65_HS1-834228961_62-HQ-83894_Serial_130
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65_HS1-834228961_62-HQ-83894_Serial_130
The FBI's 62-HQ-83894 case file includes investigative records, eyewitness testimonies, and public reports concerning Unidentified Flying Objects and flying discs documented between June 1947 and July 1968. The records include high-profile incident accounts, photographic evidence from sites like Oak Ridge, TN, and technical proposals regarding potential propulsion systems. Additional topics include convention programs, researcher accounts, and extensive media coverage from the period. This file is partially posted on FBI vault with more redactions and some pages missing. Included here is the complete case file with several newly declassified pages and only minor redactions.
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--- page 1 ---
Authority:
HEADQUARTERS
N REPLY AIR DEFENSE COMMAND
REFER TO: MITCHEL FIELD, NEW YORK
12 September 1947
SUBJECT: Unidentified Flying Object
(Interview - Alpheus O, Pewell)
SUMMARY OF INPORMATION:
The following information was received 12 August 1947 from Mr.
Alpheus O, Powell, 28 Redwood Road, New Hyde Park, Long Island, relative
to the sighting of a possible flying dise 4 August 1947,
On 4 August 1947, Mr Powell, an Airlines Captain with Pan American
Airways, Inc,, was the first pilot of a Constellation type airoraft on a
flight from Gander, Newfoundland, to La Guardia Field, New York, Mr. Powell
took over the aireraft at Gander, Newfoundland and departed at approximately
1230 P,M,, Easternm Daylight Saving Time for La Guardia Field, New York. At
1600 P.M., 8t a positiom approximately midwey between the Everett (Mass) Fam
Marker and the Bedford Radio Beacom (Everett is 3 miles NW of Boston, Mass., ~
and Bedford is 15 miles NW of the same city) both Mr Powell and Mr W. White, s
navigator on this trip, sighted unidentifiasble flying objects. To the best
of Mr, Powell's knowledge, the following weather conditions existed at that
times Visidility was good; cloud coverage was from 6-3/10ths, with tops at
10,000 feet; end the wind at the 8,000 foot level was estimated as being
270/25 miles per hour, The aircraft was at 8,000 feet; airspeed 265 mphs
and the course was 244 degrees, magnetie.
Mr White, who was sitting in the co-pilots seat (the right side of
the cockpit) first called Mr., Powell's attention to a bright orange objeot,,
which wes on the right side of the plame, snd slightly below the lewel of the
aireraft, Mr Powell was unable to see the object, as he had no visibility %o
the right and down, from his position, Mr Powell immediately glanced out his
side window and noticed, at a 45° angle to the left, and unidentified flying
objest, It was about one mile away at em altitude of approximately 7,800
feet, Mr Powell banked to obtain a better view of the object, The object
was under ogbservation for approximately 30 seconds, 2nd during this time was
viewed by Mr Powell, JMr Powell described the object as being about the length
of & P-40 fuselage, blunt at both ends, cylindrical in shape, and having a
bright orange hue, MNr Powell stated that the object had a definite shape, and
that there was no suggestion of gaseous dissipation as there would be if the
orange coler were the exhaust from a rocket, or a jet airoraft. WMr Powsll
estimated the course of the objest to be 200° magnetic, end that the object
was travelling at approximately 160 mph, Mr Powell lost sight of the object,
when a cloud ocame between the aircraft snd the object, The pursuit of the
object was not continued, inasmuch as it would have necessitated a departure
from the established airways, .
--- page 2 ---
-~ ) - 1 1
6: EJ i N B B ‘_ . TN (R 15 o T 6
HEADQUARTERS
% ‘wealv AIR DEFENSE COMMAND
REFER TO: MITCHEL FIELD, NEW YORK
A ptember 1947
pately 10 miles o ston, R3S, hite sighted lying object whioch
e in ¢k fo 3 iite s that when h ret sighted the object,
5 preared to about 5 mile ny, ad & sast 1,000 feet below e level
o th onstel : . 3 lieves ¢ t he cudied the obijeect or almost
't‘-,..'i ptic 1 il B! i Aun A &S the 2NGE8 . r hite imavted The ""'"fi > {
r_1 doss notT © - Ve € i : = v i amne L > that e viewed inasmu ‘:.
10 miles; wind *1ight level, West at about 15 mph, 1 at 1 of the
Paw A r fve vears as 2 Wavlzator nd 2 : -
or the pest five years Navi or, and during the war worked with PAA
"~ N} Eaoke 2 NN LN
--- page 3 ---
in conjunction with contract flying for the AAF, Mr White states that he
has flown with Mr Powell on & number of occasions, and he considers him
to be a very stable person; completely reliable, and not given to
"flights of faney”.
Related Report: ESee Summary of Informetiom, 12 September 1947, Hq ADC,
subject, "Unidentified Flying Objects” (interview - Alpheus 0, Powell),
Previous Distribution:
- None
Ewaluation
Distribution
« AAF (3 copies) of source of information
- ADC (2 copies) 4] 3
|
|
|
L Aon
(= N ) AN C £
T =7 | W \] 3
--- page 4 ---
PO PR o RS,
AGENTS NOTES: Mr. A, O, Powell is a graduate of the Aviation Cadet Flying
Training Program, having graduated from Maxwell Field, Alabama, with the
Cless of 41-C, Since graduation, Mr, Powell has flown for Par American
Airways and, at this date, has over 4,000 command pilet hours to his eredit,
Mr, Powell eppears to be a calm, intelligent individual, mot given te
flights of fancy, or easily swayed by what he has previously read in the
newspapers as regards reports of this type, MNr, Powell has & fear of publi-
city and seemed hesitant to even tell his story lest he become the object of
ridicule, Mr Powell was questiomed as to the possibility that what he
sighted might have been a tow target, a pilet balloon, or a radiosonic device
used for meteorologieal purposes, Mr Powell stated that he has seen numerous
pilot balloons, radicsonic devices and tow targets, while on flightsy the
object observed on this flight definitely was mot one of them,
Evaluation
Previous Distribution:
- Hone of source of information
c 3
Distribution
- AAF (3 copies)
- ADC (2 copies)
2 Clap
5T | e /
--- page 5 ---
RESTRIOCTRD
' BASIC: Ltr. Hq. BARD, Birminghem AAF, Birmingham, Ala,, atd 8 July b7,
subj: Report on Loeal "Flying Dige,"
i let Ind, D
&
+ FOURTEENTH AIR TORCE, Orlando, Tlorida,
70: Commanding General, Air Defense Command, Mitchel Tield, New York,
1, TForwarded for information of your Headquarters,
2. This Headquarters has made no investigation of "Flying Disc"
reports because this is an 1solated case,
FOR THE COMMANDING GENERAL:
// V7 z7.>> /u/
3 Inels: nfe X f
RESTRICTED
--- page 6 ---
.
--- page 7 ---
v
; PO A | 2 ¢ ED
. .
HEL.DQUART Py remssw
Ariangnou, la A
SUBJECT: eport on local "Flying Disc"
7795
of Sunday, July 1047,
photograpn indicates t 1y tior £ {1i te ¥ i voon 11 €
3\
i ny disce, « BVEYr, i Va of The u u 4 Ce 4 ¢ ~~
cdT1lze - of ruingn e | s Ls 9 i i ¥
. ", + 2y . . L 44 ] v iy 1 u 3 -
9 - + 4 ] u A i < N
poert t stericus ob . 2=
lcrvarded il pol rousn unc 1cx X .
1 ¥ 4 . v ’ »
s
.
. I~
--- page 8 ---
R 2
i 1/‘\1
(G
n A
Ve
V \ (
Report on Local "P_J_.,z?gg Disc"
D333.5 ID Jul 47 - 2nd Ind
HQ., AIR DEFENSE COMMAND, Mitchel Field, New York, 25 July 1947.
T0: Commanding General, Army Air Forces, Washington 25, D. C.
ATMN: AC/AS=2
Forwarded for your information.
FOR THE COMMANDING GENERAL:
3 Incls: /Z@ ./%jfif" . //
n/c Colonel, GSC
Asst Chief of Staff-Intell,
--- page 9 ---
i ' 3 -y o T Rk
. 9. 239 7 A ’ Tr——
! ; 62~ J3GF74 =430 THL WEA.
o 7 " APurnished by the U, 8. Weather
| S TR \ For Birmingham and Yiciity=
| \. » K - Partly cloudy and warm today, to-
| 5 skl o night and tomorrow with a few
B Suii (5 - Py A scattered showers this afternoon.
CAlE Y 0GR . High today 86, low tonight 70, high
o
- .7 ; o PRICE: 5 CENTS
'Flyi S R ted
'
ying aucers eporre
From 39 States, But Seem
< e —— I S ™
City Is Baffled By
Dazzling Display
Of Spooky Discs
The strange things that have
been in night skies since June 25,
were over Birmingham last nsf:t.
On one thing everyone who has
seen the mysterious objects agree
—they are round, saucer-like. After
that, every story differs. Each of
the hundreds of callers who re-
ported witnessing the baffling sky 5
demonstrations here last night had
A different version of what they
saw.
Some said tfile objects were
large, some small. They were mov-
ing at great speed. They were sus-
pended in the air. There was sound
along with their movements. They
moved noiselessly through the black
sky. They were at great distance
from the earth. They had fallen to
the ground. They were in perfect
formation. They were colliding
with each other.
But whatever the things are that
have set the nation agog since first
reported 12 days ago by a man in
Washington State, they definitely
were over thé Magic City last night.
It seems, in fact, that more Birn
mingham residents saw the objects
than in any other place.
- *
REPORTS BEGAN coming into
| the Age-Herald city room around
lo’tbckhnl:x:t.l'ormm
an hour thereafter, the place was
bedlam. The switchboard operators
were swamped with calls. Report-
ers, office boys, copy readers—
| CAMERA HERE CATCHES “FLYING rauczn"—naben Cross- |everyone in the place was called
land, Age-Herald copy reader, has camera proof that the much-dis- |[into action.
cussed flying discs were over Birmingham last night. The picture Reports camie in from Edgewood,
above was made by Mr. Crossland at 8:37 p.m. last night at his home |Mountain Brook, Avondale, South-
at 29th Street and Highland Avenue. He said he gave the film {p |side, Fairfield, Pratt City, West
15-second exposure. ™ |End, Central Park, Bessemer.
——————————— et There was fear, excitement, hor-
ror, skepticism..i mm.&h One
— s iaan tha ob
--- page 10 ---
e e 5, v v
‘Whatever it h%n‘ on in the
. punC el 250 e S s
g, ey b Beem
et 7 it 2
&nry. But :I:: ns lnm
hnmr:‘:fliuficob
{e':l.mt',&l must be something to
: . Birmingham Bl o, last
. the control tower at the airport, air- |
.m‘,flfl.‘&“&"fl"&‘n‘&.‘. {
'lllwll at the controls, circled the
A — Rt e
b any unnatural
o E B gt el e e 2
£ . - 2 = are eyes.
R g £ A 3;535 gfi"géé” r.:.“%’.’:":g"‘“‘ g
: _E=BE it i e e L R
2y it st i e L2 T ks B
S SRt
BB ES i | |
E3E i ot |
--- page 11 ---
5
~°
j MONDAY, JuLY 7, 1943,
T —
RADIO-GUIDED, savs tap | | :
“T'd like to dl:'c my opinion
:.brl;,whn.m tlyfi:. saucers
o BT | -
I;.‘:i(h!l School, eagerly gave
on the Uniteq e BLn0i0g war
“They uj th
Sty Tty 5, {hr home
3 i |
e e e
"g‘q have a reason for be-
ing over Bh'-lqzm" opined
Eisman. of
the blggest sieet milly spa ey o
mmcfi:“'m
mfi. fruit industry on
As to country is send-
ing the ::“un. Eisman didn‘t
i Yot 28 S
at 4 Gmm
--- page 12 ---
; oA "" - Ve s
cmn-. he did not 3 4 -
mm;‘mpho- BETIA ST TR AP AT N . - . " "
¥ 1 nomena, “I have dhlmnmm " 3 i
: .am.gg‘h . ad '," bugs," he reported.
REA' EXCITEMENT 3 5
the evening came when oy Mrs. James Bain, 1225 South 20th
wmummhmm;:'rfi traveling
a ravine near Avonwood. A re- ,.wm;““"“l
:rhr and ‘photographer went um“m m‘ sipgle
esicents ot the disrieb aid. the et |
to_have in the trees. lights” moving ""g.m
mmo\immflmmu e, SUAg=VIEY fael.” Be
et e ing s |
mmmmm-mfiumx u.m'l?lm
mufi.dflffifi.flflllfl-m umw
er than the other. said he gave 626 10th Avenue, South. )
mm:w.m.wm!lwnulu:hu.'flnbz
Five other persons were with him|reported. 'Womflflh
| 'mm.pfim.vum ard when we saw silver A
Dutvttnmcmn'tmddm‘umm.umu They came
longer to bear out reports of the one at a time at first, then the num-
strange demonstration. Too many|ber increaged. ’rhq seemed to go
persons—good, solid clr.bu—;lnmmmwn.
seen the m::mln fact, they're . . * =
thinking of the show out at A'mmm
g L e ol R g
light ——— lhwtnnhm.'.ugu. é
Scores O P orer - laret, B e, et
A o s o ot
g Mystoiows Discy o e o
Residents of East Lake, South-|Green Acres. said she
ddc.wmsnd.wmuvnmnu-mon-ym:am-mm
semer reported seeing the flying|the report on the radio. She and
discs or saucers last night. One disc mwmnnu_monnw
) wunmdmmlerdumn-guummfi% ly low.”
noon over the Warrior River. The She said they were size of a
number seen tt.en: Em varfed.
Nine “g1G AS TABLES”
m'fiflfifid’?«.fi"fio‘fi I called to find out if I'm ||
Court. “They were gobs of light ma.:mduu.omuh-.
around the sky,” she re-| {of Bessemer Sul*l"%
LI
H E ln(fli 1318 45th Street, M":fi:‘”‘.
2 ; saw
<ly over «'fi"o-nw Mmt the “balls of fire” as they pre- |
— D Wit with Mr. and Mrs.
3 Ogm'duw"'_"“_‘ Oordo‘.lulshnmb.-
4 m’:flmdwhnnlfih
'mm-m.m
The lights would come at
o A
they said. Then they vfi
dart off again, sdbme returning
in the direction of Bessemer
and some 'oll&hon. Some
would circle. ers would
. pass each other and scarcely
avoid collision.
"noymnboi-hm
as my dining room table,”
.| | said. y
and traveled in .
fcunom»ummtnnu.th::t
|The saucers came at intervals of
aboutuvcueo.nd‘l..
--- page 13 ---
A eif n o irtield Hignlanas
“uldthnflylnldheleammmhh
residence at & speed of A oR" go in Mr. and Mrs. J. R Martin and Mr.
|22 ddh.,-' P o ‘%M“Smdm::mt
‘\“"”““ ;" B4 Teportes. a-““b: as- bullets, while others
Plumste: man- around. They were
'df?';: WSGN, m the fiying|of an automobile tire.”
| bxg ““.'S"". Tahs. oM. and Mrs," William Howsll,
thrown a huge searchlight.| .
‘?.“..uw...ma.-..mAw,uumu-r.m
!."‘"‘..,e,,,""‘,m as would come from &ly,,, m‘my 1404 ' North
.Tc.l:rA 'm!:uhmtn‘e:-m llflo.whocu“m
.?ml .« % * a hurry you couldn't describe it.”
(B W — o e SR
: ! Frank S, E for|
Immm"o * * p hfwlmmmnm
“They looked like saucers,” said Company, n&q‘.‘ seeing
.mumdm jectsa “They
. 1 Muudnundhyn.
he said. “They came out the
southeast and whirled around sev-
trllnhmtu."... sy
3 S-set. L L Livingston, of the Bir/
r?dd -rhqmm.d:
jence.
mmwu.'.ut,'h
- .
’ R. H. VAUGHN, II1, who served
as an anti-aireraft gunner in Eu-|
B o Ensiey Hightands. - never
) gnm"mmu,-x-m
shot at a -w
: ’ 20 they were," he said, Vaughn be.
'lieves the “discs” are some \sort
'’ lof natural phenomena, like the
‘Aunnloudl:. o 2
. | Jnnmb-h-fi.nawmn
8 ol s on 14th Avenue,
| B It Tooked like & ‘shooting|
star,” Jimmy said, “but it was too
[low for that. It had a long red tail”
Searchlight Reflection
Theory Is Advanced
may be a carnival beacon light at
Siluria, about 20 miles south of Bir-
mingham. .
mt--;,n'noluu-lm
r ) mmw
nm!nmwlwdflhn;
Mr, Hayes, who served the
Army in the Pacific, said he
unb'ennndwnuell%
He based his on over-
‘ gunnh-un:muuum
beacon at the Siluria carnival prob-
\ably struck the high clouds and
| gave the indication of being “flying
| saucers.”
Mr. Hayes s a pilot. /
4 /
- .
--- page 14 ---
’ 5
- - %
y §-T-A-T-M-B-N-T
I, Staff Sergeant Ira L, Livingston, BA 1l 153 072, Air Corps, have
aooroximeately 250 homrs flying time ns vilot and Armorer Gunner have
the following statement to mske concerning the annearence of "Wlyines Discs"
in the vicinity of Rirmingham, Alabama,
At 2045 hours, 6 July 1947, while T wne eating summer st my residence
at 1354 Meadow Lane, Oresn Acres, Birmingham, Alabama, my next door neizhbor,
Mr, Herman M. Sookwell, called for me to come to the front Aoor that there were
some "Flyinz Miscs" outside. Immediately T went out in the front vard to
observe the objects, The objects anneared to the West of Birmingham traveling
in a South ®astern Airection. They 2mneared to be svmroximately 2000 feet
above the horizon at a !5 degree angzle from where I was standing ot an un-
estimated distance away, The objects mnneared to be apnroximately two (2)
feet in diameter, round in shane, »roducing a dim glow of light snd traveling
at an estimatdd.speed of five (5) to six (6) hundred miles ver hour.
The objects or object annenred to be traveling in » definite =2re rather then
straight and as soon 23 one wes out of sight another would aonear behind
$ it, but not always in the s-me vath, I saw one that secemed to come strnight
uo, The view of where it came from was obstructed by a nearby house; and
when 1t reached the altitude of anroximately 2000feet, it started off in
the same direction as the others. I did not at any time see any more than
one at the time and even though there could have been only one, my merennnl
belief is that there were seven (7) to ten (17), The Discs were silent and
avneared to be composed of a2 single light.
¥ = Ira L, Livingston
Stoff Sergeant, RA 14 153 972
Subscribed end sworn to before me thie 7th day of July 19L7.
%«%mw
/ / JAMES L, MROFARLANE
1st Lt. AC
Asst Adj.
RESTRICTED L
y b
Aspl
--- page 15 ---
;,; . R c ' abe-g. /a/}
'3*“ N NEADQUARTERS, NEWFOUNDLAND BASE COMMAND 3/ 3
od S T v ANTIC DIVISION, AIR TRANSPORT COMMAND /edd
7 \CTES - FORT PEPPERRELL, NEWFOUNDLAND
) RC_STR APO 862,% POSTMASTER, NEW YORK, N. Y. "
1N REPLY REFER : o R D
SUBJECT: Letter of Transmittal,
T0 3 Commanding General, i
Atlantic Division, ATC,
Fort Totten, la% Island, N, Y,
(ATTENTION: AC/S, Intelligence)
Reference Letter of Transmittal, this office, dated 28 July
1947, with four (4) inclosures (Inclosures 1, 2 and 3, Final Reports of
Sightings of "flying seucers"; and Inclosure 4, Signed Statement - Con~
stable KEARSEY), transmitted herewith is Final Report of u;::u. of / \
-fmmon‘nmm,-mmnnm 14, Stephen-
ville, l-tm at 03452, 23 July 1947.
FOR THE COMMANDING GENERALs
; MARION C. MILLER,
Captain, Air Corps,
.1 Imels AC/S, Intelligence.
' Final Rpt of Sighting, 23 Jul 47 '
M, ATLANTIC DIVISION, ATC, FORT TOTTEN, L.I., NEW YORK 6 Aug 47
TO: Commanding General, Air Trensport Command, Washington 25, D.C.
ATIN: Chief of Staff d
Forwarded in accordance with instn&?ons outlined in
TWX CU=95, your Headquarters. . )
' : (/
é TER, JR.
. It GsC ‘
! o ic/s, Intelligence
'\r-\."'v'r;‘rr'~ (\ .
h"-~‘3 ki i
. v
(
--- page 16 ---
' by Tlas 1210844 A
2 ' £ ) Gehoelled ou
‘ e e ST B 2 :44—47/%
R['.S i—['\ LR -_an. REPORT OF SIGITING/)&/ AR,
1. Organization: 1388th AAF Base Unit i e
APO 86k, c/o Postmaster, New York, N,I.°
“e Hpghting + Strange intermittent flashes that may tie in
with "Flying Discs”.
3. Place s Harmon Field, Stephenville, Hewfoundland.
Le Time + 03452, 23 July 1947.
Se Altitude : Approximately 10,000 feet high,
6, Weather 1 High scattered condition; visibility better 1
than fifteen (15) miles.
7. Heading + From South, heading NNE (approximately 30° )
8. Speed : High velocity; stated to be faster than a
conventional airplane.
9. Description : The observers esaw a light which at first appeared
to be a shooting star or airplane. It appeared
agein, and a mmber of intermittant flashes were
seen for a period of approximately three (3) minutes.
The flashes were reddish in color. Observers said it
was not a falling star because it did not appear as
such; nor was it an airplane, hbecause manoceuvers werc
too abrupt and there was no noise of a motor,
10. Reported by: Miss Patricia Abbott, (Newfoundland National) Govermment
Employee ard Lt. Hammaker, Navigator and Public Relat-
3 ions Officer.
11, General : The informante (noted in Par.10) were walking when they
noticed a peculiar reddish light. Both Miss Abbett and
Lt. Hammaker stated that at first, they thought it was
a falling star, but if left no streak. It appeared
again; they thought it might be a plane flying at a
very high altitude., After observing its menoeuvers,
they concluded, because of the silence (no hum of moter)
and abrupt darts of the light, it was definately not
an airplane., Neither Miss Abbott nor It. Eammaker had
secn anything like it before.
%m H, SMITH
Captain, Air Corps,
Intelligence Officer.
