Fi otk wie wy : ; y EO + = i DO NOT DES) On am | | EoTRnOY23 Pe 7 as N38 at ri eT STR DO NOTS cant FIRING GIBHSTROY, | FOIPA # 99507 ’ + STANDARD FORM NO. 64 r 6 Office Memo; -dum + onrrep s1 OVERNMEN a TO : Director, FBI (yy DATE: September 4, 1947 \A¥ sn FROM $ SAC, San Francisco VU ATRMAIL SPECIAL DELIVERY w) SUBJECT: REPORTS of FLYING DISCS \ SS nl A Enclosed is a copy of a letter dated August 25, 1947, with NA attachment fran Lt. Col. DONALD L. SPRINGER of A~2, Hamilton Field, IK California. Even though Col. SPRINGER feels that Mr. JOHNSON may J have read some of his claims in a newspaper, Col. SPRINGER believes tii) that Mr. F. MX JOHNSON should be interviewed in this matter. ¥ 4 In accordance with Bureau Bulletin No. 42, dated July 30, \ 1947, Portland is requested to exhaustively interview Mr. F. M JOHNSON, 106 N.W. First Ave., Portland, Oregon, regarding his alleged sighting of a "flying disc" on June 24, 1947. Copies of the result of this interview should be furnished the San Francisco Field Office for distribution to the 6th Army Intelligence. DWK:MR y Encls. 2 Va 62-2938 r ec Portland (Incls. 4) — AMSD f? J) = . 4 A o : Re , y f RAITT pa A & INI bulN td Authority oo cP’ | ore HEADQUARTERS FOURTH AIR FORCE Office of the Assistant Chief of Steff, A-2 Intelligence Hamilton Field, California . 4AFDA 25 Au rust 1947 SUBJECT: Flying Disc. TO: Special Agent in Charge, FBI, U. S. Department of Justice, Federal Office Building, Room 422, San Francisco, Calif. le The attached true copy of a letter from Mr. F. M. Johnson was received by this officer 22 August 1947. 2e Your attention is invited to the similarity between Arnold's early report and this gentleman's report. A possibility exists that Mrs Johnson might have read some of this in the newspapers when Arnold was publicized re this mattere Se This headquarters does not intend to investigate this incident. It is requested thet a result of any interview you may make be furnished this headquarters. A L ah! DONALD L. SPRINGER 1 Inel: (dup)! Lt. Colonel, Gs& Ltr fr F.M.Johnson AC of &S, A-2 (True Cy) ] ER i U.> SAN en © ® TED 1« i W\ATDOTIADALD LAS men Sa 4 M4 é - ae 4 Sing ¢ F eas) PORTLAND, OREGON, August 20th 1947 Lte Cole Donald L. Springer, Assistant Staff Sire Saw in the portland paper a short time ago in regards to an article in regards to the so called flying disc having any basis sf facte I can say am a prospector and was in the ift Adams district on June 24th the day Kennet\Ar old of Boise Idaho claims he saw a formation of flying disce And i saw the same flying objects at about they are reel and noting M om I ever saw defor not pass verr. hi "h over w Ye T wes em 74 i 2t 1€ she bime. . ] 5 1 00 ts thoy were Round about 30 foot in dimater tapering sharply to a point in hear any noise as you would from a plane. ut there was an object in the tail end looked like a bis hand of a vlock shifting from side to side like a biz magenet. There speed as far as i mow seemed to be sreater than anything I ever saw. Last w I got of the objects they were standing on edge Bankine in a Cloud. Yours Respectfully /3/ F, M. Johnson f 106 No. West lst Ave Portland, Oregon A TRUE COPY: / “ C4 -- ra DONALD Le SPRINGER, Lt. Colonel, GS¢,4 AC of 8S, A-2 // f b } Fe enen U. > | SAN! [ SAC, San Francisco SUBJECT: REPORTS OF FLYING DIscs__ Enclosed for your information are copies of two letters from Lt. Col. DONALD L. SPRINGER of A-2, Hamilton Field, California, dated August 27, 1947, with attachments reporting the sighting of "flying discs" on Guam, and result of A-2 investigation at Tacoma and Kelso, Washington. DWK: MR 62-2938 nn ‘ CY vv o) < ae —€3&GU ~FiZ : “er Ee ites. S mere ye + a eg ae Se ee ee EE oS See ee ee ee ot, : : ww. eropr: : { ) OAN Hi a HEADQUARTERS FOURTH AIR FORCE Office of the Assistant Chief of Steff, A-2 { ; Intelligence | Hamilton Field, California i 4AFDA 27 August 1947 333.5/1208-1 & jt SUBJECT: Re Flying Disc. TOs Special Agent in Charge, FBI, U. S. Department of Justice, | Federal Office Suilding, Room 422, San Francisco, California. { } i 1. Following is extract from the Weekly Intelligence Summary, Air Transport Command, Washington 25, D. C., dated 20 August 1947, | _ Copy Noe 120, Article I, pg 1: heat | { “PLYING OBJECTS IN GUAM: Unidentified flying objects have | : been observed by three American enlisted men of the 147th Air~ ; ways and Air Communications Service Squadron et Harmon Field, i Guem, The men report that at 1040 hours on 14 August 1947 the | two objects, which they describe as small, crescent shaped and | traveling at a speed twice that of a fichter plane, passed over | =r oa them on a zig-zag course in a westerly direction at an approxi- — : mate altitude of twelve hundred feet. The objects disappeared ear sa ‘imto clouds and a few seconds later a similar object possibly Py SS sta one of those previously observed, emerged from the clouds and eS igtak proceeded west. No further details have been reported." ie gry 2- For your information. } ee Le SPRINGER” “y eas : Lt. Colonel, GSC ene ; AG of S, Aq2 | { f Van 2) Ld Py a ‘ 3 SECRET : : M/NATC'LIA DATION A LN HEADQUARTERS FOURTH AIR FORCE Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff, A~2 . Intelligence Hamilton Field, California 4AFDA 27 August 1947 333 65/1208-1 SUBJECT: Investigation of Flying Disc. TOs Special Agent in Charge, FBI, U. S. Department of Justice, Federal Office Building, Room 422, San Francisco, California. Attached summary forwarded for your information. DONALD L. SPRINGER 1 Inel: Lt. Colonel, GS¢ Summary of Information. AC of S, A-2 -4 AL y : u. S.D AUG 30 1947 | SAN FRANCISCé pete ; ROUTED TO 3) 53 5 j we. JiN LiLPALS 4 4 A HEADQUARTERS FOURTH AIR FORCK Office of the Assistant Chief of Steff, A-2 Intelligence lamilton Field, California 4AFDA 27 August 1947 Ps 3535/1208-1 SUBJECT; Investigation of Flying Disc. TOs Special Agent in Charge, FBI, U. S. Department of Justice, . Seattle, Washington. \ ¢ Attached summary forwarded for your information, 1 Inel: DONALD L. SPRINGER Summary of Information. Lt. Colonel, GSC AC of 8, An2 ba «it & j @coppentiai® CF LN 4 7) corr AIR RESCUE SERVICE , DETACHMENT 8 (624 AAF SU) E MeChord Field, Tacoma, faghington 4 August 1947 SUBJECT: Pinal “ission Report TOr Commanding Officer Air Rescue Service WaeDill Field, Florida x le MISSION HUMBER Thirty-Nine. F ; Ze ATURE. ae Ab 0400 PST, 1 August 47, ARMY FLIGHT SERVICK notified this éetachnent that a plsne had been seen to crash and burn thirteen (13) miles south of KELSO, Washington (46°8'N, 122°65'W). Se ACTION TAKEN Se 1 Aug 47. At 04:50 PET, APS received information from Mre O- Ge Clark, loonl sheriff of ESLSO, Washes, that the scene of the crash wos fifteen (15) to twenty (20) miles enst of KELSO in the vicinity ef 0OBLE CREBK. The KELSO Chief of Police saw an aireraft fly low over the tow, then crash and burn to the east. The time wis about 0236 PST, A check of aircraft lmown to be in the vicinity revealed that 5-25 71516 had departed ICCHORD FIELD at 0212 PST for HAMILTON PIELD, California. ‘The wenther was reported as CPR, A full moon made visibility exceptionally good. The pilot's name was CAPT. W. C. DAVIDSON; the plane carried three (S$) additional . persona. ‘The Base Operations Officer and Base PIO were notified. This detachment began organising a ground party of base personnel] to supplement that being formed by the KELSO Chief of Police. At 0500 PST information was received from KELSO by APS that ground fog in the valleys at the seene of the crash was preventing a ground party from locating the plane. Since no communication had been received from 8-25 #1316, it was assumed thet it was the plane reported as crashed. ARS C+47 was preeflighted to transport the Army ground party to KELSO but a check of the field conditions there deemed it advisable to use a smaller aircraft. Of the two Coeds available, one belonging to APS was unserviced after a night flights the other, belong- ing to AACS, was readied even though a responsible officer of that organ- ization was not present to authorize the flight. Fog at KSLSO prevented take-off until 0700 PST. The ground party, led by CAPT. W. L. LITTRELL and CAPT.» Te He FORSBERG, consisted of six men ineluding a medical technician and a photographer. At OGO0 PST, the KELSO Chief of Police notified AFS that a passenger of the crashed airplane was in his office and had confirmed me iss ae ae a x PAVLILAL @ be ‘ » ’ : Subjeoty Final Mission Report” 4 Auguet 1947 The belief that the crash was thet of the unreported B25. The Passenger, Sgts Ne Le TAPP, of FT. LAWTON, SEATTLE, was uninjured, but reported that . the grew chief, T/Sgt. W. J. MATHEWS, was at a farm house near the scene of the orash and was injured. igte TAFF then led an ambulance to Sgte MATHEWS whe was subsequently teken to @ local hospital, At 0610 PST an attempt wee made to telephone Sq, 3 at HAMILTON FIELD but no anawer was received; however, it was known that HAMILTON APS was aware of the incident and would notify Sq. 3, At O700 PST Capt. LITTRELL departed in a Ce45 for KELSO, At O745 PST Sq B wae contacted by phone and given @ flash report. At O905 PST CAPT LITTRELL phoned and informed that he had placed CAPTAIN FORSSERG in charge of Army porsomnel proceeding to the seene of the crash. No serial search was necessary es civiliens in the area knew tho exact location of the crash and had reported finding one (1) body in the wreekhge. CAPT. LITTRELL prepared to fly Sgt's TAFF and MATHEWS to MCCHORD FIELD rs for medical attention, arriving eat 0945 PST. The survivors steted that 9 they believed neither the pilot nor co-pilot hes parachuted from the Plance The osuse of the incident was at thie time determined to be a fire in the left engine, CAPT LITTRELL was informed by Sgte TAFF that he volieved classified documents had been aboard the planes CAPT FORSBERG was instructed to take necessary precautions. An anbulance met the plane at MCCHORD Fi¢LD carrying the two survivors and took thom to the hospital. ; Interrogetion revenled that the left engine had cnught fire in the power section and flames ond smoke had spread to the flight deck almeat imned- lately. The crew chief, MATHEWS, assisted TAFFY in attaching hia shest pack and TAPP abandoned the plane at an estimated altitude of 10,000 ft (thie fact i» doubted bat ia not considered necessarily rolewant). EATHENS helped the pilot and coepilet attach their chest packs (all per- sonnel had boon wearing the harness) and as he left the plene wes aware that the espilot was preparing to follow. The pilot had started to leave and, to the best recollection of MATHEWS, was partially standing and holding the control wheel with his left hand. MATHEW'S estatenents indicate that proper emergency procedures had been performed but that the flames had en- veloped the «ntire left side almost immediately. TAPY stated that, because of the full moon and good visibility, he gaw MATHEWS leave the plane and was able to follow the plane to the ground and that he saw no one olae bail out. The ship was enveloped in flames and was beginning to fell apart before hitting the ground where it exploded and burned about one (1) mile : from where he, TAPF, landed. le lit in a tree, end not knowing how to release his parachute of the quick=detachable kind, cut himself loose fron the harness with hie peoket knife. Se kicked end atruggled and eventually jumped to the ground, receiving e jolt on impact out was unable to ruess how far he hed fallen. He then followed a cow path for an estimated two (2) milns to a farm house, arriving after MATHEWS, Yoanwhile, as MATHERS elenred the plane he turned and sew the plane strike the ground, explode and burne Just before or just at the time of impact he saw an object afire thrown olear of the plane but did not know whether it wes & person or part of the planes MATHEWS aleo Lit in a tree, and efter freeing himself from his harneas, fell to the ground where he injured his backe He lest conseiousness and on recovering went to the burning plane, about fifty 2 7 Bis & Bp OIE — 2 7 ry Se iin tae ee | . Subject: Final Mission Repers ” 4 August 1947 (60) yards away. Flares were going off and he thought best to leave the acene, He heard a stream nearby end followed it until he came to a house and aroused the eceupantse Seon TAFFY arrived at the same house and, being un- Z injured, was driven into towne Then he led an ambulance to effect transporta- tion of MATHEWS to a hospital. Meanwhile, civilians reached the seene of the erash where they found one body. At 0930 PST, «a message from Sq 3 informed that top sseret material was in the navigators kit and to request Commanding Offleer MCCHORD FIELD to expedite al] available information to Commanding Officer RANILTON FIELD. Meanwhile, CAPT PORSSERG and four (4) enlisted men departed KELSO at 0830 PST for seene of the crash, ‘Thoy were transported by the WASHINGTON STATE POLICE who knew the exact location of the plane (46°O9'N « 122043'W). ‘The ground party determined upon arrival at the soene, that two (2) bodies were in the wreckage. Indications led to the belief thet the ce-pilot wae afire when he left the plane an instant ‘ before impact. Ti. pilot's remains were found in the wreckage, Pree liminery investigation by CAPT PORSBERG disclosed the planes left wing about one hundred twenty-five (125) yards from the widely soattered porte ° tions of the planee The left wing was intact. and hed spperently torn off just. cutboard of the left engine before impact. The forward pertion ‘ 3 of the wing stub was melted but the rear two thirds indicated thet it had ripped loose from the inboard section of the wing. The wing leading edge was wunidemaged. The naVigation and landing lirfhts were wubroken. The aileron was undamaged but the flap section was crushed, leading to the belief that the wing struck the teil sections. From these indicetions it is believed the wing ripped from the airplane just after MATHENS sbandoned the plane. The resulting spin thus prevented the remmining i. crew members from bailing out although the co-pilot may heve been in the hatehe A few civilians were in the area when CAPT FORSBERG arrived and he took prooautions to prevent them from disturbing the wreckage. At 1157 PST CAPT LITTRELL flew CAPT RICH, M. C., to KELSO, An ambulance dispatched from MOCHORD PIELD, met them at KELSO, and was led to the soene of the erash by the STATE POLICE. The bodies were recovered and trana- ported in the azbulance to WOCHORD PIELD. CAPT LITTRELL returned to MCCHORD FIELD where camping equipment was prepared to be drepred to the ground party. CAPT LITTRELL, made a suocessful drop at dusk by sighting on @ signal fire. The ground party set up camp at the wreckage scene to sot ae guard end te investigete further the following dey. They were relieved of responsibility of ©11 recovered documents by a CIC agent who hed arrived about 1800 PST. bs 2 Aug 47e The ground party remained at the scene of the crash pending official securing of the incident. No aerial activitye Ge S Aug 47e MOCHOND FIELD Operations Officer departed at 1000 PST to investigate the accident and to relieve CAPT FORSBARG, who returned et 1600 PSY. Incident closeds $ CONFIDENTIAL ‘ “frAnTGLIL ‘ SLirkde 3 ry = a + 4 ? . Se : Subjects Final Mission port 4 Augast 1947 Pi Se STATISTICA! Tuts RY X22 2D EAS 7 @- GROUED ACTIVITY (1) Total man hours by ARS Personnel in field 72 (estinate) 300 ’ ! + . ~ 2 ; i > * Lay e as ~ ae 3 ‘io. J , . ; . a ~ Cryp ey DH Ee} iT 7 A / i { f ede a eH - te = ~*~ ( , ~~ ae: d A 4. , ne ; r " At % + . GR ; . x ‘ ve 4 . : Meee TN paw Wf. ; E Ai: ¥ > ¢ 4 — S : ee a b . , ie ioe a Mr ‘% ! x, . oy Pgh? Ss Ps F oa ta tert 2 : + . - Oe a e ~~ *, bs eS +4 ~ be ; 4 < ae " 1‘ \ ee : Ree " fg e Fy ? 2 ‘ay : ‘ ~ ¥. : ¥ . >, = ‘ ace’ e . >. Fe ; r ¥ehegn 2 y ” uh VP in ; = hw : ’ - 7 i VN .. ; j : ¥ X : \ \ NY . Y j Ht tS any an xo" - ey SAS NAT IO Pernt ; WA NH | BESEGLSG aa © . as rer : + f - © ey : haw ee \ fs ot. ma ai f RS Gs belt en . e att ¥ Rs , ‘ ¥. . * F ran y+ 5 = ait Pore AS | dies © 4 Ce ule ; t's : 4 - a "3 ery , ’ ‘ st & @ ee . h , Si ‘ ¢ om 4 ; 5 ‘ 4 RFE Ps mat ald PA ae. Wier S “a Qi se. 3S +, Fe Sis te tat rE 7 ¥. - .s i Ae * "ha 4 ty i. ie & &, » nll hE aa EE, ce Bey. j ‘ oe 4 i Ps eae? ig = gn fn OR LE TO GER Le +d } ‘Gare ee Bu NO aT Be rh aS — # SF a ora a ‘i ae ee eal i oi re fe: “ : i? te ot OG ss > ‘ wi } . ia ¢ ® coNEIpENTE: ® oo RNS OS Jrgi a oS 2 oF) 7 & * Ge Suk *» hs Ry be . : - ‘ . cea “? > f > » > s > s a: . . as >. PY E il a) a ss Many ee , ~ SS a , . - , TS Ys # sd ve “s # ¥ i; % os “em ’ ™ F ¥ i pa C a vty . ae He { me a ‘ j a ‘ PD & tee 4 Office Memo _ewl2 » UNITED Sla... }OVERNMENT TO : ssw (rv) DATR: 1-29-47 y, j FROM: SAC, Bostonf’ J} | EAKe L tam Lf SUBJECT: METAL FRAGMENTS fo SERVED AT WEST RINDGE, NEW HAMPSHIRE, JULY 7, 1947 ¢ SECURITY MATTER (X Reference is made to Boston teletype to the Bureau dated July 18, 1947, Dean John M, Bunker, the original informant, has advised that a spectographic examination has been completed of the metal particles referred to, They were determined to be of ordinary cast iron which had been subjected to a very high degree of heat, The heat caused scales to be formed on the cast iron which were originally thought to be of some metallic alloy. The scientist examining the partioles concluded that if they had come through the air from any great altitude in as small pieces as they were found then most of the heat would have been taken from them by the time they reached : the ground and fires would not have resulted, It is noted they landed S approximately 700 feet from a railroad track and inquiries were conducted by “4 MIT to determine whether or not the particles could have been originally a vex part of a liner in a smoke stack or some other part of the steam engine, These \ inquiries resulted in positive information that the particles did not come from a train or locomotive. Measurements of the four pieces examined revealed that they had most likely been originally all part of one hollow cylinder, eight inches in diameter and three sixteenths of an inch in thickness, It ae. was felt that one piece falling from a great height would have still retained } a good part of its heat and probably would have smashed when it hit the ground, S A scientist, whom “ean Bunker did not identify by name, recalled that cast =_— iron oylinders of similar measurements had been used in New Mexico on d research work on a guided missile project. Uowever, this unidentified scientist ; not so conclude to the exclusion of all other possibilities, va ; y OONF. INFT) I “is interesting to note that the examination at MIT was actually conducted (b) (7)(D) Who furnished the Boston Office with an informal report similar in all major details to that supplied by Dean Bunker above, The men at MIT at are gathering through friends all additional pieces of the original oylinde#” / available, These will be turned over to the Soston Office. No further,” _\— examination is being conducted by MIT and no effort is being nade + reconstruct the original cylinder, rANDMED Unless advised to the contrary by August 15, 1947 the Boston Office will destroy these specimens, In the interim they will be transmitted to the Bureau on specifio Bureau instructions, sod A ru 2] Cp &% 270 NOV 18 1964 FX -64 , ie ' . wA\, « “f 47> L t } 4 * * as tant (b) (7)(D) Han ear : 23¢ THY) 23479 Sagan Nid 9€ : 35° Kt Yor ¢ “2 yan? gd oo 9 + WS “> “ , > ‘ nar Ay wv” © gee Tip naa é + It is noted that the original 