Quick Info
June 13, 1933, Magenta, Lombardy, Italy. A bell-shaped craft reportedly crashed in a field near Milan. Benito Mussolini ordered a secret recovery operation. Military, scientists, and the Vatican were involved. The craft and possible occupants were stored in SIAI Marchetti hangars.
The case resurfaced in the 1990s through leaked telegrams and whistleblower testimony. It is considered one of the earliest modern UFO crash-retrieval events.
Timeline of Events – June 13, 1933
The incident unfolded over a single day in early summer. Times are approximate, based on leaked documents, witness accounts, and researcher reconstructions (primarily Alfredo Lissoni, Roberto Pinotti, and David Grusch).
- Early morning, June 13, 1933 Residents near Magenta (20 km west of Milan) hear a loud explosion and see a bright object fall from the sky. It crashes in a field close to the SIAI Marchetti aircraft factory (later used by Mussolini’s air force).
- 07:00–08:00 Local police and military are alerted. Benito Mussolini is informed by telegram. He orders immediate cordoning of the site and secrecy. A special committee (RS/33 aka Ricerche Speciali/33) is formed under Guglielmo Marconi (famous radio pioneer) to investigate.
- 08:00–10:00 Military units arrive. The craft is described as bell-shaped, metallic, approximately 10–15 metres in diameter, with no visible propulsion or damage consistent with a conventional crash. Inside are allegedly two small bodies (humanoid, small stature, greyish skin).
- 10:00–12:00 The craft and bodies are recovered and transported to SIAI Marchetti hangars in Vergiate (near Varese). Mussolini reportedly visits the site and orders strict secrecy. The Vatican is informed; some documents suggest Pope Pius XI was consulted.
- Afternoon – Evening RS/33 committee begins analysis. Scientists (including Marconi) examine the craft. Initial reports describe advanced materials and technology beyond 1930s knowledge. Bodies are allegedly autopsied or preserved.
- June 14–30, 1933 Craft moved to secure storage. Mussolini allegedly sends telegrams ordering suppression of information. Some leaks occur in Italian press but are quickly censored.
- 1933–1943 RS/33 continues secret research. Craft studied for reverse-engineering. Bodies reportedly kept in Milan or Rome. Programme is highly classified.
- 1943–1945 As Allied forces advance, craft and materials allegedly moved north (possibly to Germany or Switzerland). Some sources claim it was transferred to the U.S. via Operation Paperclip after the war.
June 13, 1933 – A Quiet Summer Morning Turns Historic
Magenta was a small industrial town west of Milan. On June 13, 1933, residents heard a tremendous explosion and saw a bright object fall from the sky. It crashed in a field near the SIAI Marchetti aircraft factory (later used by Mussolini’s air force).
Local police and military were alerted. Benito Mussolini was informed by telegram. He ordered immediate cordoning of the site and secrecy. A special committee (RS/33 aka Ricerche Speciali/33) was formed under Guglielmo Marconi to investigate.
"A large metallic object, bell-shaped, fell from the sky. No explosion on impact. Inside were two small bodies, human-like but grey. Mussolini ordered complete secrecy."
– Leaked Italian military telegram (1996, Alfredo Lissoni research)
Military units arrived. The craft was described as bell-shaped, metallic, approximately 10–15 metres in diameter, with no visible propulsion or damage consistent with a conventional crash. Inside were allegedly two small bodies (humanoid, small stature, greyish skin).
The Recovery & RS/33 Committee
The craft and bodies were recovered and transported to SIAI Marchetti hangars in Vergiate (near Varese). Mussolini reportedly visited the site and ordered strict secrecy. The Vatican was informed; some documents suggest Pope Pius XI was consulted.
"Marconi examined the craft. Materials were unknown. Technology was beyond our understanding. The bodies were small, grey, with large heads and eyes."
– Alleged RS/33 committee note (leaked 1996)
RS/33 committee began analysis. Scientists (including Marconi) examined the craft. Initial reports describe advanced materials and technology beyond 1930s knowledge. Bodies were allegedly autopsied or preserved.
Official Secrecy & Mussolini’s Telegrams
Mussolini allegedly sent telegrams ordering suppression of information. Some leaks occurred in Italian press but were quickly censored. The programme remained highly classified throughout the Fascist era.
"This is a matter of national defence. All information is to be suppressed. No leaks will be tolerated."
– Alleged Mussolini telegram (leaked 1996)
Post-War Fate & Operation Paperclip Rumours
As Allied forces advanced in 1943–1945, the craft and materials were allegedly moved north (possibly to Germany or Switzerland). Some sources claim it was transferred to the U.S. via Operation Paperclip after the war. Whistleblowers (including William Brophy and Robert Sarbacher) have referenced early Italian recoveries influencing U.S. programmes.
"We obtained materials from Italy in 1945. Advanced technology, non-human craft. Mussolini’s people had it first."
– William Brophy (former USAF officer, 1980s testimony)
Really great video on the 1933 Magenta UFO event from UAPGerb
Modern Revelations & David Grusch
In 2023, U.S. whistleblower David Grusch testified to Congress that the U.S. possesses non-human craft recovered before 1947, including from Italy in 1933. Grusch referenced Vatican involvement and Mussolini’s recovery. Researchers like Roberto Pinotti and Alfredo Lissoni have published leaked telegrams and documents supporting the story.
"The Vatican was involved in the 1933 Magenta recovery. The craft was bell-shaped. Non-human biologics were recovered."
– David Grusch (2023 congressional testimony, paraphrased)
Legacy in 2026
Over 93 years later, Magenta 1933 remains one of the earliest modern UFO crash-retrieval claims: Mussolini’s direct involvement, RS/33 committee, Vatican role, advanced technology, and possible transfer to the U.S. Despite official denials, leaked documents, whistleblower testimony, and researcher persistence keep the case alive. It is considered a cornerstone of crash-retrieval lore and one of the most intriguing pre-Roswell events.
