CLASSIC: The Philadelphia Experiment
Summary
Hosts Matt, Noel, and Ben investigate the Philadelphia Experiment legend, which claims the USS Eldridge was rendered invisible and teleported in 1943. They trace the story to letters from Carl Allen, a local eccentric with hypergraphia, who sent wild claims to ufologist Morris K. Jessup. Researcher Robert Gorman debunked the tale by proving the ship was elsewhere and Allen was a known fabricator. The episode concludes that the myth is an urban legend born from Allen’s imagination, not suppressed Navy technology.
Topics discussed
Intro, ads, and the Invention Secrecy Act
Why the government hides tech: Sea Shadow and bats
Navy experiments: Sea Shadow, blimps, and railguns
Ads and the origins of the Philadelphia Experiment legend
The legend: Invisibility, teleportation, and crew deaths
Carl Allen, Morland Jessup, and the ONR investigation
Ads: Fanatics Fest, Kesimpta, Starbucks, Ride or Die
Debunking the myth: Robert Gorman's investigation
Why the ONR cared and alternative explanations
The USS Eldridge's fate and modern conspiracy theories
Outro, listener mail, and final ads
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