GONFBENTIAL— '
)’ il WL H
el 1 4
--- page 17 ---
% J _—— oY e = g2 1o Pl o
£ =k EEADQUARTERS' Wax) fopate) /.
i v * Newfoundland Base Command, ATID=ATC
; Fort Pepperrell, Newfoundland ”
APO 862," ¢/o Postaaster, New York, N. Y, s
//f 28 July 1947 .
SUBJECTs Letter of Transmittal. , i,
g3 : \ : pe
. %1 yom ,u%m.fl,i.t’. 0
(ATTENTION: AC/S, Intelligence)
1. Transmitted herewith, as inclosures 1, 2 and 3, are Final
Reports of Sightings of "flying ssucers" in Newfoundland and vicinity
listed as followss
" Final Report of Sighting - 20002, 10 July 1947
. . . . = 0030Z, 11 July 1947
. 5 . . . = 0015Z, 20 July 1947
2, Reference TWK - EN 18469, this headquarters, dated 1217302 :
July 1947, regarding sightings of "flying saucers" by Constable ERIC
KEARSEY, Newfoundland Constabulary, at Grand Falls, Newfoundland, on
the night of 9 July 1947, attached herewith, as inclosure 4, is signed
statement of this sighting by cmlo KEARSEY . p
FOR THE COMMANDING GENERALs
; Captain, Air Cotps, ;
4 Incles AC/8, Intelligence,
A 1. Final Rpt of Sighting, 10 Jul 47
2. * " % e TN m147
3 Woce e w20 Jul 47 !
; 4o Signed Statement - Const KEARSEY
RESTRICTED
| . o
--- page 18 ---
7’ INLO IV FINAL REPORT OF SIGHTINGiuthorjty cf e
> ©5% -y AP=ATC b
.wzr) 3
l. Org. s 1388th AAF BU, NBEC, ATLD, ATC. Harmon Field, Newfoundland.
2. Sighting : Flying Disc or other airborne object.
3. Place : Approx six (6) miles SSW of Harmon Field.
4. Time : 2000/2, 10 July 1947
5. Altitude : 8- 10,000 ft.
6. Weather : Clear, Scattered Cumulus € - 10, 00C ft.
7. Heading :+ NNE on horizontal course.
8. Speed : Very high velocity. .
9. Shape & Size: Circular like a wheel, estimated to be same size as a C-54
as seen from 10, 000 ft. ]
10. Color : Translucent or Silvery, left a Mluish Plack trail approx -
15 miles long.
11. Fhotographs: )r. Robert W. Leidy reported that he took two (2) Kodachrome
snap shots of the trail.
12. Reperted By: Mr. John N. Merhman, TWA mechanic; ¥r. John W. Woodruff,
PAA mechanic; and Vr. Robert E. Leidy, PAA mechanic reported
the above facts to the Intelligence Officer on 15 July 1947.
A Flash Report was TWX ed to : Action copy Commanding
General, Yq. ATC, Attn. Asst. Chief of Staff, Intelligence.
Info copies: Commanding Cenerals Hq. ATLD and Hq. NEC
13. General : Vister's Merhman, Woodruff, and Leidy were enroute from
Stephenville Crossing to Harmon Field at the time of the
; sighting. V¥r. Woodruff was the first to see the Disc, it
appeared to rent or split the clouds thru which it passed
and left a Pluish Black trail approx. fifteen (15) miles
long behind it. The trail was similar to the afterglow of
a powerful landing light or search light beam after it is
suddenly switched off. lhe object maintained a straight and
horizontal course accordingdto Vr. Merhman and Mr. Woodruff,
Mr. ‘leidy stated it appeared to be on a great curved course
on a horizontal plane. The object disappeared into the
North Northeast. Mr. Leidy says he took two (2) Kodachrome
Photographs of the trail. The film has been transmitted
to the Asst. Chief of Staff, Intelligence, Newfoundland
Base Command for processing.
CAPT. A.C.
Intelligence Officer
’ - ~ 1 /ANT
RESTRICTED
sl / ‘ )0
--- page 19 ---
3 §
. REQTRICTED. ™ umrorigfixuo Plen Bt et i
: Lol Wl L : i
1. Organiszation: 1388th AAF Base Unit .
APC 86k, o/o Postmaster, New York, N,Y.
2. Sighting ¢ Flying Disc or other airborne object.,
3. Place ¢ Codroy, Newroundland, 59°03' W Leng.; 17950' N Lat.
L. Time ¢ 00302 hours, 11 July 1947.
Se Altitude ¢t Approximately 6,000 feet.
6. Weather : Clear; at dusk.
7« Heading ¢ From northwest heading eastward. i
8. Speed ¢ Very high velocity.
9« Shape & Size: Disc shaped; was reported as being the size of a
barrel-head, dinner-plate and size of a plane
that is flying high. The trail gave the whole
object the appearance of a cone.
10, Color ¢ Flame colored with a trail of a lighter flame cnlor.
11, Reported by * Mr. John Legge, Mr. Wm. Evans and Albert Samms of
Codroy, Nawfoundland.
12, General ¢ Mr. Legge and Mr. Evans were standing ontside Mr. Legge's
store when they both sighted the object. Both men stated
that the disc was very bright with an after-glow which
made the object look like a cone. It was a very clear
night. In spite of the high velocity of the flying
object, they said thev could not possibly have mistaken
it for a plane or a falling star. Besides the two men,
the object was sighted by Albert Samms; he reported what
he had seen to his mother. Mrs. Samms stated that Albert
was in no way alarmed about it, he was alore and on his
way home when he sighted it, and watched it while it was
in sight. #lhert was quite convinced from the color and
behaviour of the object that it was not a plane, but
definately some flying object.
The informant, ¥r. Legpe, is believed to be reliable,
He is’'a man of approximately forty; has had considerzble
experience as foreman of Buchans Yine, Newfoundland, where
he was in charge of three hundred men, During the war,
Mr. Legge was a mamber of a civilian volunteer Air
Detection Corps. With that » ckground, Wr. Legpe stated
that he felt sure that the object he had seen was some-
- i > thing new which he had never seen before.
bseel Z- \ r o Ll
--- page 20 ---
. ~
e 3 3
J' . .
. Final Report of Sipghting W
1 General cont'ds
blbert Samms is a twelve year old becy. He was alone
when he saw the flying object, he wac very definite
ihat "e nad never seen anything like it before. His
mother, Mrs. Semms, is the Post Mistress of the town,
and after heering Albert's d ,ecription, felt that it
answered to thé description of a “Flying Disc"., Mr.
Legge reported his sighting shortly afterwards to Mrs,
Samms be~~:se he was sure it shonld be made known to
her in order that the incident mi ght be reported Y
telegram immediately.
There was one other sighting reported from a River
Warden at South Branch, The man could not be con=
ti0ted at time of interviews with other parties.
However, a second-hand description of his sighting
was obtained, and it agreed with the sightings at
Codroy.
WILLIAM H. SVITH
Captein, Air Corps,
Intelligenes Officers
. =T R
--- page 21 ---
D¢ " FINAL REPORT OF SIGHTING i A
1. Organization: 1388th AAF Base Unit
APO 86, c/o Postmaster, Mew York, N.Y,
2, Sighting t Flying Disc or other Airborne Object,
3. Place ¢ On board Steamship "RURGEO™ emroute from Sydney,
Nova Scotia to Port avr Basques, Newfoundland,
about one hour out from Sydnew,
. by Time ¢ 0015Z 20 July 19L7.
Se Altitude 8 30° off the horizon 2t an estivated quartc mile range.
6s Weather s Clear and dark,
7. Heading + NNE (30° East of Trus North) on horizontal plane.
8. Speed s High velocity, stated to be faster than a tracer bull at,
9. Description : Obhservers did not see the ohject, they saw its flashes
and all four ohservers agreed there were four (L) or
five (5) flashes approximately one (1) second apart
and equidistant., The flashes were said to be silvery
to reddish ir color, an? werc deseribed by two observ-
ers to be like those of a Fire Fly only larger and at
equal intervals, and did not look like a shooti ng star
a or airplane,
10, Reported by: Messrs Maitland, Larkin, Douzlas and Hamilton of
. Hamilton, Metcalfe and Kansas City Bridge Companies
wlhiich concern is doing the construction at Harmon Field.
11, General ¢ The four gentlemen (noted in Par.10) and Captain Gullage,
Master of the "Burgeo", were standing on the starboard
deck, and as the Captain was trying t. Jescribe a previous
sighting, he saw the flashes; the other four gentlemen
also saw them &s described herein, and believed that it
was not a meteorite or airplane because of its speed,
color, and evenly spaced discharges or flashes.
Ceptain Gullage told the four gentlemen that he had seen
the same thing at approximately the same time and location
(ship's position) on the evening of 15 July 19L7, except
at, that time, the object or flashes were traveling faster
! and frequently fhanging course (he said it changed course
i abruptly several tmgag and was headed generally to the
ISR AN b -
--- page 22 ---
Finz)] Repor® of Sighting:
General cont'd ; SSW, The Captain also told the four gentlemen
that he wae willing to make a2 complete report
if the information is desired for official
purposes.
WILLIAM H. SMITH
Captain, Air Corps
Intelligence Officer.
-2 -
= "
--- page 23 ---
/ Sk PR O seacelled-gp
APO 6%, o/o Postmastor, Now York, ¥. ¥,
: . ' 16 Juy 1987
‘ v A
‘ Interreogation of JONN X, WOODRUFY, Chief Neshanic, P
\ Atrways, Narmon Pioid, Newfousilend, Saken at 1N18 DT, 16 July 1907,
W Captada Villiam E, Smith, AC, Istelligence Offiser. g
Q. Did you see ome of the se called "Fiying Diske® or other odjeet
4 on the 108k July? ;
A. TYes, I 844, A "
Q. Can yom give the sppreximate time?
. A. Appreximately 1700. biiw
Q. Tell me the eireunstances usder vhich you saw Shis objeet. e
As Ve were coming dack from o fishing $rip, and coming over $he hill
between here and Stepheaville Oreseing you can see the clowd for-
' nation shead, I sav the objest bresk out where the clouds epemed
\ and 1% left, its trail dehind 1%,
. S Ead you been drisking?
A, Fo. '
Q. You were riding in a car at the time you sav it?
. A, Yes, in the front seat of the Pan American car.
| Q. Vhat vas the veather 1ike thed day? ¥
| A, It was very clear snd the clouds vere very seattered.
§ Q. Yhat was the spprexipate altitude of the clouds?
A, I'Q say from 8000 feet to 10,000 foet.
Q. Did you see the Disk iteelf? :
A, Tes, ¥hat 1t appeared to be was a translucent disk 1ike s wheel ’
Sravelling at a terrific rete of speed sad opened the clouds as
| 1% went through the air. g &
Q. Fow was this Disk $ravelling, herisoatal, descending or asceanding!
A, It wvas horisemtal. i
; Q. Adout Dow big 414 it appear to you? '
A, Trom the height of 1%, I'd say 1t was adout the sige of a 5% or a
Constellation.
Q. About hew far spart 444 it dresk the cloud?
A. 1t spresd the clouds out adout half mile,
| ‘”--:)“‘\I'\_‘.' \/LA{
. ’ ‘5'
--- page 24 ---
. —
N RESTRICTED .
. Interrogation of Joha B, Voodruff (Comt'd)
Q. What kiad of a bresk did 4% make ia the clowdst-
A, 1t cut a straight path right through the eloud,
Q.- Did it leave a trall? :
A, Yes, 1% left a trail dark dlueish in eoler similar to a hMgh pover
1ight. The trail was from approximately fifteen (15) to twenty
(20) miles long.
Q. Have you ever seea a meteor?
A, Yesu.
Q. Do you Shiak this was a meteor?
A. No, I dom't thiak so, it was cut %oo clean. This vas as straight
a8 AR Arrow, -
Q. 'Yhat was the course of the odjeet?
A, Yell, looking at the map I'd say North North Bast,
Q. Have you deen vorking areund airplanes long enough to kmow the
size of an aircraft and the height from a distance?
A, Yes.
Q. Fov long have you deen vorking around airerafs!?
A. Sevea (7) years,
Q. VYere you ia the Aray during the time of the Var?
A, Fo, -
Q. Did you take suy pictures?
A, Neo, I 414 not, but ome of the beys took some.
Q. Do you think the pictures will show up?
A. Yes, it was sn ideal day for pictures.
Rt (. D pH et
Chief Machanie
Pan American Alrvays
Swora and sudssrided to defore me
this /7 day of July 1947, (
el N AL - %o, 2 /N
. Captain, Alr Corps
(4
--- page 25 ---
INTELLIGENCE OFFICE . g
" ERADQUARTERS 1388TH AAP BASE UNIT 2 P e o
APO 864, ofo Postmaster, New York, ¥. Y,
1‘1!1719'1
Intorrogation of JONN ¥. MENRMAN, JR,, Supervisor and Mechanic,
Trans Vorld Alrvays, Harmon Field, Nevfoundland, taken at 1430 or,
16 July 1947, by Captain Williem H, Smith, AC, Intelligence Officer.
Q. Fov loag have you beem associated with aireraft and avistionm!?
A. Since spproximately 1938,
Q. Vere you ia the Army during the Var?
" A, Yes,
Q. ¥hat 414 you do in the Army?
A, Aerial Ounner.
Q. mm:»mumnr-uumuu»humum
and sises of odjects and renges!
A, Yes.
Q. On the eveming of 10 July 1947, 414 you see one of the so called
*Flying Disks® or an object in the sky?
A, !u.nmmmummmlmmunm
ville Crossing, !hurmphgumldnu\ummn
through the wiadshield, Nr. Woodruff said "look at the cut im the
oky”, Xw-,-t-..blutfltl.‘vmrtnu.
Q. Did you see the odject?
A, aTo, I Just sav the trail as it was left dehind,
Q. Can you deseride the effect the odject had on the clowd formation?
A, The clouds were very scattered and were adout from S000 feet $o
10,000 feet, the odject passed through and cut the cloud leaving a
€5p vhere you could see the dlue sky, like a knife had cut i%. The
z dp'mfnmww“.nu.uumut.uuum.
Q. mm.‘“whuwu. aseending, or horisomtal?
A. It was horisontal and seemed to remsin on atrue course.
Q. What was your estimate of the course!
A. Approximately North North Bast. X
Q. Can you give any estimate as to the sise of the object?
A. 1 444 not see the odject.
--- page 26 ---
4 Interrogation of John ¥, Nehrmea, Jr Lt
Q. Can you deseoride the tralllt
A, ICNM.MDQM.MWUOCMMMN
blue sky. A diesel exhaust would de similar to 18, -
Q. Vas the trail fan shaped?
A. TFo it wvas more or less & band acress the sky in & straight path. _
Q. DIA 1% wake & metse! :
A, Fo noise,
£ Q. Vhat went ea ia the ear vhen you sighted the odject?
A. Ve stopped the car sad got out and looked at it. One of the deys
had a cemera snd took a photograph of the Srail that the edjeet
lefS.
Q. Vhat was the name of the mem whe took the photegrapht :
A, Toders Leidy.
Q. Do you knov wvhat type of fila Nr Leidy was usiagl
A, FKedachreme, I delieve.
Q. Do you kmov vhether Nr, Leidy sav the Disk or object?
A, I don't believe se.
P e 4
Superviser and Mechanie
‘ ‘' Trens Vorid AMlrveys
Swera and sudserided o ne : ¥
-m..'_,La-vcmgr. / <
Captatn,’ Cerps :
Adjutant .
| RESTRICTED .
BCE T N 9"/&
--- page 27 ---
RESTF\\CTED INTELLIGENGE OFFICR Lty o §Cy ADANG wng . o
B 1 oy e
\ _ _ AP0 664, o/o Pevtmnster, Now Tobk, . ¥, < — 4T
el piat L 16 Juy 1987
Interrogation of NOBERT ¥, LRIDY, Shation Awerican
R T e T L
Wy Gaptain Williem N, Smith, A, igence E
Q. Vere you with Mr, Voodruff and My, Nehrmah on the evening vhem Shey
" saw sh object or flyiag disk passiag ever the shy om 10 July 19570
A, Yes, I was. v
Q. Vere you or say nemders of the party drisking?
: A, Te, 1 had one osn of beer, that was about half hour before $hat.
Q® h‘wm'-mm-n.mmum»pa
or trail
A, Well, Nr, Woodruff saw it firet and said he sav the thing travelling
Shrough the sky. Ve 414 mot believe him at first dut vhen hé was so
Gonceraed adout it we stepped the car and got out. I had my camers
%0 tock a pioture of it. There was a dlusish stresk left in the sky
which sould net have deen s cloud formation., It was & definite tyail
- snd camsed the elouds to break open as it wemt threugh,
Q. Pid 1% eut a path through the alewd?
A, Tes, it was very clear, snd you could see the Srail right threugh '
She cloud, 1% loeked %o de Sravelling inm a big eirele and 1t lefe
; sharp edges %0 the clouds.
Q. "hat vas the trail liket
A: I would net say 1% was exhaust, it locked as if am object passed
through similar S0 that of a peddle leaviag a ring in the pead,
Q. MM-Mhmuufl
A, u.uw-umoummwmuxmcunm
Q. Vas the trail herisental, going up, or coming dowm!
As 1% leoked herisontal.
Q. What was the altitude of the clounds?
A, I dea't kmow, sir, they were pretty high theugh.
[. Vhat time was this?
A. 1 don't know exastly sir, but it vas betwoen three and five o'clock
in the aftermcen, we vere coming back frem fishing,
] /\[:_.“‘ T
--- page 28 ---
Q. DAA you see e ebjecht :
@ Sov long do yeu think the trail was! f ° :
A, xwo-.a.uww—muu.uu..im
“mwmnmummusuqm
1% left, you oould ecasily see it. A
Lo Was the treil em & straight course!
% m.-xwmuwn-mu’nu.muu
T Avawvelling &b & sate of speed in a eirele docsmes of the
ares in the path,
2 @ Nave you ever seen & meteor? )
Q. :-m.m-umun'nn--thmm :
&, .
QW hmmmunfih‘-filmnfl
: A, Mz (6) yoars.
Q. Vere you in She Arsy during ¥he war?
A, Do,
Q. Now sany pioutres did yeu Sake?
A, Twe.
Q. What tgpe camers 4id you have?
As M Avgus, M2,
$ Q. ¥as the film Viakk snd white or kedashreme!?
A, 3% vas kndashrens. di
Q. Where are the'filam new?
A ux.lm:m.:mmu-al.m-:-m-m.
pletures are oa,
@ 1 snderstosd from Nr, Voolraff that they ave deing developed,
A, xnmnum«m-—uuv.mxmmmu
out yeot, #
Q. Vi1l yeu give us the four yedls of £118 se ve &an Dave them precessed
A, Yeu, vir
. . p Y T
Iy ‘ I-./ { ) 1 )
el - 3
L0
--- page 29 ---
: Wtunmmfm'c)
Q. Ave you williag %o give the Army & copy of the pictures of the
tradld?
A, Yes,
b BB S
S%ation Nechanie
Pan American Airvays
j Sworn and subscrided to defore me
this _/ 7 day of July 1947,
Captain, Air Corps
Adjutant
”
: .,. ]
p 2
--- page 30 ---
STATEMENT OF MR. JOEN P, LEGGE, CORDROY, NEWFOUNDLAND. TAKEN BY
P MERCEDES BURKE OF THE INTEL IGENCE OFFICE, HARMON FIELD, ¥EWFOUND-
- i LAND. 17 July 1947.
At approximately 10 o'eloek in the evening of 10 July 1947
I was standing by my store door; I happened to look up and saw
what appeared to be a "FLYING SAUCEER"™. It definately was not a
sheoting star; I'd scen several stars shoet before, but never like
this! mnor was it an airoplane, it was too "1lit up" and traveling
et too great a speed. It wesn't an siroplane on fire because it
would heve fallen in the water. It was & niee elear night, no
elouds, it was just getting dark. I would say it was traveling at
the rate of a shooting star but mueh eloser. I'd ssy roughly at
6,000 feet. It was visible for about fifteem (15) seconds. It
egme from the North West heading Eastward. The cirele looked to
be sbout the size of a barrel head, and the trail behind loeoked
to be about fifteen (15) feet long. The trail behind the dise
made the whole object look like a eone. Another thing that makes
me feel sure it wacn't af shooting star is; a shooting star ususally
leaves & temporary streak, this objeat I saw left mo streak only
the one that appeared to travel behind the eirecle whieh looked like
an after-glow. The eirele was & bright red, nearest I could des-
eribe it would be the eoler of a flame, the after-glow(eone-shaped)
was & fainter shade. What I saw last Thureday night resembled a
shooting star in no way whatsoever. There was only one.
/ ’
7"JOHN P. LEGGE
/ /4t
) 77
Witness: /- ~ Tl A
Witness: //AC‘-A— \/«-uu(a |
b
--- page 31 ---
- . 2 1 g g, e o | ~
R , @LSTRICTED e :
¢— STATEMENT OF MR, WM. EVANS, CORDROY; NEWFOUNDLAND. TAKEN BY
MERCEDES BURKE OF THE INTELLIGENCE OFFICE; HARMON FIELD, NEW-
FOUNDLAND. 17 July 1947. A
At approximately 10 e'eloek in the evening of 10 July 1947,
I was standing eutside Mr. Leggo's store talking with him. We
both saw this thing desh aeross the sky. I eouldn't be sccurate
about the direetions. If it was & shooting ster, 1'd never seen
one as large before, and it was mueh brighter than anything I've
ever seen in the sky. It looked to be a round object, I eouldn't
say it was anything else but round; it-had a tail on it whieh
showed yellowish, but not as bright as the eirele which appeared
snd nearest I could deseribe it would be sort of red and yellew.
The streak behind, I would say, was little over a yard long; the
eirele looked te be about the size of a large dinner plate. It
went so fast, it was hardly in sight before it disappeared. 1
eould not give any idea of the height; all I ean say is it was
much eloser than a shooting star. andi travelling st a great cspeed.
Whatever it wes it was flying through the air; it wasn't just
+ @ streak meross the sky. To me it wasn't in any way like a
shooting star, and I am sure it wasn't an airoplane. I ealled it
e "FLYING SAUCER" beszuce it seemed exaetly like what we had been
hearing so mueh about on the radio.
bn-@zfl
Tm.