4oston teletype reflected that this inquiry was being treated as “secret” matter at MIT. (b)(7)(D) has advised that the comparatively small number of research scientists at MIT during the summer are all cognizant of the incident and the results of the research, However, no publicity has been given and it is not anticipated that any will result. The Bureau's interest is not known to the scientists at MIT. ‘here has been no speculation that a guided missile originating in a foreign land landed in New Hampshire. As indicated above, unless the Bureau requests specifically further investigative action, this case is being closed in the Boston Office. BSG:md 100-20698 5 ® ? / ai\e 4 ny a kV ; \P FBI BUTTE 8-15-47 5-45 PM x vew ee at FBI URGENT a oe FLYING DISCS. ON INSTANT DATE A. CeCURIE OF TWIN FALLS, random INFORMED LOCAL NEWSPAPER THAT COMMUNITY THAT AT ONE PM ON WEDNESDAY LAST, AUGUST THIRTEEN, HE AND TWO SONS BILLIE, AGE TEN, KEITH, AmmXK AGE EIGHT, SAW AN OBJECT NINE MILES NORTHWEST OF TWIN FALLS, RE- SEMBLING FLYING DISC. URIE STATED THIS OBJECT WAS PROCEEDING #MMK DOWN SALMON RIVER AT TERRIFIC SPEED ESTIMATED BY HIM AT ONE THOUSAND MILES PER HOUR. URIE AND SONS DESCRIBED OBJECT TO NEWSPAPERS AS TWENTY FEET LONG, TEN FEET WIDE AND TEN FEET THICK, LIGHT SKY BLUE IN COLOR AND ALSO OBSERVED FLAMES EMANATING FROM SIDES OF OBJECT. AT TIME URIE AND SONS SAW OBJECT THEY ALL HEARD LOUD SWISH WHEN OBJECT DISAPPEARED FRIM SIGHT. CURRENT EFFORTS BEING MADE TO INTER- VIEW URIE AND SONS PURSUANT TO BUREAU BULLETIN FORTY TWO, SUB DIVISION B, DATED JULY THIRTY NINETEEN FORTY SEVEN, BUREAU WILL RE PROMPTLY , AND FULLY INFORMED OF ALL PERTINENT DEVELOPMENTS. sas sal if? BANISTER j, , < 2 Ait EN bpsagesHdat aly PLS ACK AND HOLD ae jm I} PES I Sy 7-48 PM OK FBI WA BW eS ad4au io 40 3h 03 i an aye? yah ltl nw RF | g3n3o™ ayant’ ° STANDARD9EORM NO. 64 q ‘ “igh ae 9 . , Office Men Aum + UNITED | GOVERNMENT * (3 J < ¥ * ~ . TOL ae: The Director DATE: August 1y¢ 19h7 ° 3 4 ip Pa FROM: Mr. D. M. Ladd Aza SUBJECT: “ FLYING DISCS i? tracy In connection with your request to be advised as to the facts =: a concerning newspaper reports of flying discs in the Portland area and the iy Quinn fex— reported conference of army officials in Portland concerning flying dises , if. ivase——— the Portland Office has advised that Leaveritt G. Richards, aviation iss Oandy————— editor of the. "Oregonian," has stated that Captain Willian Lpavidson and Lieutenant Frank as ng of the Fourth AAF Headquarters, San Francisco, were in Portland on July 27, 197. While in Portland they interviewed Dick fy © “Rankin, an experienced pilot, who had reported that he observed, on June Ih, s a formation of ten flying discs over Bakersfield, California. Richards added fs 7 that Davidson and Brown had also interviewed the following four experienced pilots who were among the first,.to report seeing discs, KennethXArnold, businessman from Boise, Idaho; Captain E. IXNSmith, a co-pilot; Ralph/Stevens, United Airlines and Dav@XJohnson, aviation editor, Idaho"Statesman." In order to determine the purpose of these interviews Richards contacted lMajor General Twining of Wright Field, Ohio, and from him gained the impression that the AAF instituted this investigation to wash out the disc reports since they are definitely not of AAF origin. On Friday, August 1, the plane in which AAF investigators, Captain bs ; Davidson and Lieutenant Brown, were flying, crashed at Kelso, Washington and both were killed. The wreckage was screened by AAF Intelligence from McChord Field. The "Tacoma News Tribune" and through them the United Press put out a story that the plane was carrying parts of a dise which had struck a boat owned by Harold Dahl and Fred Chrisman. It has also been inferred that this plane was sabotaged to prevent these disc parts from being examined. STATUS i Investigation by the Bureau has reflected that this plane was definitely not carrying parts of a disc and there appears to be no substantiation of a sabotage charge. For your further information there is attached a blind memorandum setting forth in more detail the results of the investigation surrounding the above plane crash. No further inquiry is being made in this matter. ACTION : Air Force Intelligence has been advised of the results of our investi- ation. Hf RGF :mjp DEXE] $i or COPIES DESTROYED a 2 & ' 270 NOV 18 1904 aA ’ . f r @ £ Set 3 : y ‘ - . it ae 2 QO x= woes “ at ee 29118 OF 4014399 -¢+ & AVIS OIAIIO IY re ‘ August 1), 197 FLYING DISCS The "Tacoma News Tribune" and through them the United Press put out a story that an army plane which was allegedly carrying parts of a disc which had struck a boat owned by Harold Dahl and Fred Chrisman had crashed on August 1, 1947, killing two Air Force Intelligence officers who were interviewing persons who were alleged to have seen flying discs. Harold A. Dahl and Fred Chrisman, when interviewed by Bureau Agents, advised in a signed statement on August 7, 197, that in the early part of June, 197, they picked up some strange rock formations from a gravel pit on Mauri Island, Washington. They sent a cigar box of these formations to one Ray Palmer, editor of the Venture magazine in Evanston, Illinois and also editor of the Fantasy magazine in Chicago, Illinois. According to them they requested Palmer to make only a chemical analysis of the rock formations. Palmer then wrote asking for additional samples stating he had been unable to analyze the material. Dahl and Chrisman remarked that a few days after the flying disc stories appeared during the latter part of June, Palmer contacted them by telephone saying he would pay for an exclusive story if the materials they had sent him were fragments of a flying disc. Dahl said he wrote Palmer a letter in which he represented the material as being a part of a flying disc, and both Dahl and Chrisman admitted that this statement was entirely false. Dahl and Chrisman then received a call from one Kenneth Arnold of Boise, Idaho who requested them to meet him at the Winthrop Hotel in Tacoma on July 31, 1947. According to them Arnold called in army intelligence officers from Hamilton Field, California and one Captain Emil H. Smith of United Airlines of Seattle, Washington to attend this meeting. Dahl and Chrisman maintained they told the intelligence officers Captain Davidson, Lieutenant Brown, Kenneth Arnold and Emil H. Smith exactly how they got the rock formations and that they had no connection with any flying discs. Dahl and Chrisman stated that they then furnished some of the rock formation to the intelligence officers as samples. Captain Davidson and Lieutenant Brown left Tacoma, Washington in a B-25 to return to Hamilton Field, California about 2:30 A.M. August 1, 197, and were killed when their plane crashed at Kelso, Washington, after the left engine burned out an exhaust stack which in turn caught the left wing on fire which caused it to break off. The crew chief and each officer parachuted to safety. Ernie Vogel, an Associated Press wireman at Tacoma advised that two or three days after the flying disc story started he contacted Dahl to check the story COPIES DESTROYED Yas oe rg 2.70 NOV 18 1964 : , ‘ . that the Seattle Post-Intelligencer had received from the Fire Chief at Harbor, Washington, to the effect that Dahl had some flying disc fragments. At this time Dahl admitted to Vogel that the entire story was false. Relative to Arnold, Dahl and Chrisman stated that he was paid by Ray Palmer of the Fantasy magazine and possibly the Boise ’Statesmar! to come to Tacoma and obtain a story from them regarding the flying disc fragments. On July 31 and August 1, a total of five anonymous calls were received by a Tacoma Times reporter and the United Press Wireman at Tacoma giving information regarding the meeting at the Winthrop Hotel over the disc fragments and stating that the B-25 had been shot down or sabotaged which killed Captain Davidson and Lieutenant Brown, inferring that this was done because the intelligence officers were carrying disc fragments in their plane. Dahl and Chrisman stated that these calls could only have come from themselves, Arnold or Smith, who, they stated, had a friend on the Chicago Times and was possibly selling the story to the Chicago Times through this friend. Dahl and Chrisman denied making these calls. Smith, upon interview, stated that reporter Lantz of the Tacoma Times and Morello of the United Press office in Tacoma had informed him that Arnold had several anonymous calls and from the accuracy of the information transmitted Smith believes they were made by either Dahl or Chrisman. Ne B xi 2 q %} . a ‘ ¢ } > ‘ mF fer Sh » Ld ‘ “ + “ » rs ~* . Federal Gireau of Lnuestigah United States Aepartment of Justice 407 U. S. Court House / Seattle 4, Washington re \ugust 18, 1947 q f LA ) CRISMAN and HAROLD A. DAHL, Dear Sir: ie ry Tm HAUT 3m ADTCAPAM & + SAS + r as. . aha 4 RAY PALMER then engaged KENNETH{ARNOLD, Boise, Idaho, who was the first to report sighting the flying disc and whom RAY PALMER had previously made a contract for ch KENNETH ARNOLD came to Tacoma, Washington July 30, 1947 and ee AHL in his room 502, Winthrop Hotel, Tacoma,-‘Wfashington. KENNETH ARNOLD also called to attend the meeting Captain EMIL-O.\ SMITH, United Airlines Pilot who ra ad . 3 a rf ~ % eo August 19, 1947 this meeting. KENNETH ARNOLD, Captain EMIL J. SMITH, FRED. CRISMAN, HAROLD DAHL, Captain DAVIDSON and Lieutenant BROWN of Army A=2 Intelligence from Hamilton Field, California, all met in ARNOLD's: room at various times during the afternoon and evening of July 31, 1947 and discussed the flying disc story as related by CRISMAN and DAHL. The Army Intelligence Officers, Captain DAVIDSON and Lieutenant BROWN, left about 2:00 A.M. the morning of August 1, 1947 to. return to Hamilton Field, California for Air Force Day in a B-25-and were carrying some of the reported disc fragments. The left engine on the B-25 burned an exhaust stack which in turn caught the left wing afire, the wing subsequently breaking off and tearing off the tail. The B-25 crashed, killing Captain DAVIDSON and Lieutenant BRON. However, the Crew Chief and a hitch=hiker. parachuted to safety. Intelligence Officers at McChord Field, Washington advised there was no indication of any sabotage. The plane crashed at Kelso, Washington approximately 2:50 A. M, August 1, 1947. Five anonymous calls were received by a reporter, Tacoma Times, and the United Press Wireman, Tacoma, between 11:30 A. M., July 31, 1947 and. 5:30 P. M., August 2, 1947. The first call was to a Tacoma Times reporter approximately 11:30 A. M., July 31, in which the caller stated that there was a meeting taking place at that time in room. 502 of the Winthrop Hotel concerning the disc fragments found on*Maury Island. The second call was received between 11:00 A. M. and 12:00 noon, August 1, 1947-by the Tacoma Times reporter in which the caller advised that at that moment a big meeting was taking place in ARNOLD's. room number 502, Winthrop Hotel; that the B-25 which crashed was carrying disc fragments and that McChord Field officials had stated it was shot down or sabotaged. The third call was received Friday, August 1, 1947 at 5:30 P. Me by the United Press “ireman, Tacoma, in which the. caller stated that the B-25 which crashed at Kelso, Washington was carrying flying disc fragments and that the dead officers were Captain DAVIDSON and Lieutenant BROWN, A=2 Intelligence Officers at “amilton Field, California. This call was prior to the release of the dead officers' names by Army authorities and the caller indicated that when the names were released, it-would verify the information he was furnishing was correct. The fourth phone call was received at approximately 6:45 P. M., Friday, August 1 by the United Press Wireman in which call the caller stated the B-25 was definitdyshot down and.that if he contacted Army Intelligence officers, they would not. deny it. The fifth phone call was received by the United Press Wireman, Tacoma, at.5:30:P. M,. August 2, 1947 at which time the caller stated the B=-25 was shot down from the: air with a 20 msm. cannon; that the Marine plane found recently on Mt. Rainier had also been shot down and that Captain SMITH would be taken to Wright Field Tuesday morning. When the Army authorities releaséd the names of the dead Intelligence officers which verified. the information as given by the anonymous caller, the Tacoma Times printed this story on August 2, 1947 and carried several articles thereafter inferring that the B-25 had been shot down or sabotaged because of the fact that it was carrying disc fragmeritts, DAHL and CRISMAN have admitted that the material which they sent to RAY PALMER had no connection. with any flying discs and have given a signed statement to that effect which are being PS a . S $ : 4 i . clad 5 4 . ot 5 ye : 2 August 19, 1947 forwarded herein. DAHL and CRISMAN deny, however, that they actually started the flying disc’ story and their actual part in the story. United Airlines pilot, EMIL J, SMITH, states that DAHL and CRISMAN on July 31, 1947, both related their original flying dise fragment story. Information gathered would indicate that the anonymous phone calls were possibly made by FRED CRISMAN in order to build up the flying disc story to the point where they could’ make a profitable sale of the story to RAY PALMER, Chicago, Illinois. No facts have been developed which would definitely prove. that CRISMAN made these calls. However, from all facts and information gathered, it appéars he is probably the most likely to have made the anonymous calls. The detailed interviews of the persons contac- ted in regard to this flying disc story are being set out below. The following investigation was conducted by Special Agent DAVID A.:MacCULLOCH at Tacoma, Washington on August 6, Ty: LRT = ENTS VOGEL, Associated Press “ireman, Tacoma, Washington, advised that in the early part of June, 1947 he was' requested by the Seattle Post Tntelligencer to check on a story which he was informed had been obtained from the Fire Chief at Harper, Washington. The story was supposed to have originated with FRED CRISMAN. Mr. VOGEL stated that the story was to the effect that DAHL, while patrolling in his boat near Maury Island, saw five or six flying dises, one of which. fluttered toward’ the ground.and finally disintegrated. Fragments of the disc were reported to have showered down on the boat of HAROLD DAHL, causing some damage and killing his dog. Mr. VOGEL stated that he went to the home of HAROLD BAHL on 3903 North Gove, Tacoma, Washington to check with him on this flying disc story. He stated that as best he could recall, this was just a few days after the first flying disc stories had appeared in the paper and was on a Sunday evening. He believed it was the early part of June. He stated that DAHL took him in the kitchen and proceeded to talk about this flying disc story in low muffled tones. He stated that DAHL acted rather suspicious ; and that shortly his wife came into the kitchen and was in. a considerable rage, telling DAHL to admit that the entire story was a plain fantasy which he had dreamed up. He stated that after his wife told DAHL to admit the entire story was false, that DAHL then admitted that there was nothing whatever to the story and it was an entire hoax. VOGEL stated that in view of the enraged condition of DAHL's wife, he immediately left and reported to thegeatt le Post Intelligencer that. the entire story was a hoax and that they. should not print it in any way, He further ‘stated. that he advised the Seattle Post Intelligencer that DAHL was a mental case and that nothing which he had reported should be carried as far as a news story. Mr. VOGEL stated that since that time he had received repeated requests from the Boise Statesman requesting information as to the flying disc stories reportedly originating with FRED CRISMAN and HAROID DAHL, VOGEL stated that he had never, in his experience, had such pressure brought upon hin to release: a news story and that he repeatedly advised the Boise Statesman that the story of seeing the flying discs by DAHL and CRISMAN was a complete fabri- Pre . i oe + ‘ : 1 . . > Y = . August.19, 1947 cation and should be in no way, carried as a4 news story and refused to furnish any information regarding these reports. He further stated that he advised the Boise Statesman shortly before, or at the time KENNETH ARNOLD left Boise to come to Tacoma to check on the flying disc stories with DAHL and, CRISMAN, that ARNOLD should not come as the entire story. was a hoax. The following information was obtained from pauptanrz, 4513 South. 7th, Tacoma, Weshington, Proctor 8416, .a rpporter for the Tacoma Times: It was the Tacoma Times paper which first issued a story on August.2 and- subsequent’ stories intimating that the B-25 which crashed at Kelso, Washington on the early morning. of August 1, had been sabotaged or shot down because. of the fact that it carried flying disc fragments. -LANTZ stated that on Thursday, July 31, at approximately 11:30 A, M.-he received an anonymous phone call in which the caller stated that KENNETH ARNOLD and Army Intelligence officers were meeting in room 502 of the Winthrop Hotel to chéck on the flying dise story from which fragments were obtained on Maury Island, .LANTZ stated he turned around to speak to his*editor and when he picked yp-the*phone again the line was dead, He stated that the caller asked for Simian. a reporter on the Tacoma Times who was out at the time of the call, He. stated that BURT McMURTIE called ARNOID at room 502 in the Winthrop Hotel and was advised by ARNOLD: that he could furnish no information as he was there on a Government mission. LANTZ stated that on Friday,. August 1, between 11:00 A. M. dnd noon, he received another phone call for BURT MeMURTIE in which the anonymous caller stated that he might have sone information for him. LANTZ asked the caller if he was not the same party that had called the previous date and he said yes. The caller then related that at that moment there was a big meeting in progress in ARNOLD's room, 502, in the Winthrop Hotels that the. B-25 which crashed that morning in Kelso was carrying flying dise fragments from California and that MeChord Field officials had stated the plane was sabotaged or shot down. The caller then hung up after making some statement’ to the effect that he was a switchboard operator. . LANTZ stated that. he went to the Winthrop Hotel on Friday about noon and found that there was no male operator on duty. He stated he then went to. room 502 and ARNOLD answered the door and that Captain EMIL J. SMITH, United Airlines pilot, was on the phone. LANTZ stated that he heard SWITH make a statement to the effect that the information must be very strictly confidential. He stated that there were one or two others in the room besides SMITH and ARNOLD, but that he could not identify them. He.stated that ARNOLD told him he could mae no statement and that he had attempted to check the story with various people on Maury Island with negative results. He stated that about 3:30 P. M., Friday, he wrote a story regarding the mysterious informant and called ARNOLD at his hotel room, stating that he had written thigsstory and that ARNOLD had better check it. He stated that he talked to spores, the United Press Wireman, Tacoma, who advised that the story sounded fantastic. LANTZ stated that about 5:30 P. M., Friday, August 1, an anofymous caller called TED MORRELLO, the wel os ws - ‘ © Ca - August. 