The Philadelphia Experiment by Abigail O'Neal

1943 was a dark time for the American people, being the second year in the Americans involvement in World War II. It was during the same year that the military was involved in an incident deemed The Philadelphia Experiment. The experiment was an attempt at cloaking a military ship, but reports claim the ship became invisible to the human eye as well and was seen as  ”teleported from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Norfolk, Virginia, and back again to the Philadelphia Naval Yard” (Philadelphia experiment, 1). Years later, Doctor Morris K. Jessup and Doctor Valerie wrote letters discussing theories of the experimentation. They set a day and place to meet and further unravel the supposed anomalies, but the day before the scheduled meet up, April 20, 1959, Morris K. Jessup was found dead from a car accident (Hochheimer, 1). Theories have emerged on his sudden and unexpected death-

1.      Was his death a suicide?

2.      Or did the government stage his death to keep him quiet?

Let’s explore the theories with the most likely outcome being the government staged his death to keep him from sharing with Valerie.

From an outsider’s standpoint, Morris K. Jessup was a completely ordinary man. As David Halperin points out from his photo, he was a “plumpish middle-aged man with a snub nose and a rumpled suit jacket, smiling as though seeking approval, with a weary sadness in his eyes” (Halperin and Davidson 1). Morris K. Jessup was well versed in “astrophysics, philosophy, mathematics, selenography, and writing” and operated the largest telescope in the southern hemisphere during the time, located in South Africa (“Dr? Morris K. Jessup” 1).  During his lifetime, he published 4 books containing his research on aliens and space, none of which were largely successful.

Simply known to some as a “used auto parts salesman”, Jessup was much more than that (Goerman 1). I concede that during the 1930s, when jobs were scarce, he worked as a salesman. But times were hard; one does what they must to survive. During the depression America did not have the need or funds to employ Jessup and thus, he was forced to take a job outside of his field of expertise. Simply because he was forced to find a job below his pay grade does not mean he does not have the qualifications required in his field or that his input loses merit.

 Moreover, Jessup was an expert in many fields of the scientific community. As Tom Longden writes for Des Moines Register, “he graduated with a bachelor's degree in science in 1926 and earned a master's degree the next year” (Longden, 1). He later taught at both the University of Michigan and Drake University (Dr? Morris K. Jessup, 1). As Tom Redfern of Mysteriousuniverse.org puts it, Jessup devoted himself to  “(a) the mysteries of the distant past, such as the questions surrounding how the gigantic structures of the ancients – Stonehenge and the pyramids of Egypt being two of many examples – were constructed; and (b) the growing presence of UFOs in the world’s skies” (Redfern, 1). He had a thirst for both knowledge and the world, leading expeditions through other parts of Latin America looking at ancient archology. It was at this time that his focus began to shift from the natural sciences and archeology to space and alien life.

But it was his fascination with space that would become his downfall. In 1955, he wrote his first book, The Case For the). Two years before the Russians sent Sputnik into orbit, the final frontier was not yet on the minds of the American people. Even by today standards, the prospect of aliens is debatable—in the 1950s it was ludicrous. Thus, when Morris’ book wound up in the hands of the United States Navy officer, Admiral N. Furth, he wrote all his disagreements, agreements, and questions in the margins. Then, supposedly, in addition to the admiral’s comments, two other people annotated the book, each in a different color. The collection of their comments in Morris’ book is known today as the “Varo Edition”, named after the Varo Company, who agreed to re-publish the book with the annotations “as a prelude to consideration of further pursuit of this unconventional material.” (Jessup and Baker 8). And despite the disapproval from the scientific community, and the US Navy, The Case for the UFO went back into production. It was his fascination such abstract ideas that lost him the credibility, respect, and interest of the scientific community.

During the same time Morris’ work was being reviewed by Naval officers, he also went through a divorce with his wife. His 4 books were not selling, and Morris’ life hit a lull. His friends mention his talk of depression before his supposed suicide. Sources say that “Jessup mailed a long and depressing letter/suicide note to his friend John Nebel in New York” (“Was Morris K. Jessup ‘Troubled’ Just Before He Died” 1).

Dr. Morris’s life was filled with research, traveling, and discoveries. He was constantly learning and sharing what he learned or theorized. During his lifetime he was an active member of the scientific community, increasing his own knowledge and the knowledge of those around him. He was immensely interested in space and other life forms, especially towards the end of his life. Whether he was murdered or took his life of his own accord is unclear, but what is clear is that Morris K. Jessup had a great understanding of the world and was not some babbling scientist simply seeking the public eye.

            The conspiracy of the Philadelphia experiment started in the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, when the allegedly USS Eldridge disappeared. The Navy had been attempting to create a ship that was undetectable to radar by using large magnets in the hull of the ship. The ship not only became invisible to the human eye, but also teleported to Norfolk, Virginia. According to a study in 2019, an object could, theoretically, exist in 2 places at once—”Every particle or group of particles in the universe is also a wave — even large particles, even bacteria, even human beings, even planets and stars. And waves occupy multiple places in space at once. So any chunk of matter can also occupy two places at once” (Letzter 1). Therefore, the USS Eldridge could have traveled from Philadelphia to Norfolk during the experiment.

