Midwest UFO Network (MUFON) founded

When: 31 May 1969
Sources: 2 public sources

Walt Andrus and chemistry professor Allen Utke founded the Midwest UFO Network as a regional network of field investigators. As it spread beyond the Midwest it was renamed the Mutual UFO Network, keeping the MUFON acronym; Guinness lists it as the largest civilian UFO investigative group.

Sources

FirsthandMUFON Through the Ages (opens in a new tab)Mutual UFO Network
PressHistory of world's largest UFO investigative group as they track 'aliens' across globe (opens in a new tab)Guinness World Records / 2026-02-18

How sources are chosen and tiered

Where it fits

Earlier in Close encountersKeyhoe pushed out as NICAP director1969 Later in Close encountersAAAS holds a UFO symposium in Boston26 Dec 1969

See it on the timeline More in Close encounters