19, 1947 United Press Wireman, stating that Captain DAVIDSON and Lieutenant BROWN were the Intelligence officers that were killed in the crash of the B-25 and that civilians and the sheriff had been kept away from the wreckage with the Army guarding it. He stated the anonymous caller then said that the names had not been released yet by the Army and that this would verify his statements, PAUL LANTZ’ stated that the following morning, Saturday, August 2, the Army verified that the officers killed were Captain DAVIDSON and Lieutenant BROWN and two days later verified that they were Army Intelligence officers, LANTZ stated that the anonymous caller again later contacted TED MORRELLO, calling him by that name, and at this time stated he did not call the Tacoma News Tribune or the Associated Press and denied calling PAUL LANTZ or BURT McMURTIE. In this call the anonymous caller stated that, "Don't think I'm doing this for you." He then asked if the story had been put.on the wire and when MORRELLO said yes, the caller stated, "We want this to get back to: New Jersey." The caller further stated that the B=25 was shot down by a 20 m.m. cannon and that the marine plane which was recently found wrecked on the side of Mt, Rainier, having been missing for several months; had also been shot down. ©The caller stated to MORRELLO that he should get in touch with a flyer named MORGAN with United Airlines who, he stated, was with Captain SMITH when they were shot at over Montana, The caller then stated, "I'll see you Tuesday. I'm’going. to , San Francisco." LANCE stated that he had checked with Captain EMIL SMITH of United Airlines who denied knowing ‘any pilot by the name of MORGAN; denied ever having’ flown over Montana. LANTZ stated that MORREILO received another anonymous call in which the caller stated that SMITH would be sent to Wright Field on Tuesday and that Saturday one of the men who found fragments of the flying disc was to be flown to Alaska. “LANTZ stated that in view of the fact that the information as to the Intelligence: officers on the B-25 had’ been as furnished by the anonymous caller, had subsequently been verified by the Army, the story was released that the B-25 was carrying disc fragments returning to Hamilton Field, California and furnishing the inference that the plane had.been sabotaged or shot down, LANTZ stated that about 6:00 P, Me. on Sunday, August 3, he contacted Captain EMIL SMITH at his home, 3027 West Laurelhurst Drive, Seattle at which time SMITH stated he had not given any: story out to the Post Intelligencer at Seattle; stated that he had gotten a telegram to call a number in Boise and when he called and found out it-was the Boise Statesman, he had hung up. He stated that the Boise Statesman then contacted him, at which time he admitted he had. seen the dise fragments, but that he did not take any of them. This time SMITH informed’ LANTZ that he had been with Mejor GEORGE SANDERS, Public Relations Officer from McChord Field, all afternoon until about 3:45 P. M.. SMITH informed LANTZ that he had told the. Army authorities every~ thing that he and ARNOLD knew about the flying disc fragments story from the time that KENNETH ARNOLD left Boise, Idaho and he had left Seattle, Washington. This time SMITH admitted that there were some of the supposed disc fragments in ARNOLD's room at the Winthrop Hotel and that CRISMAN and DAHL had been in the room Thursday afternoon, On Monday PAUL LANTZ stated that he called HAROLD DAHL who advised that if this were not used in the paper, he and FRED = Bie August: 19, 1947 CRISMAN would see him after lunch. LANTZ stated that about noon DAHL and CRISMAN contacted him at which time DAHL. stated that he and his son had been exploring a gravel pit on Maury Island and found some strange rock formations. He stated they picked up some of these ng, Te and that. FRED CRISMAN later saw them and they went back over to Maury island at which time additional samples were obtained and that CRISMAN sent these to a friend of his at the University of Chicago to have analyzed, They stated that they received a report and that apparently this friend had asked a newpaperman to find out where the rock formations were obtained. CRISMAN and DAHL told LANTZ that sometime after the first flying disc story had appeared, they received a tele- gram from Trans-Ocean Press from Chicago wanting infomation on the flying disc fragments. FRED CRISMAN stated that they had at no time indicated-the rock formations were a part of a flying disc and that Captain mob verctr and KENNETH ARNOLD were not interested in the rock formations and they denied giving them to SMITH and ARNOLD, TED MORRELLO, a United Press Wireman, Tacoma, Washington furnished substantially the same information that was obtained from PAUL LANTZ, the Tacoma Timés.reporter, regarding the anonymous phone calls which he had received, He stated further that the first call he received was on Friday, August 1, at around 5:30 P, Ms. At this time the caller stated. that the B-25 which crashed at. Kelso, Washington was carrying disc fragments and that the two officers killed were Captain DAVIDSON and Lieutenant BROWN, officers with Army A#2 Intelligence at Hamilton Field and that the fragments were top secret material, He stated the caller indicated that when the Army released the names of the dead officers it would verify that the information he was furnishing was correct. MORRELLO stated that: the second call he received at’ approximately 6:45 P. M. Friday, August 1 at which time the caller’stated that the B=25 was definitely shot down and that if he contacted Army Intelligence A=2, the man in charge would not deny it. MORRELLO stated:he thought the man said to con- tact Colonel GUYS, but it was found out it was. Colonel GREGG who was in charge of Army Intelligence A-2. The caller further stated that the Sheriff's Office had been kept away from the crash and that’ no civilians had been allowed near the plane. MORRELLO stated the third call he received at 5:30 P. M., August 2, and that this time the caller stated that one of the men who’ had been conferring with Captain SMITH and KENNETH: ARNOLD was taken to Alaska that day. The caller further stated that the B-25 was shot down from the air with a 20 mem. cannon; that the Marine plane found recently on Mt. Rainier had also been shot down; that Captain SMITH would be teken to Wright Field Tuesday morning and that a United Airlines pilot by the name of MORGAN. flew with Captain SMITH when they were shot at over Montana. The daller stated he was leaving for San Francisco and would. be back Tuesday. PAUL LANTZ and TED MORRELLO both stated that they had-made very little effort ‘to: question the anonymous caller to obtain his identity as they felt it was useless and that if they started questioning him he would =6a > ON, ma August 19, 1947 refuse to furnish any further information, On August 5, 1947 Special Agent DAVID A,-MacCULLOCH was contacted in the resident agency. office, Tacoma, Washington by PRED CRISMAN. At this time GRISMAN asked if the Seattle Office was investigation the crash of the B-25 and he was informed that no investigation was being conducted by the Seattle Office. CRISMAN at. this time related in a rambling story that he had picked up some strange rock formations which he had forwarded to a friend of his in the University of Chicago to have ahalyzed and that later, in some manner unknown to him, these rock formations had been reported as being frag— ments of a flying disc. On August 7, 1947 FRED CRISMAN and HAROLD DAHL were inter- viewed at the Tacoma resident agency office. Both DAHL and CRISMAN at first denied any knowledge of how the rock formations which they had picked up to have alalyzed became corinected with the flying disc stories. Both denied making any statement to anyone that these rock formations were portions of a dise fragment. It was apparent from the start of the interview that DAHL and CRISMAN were not telling their complete and true connection with the flying disc. story. They refused to give any definite information as to what they said or had done which caused them to become involved in a flying disc story, but gave evasive answers and repeatedly stated that they had nothing to do with it and were at a loss to understand how they became connected with the flying disc story. After considerable questioning, they stated that in the early part of mse Gen sent to RAY PALMER of thé Ziff-Davis Publishing Company which published th@\Fantasy magazine in Chicago and the Venture magazine in Evanston, Illinois, some rock formations which they had found on Maury Island. They stated they sent these formations, asking PAIMER to have them analyzed. They stated that later PAIMER wrote and asked for more samples, advising he had failed to analyze the samples. CRISMAN and DAHL stated they have never sent any additional samples and that the next they heard regarding the rock formations which they had sent PALMER was when he called HAROLD DAHL and asked if the rock formations could have come from a flying disc. DAHL stated he made some remark that they possibly could have come from a flying dise and that he immediately sat down and wrote a letter to PALMER, which was in the latter part of June in which he stated the material could have been portions of a flying disc. ‘DAHL claimed that he thought he told PALMER over the phone something about being in his boat when he obtained these rock formations, but stated he could not recall what he had written to PALMER and claimed that he passed the whole thing off as a joke, CRISMAN and DAHL were questioned at length in an attempt to obtain specific information as to exactly what each one had done with regard to the rock forma- tions, However, each stated that the only thing they had done was tell RAY PAIMER the formations could have come from a flying disc in view of the fact it appeared "that's what he wanted them to say", No definite information: could be obtained from either DAHL or CRISMAN as to what each specifically had done to start the flying disc ‘story. The signed statenent which was obtained from CRISMAN and mp GAe 4 ; : August 19, 19,7 DAHL and in:which they admitted the rock formations had no connection with any flying discs is being forwarded to the Bureau herewith. The statement contains no information of value and therefore is‘not being set forth herein. Regarding the meeting which was held in the Winthrop Hotel on Thursday, July 31, CRISMAN and DAHL stated that they both met KENNETH ARNOLD there about 1:00 P. iM. ‘They stated that they all left ARNOLD's room about 3:00 P. M. and that CRISMAN took ARNOLD to Berry's Airport at Tacoma and ARNOLD flew his plane.to Seattle where he ‘picked up Captain EMIL SMITH, CRIS- MAN stated that he picked up ARNOLD and SMITH at Bérry's Airport about 5:00 P, M. and that HAROLD DAHL came to ARNOLD's room about 7:00 P. M. CRIGMAN stated that he and SMITH left about $:30-P. M. when he drove SMITH to: Seattle to get his car and that DAHL went home at this time. CRISMAN stated they returned about 11:30 P. M. at which time the Army Intelligence officers were in ARNOLD's room and that CRISMAN left about midnight. He stated that he returned to ARNOLD's room Friday afternoon for approximately one-half hour from 2:30 to 3:00 PP. M., at which time ARNOLD and SMITH were still there and neither seemed to be able to recall if DAHL was in ARNOLD's: room on Friday, August 1... The best that could be obtained from CRISMAN and DAHL as to what took place in ARNOLD's room was to the effect that most of the talk was about flying, that no one seemed very interested in the rock formations and that they had no connection as far'as they knew with any flying disc, CRISMAN Stated that KENNETH ARNOLD wanted to obtain pictures of the place where the rock formations were obtained and that the Army Intelligence: officers did not appear to be interested in any manner whatever. HAROLD. DAHL operates the Commercial Lumber Company at 235 Millwater Avenue, Tacoma, Washington and FRED.CRISMAN has recently been ._~ working with him buying timber. They have also been associated with the(Harbor Patrol Association at Tacoma, Washington which furnishes patrol and police pro- tection to parts of the harbor area which are not patrolled by Tacoma police or Sheriff's officers. FRED CRISMAN resides at 125 Woodland, Tacoma, Washington, Amy serial number 0-758-951. During the war he was a pilot and it is believed presently holds a. Reserve Officer's commission as a Captain. Regarding the B=-25.which crashed, killing Captain DAVIDSON and Lieutenant BROWN of the jth Aire Forces, Captain ROBERT G, BJORNING, A-2 Officer, Mc Chord Field, advised that this. investigation of the crash reflected an exhaust stack had burned out on the left engine which in turn caught the left wing afire and that when the left wing broke off, it also broke off the tail. The plane at the time of the crash was carrying Captain DAVIDSON, Lieutenant BROWN, the hitch-hiker and a man as Crew. Chief to take care of the airplane. The Crew Chief and the hitch-hiker parachuted to safety, but Captain DAVIDSON and lieutenant BROWN were killed. He stated that their investigation reflected no indication of any sabotage whatever. A check of the records of the Winthrop Hotel at Tacoma, Washington revealed that KENNETH ARNOLD; giving his address as Route #1, Mount- view Drive, Boise, Idaho rented room 502 from July 30 at 7:43 P.M. until ey dye ‘ . . : * vi August 19, 1947 August 3, A ise, sAnifchtosana. calls,made from room 502 during this period was made by Miss SARABRLANGBERG. This record reveals that KENNETH ARNOID on July 31 called PALMER at AN-5200, Evanston, Illinois, collect. On the same date called Lieutenant BROWN at 5800 Hamilton Field, California, collect, ARNOLD also called 0109-J in Boise, Idaho on July 31. On August 1 ARNOID called LON-1,936, Portland; PALMER at Dearborn 5200, Chicago; and: SMITH called RODDY at Dearborn 2323 at Chicago. Both Chicago calls were collect. The remainder of the.calls appear to be personal calls and are not being set out. A record of the phone calls made are being retained as an exhibit in the Seattle Office, The following information. was obtained by Special Agent PIERRE H. LEVEC in interview on August 12, 1947 with Captain EAMIL J. SMITH, 3027 West Laurehurst Drive, United Airlines pilot: It should be noted that Captain SMITH has previously received publicity for having supposedly seen flying discs or similar objects on July 4, last while on a routine United Air- lines flight out of Boise, Idaho in..company with his co-pilot RALPH STEV aNS, concerning this incident. Captain SMITH states that they took off from Boise, Idaho at 8:12 P. M.-and’ headed Northwest at 300 degrees and while still climbing at 8,000 feet, co-pilot STEVENS called his attention to some objects in the sky ahead of them about ten degrees left which neither one could identify. SMITH states that he called a CAA radio operator at Ontario, Oregon and reques- ted him to step outside his radio shack and see if he could see any of these objects overhead, The CAA radio operator replied in the negative. Captain SMITH states that he first. met KENNETH ARNOLD on July 5 in the offices of the Seattle Post Intelligencer where both were being interviewed concerning their sighting of flying discs. SMITH states that he next met ARNOLD about three weeks ago in Boise, Idaho at which time:he, SMITH, was on another flight through Boise, Idaho and had a ten minute lay-over there, Lieutenant. FRANK ie LOWN, Army Intelligence officers, anda reporter JOHNSON of the|Boise Statesman. SMITH's next contact with ARNOLD was on Thursday, July 31, last when he received a telephone call from ARNOLD calling from Tacoma in the early afternoon at which time he asked SMITH to come over to Tacoma and and some fragments were involved which SMITH might be interested in seeing. After some discussion S{ITH agreed to join ARNOLD in Tacoma and ARNOLD told SMITH he would fly over and pick him up at Boeing Airport at 4:00 P.M. SMITH met ARNOLD. at Boeing Field at about 4:00 Ps. M. and they flew to Berry's Airport at Tacoma, Washington where they were met by FRED CRISMAN. The three of them proceeded in CRISMAN's car to the Winthrop Hotel where ARNOLD was occupying room 502.. ARNOLD ordered something to eat and during this time either ARNOLD or CRISMAN called a HAROID DAHL and invited him up to the room. By this time SMITH states he had learned from, ARNOLD that) CRISMAN and DAHL were the parti- cipants in the latest flying disc story and SMITH states that he had no previous acquaintance with either. of these men before méeting them in Tacoma on this date. While in the Hotel Room ARNOLD showed SMITH a letter which he had received from RAYMOND PALMER of the Venture Press of Chicago requesting that ARNOLD investigate ; é 5 3 : ie August 19, 1947 the CRISMAN=-DAHL story in .Tacoma.. ARNOLD. informed SMITH at this time’ that after receiving this letter he had called PALMER by telephone in Chicago as a result of which call PALMER had. forwarded him. $200.00 expense money for covering the story. Shortly thereafter, at about 7:30 P. M. HAROLD DAHL arrived at the Hotel room and the discussion began among the four men present as to what. DAHL and CRISMAN had seen on Maury Island. DAHL professed reluc- tance to tell the story, claiming that several unfortunate incidents had occurred subsequent to his seeing the flying discs and he believed the entire incident had brought him bad luck, In this connection he stated that four or five days subsequent to his sighting the flying discs, a man called at his home and had a conversation with him the course of which DAHL was warned to forget all about everything he had seen on or near Maury Island. In addition to that, DAHL stated that his sixteen year old son had run away from home following the incident and had been picked up by the police somewhere in Montana. After some further discussion DAHL finally agreed to tell his story of the flying disc incident in front of SMITH after eliciting a promise from SMITH that he would not discuss the matter for at least two weeks. It should be noted that DAHL had previously told his story to ARNOLD and GRISMAN, At this point DAHL related the incident which has already been described and which he alleged had taken place on or about June 23 or 24. While relating the incident DAHL mentioned that: he had taken pictures of the flying dise yhich he had seen but that the printed films were marred with white spots. When DAHL had concluded his story, CRISMAN related that he had gone the following day to Maury Island to verify what DAHL had told him concerning the fragments and had at this time picked up several fragments and taken them with him. At this time CRISMAN related that he also saw’one of the flying discs hovering over the Island but that it had disappeared into a cloud. When DAHL and CRISMAN had finished telling their story ARNOLD told the group that he had earlier in that. evening called Captain DAVIDSON and Lieutenant BROWN, Army Intelligence officers and that they were on their way to the.Hotel room. At this point DAHL protested that he did not wish to tell his story’ before anyone else and he was advised by SMITH that if such was the case why didn't he just leave and not be there when they arrived, CRISMAN, DAHL and SMITH then left the room and went downstairs, , DAHL departed