Lago Argentino entity encounter — 1950-03-18

A letter attributed to Wilfredo H. Arévalo claimed an encounter near Lago Argentino, Santa Cruz, on 18 March 1950. La Razón published the letter and an accompanying drawing on 13 April. Arévalo described two unusual objects, one remaining aloft while the other landed. He said he approached to roughly 150 metres and observed an aluminium-like machine with a large flat rotating upper section and a transparent cabin. Inside were supposedly four tall, human-looking men wearing suits compared with cellophane. They handled instruments, and a light was directed toward him. The landed object allegedly emitted greenish-blue vapour with a smell likened to burning benzine. As it departed, the vapour intensified and red or green flame-like effects appeared; both objects flew northwest toward Chile with blue wakes. These details belong to the letter's claim, not to an authenticated inspection or physical recovery. Argentine investigator Roberto Banchs later examined the story's origins. His enquiries failed to establish Arévalo's identity or claimed ranch, and he noted striking similarities between the published drawing and flying-top publicity associated with Rudolf Schriever that appeared shortly before the letter was printed. Banchs assessed the story as probable fabrication, while acknowledging other writers' unverified claims to have found the family. The plate therefore labels an unverified letter and probable fabrication, retaining the four humanlike occupants without adding alien anatomy.