            Additionally, these experiments were conducted during the second world war, a time where it was important to keep the upper hand in military affairs. The Navy was a had a significant role due to the Atlantic Ocean separating the US from Europe and the Pacific separating the US from Russia and Japan. Hence, why the experiment was kept under such raps. Then when Morris K. Jessup uncovered the experiment, the United States was in the Cold War with Russia; once again a time where it was important to keep the upper hand and not have the Naval secrets exposed. A day before this could happen, before Jessup and Allende’s meetup to discuss the governments experimentation, Jessup was “found dead in his car close to his Florida home: a victim of monoxide poisoning. A hose had been attached to his car exhaust and passed through a window” (Childress, 126). However, this is where the story takes a turn. It is in Florida law 406.11 that

“In any of the following circumstances involving the death of a human being, the medical examiner…. Shall determine the cause of death and shall, for that purpose, make or have performed such examinations, investigations, and autopsies… 3. By suicide.”

However, in Jessup’s case an autopsy was never called for and the case dropped entirely as a suicide, suggesting government involvement to override the law. One can assume that the reason they needed this ‘work around’ was tampering with Jessup’s death, something that they would not have revealed to the American people and media. 

            On the other hand, there are some who believe that Morris’s death was a coincidence and the experiment was a hoax. For one, the government denies all allocations of the experiment and claims that the U.S.S Eldridge was ever in Norfolk at the time of the experiment. Lieutenant Junior Grade William S. Dodge states in letter that the Eldridge was in the Mediterranean during the time of the experiment and “categorically denying that he or his crew observed any unusual event while in Norfolk” (Philadelphia Experiment 1). Moreover, if the experiment is confirmed a hoax then there is no debate if Jessup’s death was a suicide. However, despite this evidence nearly eighty three percent of high school and college students surveyed answered that the government was at fault for Jessup’s death.

            Though the case is filled with preposterous ideas and absurdities, possibly what attracts people’s attention, yet people still choose to believe that Morris K. Jessup was killed by the American government to cover up their sensitive experiment. The Philadelphia experiment showcases the resilience of the belief of the American people and their distrust of the government. That the absurdity of the evidence and case in general distracts people from the horrors in more sensitive, close to home matters that the American government is committing in the present.

            After examining the curious circumstances of the Philadelphia Experiment and the death of Doctor Morris K. Jessup several theories have emerged.

1.      Morris K. Jessup committed suicide.

2.      The death of Doctor Jessup was an elaborate coverup.

Although substantial evidence points to his death being a cover up, the truth of what happened on that night in 1954 remain unsolved.

Works cited-

“Dr? Morris K. Jessup.” The Philadelphia Experiment From A-Z, 2 Mar. 1900, www.de173.com/dr-morris-k-jessup/.

 “Philadelphia Experiment.” Naval History and Heritage Command, www.history.navy.mil/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/p/philadelphia-experiment.html.

“Philadelphia Experiment.” The Philadelphia Experiment - The Skeptic's Dictionary - Skepdic.com, 21 Nov. 2015, skepdic.com/philadel.html.

“Philadelphia Experiment.” The Philadelphia Experiment - The Skeptic's Dictionary - Skepdic.com, 21 Nov. 2015, skepdic.com/philadel.html.

“Was Morris K. Jessup ‘Troubled’ Just Before He Died- Or Was The World ‘His Oyster?’” The Philadelphia Experiment From A-Z, 2 Mar. 1900, www.de173.com/dr-morris-k-jessup/.

Childress, David. “Anti-Gravity and the World Grid.” Google Books, Google, books.google.com/books?id=IFikVd65GeMC&pg=PA127&lpg=PA127&dq=morris%2Bk%2Bjessup%2Bsuicide%2Bnote&source=bl&ots=ylFrfscOms&sig=ACfU3U0FnTmjFpkzrsY-UopVzqa0ywRpxg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjXnp7K297lAhVDJKwKHfk6Clw4ChDoATADegQICBAB#v=onepage&q=morris%20k%20jessup%20suicide%20note&f=false

Davidson, Duane B., and David J. Halperin. “The Philadelphia Experiment – ‘The Strange Case of Dr. M. K. Jessup.’” David Halperin, Published by: Viking Press, 3 Feb. 2011, www.davidhalperin.net/the-philadelphia-experiment-the-strange-case-of-dr-m-k-jessup/.

Goerman, Robert. “Alias Carlos Allende.” Carlos Allende and His Philadelphia Experiment, windmill-slayer.tripod.com/aliascarlosallende/.

Hochheimer, Andrew. “Dr? Morris K. Jessup.” The Philadelphia Experiment From A-Z, www.de173.com/dr-morris-k-jessup/.

Hochheimer, Andrew. “Dr? Morris K. Jessup.” The Philadelphia Experiment From A-Z, www.de173.com/dr-morris-k-jessup/.

Jessup, Morris K, and Gary Baker. “‘Varo Edition’ The Case for the UFO.” Https://Cassiopaea.org, cassiopaea.org/cass/Varo-Jessup.PdF.

Jessup, Morris. “The Case for the UFO: Unidentified Flying Objects.” Google Books, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, books.google.com/books/about/The_Case_for_the_UFO_Unidentified_Flying.html?id=8khptAEACAAJ.

Longden, Tom. “Morris Jessup.” DesMoinesRegister.com, data.desmoinesregister.com/famous-iowans/morris-jessup.

Redfern, Nick. “UFOs, Invisibility, and a Weird Book.” Mysterious Universe, 8 July 2014, mysteriousuniverse.org/2014/07/ufos-invisibility-and-a-weird-book/.

Statutes & Constitution :View Statutes : Online Sunshine, 10 Nov. 2019, www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0400-0499%2F0406%2FSections%2F0406.11.html.