Fact Check: The Philadelphia experiment

Fact Check: The Philadelphia Experiment

What We Know

The Philadelphia Experiment refers to an alleged event that supposedly took place at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in October 1943, where the U.S. Navy attempted to render the USS Eldridge, a destroyer escort, invisible. The story gained traction in the mid-1950s when Carl M. Allen, an ex-merchant mariner, sent a series of letters and a book filled with annotations to the U.S. Navy and a UFO researcher, claiming to have witnessed the event (source-2). The U.S. Navy has consistently denied that such an experiment took place, stating that the details contradict established facts about the USS Eldridge and that the physics behind the alleged experiment are non-existent (source-4).

The origins of the story can be traced back to Allen's letters, which included claims of telepathy and alien technology, leading to speculation about the nature of the experiment (source-2). Over the years, various versions of the story have emerged, often conflicting with one another, contributing to its status as a popular urban legend (source-2).

Analysis

The credibility of the Philadelphia Experiment is highly questionable. The primary source of the story, Carl M. Allen, is widely regarded as unreliable, and his account has been labeled a hoax by many researchers (source-2). The U.S. Navy's official stance is that no such experiment occurred, and they have provided evidence that the USS Eldridge was not even in Philadelphia at the time the experiment was said to have taken place (source-4).

Moreover, the scientific principles purportedly involved in the experiment, such as invisibility and teleportation, do not align with established physics. This further undermines the credibility of the claims surrounding the Philadelphia Experiment (source-4).

While the story has captured the imagination of many and has been popularized in various forms of media, the lack of credible evidence and the presence of contradictory accounts suggest that it is more a product of folklore than fact.

Conclusion

The claim regarding the Philadelphia Experiment is Partially True. While there is a historical basis for the story—namely, the existence of the USS Eldridge and the claims made by Carl M. Allen—the overwhelming evidence suggests that the alleged events did not occur as described. The U.S. Navy has denied the experiment's existence, and the scientific principles involved are not supported by credible research. Thus, while the narrative exists and has cultural significance, it lacks factual substantiation.

Sources

1. Philadelphia – Wikipedia
2. Philadelphia Experiment – Wikipedia
3. Portal:Philadelphia - Wikipedia
4. Philadelphia Experiment – U.S. Navy
5. Official Philly Tourism and Visitor Information | Visit Philadelphia
6. The 10 Most Essential Things to Do in Philly | Visit Philadelphia
7. This Is the Truth Behind WWII's Creepy Philadelphia Experiment
8. Philadelphia | History, Map, Population, & Facts | Britannica