Jacob Salatun

The Aviation officer, dubbed the Father of Indonesian Ufology

Name	Jacob Salatun
Age	85
Born	May 29, 1927
Died	February 3, 2012
Famous for	Advocating UFO research in Indonesia

When one hears of UFO sightings or extraterrestrial activities, Western countries typically come to mind first, but this doesn’t mean cases in Asia are nonexistent.

In Indonesia, UFOs first gained popularity after Jacob Salatun introduced the term “BETA,” which stands for Benda Terbang Aneh, the Indonesian translation for UFOs, in the 1960s. While unexplained sightings have occurred for a long time before BETA, this terminology has become the foundation for more informed discussions of the subject in the country.

Coining the word is only one of Salatun’s several contributions to the Indonesian UFO community. This article will discuss Jacob Salatun in more detail and his possible involvement in the dissemination of UFO sightings in the country.

What did he do that gave him the moniker “Father of Indonesian Ufology”?

His Early Life and Career

Born in Bukateja, Central Java, Indonesia, Jacob Salatun spent most of his adulthood pursuing his dream of joining the military by attending the following programs:

• U.S. Armed Forces Information School
• 1st Air Force Staff and Command School in 1964
• 1st Regular Course at the National Resilience Institute of Indonesia in 1965

These institutions, with which he was associated, were known for producing impressive alumni, and Salatun became one of them. Beyond his history in Ufology, he was a highly respected figure in the Indonesian Military, responsible for establishing several departments, especially those concerning the country’s air warfare.

Salatun was one of the founders of the Indonesian Air Force and initiated its Information Service division, which he headed for the first 10 years. He was also a member of the Indonesian People’s Security Army (TKR), the country’s historical military aviation unit.

Salatun had established himself as a vital character in Indonesia’s military and aviation. Throughout his career, he was appointed to the following positions:

• Head of Planning and Propaganda
• Secretary of the National Aviation and Space Council
• Secretary of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
• Member of the National Planning Council
• Deputy Minister of Aviation Industry

He had also published the first original aviation books in Indonesia:

• Ke Udara (Into the Air) in 1947
• Sejarah Penerbangan (History of Aviation) in 1950

His love for aeronautics extended beyond serving the military. He also took pleasure in developing rockets, and one of which was his famous creation, the Kartika-1, launched in 1964. This rocket was later recognized as the second most solidly constructed in Asia, after Japan’s, and remained unmatched in terms of weight, telemetry, and construction.

His Entry to Ufology

Jacob Salatun’s passion for aviation led him to research UFOs in 1947 and write materials about them, which he published in both foreign and local magazines.

In 1963, he had pioneered UFO studies in Indonesia by establishing the National Aeronautics and Space Agency (LAPAN) to conduct aerospace research, including reported UFO sightings. While heading LAPAN, Salatun also initiated Indonesia’s membership in UN-COPUOS (the U.N. Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space) and a program called SUFOI or Studi UFO Indonesia (Indonesian UFO Studies).

By the 1980s, Salatun already had two books about UFOs under his name:

• Menjingkap Rahasia Piring Terbang (Revealing the Secret of the Flying Saucer) in 1960
• UFO: Salah Satu Masalah Dunia Masa Kini (UFO: One of the Riddles of the Present World) in 1982

His Involvement in Research and Investigations

Jacob Salatun, along with his team at LAPAN, personally participated in UFO research and investigations. One of his most notable involvements was in the case of the Alor Island Incident in 1959, the first reported sighting of UFOs in the country.

Alor Island Incident Investigation

Mr. Alwi Alnadad reported the incident, who was the Head of the Police Office at that time. He claimed that the department was baffled by residents’ reports of mysterious creatures, and upon investigating, encountered these strange beings.

Mr. Alnadad described these creatures as:

• Having long arms with wavy silver hair 
• Wearing blue clothes with a high collar and belts
• Bringing gray cylindrical sticks

This incident also reported a six-year-old, who was allegedly abducted and was left disturbed in a field around the area.

Jacob Salatun published his findings and conclusions in his book UFO: Salah Satu Masalah Dunia Masa Kini:

• Witness testimonies about the incident were credible and consistent.
• Testimonies about the beings taking soil samples were parallel to other UFO cases.
• Locals reported seeing burn marks and traces of footprints around the area.
• The incident was found in the police files.

Research Into Indonesian UFO Sightings

The officer also spearheaded the gathering and safekeeping of UFO sightings in Indonesia. Most of which were reported after astronomer J. Allen Hynek visited Jakarta, and the topic became widely discussed.