— /-
'.'vitness:% o/ 4
Witness: W d"’/‘&-
29
--- page 32 ---
STATEMENT OF ALBERT SAMMS, CORDROY, NZWFOUNLLAND. TAK=N BY
MERCEDES BURKE OF THE INTELLIGENCE OFFICE, HAXMON ®IRLD NEW-
FOUNDLAND. 17 July 1947.
Last Thursday night I was out by our house, I happened to
look up and saw what I thought was an airoplane. It was flying
at the height of a plane that is flying high. Then I thougnt
it leoked strange for an airoplane, besause it wes all 1it up
80 bright, plenes do have a light or two, but this thing was very
bright - sort of a bright reddish yellow. I saw it only for a
minute because it was travelliing at a teriffie :peed. It shot
out of sight so quiekly I thought it strange if it was an airop-
lane. TH8H, I remembered what I'd been hearing about "FLYIND
SAUCERS" I ran in and told my mother.
w1tness:7z - A R
/A‘ P o ~/U..».£,g,
Witness: '’ {
4 £
y B
/ =
--- page 33 ---
» - . 3§ Lt
q, Albert rusted in and tolé me about thig thine he'd just geen.
at first he thoupnt it wae an airoplene but thren ne remenbhered
having nel’r’d about "FLYING SAUCRAS™ and he thought that's what
it must heve been. I questioned him; he said it eouldn't have
been a plane beeruee a plene wouldn't shoot down like that did,
besides it was tco ™11t up"
Mr. Legge reported the g&me thing to me in order thet I méght
report same te St. Johm's in the morhing.
Mrs JOHN SAMMS.
Hn 54
=4
[
--- page 34 ---
NEWEOUNDLAND CONSTABULARY
STATION Grand Falls,
‘ DATE July 13th, 1247..
SUBJECT Re;= Strange obi:cu seen flying over Grand
Falls on night of July 9th. at approx,
—ddadl and Mol
Sirs
I rupoct.rulx.u,ort for your iuformation that on
ednesday night, 9th. inst. I arrived home from
duty at approx. 11.30.
Upon arrival at home I joined my wife, my mother-in-law
and Mr, John Jackman a resident of St. Joln's and frhn&
of the family, who were sitting on the front steps of
the house, I was asked b{ my wife if I had seen {lu
"flying saucers" I thought she was i:::ng and replied
that I had seen nothin, t&ln.'. Jac and my mother-
in-law then told me that they had P“IS seen four objects
flying in an easterly direction just before I arrived,
I asked them to describe what they had seen. Jackman said
that four round shaped nivuru hod passed overhead at a
terrific speed and were flying side by dide.
On looking skywards again my wife, Jackman, and myself
saw a object which I would describe as botnfi & huge J.il,‘
fish flash across the the sky. It would be difiicuit to
deternine its héight .nd speed owing to the brief period
it was visible, iu's colour also would be hard to say,
but there seemed to be a phosphorus glow about it, it
was round in shape and about the size of a barrel head,
it appeared to be flying in a rocking; motion.
This sir, is about all I can say about the matter, we
continued to ssan the sky for about a half hour but ne
sign of them were seen again,
. [~
A ,’(z ALIQ 8
Constable. :7/
LeStrange Esq., J.P. 9 b
Chiet of Police. & o
. ) /
%csé “fi‘fim.
L.S“fl?‘ 58Qey JoPoy
Chief of Police. :
= RESTRILIEV
bl & L
--- page 35 ---
- EEETTTAeR e s YR i Lk SRR S it
| - A\ B2 el b X e -
= NEWEOUNDLAND CONSTABULARY = =~ :
| ' A ' © 7 DATE July 13th, 1947..
SUBJECT Re;- Strange o§oou seen over Grand
f 15 : Falls on h\otJuJ.;m at approx,
2 i . 1 tful for your informatio t
: . respec report for ormation that on
P | . ¥ednesday night, 8- ,‘{:f tus."!m:nlvod home from
i x duty at approx, 11.30. s
- Upon arrival at home I joined wife nother-in-law
. and Mr, John Jeckman a Residant of 1o Jainoe and Friend
| of the family, who were ouunf on the front auz:.ot
' t the house, I was asked by my wife f I had seen
; ¢ "flying saucers™ I mw‘t she was ionng and replied
i mtlm-mmm&fx}u.\fn and my mother-
: in-law then told me that { had m%s seen four objects
t flying in an easterly direction just ore I arrived, -
] I asked them to describe what t::‘ had seen. Jackman said
' » that four round shaped figures passed overhead at a
terrific speed and were fim side by éide.
\ On looking skywards again my wife, Jackman, and myself
; < saw a object which I would describs as beiag a huge jolay-
» fish flash across the the .s. It would be ficuld te
deternmine its hdight and speed owing to the brief period
i i it was visidle, it's colour also would be hard to n{. 3
| but there seemed to be a phosphorus glow about it, 4
?' was round in shape and about gho size of a barrel head,
f ; it appeared to be flying in a rocking motiom. :
i This sir, is about all I can say about the matter, we
f cmwummmtu:{omlhuwanm
sign of them were seen again, 3 -
| 3
| Strange Esq., J.P, s s gk
I LeS E8Qe.y JoP : < :
Chief of Police. — . + B2
--- page 36 ---
From detailed study of reports selected for their impression of
veracity and reliability, several conclusions have been formed:
. (a) This "flying saucer" situation is not all imaginary or seeing
too much in some natural phenomenon. Something is really flying around,
-
(b) Lack of topside inquiries, when compared to the prompt and
demanding inquiries that have originated topside upon former events,
give more than ordinary weight to the péssibility that this is a domestic
project, about which the President, etc. know,
(c) Whatever the objects are, this much can be said of their physical
appearance :
1. The surfacd of these objects is metallic, indicating a metallic .
skin, at least.
2, When a trail is observed, it is lightly colored, a Blue-Brown
haze, that is similar to a rocket engine's exhaust. Contrary to a rocket
of the solid type, one observation indicates that the fuel may be throttled
which would indicate a liquid rocket engine.
3. As to shape, all observations state thut the object is cireular
or at least elliptical, flat on the bottom and slightly domed on the top.
The size estimates place it somewhere near the size of a C-54 or a Comstellation,
4. Some reports describe two tabs, located at the rear and
symetrical about the dixe axis of flight motion.
5. Flights hase been reported,from three to nine of them, flying
good “formation on each other, with speeds always above 300 kncbs.
6. The discs oscillate laterdlly while flying along, which could
be snaking.
--- page 37 ---
HEADQUARTERS FOURTH AIR FORCE r /C
Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff, A-2
. Intelligence g
‘Hamilton Field, California
4AFDA 25 August 1947
333.5/1208-1 !
SUBJECT: Invoutigation of Flying Disec.
- TOs Headquarters, Army Air Forces, Washington 25, D, C.
ATTENTION: AC of AS-2
1. The attached true copy of the letter of Mr. F. ', Johnson of
Portland, Oregon, was received by this officer 22 August 1947,
\ 2. Your attention is invited to the similarity of stetement by
¥r. Johnson eand MNr. Arnold.
S« This letter is being referred this date to the Special Agent
In Charge, FBI, Sen Francisco, for eny investigstion they may care to
make .
7 7/ ) =g
Lt 2t . 2
BONALD L. &princER”
1 Inecl: Lt. Colonel, 5SC/ ‘
Cy of 1ltr fr F.M.Johnson AC of S, A=2 /
N (in dup)
. -
--- page 38 ---
(o, .
A L PORTLAND, OREGON, August 20th 1947
-
Lt. Col. Donald L. Springer, Assistant Staff ;
Sir. Saw in the portland peper a short time apo in regards to
an article in regards to the so called flying disc having any basis
of fact. I can say am a prospector and was in the Mt Adams district
on June 24th the day Kennet Arnold of Boise Ideho claims he saw a
formation of flying disc. And i saw the same flying objects at about
the same time. Having a telescope with me at the time i can asure you
they are real and noting like them I ever saw before they did not pass
verry high over where I was standing at the the time, plobly 1000 ft.
they were Round about 30 foot in dimater tapering sharply to a point in *
the head end in an oval shape. with & bright top surface. I did not
hear any noise as you would from a plane. But there was an object in
the tail end looked like a bip hand of a clock shifting from side to
side like a big magenet. Liere speed as far as i know seemed to be
greater than snything I ever saw. last veiw I got of the objects they
were standing on edge Banking in a Cloud.
Yours Respectfully
/s/ F. M. Johnson
106 No. West lst Ave
Portland, Oregon
A TRUE COPY:
. e 51
ASENGG L, AL
b NALD L. SPRINGER
Lt. Colonel, GSC,
AC of 3, A-z/
\
--- page 39 ---
e PORTLAID, OREGUN
s S48 30,July’ 1947 , nar
-
Ci C-E-R-T- 1~ }=T=CmA=T-i
on 30 July 1947 ¥r wichard ankin, 83y N, k. Simpson Street,
d Portland, Oregon was interd ewed by this agent and stated in substance as
follows: 2
My name is Richard Ranidin, I amly7 years old and have fl om since
I was nineteen years old, I first soloed in a air craft in 1919, I tave flown
over all the western parts of the United Stat es many times and have mapped
all of Lhe western part of the Unitel States during the years before the
1ate war for the US Forest Service. I am familiar with almost every part of
. the western United States, During a great part of my life I have done stunt
flying for air shows and various other types of aeronautical exhibitions. Wy
brother was "Tex'"Rankin who was quite well known in both civilian and Militaxy
flying circles for many years before his death and during the late war ran
thousands of Flying Cadets through primary training schools ovmed and oper=-
aséd by him, To date I lave accomplished 7000 hours in the air as pilot of
both civilian and Military aircraft, I am well acquainted with most articles
that one would see in the air and I feel that I am well qualified to say
when I see articles flying through the air, although I would not attempt to
say that I am infallable and state that I could definitely identify every -
object that might be flying through the air, The following is.an account of -
what I saw on 1l June 1947 from the yard of my home at 1% South "i" St,
Bakersfield, California.
At approximately 1200 noon on the 1 of June I was lying in the
front yard of my home, There was a lad mowing the lam at the time, I looked
up into the sky and saw ten articles flying from the South to th North at what
T wuld judge to be 8500 ft, Tle objects were flylng at approximately what I
would judge tc be 350 miles per hoar, As I mwe stated b fore, I have done
quite a lot of map work for the US Forest Service, I 14 stinctly remember that
at the time I saw the articles I mentioned it to the lad who was mowing the
Jawn at the time, I told the lad that the objects were in all probability
some sart of Army or Navy test planes from the nearby test centers on the
leserts of Southern Califormia, Having quite a knowledge of aircraft in
general I attempted to ex 1ain to the lad mowing the lawn that e objects
were probebly on same sort of training mission fcr either the Arny or Navye.
At that time T did not give the slightest’ thou ght to anything but that the
objects were some sort of test diip for the Goverment _ervices, The opkects
resembled the pictures that I hawe seen of the F5U-1, the so mlled "Flying
Flapp ck mxkk that the lavy 1s testing. After the ogj"ct'v & sappeared I
roceeded into the house and had my noon meal, 4t approximately W15 I went
geck into the yard to sit and lle in lthe shade, At this time the cbjects re-
appeared golng from Bogth to South, although this time there were only seven
of the articles, When I first saw the ofiginal ten objects they were flying
in a #ym formation with one cbjcth seeningly starc;gling in the rear of the
formation, When the objects apperaed ‘le second time they were still in the
w7 formatbon although there was only seven & the objects at thi imes I
yomember 2 this time that I told the lad, th o was still woriing on the lawm,
that pohably three of the objects had poceeded back to thelr base on a 11 e
erent course. I acfually thought that thi was he case, that the other three
. objects hdé probably gone bacik heir base on the other side of the mountaims
¥ from Bakersfield, 4 weck or so laber when I read of Lr Yemneth Arnold claiming
f that he had seen articles flying bthrough the air over the Casca'e lountains in
r
ranl Yot Vi N ARY AN
" \ o\ 1N 1 J1 N LAl
--- page 40 ---
Washington I realized that the artiales that T saw were pr obably ¢he same Yhing.
I was still reluctant to mention this to anyone fihflm that é{wauld prob- -
R - APEX g SR T R
o r “, a ¢ gon T. 8
in Portland for tle rnu’;dezv of the stmmer. The results & tle conversetion .
with ::e editor of ‘the paper is put forth in the accompanying newspaper-
article, ~ ;
I fully realize that s is a broad statement-in view of the fact
that there ln's been © much publicity eschemw put forth in various
papers of the country, I am € =wound minf in every respect and I am fi
convinced that the articles I saw are actually some sort of flying machines
although I cannot say from where mcm or to vhere thay were going, I say
vhat I lave said with no idea of city or personal gain,
' STGNED ég’m /&a
' Portland, Oregon
30 July 1947
--- page 41 ---
\
:Pilot R ]] ~ |_THE OREGONIAN, THURSDAY, JULY 9, 1947 1"
| C N} . . |- -— - -
- -
Dm "THE ORECOLIAN" Portland, Cregone
® 3 July 1v.7
Dick Rankin Tells
Of Odd Aircrait
More reports of “flying flap-
jacks” turned up Wednesday,
one from no less than Dick /
Rankin, brother of the late Tex /
Rankin, and himself an expe-
rienced pilot of more than 7000
hours’ flying time.
Rankin, who is recovering
from an old back injury re
ceived in an automobile acci-
|dent, came to Portland over
ithe week end to spend the sum-
|mer. He saw the “silver cau-
| cers” over Bakersfield, Cal.
| June 23, while lying on the |
|lawn sun bathing, he told The |
| Oregonian. |
; “I hesitated to say much |
about them,” Rankin said, “un-
}m I noticed all the hullabaloo
in the papers. I puzzled over
their strange shape for a while
and finally concluded that they
were the navy's ned® XFSU-1
flying fla:jaclu. which are thin ||
and round, with twin propellers
and stubby tail”
Only One XF5U-1 Built
! (The navy and the manufac
turer have announced official-
ly that only one such machine
was built and that it never left
Connecticut.
“These planes were flying
high, maybe 9000 feet, and fair
ly fast, about 300 or 400 miles
an hour. I first counted ten of
them in formation, going north.
About 2:15 P. M. they returned
on the reverse course, headed
south, But there were only sev-
en in the formation.
“They were not welvinf or
‘bobhln[ in formation I couldn’t
|make out the number or loca- ||
|tion of their propellers and |
couldn’t distinguish any wings |
or tail. They appeared almost |
round. They looked like rlc-
tures of the navy's flying flap-
jack,” Rankin said.
Rankin, who plans to fiend
the summer here at 834 N, E.
Simpson street, is now able to
resume a little flying for fun,
but not commercially, he said
He now operates a string of
auio courts, nénendlu his win-
ters at Palm Springs.
2 14 i 14 L —
--- page 42 ---
85-480 c .
]
Directer Y1 P
840 Durte .
FAYING INS08 '
wumnmun.ho-ummou,mv.
Muol-zluu find the newspaper account carried by the Swia :
Falls, ldaho "Pimes News on August 15, Sogether Wi th a sheet of paper on vhich
A. O, URIE attempted to sicetch hism impreesion of the instrument which he claime
%0 have seen.
Concerning URI¥'s sketchoes, 1% may be moted Shat he believed She
mm“flfihuiqtdumatol_nndrafiutohmbmu“
& foot through, UKIN likewise believed that $he Subinh or exhaust flame which
he and his sons claim %0 have seem was about a foot through and extended at
least to the back end of the dovice. The flame did not sprear $e Saper off
not to widen out toward the back.
BILLY and KEITE URIE stated that they could mee a knot on the side of
She device from which the flames were shooting, and that they comld see day-
1ight Detween the exhaust flame and the side o $he device. The flames did no$
.leave sny smoke or odor,
: The URIE boys thought that the "side viev® sketch should shew Shad
She device was more sharply angled from Bottom %o top, while URIE himgelf
' thought that 1t was more streaslined and cmrved. URIN ssid thst the iastrue
ment came %0 a pointed or romded top. 3
In his netations, URIE mistakenly ssid that he had seen it on Thure-
day. During interview, he stated Shat it actually hed boem oz Vednesday,
Augush 13, 1947, vhmhe and his sons sav the contrivance sbout 1100 PN,
URLE explained that he had semt his boys to the river to get some
tope from his Wat. WYhen he thought they were overdus, he wens outside his
Sool shed %0 look dr them. He noticed them atout 300 feetaway looking in
$he sky and he blanced up %o see what he called She flying disc. He ssid he
oould only see 1% for a moment before it disappeared behind a hill shich
obsoured his view,
mnw-ummmmcnmummuw
fool in the a r. URIE resides in the depths of the Snake River Canyon, which -
nmtnrh-ndfmu”minlnmtm-flunfihtphn.
dccording $o his accom$, the contrivance was about three hundred feet below
the rim of the canyon and he sav 1t against the steep walls of the canyon ob
She far side. He described its color as sky blue and stated thet he doubted
Af 1% could be seen against the sky. Ho likewise said that i% was purely bWy |
chance that he sav. 1%. Isdl not spia like a top. . |
--- page 43 ---
ummuwfi.mm.mtnoummdu
almost uwm(mm}mmmmnnmm-u
.)In.huruw, but {n URIN's words, "spun around on tep as if Shey were
ia a vacuum, 3 .
. mm.u‘\mo.tm.mhflm-flom
mh-fi.l-kumfi-out %0 west and following the come
tours of the ground. T, age ten, saw A% alnest immediately. otk
watched 12 fly out of sight debind a tree in a matter of moments, They
-uaowuurnumurm:um»nnmuu
$he machine. 3
URIE seemed completely sincere about the incident. He sald hde
I.foudd-cmcunhlhm”dlh time and had not seen the
machine. He questioned his brother, whe alse lives in the canyon, bdut his
brother had been eating at the tive and had seen nothing. URIE aad his
$¥0 boys maintained shat they had never before seen one of the discs,
URIS, when interviewed, appeared to be a sober, middle-aged man.
JOHN ZROSHAN, she "Times News® reporter who originally furnished
Special Agents vith information abous the incident, likewise stated that
URIE appeared completely sincere abous the naciine.
No further attempt was made to locate L. V. HANKINS, inaswuch
as J, H, BORG, who vas with EANKING a8 the Sime, vas interviewed.
BROWN's name was withheld froa the newspaper becanse KAMKINS and
BROW were fishing at Salmon dame Mhile BROWN was supposed to have bdeea
wvorking in Twin Falls.
BE0WE said simply that he and HAWKINS could hear a roar. They
looked up and could see $wo instruments flying at a great height, whieh
BROWS mentioned migh$ have been betweea four thousand and six thoussad
feet. However, he said he had no idea how large the devices were and
Consequently, they aay have been several miles avay. He said that he and
EAWKINS were satipfied Shey had seen something and they were very
doubtful that they had seen twe planes.
¢
4]
:
Uy
--- page 44 ---
/' A i &)
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: TWIN FALLS . .
Regional Newspaper Serving - " - Nine Irrigated ldaho Cou
e ———————— R LT s Rt S e
v and TWIN FALLS, IDAHO, FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 1947 "r;_‘:.
spaper
e
PG PO NG M S e Y WU O SIS
lks! The Dises Are Flying Agai
- T .,
Heads Up, Folks! The Discs Are Flying Again
2 o S -
| .
| e
- L4 - . -
| — L. R\ \ —— |
- o {
1 | = -~ 7 AN — ~—y ¢ £
t \ o . - ———— o [
g ——— e e o |
. ok
|
N Bt
} | }
m J
m - t
| GRS BOTTOM VIEW END VIEW i
| This is an artist’s conception of the flying disc that A. C. Urie saw | sides, and could well be the inspiration for something new in women's
sweeping through Snake river canyon six miles west of Blue Lakes hats, such as a “flying saucer” creation. (Drawing by Vie Goerigen-.
.| ranch. It seemed to be powered by jets emiiting a ficry glow on both | staff engraving) ul
¥ * » * * * * ¥ * ¥ ¥ * * ¥ * ¥
Flying S Reported Flashing D C
ying Saucer neporie ashing pown uvanyon ‘
1,000 Miles Per H W
.
At 1, iles Per Hour; Two Others Are Seen
By JOHN BROSNAN | the fast-flying objects the nation scription of the flying discs seen by | come concerned about what was de--
Ju as Magic Valley and the | has yet produced “h:m and his son, Keith, 8, and Billy, | laying them, and had walked down
tion were tarting to let go of The flying saucer Urie saw was | 10 | toward the river to see if they were
post after reeling under a|skimming along through Snake river I obtained a close-up view of |all right ;
} velte { {lying saucer reports, two | canyon at a height of about 75| the flying saucer as it passed by the “I had a side view at a distance
nore. Twin Pa county men re-|feet at 1 p. m. Wednesday. At 9:30 | trout farm at 1 p. m. Aug. 13 going | of about 300 feet and almost on a
Vive peculation on the mystery |a. m. the same day, L. W Hd“k“(l(‘“l\ Snake river canyon at a height | level with the thing,” Urie cone«
with vivid descriptions of discs they | in Twin Falls county commis-|of about 75 feet from the canyon | tinued. “Two of my boys. Keith
saw | sioner and former county sheriff{|floor. I would estimate the speed | and Billy, were below me and they
From A C. Urie, who operates | from Filer, also saw two circular | at about 1,000 miles per hour.” |also saw it at about a 45-degree
! the Auger Falls Trout farm ,\xxiuhu-rl,\ soaring along at a great | Urie explained that the incident | angle. They both got a bottom and
niles west of Blue Lakes ranch in | height near Salmon dam 40 miles |occurred while the two boys were [a side view, and we were all look+
Snake river canyon, came perhaps | southwest of Twin Falls ‘rnmlnn across the river from the | ing at it from the south side of the
| the most detailed account of one uz\ Here is Urie's eye-witness de- | north side in a boat. He had br~] (Continued on Page 8. Column &)
) || — O — e e SNy A
i
--- page 45 ---
- . . S T ———— T .
(G " | *Saucer’ S H
! odaucel een
| 0 { g e o {
| - Flying Down |
! ' > = z i
i3 o 2 .
