A retired Air Force general who once led America most secretive UFO research base has been missing for weeks. The timing in the middle of a national disclosure push has conspiracy theorists asking: did he know too much?
Retired U.S. Air Force Major General William Neil McCasland was last seen on February 27, 2026, leaving his home in Albuquerque, New Mexico. That in itself would be a tragedy for his family. But the circumstances of his disappearance and his past have turned this into something much more.
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The Disappearance
According to the Bernalillo County Sheriff Office, McCasland was last seen at approximately 11 a.m. on February 27th. His wife left for a medical appointment at 11:10 a.m. and returned at 12:04 p.m. to find him gone. She reported him missing at 3:07 p.m.
Here what strange: his phone was left behind at the house. His wallet was left behind. A .38 caliber revolver and leather holster and a red backpack are also unaccounted for. These are not the belongings of someone planning a quick walk.
McCasland did state that he was experiencing a mental fog, according to Sheriff John Allen. That statement was cited as reasons for stepping down from some groups he was working with.
Search teams using drones, helicopters, and canines have found no trace of him. A gray U.S. Air Force sweatshirt was found about 1.25 miles from his home, but family has not confirmed it belongs to him.
Why Wright-Patterson Matters
McCasland held a number of space research, acquisition and operations roles within the Air Force and the National Reconnaissance Office, according to the Air Force. His positions included Commanding the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, Commanding the Phillips Research Site of Air Force Research Laboratory at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico, and Director-level positions at the Pentagon.
Wright-Patterson is not just any military base. It is the epicenter of America UFO secrets:
- Project Blue Book: The official Air Force UFO investigation ran from 1952-1969 at Wright-Patterson. Over 12,000 sightings were investigated.
- Roswell Connection: In July 1947, the military announced they had recovered a UFO from a ranch then retracted it hours later, saying it was a weather balloon. The wreckage was reportedly taken to Wright-Patterson.