alone. -CRISMAN drove SMITH back to Boeing Field near Seattle where SMITH desired to pitk up his own personal car, which he’ did. They then returned to the Hotel where they found Captain DAVIDSON and Lieutenant BROWN in room 502 with KENNETH ARNOLD, ARNOLD met them at the door and seemed excited, explaining to SMITH that Captain DAVIDSON had just drawn a reproduction of a. freak disc which had supposedly been seen by a woman in Arizona and that this drawing was an exact reproduction of the flying disc which he, ARNOLD, had seen several weeks before, nearing Mt. Rainier. SMITH states. that shortly after this CRISMAN seemed very anxious to tell his and DAHL's story to the Army offi- cers. Before this was done, however, SMITH: had a discussion with Lieutenant BROWN, informing him that they had promised DAHL not to release the story for two weeks and that if CRISMAN were allowed to tell the story at this time, BROWN and DAVIDSON must agree not to release the story for one month. Following this agreement, CRISMAN related DAHL's and his story of the flying dises over Maury ae : : ; " ee August: 19, 1947 Island to BROWN and DAVIDSON, Following this recitation, Lieutenant BROWN, in answer to a query from. SMITH;. said that. he and Captain DAVIDSON were. of the opinion that there “might be some truth in the current flying disc stories, but thet their inmediate superiors (presumably A-2 at Hamilton Field) did not agree with them. BROWN and DAVIDSON then held a brief discussion as to whether they should return that same night to Hamilton Field and they decided that they would, All five’of the men then went down to) the lobby where BROWN detached himself from the group and entered a phone booth to call for a car from McChord Field. SMITH also left the group and met BROWN outside the phone booth where they held a short discussion relative to the credibility of CRIS- MAN and DAHL's story. BROWN indicated to SMITH that he should attemt to find out if the story was on the level and that BROWN would call him the following day regarding this matter. The group then proceeded.to the front of the Hotel at which time CRISMAN brought his car to the front of the Hotel and took from his trunk a box of the alleged flying disc fragments picked up on Maury Island. He offered them to BROWN and DAVIDSON and when the Army car arrived from licChord Field the box of fragments was placed in the car with the officers. CRISMAN departed alone and ARNOLD and SMITH went in search of something to eat and later returned to the Hotel for the night. On Friday morning, August’ 1, 1917, ARNOLD received» a call from CRISMAN informing him that a B-25 had crashed during the night and it was believed to be the same plane which BROWN and DAVIDSON were flying. Following this call CRISMAN and DAHL came to the Hotel room and from the room CRISMAN again called McChord Field in an attempt to get. information about the .crash. SMITH took the phone from CRISMAN and spoke to a Colonel GREGG, identifying himself and asking if the B-25 which crashed was the only one which had taken off from McChord Field the previous night. GREGG told him that it’ was. Follow-— ing this call ARNOLD called RAYMOND PALMER in Chicago and informed him of the previous night's conversations and the fact that DAVIDSON and BROWN were believed to have been killed, PALMER told ARNOLD to discontinue his investigation of the incident and, that he, PALMER, was no longer interested. SMITH then took the phone from ARNOLD: and asked PAIMER if he could shed any light on the situation. SMITH was unable to say what PALMER's reply to. CRISMAN wase Fol- lowing these telephone discussions SMITH says that he called MAURICE \BOBDY whom he identifies as a personal friend of His and an aviation editor ‘of the Chicago Times, SMITH states that he had prefiously made an agreement with RODDY in Chicago that should he evér run across any flying disc stories which showed promise of news value, that he would contact, RODDY and this call-was a result of that agreement. Shortly afterward, Colonel GREGG called him from McChord Field stating that Hamilton Field had’ requested that ARNOLD, SMITH, CRISMAN and DAHL submit their addresses to Hamilton Field for convenience of any Army investigation .of the incident which may be forthcoming. After this call the four men went to a restaurant for lunch. During the course of this meal SMITH excused himself from the table and attempted to call SAC BOBBITT of the Port- land - Field Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation with whom he cleims acquain- tance. BOBBITT, however, was unavailable and S\ITH was unable to complete the dD ; . : , ‘ ° : 2 - August 19, 1947 call, After returning to the Hotel room, a Tacoma Times reporter called attempting to gain information, but they did not give him any, later, a Mr. (ORRELLO of the United Press called and SMITH spoke to him on the telephone but refused to give out any information, SMITH further relates that while the four men were in the room at this time, an envelope was shoved under the door and that he retrieved it from the floor, S{ITH states that the appearance of ‘this envelope seemed to startle CRISMAN considerably and that in fact, CRISMAN nication to the Hotel advising that a strike of Hotel employees was eminent and r that guests should not expect room and telephone service much longer. Shortly after this incident DAHL and CRISMAN left the Hotel room after promising to the 1 room and was answered by LANTZ, Tacoma Times reporter who requested information which LANTZ had received, SMITH was convinced that the anonymous caller must have been present at the discussion also,.as LANTZ was seemingly states that he did not give LANTZ any further information and that: in conclu- sion of the call, he returned to the Hotel room and he and ARNOLD retired for the night. On Saturday morning, August.2, 1947 SMITH redeived a tele~ further information. SMITH advised him, however, that he would call him back breakfast. The unknown person was discussing some lumber business with DAHL and left after breakfast, On leaving the coffee shop, SMITH asked* DAHL about the negatives of the photographs which he claimed to have taken of the flying liscs, .DAHL said the negatives were in the glove compartment of his car, but a search of the instant glove, compartment was fruitless. The four then pro- ceeded in CRISMAN's car to the dock where ‘they were to embark for Maury Island. The. boat, however, could: not. be started and the trip was postponed until later in the day, ‘hile at the dock, however, SMITH asked’ to be shown the damage to the_boat which had allegedly occurred when the fragments showered down on Maury Island. CRISMAN pointed out what may have been repairs to the windshield and lights on the boat, but SMITH was not personally satisfied that these repairs were made as a result of any such incident. CRISMAN and DAHL then drove ARNOLD and SMITH back to the Hotel at approximately 10:45-A. M. and CRISMAN told them he would call them later on and that they would go to Maury Island. On return- ing to. the Hotel, SMITH called LANTZ at the Tacoma Times as a result of which call he and ARNOLD met LANTZ at the Coffee Shop across the street from the Pei bi con ° . , a ie a4 : “ & August’ 19, 1947 Jinthrop Hotel. SMITH stated that the purpose of this meeting was to try to find out something more about the anonymous phone calls which LANTZ had told him about. He and ARNOLD still refused to give out any further information regarding the Thursday evening conference to LANTZ and were informed by LANTZ that. the Tacoma Times was afraid of being scooped on the story and was going to print something on that day. SMITH and ARNOLD then returned to the Hotel and shortly thereafter received a phone call from CRISMAN but the call was cut off by the switchboard operator since it was not an emergency call, SMITH and ARNOLD then returned to the Hotel lobby where they found a telegram from DAHL asking them to call him at either Broadway or Proctor 7733, SfITH is not sure of the exchange.. SMITH called this number, but DAHL was not there. SMITH states that he’ went then to the Western Union Telegraph Office and dispatched a collect telegram to MAURICE RODDY at the Chicago Times which contained a brief resume of the incidents which had. occurred and which requested’ RODDY to wire SMITH a telephone number where RODDY could be reached after 6:00 P. M. SMITH states that he has never received an answer to that wire. Following lobby of the. Olympic Hotel when LANTZ entered and gave them each a copy of the latest edition .of the Tacoma Times which contained a story hinting.at sabotage in the crash of the. Army B=25 which killed Captain DAVIDSON and. Lieutenant BROWN. SMITH stated that he and ARNOLD continued to occupy seats in the Hotel lobby nost of the afternoon inasmuch as they were unable to receive calls in the Hotel $330. as LANTZ had further information regarding the anonymous calls, SMITH also received a telegram requesting that he call Boise 6000 which he did and found that it was JOHNSON gof the Boise Statesman. He refused to give JOHNSON: any further information at this time. However, ‘shortly thereafter, JOHNSON called General SHRAM revealing the confidential assignment which BROWN and DAVIDSON had been engaged on, In view of this release, JOHNSON requested SMITH to answer one question for him which was, "Were they carrying any alleged dise fragments on the plane?" and SMITH answered, "Yes, they were." Following this SMITH called LANTZ as-per his earlier request and was informed that MORRELLO of the been shot down with 20 msm, shells and thatthe rine plane found on Mt. RBinier had also been shot down with 20 m.m. shells,. «The voice went on to state asked why he was giving out this information the caller replied that it was not for the benefit. of the newspapers, but that he was interested in seeing that the information got back to’ New Jersey. The voice also informed MORRELLO at this time that one of the two persons who had been talking to ARNOLD and SMITH had now left for Alaska. As a result of this latter bit of information SMITH dedided to find out if CRISMAN or DAHL had left town, He located DAHL at the Sunset Theatre and DAHL came to the Hotel and met. SWITH and ARNOLD. They were unable to locate’ CRISMAN by phone and DAHL left saying that he would try to find out where CRISMAN was and that he would call them tomorrow (Sunday) and that they would go out to Maury Island at that time. After DAHL left, - 12 = Aa > ‘ : ; , : August 19, 1947 mous phone calls. In the course of this discussion MORRELLO mentioned the name of Major GEORGE SANDERS, Public Relations Officer at McChord Field as being one of the officers, interested in the investigation. ARNOLD returned to the Hotel for the night. On: Sunday morning, August. 3, 1947, DAHL appeared at the Hotel room and told’ then that he had received a letter from.CRISMAN which said in effect, "Take care of my business. I'11 be out of town for three or four days." -DAHL had a letter with him but he did not show it to SMITH or ARNOLD. The three men then drove to DAHL's secretary's house in South Tacoma’ and picked her up and the four of them then went to breakfast on the South Tacana and called Major SANDERS at McChord Field and arranged an appointment to meet him at the Hotel lobby at 11:00 A. M, They then took DAHL's secretary to her home where DAHL picked up a typewriter and: then drove SMITH and ARNOLD back to the Hotel, They asked him if he was going to take them to Maury Island thet day and he replied that he was not. He further stated that he was sick of the that ever lived", Shortly after returning to the Hotel, SMITH: met Major SANDERS and DAHL had left in the Hotel room. . They then returned to the Hotel room and Major SANDERS left them. After packing their bags, SMITH took ARNOLD to Berry's approximately 7:30 P. M., LANTZ of the Tacoma Times appeared at SMITH's home in Boise, Idaho in the Boise Statesman and which was written by JOHNSON. following SMITH's admission to him that fragments had been carried by Lieutenant BROWN and Captain DAVIDSON onthe fatal B-25 flight. SMITH. at this time’ continued to refuse to give any statements for the Press and told LANTZ that he had placed ae oe eS ses > Bz . 4 . . ' all of his information in the hands of the Army. SMITH. stated that a. couple of days later he called Major SANDERS at McChord Field and asked him if there was any recent information concerning the incident. SMITH states that Major SANDERS informed him that CRISMAN had not yet been contacted, but that the Federal Bureau of Investigation was’ "setting a trap for:him". SMITH further advises that on Friday, August 8, 1917, he appeared before Lawyer JOHN NOLAN at the County-City Building, Seattle and made a deposition of the facts relating to the incidents in Tacoma from Thursday afternoon, July 31, last. until Sunday morning, August 3, last, A copy of this deposition is now in possession of the writer and is being forwarded herewith.to the Bureau. It should be noted that this deposition is ‘in no way as complete as the statement taken by the writer above and any setting out of this deposition in this communication would be. superfluous. Copies of this communication are being sent to the Butte, Portland, San Francisco and Chicago Offices for their information only. Unless advised by the Bureau to the contrary, instant investigation is considered closed by this office. For the information of the Bureau, Captain. R. G. BJORNING; Intelligence Officer, McChord Field, Ft. Lewis, Washington advised at the weekly O.N.1I.-S.I.D.-F.B.I. Intelligence conference that the Public Relations Officer at McChord Field had received a telephone call from an individual at Army Air Forces Headquarters at Washington, D. C., during which call the Public Relations Officer was requested to obtain a signed statement from DAHL and CRISMAN which could be published and thus publicly close the matter. Captain BJORNING further related that he had no additional information in this matter and that he did not handle it. Very truly yours, - Bo Special Agent ¥ harge ENCLOSURES DAM PHL sMEK 100-18945 CC - Butte Portland San Francisco Chicago oni Tae Cuore Neto. yy OR» ( | , ! ! be f ’ August 8,1947 HAROLD A. DAHL and FRED CRISMAN make the followi foluntary statement to SA DAVID A. MAC CULLOC f the Federal Bureau of Investigation. fr a gravel pit on Maury Island, Washington. We sent a box (cigar) failed to hav the analyzed. started PALMER contacted us by phone. He told us not to tell the news- papers dhout the fragments and he would pay for an exclusive story if the fragments could be fram a flying disc. One of us told him the fragments could have been from a flying disc. Just after our phone conversation HAROLD DAHL wrote a letter to RAY PALMER setting out some notes etc. regarding the fragments and indicating they could have come from flying discs. Trans Ocean Press telegram from Chicago asking mrk about these flying disc @ragments. We told them to @orget the entire matter. KENNETH ARNOLD to meet with him in the Winthrop Hotel on Duly 31,1947 to PALMER to be ahalyzed. The above is the entire and true story as regards our connection with the flying disc stories etc. whicb“Originated over the ore samples which we sent to be analyzed. J a Z Me an ce STATE OF WASHINGTON 38 : COUNTY OF KING ) J. E. SMITH, being first duly sworn, on oath, deposes and says: This is a narrative statement as to what took place in Tacoma from Thursday, July 31 until Sunday, August 3. Thursday I received a telephone call from Tacoma from a Kenneth Arnold. The gist of this conversation was that he thought it would be a good idea for me to come to Tacomg and listen to the story of two men whose names were Fred Crismon and Harold Dahl. This Kenneth Arnold I had met two times previous -=- once on July 5 at the office of the P.I. in Seattle for a very brief time and the second time in Boise, Idaho when I was passing through on one of my trips. In this conversation with Arnold on the phone, I made the statement that it would be impossible for me to go over to Tacoma due to my going out to Salt Lake City the next morning. He said that he would fly over from Tacoma and pick me up at Boeing Field. I agreed to this proposition from Arnold. At 4o'clock I met Arnold at the Boeing Field and we flew back and landed at Barry'*’s Airport. We were picked up at the airport by Fred Crismon, who drove the two of us into the Winthrop Hotel. We went up to Room 502 -~ Crismon, Arnold and myself. Fred Crismon put a telephone call into Harold Dahl and asked him would he come up to the room. A half hour later Harold Dahl made his appearance. At this time there were four men in the room -- Crismon, Dahl, Arnold, and myself. Mr. Arnold asked Mr. Dahl to relate his story as to what took place on June 24. Mr. Dahl was very hesitant about telling the story to me. Arnold and Mr. Crismon were already aware of the statements that Dahl had made previous. Mr. Dahl made the statement to me that if any statements he would make relative to his story, if I would keep it confidential for two weeks, that he felt definitely that I would want to forget ; the whole thinge I made the statement to Mr. Dahl that as far as I was concerned, I would keep any statements he made to me confidential for at least two weeks. Here is Dahl's story: On June 24 (this date to be checked later) he was in a boat owned by Fred Crismon, who owns the Harbor Patrol in Tacoma. They -- Mr. Dahl, a Mr. Knight, and Mr. Dahl's son age 16, were cruising around Maury Island looking for logs that had broken away from booms. They were fairly close to shore of Maury Island when they saw four or five objects in the sky at an altitude of approximately 1500 feet. He said these objects were Page #2 100 feet in diameter, circular in shape, and it appeared that there was a hole in the center of each as he could see the sky through this hole. He also mentioned that on the inside of the circle or the hole, that portholes were visible. Their speed was neglizible as they appeared to hover over a given spote One of these objects appeared to be in trouble. Another object came over and appeared to make contact. After making this contact for approximately two minutes, it rose to its original position. At this time the object that appeared to be in trouble seemed to throw a lot of debris from one of the portholes. These objects then disappeared from view. Some of this debris that landed broke in the wheelhouse of the boat, the spotlight, and the klexons While this debris was falling, my boy and Mr. Knight got off the boat and hid under some logs. This debris that fell killed our dog and a sea gull. I asked Mr. Dahl what was done with the dog. He made the statement they threw the dog into the water. This story was told to Mr. Crismon, who the next day went out to this Island to check on this story. He verified the fact of the damage to the boat, also to the fact that there appeared to be quite a few pieces of either rock or metal on the shore. Mr. Crismon also stated that while he was over there investigating on Maury Island, he also saw a disks This disk was of the same shape and contour as the objects explained by Mr. Dahl. At this point Mr. Arnold clarified for me as to the reasons he was investigating this story. Mr. Arnold stated that he received a letter from a Mr. Raymond Palmer, supposedly editor of the Venture Press, Evanston, Illinois, The gist of this