; Snake Gorge
(From Page One)
Imn facing ’lr':"A.t!d‘ the north. The
i | boys saw it coming about half a
| | mile up the canvon, and we all lost
| !sight of it in less than a mile.” ‘
| While the impression was still
| vivid in their minds, the three got |
| together and made rough gketches |
|of what they had seen. These, an
| turn, were the basis for the artist's
lconcopuon of the strange affair by |
| Vic Goertzen of Twin Falls for the |
Times-News. |
“It was all one color—sort of a
light sky blue with a red, lubular‘
fiery glow at the side of the top or
hood.” Urie continued. |
“The canyon floor is rough at |
| that particular point, and it rode
| up and down over the hills and hol-
| lows at a speed indicating some
* type of control faster than the |
jreflexes of man. It 1s my opinion |
: ' that it is guided by instruments and | [
;| must be powered by atomic energy, |
(| as it made very little noise—just a |
-|s=w-1-s-h as it passed by." |
:| Urie described the size as about |
| 20 feet long by 10 feet high and
1|10 feet wide, giving it an oblong {
;| shape. It might be described as look- |
|ing like an inverted pie-plate or |
+| broad-brimmed straw hat that had {
been compressed from two sides. |
Pressed for his candid opinion of |
Just what it was, Urle said that he |
Wwas convinced that there was some- - |
thing to this fiying saucer situation. |
| “I know a number of the people who |
have also seen them and I know
“|that they're not just imagining
.|something or trying to get their |
| names in the paper.” Urie com-
| ;| mented. ’ i
.| “Ido know that it scared the boys
{ and made me feel pretty uneasy,”
| he added.
| Tracing down a rumor that County |
| Commissioner Hawkins had seen an
= unusual object in the air on the
| same day as Urie's experience, the
Times-News called him at his Piler
home. ] |
| . “Yes, T did." he replied without
| hesitation. “I'll have to admit I've
| been skeptical all along until T saw
| it with my own eyes. I can't say
| what it was, but I can say there's
something in the air.”
Hawkins related that while at
Salmon dam Wednesday morning,
| a sound resembling the echo of a
motor caused him to look upward,|
and there he saw two circular ob-
i Jjects that reflected light. They were
| - traveling at a great speed and
higher than most airplanes, accord-
Ing to Hawkins.
f Aside from this, he declined to
add details. except to say, “There’s
| something in the air.”
| His general description, however.
corresponded closely to those of
hundreds of persons who reported
seeing flying saucers after Kenneth |
| Arnold, Boise businessman, had
‘ 3 touched off the deluge by telling of
| coming upon nine disc-like objects |
| while he was flying in his private
plane in Washington. |
| Thereafter. the nation became in-
| creasingly flying saucer conscious,
| creating a state of mind that made |
| it possible for four ‘teen age Twin
| Falls boys to cause a mild nnn-: |
| tion when they built a model flying |
| disc and tossed Into a local vard {
| July 10. This was subseuently re- I
! vealed as a hoax. following investi-
| gation by the army and FBI.
L, | Thereafter the saucer reports |
¥ % RS tapered off into a few scattered in-
| » cidents until the question was re-
| vived by this week's occurrences. . . ]
sy Speculation has ranged from e - 1
| I8 mention that the discs could be i —4
army or navy guided missile experi- |
{ ments, or that they could be similar l
experiments by some foreign coun-
try. to “something out of this | ‘
. world”® - p | |
| Whatever. they are. a lot of people 5 . ’ |
Ihlve seen “something.” | 1
LT SEmanA B T s SRR i -
--- page 46 ---
b g. . \l'~ p . ': b e /i 2 »
[ e 0 LS
i HEADQUARTERS
FLYING DIVISION, AIR TRAINING COMMAND
Office of the Commanding General P
Randolph Field, Texas
) 10 July 1947
333.5 . Y
SUBJECT: Unidentifiable Objects
10 Commanding General .
Tenth Air Poroe
Brooks Field, Texas
Attn: ACofS, A-2 :
1. The inclosed MOIC is forwarded for your information.
2, In the event that It. E, B, Armstrong has been interviewed
by your Headquarters, request that a copy of the MOIC be furnished 3
to this Headquarters, ¢
FOR THE COMMANDING GENERAL:
1 Incl H. L. CRISIER
MOIC It. Colonsl, G.S.C.
Asst. Chief of Staff, A-2
333.5 1st Ind nC
HEADQUARTERS TERTH AIR FORCE, OFFICE OF THE ASST CHIEF OF STAFF, A-2,
BROOKS FIBLD, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, 16 July 1947
TO: C;-nd%u General, Flying Division, Air Training Command, Randolph
1d., Texas
Aml,'hat Chief of Staff, A-2
Inclosed is Memorandum for the Officer in Charge in reference to
Lt. B. B. “rmstrong, as suggested in paragraph 2, basic comniut;on. 59
1 Incl " 5,H, MORROW
MOIC, dtd 15 July 47 Colonel, GSC
1 Incl withdrawn * . Asst Chief of Staff, A=2
MOIC, dtd 7 July 47 ‘
57
--- page 47 ---
T .' -' . . \
' UNIDENTIFIABLE OBJECTS
° Williams F)M, Chandler, Aris.
: 15 July 147
: MEMORANDUM FOR THE OFFICER IN OHARGE:
1. om Wi July 1947, lst 1t Erie 3. Armstrong, 0-2059709, 170%h
AAP Base Unis, FPerry Division, Brooks Pield, San Anxtonio, Texas was
interviowed and the following infermation was obtaimed: Lt Armstrong
doparted Williams Pleld, Arisona at 1400 CST on 28 Jume 1SL7 4n & P-51
for Portland, Oregon, by the way of Medford, Oregon. A% oximate ly
suu!-.omdmm.mm-mcxcmu
10,000 feet, approximately thirty miles northwest of Lake Meade, Nevads,
LS Armstrong sighted five ar six white, circular objects at four o'oleck,
.mww‘.uom. Sourse approximately 120 degrees, amd
an os speed of 285 WPH. L& Armstrong seid the objects were flying
very smoothly and in a close formation. The estimated sise of the white
objests ware appreximtely 36 inches im diameber. Lt Armstrong stated v
tatde 45 sure the white objects were net birds, since the rate of elesurd ™ ¢
was very fast. Lt Armstrong was certain that the white objests were.mot
m-om-xqpmn-u.»mnmwm.
AGENT'S NOTES:
" 1A Armstrong was very simers in the explamtion and was mot the
-Efluvp. He morely stated what he saw and has drawn no cone
olus a8 to what the white objects were.
: lawrense R. King, Jr, Speeial Agent, CIC, ADC
-
--- page 48 ---
R .
= v R T 98k L
/
UNIDNTIFIABLE OBJECTS
AILLIAMS F1ELD, CHANDLER,
ARIZONA
7 July 1947
MEMORANDUM POR THE OPTICHR IN CHARCE:
le Om 1 July 1947, Lt Willism G, MeGinty, USN, 195803, P-80
Student, Villiams FPleld, Chandler, Arizona, was interviewed by
this Agent, and stated in substance: That on 30 June 1947, at about
0910, MST, he was flying at 25,000 feet over Grand Canyen, Arizona, in
a P=80 type aireraft. He stated that he was heading south towards ¥illiams
Fleld, Arizona, when he saw two round objects going at inconceivable
speeds, straight down, He further stated that his reactions were to
turn away from the objects, He further stated that one of the uniden-
tifiable cbjects followed the other seconds apart, He further stated
that due to the speed of the objects, he could only see that they were
circular, and that they were possible light gray in color. He further
stated that it was his opinion that the objects were approximately
eight feet in diameter. In conclusion, he stated that the objects
would hawprobebly hit the ground approximately twenty-five miles
south of the South Rim of Grand Canyon, Arizona,
AGENT'S NOTES: Lt MeCimty gave his permanent address as: NoAM,T,.C,,
Point Hugu, Fort Hueneme, Calif,
2, On 1 July 1947, Captain Naleolam G. Amstrong, O-7T3Alé8,
Instruetor, Single ingine, ¥ililams Field, Chandler, Arizona, was
interviewed by this igent and stated in substance: That his brother,
lst Lt £, B, Amstrong, stationed at Hq, 10th AAF, Brooks AiF, Texas
had related to him that he saw a formation of unexplainable objects
in the vicinity of Lake Mead, Nev. Csptain Amstrong, further stated
that his brother stated the objects were heading south, and were at
approximately 10,000 feet altitude,
AGENT'S NOTES: Captain Amstrong could not give teo much infemation
on the objects that his brother had seen, Lt, &, B, Armstyong can be -
contacted at Hq, 10th A/F, Brooks Fileld, Texas for further information,
Lymn C. Aldrich, Speeial Agent, CIC-AAF, FDIRC
THIS IS A TRUE COPY
: * » L]
Mo e g #7 "
--- page 49 ---
: : R BARRRAS & T8 {ok G
V17 adl
//
( b
Unidentifiaple Objects.
D 333.5 ID (16 Jul W7) ist Ind.
HQ AIR DEFENSE COMMAND, Mitcnel Fisld, New Yorx, 21 July 1947.
T0: Commanding General, Army Air Forces, Washington 25, D, C.
ATTN: AC/AS-2.
1. Foarwardea for your information and utilization,
FOR THE COMMANDING GENERAL:
Info cy: . H. SMITH Ve
cG, Auc, = Colonel, GSC g+ Gt . &
4 Wrignt Fla, [+ Asst Chief of Staff-Intell.
Dayton, O.
7 2 Incls:
n/c
a
o
U T ey -
g
--- page 50 ---
4 . WQAIR DEPENSR COMUND, Mivchel Pield, New Yerx, 2 Juiy 1947.
10: Comsand General, Army Alr Foroces, Vashington 25, D, C,
R =y My ’ 4
Th, 1. Torwarded for your information and wtilisation.
i POR THE COMEANDING GENERAL: '
s Re N. SMITH
. Info ey: Galonel, G5G
i W, Asst Ghlef of Staff-Inbell.
S8 . Daytes, 0.”
‘ 3. Y :
n/e
el
; b3
o8 wh ! v
3 g “,‘i.'\(y
,‘. ’ A . "
. 1 sl
--- page 51 ---
.
\ . f ) 1’_"\4_‘&{!’fl!
’) HEADQUARTERS
BROOKS FIELD, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS
Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff, A-2
IN REPLY REFER TO:
DC 3335 16 July 1947
SUBJECT: Unidentif'ialtle Jects
T0: Commanding General
Air Defense Commnd >
itchel Field, llew York
ATTY: Asst Chief of Staff, A=
l. Inclosed herewit: for your information is investigation rolative
to Unidentifialle (bjects which was initinted at licadquarters, rlying Divi-
. sion, Air Trsining Command, Randolph iield, Texas., This Office assisted,
as noted in Inclosure 2, by completing a lemorandum for the (fficer in
Charge.
2e lio further action is contemplated by thi eadquarters concerning
investigation of this imncident.
-~ -
[ N oL
1. §0IC dtd 7 July L7 Colonel, GSC
2o Ltr, FDATC, w/1 Ind isst Chief of Staff, A-2
and 1 Incl, 10IC, dtd
1 July 147
o
e e &
NPT R (L -
e
--- page 52 ---
3 G /’G}LAI Garrr AC/AS-T ) ; By
ad 29 A
L kS FrRed ! BIR, o F /NTEL. a7 5 AVE 9 £ ¢ i
e naJ riner )1373€ / -
? 3 2636 flagnolia Ave.,
Los Angeles 7, oalif.
August 1 1947
Director of Military Intellegence, l
War Departmant, Washington 25, D.C.
Dear sir:
On Sunday afternoon, July the Sixth, I observed something very
strange ; it is related —- at least im my own mind-—— with the
phenomena of the ®*Fabulous Rlying Saucers# and I cannot report on
this second phemomena , without speaking of the first.
- As I do not wish to be considered the vietim of mass psychology,
& crack-pot or visionary , it is rather hard for me to m:ke this
report. I am doing it because I consider it my duty.
A newspaper article spoke of the Bureau of Standards as "Having a
finger in the pie " in many experiments so not knowing where to
write or who to write to L wrote to the Bureau, and Mr. Hugh L. Dryd-
en has suggested that you were the one to report to.
I had been amused at accounts of the » flying saucers *. Kveryone
was talking , laughing and Joking about themand I did not-believe
in them .
’he Hollywood Tarzana Bus Wwas parked at the Tarzana end of the line
and the driver was busy making out his reports preparatory to making
the return trip./ I was the only one in the bus and I sat in the
middle of the side next to Ventura eo the bus was parked north znd
southe
As I looked to my right y & "Saucer appeared out of nowhere:appar-
ently out of nowhere and it was followed by several others ; they
were of uniform size and spaced at regular intervals and it seemed
as if they turned a corner from the West and they rolled along
at great speedto the gorthward and par¥allel toVentura Douleverad .
As soon as I becameconvinced that what ; saw was not an illusion
but what every one was talking about I began to study them and it
was right then that my eyes seemed to be drawn to this other phenoma
in the air between me and the *Saucers".
What I saw was milky whitw rays in the sunlight that seemed to cris
ceross like the search lights do at fight ; it was nothing like the
sun shining on some bright object for the rays were not spaced and
they were not so close together and they cris crossed. However, they
did seem to converge toward a center but they did not meet there .
In this center ——- a radious of about eighteen inches it seemed
trom;I sat, there were spinning objects &f some red substance
ol
#2207
--- page 53 ---
s S 2
, " about the color of the semi- precious stone Cornelian; these
- fragments were sharp and irregular and shing. fhey were flying
about as if flying to a magnet . This was momentary and I looked
to see if the "saucers"™ were still there. 1 saw one or two but
the same thing happened again and 1 saw the second phenomena for
a second . By this time the "Saucers were out of sight.
All the wzy hope I was trying to find some logical explanation for
the "Sa ucers" but my mind kept reverting to the second phenomena
and as 1 dwelt on it I could not help surmising if perhaps these
rays I saw did not come out of the red f ragments that were spinning
in the vortex. I couldnt help wondering if this substance had beeh
shot from the "Saucers as theyturned the corner from the west on their
way to the “orth/.
As our army would not be shotin~ 122dly rays over toward a very
croweded highway and as this whole thing seems fantastic to say
the least, I thought I had better trust some ones Judgement who
really knows what is going onand so you have @y report on what
4+ really saw, and what I an very curious about,
Thanks to MB. Dryden for his courtesy in letting me know Just
who to relate this incident to, and thanks to you for listening A
and I hope that it makes the right kind of impression.
Sincerely yours,
M. Lenore Corey
--- page 54 ---
«-HQOCAMA FORM NO. S.508
OKLAHOMA CITY AIR MATERIEL AREA
TINKER FIELD
OKLAMOMA CITY, OKLAMOMA
IN REPLY REFER TO:
#3724-1 30 July 1947
MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECURITY OFFICER, OCAMA
Subject: DAN NELSON, Attorney-at-Law, 926 Perrine Building
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. .
3 Re: Flying Saucer Mystery Solved.
Onao.:n:.ymmmanumnmorm., 926 Perrine
_Building, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, relative to his alleged solving of the
Flying Saucer Mystery.
Subject, whose age is 53, is at present engaged in practicing law and
umme:mmmmhmw. Subject advised he is
married and has two sons, ages seven and ten, residing at 2613 N.W. lith
Street, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Nelson stated he was a sergeant in World
m:,m»muummmumwn,sawmm,
andthatbofmcnta'hgmurdoohom“ouhthmduauon. After
leaving the service he finished his education and graduated from the University
of Oklahoma in 1929. H-Mthntcimolmuh-motuodml
law in both Norman and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
m7mo:n:hmh;&wmm'nmtbyhtMMl9Jfly
them o m-eomingtbmin‘s“cormury.
: nor;uivummumazammwadmmu.mhtmmm
referred to the Air Forces. NELSON stated he heard no more from the War
w'mu;uothI%?,.t'hichu-h.rolunodhn-t.u.ntto
the Oklahoman,” Oklahoma City local newspaper.
Subject advised the basis for his theory concerning the Flying Saucer
mmmobmu&aam.wmuhummmmm
his automobile. mmwmwmtmmmanu
or shining objects cast onto their windshields and side ventilator windows
otmmnanm“.uwndmmoum. He
mtodthatthomtorfinumh,pluthofmt!utthoghnvu
i not & perfect mirror and passing objects could be seen in relation to the
objects gave them an appearance of great speed.
Subject advised that the vibration of the car gave the objects an
mofmtin;mdmtthnmotumuuodth.towmQ
or saucer shaped. NELSON stated that any number of objects might be seen
uom.umuummtmmhtunm;mmmubrw
objects being reflected onto the window. He further stated that these objects
mumunmmmamoumwm1wm
Doek # no
--- page 55 ---
'/ -
5
conditions, and that the objects might be either vertical or horizonal. The
subject related that any change in speed of the car resulted in a change in
speed of the object, and that changes of direction resulted in a change in
the angle of travel of the object.
NELSON stated he has not talked to any persons that had actually seen
flying saucers or discs but he believed that these reflections plus the
excitement and hysteria caused by other reports has been the basis for most
flying saucer reports. Subject also stated that this same theory could be
true in relation to flying saucers seen from aircraft.
Attached hereto is a detailed statement by NELSON covering his findings
and explaining his solution to the so-called Flying Saucer Mystery.
KALMAN D. SIMON
C.I., U.S. Army
2
--- page 56 ---
£ : FLYING SAUCER MYSTERY SOLVED
July 12, 1947. 3
The most impressive reports of the so-called flying :
saucers or discs were those from aviators who claim they g
saw disc-shaped objects tlying through the air in various
formations at high altit@os and at' a high rate of speed,
The first report was from an aviator who stated that these ;
so=-called rliing discs had a somewhat shiny appearance and
would fly in formation and change their position from time
to time. Most reports stated fihat they appeared in the late
afternoon or about dusk. .
Most all reports were to the effect that these objects
had the appearance of an inverted disc or saucer, and some
of them reported that they appeared to be rotatin- in their
flight. ‘
‘ The mystery of the flying saucers or discs may be sol-
ved by the use of a little applied science along with a
few simple experiments.
These flying discs or saucers can be observed by any
motorist traveling along the highways when the sun is
shining on most any afternoon or evening, During the day=-
light most of these so-called flying discs are reflections
from the sun shining upon some bright object in or on the
automobile driven by the observer., For instance, if you
were driving in a north-westerly direction with the sun }
shininz on the handle of the .front. or rear door on the left
side of the car, you may notice a shiny object appear in the
ventilation wing of the window on the drivers left, if it is
opened to about a 45° angle.
--- page 57 ---
These lhtn} objects may have wmrious forms and thére may
be more th;n ono; depending on the number of reflections.
" They may appear to be in the sky when the driver looks through
the ventilation wing glass. Their position in the sky depends
upon' the angle at which the object is reflected in the ven-
‘tilation wing and the position of the observer. They may have
various forms but very frequently they are of a saucer shape
or a flat shape when they appear to be in the sky. '
The ventilation wing during day-light is not of course
a perfect mirror, therefore, it appears to the driver or obe
server that he is actually looking through the glass into the
sky. As he moves along, the bright objects appear to be
traveling at a high rate of speed in comparison with the
stationary objects on the ground, or the distant horizon, that
he sees through the window, or in comparison with the faintly
silhouetted objects on the landscape which at times are re-
flected in the window.
The flying saucer appears to be traveling in the same
| general direction as the automobile but sometimes a little to
the right which makes it appear that it will eventually cross
the drivers path. Thé apparent flight direction of the
saucer is due to the angle of the ventilation wing glass in
its relation to the direction in which the car is traveling.
The number and position of the saucers reflefted in the zlass
| depend upon the number and contour of objects reflected there-
in by the sun. Brizht objects on a car approaching from the
s rear may cast such reflections on your ventilation wing in
the daytime.
(2)
. Lt ¢
--- page 58 ---
If the ventilation wtné window were a perfect mirror the
objects causing the reflections would appear therein,as well as
all other objects within range, but the ventilation wing being
a sort of a semi-mirror, does not reflect the object but only
: tho bright spot, which leaves the impression that the observer
is actually looking through the glass and that the object act-
ually appears to be in the sky, or at times a long distance
away. These results are best obtained in the late afternoon,
or after sun down.
The aviators who reported seeing flying discs or saucers, |
undoubtedly were seeing the reflection of bright objects in or
on their own plane. They saw them as reflected in their canopy
or wind shield, but failed to recognize them as reflections.
Otherwise they were reflections from other air craft.
. As the aviator ‘traveled along observing the movement of
the disc in comparison with the mountains, clouds or station=-
ary objects on the earth, madle them appear to be traveling at
a high rate of speed. The sloping angle of the aviators
wind-shield and his position in the plane made it appear that
the discs were in the sky. The position of the dises also
depend upon the position of the observer and the angle at which
they are reflected in the glass.
Some of the reports stated that where there were more
than one flying disc, they appeared to be fastened together
and frequently performed a dipping or rising motion and when
i one would dip, they would all go through the same motion sim=
i ultaneously. The simultaneous movement is due to the reflect-
jons all coming from the same object. For instance, if they
(3)
--- page 59 ---
i/fl i -.
are reflected from some bright object in or on the car or plane,
the up and down motion of the car or plane causes the flying
discs to appear to be going through a dipping and rising motion,
or, if the reflecting object is stationary and the car moving,
the results will be the same.
The statement that the discs appeared to be rotating as
they sailed through the atmosphere is due to the vibration of
the automobile or plane. Vibrations make them appear to be
rotating at a very high rate of speed. Vibration is what gives
them a flat or disc-likg shape- also.
If you wish to see some flying discs, make a drive at about
dusk or at nizht, open your ventilation wing window at about a
4L5° angle from the irivers seat and watch the reflections of
the stationary elecgric lights th:t appear on your left, if you
are driving, after you pass them,and see how many discs you can
observe flyinz through the air. If there are not too many lights
to your rear, you may have a perfect formation of beaufiful
flying discs which may be red, green or silver according to
the color of the electric lights which you have passed. They
appear most realistic vhen traveling about forty-five or fifty
miles per hour. If you do not get satisfactory results from
your first experiments, try again. After you have learned
vhen and where to look for them, your observations become more
pleasinz and interesting. ]
Even the lizhts of an approaching automobile from your
rear may appear as one flying disc in your ventilation wing.
The reflections of the approachini lights will appear in your
ventilation wing unless the side of your car protrudes ocut so
far as to prev:nt the lizht beam from shining on the wingz.
i (&) I
--- page 60 ---
7/
These appear best when the approachinz car is some distance
away, perhaps a quarter or half a mile. The results at night
may not be as impressive as those in the late afternoon because
at night your ventilation wing window makes a more perfect
mirror and the passing landscape is not as pronounced, therefore,
the reflections therein are more easily detected as reflections. i
In the late afternoon, however, you have a feelinz that you are
actually looking throush the glass and the reflected objects
appear more real. The sun shininz on a bright ring on your fin-
ger with your hand resting on the steering wheel may cast disc-
like reflections in your wind shield. The form of the reflect-
ion will depend upon the ornamental decorations on your ring.
