Nick Redfern

Overview

Nick Redfern (born 1964) is a British author and journalist specializing in UFOs, cryptozoology, government conspiracies, and paranormal phenomena. Originally from England, he currently resides in Dallas, Texas. Redfern is one of the most prolific contemporary writers on UFO lore, with over 50 published books spanning fringe theories, declassified government records, and interdisciplinary paranormal research.

Career and Media Presence

Redfern began his journalism career in 1981 at Zero magazine, where he trained in writing, magazine production, and photography. From 1984 to 2001, he worked as a freelance feature writer for major UK publications including the Daily Express, People, and the Western Daily Press. Between 1996 and 2001, he contributed to Fortean-focused and paranormal magazines such as Eye-Spy, The Unopened Files, and Military Illustrated.

He has maintained an extensive television presence, appearing regularly on the History Channel (Ancient Aliens, Monster Quest, UFO Hunters), Fox News, the National Geographic Channel (The Truth About UFOs), BBC (Out of this World), MSNBC (Countdown), and SyFy (Proof Positive). Redfern has also been interviewed extensively on radio and podcast platforms discussing government disclosure, Roswell, Rendlesham Forest, and fringe UAP theories.

Since 2002, Redfern has directed the U.S. branch of the Centre for Fortean Zoology, and he contributes a regular column to Mysterious Universe.

Notable Works and Theories

Redfern is best known for his controversial 2005 book Body Snatchers in the Desert, which proposes an alternative Roswell explanation: that the July 1947 crash near Roswell, New Mexico involved a classified military aircraft testing program using Japanese prisoners of war (POWs) afflicted with progeria or radiation sickness. While this theory remains contested within UFO research circles, it exemplifies Redfern's approach to mixing declassified government document analysis with speculative reinterpretation.

Other significant works include The Real Men in Black (investigating folkloric and modern MIB narratives linked to UFO encounters) and Final Events and the Secret Government Group on Demonic UFOs and the Afterlife (exploring alleged classified government circles exploring occult and demonic interpretations of UAP phenomena). Redfern has also authored books on cryptids, lake monsters, and paranormal phenomena, demonstrating a broad interest in high-strangeness subjects beyond conventional UFOlogy.

Declassified Records and Research Method

Redfern has accessed and analyzed thousands of pages of previously classified Royal Air Force, Air Ministry, and UK Ministry of Defence UFO files dating to World War II, obtained through the Public Record Office (now the National Archives). This work on declassified government records lends credibility to his broader research, even where his interpretations remain speculative.

Position on Disclosure

Redfern is an advocate for official government disclosure of UAP/UFO information, though he expresses pragmatic skepticism about whether governments will ever voluntarily reveal their most sensitive UAP secrets. He has argued that no government is likely to disclose truly guarded UFO-related information simply because ufologists demand it, reflecting a realist view of government secrecy and institutional power.

Research Style

Redfern's methodology combines historical research, declassified document analysis, journalistic interviews, and speculative theory-building. His work spans mainstream fringe theories and seeks to bridge popular UFO discourse with historical and governmental archives. While his conclusions are often contested, his journalistic credentials and systematic approach to archival research distinguish him from purely anecdotal or testimonial UFO writers.