letter was that Mr. : Palmer received a letter from Mr. Dahl and Mr. Crismon, also a package of these fragments that were found on Maury Island. Mrs Palmer also made the statement in the letter that the Chicago University failed to analyze these fragments and that would Mr. Arnold please investigate the story. Mr. Arnold was sent a Western Union check for $200.00 to take care of any expense that he might incur while making this investigation. Mr. Arnold had made a telephone call to Hamilton Field to contact a Captain Davidson and a Lieutenant Brown, who were with A-2 Intelligence at Hamilton Field, asking them would they make a trip to Tacoma to also listen to this story of Dahl and Crismon. When Mr. Arnold acquainted me with the fact that he had made this phone call in front of Mr. Dahl, Mr. Dahl made the statement that he would not tell this story to anybody in Army Intelligence. I made the statement to Mr. Dahl that if he felt this way, that he should not be in the room when these two Intelligence officers arrived. Mr. Dahl thought this was an excellent idea. Page #3 Mr. Dahl, Mr. Crismon, and myself left the hotel room to go downstairs as Mr. Crismon wanted to get some metal that was in the back of his car that he had picked up on Maury Island, to bring back to the hotel roome Mr. Harold Dahl departed. At this time I made the statement to Mr. Crismon that I should like to pick up my car in Seattle. Mr. Crismon drove me to Boeing Field, Seattle. After leaving me at Boeing Field, he drove back to Tacoma and I drove my own car back to Tacoma. After I had put my car in the garage at Tacoma, I went up to the Winthrop Hotel and in the room at that time was Mr, Arnold, Mr. Crismon, and Captain Davidson from Army Intelligences Lieutenant Brown was downstairs — 4 getting sandwiches and coffee. When Lieut. Brown came back, the stories were again related and Lieut. Brown made a statement that all the facts of these stories would be held in strictest confidence until released by Mr. Dahl. After Mr. Crismon had told all the facts, relating not only his own story but that of Mr. Dahl, he asked for the opinion of both officers as to what they thought. Lieut. Brown made the statement that he would like to obtain some of these fragments to take back to Hamilton Field. At this time Capt. Davidson and Lieut. Brown were debating the thought as to whether to stay over night in Tacoma or leave for Hamilton Field immediately, as the B-25 they were flying was supposed to be at Hamilton Field the next day for the Air Show. The five of us then left the hotel room and went down to the hotel lobby where Mr. Brown made a telephone call to McChord Field asking them to send a driver to pick up Capt. Davidson and himself. Lieut. Brown came up to me and made the statement that he and Capt. Davidson were going back to Hamilton Field and that he would get in touch with me tomorrow and if after I had seen the fragments on Maury Island, if I thought in my own mind that this was authentic, they would immediately leave Hamilton Field and returne I was to hold this statement by Lieut. Brown in the strictest of confidence from the other group of three (Dahl, Crismon, and Arnold). We then went down to the street where Mr. Crismon drove his car up in front and took out a box of fragments and gave this box to Davidson and Brown. While waiting for the driver from MeChord Field, Lieute Brown and I discussed Pacific operations and things not pere —— * this missions Capt. Davidson and Lieut. Brown departed at app tely 12:45 AeMe Mr. Arnold and I went back to our hotel room after having a midnight snack. Page #4 Friday the lst: At approximately 8 o'clock in the morning, Mr. Crismon called up our hotel room and acquainted us with the fact that the B-25 had crashed. Also that he had called McChord Field and from information he received also verified the fact that the two men in the ship were Capt. Davidson and Lieut. Brown, plus a flight engineer and a hitech=-hiker. This left both Mr. Arnold and myself in a very bad state of concern. Approximate- ly an hour later Mr. Crismon and Mr. Dahl made their appearance in the hotel room. I still wasn't sure that this was the same B-25 that the two Intelligence officers had left in last night. Mr. Crismon then again called McChord Field and talked to a Colonel Gregg and the fact was verified again that the two pilots were Davidson and Browne . After an hour or so Mr. Crismon and Mr. Dahl left the hotel room with a plan in mind of the four of us meeting the next morning (Saturday) for breakfast and going out to Maury Island. That evening (Friday) there was a message for me to call this particular telephone number that was on the message. I called this number and was asked by the party to please call them from a paystation. This party was a Mr. Lantz, a reporter on the Tacoma Times. He told me, "I most certainly am doing myself out of a good story but I thought you ought to know that somebody has been calling this paper and giving us a blow-by-blow description of all that has taken place in your room since you arrived." To verify this, Mr. Lantz repeated back to me discussions that I felt had anly been taking place in our room. Mr. Lantz also made the statement that there was a leak either from the switchboard operator or our room had been tapped. I asked Mr. Lantz why he was tipping us off with this information. He made the statement that he didn't mind doing this if in return that any information that I may let out would be given to him. After this conversation with Mr. Lantz I went back to our room and told Mr. Arnold. what took place on the telephone. Saturday morning: Mr. Arnold and I met Mr. Dahl and Fred Crismon for breakfast. We then drove out to the boat to go to the island. The boat was unserviceable at the time so we went back to the hotel. Mr. Crismon said that he would call later on in the day and let us know when the boat would be repaired. That was the last time I saw Mr. Crismon. Approximately 11 o'clock Saturday morning Mr. Crismon phoned me and made the statement it would be impossible for him to keep this appointment with me. We were cut off by the switchboard operator as this was classified as not an emergency call. The reason we were cut off was due to a strike in all the Tacoma hotels. > - Page #5 Mr. Lantz called up and said if I would call him at 8:30 that evening, he would have some additional information for mee I called Mr. Lantz at 8:30 that evening. He told me that this anonymous caller had again called a Mr. Marillo of the United Press and said that one of the parties that Mr. Arnold and I had come down to see was flown to Alaska. Also he mde the state-~ ment Mr. Smith would be called to Wright Field Tuesday. This anonymous caller made the statement to Mr. Marillo that this B-25 was shot down. Mr. Marillo asked this person calling what his interest was. This anonymous caller made a statement - "Don't think I am doing it for the newspapers. All I am interested in'is seeing that this information gets back,to New Jersey." After I finished the conversation with Mr. Lantz, I went over to the United Press and talked with Mr. Marillo and had him read back to me the conversations that he had had with this anonymous caller. But no opinions at this time were voiced either by me or Mr. Marillo. Sunday morning I called a Major Sander of S-2 McChord Field and asked him to meet me at the Winthrop Hotel at 11 o*clock. I met this Major Sander at 11 o'clock and we drove to a small coffee shop on the Tacoma Highway where this complete story was related to him by mes We then drove back to the Winthrop Hotel where Major Sander was introduced to Mr. Arnold by me and again listened to > Mr. Arnold's story. Mr. Arnold and I departed from the Winthrop Hotel Sunday afternoon at approximately 4:30. This is to certify that the foregoing statement was taken before me, a notary public; that prior to making said statement, the : witness. was first sworn to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth; that the statement was then reduced to writing and signed by me on the day of August, 1947. IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and official seal the day and year last above written. Notary Public in and tor the State of Washington, residing at Seattle. § \ A V \ ee te \ ; ity a ~ / . (Sy Affidavit of EMIL J. SMITH Re; FLYING DISCS SIGHTED BY FRED CKiSMAN and HAROID A. DAHL, Tacoma, Washington Signed statement of Fred L. Crisman and “arold A. Dahl Tacoma, Washington aT. x Y J “¢ STANDARD Form No. 64. Rg @ . $ i . . % Office Memorandum + onirep states GOVERNMENT ~~ To : 5 Director, FBI = AIR MAIL DATE: August 26, 1947 — FROM ; SAC, San Francisco (aD sunjach REPORTS OF FLYING Discs There are being transmitted herewith to the Bureau photostatic copies of three reports received from Lieutenant Colonel DONALD=8PRINGER, A=-2, Fourth Air Force, Hamilton Field, California, involving reported sightings of flying, ,dises. ( ‘se ee f The Los Angeles Office is being furnished with a photostatic copy of/ the report of Lieutenant Colonel SPRINGER dated August 18, 1947 concerning the ( investigation conducted at the Muroc Flight Test Base, Muroc, California. The Butte Office is being furnished with a photostatic copy of the “report of Lieutenant Colonel SPRINGER dated August 20, 1947 which sets forth a letter received from Mr. R. JeMADDEN, Division Plant Engineer, Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company, Helena, Montana. This office is maintaining contact with Lieutenant Colonel SPRINGER and will furnish the Bureau with a subsequent report from him concerning the ob- servations of Mre RAY A.»S8WITZER, Sacramento, California, who has reported certain observations which he believes may involve a flying disc at Placerville ° California, on August 14, 1947. ibn er seer DLiie. HMK :EMB OD , 4 Enclosures - 3 ee? Se ce Los Angeles (with enclosure) Ady tad a i Butte (with enclosure) K/ AS ; < Sd ke 72 Uf ‘ ee eo cand REY Pe ll nar a ly a a a a > CONFIDENTIAL bet ae Re en Ce ol o's Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff, A-2_ | Sea LR AO A ROTM a See eS | | Hamilton Field, California — a ee eh Sale Ratios SS Rl le ot Ce j True Investigation of Flying Dise. Invesrication mape ar_MUroc AAF, Muroc, Calif. : Coxrnotixc orice Air Defense Command, Witchel Field. — } Fue No...2208e2 erro coverzn._ 8 July 1947 } Case ciasstrication Incident ieee Sh SRA ee REASON FOR INVESTIGATION: Investigation initiated at request of Air Defense Command reference ltr Hq ADC, dtd 7 Jul 47, file D3335.5 ID, subj: Investigation of Flying Disc, | SYNOPSIS: | On 8 July 1947, approximately 1000 hours, two incidents occurred in the vicinity of Muroc Flight Test Base. i | | No further investigation of these incidents is being considered by this headquarters. | Disraisution Cortes APPROVED: A ] | se | LG Z } WALD L. SPRINGER « Col Gs eA say Se? SL NREL Ag of S, A-2 ( 6 FBI, S.F. 1 Lescanr ener ann snot coorteas aa ea ag | aS. DF rs Stice e - | | AS 2 2 i A sae AUG 21 1947 | x’ SAN FRANCIS“ « Z 3 i Seen W.D., P.M. G. Form No. 110 oa = ay we Crh tarmn emperseden #701. OFC. §, Form Ne 19, whic j oe |! im sot bo eaod upon veonigt of this torisioa) arnt aeerrnenerserrerancnes | £ . “ s ; ; : . : aw, ee CORY Oy ay lg | ou OREBARREEE Ss ee : The following is a statement given orally by Colonel Gilkey, = | Commanding Officer, Muroe Army Air Field, Muroe, Californie, given to =| | 4 Ceptain Harry D. Slack, Intelligence Officer, on 11 August 1947, ae =| Colonel Gilkey, stated ies h the a ae ee eved at | he / f time to be paper and of no significence or Red Eno’ ae bbcabr Wits Samet. SI | enough to be reported. There was a gO eed tiie re) y tele = si _ Colonel to make any further reports ju fiable. cur seieeet res Ce! ‘ This oral statement was given freely and pages ithout any ra threats or promises underduress. ‘This statement consi See Ping WAS) ama ah tl | Page, end 46 the Sruth to the best of my Imowledge and boltere © | ee CNR Spe cases i, PPR ee ki tak 2) eee v Sve b - z eo ———— ary ss E Se oie egieast SASS bee (07) Sena. i ee CREE BARBE De BLACK meee een ] ie a Mea nore pease 1-430 RS fe a LOS) URN ee | = ! i: ve Fae a perks a ; by aN Fanta Bs oop ; ‘ | ' k : yl 7 3 > En ss > SCSI ell OY sh | &: ‘ ale Lkeaee Yee 7 RSS MAVIDN Li: ips cs heels ne = 1 i Mie Rao gS Pee yy 3! ihe yy PRG ar Reatin 0 ie aay ey ATL ‘ wg THY AY 2 EORSS Gok Sam eae Mitra? 4 iy Migs 2 FOANDINGAITIAT ~~ - ra hibing ANE LAPVLAINA LAL 7 : ore F # hare Ihe | : ee | | \ 2 | | APEIDAVIT t | ) | STATE OF CALIFORNIA) COUNTY OF KERN) ° The following is a statement given by Major Richard R. Shoop, | Office of Chief of Tech. Engineering Division, wuroc Army Air Field, Muroc, California, statement given on 11 duly 1947. | At approximately noon on 8 July 1947, my attention was called to an ; object in the air by Colonel Gilkey. I observed between five (5) and eight (8) miles to the North what appeared to be a thin metallic object. ; : It appeared to be metallic because the method in which it was flying caused | _ the sun to reflect like an apparently aluminum colored surface. The object moved from an intermediate altitude in an oscillating fashion, almost to af" the surface of the ground and then started climbing again. It climbed to | _ & fairly high altitude and moved off slowly into the distance. Tho object | appeared to be the size of a pursuit airplane but did not have the shape of a | conventional plane. The time that the object was in view was approximately eight (8) minutes. his sane object was seen by my wife at the same time. \ This statement has deen given freely and voluntarily without any threats or promises under duress. This statement consists of one (1) page, and is ; the truth to the best of my Kmowledge and belief. I have initialed all | corrections deemed necessary. | s/s richard r. shoo MAJOR, RICHARD R. SHOOP, AC WITNESS: , s/s thomas a. memillan “THOMAS A. HC MILLAN : Ree COANMGINGAITH AT ae : WWINE LIVLIINAG Lf, yet . Vas. INOUE ‘3 ote ts f £ to ] ok ip t where 1e© was pointine t i se or r £ d silver colored objects, flying in a roar f r ple £ it could not have been a balloon. lt I i and this was no hallucination. 6 Ty $ I JOSE VOLO ee a eee es . . : p . | f Pie ANCARTTATENTSATOOT ALT ; : re ea Pees ye ae ee PNOJIND AAI LAN Licks a j *.. | i — . ; ‘ ’ « } ’ ' ae 4 ret “ ? die | APFIDAVI? STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF KERN ) | The following is a stetement given by lst. Lt. Joseph C. “icHenry, Billeting Officer, Muroc Army Air Field, Muroc, California, statement } given on 11 July 1947, to Mr. Thomas A. McMillan, CIC S/A. this Station. The following statement concerning the actual observance of what has i been termed as a "flying Disc" or a "flying Saucer" is true and correct and | it will be noted that the above mentioned observance was made by me per-= sonelly while enjoying complete health in mind and body. i On Tuesday 8 July 1947, at approximately nine-thirty A.M. (09:30) ; I was in conversation with personnel in the Post Exchange Office. My part | ; of this conversation was as follows: | | ; "Someone will have to show me one of these Disc before I will | 2 believe it." Upon leaving the Post Exchange, I went directly to my Office and be- | / fore entering heard one of our local aircraft in the traffic pattern. ' Leoking up, as I elways do I observed the aircraft, and looked slightly i to the left, whereupon I observed two (2) silver objects of oither a | spherical or disc-like shape, moving about three hundred (300) miles an hour, or perhaps less, at approximately eight thousand (8000) feet, heading at about three hundred twenty degrees (520°) due north. When I first observed these objects I called S/Sgt. Gerald &, Nauman, t/Set. Joseph Ruvolo and Miss Jannette Marie Scotte who immediately came j to where I was standing. I pointed in the direction of the objects and asked them the question "Tell me what you see up there." Whereupon, all 3 : the three (3) with sundry comments stated, "They are flying Disc". To further verify my observance I asked them to tell me in what direction the objects were travelinz, without indicating their direction myself, and again, _ all three (3) in a consistent nature stated thet the objects were moving | toward Mojave, California. | ; % I had time to look away several times and renew my vision of the objects | to make sure that there were not any results of eye strain, or in any nature | ‘ an optical illusion. The objects in question were not repeat, were not air- Lies! eraft, the objects could not have been woather balloons released from this the speed at which they were traveling end the horizontal direction in which they were traveling, disqualified the fact that they were weather balloons. ie ' IDIMGAITT At at . CONF Lwin tt ite f ; . OMONIDIMNGATE TA F 3 | Pai. oi ONO MIND LIGOIN bara @ p © | le: v > ; Op: a] } After the observance of these phenomenon and hoping that I might have | time to enlist further witnesses, I immediately ran into the dispensary to i | get personnel who are Medical Officers to verify, for my own curiosity, the | } actual observance of these objects, but by the time I reached the back porch 4 of the dispensary, Mrs. A. C. Naum, who is a registered nurse, and about seven (7) other personnel were with me, the objects, had by that time, dis-. i ' appeared, due to the speed with which they were traveling. Upon further | | investigetion, two (2) of us at the same time sighted another object of a | | silver spherical or dise-like nature at approximately eight thousand (8000) j } | feet, traveling in circles over the North-end. I called the odjects to the shat { ' attention of Mrs. Naum and pointedit out to the other personnel standing near | by. All of us saw the object, with the exception of two (2) out of seven (7) | personnel. All of us looked awey from the object several times to make sure — ' | there was no eye strain or from permitting the object to become an optical a | illusion. = ‘A From my actual observance the object circled in too tight a circle end at too severe a plane to be any aircraft that I know of. It could not have been any type of bird because of the reflection that was created when the object ie reached certain altitudes. ‘The object could not have been « local weather Bs balloon for it is very impossible that a weather balloon vould stay at the same altitude as long and circle in such a consistent nature as did the Ween. above mentioned object. : Sl aa I am familiar with the results of too constant vision of the sun or fs ae any bright object and am aware that optical illusions are possible and Ea il | probable. I wish to make this statement that the above mentioned observance eA was thet of actual subject matter. val This statement has been given freely and volunterily without any threats or promises under duress. This statement consists of two (2) pages, and be oak is the truth to the best of my knowledge and belief. I have initialed all ifort corrections deemed necessary. e eee 4 s/s joseph c. me hi gece 18ST LT JOSEPH C. MC HENRY AC vq s/s thomas a. me millan Stee b Aad THOMAS A. MC MILLAN ; i * t f ee t : TATINDATTT AF ree t re - CUIN PAs LNs le / LS 3 “ = eS Le ee as hh ee eS SSS eee . s 7 +7 Lt > , 4 . , ° : 10, P t . : a a ee ies 2 LIDTIAI TAT ACT eae |. Pema ok PERO oe Per he 1 : Cc AFRIDAYIz STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) : : | COUNTY OF KERN ) : } The following is a statement given by Captain John Paul