In his letter to the astronomer, he listed the following Indonesian UFO encounters, which he allegedly received details about after Hynek’s visit:

1959 Sighting

A group of islanders in Eastern Indonesia reported seeing strange visitors for a week. They allegedly shot these figures with arrows and guns, but no damage was done. The week ended with a sighting of a shining, UFO-shaped craft that flew over the sea and disappeared.

1962 Sighting

In Sumatra’s West Coast, around 20 people, mostly Army officers and their wives, claimed to see a UFO silently flying from North to South. They described the craft as resembling a torpedo, with a nose tip and a flaming tail.

1964 Sighting

A UFO allegedly landed on Mount Tenggerr, described as having various colors and a beaming shaft of light.

1971 Sighting

A daylight disc was reported landing and taking off at an artificial lake in Mount Lawu. This incident was reported by a single witness, who described the air as turning silver with streaks of light during the event.

1977 Sighting

UFOs were allegedly active in a certain part of Banyu-Wangi this year. Many claimed to see an object shaped like a saucer, with a deep red color, flying around the area.

His Beliefs Concerning UFOs

After investigating and hearing about multiple UFO cases, Jacob Salatun believed that the phenomenon was genuine.

Despite being mocked for his “delusional beliefs,” he became one of the first figures in Indonesia to advocate for the government’s involvement in UFO investigations. To quote his statement in an interview with Kompas newspaper on September 23, 1977:

It should be noted that the possibility of intelligent beings from outer space does exist. Even the United Nations is paying serious attention to this matter.

In his book UFO: Salah Satu Masalah Dunia Masa Kini, Salatun further elaborated on his beliefs, touching on reasons why UFOs should be studied and discussing possible motivations behind their visits.

Studying UFOs Can Benefit Society

Jacob Salatun emphasized that UFOs were worth studying because these incidents might involve societal problems. He listed the following points as his reasons:

• Defense
• Security
• Socio-culture
• Law
• Science and technology

Defense

Salatun believed that understanding UFO patterns would benefit the government’s defense structures. He cited an incident in the early 1960s, when U.S. radar detected an aircraft believed to be enemy bombers entering US airspace.

The government almost issued an order before the radar detected movement, which indicated that the plane wasn’t ordinary. Salatun believed that if the aircraft had not been identified, there would have been serious consequences.

Security

Salatun highlighted that UFO reports typically involve incidents, which he believed should merit serious investigations, such as:

• Disrupted aviation safety
• Road hazard
• Near-misses in the air
• Fatal aviation problems
• Disappearances of aircraft

Socio-Culture

The officer firmly believed that contact with extraterrestrials was only a matter of time, and should this happen, their highly advanced technology could be used as a measure or inspiration for societal advancement.

Law

He mentioned that the presence of UFOs in various countries’ territories was a violation of the law. However, nobody paid attention to investigating them or learning who and what these beings were and how they operated.

Science and Technology

Salatun emphasized that any research was helpful to advance people’s knowledge. While UFO research did yield unexpected results, this didn’t mean it shouldn’t be seriously considered.

UFOs Are Exploring Earth

When discussing possible reasons why extraterrestrials constantly visited Earth, Salatun concluded that they must be exploring the planet. He based this on UFO cases where beings were seen collecting samples of soil, which reflected their interest in Earth’s geology.

However, he also mentioned that this particular motivation may change in the future. He believed that exploration preluded exploitation. There might come a time when UFOs would exploit human resources, which he connected to several reported cases of abductions.

His Legacy in Ufology

Jacob Salatun is one of the most respected figures in the Southeast Asian UFO community.

As the “Father of Indonesian Ufology,” he will forever be remembered as the pioneer of UFO studies in the country and one of the first high-ranking officials to advocate for UFO research not only in the country but also in Asia.

Salatun opened the eyes of the Indonesian government about the serious implications of UFO sightings, framing these in terms of national security. This gave his advocacy more political weight, and not only for his personal interests.

If you’re curious about modern sightings or want to explore credible reports like the ones Salatun once championed, check out UFO Connect for the latest UFO sighting reports and community insights.

FAQ

Why is Jacob Salatun important in UFO research?

Salatun’s importance in Ufology revolves around being one of the first Southeast Asians to argue about the importance of UFOs. His books were also the first of their kind to be published in Indonesia.

Why is Jacob Salatun called the Father of Indonesian Ufology?

Jacob Salatun earned the title because of three things:

• His books were the first materials about UFOs in Indonesia.
• He was the first Indonesian official who openly supported UFO studies.
• He initiated the first UFO research group in the country.

Did Jacob Salatun have any impact on modern UFO research in Indonesia?

Yes, his work inspired multiple UFO organizations in Indonesia, and one of which is BETA-UFO, the country’s largest UFO research group.