The rear door handle on my automobile reflects nine beau-
tiful, little, silver, flying discs in the brizht sun-light.
These appear in the lower part of the ventilation wingz and when
traveling on a level highway, they appear to be racinz along
with me at the road side. These nine discs appear in a forme-
ation of two rows of four each, with the ninth one in the lead :
at the center of the formation. They appear as whirling pro-
pellers in a vertical position.’ These discs also have stream-
ers which are due to the curveture and decorative pattern on
the handle. While traveling north in the early afternocon under
a bright sun, these nine discs appeared far below to my left,
racing up the valley at a terrific rate.
You may be able to see flying discs in your own home.
If you will turn on a small electric light in the halleway
and then bok through the window at the other end of the hall,
(5) : . -
--- page 61 ---
you may sce as many as three flying disecs from one electric
I light bulb, which may have more or less of a ball shape. These
discfi many times &ppear as inverted saucers, and if you will
change your position slowly you will see that they change their
position also. These are best observed in the late afternoon
or between sun down and dusk, when it appears to you that you
are merely lookingz through the window pane at the disecs sus-
pended in the distance. As darkness comes on, the window pane
becomes a more perfect mirror and your discs appear as reflect-
" ioms in a mirror,
To watch the discs, through your ventilation wing, sail
along with you as you drive through the country, becomes very
fascinating, especially if you use a little imagination. It
may absorb your thoughts completely, therefore, I would admone
ish automobile drivers watching the flying discs, to be cautious
and not ;un off the road or into some other car.
Some of the reports on flying saucers, heretofore not ex-
plained in this article, such as those reported seeing bright
flashes in the sky, were no doubt reflected sun=-light from
planes. These light beams chanced to cross the line of vision
of the observer.. They frequently appear very brilliant and
may more or less blind the observer for an instant. If the
plane is very high it may not be seen by the observer, which
may be due to impaired vision or the great height at which
the plane is flying. We very often get these same blinding
flashes from automobile wind-shields, Many of the reports
around July 4th. were incited by various forms of fire works.
(6) i
--- page 62 ---
' Some reports stemmed from pure imagination or hysteria, while
. others were deliberate hoaxes. d4ay other reports can be ex-
plained if all the surrounding facts are known.
Most ali of the reports and descriptions of the flying
saucers coincide so clearly with the findings herein, that
there could be no doubt but that we have the correct solution.
The foregoing statement may not be coached in precise
scientific terms, and may not be scientifically exact, how-
. ever, we believe it is so worded that the average layman can
understand it and that it is sufficiently correct to prove
the proposition.
Personally, I do not believe that the so-called flying
saucers or the solution thereof, are of any military value,
. unless the Government wished to retain this information for
the psychological effect upon any potential enemy nation,
such as Germany did in regard to their so-called secret
uoapo:s during the war.
‘;}
--- page 63 ---
- B /A
NRL 7 August 1947
MEMORANDUM | ;
SUBJECT: "Flying Saucers"
T0: Asst Chief of Air Staff-2 :
Collection Branch, AAF
Washington 25, D. C.
1. The inclosure is an excerpt from a letter to
Dr. E. Tousey, Micron Waves Section Head, Naval Research Labora~
tory, from Mr. John F. Cole, pertaining to some unidentified objects
which Mr. Cole reports to have seen some time prior to the first
reports of "flying sasucers" in the New England area.
2. Dr. Tousey states that Mr. Cole is a well-known astronomer
and a reliable observer as & result of his training.
3. The inclosure is in addition to information contained
in previous letters to your office taken from interviews at the
request -of Lt. Col. G. D. Garrett, AAF A-2.
o/ Lieen e/
l/lncl. WILLIAM P. MELLEN
/ Excerpt fm ltr to Major, Air Corps
Dr. Tousey 2 AMC Liaison Officer
Naval Research Laboratory
D
--- page 64 ---
° -
9 . it . C(//"/
Excerpt from letter to Dr. R. Tousey from
Mr. John F. Cole
‘ South Brooksville, Me,
: July 28, 1947.
Having in mind the ridicule which hae been heaped-on those innocent
or perhaps gullible individuale who have reported disks, I would be & little
cautious in interpreting. But it is safe to say truthfully, that something
unusual attracted my attention, and I was in a perfectly sober. condition,
barring the mild stimulation, afforded by cool epring water filtering through
: North Haven greenstone cracks. It should be easy to determine if the "disks"
were a new type jet plane, or bomber, or rocket. The fact th:t it was July
3, about 2:30 P.M. (summer time) or Greenwich Civil time 1830 might suggest
that they were engaged in some naval demonstration from hltporQ& Bar Harbor
or Belfast. The group appeared to be at an altitude of about 50° -= I suffer
from a mild cervical arthritis--but my eyes are well corrected for astigma-
tism and hypermetropia, and I doubt if my cerebral cortical Lesions are suffic-
iently advanced to affect my balance. What first made me laok up was the un-
usually loud roar and I was surprised not to see a well defined group of planes
quite near. Instead I had to look rather sharply to see the bunch-of very
light colored objects, in a general northerly direction and travelling roughly
in a NW (true) direction. This was reasonably correct, as I was on Cox's
hill, and looked over towards Backwood's Mount, that ie the conspicuous flat
tep planated hill at Harborside. The group could hardly have covered more
than 13° engular diameter in the sky, and bunched rather closely with no
regular formation. There might have been 10, I couldn't say and with 90' of
arc spread, would easily be within the limit of vieibility for discreet ob-
Jects. As a group they were g0oing so as to cover 30° of arc, estimated of
course, in perhaps 10 or 15 seconds. If one of them, say, subtended 1/10°,
with a possible wing spread of 100 feet, it would put it at a distance of
over 10 miles, and quite invisidble for a light object. Besides, with 30°
arc of travel at a 10 mi. distance would be roughly 5 miles in 15 seconds
or 20 mi. per minute or 1200 mi. per hour!!--rather fast for a bomber--hi.
A 50 ft. object, at 5 miles dist. would be about 600 mi. per hr.--also faet
going. The only concrete evidence of form appeared on the left tangent of
the group--two dark shaped forms: O & which may have been tail wings.
Doeen't the Douglass bomber have these? And since they were in no regular
formation, but seemed among themselves to be moving irregularly like a swarm
of bees, why shouldn't all of them have shown wings? The loud roar suggests
they may have been much closer, and rather small. The sky background was
hazy blue, and the sun behind me. One vlane towing a lo¢ of balloons, I
believe, would have been easily recognized. Havy any meteorites been re-
ported? At that time of day, has there been any abrupt change of radio field
strength? or ionization?
'
--- page 65 ---
‘i . -~
. OFFICE OF THE AIR INSPECTOR
25 JULY 1947
MEMORANDUM TOs AC/AS-Z. Counter Intelligence Branch
1. Information contained herein and opinions expressed are based
upon conversation with and request by Mr. Butler of your office. All
pertain to certein phenonema connected with recent widespread talk of
"flying saucers".
2., Approximately three weeks ago, on or about 7 July 1947, I
prepared to go to bed around 2230 or 2300 EDT. I was living at 2807
North Glebe Road, Arlington, Virginia, with my wife. Illustration No. 1
shows the general layout of the room we occupied at that time. See
Illustretion No. 1.
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74 ASEAEAT e NI
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(S oa? Ll er
‘ £ ¢ 546
--- page 66 ---
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3. I had just turned off the light by my bedside, but sat down
on the side of the bed to listed to the end of a radio program before X
reclining. In the meantime, my wife and I were having some conversa-
tion about the selection of certain furniture for a home we had just
purchased, At the time of these events, as I sat facing the windows,
e light appeared at the right-hand edge of the extreme end window and
moved rapidly along to disappear below the trees or horizon, or to be
extinguished in some fashion at same place in a general southerly
direction, This is illustrated on the following page by a very tenta-
tive sketch., See Illustration No. 2. / (1
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--- page 67 ---
,‘/ . .
. ¥ B, ;
4. At the time, since my attention was divided and absorbed among
the subjects mentioned, my reaction was simply that "a light passed by,"
and I gave no further thought to the matter until some moments later,
when the thought came to me that I had never seen such an object before,
and thet although the first explanation would have been that a meteor had
fallen ¢oward earth in that direction, it did not have the appearance of
any meteor or "shooting star" I had ever seen. Thinking of the then-
prevalent talk of flying disks, I reflected that probably soms such
thing as I had just seen was the source of a large amount of newspaper
and radio publicity on the subject. The next morning I jestingly
announced in the office that I saw a flying saucer the night before and
thought that it was enroute to Alexandria,where some of our officers
live. I then went on to say that I supposed it was a shooting star,
but that it did look somewhat peculiar, After we had discussed the
general topic for some time, I dropped the subject, not wishing to add
to the supposed rumors, which I envisioned as a source of serious panic
3 over the country,
' 5o A description of the light, or object is almost impossible,
since observation of it was so limited. As shown in Illustration No. 25
the object appeared to pass in closest proximity to me at the time it
came into view, All of my mental calculations were based upon some
impression or congeption of its distance at the closest point, (AC).
I had no way of judging this, except in the form of very crude depth~
perception. If this by any chance were correct, and instead of e dis-
tant meteor some object had passed near-by, I would assume for purposes
of description that the distance AC on the sketch was some three quarters
of a mile, One factor which I could judge quite reliably was the angular
elevation. This must have been approximately 3 or 4 degrees; at any
rate, the light was intermittently behind the tallest trees forward of
my position as it passed, and these trees are of a normal height, perhaps
sixty or eighty feet at a distencefseveral blocks. Based upon a mild
assumption as to distance, and a reasonable assumption as to angular
elevation, the object would be at a low altitude, considerably bolow
500 feet, and of a size approximating a small airplane, say 30 feet
across. The shape may have been round, oval, discal, or irregular; at -
the speed with which it travelled, I could only perceive it as a "blob."
I do not consider the distance mentioned to be less than 3/4 mile,
because had it been, I feel sure that, late in the evening and with all
my windows open, I would have heard some sound, which I definitely did
not in this case. It might be well to point out here the relative
similarity in size, altitude and airspeed of a firefly at a distance of
30 feet, an airplane at about 3/4 mile, and a meteor at several hundred
miles. Most of us are familiar with this illusion.
3
5y
--- page 68 ---
h e e M 3
6. Although I could not accurately judge the time, I seem to
recall the object or light was visible for a couple of seconds.
Teking this figure literally and applying it to the sketch, No. 2,
one could roughly compute the speed of the object at 1350 mphj; however,
I did not sense that it was moving with such great speed as this, It
rather appeared to move with the speed of a jet-powered airplane, It z
did not deviate from a straight course while I observed it, and did not
] perceptibly lose altitude.
7. In color, the subject had the appearance of a reflected white
light, a cool, bright white light with no red in it, like the moon on a
clear night. There was no train visible to me, in the form of fire,
smoke, or sparks. The weather at the assumed time and date was checked
through records of the Bolling Field weather office, and consisted of
scattered to broken clouds with visibilities of 10 - 12 miles. The cloud
condition is further indication that the object was not necessarily a
meteor, since it might have been impossible to see a meteor. I do not
personally remember the weather condition, except that I am sure it was
not raining. y
8. At the time of this occurrence, I was not inclined to think of
: it seriously enough to wake my wife and describe it to her, nor by any
reasoning to make official report. As time passed, I thought considerably
about the fleeting glimpse I had of whatever I saw, and am still somewhat
confused, but feel that it was some natural phenomenon which occurs but
rerely, I have flown approximately 2500 hours during the past:seven
years and being generally familiar with aspects of aviation can emphati-
cally state that (a)“it was no weather balloon, (b) it was not the flash of
a beacon on the cloud-base, (c) it could hardly have beon an airpleane on
fire, since it would have at least crashed in this general area, (d) it
was not entirely a result of imsgination, and (e) it was not spending
much time in one place,
JAMES O, COBB
Lt Colonel, Air Corps
k $ 59
--- page 69 ---
DIRECTOR NAVAL RESEARCH LABORATORY ABRMY LIAISON OFFICE . 9
WASHINGTON 20. D.C. - NAVY DEPARTMENT //- Y4
e NAVAL RESEARCH LABORATORY :
Code 110 WASHINGTON 20, D.C. ; /‘//
28 July 1947
SUBJECT: Flying Saucers
? T0: Asst Chief of Air Staff-2
Collection Branch, AAFP
Washington 25, D. C.
i Supplemental to that contained in a letter to your office,
dated 12 July 1947, re interview with Mr. C. H. Zohn who purports
to have seen an unidentified flying object, the following additional
information was obtained on 21 July from C. C. Rockwood, who was mentioned
in that letter as having also seen the object.
C. C. Rockwood reports the object to have been either a silvery
sphere or disc, which he would have taken to be a meteorological balloon
except for the fact that it was travelling at a much higher velocity
than the automobile and approximately in the same direction. The auto-
mobile was moving about 60 mph. There was little, if any, surface wind.
When first seen at an elevation of about 45° it appeared about of
the same size as the sun. He could hear nothing above the noise of the
car. P5 sav no smoke or contrails.
Its motion was apparently all horisontal. Its aspect did not change
so fafas could be observed during the time of observation. He thought
it disappeared Dy simply becoming too small to see.
op b N Wl
WILLIAM P. MELLEN
Major, Air Corps
AMC Liaison Officer
--- page 70 ---
r,
I i
--- page 71 ---
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ii-\ . 5 i - _’> = v
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--- page 72 ---
e - T 2
=X b & = ; Nl
b v o E -
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b |- .4 r T ‘.’__i' 3 e 7
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--- page 73 ---
This uanmmu;-ud code (cypher . Text must be peraphrased
if essential to retransmit it in another system or to comunicate its con=
tents to persons outside British or U.S. Govermvent Serviges. Ome=timp
.’fl' pad ressages are excepted from this rule, @ 1
JOINT COMUNICATIONS QOFFICE 9421 , :
: ‘;’éf//
-gBcpee . IN MESSIGE 7.0.0: 080800 Aug. 1947 '
. REC'D: 1200 EDT 9th Aug. :
FROM: A.M, LONDON p i
TO: FAFDEL CYPHER. MESSAGE 3
AIX 6328 fug. 8th 1947
Your AIX 14 July 29th.
During normel night flying practice at 2230 hours on 16th . ’
Jenuary, 1947, one of our Hosquitos was vectored @ to an unidentified
aireraft at 22,000 feet. A long chase ensued commencing over the North
Sea ebout 50 miles frorm the Dutch coest end ondiné at 2300 hours over
Norfolk. Two brief AI contrets were mrde but faded quickly. The une
identified alrerafl appeared to take efficient controlled evasive action.
2, No explanation of this incident has been forthcoming nor
has it been repeated.
: T %4
LETREE S SR S -
| i KEEC o kL e
rM, / \
C.I.0. (Action)3 s )
. fec ‘ ‘
--- page 74 ---
O™
FLYING DISCS
‘ 0 July 1947
For purposes of analysis by AFBIR-CO, eighteen reported sightings
of "Flying Discs" were selected for breakdown into detalled particulars. Each
report was assigned a number and each number appears in the lett-har;d column
of the data on the following pages.
One report, Number 7, has not yst been received and therefore no
information is included other than Date, Name of Observer, and Location. The
Fourth Air Force is attempting to secure a statement from this observer.
Four reports, Numbers 2, 4, 17, and 13, have not been analyzed.
The subject headings on which the breakdown has been made are:
Date
Hour (Local standard Time)
Location
Ohserver's Name
CObserver's Occupation
Observed from Ground or Air
Number of Objects sighted
Altitude
Direction of Flight
Speed
Distance Covered
Length of Time in Jight
Deviation from Jtraight Flight
Color
Slze
Shape
sound
Trail
Weather
Manner of Disappearance
Remarks
WA h e e b sEAN
--- page 75 ---
-
Report
Number Date *Hour Location
1 19 May 1215 Manitou Springs, Colorado
2 22 May Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
3 22 June 1130 Greenfield, Massachusetts
4L 24 June Mt. Rainier, Jashington
5 28 June 2120 Mawell Field, Alabama
6 29 June 1330 Nera white Sands, liew Mexico
7 1 July Bakersfield, California
8 4 July 2015 Sanett, Idaho
9 6 July 1345 Clay Center, Kansas
10 6 July - Fairfield-3uisun, California
11 7 July 1145 E Koshkonong, wisconsin
12 7 July 1430 East Troy, Wisconsin
13 8 July 1550 Mt. Baldy, California
1 9 July 2330 Grand Falls, Kewfoundland
15 10 July 1600 Harmon Field, Newfoundland
16 12 July 1830 LZlmendorf Field, Alaska
17 .
33 -
#*Local Ltandard Time
/2
--- page 76 ---
Report Cbserved
Nunber Observer's lame Occupation From
1l D. A. Houser Railroad Eamployee Ground
F. Jo Smith " " "
L. D, Jamison L » il
2 Byron Savage Businessman~Pilot Ground
3 E. L. DeRose #jot stated Ground
4 Kenneth Arnold Business-man Pilot AMr
5 Wilson H. Kayko Captain, AAF Ground
John H, Cantrell » » "
Redman " " o
Theodore Dewey let Lieut., AAF "
6 C. H. Zohn Zmployee, NLL Ground
J. R. Kauke " " ¥
C. C. Rockwood " " "
! Nancy Rockwood Wife of C.C. Rockwood »
: Richard Rankin Civilian rilot Ground
8 Ze J. Smith United Alr Lines Pilot Alr
Ralph stevens " " " Co-Filot "
9 A. B. Browning Major, AAF Alr
10 Jas, He Burniston Captain, AAF Ground
1 Not Jtated CAP Instructor alr
» ’ CAP’ Student "
12 Not Stated CAF Pilot Adr
2 " CAP Passenger "
13 Alvin E, Moorman 1lst Lieut,, ACCWG Alr
1 . Iric Kedrsey Constable, Newfoundland Ground
Constabulary
15 Mr., Mehrman THA Representative Ground
Hr, Woodruff YAA » -
16 Grahm Major, AAF Ground
and sesveral other officers
a
#From letter received, observer
is obviously well educated.
% 17 F
Rl
--- page 77 ---
Report Deviation from .
Number Straight Tlight Color size
1 Climbed, dove, hovered overhead, re- Silver Aprarently small
sumed original course
2
3 lione reported silver, very 3mall
bright
4
5 Zig zag course "much like a water- Brilliance Not stated
bug" slightly great-
er than a star
6 lone reported some solar spec- Not stated
ular reflection
o
e None reported Almost dusk; Iapossible to
could not dis- determine
tinguish
9 None reported Very bright and 30-50' in diameder
silvery colored
10 None reported Reflection from Comparable to a
sun C-54 at 10,000'
11 Descended adgewise, stopped at 4,000' Not stated Not stated
and assumed horizontal position. Fro-
ceeded in horizontal flight for 15
seconds, stopped again, then disapp-
eared
12 None reported Not stated Not stated
13 None reported Of light-reflec- Apparent depth of
ting nature a P=51
1, None reported Phosphorous Not stated
color
15 None reported silvery Jame span as a
C-54 at 10,000t
16 Followed contours of mountains five Resembled a Approx. 10' in
miles away from observers grayish balloon diameter
5 b b
--- page 78 ---
Report
Number Shape Sound Irail Vieather
1 No definite shape could be None None CAVU
determined
2
3 Irregular; round, Dis not None None Not stated
appear particularly disc-
shaped .
4
5 None stated; seemed like None None Clear moonlight
a bright light
é No details other than that None Posaible vapor CAVU
shape was uniform with no trails
protuberances
7
8 None definite, but seemed None None CAVU
flat on base with the top
slightly rough in contour
9 Round, disc-shaped None None CAVU
10 No shape could be disting- None None Junny
uished
n Not stated, but report re- None None CAVU
fers to "saucer" several
times
12 Same as Report No. 11 lione None CAVU
13 Flat object, of light-re- None None Not stated
flecting nature which appear-
ed to be without vertical
fin or any visible wings
14 Egg-shaped, or like barrel None None CAVU
head
15 Circular in shape, like None Bluish black Clear with scat-
wagon wheel trail approx. tered cumulus
15 mi. long at 8 to 10,000'
16 Hesembled balloon None None Not stated
--- page 79 ---
Report Manner of
Number Disappearance Remarks
3 Climbed very fast and out of sight No definite shape could be determi
and even with the aid of 4 to 6 pc
er binoculars object could not be
brought into focus :
2
3 Obscured by a cloud bank From letter this observer wrote, i
is obvious he is a well-educated
person. Seeks no publicity.
7 y
5 Lost in brilliancy of the moon Observers (2 rated, 2 air intell.)
phoned Field Ops to ascertain no
* scheduled experimental a/c were in
vicinity. Sky chart attached to re
6 Cannot, explain, except that reflec- Observer is Admin.Asst. in the foc
tion angle may have changed abruptly et sonde sect. of NiL. Two other
"scientists", and wife of one, wee
in party and made same observation
7
8 Don't know whether they put on a tre- Observers were Pi'ot, Co-Pilot, of
menducus burst of spead, or disinteg- scheduled UAL DC-3. Jtewardess als
rated. However, they Aid disappear into saw objects. Suggest reading of ve
sunset detailed statements.
9 Unexplained When first sighting object near ho
izon, observer looked at chart in
his lap to check position. i/hen he
looked out window again, object wa
off his left wing at 11 o'clock
10 Disappeared at an angle of about 30° Rolled from side to side 3 times 1
above the earth's surface its path across the sky. Sun refle
ed from top side, but never from u
erside, even when turning
11 Unexplained None
12 Unexplained None
13 Pilot (at 300MPH) attempted to keep Observer contacted bases in area w
object in sight, but unable to do so reported no a/c in air at time
14 Unexplained First 4 discs flying line-a-trail
15 Unexplained Seemed to cut clouds open a8 it
passed thru. Trail was like beam
seer. after a high-powered landing
14ht is switched off.
16 Not. stataed (bject was observed paralleling th
course of a C-47 then landing.