Strapp, op Flight Test, Wuroe Army Air Field, Muroc, California, statement given to Mr. Thomas A. McMillan, CIC Agent, this Stetion, on 12 August 1947. | At 11:50 hours, 8 July 1947, while the undersigned was sitting in ay an observation truck located in Area # 3, Rogers Dry Lake, for the pid \ purpose of observing a P=82 ejection seat experiment, the following 5 unfamilierity was observed. : * i" i The undersigned was gazing upwerd toward a formation of two (2) ‘ “| ' P-82's and an A=-26 aircraft flying at 20,000 feet, preparing to carry re | out @ seat ejection experiment, when I observed a rounded object, a Wet | white aluminum in color, which at first resembled a parachute canopy. ies / The first impression wes that a premature ejection of the seat and jo hedg dummy had occurred. This body was ejected at a determined height lower asl } than 20,000 feet, and was felling at three (3) times the rete observed — at) | for the parachute which was ejected thirty minutes later. As it fell ia it drifted slightly north of due west against the prevailing wind, to- pe sys, ward Mount Wilson. The speed, horizontal motion could not be determined, but appeared slower than the maximum velocity 50-80 aircraft. seee arse es | | tas) | As this object descended through a low enough level to permit — mit aes] observation of its lateral silhouette, it presented a distinct ovuler f oF | outline, with two (2) projections on the upper surfece which might have — iat | been thick fins or nobs. These crossed each other at intervals, suggest- => ing either rotetion or oscillation of slow type. ort No smoke flemes, propellar arks, engine noise, or other clasuable (2). ce } or visible means of propulsion were noted. The color was silvery, re=- | Me if senbling aluminum painted febric, and did not appear as dense as a ‘ oa sere parachute canopy. : $e!) } When the object dropped to a level such that comes into line of ; vision of the mountein tops, it was lost to the vision of the observer. fs Fie | : pases It is estimated that the object was in line of vision about 90 Rien seconds. Of the five (5) people sitting in the observation truck, four ae | } (4) observod this object and made remarks about it. These people include: “he Mr..Lenz = Civilien, Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio ; 5 (Other names not given) | ; The following is my own personal opinions about this “objects t i 1. I think it was a man-made object, as evidenced distaintly by | } the outline and functional appearance. ‘ Pai SITIOATTT AT ie ye Hare 98 oe ee | ene S REESE ol: MORSE SOE S SU Minter WN eee ee Pau Eee Ema Rar Sts Sa Tae aae ys Tale enna ae an chk er Se 5 Sete race al: ig Shes eh de target Fe s Sea Seiten vpn He tee pont oo Bee | ns Petal g Pe Ee RE Rage OB Sn ees et With & parachuts | 7 pn hs 2, th a Pits Seed yeah (alot Wyn = = 2 bi et ete tea ty hove $3 ay 5 oa the as EOE ERE Rees ESM aes tLe i Q Ep pee een & Rees riots a See (ORE eee Seat hatch Sa Mv Ln Say best of my kmowledge and belief. I heve initicled = PABLO OURS ER ORO aires ist ean) } beg ee See 4 emir Mere Met fy hess) ad a eetpe 4 x Absa SSD eaee Wee en pemseay ean ot ieee.” Fier Tes hie Sos at Ti SIEGE) sie ea orale 2 Sate eas 2 : Coin Coskeae rete 4 Rea eA cet Mer wepepe t he gle LS Sapi evar het Neat Hien? ov teae) Nek eae Sep es aes MeL ae Sail os ere RG epee ates (Cities eeeeouers che 23h 4 Sale ” = - Jane LpOR Geet stent egeme 2 ! ; Sau aie eames oe Neat ies rege at! HRY eevee (Entes pobtnee oe kh eee yt ie ahi : Titec) SURE Gi tae ch ieee! Pea Bete ie eR Fj ROMMEL DR ase spen he tte ee j } iat eae ed OLN Eats p as soe. ¥ hid i 1. SS pes Th EP Hae ©: eae ee eo on sy Rip resk pects Cae ae bat, ees $491 Srndal J ee ET Pee ST IT IIT Tag Stan Ty foe = = } bs "a : aN TBS iba’ Says cen i : ear oe Pe Pee Sepaek LE Lui ee aes da Co H 7 : “ sy | ARFIDAVI2 : | STATS OF CALIFORNIA ) ; COUNTY OF KERN ) ! | | The following is a statement given on 14 July 1947, by Jannette { } ‘faric scott, Secretary to lst Lt J. C, McHenry, Billeting Officer, { Muroe Army Air Field, Muroc, California. j T am fully “aware of my Civil and Constitutional Rights, and under- stand prior to making this statement. = 2 On Tuesday morning 8 July 1947, at approximately 10:00, while typing | i some cards, and taking care of my routine work, Lieutenant McHenry tae called me, along with 1/Sgt. Joseph Ruvolo and S/Sgt. Gerald 5. Nauman, fb af f to the front of B.0.Q. "A" 3ldg. Pointing up in a direction directly Hye } above me he asked us to explain whet we saw. There were two, silver ( | | colored disc like dbjects flying toward Mojave, California, one directly pe a | back of the other, at a speed of about 300 to 400 miles per hour, having | hss ] } an altitude of approximately 8000 feet. I listened carefully for a few 7 “ { | minutes, and heard no drone, such as should be heard from any aircraft. Ht lage I also cast my eves to another direction and looking back to the same : | | spot, I was able to distincuish the same objects again. Having assured haat myself thet there was no eye-strain, I was convinced these objects wore olga not weather balloons due to the horizontal position in which they were it { flying. Nor could they have been birds of any nature, due to the de- \ hed | finite reflection from the sun rays. i a I have been on this Jase, considering an absence of six months, tiered] approximately eizhteen months, and am familiar with all type aircraft. } ae About three or four minutes, after these flying objects had nearly | disappeared, I glanced around and sighted another flying object, IAs similar to the above mentioned objects. This flying object was silver { colored and was in the shane of a disc. Unlike the first two this object wes was flying in ea ticht circle, neither losing nor gaining altitude, at eee ' approximately eight thousand feet, therefore I was convinced it could ‘ i ta | not have been a weather balloon, and because of the tight circle it could (isi not have been any type aircraft. on | | This statement was given freely and voluntarily without threats Ke or promises under duress. This statement consists of one (1) page, and ' >| is the truth to the best of my knowledge and belief. I have initialed : fiat | all corrections deemed necessary. 7 Get iid Iam of sound mind and body, and swear that this statement is true ; and correct. : ; 3 s/s _jannotte marie scott Ppa f Jannette Marie Scott Fa WITNESSES: ; s/s thomas a. me millan ree ; eye | MGPMIK EE de ORE ee LNT pA Sa } THOMAS A. MC MILLAN WUINE Lives N ar —— sims ia 5 ; ' Yn a SO ATi LES rege Se f. . : He NIN POIWOIVitAL a : ‘ "Or ste ig @. ioe 2 ORY : AFREDAYI2 STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF KERN ) : The followine is a statement given by S/Sgt. Gerald F. Uauman, 4144th AAFBU, Muroc Army Air Field, Muroc, California, statement given | on 14 July 1947, to lst Lt. J. ©. McHenry, Billeting Officer. On the eight of July 1947 at ten o'clock (10:00) in the morning | I observed personally two (2) flying disc, flying in a north west direction \ at an estimated altitude of seven or eight thousand feet, traveling at approximately three or four hundred miles per hour. | Just a few minutes before this 1 was in the Silleting Office and j First Lieutenant Joseph ©. Mellenry, called me and two (2) others out- side. He then asked us what we saw. I saw two (2) objects with my own | eyes, and I am now and was then in perfect physical condition. I have 20-20 vision and I am positive these two (2) objects could not have been } i Aircraft, weather balloons or birds. Due to the altitude in which they f were flying, they gave off a definite reflection from the rays of the sun. 1 In addition to these two (2) dise I saw another object a few | { minutes later at the same altitude doing certain maneuvers such as flying 1 in a tight circle. The two disc had already disappeared. This object to { my knowledge of aircraft could not have been an airplane because of the | very tight maneuver it was undergoine. I have been flying in and heve { } been around all types of aircraft since 1943 and never in my life have I } seen anything such as this. If necessary I can and will swear to this ] | statement. , I This statement has been given freely and volunterily without any | threats or promises under duress. This statement consists of one (1) t _ page, and is the truth to the best of my knowledge and belief. I heve | initialed all corrections deemed necessary. | é t- s/s t+» Ces robinson PFC T. C. ROBINSON WITKESS: | s/s thomas a. mc millan x | | “THOMAS A. MC MILLAN : fPNATTOSTIANTIAT OT A Yt DAT T A t UNJDENTIFIED OBJECT @AF-1208-1 i 20 August 1947 j MEMORANDUM FOR THE OPFICER IN CHARGE: 1. On 20 August 1947, this agent and Special Agent Hubbard | interviewed Mr. Ray A. Switser, Insurance Adjustor, at his home, 3431 i News David Way, Sacramento, California, and he stated in substence: On the r 2 afternoon of 14 August 1947, he was driving his automobile from Placer=- es) ville, California, on the Cedar Ravine Road. Mr. Switser's wife was in . ' } the front seat of the automdbile and Mrs, Switszer's mother and the two ; i Switser children were in the back seat of the car. At about 1600 hours — they were at a point approximately five miles southwest from Placerville | when Switzer saw a white smoke trail out of the corner of his eyes. In } searching for a rocket ship (P80) he saw an object, four to six feet in i length, ten to fourteen inches wide, and of a metal color, bright like highly polished chromium. In relation to the travel of the automobile a { the object was first seen at 1030, and when the object. reached a : ' point et approximately 1200, it was engulfed in a puff of dark gray smoke about ten feet in diameter. The object was traveling at a terrific rate Fs! of speed and seemed to be in a very shallow dive. When the puff of smoke appeared, the object disappeared completély and there were no particles Rie, ay seen to have fallen from the smoke. The point where the object was en- 2 gulfed in the smoke was about eight hundred yards distant (in front of) | Switzer with no possibility of the object being hidden fron view by vege- | "3 tation or terrain. The object appeared rectangular in shape page ea ; i one very short period of time it appeared to have a top surface “sl 4 very slightly curved. Mr. Switzer turned to tell his wife about the Es > object and found her with her mouth open in an effort to say something and with her hand in a pointing gesture toward where the object had dis= appeared, The object was not very high in relation to the terrain and ‘ seemed to be following the contour of a canyon. ; i os es 2. Ina separate interview Mre. Switzer concurred in the oe 4 obtained from Mr. Switzer with the following exceptions: The smoke - yt} and the puff that engulfed the object appeared dark pray in eolor and there was no change in the color, Mrs. Switzer estimated the object to be about | five feet long and about a foot wide with the top surface being slightly —— curved. The object appeared to be some larger in front than in the reer, = AGENT'S NOTES: At the time this object was seen, the sun was to the Switser's back, the sky was clear and the object gave off a very bright reflection, = = Mr. Switzer has been connected with the field of insurance investigation for oe the last eighteen years and appears to be a man not desirous of publicity. — Z| The other passengers of the car did not see the object. Pegi syi: is ins | the process of moving to a ranch near Placerville, Calif., and his new.address —— will be Box 45, Aukum, Eldorado County, Calif. spade have er ee ante | to meet Mr. Switzer at 1400, 26 Aug 47 at Raffeld” » Placerville, Calif., for the purpose of coing back over Cedar Ravire Road tAUQcRtb ey point — hee i where the object disappeared. / t ne ay A, My} Bryden E. Moon, Special Agent, 4AF CIC is AN FRAWCIEC! A CANT ONT TYE AT ET Ap te e-- : Se , VV ANE Li 24d 2101 ees en ne Tle ie iS AAUNMETIAGNIT 1 A1 Pg | be Sie to : " WAAN ED PIVLIINILSAAL bw. HEADQUARTERS FOURTH AIR FORCE , Offiee of the Assistant Chief of Staff, A-2 Intelligence | Hamilton Field, California ~ — #APDA 20 August 1947 : SUBJECT: Flying Disc. ; TOs Special Agent in Charge, F3I, U. S. Dept. of Justice, i ; ’ Federal Office S3uilding, Room 422, San Francisco, Calif. | poor 1. The attached letter was received by this office from irs . Re Je Madden, Division Plant Engineer, Pacific Telephone and Telegraph ly Company, on 15 August 1947. pate «Be “Mo further investigation will be made of this reported inei- a3 Le SPRING at 1 Inols Lt. Colonel, OSC ib ae, Ag indi eated. AC of S, AaB / V Sie wees ™ ‘ 6th Army - 1 cy : : «] U.S. 08 ae tah +1Ce ae es SAN FRANCISC Ng nae 4 “WouTEeD To \ ; ONANGING . TAPP MALwEr srs eR ee i es ea { Sere : : SIN “ | eae “ONFIDENTIAL + Com | Py | . 427 W. 34 Avenue ise } Spokane, Washington : } August 8, 1947 | ( Military Intelligence Division, UsS.A. | MoChord Field, Washington , , ; j Following the reading of an eecount of the visit of tr. Kenneth ; Arnold, Boise, Idaho, as published in the Spokesman Review under date | of August 7, 1947, the undersigned considered the enclosed account of an observetion of a "flying saucer" would be of interest to you. This account has not been given to any newspaper or other public- | ation as yet. : /e/ Re Je Madden Re Jo MADDEN, s ia Division Plant mers : a The Paces Tele & Tele Cos AUG 21 1947 : SAN FRANCISC’ ron, Ee Se ROUTED TO ‘ Sirport wi } 103 ‘ cima, he : =f laye x » ty jare Lares “ie . > x] L , . . 5 : : @) 9 I ) - s% d * ae pk ; o WAR DD AS f : ’ i im 22 - 2 J J a ; \. oO > x j . . . . : 2ye ’ 1 . $ } . . fo clo r [re . yh . ’ —— | 97, | ov ; x Asx: sre s a Cc - . i ; . * ’ ; i , . ; Je ° PAGE 5 : i ¥ 3 , , © J tells 4 ; a - \ . } Sas > > * Pe + 4 ‘these objec iB) t ne) 3 3 C SS ne Sy Ree on He rete: 4 ‘ a ‘ at : : a Dijad Toll | yp & ble ¢ Lane OS aa, - ’ Form 3811 Rev. 1-4-40 RETURN RECEIPT Received from the Postmaster the Registered or Insured Article, the original number of which appears on the face of this Card. , } (Sanature ot namie of addressee) (Stgnatdre , treet and Number, mip terse “ a / or Post Office Ba} es edn tamer Vet B6 CESaP SION SION Wa eames REGISTERED ARTICLE | PRY Lou os Ho ON ea INSURED PARCEL BOISE, Wo eS eee BS ed ; IDAHO. , 4 * @ ‘7 ' ' yi . uae a aun j y¥¥ ae yea (Weare ; yt FBI SEATTLE 8-14-47 5-18 PM i ¢-DIRECTOR FBI ROUTINE (4) is Wy 4 aa BRUCE ARMSTRONG. . Me A.{NICHOLS. FLYING DISCS INTERNAL seo NEWSPAPER SEATTLE POST INTELLIGENCER CARRIED ARTICLE ON AUGUST // i TWELVE OF REPORT OF FLYING DISCS SEEN BY ONE BRUCE ARMSTRONG OF BOEING AIRCRAFT COMPANY, AND M. A. NICHOLS, ONE ONE TWO FIVE, SOUTH WEST ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND STREET, SEATTLE. INVESTIGATION OF \y SIGHTING BY ARMSTRONG REVEALS OBJECT TO HAVE BEEN PIECE OF @aRBURN'T PAPER WHICH HAD BEEN SEEN BY CONTROL TOWER AT BOEING FIELD. IN- ) VESTIGATION OS SIGHTING BY M. A. NICHOLS INDICATES OBJECT WAS | 2 eee Ye. A WEATHER BALLON. LETTER TO FOLLOW. \ 62 =a bk! Me é | sy Ee WIRGOX ) A.AND HPLS 9: (45 RX ioe / aC “SS 9-19 PM OK FBI WASH DC GAR ; ‘ ’ ‘ ¢ vy \/ ~e 4) VC e é lg ¥ “tings, hn, 4 Md $ Ley “i399, Qe ¥ Bis, ait \ ) wy \) SY Yt ONLY A SHORT TIME BECAUSE OF ITS SPie e BARTCET toa 0 BE INfERVIEWED. seIDEZE! £ —_ < $y SG Nag WHYS 1; eS TNE OE yyy, ie se DIAZ ay a - @ >) qu ky / ° io SS LA # ae F WV ™ ‘ U, 8, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ? COMMUNICATIONS SECTION TELETYPE « ¢ J Bd : FA | WASHINGTON 17 FROM PHILADELPHIA 8-7-47 9-30 PM DST ia _STRECTOR FBI URGENT “ — FLYING OBJECT REPORTED OVER PHILA. AUGUST SIX, NINETEEN FORTY-SEVEN. PROCEEDING FROM A NORTHEASTERLY TO A SOUTHWESTERLY DIRECTION. \ f “ / ) S n\ a’ i> pie ¢ Was A Set END PACE ONE : END PAGE ONE K ; EX-4] . t 4 rs @ ‘ : ~ - ?7~ fluc 8 9 sith 56 AM’ AH cewve® et nse erent gece” Beha 2 ig 1 Alt! ye ue 1: 40H af ; fe @e@ ®@ ae | PAGE TWO ABOUT FOUR HUNDRED TO FIVE HUNDRED MILES PER HOUR. INQUIRIES BEING MADE BY ARMY AND NAVY INTELLIGENCE FORCES, PHILA. ON THE REQUEST OF THE PHILA. OFFICE TO DETERMINE IF EITHER ARMY OR NAVY ARE DOING ANY EXPERIMENTAL WORK ON NEW TYPES OF PLANES IN VICINITY OF PHILA. THEY WILL ADVISE PHILA. OFFICE IN NEXT SEVERAL DAYS. LETTER OF DETAILS WILL FOLLOW. BOARDMAN HOLD PLS Ch aah ss j ie ° . >) tye 7 9 257K 1 2 ella oe S ON Se f Se BBO. ae eee > Bs Gaked ae See ren) eae o- ” ‘ i F ‘STANDARD FORM NO. 64 ¢ ‘ . | + 3 Office Memurandum + onrrep stain. OVERNMENT 65=480 { bgt: poyrsteter PBI DATE: August 20, 1947 i ge e* FROM p SAC Butte A ~. susfuct: “"PLYING DISCS mes : 7 ZA Refer teletype to the Bureau dated August 15, 1947, ) S i—_ Ps Enclosed please find the newspaper account carried by the Twin Falls, ( ,Idého "Times News" on August 15, together with a sheet of paper on which As Ceo Px \ URIE attempted to sketch his impressions of the instrument which he claims to ~~ / Shave seen, ; Concerning URIE'ts sketches, it may be noted that he believed the rolled outer edge which he attempted to create in his drawing to have been about a foot through. URIE likewise believed that the tubing or exhaust flame which he and his sons claim to have seen was about a foot through and extended at least to the back end of the device, The flame did not appear to taper off nor to widen out toward the back, BILYS and ELT URIS stated that they could see a knot on the side of the device fram which the ‘flames were shooting, and that they could see day- light between the exhaust flame and the side of the device. The flames did not leave any smoke or odors a The URIE boys thought that the "side view” sketch should show that i & the device was more sharply angled from bottom to top, while URIE himself © thought that it was more streamlined and curved. URIE said that the instru- E ment came to a pointed or rounded tope -DEFERRED Toon DLT 3 In his notations, URIE mistakenly said tht he had seen it on Thurs- 8 deye During interview, he stated that it actually had been on Wednesday, 2 ~ August 13, 1947, when he and his sons saw the contrivance about 1:00 Pe Me oy of URIE explained that he had sent his boys to the river to get some af rope from his boat, When he thought they were overdue, he went outside his tool shed to look for them, He noticed them about 300 feet away looking in the sky and he glanced up to see what he called the flying disc. He said he TED could only see it for a moment before it disappeared behind a hill which f? obscured hie views AN Prtey URIE further stated that the contrivance was about seventy-five feet in the air. URIE resides in the depths of the Snake River Canyon, which , is about four hundred feet deep and twelve hundred feet across at that place. as According to his accovnt, the contrivance was about three hundred feet below the rim of the canyon and he saw it agsinst the steep walls of the canyon on the far side, He, ribed its color as sky blue and stated that he doubted if it could be /agaifist the skye He likewise said that it was purely by ‘pre jehance. that. It did not spin like a to “a pag BES mi x , y Bao RA, ¥$ 57 ¥ HS 270 NOWwlasiy Apo |’ —f an ln hk —b / i 5 : Ta qi { NW - ax Bo AX i 4 iJ > BA SEP 2y 1547 , 4 ; = : - ZL, L/ 2 & #* 4 POM ES iggy, 7) <7 | 2 a EF. Qe a » 1 | ! ue c Ps SAW ears “3 = = \ gues) a | a “gan ie ch, fy % a \ | Mor; 4 /]] fo ‘ ae ee i) a aah be Ay it pot g he awe . 