UFOMystic » Frank Stranges Passes

The Reverend Frank Stranges, author of such contactee classics as Stranger At The Pentagon and Flying Saucerama, has returned to his permanent home with the space brothers, according to an email today from Tim “Mr. UFO” Beckley.

Stranges founded the National Investigations Committee on Unidentified Flying Objects (NICUFO) in 1967, apparently in homage to NICAP, the original civilian UFO group founded in 1956. He may have been piggybacking on NICAP’s strong public image, but we can of course forgive him for that.

Stranges most lasting legacy may be his narrative in Stranger At The Pentagon, the story of Venusian Captain “Valiant Thor.”

Photo taken by August Roberts at one of Howard Menger’s UFO conventions in the early 1960s.

According to Stranges, After Val had met with the president and members of the Joint Chiefs, he had a meeting with Stranges at the Pentagon. Val Thor sounded (and looked) like Michael Rennie’s portrayal of the ufonaut Klaatu in The Day The Earth Stood Still:

Being a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as well as a student of the Bible for many years, coupled with my experience as an special investigator, I felt as though my senses were functioning properly and that I knew exactly what I was about to do. I was on my guard for fakes and frauds. In walked a man, about six feet tall, perhaps 185 pounds, brown wavy hair, brown eyes.

His complexion appeared normal and slightly tanned. As I approached him and he looked at me IT WAS AS THOUGH HE LOOKED STRAIGHT THROUGH ME. With a warm smile and extending his hand, he greeted me by name.

His genuineness astonished me, but quickly I understood. As I gripped his hand, I was somewhat surprised to feel the soft texture of his skin… like that of a baby but with the strength of a man that silently testified to his power and intensity.

Other contactees met their space brothers in deserts, along deserted highways, and in coffee shops. Frank Stranges met Val Thor in the hallowed halls of military power, making him the only contactee to be able to claim the imprimatur of officialdom.

On December 12th of last year, WFMU’s 365 Days Project posted mp3s of Stranges’ only known record album–part of the soundtrack from his 1966 film Phenomena 7.7. I provided some commentary and supplied the recordings and images of the cover. I was privileged to meet Dr. Stranges at the Retro UFO conference last year, where he signed a couple of his books and a copy of the Phenomena 7.7 soundtrack. “I haven’t seen one of these in years” he said wistfully. Since I had two copies, I gave him the other. For me, it was like meeting a rock star, albeit a 70-odd year-old one.

(Listen to a recent interview with Adam Gorightly, who also took the photo above.)

This post was written by

Greg Bishop – who has written 668 posts on UFOMystic.

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3 Comments to “Frank Stranges Passes”

saucer_smear_con_ed Says:
November 20th, 2008 at 2:39 am

Greg, Jim Moseley was in contact with Dr. Frank, and fairly recently. Jim told me of Frank’s recent accident and subsequent passing last week.

About a month ago, Jim asked Frank to supply the “Saucer Smear” staff (i.e., “me!”) with an autographed copy of his poster of Val Thor’s space vehicle. The poster was used to promote the production of a film version of “Stranger in the Pentagon”.

Anyway, Frank very graciously provided the signed poster, and I couldn’t be happier, he was a very nice man and Jim Moseley held him in high regard.

You may remember to 70’s British UK program “UFO”. Frank appeared as himself, in one of the episodes. As soon as I saw that program, I immediately called Jim Moseley to let him know.

I hope Dr. Frank Stranges has hooked up with Val Thor again. Cheers Frank!

FriarTed Says:
November 21st, 2008 at 1:48 am

So what did Dr. Stranges die of?

nick bensond Says:
November 21st, 2008 at 3:31 pm

I’ve known Dr. Frank Stranges for over 34 years. He is
without a doubt the finest gentleman I’ve ever met.
Always above reproach and a man of his word unlike
many of his contemporaries. A true man of God and a faithful follower of Jesus Christ.

Some considered him a kook because of his belief in physical contact with his friends from space. The world could do with a few more kooks like Dr. Frank.

Of coarse none of this would make any sense unless you had the pleasure of knowing him personally.

There’s rejoicing in heaven as the angels are welcoming one of their own.

Dr. Frank I miss you and one day will see you again in the sweet hereafter.