7
--- page 80 ---
” ;
2 .’ . ot
- ‘
Colorado Springs, Colorado
2 July 1947
SUEJECT: Supersonic Platters
SUMMARY CF INFCRVATICN:
The following information was related to Counter Intelligence Corps
Personnel at Headquarters Fifteentn Air Force, Colorado Jprin, s, Colcrado on
27 June 1947 oy Mr D. A. hauser, 24 North Chesnut Street, Colorado Springs
Colorado, Mr. F. J. Smit~, 24 rairview, sanitou Springs, Colorado and ¥r. L.
D. Jamison, 2415 lest riowa, Colorado Sprin s, Colorado. All three of the
men are empolyees of the Pikes Feek kailvry, Manitou Springs, Colorado.
"On or about 19 aay 1947 during their lunch period (121.-131f) a mem-
ber of a train crew called atlention to a silver objec! in tie sky a;proaching
from tre Nortn East. It appeared tc Le travelli:n, at a great speed. All
three men stated that the altitude of the object was very difficult to deter-
mine because of its apparent smallness. They furtrer sta'ed that because of
this it was difficult to view the object as beiny large and naving high
altitude or small and being at a relatively low altitude. They did say though
that it appeared to be higher than the top of Manitou Mountain which is over
1000 feet hiher than tne shops which are situated at its base. No definace
s.ape of the object could be determined and even with tie aid of bincculars it
still could not be brougnht intc focus. The Linoculars used were of about 4 to
6 power. The men stated that they were cer ain that Lhe cbject did not have
any of tne physical characteristics of modern conventional aircraft.
The day was discribed as being clear and sunny witn not a clcud in the
sky andgio ground wind.
On reaching tie area just North of kanitou lloutain the object remained
in tne immediate area for several minutes during which time it was seen to
execute manuvers such as climbi:g, divin; and reversal of direction of flicht.
This happened every few seconds. Thc distance and location beiween views
prompted two of tihe men to think that there were more of the unidentified
objects in the sky. At times the object seemed to hoveer in tne air and then
start on another path of fli ht. When last seen t:e silver object was climo-
in, very fast towards the West almost directly intc the wind.
Previous distribution:
Evalutation
None
of source of inflormntion
DISTHIBUTION:
E 0
Hq SAC 3 copies
--- page 81 ---
.
HQOCAMA FORM NO 8.8508 . .
31 MAY 1948 . .
OKLAHOMA CITY AIR MATERIEL AREA
TINKER FIELD .
OKLAMHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA
IN REPLY REFER TO: OCAF :./}\':,‘_;cp
#372h-1 2 July 1947
MEMORANDUM TO THE SECURITY OFFICER, OCAMA, TINK:R FIELD.
SUBJZCT: BYRON E. SAVAGZ, Field Engineer, Radio Corporation of
America, Dallas, Texas. (Residence: 416 N. W. 29th Street,
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.)
RE: Flying Disc.
On 23 July 1947, BYRON E. SAVAGZ was interviewed at his resigence,
4L16 N. W. 29th Street, Oklahoma City, Cklahoma, relating to his alleged
viewing of a flying disc over the vicinity of Oklahomea City, Cklahoma.
Subject, whose age is 32, advised he is married and aas one child,
and is presently the holder of a Private rilot's License, No. 39101,
(Single ingine, Land). Subject averred he has extensively studied electron-
ics, sound engineering and aeronautics, and his present occupation, which is
Field kngineer for Radio Corporation of America, ofrices of which are
located in Lallas, Texas, is that of installing theater sound equipment.
SAVAGE stated that between the days 17 May to 21 May 1947, Jjust after dusk,
he observed an object which he believed to be a small aircraft in the south.
SAVAGE advised that the sun had just gone down and the moon had not arisen
on the horizon. GSAVAGZ related that he and his wife had just departed
their residence and had started to enter their car in the driveway at
L16 N. W. 29th Street, Oklahoma City. He judged the time to be batween
8:30 pem. and $:00 p.m., and the lights from the city of Oklahoma City
appeared to be shining on this object when he first saw it. He judged the
object to be about 160° in the south when he first saw it, and as it moved
toward him he remarked to his wife that "a big white plane was coming over."
SAVAGE stated that when this object was at a 45° angle from him, he
realized it was not a conventional type aircraft, and it appeared elliptical
at first and as it moved closer it appeared perfectly round and was flat,
SAVAGE advised the object, which appeared to him as a disc, had no appearance
of being spherical and had a ratio of diameter to the thickness of approxi-
mately 10 to 1, appearing thicker in the center, but this cculd not be
positively ascertained. OSAVAGE Jjudged the object to be at an altitude of
between 10,000 and 18,000 feet, and it left no trailing effects. SAVAGE
related that it appeared to be in bulk as big as the bulk of six B-29s at
an altitude of approximately the same height. SAVAGL advised that the object
was in his vision approximately 15 to 20 seconds and travelled at a speed
which he judgsd to be approximately three times that of Jet—-propelled aircraft.
1
--- page 82 ---
Memo to the Security Officer, OCAMA, Tinker Field, dtd 7/24/47, File
3724-1.
SAVAGE stated that there were no protrusions on this object and as it
went by he listened for a sound of noise, and at one time thought he dis-
tinguished a swishing sound like the rushing of air. This swishing sound
occurred a few seconds after this object had passed him. SAVAGE averred
this sound was not very loud and did not last very long, and it is very
possible that the sound could have been his imagination or expectation, as
he was not sure of the sound. SAVAGE related that he called his wife to
see this object but it had disappeared before she could focus her eyes on
it. Subject stated™that the object appeared to diminish in size and
speed as it moved away, and it was moving in a direction of 350° to the
north. Subject further stated that the object appeared to be frosty white
in color at all times.
SAVAGE advised that he has held a pilot's certificate since 1934 and
has been flying since 1929. He advised that he would be glad to answer any
further inquiries and will cooperate in every way possible. SAVAGE stated
he was sure this object was not a meteor and in his opinion it must be
radically built and powered, probably atomic.
'/&( ~ A x o~
: KALMAN D. SIMON
C.I. U. S. Army
2
--- page 83 ---
WEELE R T8 Meridian Street
Oreenfield, Massachusetts
' July 10, 1947
Comnanding Offiocer
Westover Pleld '
Chicopee, Massachusetts
Dear 8iry ‘
After having read several acoounts of eye-witnesses who olaim they
had seen the so-called "flying disos®™, it brought to mind a strange exper-
dence I had some two weeks ago. The reason I write to you is that radio and
s newspaper reporte state that the air forces have been alerted to investigate
these mysterious objects., Assuming that you are interested, I am making the
following report in the belief that it might possibly be of help to you, I
do not desire to have any kind of publicity whatsoever in this connection.
About 11430 AM, Sunday, Junme 22nd, I was working outdoors on a step-
ladder, looking up, and suddenly there appeared soross my line of vision a
speeding, brilliant, small, round-shaped, silvery-white object at an altitude
I would judge to be about 1,000 ft. or more, It was moving very fast in a
straight, northwesterly direction -~ I would say as fast or possibly faster
than a speeding plane. It was so unusual and strange a sight that it arreste
ed my attention for abeut 8 or 10 seconds until it was obscured by a cloud-
bank.
Naturally my ocuriosity was considerably aroused and I tried to think
what this object might have been. I doubted very much that it could have been
a weather baloon because it was not at all like any weather baloons I had seen
before. The object I saw, although small, reflected the sunlight very stronge
ly as though it were of polished alwtinum or silver, and I can assure you was
very real, It appeared to have an irregular round shape and while it could
have been disc-shaped, it did not particularly impress me as such,
I have attempted to give you this information as acourately and
clearly as I kmow how, free from any imagination or exaggeration. Further-
more, my experience took place before I had any inkling that "flying discs®
were reported seen. :
This information is being passed on to you for whatever it may be
worth, purely and simply in the interests of national security, and onoce
more request that you do not publioize my name.
Sinceroly yours,
A CERTIFIED TRUE COPY:
. /s/ Bdward L. DeRose
C(cesice £ £ 7 Edward L. DeRose
ARCHIE F. ROY T ((
Captain, Air Corpe y I~ .
/ {F A
--- page 84 ---
HEADQUARTERS FOURTH AIR PORCE
Office of the Assistant Chiefl of Staff, A2
Intelligence
Hamilton Pield, California
4AFDA 17 July 1947 g
333.5 10 i
SUBJECT: Investigation of "Plying Dises” b A
T0: Commanding General, Army Air Poroes, Washington 25, De C.
ATTENTION: AC of AS-2
. 1. Attached statements and MOICs forwarded to your office per
request ThX from Headquarters Air Defense Command, Witchel Pleld, N, Y.,
dated 10 July 1947.
2. This headquarters is unmable to locate Richard Rankin, howsver,
as soon as he is located, statement and MOIC will be forwarded direct to
your office.
Se Information copies furnished Headquerters Air Defense Command.
DONALD L. SPRINGER
4 Inels: Lt. Colomel, GSC
1. MOIC 16 Jul/Brown (‘:u;‘; AC of S, A-2
2, MOIC 16 Jul/Brown (dup
8, MOIC 16 Jul/Brown (cup)
4, ¥O0IC 16 Jul/Brown (dup)
Info ec to ADC
\
\
|
-
4dAhN A A b’_'/
--- page 85 ---
Incident
LAT 1208 I
16 July 1947
MEMORANDUM FOR THZ OFTICER IN CHARGZ:
l. Un 12 July 1547, a call was made at the newspaper office of
the "Idaho Daily Statesman”, Scise, Idalw. The aviation editor of the
paper , uUr, David N, Johnson, was interviewed in regard to how well he
knew Mr, Kemneth Arnold of “oise, Idaho, and as to the credibility of
any stateaent made by Mr. Armold, The purpose of this interview was an
attempt to verify statememts made by ¥r. fenneth Arnold on 25 June 1547,
to various national news services to the effect that he, !ir. Amold,
had seen 9 objects flying in the air above the Cascade '‘ountain Range
of Jashington. These objects were subsequently referred to as flying
saucers or flying disks and will here-in-afier be referred to as such
in this report. Mr. Johnson stated that he had known Mr, Arnold for
quite a perioed of time, having had relations with Mr. Arnolé on various
occasions, due to the fact that both he, Mr. Johnson, and Mr, Arnold
were private fliers and frequently got together to talk shop. Mr. Johnson
stated that as far as he was concerned anything Mr. Arnold said cculd be
taken very seriously and that he, M¥r, Johnson, actually believed that ur,
Arnold had seen the aforemsntioned flying dlsks, Mr, Johnson stated that
after Mr, Arnold reported having seen the flying disks, that the editor
of the paper had assigned him, Vr. Johnson, the assigmment of taking the
airplane belonging to the newspaper and exhausting all efforts to prove
or disprove the probability of flying disks having been seen in the
northwest area. The results of this assignment to ¥r. Johnson and what
he subsequently saw is put forth in a sworn statement signed by Mr, Johnson
attached to this report as fixhibit B, .
AGENT'S NOTES: Wr, Johnson is a man of approximately 33 to 35 years of
age. From all appearances he is a very reserved type of person. Wr,
Johnson has logged 2800 hours of flying time in various types of airplanes
up to and including wulti-engine aircraft, During part of the war years,
Mr. Johnson was the first pilot of a B=-29 type alrcraft being assigned te
the Twentieth USAAF and stationed on Tinian Island, in the Pacifiec. It
is the personal opinion of the interviewer that ‘r. Johnson actually saw
what he states that he saw in the attached report. It is also the opinion
of the interviewer that Mr. Johnson would have much more to lose than gain
and would have to be very strongly convineed that he actually saw something
before he would report such an incident and open himself for the ridicule
that would accompany such a reportd,
1 Inels BExhibit "B"
>
\"‘”) . FRANK M, FROWN, S/A, CIC 5th AF
\ A%
--- page 86 ---
- - . g
~ sAN LA AL\ L
Statement of David N. Johnson
at 3oise, Idaho, July 12, 1947
To Whom It May Coneern:
On the sixth day of July, 1947, I received from James L. rown, -
general manager of the “tatesman Newspapers, incorporated in Ideho as
The Statesman Printing company, an assignment which was in substance:
"Conduct en serial seerch of the northwest states in an effort to
see and photograph & flying disc. Conduct this patrol for so lons a time
as you believe reasonable, or until you see a flying disc."
In accordance to these instructions, I took the Statesman's airplan -
and with Xenneth Arnold as pessenger, rlew a seven and one=half hour mission
on the seventh day of July, 1547. his mission was without result., It
covered an area embracins ¢ confines of ¢ anford plant in Washington,
and territory between and around . %einier and M. idams, where Arnold
first reported seein- o Jects henceforth described as saucers or dises.
On the eighth day of July, 1947, I took an AT=8 of the 190th Fighter
squadron, Idaho Nationel ‘Guard, of which I am & member, and flew to northern
Ideho, into nnrt:westfir: ontena briefly, to Spokene, Washington, and back
to Soise by wey of dalla Walla, Washington, and P ndleton, Oregon. This
/ search also was negative.
On the ninth day of July, 1947, I continued * search, agein using a
national pguard AT=-6, this ti centerin- my efforts over the Owyhee mountains
west and southwost of 3oise, a portion of the ‘ountaln Home desert on a treck
southeast of the llountain Home army sir base, thence inbo the Sawtooth moun=-
X tains, and back in the gener:cl direction of Boise on & line oe rrying me well
to the north of the Shafer butte forest service lcokout statior , int hé
iorseshoe Bend area, and thence back in a southwesterly directio & point
; ~ N |
--- page 87 ---
- » f NN T T »
@ SONEIENTIg
between Boise end the village of . eri iian, west of Joise a few miles.
During this search, which lested spproximetely twe end one-half
hours, I flew under and around rapidlyv formine cumulus clouds over thet
area known as the Camas Prairiec, east £ Boise. The clouds were near the
village of Fairfield in that valley, er airfield is 75 mil airline
distance east of Zoise. t that time I saw nothins in the vicinity of
these clouds.
At the time I reacnhed the point between Boisec and ieridien, I was
flying et an altitude of 14,000 feet r ,!" sea level, which would be a meen
average of 11,000 feet above the eerth in this area, not considering errors
in the altimeter induced ither by barometric chenges since my takeoff, or
: by the tempereture at thet altitude.
I turned the aircreft on en cesterly heading, poinbir toward Cowen
Pield, end hed flown on ) cour: or nerhens inute when there suddenly
bleck and round.
"“"' 5 COn :."m, 5 n sta Or 3 e, P 1 1 » o Y 8h¢ L‘A,' 16
previous release, which was around 08:30 that days.
on hearir i resnonse, 1 turn the aircraft broadside o the
object, nulled beck ¢ exirless coverin vo avoid any distortion, took
my ceamera fro t en cerse, and exposed ¢ vn;f,'l‘ seconds' duretion of eipght
illimeter motior icture film. Duriz e time the cemere was et eye level,
pa 4
--- page 88 ---
- . N 1
» @
I could not see the object becuuse of minuteness of scor introduced by t
optical view finder with which the cemere, en f.1.5 Eastman, was equipped.
Taking the camera away and once again centerin v gaze on the 3t ,
I observed it to roll so thet its edge was presented to me. At this time it
flashed once in the sunlight. It then appeared as e thin black line. It
then performed a maneuver which looked es if it had berun & slow roll, or
a barrel roll, which instead of being completed, was broksen off at about
the 180-degree point. The object rolled out of the top of the meneuver at
this point, and I lost sight of it.
This entire performance was observed ageinst the beckground of clouds
previously forming over the Cames Prairie. The object appesred to me,
reletively, as the size of a twenty-Live cent piece. I do not know how
far away it was. I do not ¥now, nor can I truthfully estimete, its speed.
I ocan only say it was not an airplane, end if it was at a ver; reat dis=-
| tance from me, its spced wes preat, teking into consideretion thet apparent
speed is reduced to the viewer if san object is a very pgreat distence away.
I forgot to look ot my clock to determine the exact time I saw the
object. The CAA's log of radio contacts shows my first contact to have been
made a®™12:17 hours. ut & few seconds elapsed between the time I first saw
the obsuct, and the time I called the CAA's station.
I subsequently related over the radio & description of what I saw, and
communicator Albertson msy remember it. L1he control tower may have & record- y
ing of the conversation. I have not checked to determine thete.
The purpose of my relating over the air what I saw was to eneble rapid
transmission of the resort to the newspaper, for at that time I wes on
assignment and my energies thenceforth were devoted to (1) transmitting the
information and (2) conducting & further search, which I did after landing
for fuel eand to make some telephone cells.
{ V¢ 1 i ’ 1 T - ¥
- ‘;l/';.xdjl?*.l
--- page 89 ---
v ~
o &
‘,_" t r ior v e ' 8 aw ‘act -
vers ir inig ' Fune, t w . =82 passed
over HSoise, t I saw t aircraft go reat by ¢ 2,000 feet.
the ject, at my request, and conducted & search. t we retive.
rir t afternoon, flights of F=-5ls were sent out to cover the aree,
Lines 'side of Cowen field, and on rational guard side, observed & black
b ject meneuvering in front of g cloud formation, which by now had
rovn so et ti >louds reached e probable heizht of 19,000 or 20,000 feet
surcestion ~ inference of a leading neture. ‘They saw Joot (from
the ground) while I wes on my second search. They believed the time to
wave been 14:00 hours. 1e object performed in the seme erratic manner,
they seid, as I observed.
The above is the extent of the story, and information concerning
nvself is now in order.
I heve approximetely 2800 hours of flyings time in equipment rapgin
from primary trainers to 5-29se Of course, that does not increase my
powers of observation except #s to those vracticed daily by an airmen.
--- page 90 ---
. * K “ I~ -~
It doss not make my eyesight any sharper except lgain a&s to the incidental
demands upon the eyes of a pilot.
3 . At the time of the experience related above, I had flown fourteen
end lone-half hours on an assignment to find a disc and if possible, to
photograph it. 1In all frankness, I was tired. I mey have been suffering,
although slightly, from want of oxygen. i
Prior to sighting the objeet, I hed concluded there was no point in v
pressing the search, that I probably would never see the diso-like objects
referred to by Arnold and by Ceptain Smith of United Adr Lines.
At all times during the search, both on that day and the two preceding
days (particularly when I was with Arnold) I had literally telked to' myself
to keep beating into my head thet I would not fall vietim %o ! power of
suggestion or self-hypnosis arising from a naturs 1lly very intent desire to
find a disc and bring success to the assi nment given nme,
I therefore do not believe thet I was the vioctim of suggestion or
hyonosise I am familiar with the optieal illusion of e fixed object begine
‘ning to move after it is watched a sufficient lensth of time. I know what
tricks the eyes will play as to moving bodles, and heve learned of this
particularly during nicht formation flyine.
(as it did at Cirst) for full length of time I observed i » I would not
'. I saw an object actually nerfornir in an errati 1iz) ( .
\il". aevw 13»‘_. € i rocessec - ‘e 3¢ hr ir on 13 £ ; r 3 av
'.
TNt It S T T AT
--- page 91 ---
241 Battery Street, San Francisco,” showed no tru‘c of eany object. Stohr
says thet if it was n;)re than a nmile .digta'rnt from ne at the size I described,
the objo'ot would not have registered sufficiently on the film to be shown.
He said it probdbly was too far away to be apperent evol‘;through great en=
largement of the negative, and enlargement in thet case is li'mited because
of the size of the film and the fact I did not have any telescopic equipment
on the lens. The exposure was .16, stop set at infinity, at a speed of 16
fremes per second, i
I haverworried over this matter & greet deal since seeing'it. I "took
myself aside" and said, "come now, Johnson, don'd be stupide® But I cannot”
bring myself to the point of thinking I did no-t see enything. The impression
g of the moment was too vivid, too realistic, and I knew in the air when I saw
that partial slow roll or barrel roll, that I was not e vietim of illusion.
I trult‘ this matter will be of help to those investi:'a-tin;; the Tlying ’
disc phenomena which have been reported. ;
A chart is attached depiocting the movements of the object as I saw it.
This statement is made voluntarily and freely, in response to the
request of lir. Brown and Captein uavid.son, who celled on me this morning.
/s/ David ¥. Johnson
Subscribed end sworn to before me, a‘notary oublic, this 12th
gay of July , 1947,
/s/ Geo. L. Flaherty
Notery nublie for Ada ?
county Idaho. Ny
commission expires__ dJen 2, 1549,
COPY
h 11 1 T AT T A ! A
A L' LL7 550N TPl ‘B
--- page 92 ---
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--- page 93 ---
o ) ¢
Incident
LAP 1208 I
f ‘ 16 July 1947
i WEMORANDUM FOR THZ OFFICER IN CHARGEs
i
1, Onm 12 July 1947, ¥r, Kenneth Amold, Bex 387, Boise, Idaho, .
was interviewed in regard to the report by ir, Arnold that he saw 9
strage objects flying over the Cascade Mountain Range of Washingtom
State on July 25%h, ¥r., Arnold voluntarily sgreed to give the interviewer
a written report of exactly what he had seen on the above mentioned date.
* The written report of Mr, Arnold is attached to this report as Exhibit A,
ADENT'S NOTES: Mr. Arnold is a man of 32 years of age, being married and
Mo father of tw children, fe %o well thought of in the comsunity in
wideh he lives, being very much the family man and from sll appearsnces
& very good provider for Ms family. Mr, Arncld has recently purchased a
home on the cutskirts of Boise, recently purchased a $5,000 sirplane in
which to conduct his business to the extent of which is explained in the
attached. exhibit., It is the personal opinion of the interviewer Lhat Mr,
Arnold sctually saw what he stated that he saw. It is &l £ficult to baliave
; that a man of iMr, Amold's character snd apparent integrity would state
that he saw objects and write up a report to the extent that he did if he
did not sestthen. To go further, if Mr. Arnold can write a report of the
charaster that he did while not having seen the objects that he claimed he
saw, it 1s ths opinien of the interviewer that ir. Armold is in the wrong
business, that be should be writing Buck Rogers fictien. Wr. Arnold is
m-‘&--‘.—tcflsmunomfldmhmam
U.5. Army Air Forces and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for not having
made an investigation of this matter sooner. To put all of the statements
made by Mr, Amold in thls report wuld make it a veluminous volume. However,
after having checked an asronsutical map of the area over widch Mr, Arnaold
. claims that he saw the objects it was determined thet all statements made by
¥r, Arnold in regard to the distances invelved, speed of the objects, course
of the odjects and sise of the objects, oould very possibly be facts, The
4 dis tances mentioned by Mr, Arnold in his report are withia g short distance
of the actual distances on seronsutical charts of this area, slthough .