6 S : 65—4 Sm BI 65=480 . As the machine went by the URIE place, the trees over which it almost directly passed (Morman Poplars) did not just bend with the wind as if a plane had gone by, but, in URIE's words, “spun around on top as if they were in a vacuums" KEITH URIE, eight years of age, said he first saw the machine coming down the canyon, heading from east to west and following the contours of the ground, BILLY, age ten, saw it almost immdiately. Both watched it fly out ‘ of sight behind a tree in a matter of moments, They said they then ran to their Father and learned that he too had seen the machines URIE seemed completely sincere about the incident. He said his wife and daughter were in the house at the time and had not seen the machine, He questioned his brother, who also lives in the canyon, but his brother had been eating at the time and had seen nothing, URIE and his two boys mintained that they had never before seen one of the discs. URIE, when interviewed, ap=~ peared to be a sober, middleeaged man, Jon HROSHAN, the"Times News" reporter who originally furnished Special Agents with information about the incident, likewise stated that URIE appeared completely sincere about the machines = __« No further attempt was made to locate L. Wr, \HAWEINS, inasmuch as oa Be FEROM who was with HAWKINS at the time, was interviewed. BROWN's name was withheld fran the newspaper because HAWKINS and BROWN were fishing at Sale mon dam while BROWN was supposed to have been working in Twin Falls, BROWN said simply that he and HAWKINS could hear a roar, They looked up and could see two instruments flying at a great height, which BROWN mentioned might have been between four thousand and six thousand feet. However, he said he had no idea how large the devices were and consequently, they may have been several miles away. He said that he and HAWKINS were satisfied they had seen somthing and they were very doubtful that they had seen two planese RJGsFOtS Ence (2) oR? < ENCLOSURE ~ h @ ENCLOsurE yt mC eh hes OF ont 2: t de oe > <<>> Sv y LE ee a SO i ae re Air Wik a Se wash | as ot ~~ << ee Tae A Ry MOSS F = = Ze ee a ey eal Qi Vi apa — | re mm | ee ‘WEL Ba) | ooaa''\( Yer, MLS) : | 7 of > Ae si 0) SNES — an ae —— oe — a a F = SS SEG = = : TWIN FALLS ES Re@Baal Newspaper Serving be es 3 qj pany TWIN FALLS, IDAHO, FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 1947 Sipmaligemcrey. eel ie joc” ag SO A eae Sees etree tee Se ee v ‘ | Heads Up, Folks! The Discs Are Flying A ~ z yal * r eads ), LP OLKS. 1e€ iscs Are ying : / to) ~o Piy We RA “eo eos 2. mae . Ry SSS ew =. n a. a Ghomnme e y QQ <2 COPR. 1946 BY NEA SERVICE, 1! “Tf you quit driving to work save enough money to buy Ju: the yard!” CARNIVAL UL RS 7 ba | # ; SEE iA) ZG Ea g ' y - ee f ettichiahinatian X e . m * 2 e ‘i } 2) D & b mts U} awd Pa T ; “ / /\ %. 4) AM % a © yr ( ) ‘ _ f a ™ P , i, Merah 8, Brees/,/o- c J i 0 ; U of ' , ‘ / eo j . y y } . 7 f 4 Vi x Ne a tee “ “add wa. : Z \ St hon At aS Matic. 207 .; Ps ‘ ae ~ 4 _ or king : i " EME 2h uettaanes ae ae ie SS St Ts i ~ ef ae AN LR ER IS = Si ae “< ee So cet aes oe re ~ J ; “ ¢ Tf ig oy ip { (ele — th Cha / / - mad / f—fl fa te 4 y Jes ke " att ‘ * / | ae /, yA a , é . “a Aa 7 / if a FRE i a} ) oa z STANDARD FORM WO. 64 jan LOfice, Mem. © abt ba fe )ffice.. VLC... ~swAUtiit «+ UNITEDS ~ GOVERNMENT \U TON coe D. M apo DATE: August 20, 1947 ae FROM : E. G. Fiteh DECLASSIFIED ur. Tolson - E. A. Tana ‘ Mr. Clegg SUBJECT; Authority Mrs Giavin_——— Mr. Rosen ~~ ; 5 5 = ¥ Mr. Egan There is attached hereto copies af #wo memoranda dated July 24, ¥: curse 1947, and July 16, 1947, concerning Byron B; vage, Field Engineer, Radio : Corporation of America, Da » Texas, 416 Ni Ws 29th Street, Oklahoma Teles Room — City, Oklahoma, and Kennethfirnold, Box 387, Boise, Idaho. These memoranda ide Rolex —— were made available to Special Agent S. W. Reynolds of the liaison Section — —— by General Schulgen of the Army Air Forees Intelligence. Gereral Schulgen ‘ requested that the Bureau comluct a background investigation of these two individuals mentioned in bs attached memoranda since they were among the first to sight the alleged Tlying discs. He imiicated that he desired that the investigation be directed toward ascertaining whether or not either of these individuals have any subversive backgreund and to ascertain whe ther or not they had any ulterior motives for porting -iypse si ings. > RECOMMENDATION pr AW It is recommen $nistmemg ndufh, pr forve to the Internal Security Section. ) $ } (} yt es j Attachment 7 HE 4) ALE CPRDE a o {/ Ly ok A yf fe Y | ' ; Jig SK ley 4) At (e 3ypr a COPY eS ng % . OCAPN/KDS: ep #3724-1 24 July 1947 MEMORANDUM. TO THE SECURITY OFFICER, OCAMA, TINKER FIELD. SUBJECT: BYRON B. SAVAGE, Field Engineer, Radio Corporation of America, Dallas, Texas. Residence: 416 N. W. 29h Street, Oklahoma City, Oklahome. ) RE: Flyind Disc, On 23 July 1947, BYRON B. SAVAGE was interviewed at his residence, 416 N. We. 29th Street, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, relsting to his alleged viewing of a flying dise over the vicinity of Oklahoma City, Oklehoma. Subject, whose age is 38, advised he is married and has one child, end is presently the holder of a Private Pilot's License, No. 39101 (Single Engine, Lend), Subject averred he has extensively studied electron- ics, sound engineering end aeronautics, and his present occupation, which is Field Engineer for Radio Corporation of America, offices of which ere located in Dallas, Texas, is that of installing theater sound equipment. SAVAGE stated that between the days 17 May to 21 Mey 1947, just-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 end the moon had not arisen on the horizon. SAVAGE related thet he and his wife had just departed their residence and had started to enter their car in the driveway et 416 N, W. 29th Street, Oklahome City. He judged the time to be between 8:30 pem. end 9:00 pem., 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 sew it, and as it moved ' toward him he remerked 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 sircraft, end it appeared elliptical at first end as it moved closer it appeared perfectly round and wes flate SAVAGE advised the object, which appeared to him as e disc, had no appearence of being spherical and had a ratio of diameter to the thickness of sapproxi- mately 10 to l, appearing thicker in the center, but this could not be positively ascertained, SAVAGE judged 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 Be29s at an altitude of epproximately the same height. SAVAGE advised thet the object was in his vision approximately 15 to 20 seconds and travelled at a speed which he judged to be approximately three times that of jet-propelled aircraft. \ \ 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 end as it went by he listened for a sound of noise, and at one time thouzht 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 end did not last very long, and it is very possible that the sound could have been his imagination or expectation, as he wes not sure of the sound. SAVAGE related thet he called his wife to see this object but it had disappeared before she could focus her eyes on it. Subject stated thet the object appesred to diminish in size and speed as it mOVEG ways and it was moving in a direction of 350° to the north. Subject/steted thet the object eppeared to be frosty white in color at all times. SAVAGE edvised that he has held a pilot's certificete since 1934 and has been flying since 1929. He edvised 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 end powered, probably atomic, KAIMAN D. SIMON C.I. U.S. Army : Ss COPY ea Woon: » Incident me 4aF 1208 I 16 July 1947 MEMORANDUM FOR THE OFFICER IN CHARGEs 1. On 12 July 1947, Mr. Kenneth Arnold, Box 387, Boise, Idaho, was interviewed in regard to the report by Mr. Arnold that he saw 9 strenge objects flying over the Cascede Mountain Range of Washington State on July 25th. Mr. Arnold voluntarily sgreed to give the interviewer a written report of exactly what he hed seen on the above mentioned dete. The written report of Mr. Arnold is ettached to this report as Exhibit A, AGENT'S NOTES: Mr, Arnold is a man of 32 years of age, being married md ~° ' the father of two children. He is well thought of in the community in which he lives, being very much the family men end from all appearances ; @ very good provider for his family. Mr. Arnold has recently purchased a home on the outskirts of Boise, recently purchased a $5,000 airplane 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 that Mr, 4rnold actually saw what he stated thet he saw, It is difficult to believe that ea men of Mr. Arnold's character and apparent integrity would state thet he saw objects and write up a report to the extent that he did if he did not see them. To go further, if Mr. Arnold can write a report of the cheracter thet he did while not having seen the objects that he claimed he saw, it is the opinion of the interviewer that Mr. Arnold is in the wrong business, that he should be writing Buck Rogers fiction, Mr. Arnold is very outspoken end somewhat bitter in his opinions of the lesders of the U. S. Army Air Forces and the Federel Bureeu of Investigatioén for not having made an investigation of this matter sooner. To put all of the statements made by Mr. Arnold in this report would make it a voluminous volune. However, efter having checked an aeronautical map of the erea over which Mr. Arnold claims that he saw the objects it wes determined thet all statements made by Mr, Arnold in regerd to the distances involved, speed of the objects, course of the objects and size of the objects, could very possibly be facts. The distences mentioned by Mr. Arnold in his report are within a short distance of the actual distences on aeroneutical charts of this area, although Mr. Arnold has never consulted seronatitical charts of the type the Army uses. Mr. Arnold stated that this business hed suffered greatly since his report on July 25 due to the fact that et every stop on his business routes, large crowds of people were waiting to question him as to just what he had seen, Mr. Arnold steted further that if he, et any time in the future, saw anything in the sky, to quote Mr. Arnold directly, “if I sew a ten story building FRANK M. BROWN, S/A, CIC 4th AF . d Incident 4AF 1208 I 4 flying through the air I would never say a word about it", due to the fact that he has been ridiculed by the press to such oan extent that he is practically a moron in the eyes of the majority of the population of the United States. 1 Incl: Exhibit "A" r FRANK M. BROWN, S/A, CIC 4th AF : » COPY A a A ‘a: oo SOME LIFE DATA ON KENNETH ARNOLD I was born March 29, 1915 in Subekea, Minnesote. My father's neme was Edward Erb Arnold; my mother's maiden neme was Bertha E, Barden. Iwas ae resident of Minnesota until’ I was six yeers old when my family moved to Scobey, Montena, where they home- steaded. My grandfather, Rolend C, Arnold also homesteaded in Scobey, Montana, and became quite prominent in political circles along with Burton K, Wheeler, the femous Montene senator. I went to grade school and high school at Minot, North Dakota. I entered scouting at twelve years of age end achieved the rank of Hagle scout before I was fourteen. My former scout executive was H. H. Prescott, now a regionel commissioner for the Boy Scouts in Kenses City, Kansas. As a boy, I was interested in athletics and was selected as an ellestate end in 1932 and 1933 in the stete of North Dakota. I entered the U. S. Olympic trials in fency diving in 1932; I wes a Red Cross Life Saving Examiner during the years of 1932, '33 end 'S4, I taught swimming end diving at scout camps and the municipal pool in Minot, North Dekote. I went to the University of Minnesota, where I swem end did fancy diving under Neils Thorpe, and elso played. footbell under Bernie Biermen, but upon entering college I was unable to continue my footbell career because of en injured knee, My high school foot- ball coach was Glenn L. Jarrett, who is now the head football coach of the University of North Dakota. I had little or no finences, and my ambition in furthering my education in college oes ee. Oe . Hed AY yy c See AIT Ty = “| Page 2 = Some Life deta on Kemeth Arnold was through my athletics. As a boy in Minot, North Dakota, I did e good deal of dog sled racing, placing first with my-dog in 1930 in the Lions Club Dog Derby. In 1938 I went to work for Red Comet, Ine. of Littleton, Coloredo, a menufacturer of automatic fire fighting spparetus. In 1939 I wes made district menager for them over e part of the western states, and in 1940 I established my own fire control supply known as the Great Western Fire Control Supply. I have been working as an independent fire control engineer since, and I hendle, distribute, sell end instell all types of auto- metic and manual fire fighting equipment in the rural areas over five western states. My flying experience started as a boy in Minot, North Dekote, where I took my first flying lesson from Harl T. Vance, who was originelly from Great Falls, Montena. Due to the high cost et thet time, I was unable to continue my flying and did not fly of any great consequence until 1943. I wes 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 end flying from forty to one hundred hours per month since. Due to the : fact thet I use an airplane entirely in my work, in Januery of this year I purchased a new Callair airplene, which is an airplane designed for high altitude take-offs and short rough field usage. ‘ In the type of flying I do, it tekes a creat deel of Selamat utacse cOPY ‘ * F ‘ ait ny ae Fae ee ~ + | wT 7 eres eee E Page 3- Some Life Data on Kenneth Arnold practice and judgment to be able to land in most eny cow pasture snd get out without injuring your eirplane; the : runways ere very limited and the altitude is very high in some of the fields end places I have to go in my work. To date, I have landed in 832 cow pastures in mountein meadows, and in over a thousend hours a flat tire has been my greatest mishap. ; i / harry. Ly (u "Ww j a 1 é: Oa ? aT be FBI SEATTLE 8-14-47 5-21 PM FB A) zp DIRECTOR FBI URGENT Ge. yp j Y Lay a: (by L. Re BRUMMETT. SID) DECKER. FLYING DISCS. INTERNAL SCURITY=X. 7] Vi pe cad y AUGUST FOURTEEN aeeMMOK NINETEEN FORTYSEVEN SEATTLE POST INTELLIGENCER PUBLISHED ARTICLE TO EFFECT THAT L. ROT BRUMMETT, BOX TWO FIVE FOUR RED- aS ? Serdiesciadcrh MOND, WASH, AND SIDNEY DECKER BOX TWO NINE SIX REDMOND, WASHINGTON HAD SIGHTED TWO DISCS AT APPROXIMATELY NINE AM AUGUST THIRTEEN NINETEEN é FORTYSEVEN. UPON INTERVIEW DECKER STATED THAT TWO VERY BRIGHT OJECTS TRAVELING AT AN EXTREME RATE OF SPEED WERE NOTICED BY HIM AS HEWAS Ps STANDING NEAR THE REDMOND POST OFFICE. DECKER DESCRIBED THE OBJECTS AS HAVING NO WINGS, NO TAIL, AND BOTH ENDS WERE TAPERED. DECKER ADDED THAT THE OBJECTS RESEMBLED A BELLY TANK AND THAT THEY WERE NOISELESS. THE OBJECTS WERE VERY BRIGHT AND TRAVELING IN A NORTHEASTERLY DIRECTION OVER REDMOND, WASHINGTON, ONE A BIT BEHIND AND A LITTLE ABOVE THE OTHER f MAINTAINING EQUAL RATES OF SPEED FOR APPROXIMATELY EIGHT SECONDS AY, WHICH TIME THEY DISAPPEARED FROM VIEW. DECKER ADDED THAT THEY WERE <~_ HIGHER THAN A PLANE GENERALLY TRAVELS. BRUMMETT ADVISED THAT HE NOTICED THE OBJECTS AND CALLED DECKERS ATTENTION TO THEM AND ALSO POINTED THEM OUT TO. A MRS MAMIE ENGLISH. BRUMMETT STATED THAT HE SAW TWO OBJECTS FLYBNG. AT A FORTYFIVE DEGREE ANGLE NORTHEASTERLY OVER ey /Y ef mavyoogy | de Beer g 7} , | il mints V hs) ics J “i Te © w\" S Cualhe ianti au ice. ‘04 ALungas WNYSLN! Westy 12e PAGE TWO TRAVELING AT LEAST THREE TIMES FASTER THAN A PLAN. BRUMMETT ADDED THAT HE WATCHED THE OBJECTS FROM FIVE TO EIGHT SECONDS AT WHICH TIME THEY DISAPPEARED FROM SIGHT. ACCORDING TO BRUMMETT THE OBJECTS WERE DESCRIBED AS BEING NOISELESS, HAVING NO WINGS OR TAIL, LIGHTER THAN ALUMINUM, TAPERED AT BOTH ENDS AND ONE STAYED A LITTLE BEHIND AND A BIT ABOVE THE OTHER AND BOTH MAINTAIND EQUAL RATES OF SPEED. FROM BRUMMETTS OBSERVATIO HE WAS UNABLE TO DECIDE WHETHER THE OBJECTS WERE FLAT OR ROUND. MRS MAMIESENGLISH STATED THAT WHEN BRUMMETT CALLED HER ATENTION TO THE OBJECTS SHE TOOK A PASSING GLANCE AT THE SKY AND COULD OFFER NO DESCRIPTION OTHER THAN THEY LOOKED LIKE TWO SILVER BALLS TRAVELING AT A FAST RATE OF SPEED. WILCOX END SHOLD PLS 9-28 PM OK FBI WASH DC GAR ‘ - , ~ ; . a fit >| 2 ’ : w Shaler”) ST 3 on sy - z via » , «STANDARD FORM NO, 64 2. _ Office Memorandum + onrtep s. GOVERNMENT "an ? Director, FBI DATE: September 20, 1947 IWFROM =: SAC, Chicago = rr, “SUBJECT: ~ Prytne nTSscs RICHARD F@6SHAVER - Informant — A rs Reference is made to your letter dated August 11, 1947 in the above captioned matter. Sheriff FRED BAU, McHenry County, Woodstock, Illinois, advised that he had received no reports of flying discs in the community of Lily Lake, Illinois. He further stated that he had no record or knowledge of RICHARD F. SHAVER of Lily Iake. Deputy Sheriff FRANK KELLER, Lily Iaké, Illinois, advised that he was per- writer of mystery stories. He said he had no information to the effect that ‘4 SHAVER was mentally unsound and he believed him to be a substantial citizen. SHAVER on two occasions and was well acquainted with SHAVER and his wife. oS She knew of no derogatory information concerming him. he was the featured writer of mystery stories for Pamazing" magazine, which magazine is edited by_RAYMONSYPALMER of the¥@tPf-Davis Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois. SHAVER at ‘the outset stated that PALMER had told him the ‘BI would contact him regarding flying discs. 