Units: The DOE’s efficiency suggests dedicated UFO retrieval units, akin to USAF Blue Berets or Blue Boys.
• Non-Human Intent: The beings’ plea for help and non-hostile projection suggest peaceful intentions, disrupted by the crash.
• Technology Exploitation: The DOE’s involvement implies reverse-engineering efforts at labs like Sandia or Los Alamos.
• Psionic Research: Weygandt’s psionic experience highlights the need for research into consciousness-based UFO control.
• Whistleblower Risks: Threats and reprisals against Weygandt underscore the personal costs of UFO disclosure.
• Historical Patterns: Egg-shaped UFO crashes (1947–1997) indicate recurring incidents, possibly linked to human military actions.
• Multinational Cooperation: The presence of foreign nationals suggests global UFO programs, potentially beyond Five Eyes.
• DOE’s Authority: The 1954 Atomic Energy Act’s transclassification framework explains the DOE’s UFO data control.
• Marine Corps Dynamics: Weygandt’s treatment versus his sergeants’ long careers suggests selective punishment for disclosure.

UAPGERB’s Contributions

• Friendship with Weygandt: UAPGERB’s personal relationship enabled new details, overcoming Weygandt’s camera shyness.
• Exclusive Details: New insights include the black ops team's prior arrival, multinational personnel, and helmet types.
• Research Rigor: UAPGERB’s outreach to Marines, analysis of military assets, and travel calculations provide a robust framework.
• Community Engagement: The video encourages viewer feedback and theories, fostering collaborative UFO research.
• Patreon Support: UAPGERB emphasizes open-source research, with Patreon as optional support, ensuring accessibility.
• Future Interview: A planned relaxed interview with Weygandt will explore his life before and after the incident.
• Kermit’s Assistance: Friend Kermit helped film, enhancing production quality for the in-person discussion.
• Prior Work: UAPGERB’s earlier Weygandt project (pre-friendship) lacked depth, motivating this detailed revisit.
• Acknowledgment of Sources: UAPGERB credits RGH UFOs and TAGOM for 2023 research, reinforcing collaborative efforts.
• Live Coverage: UAPGERB commits to covering UFO hearings and events, aiming for boots-on-the-ground investigation.

Final Reflections

• Case Significance: Weygandt’s encounter is among the most detailed UFO crash retrieval accounts, rivaling Roswell or Kecksburg.
• Belief in Testimony: UAPGERB believes Weygandt’s account, citing consistency, specificity, and external contacts’ validation.
• Unresolved Questions: The craft’s fate, biologics’ outcome, and exact retrieval logistics remain speculative.
• Speculation Limits: Weygandt’s honesty about memory gaps (e.g., “I don’t recall”) enhances his credibility.
• Theory Strengths: The Iquitos, NAMRU, and NEST hypotheses are strong but rely on assumptions, open to refinement.
• Error Acknowledgment: UAPGERB admits calculation errors (e.g., ±25% crash radius) and invites competing theories.
• Emotional Weight: Weygandt’s trauma, from telepathic distress to interrogation, underscores the human toll of such encounters.
• Community Call: UAPGERB urges viewers to comment, share theories, and support the channel to advance UFO research.
• Disclosure Hope: The video aligns with 2025 disclosure efforts, amplifying Weygandt’s story to push for transparency.
• Legacy of Courage: Weygandt’s persistence despite reprisals exemplifies the bravery of UFO whistleblowers, inspiring further investigation.

Conclusion

The video provides a meticulous analysis of Jonathan Weygandt’s 1997 Peru UFO crash retrieval encounter, blending his testimony with investigative research to argue for a structured U.S. UFO retrieval program led by the DOE. Key takeaways highlight the craft’s non-human features, telepathic communication, rapid military response, and Weygandt’s subsequent trauma. 

Actionable insights encourage further research into military records, radar data, and similar cases, while crucial statistics anchor the timeline and logistics. Despite gaps (e.g., craft fate, corroboration), the case’s consistency and historical parallels make it a cornerstone of UFO disclosure efforts.