Armold has never consulted seronautical charts of the type the Army uses.
N, M-Wmmuamuumr“mwamnuu{::
on July 25 dae to the fact that at every stop on his business routes, )
. erowds of people were waiting to-question him as to jJust what he had seen,
Mr, Arnold stated furtier that if """"‘1:“" in the fubure, saw anything
in the sky, to quete lMr, Arnoldidiregtly, "if I sav a ten stery building
S f . L Mfl o 11 ‘S M
A 4 " A R n !
W\ VRANK W. BROWN, 8/A, 9IS WRP, . 00«
Yn? 95
--- page 94 ---
X ‘t":‘: > S A . N ) ‘ " ‘.’ Y p (
Fe it Slingh e SArE woull nevis a6 Sed Showd S04, e S
‘tr-.-&:n,umu‘w:?- n-_.‘--iun st b
practic a morea X majority of the populatien o
i the United States. b ‘
. Ninele meMMY A% ;
I ok v, moni, o/i, oAb
s MA W ‘; y
--- page 95 ---
. - —
S 4
COP{ SOME LIFE DATA ON KENNETH ARNOLD
I was born March 2, 1915 in Suboh, Minnesota. My father's name was
Edward Erb Arnold; my mother's r;midon name '-ns Jertha E., Barden. I was a
resident of Minnesota until I wes six yeers old when my family moved to \
Scobey, Vontana, where they homesteaded. My grandfather, Roland C. Arnold
also homesteaded in Scobey, Vontana, and beceme quite prominent in political
eircles along with 3Burton K. Wheeler, -Lhe famous Montena senator.
I went to grade school and high schaol at /inot, North Lakota. I
entered scouting at twelve years of age end achieved the rank of Eagle scout
before I was fourteen. !y former scout executive was .. H, Prescott, now a
regional commissioner for the ’oy Scouts in Zenses City, Kansas.
As & boy, I was interested in athletics and was selected es an ell-
' state end in 1932 and 1633 in the state of liorth Dekota. I entered the
Us 8. Olympic trials in fency diving in 1932; I was & Rod Cross Life Seving
Exeminer during the years of 1932, '33 and '34, I taught swimming and diving
at scout cemps and the municipal pool in .ipot, lorth Yakots. I went to the
University of Minnesote, where I swam end did fency diving under Neils Thorpe,
and also played football under Bernie ‘ierman, but upon entering college I
was uneble to continue my football career because of an injured kmee. Iy
hirh school football coech was Glenn L. Jarrett, who is now the head football
coach of the University of North vakota. I had little or no finances, and
my ambition in furthering my education in college was through my athletics.
As a boy in ¥inot, liorth Lekote, I did a good deel of do- sled recing, placed
first with my dog in 1830 in the Lions Club Dog Lerby.
In 1833 I went tc work for Red Comet, Ince of Littleton, Colorado, a
menufacturer of automatic fire fighting {:m‘war(_:us. In 1339 I was made
district meaneger for them over & pert of the westorn stetos, end in 1940 I
EXHIBIT "A" <
--- page 96 ---
% NN T TINTEATTT
established my own fire control supply known as the Creat Western Fire
Control Supply. I have been working as an independent fire control
engineer since, and I handle, distribute, sell and install ell types of
automatic and manual fire fighting equipment in the rurel areas over
five western states. '
My flying experience started as a boy in liinot, liorth Dakota, where
I took my first flying lesson from Earl T. Vance, who was originelly from
Great Fells, Montena. Due to the hizh cost at 'that time, I was unable %o
continue my flying end did not fly of any great consequence until 1943,
. I was given my pilot certificate by Ed Leach, a senior CAA inspector of
Portland, Oregon, and for the last three years have owned my own airplane
covering my entire territory with same and flying from forty to cne hundred
. hours per month since. Lue to the fact that I use an airplane entirely in
my work, in January of this year I purchased a new Callair airplane, which
is an airplene designed for hi;sh altitude take-offs and short rough field use.
In the type of flying I do, it tekes a great deal of practice and
Judgment to be able to lend in most any cow pasture and get out without
injuri:z your airplane; the runways ere very limited and the altitude is
very high‘in some of the fields nr}d places I have to go in my work. To
date, I have landed in 823 cow pastures in mountain méadows, and in over
a thousand hours a flat tire has been my greatest mishap.
4
7 b ~ T )
CONFIDENTAL 75"
--- page 97 ---
The following story of what I observed over the Cascade mounteins,
as impossible as it may seem, is positively true. I never asked nor wanted
any notoriety for just accidently beins in the right spot at the right time
to observe what I dide I reported somethine thet I know eny »ilot would
have reported. I don't think thet in &ny way my observation was due to any
sensivity of eye sicht or judgment then what is considered normal for any pilot.
On June 24th, Tuesday, 1947, I had finished my work for the Centrel Air
Service at Chehalis, Washington, end at ebout two o'clock I took off from
Chehalis, Washington, airport with the intention of ~oins to Yekina, Washe.
' Y trip wes delayed for an hour to search for e large merine transport that
supposedly went down near or around the southwest side of 4. Reinier in the
state of Washington and to date has never been found.,
I flew directly toward lit. Rainier after reaching an altitude of ‘about
9,500 feet, which is the approximate elevation of the hirh plateau from which
Mt. Rainer rises. I had made one sweep of this high plateau to the westward,
searching all of the various ridges for this marine ship and flew to the west
down and near the ridge side ol the canyon where Ashford, Washington, is located.
Unable to see anything thet looked like the lost ship, I made a 360 degree
turn to the right end above the little city of Mineral, starting again toward
Mte Rainier. I climbed back up to an altitude of approximately 9,200 feet.
The air was so smooth that day that it was a real pleasure flying and,
as most pilots do when the air is smooth end they are flying at a higher
altitude, I trimmed out my airplane in the direction of Yakima, Washingten,
which was almost directly east of my position end simply sat in my plane ob=
serving the sky and the terrain.
--- page 98 ---
There was a DC-4 to the left and to the rear of me approximately
fifteen miles distance, and I should judge, at 14,000 foot elevation.,
The sky and air was as clear as crystal. I hadn't [lown more than
" two or three minutes on my course when & bright "lash reflected on my
airplane. It startled me as I thought I was too close to some other air-
orafte I looked every place in the sky and couldn't rind where the reflec-
tion had come from until I looked to the left and the nort o o tainier
where I observed a chain of nine peculiar looking aireraft flyins from north
to south at approximately 9,500 foot elevation and goings, seemingly, in a
definite direction of about 170 degrees.
They were approachins !'t. rainier very ranidly, and rnerely assumod
they were jet planes. Anyhow, I discovered that this was where the reflec-
tion had come from, s two or three of them every few seconds would di» or
change their course slightly, just enough for the sun to strike them at ar
ar..r'.lu that reflected brightly on my plane.
These objects beinr quite far sway, I was unable for a few seconds to
meke out their shape or their formetion. Very shortly they approached 4.
einier, and I observed their outline ageinst the snov 11 e leinly.
I thou'ht it was very culiar tnat couldn't find their tails but
assumed they wers some type of jet plane. I was determined zlock eir
speed, as I had two definite b>ints T could clock them by; the eir was so
clear that it was very eas’ to see ohjects end deternir r imate
I remember distinctly that my sweep second hand on myr ei day clock,
which is located on my instrument penel, read one minu g PN ¢ the
firgt object of this formation passed the southerr dge of . nier.
I watched these objects with sreat interest as I hed never ‘orae served
--- page 99 ---
® . o
airplanes flyins so close to the mountain tops, flyin lirectly south to
southeast down the hop's back of a mountein renge. I would estimate their
elevation could heve varied a thousend feet one way or another up or down,
but they were pretty much on the horizon to me whick would indicate they
were near the seme elevetion es 1 was,
Thevy flew like meny times I heve observed geese to fly in & rather
diaronal chein-like line as if they were linked togethere <hev seened to
0ld a delinite direction but rether swerved in end out of the high mountein
peaks. lheir speed at the time did not impress me articularly, because 1
¥new that our army and air forces had ylenes thet went verv fast.
right alon ir path was the fect thot I couldn't make out ¢ teil on
th , and I ¢ sure thet any pilot would justify more Lhan & second look at
on 28 clear a day as it wes £ I\ sdeye Iy ect I comnared & zeus fastcner
r cowli tool I hed in my pocket with them - holdinz it up on them end
lding it u n the D0-4 = thst I could observe at quite a distance to my
left, and they seemed smaller then t} DC=4; but, I shoula jud~e th ir s»pan
fuselere of the LC=4,
accustomed and femilier wvi t all Jects flying er I am close to
i Y anot r - “ o - red rid ¢ o tween te 4 ; r 1 4 Te “ Sy
Y A0 60 D B R 7 . T Y 5 W
--- page 100 ---
.
_ BEECAREI LA,
and as,the first one was nassins the south crest of this ridze the last
object was entering the northern crest of the ridge.
As 1 was flying in the direction of this particular ridge, I measured
it and found it to be approximately five miles so I coull safel; sume ‘hat
the chain of these saucer like objects were at least five miles long. I
could quite accurately determine their nathwey due to the fact that there
were several high vesaks et were e little this side of ¢ as well es
higher peaks on the other side of their »athway.
As the last unit of this formation nessed the southern mos irh snowe
covered crest of it., Adams, I looked at my sweep second hand ard it showed
vt,'nat they had travelled the distence in one mirute and forty-two seconds.
Even at the time this timingz did not upset me as I felt confident after I
would land there would be some explanation of what I saw.
A number of news men and experts sucrgested thot I mirht hav een
seeing reflcctions or even a mirage. This I know to be absolutely felse,
as I observed these objects not only throurh the pgless of ny eirplene but
turned my airplene sidewnyvs where I could open my window and observe them
with a completely unobstructed view. (Without sun rlasses)
Even®™thouszh two minutes seems like & very snort time to one on the
ground, in the air in two minutes tipe a pilot can observe a great meny
things end enything within his sicht of vision »nrobably as many as fifty or
sixly times.
1 continued my search for the marine plene for amnother fifteen or
twenty minutes and wnile searching for this marine plene, what I had Just
observed kept roinz through my mind. I became more disturbed, so after
taking a last look at Tieton Reservoir 1 headed for Yakima.
I might add thet my complete observation of these objects, which I
could even follow by their "lashes as they passed Iit. Adams, was around two
- Jidi N d L4 NAJ
--- page 101 ---
Y we 8] , by : P R t. Adams
. |
s miy 5 3 1 s rockets
|
Some descriptior ould nc e very accuret 'ro round unless
;hese saucer-like disks were at ocuite a preat nei ud r £ ssibility
zhix I did; s kA ul ¢ very difficul ¥ o re cbserve
of atmospheric »isture ar the ground which could Cistort cne's vision.
wmve ir ossession letters from all cver th ited vtntes er yople
rofless wt thes ) ject v yeen observed over other tions of the
1 I 1 T T )
--- page 102 ---
. . N SN r™ 3 1 ”
I would have riven al st anything that day to have had a movie
" camera with a telephoto lens and from now on will never be without one - =
but, to continue further with my story. VWhen I landed at the Yakime, Wash.,
airport I describded what I had seen to my very rood friend, Al daxter, who
listoned patiently and was very courteous but in ea joking way -didn't believe me.
mtil I landed at ndl m, regson, ¢ t sa day waere old a nu r of
.
> AAENRTEDPIVESNT L A Y
--- page 103 ---
Ve SARIE 11 A
FBI as to the suthenticlty of my story or s mentel r a paysieconl exeminetior
et to my capabilities, I heve received nc nterest from thes two impeortent
protective force: f our country; I will ro sc far as to assume thet ar
report 1 rave to the United ¢ fLgsociete ress end over the radic on two
lifferent casions which ¢ rently set the natior buzzing, if our dliter;
Intelligence was not awsre « J I observed, they would be t very first
'y
/- 3 arnol
F\
v
Stk TF
r .
--- page 104 ---
- HEADQUARTERS TACTICAL AIR COMMAND o
t
LANGLEY FIELD. VIRGINIA \
7 July 1947
IN REPLY REFER TO'
SUBJECT: Report of Unusuel Celestial Phencmonn
TO: Assistant Chief of Staff, A-2
Headquarters Tactical ‘ir Coamand
langley Field, Virginia
1, 1e following report is sulmitted concernin: an unusual occur-
rence obscrved by Tollowl A Porsonnel at laxwell 1 ont-amery
reno ‘r‘. &0y = Lol . vt laxwoll Field, itgamery,
Ala. on the nighy of 28 June 1347:
CAPT o e MIKRU, 0=00841, lq, TAC
CAPT. JOHN H. CANTRELL, 0-255404, Hq, TAC
15T LT, ' ‘ODORE DEVEY, 0-2094172, Hq, TAC
CAPT. REDHAN, Randolph Iield, Texas
2. At approxinately 2120 Central time, a lizht, with a brilliance
slightly greater than a star, appoared fram the West., It was first noted
r:.,';'m the horizon of a clear moon-light nizht, traveling in an eastaerly
direction at a high rate of speed. Thero vms no audible sound and it was
impossivle to determine the altitude, excent that it ar peared to be at
greet height. It traveled in a zig zag course with frequent bursts of
spoed mnmuch like a vater Lug as it spurts and stops across the surface of
weter. It contimued until it was directly ovorhead and changed course 30
into the south, After traveling in the above manner for approximately five
(5) minutes, it turnod southwest and vms lost in the brilliancy of the moon,
at 2145 Contral it vms no longer possible to observe it.
3¢ A call was placed to laxwell Field operations referenco this
phenomena and inquiry made if any experimental aircraft were schoduled for
a flight in the vieinity., The reply was negative,
4. lio plausible explamation is offered for the unusual action of this
source of light, which acted contrary to any common aerodynanical laws,
This report is submitted upon request, in view of Lhe many recent reports
reference unusual aerial objects observed throughout the U, S.
Ye Two of the above noted observers are rated pilots and the other two
are air intelligence officers. All observers were cold sober, >
4 6. Attached herewith a sketch showing approximate course of —
- ~re - N T b
Captain, Air Corps
ADDAESS ALL COMMUNICATIONS YO, COMMANDING GENEAAL. TACTICAL AIR COMMAND
--- page 105 ---
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--- page 106 ---
ADDRESS REPLY TO 3
« DIRECTOR, NAVAL RESEARCH uaovum\’ . ARNMY p'/
B g e apARTMENT . ® 6)] \
b < NAVAL RESEARCH LABORATORY ;
Code 110 WASHINGTON 20, D. C. (t
18 July 1947
SUBJECT: Interview of Person Reporting Unidentified Aerial Object
T0: Asst Chief of Alr Staff-2
Collection Branch, AAF
Washington 25, D. C.
1. At the request of Lt. Col. G. D. Garrett, AAF A-2, the
undersigned has interviewed this date Mr. C. H. Zohn, Administrative
Assistant in the Rocket Sonde Section, NRL, who had previously
released information to the press regarding an aerial object which
he stated he saw at White Sands, New Mexico, 29 June.
2. Substance of the interview is as follows:
At between 1:00 and 1:30 p. m. Sunday, 29 June 1947,
Mr. Zohn, in the company of the following: Mr. J. R. Kauke, NEL Rocket
Sonde Section telemetering supervisor; Mr. C. C. Rockwood, NRL Rocket
Sonde high altitude spectrograph scientist; and Mrs. Nancy Rockwood, i
wife of the latter, was proceeding along Highway 17 in a North-Easterly
direction from Las Cruces, New Mexico to White Sands V-2 firing grounds
in an automobile driven by Mr. Kauke. At some time between those given
and about one-third of the distance from Las Cruces Mr. Kauke, who was
driving the car, noticed the subject device and called attention to the
other occapants. Mr. Zohn opened the window nearest him and observed
the object moving at an unknown rapid velocity at an unknown altitude,
which he estimated at about 10,000 feet, and which Mr. Kauke, who also
observed it through an open window, estimated at between 8,000 and
10,000 feet, although the former puts little credence in the estimates.
When first sighted the object was to the right and forward
of the sutomobile at an unstated elevation and was apparently moving
horizontally in a Northerly direction such as to cross the highway from
- right to left. The object was observed by all persons in the automobile.
Mr. Zohn stated that he could not observe any details of the object
other than that its shape was uniform, with no protuberances such as
the wings of an airplane. It was too distant to enable stereosconic
visualization. There was apparently some solar specular reflection
which seemed to change.in intensity as the object receded until it
was lost from sight after an estimated 30 seconds from the time first
\ noticed. He could mot explain how it disappeared except perhaps that
: the reflection angle may have changed abruptly. There were apparently
no clouds or visibility obstructions at the time. The sun was to the
rear of the automobile. Mr. Kauke thought that at one time he saw
vapor trails.
--- page 107 ---
Ltr, ALO, NRL, 18 July 47 to Asst Chief Alr Staff-2, Collection Br., AAF,
subj: "Interview of Person Reporting Unidentified Aerial Object"
3. Thie interview was made in the presence of Dr. H. E. Newell,
Acting Rocket Sonde Section Head, who said that Mr. Zohn had recently
been in the Navy and is familiar with the appearance of the majority of
aircraft types and with meteorological balloons. Mr. Zohn also stated
that none of the occupants of the car were intoxicated.
WILLIAM P, MELLEN
| Major, Air Corps
| AMC Liaison Officer
2
--- page 108 ---
.
iWTERVIEW RCF ORT
SUSJECT:s Interviews with Capt. Z. J. SKITH and Ralnh Stovens, United Air
Lines pilete, who repsrted seeing flying l4sks,
Ceptain E. J. SMITH was intorviewel et 1500, ° July 1947, concerning
the "flying Jisks™, and stated substantially as follows;
© ™¥e left Boise, Idalin, at 2004 Pecific Steandard Iime. At epproximately
2015, the co-pilot, Ralph STEVENS, called my attentina to the first object
seen. We were then in the vicinity of Bumet, Ideho, our altitude wase ann=
roximately 6500, and we wers glir bing to our proposecd cruising altitude of
8000 from thers to Poadleton, Orcogon. 1lie heading of the plane at that +ime
was 300 degrees Lagnetic North, sud the chbject (ame) was sizhted at 2P rox-
imatoly 290 de_rces, cr ton derrees to sur left, suen en additional four
cbjacts appeersd to the 120t of the main, or [irst, object. These four
\ objeste eppeared slightly smeller than the {irst olLject sighted, but all
of the objects sppearcd on the sonc rFlane. I agtimated the altitude of
the objects to Le about 3500. Ti.ey were withia our sight for epproximately
two minutes, then they discppesred,
"Shortly after the first grcup diseppeared, probably one cr two winutes
later, the second group eppeared ebout 310 degruees, or to the right of the
Plmae. Their altitude was 4the s=-m3 as the “irst 6roupe Throe of the objects
eppeared to be on the game plenae, and one object appeared slizhtly hi sher
and to the right of the others, The sccond group steved within our sighs
twelve to [ifteon minutes, then disappeared. We Lad levelled of? by the
time ths second group dlsappeercd,
"The cLjects were flat on the Sese, the top slizhtly rough in contour.
The dimensions appeared the samec az s DC-2 approximately five miles from
uses Iu o%her words, it could have been ninety miles eway if it would be
possible for an object ms largc ac that would have to be tc bs flying, but
since we didu't Imow what we were looking at or how largs it was, we de-
cided that if it were the size of a'DC-3 wing span (90 [eet), it was about
five miles distent. Actuslly, we Lave no idea Just how large it was since
we could rot determine its distance from us. When we first sighted the
objects, we decided they were sither going away from us or coming towards
us. After a short while, Liowever, we knew they couldn't be coming towards
48, bocause we never epproached them. I don't believe they could have
beea going a great rate of spead and still stayed in sight for as long as
they did. I would judge they might Lave beon travelling about 200 miles
per hour,
"Ly personal opinions regarding the cbjects are - that their speed
varied, was not consteut, When first sighted, they were goinz slow and
steyed within sight for quite some time. iowever, when we loct sight of
them, they seemed to disappear prectically immedietely. I think they
either put on a tremendous burst of speed and disappeared from sight, or
else they dissipsted. Also, it appeared that only one object, the large
one, was controlled, and it in turn controlled the other objects, and I
think they were ground controlled.
® 77
I —————————————
--- page 109 ---
corr @ @ o ® |
" A {
"In koth instances, the co-pilot sighted the ot jects first end called {
my eattention to them. The weather was clioar and unlimited, with not a cloud
in the sky. We checked the wind, and it was 230-10, or out ol the Southwest
at ten miles per hour. The air speed of thc ship was about 135 UPH. The (
sun was below the horizon and the objects werc silhoueted against the sky,
hence we could distinguish no color or reflection." { |
Ralph STEVEMNS, co=-pilot of the pleane, was interviewed st 2130, 9 July
1947, STEVENS corroborated the remarks made by SNITH corcerning the flight |
of the plane, the time the objects were sighted, direction of the flight of I
the plane, etc. There were two discrepancics in their statements as %o the
size of the smaller objects and the altitude at which they were flying.
STEVENS stated that there was a big difference in the size of the large ‘
objects end the smaller ones, and that it was herd to distinguieh the shepe |
of the smaller ones. STEVENS also stetod that the objects werec at the same |
eltitude as their plane and rcemed to be climbing with them. In addition to |
confirming SMITI'S statements concerning the flight, etc., STEVENS stated
substantielly as follows:
"I was flying the plane when I spotted the first object et 2012 on the
4th of July, eight minutes after departure from Boise, Idaho., I thought it
wes an oncoming aircraft similar to ours (DC-3) shout five miles away, ®o
turned on our landing lights, which is the usual signal to another pleane %o
let it kmow you're in the vicinity. I mentioned this fact to SMITH, -and he 1
watched the object also, While we were both watching, four more objects
appearcd at the samo altitude as the first. They scemed tc be et the same |
eltitude as our plane, about 6000 feet. They were heading about 290 degrees |
magnetic North, so I turmed to follow them. We watched them for four or
five minutes, then they all merged as one and disappeared. I don't know
waether they merged in line of flight or not, nor do I know whether they |
went beyond our vision or whether they dissipated,
"Iwo minutes later, the large object reappeared with three smaller
ones on its left and one smaller one a great distance to the right. We
had the second group in sight for about twelve minutes. The last time
seen, they were still in that formetion and disappeared into the sunset.
Also, when we last saw them, they seemed to have continued climbing aftor
we levelled off and were about nine or ten thousand feet.
"At the time we saw the objeots, the sun was below the horizoun, but
there was quite a bright red glow above the horizon from the sunset, I
couldn't really say what distance they were from us, not knowing what they
were or how large they were. However, while we werc watching them we
radiod shead to Cntario, Oregon, about thirty miles disteant, to the weether
station there, and told them what we were seoing and asked them to go out-
side and see if they could see them. They radioed back and said they could
l"t" 1
[
-2 e ; :
--- page 110 ---
v ..
B ey @ @
see nothing, so the objects could have been beyond Onterio, since we had
told them that they wero between our plane and Ontario. It should also be
‘noted that the personnel at Ontario would be looking at a dark sky and
. may not be likely to be able to see them anyway .
"I can't say whether they are man-made disks or ndt, whether they are
radio controlled or not, or anything about them. They did not maneuver much
at all, except when the first group merged. All I can say is that they were
going our direction and were climbing. I don't think they were clouds, as
there hadn't been a cloud in the sky, end it would have been quite a phen-
-omenon as it was like nothing I had ever seen before. There was a big dif-
ference in the size of the objects. The smaller ones were hard to distinguish
as to shape; they were not shiny, nor did the "flip". I couldn't swear on ea
stand that they were not clouds, but I think it impossible., lad they been
clouds, they wouldn't have appeared and disappeared so suddenly, end we
would have spproached theu.
"As we were taxiing out to take off from Boise, the tower called us
and asked us if we had seen any disks lately. As a consequence, we were and
had been talking about the flyingz disks when we sighted tham. I don't believe,
however, that it was a figment of the imagination, as SMITH and I were seeling
the seme things, even the object far off to the right in the second group,
We also called the stoewardess, who had not boen in on the conversation, and
without mentioning "disks™ aksed her what she saw, She stated that she saw
the same things we did, which seemed to prove to us that it was not our
imazination."”
In addition to the above, STEVENS stated, off the record, that he weas
rather disappointed in SNITH end all the publicity he was gotting. iie
thought that SMITH was probebly "grand-standing™ some, and thet as far ns
he, STEVENS, was concerned, he was not going to Ls interviewed by any re-
porters, or go on the radio, etc. e stated that he was glad to talk to
a Mavy representative about it, or to any other government official, and
help in any way he could, but lLie certainly didn't want to be bothered witn
a lot of interviews with newspapers and radio stations., STEVENS szeemed to
the writer to bs e very level headed, sensible man, and not in favor of a
lot of publicity, wh ereas SNITH, althouzh a sensible man and all, scemed to
b2 mors in favor of all the publicity he was getting.
- end -
'
--- page 111 ---
Incident
LAF 1208 1
16 July 1947
MEMORANDUM FOR THE OFFICER IN CHARGE:
1. On 12 July 1947, Captain Smith, of the United Alrlines, was
interviewed at the Boise Municipal Airport, Boise, Idaho. Captain
Smith was passing through Boise on a schedule flight at the time and
had a 20 minute stop-over. Captain Smith reiterated the statements
originally made by him to the press as to what he had seen in the late
evening of July Lth, when 8 minutes out of Boise on the route to Seattle,
Washington. It is the opinion of the interviewer that due to the position
Captain Smith occupies, that he, Captain Smith, would have to be very
strongly convinced that he actually saw flying disks before he would open
himself far the ridicule attached to a report of this type,
FRANK M, BROWN, S/A, CIC Lth AF
--- page 112 ---
IN REPLY REFER TO: : =
16 July 1947
TO '7HOM IT MAY CONCERN 2 -
I, Major Archie B. Broming, AC, do hereby swear, thie—dete,
that the followir statements are true to the best of my knowledge:
'On 6 July 1947, while flying from Ogden, Utah, to Kansas
sity, Missouri, at 10000 £t in a B-25, I noticed a very bright
object low and to my left, epproximately 10 -miles away. Time
t 30-5 't. in diameter, wa very great. It seemed to be
ntil I started to turmn into it, then it completely di: appeared,
P‘Ii ( A e SN _
\ 4 1jor, Air Corps
v Z |
K AS ")ngb s
e N
P o
-
/" ?
/,'4( n Hn Maf (l[ififfaw : AFN"('O
42‘”' 16 f“'
ADORESS REFLY TO! COMMANDING GENERAL, ARMY AIR PORCES, WASHINGTON 35, B, € Jol
--- page 113 ---
|
=~
--- page 114 ---
. ;
0% Ry 9
After having been advised of my rights amd privileges under the
5 “mem.x.a-l.m.murm,umv,
Second Air Tramsport Wing (Provisioml), Fairfield-Suigun Army Air Bese,
Fairfield, Califormia, do hereby make this voluntary statement to
Captain William J. Fragier, Jr., and Sgt. Tommy Stewars, whom I know to
be members of the Intelligence Office. I make the following statement
of my own free will, not under duress, promiss of reward or immnity:
On Sunday, July the sixth, at Mairfield-Suigun Army Alr Base, while
in the company of my wife m.u—x.hm«:‘x.-ummmxp
4 mmmu-&unnnmu of 10,000 feet or
sbove at an excessive rate of spoed estimated to be fauster than any type
of airoraft seen by ne flown at that approximate altitude. This object
was ia for appreximately sixty seconds, during whioh time it traveled
- wdmwmcmuumuh-n. No shape or
definite color could distinguished, the object rolled from side to side
three times in its path across the sky. At ons time the top of the object
eould be seen,when the sun reflocted strongly from its surface in a flagh;
and at other times the bottom of the object oculd de seen, with no reflec-
f tion from the sun. The estimated size at that height eould be compared to
that of an airoraft of the type C-B4. Betweon viewing the top of the objeot
and shat appeared to be the bottom, thore was a period when it was hard to
- see, or 1t would almost disappear.
' - As far as shape is comserned, there was no way of sing shape, !
5_»&--»‘«‘-““““& 20tion Shrough the air. sight of ,
-mmmmucwnuqh of about thirty de-
grees the sarth's surface. &
1 eannot attribute any scunl to this objest, Decasse of the nolse b
of a distant alreraft engine.
S
The appraximte time was verified by my wife as being less than one
nimbe, during which time it was in sight.
As to the ldentity of this oljeot, it was not the shape of any type
airoraft known to the undersigned. There was no shape of wings or fuselage.
The object was . noticed at firgt by the sun's reflecting off its surface and
then the speed at whioch it was traveling.
/ 1’/
N f )Z(; //\A e F —-
anis A Krrivien g
Captain, Alr Corpe
1),
. M@/*-'(
[) M g )
97724tV #
2077
[ /rv
--- page 115 ---
- ‘ . BROADWAY 4128
. o o >
Civil Air Patrol
AUXILIARY OF THE U. 8. ARMY AIR FORCES
WIBCONSIN WING HEADQUARTERS
161 W.WISBSCONSIN AVENUE
MILWAUKEE 3, WIS,
7 July 1947
A A
- v
s
s Do s
2e We * CAYTU,. Vigibilit exc | d; 0d . Sent-
- » & - -
ltoc .
>
- :
eet avove the grounde Altit f soucer 4000 febt iiSL.
Joservedeveriod - First gishte ver Kos! g, YWisconsin,
Flight was obserwed from town of Koshicor 8g Yo Elkhorn, Wisconsin,.
which is snreed of six thougend (f 0) niles rer Yo
speed :l three ¢ send nine lred sixty (3960) nmile r e
o 3 C Ly, -9 805K\ vy
leet e rizo ] it1 "0 C e ) rizontal flight
“vr 1 -t - s 1 -t - - ~ - -4 >
the s rer e re 1 a ‘ . 3 s (3 "L P
& € r six (b) 2 {inal -
T v E - - ’ ing
. S ; : Py y g
c e s Jo § Vg 58 TifJey =1 A .
‘> ;- ey 207
- D.'Sa er, J¢,
--- page 116 ---
; : & WAR DEPARTMENT flR
: SSIFIED MESSAGE CEN
| : INCOMING CLASSIFIED MESSAGE
/ S MIMITY
: L PARAPHRASE NOT REQUIRED, HANDLIE AS CSRFIDENTIAE LU
RESPONDENCE PER PARAS 511 end 60a (4) AR 380-5
From: CG £BAMA San Bernadino Calif
To: CG AAF Wash DC attn AC/AS 2, Counter Intelligence
Division; CG Sixth Army, Attn: AC/S, & 2; CG 3q
AMC thru Sacramento AMA, Calif attn Chief Security
Section .
DTG : 1023592 10 July 1947
Spot rapart.
D at approximately 1550 PST Alvin E Moore
ran 1st L)e v 96 Ftr Sq, while flying routine test
mission in C P 51 at 20,000 feet indicated, sighted a flat
2 cbject of 1light reflecting nature which appeared to he with=-
out vertical fin or any visible wings with apparent depth
of & P 51 airplane at approximately 35,000 feot altitude
and approximate location of 34 degrees 5 ibes latitudas
117 degrees_3 gt ngitude, ObjJect was in
81gt approximately 30 seconds. Objoct vas again sighted
at 15505 P3T at approximately 50000 feet altitude and over
Mount Baldy aproroximate Jocation of 34 degrees 20 minuter
3 1atitude~117 degrees 47 minutes west longitude,
Pilot attempted to keep object in sight but was b
unsble to 4o so, 3peed of P 51 spproximately 300 mph and :
climbing, Merch Field and other bases in area vere contected
and reported none of their ships 1in ths air. MI’
ACTION: AAF e DIST
INFO: ID, P3L, Spec Wy, R&D
CcM IN. 187 (12 Ju1 47) DTG 1023608 we m
——
’Fb" p ————
L . ) 43 DU
THE MAKING OF AN EXACT COPY OF THIS MESSAGE IS FORBIDDEN 40 A b=
--- page 117 ---
A e &, 7385w T4
7&07 Nrwroe » Av r ot o
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AH Lotked libeey b 0, ey Exlify
A e ,/f,, Mratreadd awd teriewy
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Cevibrot Lot . Thws foote plter I/:I na 1315
--- page 118 ---
A= AR
, ® ®
FROM: CG ATLD ATC FORT TOTTEN, N.Ye
TIME AND DATE FILED: 1423232 JULY 1947 -
T0: CG ATC ATTN CHIEF OF STAFY
MESSAGE FROM NEWFOUNDLAND BASE COMMAND SUBJECT QUOTE FLYING DISCS UNQUOTE
GIVES FOLLOWING SUMMARY OF INTERVIEW WITH IRIC KEARSEY CMA NEWFOUNDLAND
“ . CONSPABULARY CLN CONSTABLE REPORTED SEETNG FOUR BGG SHAPE PHOSPHORUS COLOR
DISCS FALLS NEWFOUNDLAND AT TWO THREE THREE ZERO HOURS LOCAL
n A SINGLE DISC ONE ZERO MINUTES LATER PD AT FIRST APFEAR-
ANCE ACCOHDING T0 KEARSEY FOUR DISCS WERE CLOSE TOGETHER IN ABLE LINE A TRAIL
FORMATION MOVING EAST PARALLEL TO GROUND PD SINGLE DISC LESS CLEAR BUT
TRAVELING SAME DIRECTION PD KEARSEY WOULD ROUGHLY ESTIMATE ALTITUDE OF DISCS
AT THEEE ZERO THOUSAND FEET SEMICLN APPAEENTLY MOVING VERY FAST AS THEY
DISAPPEARED IN ABLE FEW SECONDS PD KEARSEY SAID SHAPE OF DISC WAS LIKE
' WE}ADORUOSIGOLIMISPOTSOIMMSMWDMEML
SEMICLN AND HERE REPORTED THAT ANOTHER OBSERVER COMPARED SHAPE OF DISCS T0
THREE LEAF PD END OF COMMUNICATION FROM MEWFOUNDLAND BASE COMMAND PD ESTAB-
LISHED BY INTERVIEWER CMA NONCOM IN CHARGE REPEATER STATION GRAND FALLS CMA
THAT CAVU WAS VEATHER AT TIMES INDICATED
ATC OM~IN D044
g A
- ]éd
--- page 119 ---
| & PRl v 4» v__,‘;;\’z_v-\-%;‘v‘ _:? % tf:;-;; :0 C;{w‘ ¥ AL, % 8 ?",'.‘ B
| _Afil_:‘. {‘47—*:";éil. 'ls« ',.’*r‘> = "rm.~._'c 2 ’
et ks (o e ool .w."i-g L T0 ¥ b ey o i
R R SR YL
: b ' 1‘;&.‘4’3&4‘*‘ Bt et -fi. i \ Y P
L j”r';”i-,{- i W, s ?»fl WY 0G NIC FT PEPPEREEL APO 862 C/0 P¥ NEW YORK FROM CO
f‘ ‘x.f:*;;éi;,x;' thorss 0N FIELD, NEWFOUNDLAND, AT APPROXTMATELY 10000 FEET, COUESE:
i ot e o /NORTH BAST PD WEATHRR; CLEAR WITH SCATTERSD CUMULUS AT 8-10000 FEET
s o s ;iutm /SILVRRY PD DISC WAS FIRST SIGHTRD ABOUT 6 MILEBS SOUTH SOUTH &
%{'wm“ FIEED BY MR MEREMAN, TWA NEPEESENTATIVE AND MR
{0 WOODNUFF, PAA WEPHESENTATIVE FD DISC APPEARED ASOUT THE SAME SPAN AS
§~‘§+‘ ot ‘;ggggg:‘n 10000 FEST, WAS CIRCULAR IN SHAPE LIXE WAGONS WHEEL, DISC
7/ ' SEEMED 10 CUT THE CLOUDS OPEN AS IT PASSED THRU AND LEFY A BLUISH ELACK
[, THAIL APPRORTMATELY FIPTEEN MILES LONG PD TRAIL WAS STMILAR 70 THE
*!»' { - 'BEAM SEEN AFTER A HIGH POWEEED LANDING LIGHT OR SEARCH LIGHT IS SWITCHED
. . - ,SINE PD PHOTOS WILL BE FONNARDED AS SOON AS THEY ARE RECEIVED BY
B mg M o ORRCN 1Y i
PR N
e AR o
T A prek-
--- page 120 ---
|
MESSAGE CENTER NO. | TRANSMITTING MEANS CRYPTOGRAPH OR Cl TEXT
caus STA SR . | PRECEDENCE TRANSMISSION INSTRUCTIONS Oniaunkron [ oare Taer caoue
121482
v PRIGKITY July 47
o NR PR SRS . | (R I B N
Acnon IFORMATION mlmm GRoUP COUNT
-
SPACE ABOVE POR SIGNAL CENTER ONLY
FROM : (Oripinater) 59th AACS Grqu? SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
FINYN Elmencorf Alaska ConF IR AL—
ACTION TO: FOR
PRECEDENCE
. CONAS ATTH ASST CHIEF STAFY ACTION INFORMATION
INTELLIGANCE
= (] ORIGINAL MESSAGE
e e e o o
REFERS TO ANOTHER MESSAGE
- 1DENTINCATION QUASSIFCATION
INFORMATION TO:
S OBJaCT RUSWMBLING A (AYYISH BALLOUN APPRU wHATZLY OUKs 25RO FRET ol
[N DIALWZTLR OBSERVLD FROM LAZ NKRF FIALD FRYING IN NOR "HWEST
DIXECTIOL FOLLUWI. CULTOUR OF KWASTAILS FIVE MILAS AWAY PD OBJLCT
TLYIGG ALTITULE Jia PIVE ZuRO ZiRU FERT ESTIHATING Ubs 2ERU ZERO
MILLS Par HOUR IT7 WAS UBSZHVAD PArGLLELILG Ti. CUUMSE OF CHAXLIE
DASH FOUR SaVall LANDING NUATHWAST ILTU TWU ZeKO MILZ PrR HOUR
15D PL UBJACT WAS UBSRVAD Uks TWU Zako FUUR THRAE ZERO ZEBRA
VR SiVaaan LABUZaS BY MAJUR GRAHM ITHIS Hzal wwARLLHS S£ZVARAL
UFFiCanS Fhui ALASKAN DEPAATISNT VVODUIANLIA LD HIS STunY PD
(VRVID S ¢
! 4 AFBR
)l
Farephrase not required, Hauile as Que=i—PIal correspondeince
per varsgrapns 511 aud (Oa (W), AR 380-H, 15 August 1945,
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION e\ ITHORIZATION
SIGRATURE
' . .
ORIGINATING AGENCY o}~~~
SYMgcL DATE-TIME GROUP | OFRICIAL TITLE
PAGE oF
WD AGO ream 11-168 Thisform supersedes WD AGO Porm 11-168, 23 Aug &4, e B JUATAT e —
15 N 1948 o and WD AGO Form 801, 12 Mar 43, which are obsolete. {6
--- page 121 ---
; [
; s MESSAGE CENTER No. | TRANSMITTING MEANS @ CRYPTOGRAPH OR CLEAR TEXT
CR 97 .| ROUTINZ
caus STa s . | PRECEDENCE TRANSMISSION INSTRUCTIONS T ORGIATOR | DATE TiME GRous
v SR IS AL 1200472
] 3 T ;) = A July 47
«
SPACE ABOVE POR SIGNAL CENTER ONLY
i B f 59th AACS GTO“Y SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
FINYN Elmencorf Alaska » &
ACTION TO: . CORFIBE T IAL 3
" PRECEDENCE FOR
: : S
- ATTL ASSISTALT CHILF OF STAFF
INTELLIGLNCE O . g
REFERS TO ANOTHER MESSAGE
- 1DENTIFICATION CLASSIFICATION
INFORMATION TO:
CBJACT RESEMBLING AN ALUMISUM COLUALD BALLOWUN ABUUT THUSR
FEST IN DIAMETER WAS REPORTAD SELN AT AN USJsT. dINZD
ALTITULE FLYING AT A GRZAT SPEZD IN A FuKRTH TO SUOUTH
DIRECTION PD OBSEaVATION WAS MALs IN VICINITY OF “LiallOnF
Y - FIZLD AT VLR Ous TWO Qis ZoRV 21RO ZiBRA BY COLCL..L PshRY
ARD MAJUK GEYS:iR THIS ESAUQUARTLRS PD
0 sorned, AFBK
| /
1y /
- v
Yaraphrase unot.requir e:l._ Haudle as €onrizs=Ftixt correspondence
per parsgraphs 511 and 6ua (4), AR 380-5, 15 August 1946,
CURITY CLASSIFICATION ———————oo oo AUTHORIZATION
— ™ SGRATURE
= vy
CoRr ISt
S | | e
SYMBOL DATE-TIME GROUP OFFICIAL TITLE
PAGE © OF
WD AGO roam This form supersedes WD AGO Porm 11-168, 23 Aug 44, 1643001-1 W W 5 SOVERNMENT PRINTING OPPICE
15100 1945 112168 1.’ WD'AGO Form 801, 12 Mar 43, which are cbsolete.
--- page 122 ---
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--- page 123 ---
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--- page 124 ---
: |
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--- page 125 ---
Package received from Sheriff lerle T. Wilmoth, Watseka, Ill. His
latter states the inst rument in the package was found by a farmer at
Danforth, Ill. It landed in the middle of a section of his farm land and
burned weeds 23 feet tall to fine ash an area of 1} feet in diam. around
where the object dropped.
The instrument. consists of:
(a) Plaster of paris body having an oval cavity thru it.
(b) A power microphone which screws over one end of the oval cavity.
The power microphone carried the name, "duthminl Balawin Inc."
salt Lake City, Utah. Pat day 10 1910 & sept 14, 1916. Pat Kos
957403 (second number not readable)
(¢) A small "Polymat" filter condenser.
(d) Two bakelite cylinders to which is attached a net work of fine
copper wire. These ware obviously coils and the impact has torn
the wire from the core. (Our radio section definitely states that
this is old stuff, or the coils were used quite some time ago,
since having baen replaced by smaller more efficient coils)
(&) A piece of metal having magnetic properties obviously broken off
the power microphone as a result of the impact.
The plaster of paris body was broken up by the impact but some of the
pimces were held together by wire reinforcement inside the plaster of paris.
Mrs. Whedon 3B 274 Ixt 73909 (3ig C) was shown this object by Mr.
Zimmer of the FBI. Mrs "hedon claims she knew what it was, but couldn't
tell Zimmer.
i & ” .
--- page 126 ---
R T T R R TR T 1 f e o o o, \.' S
Oflice Memorandum - uNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
SATJUL 22 MM 11 44
TO ! Mr, Moxom, Regional Office No. 1, N.Y, DATB: 7/15/47
- .
FROM : yy, Wright, WBAS, Ricanond, Vas v/dc,/t:t(/ M 3
SUBJECT: "Flying Diske" P —————
e hesitate to make this report coneerning our pilot balloon %
. observations in regards to a flying disk because of the considerable
national skepticism regarding the subject at present., Iowever, local %
newspapers inform us that the U, 5, Government admits no authority for
. -such a ship or object and for its flights. Then we must assume this
' strange object to be foreign. Therefore, we submit this report for your .
information. If sighted again, we wonder if it would be a good idea to y
drop the balloon and instead make observations on this disk. A
2 Mr, Minczewski has observed this strange metallic disk on three
occasions through the theodolite ‘while making his pibal observation
; during the last six montha. Miss Baron has reported observing it on
one occasion, ¥iss Baron's report agrees with ¥r, Minczewski's observations
except as to the color-which she reported as a dull metallic luster,
Mr, Minozewski last observed tHi's disk in Aipril 1947 at the 1100E
Pibal Observation when the balloon was at 15 thousand feet. fThe disk was
followed for 15 seconds, epparently moving on level flight from east to
west to the far notth of the station. The object was a metallic like Chrome
" -shaped something like an ellipse with a flat level bottom and a dome like-round
tope The disk appeared below the balloon, was much larger in size in the
instrument, and shined like silver. It was impossible to estimate the height
or spsed of the disk except that it appeared to be moving rather rapidly.
Miss Baron observed the 8isk when her balloon was at about 27 thousand feet.
All days observed were either clear or with very few clouds and good vieibility. |
Very truly yours,
ACTION INFO . % ~ :1
R D 1
EXEC ASST 8
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TECH A .= i
ADM, 255 ' Lo
HYDRO _,‘
mecAL | 1.
.l'{i?k_ B __,\ —
scheiaR | | ~ i
FLE
- e T, | AR = i . R 