1 ena to in referenced letter, was probably sent by one of his readers, unknowm to him. He said that he wrote mystery stories based on his firm conviction that under the earth are various caverns formerly inhabited by a super race, who have since fled to other planets. This region of caverns he calls Lemuria. He stated he believes there is valuable machinery and other resources in these cavernse He therefore explained flying discs, which he calls "space ships", as the mode of travel of the Lemurians coming from other planets to reclaim the valuable machinery. SHAVER indicated that his theories had aroused a wide following among readers of "Amazing" magazine. Jp A SHAVER exhibited an article from an edition of the "Chicago Times" for Syndaf, August 5, 1947. The article stated that on June 24, 1947, on Murray Island, believed to have been caused by a guided missile or rocket. ~It furthep stated that the date of the explosion was the same date on which one KENNEZTARNOLD, 7 < j ¢ S ca Ae er R 7 oo LAStf (hI) SIAC T1971 goo, IN : Ae ee | 4 a / COPIES DESTROYED : 270 NOV 18 1964 , ‘ \ ee \ yywungas qyNusih! ALA ae SS Sx Qw “as oe nf * 7. @ é Lad v - . - Director, FBI Re: FLYING DISCS September 20, 1947 The article went on to state that it was believed at the time that there was some correlation between the flying disc and the Murray Island explosion, and that RAYMOND PALMER, Chicago magazine editor, had employed ARNOLD to investi- gate and "cover" the Murray Island explosion. The article went on to state that on August 1, 1947, at Tacoma, Washington, there was a conference among officials of the Army and Navy, who discussed the possible relation between the Murray Island explosion and the appearance of flying discs. ARNOLD was supposed to have been in attendance at this conference. At the conference, authorities brought samples of a lava oxide metal, allegedly taken from the scene of the Murray Island explosion. The article stated that following the conference, two pilots left by plane for Hamilton Field, California, carrying samples of the lava oxide metal. The article further reported that the plane crashed near Hamilton Field, California, and it was conjectured that the plane had exploded by reason of the combustion of the lava oxide metal it carried. From the above newspaper article, it should be noted that RAYMOND PALMER, SHAVER's employer, was from the start "exploiting" the appearance of the flying discs, possibly to enhance the appeal of SHAVER's stories. It is possible, therefore, that the entire flying dise theory was conceived by PALMER and SHAVER. OAG:lab 100-18999 se erm yfib FORM NO. 64 s 4 : Office Memorandum + wwirep states GOVERNMENT bye TO : Director, FBI DATE: 9-L7f7 —Binox eis as : SAC, Anchorage Sit uw SUBJECT: Flying/Disks — ch “a Reference is made to Bureau Bulletin No. 42 dated July 30, i ws 1947. This is to advise that two army officers repprted to the ie y Office of the Director of Intelligence, headquarters Alaskan Department, at Fort Richardson, Alaska, that they had witnessed an object passing through the air at a tremendous rate of speed which could not be judged / as to miles per hour. The first officer stated that his attention was attracted to this airborne object, and he in turn pointed it out to the second of- ficer. The object appeared to be shaped like a sphere and did not give the impression of being saucer-like or comparable to a disk. The first~ officer stated that it would be impossible to give minute details con— cerning the object, but that it appeared to be approximately two or three feet in diameter and did not leave any vapor ~ trail in the sky. “I Ih Both officers attempted to determine the approximate aititude of the object, and from a weather group stationed nearby it was de- termined that cloud formations at the time the object was sighted were” “scattered above 10,000 feet." The object was noted to be traveling below the cloud formation. The first officer stated that in his opinion the object ap- a peared to be metallic and was silver in color, mech like the color of Ge many airplanes. _ The second officer stated substantially the same facts and , also pointed out that the object remined within his vision for ap- a) proximately 15 to 20 seconds. When sighted, the object was traveling due south at a speed considerably in excess of any plane. The second officer stated that the object appeared to him to be approximately 10 /) feet in diameter and compared it to half the size of a full moon on an / y, ordinary night. The second officer based the altitude at approximately vA (“ the same as the first offiter except for the fact that due to the size he believed the object to be, he estimated the altitude to be only approximately 3,000 or 4,000 feet. The object appeared broadside to the second officer, and no evidence of a spinning motion or reflection was noted. As to the color, the second officer pointed out that it appeared to be a dull metal finishe me WV = CoE Lo ftT Cre Et & OPIES DESTROYED (Gf KT 70. Novis 1964 (02- ¥ é - a rd JUNIAS TWANYSIN ig y +8 UNIS Way, os AVA SyaiN AY eT pang? ; quze we Ke viphy \\d Nhe / ganaoas j oe A a > ’ #. ¥ rs Letter to Director, FBI 9-17-47 Re: Flying Disks In conclusion, the second officer pointed out that one of the remarkable features of this object was that it was definitely traveling against the wind. The exact date of the sighting of this object was not fur- nished this office, and inasmch as it occurred previously to the re- ceipt of Bureau instructions in this matter, no further investigation is being conducted by this office mless specifically requested to do so by the Bureau. 100-1403 HLM:GWH , ‘SSTANDARD,FORM NO. 64 Y € : Offce Memorandum + ontrep states ae) \ \ ie TO : Director, FBI DATE: September~P6,v 1947 Xana : SAC, Philadelphia Ly a j Lp 7 SsUBJECT: FLYING OBJECT REPORTED OVER PHILADELPHIA ae te AUGUST 6, 1947 (vy) 5—Y ae ur SABOTAGE 7 ip Ail a 7 Or). e (3 & ee Remytel August 7 last. LV) VG Ju CCT y tT! Miss ELEANOR AKADDLE, 2114 Hobart Street, Philadelphia, who is employed by the GEORGE R. GRE! TD MANUFACTURING COMPANY, 1524 Chestnut Street, Phila- delphia, advised as follows: \ ae Between 10:30 and 10:45 p.m. on August 6, 1947, she was sitting on the steps of her home with CBCELE FINE She was facing north and observed a large white object traveling at/a very fast rate of speed to the south. There was a buzzing sound, not too loud but plainly audible, just after this object passed through the air. This white object left in its trait a thin streak of smoke, which was grayish in color. : Miss CECELIA FINE, 5617 Arlington Street, Philadelphia, who is en- ployed by the PRESSMAN & GUTMAN COMPANY, INC., Room 1140, P.S.F.S. Building, \ Philadelphia, stated she was sitting on the steps of Miss NADDLE's home on ! the evening of August 6, 1947, around 10:45 pem. engaging in conversation with Miss NADDLE, when Miss NADDLE atruptly stopped in the»middle of her con- versation and appeared to be frightened. Miss FINE at that time was sitting in a position in which she was facing south. She did not see any object in the sky after noting Miss NADDLE's change of expression, but she did hear a slight buzzing sound. JOHN SNYDER, 1440 Vankirk Street, Philadelphia, an insurance agent, who was a former pilot of B-24's in the Army Air Corps, advised as follows: He was sitting on the steps of his home around 10:45 p.m. on August 6, 1947, with his wife; and his neighbors, the KELLY family, were sitting on their steps next door to the residence of SNYDER. All of the above parties were facing east. SNYDER noticed at this time an object, emitting a bluish- white flame, passing quickly through the air. The object was traveling from northeast to southwest. Using his experience in the Army Air Corps as a guide, SNYDER estimated the above object was between 1000 and 3000 feet in the air / and traveling at a rate of between 400 to 500 miles an houre This object dia / not lose elevation as it passed through the air and left either smoke or a condensation trail in its former path, which lasted for about two seconds. A hissing sound accompanied the passing s object. This sound was moder- = ate and not nearly as loud as thé. accompanying the passage of a rocket > ship. ; 4 fi _Y 420 74- ae f 9 Paes? [yi RECoRpgp! bz yer oa fay | fg WA a Se Ve shu 4a 4h atl iy EN > 2'70 NOV 18 ivo4 % iad : LUNITS WNYSLH Hd4An | 92s ° ‘\ Q ps] 3\ ne | Ln a AL qls AIUNORS TWAYBLN: jee OSAI3934N oe @ é Director, FBI September 18, 1947 JOHN J. KELLY, 1442 Vankirk Street, who is a retired police officer of the Philadelphia Police Department, advised as follows: Around 10:45 pem. on August 6, 1947, he and his wife were sitting on the steps of their home, when KELLY noticed an object, resembling to him a giant firecracker, pass quickly through the air. KELLY heard no noise, but the object had completely passed from view in a southern direction within a split second. It left a fiery trail for about 100 feet. August 6, 1947, was a clear night, and no storm was brewing. KELLY was sure the object he saw was no falling star, and he noted the above object did not seem to be falling but maintained the same altitude. The wives of SNYDER and KELLY verified the accounts of their husbands as to the above-mentioned object. \ It is to be noted that the SNYDERS and the KELLYS live in Northeast‘ Philadelphia near Oxford Circle, which is about ten miles removed from the residence of Miss NADDLE. Miss NADDLE's residence is located in the western part of Philadelphia. The Misses NADDLE and FINE are not known to the above- mentioned KELLYS and SNYDERS. It is further noted the observation of Miss NADDLE, the KELLYS, and the SNYDERS roughly correspond. All of the above persons seem reliable and not the type to seek publicity or to spread rumors. Miss NADDLE and JormblcELLY cal led the "Inquirer", Philadelphia news- paper, and inquired if it could offer any explanation as to what they had seen. A representative of that paper had advised Miss NADDLE and KELLY that the object they saw may have been some product of an oil refinery or chemical company in their neighborhood. Both the Offices of Naval Intelligence and Army Intelligence in Phila- delphia were requested by the Philadelphia Office to ascertain if either the Army or the Navy was doing any experimental work on new types of planes or equipment, in the vicinity of Philadelphia. Such was done with negative re- sults. The Office of Naval Intelligence indicated that an explosion had oc- ; curred at the CHARLES LENNIG CHEMICAL COMPANY on August 6, 1947. S. A. GIMBEL, Safety Department of the CHARLES LENNIG CHEMICAL COMPANY, INC., 5000 Richmond Street, Philadelphia, advised as follows: The above company is a manufacturer and distributor of chemicals. A fire had occurred on a dump of the company on August 6, 1947, but was quickly gotten under control. Such fire was confined to the company's prem- ises and could not have been observed from outside the plant. The CHARLES Paes: ee Director, FBI September 18, 1947 | LENNIG COMPANY is about two and one-half miles southeast from Oxford Circle. The account of the fire does not seem to fit into the general pattern of the above-mentioned flying object, for itis noted that the flying object was allegedly traveling from a position northeast of Oxford Circle to a south- westerly direction in Philadelphia. GIMBEL pointed out that, to the best of his knowledge, there are no oil refineries and chemical companies located around Oxford Circle or north of such, but that all of the companies of this type are several miles south of Oxford Circle. All logical investigation having been conducted, no further action will be taken on the instant matter unless advised to the contrary by the Bureau. FFB/ctg 98-1762 ak J | - t September 27, 1947 : , j Major General George C. MoDonald : Assistant Chief Air Staff - 2 The Pentagon Washington, D. ¢ RECORDED i , S. | pe / Dear General McDon&ld: The Federal Bureau of Investigation has been requested by your office to assist in the investigation of reported sight- ings of flying discs. ‘i : My attention has been called to instructions disseminated by the Air Forces relative to this matter. I have been advised that these instructions indicate that the Air Forces would inter- view responsible observers while the FBI would investigate incidents of dises found on the ground, thereby relieving the Air Forces of petty | running down incidents which in many cases turned out to be “ash 8 ean covers, toilet seats and whatnot." In view of the apparent understanding by the Air Forces of the position of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in this matter, I cannot permit the personnel and time of this organiza- tion to be dissipated in this manner. I am advising the Field Divisions of the Federal Bureau of Investigation to discontinue all investigative activity regard- ae ing the reported sightings of flying discs, and am instructing them “ to refer all complaints received to the appropriate Air Force . representative in their area. ¢ Sincerely yours, / John Edgar Hoover: . / Director ii mh : iygnoas aynuain! a3 avaoa8 S - STANDARD FORM NO. 64 r : é . if Office Memorandum * UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TO : THE DIRECTOR DATE: September 25, 1947 FROM : D. M max! ur. Tolson . . \ Mr. Clegg eC NF SUBJECT: FLYING DISes \s ars rose mene / « Tracy” The Bureau was requested by the Air Forces Intelligence to assisf: ““_— the Air Forces in attempting to arrive at an explanation of the above a phenomenas The Air Forces indicated that the alleged sightings of flying i discs might have been made by individuals of Communist sympathies for the ~~ purpose of causing mass hysteria in the United States over the fear of a secret Russian weapone ‘The Bureau agreed to assist in the investigation of the reported sightings, and the Field was advised in Bureau Bulletin No. 42, Series 1947, dated July 30, 1947, that they should investigate each instance which was brought to their attention of the sighting of a flying disc in order to ascertain whether or not it was a bona fide sighting, an imaginary one, or a pranke The results of the investigation conducted by the Bureau Field Offices in this matter have failed to reveal any indication of subversive individuals being involved in any of the reported sightings. The Bureau has received a communication in the captioned matter from the Special Agent in Charge at San Francisco, dated September 19, 1947, which attached a "restricted" letter that was furnished confidentially to the SAC at San Francisco by Lieutenant Colonel Donald Le Springer, A-2, Army Air Forces, Hamilton Field, California, a copy of which is attached hereto. It is noted that the letter, which is dated September 3, 1947, is signed "By Command of Lieutenant General Stratemeyer" by Colonel Re He Smith, Assistant Chief of Staff Intelligence, Headquarters, Air Defense Command, Mitchel Field, New York,’ and is addressed to the Commanding Generals of the various Air Forces. This letter is entitled "Cooperation of FBI with AAF on Investigations of 'Flying Disc' Incidents." This letter states in substance that it was the original intent of the AC/AS-2, Headquarters, Army Air Forces that whereas the ADC Air Forces would interview responsible observers, the FBI would investigate incidents of so-called discs being found on the ground. Further, it indicates that the services of the FBI were enlisted in order to relieve the numbered Air Forces of the task of tracking down all the many instances which turned out to be "ash can covers, = |} toilet seats and whatnot." y) J)" RECOMMENDATION: \ It is recommended that the Bureau protest vigorously to the Assistant Chief of Air Staff - 2. It is also recommended that the Bureau discontinue all activity in this field and that the Bureau Field Offices be advised to discon- tinue all investigations and to refer all complaints received to the Air Forces. A proposed Bulletin is attached for your approval. oD hw 242 70G f i ome goon G2 3974 = Al smesAB OO | 9 wie, ipa y Vee wins Wild 4 C A y 4 \y a q big ame Sg +4. “Oks 4. ae os I. Se AC EL VA~O3A1245,, 4 Me ee « Ty Se Ps ‘ ere * 6 ~ wey . \ carat - * SaaS es RG ae 4 HEADQUARTERS AIR DEFENSE COMMAND Mitchel Field, New York In reply refer to; D333 .5EX 3 September 1947 SUBJECT; Cooperation of FBI with AAF on Investigations of "Flying Disc” Incidents. TO: Commanding Genrals, First, Second, Fourth, Tenth, Eleventh and Fourteenth Air Forces ATTENTION: Assistant Chief of Staff, A-2 1. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has agreed to assist Air Force Intelligence personnel in the investi gation of "flying disc" incidents in order to quickly and effectively rule out what are pranks and to concentrate on what appears to be a genuine incident. 2- It was the original intent of the AC/AS~2, Headquarters, Army Air Forees that whereas the ADC Air Forces would interview respon- sible observers whose names would be furnished by AAF, the FBI would investigate incidents of so called "discs" being found on the ground. The services of the FBI were enlisted in order to relieve the numbered Air Forces of the task of tracking down all the many instances which turned out to be ash can covers, toilet seats and whatnot. 3. It is requested that each A-2 informally coordinate and cooperate with the FBI, generally keeping the FBI informed of any proposed calls that intelligence personnel will make on this subject. Very shortly, with the separation of the AAF from the War Department, a firm policy will be established to clarify the liaison arrangements between A=-2's and FBI Special Agents. Presently, it is considered inadvisable to promulgate a formal interim policy -- only to have it replaced in a month or so by another. BY COMMAND OF LIEUTENANT GENERAL STRATEMEYER: /s/ Re He SMITH Re He SMITH Colonel, GSC Asst Chief of Staff-Intell. STANDARD FORNgg>. 64 % ) 4 - Office Meter itd + UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TO > MR. LADD oF , Woy DATE: SEPTEMBER 23, 1947. mou : g,o, rrraG/>///4 Ce . chols ul SUBJECT: INSTRUMENT FOUND ON FARM NEAR = —— , DANFORTH, ILLINOIS ©, ue a—Z Reference is made to a memorandum to Mre Harbo from Mrs Baughman tie: fom — on the above-captioned matter, dated September 3, 1947. The reference Hie’ Hofeee— memorandum indicates that the instrument has been examined by the Laboratory fie and the laboratory had contacted a Mrs. Whedon of the Army Engineers and she sg Laty indicated that the instrument had been used by the Air Forces on tests which ORE! were classified as “Top Secret." bed The memorandum indicates that Special Agent S. W. ‘eynolds of the Liaison Section contacted the Intelligence Division of the Air Forces and was advised that Mrs. Whedon alluded that the instrument was used in "Operation Mogul." ‘The instru- ment was loaned to the Intelligence Division of the Air Forces who in turn forwarded it to Wright Field. The report was received from Wright Field indicating the instrument had no connection witppPOperation Mogul” or any other operation at Wright Field. It was classified as a h in view of the apparent discrepancy between information developed from Mrs. Whedon and information received from Intelligence Division of the Air Forces that the Bureau might wish to pursue this matter further. Mre Zimmers of the Technical laboratory advised Mr. Reynolds of the Liaison Section that Mrs. Whedon had told him that a Major Hopkins handled the Liaison in Washington for the tests in which this instrument was used. Ijeutenant Colonel George Garrett of the Intelligence Division of the Air Forces advised Special Agent Reynolds that he contacted Major Hopkinse He advised that Major Hopkins has had a great deal of experience in radio and along technical linese Major Hopkins advised Colonel Garrett that the instrument could not have been used in the "Operation Mogul." Hopkins indicated that from the pictures and particles recovered, it appeared to him to be a part or portions of an old-type radio loud speaker. f In view of the information received from Major Hopkins, Colonel se stated that he was at a loss as to how to explain the actions of Mrs. Whedon other than to say that she perhaps gave a false impression as to her knowledge of the V7 instrument and the "Operation Mogul." Garrett pointed out that in view of the rs) report received from Wright Field, together with the statement made by Major Hopkins, he felt that there was sufficient evidence that this instrument was not used in any! by ir’ ar classified project and that in all probability it was just a hoax. ir rerce RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that this memorandum be forwarded to the Technical laboratory for their information. => 06 #) ry ate G2 —-€299y— 142 — ee me ye Z ‘y Pen : , ry ; AO fan \ AY * | asa | i Food | ae ae \or LEP ¢ 8 ws EEN! a gad’ 4 7 yr? | P25 10 25 AN" RECEIVED rt al INICA. . ABORATOS LIAISON SECTION atte Bi: ad MEET NE JUSTICE T 8° P02 AM 7a? | FE -- ® ¢ ! f . r sh oe 4 ‘ 2 LA py \ Secs Wyre alt iN » : Se ry TSNAD-2B/AG/ bike red \\ ; Za \ 25 August 197 4 d ; ‘\ (gt \ wy DECLASSIFIED WC t\ SUBJECT: Flying Saucer, Authority TOs Commanding General ; Aruy fir Forces y'} Washington 25, De Ce : ATIN: AG/AS@2 Lt Col George Garrett — 1. The specimens of an alleged "Flying Saucer" brought to this Command by Colonel H, M. MeCoy, which were obtained by the FBI and given te IteGol Garrett, were examined to determine their connection, if any, With the soecalled “Flying Saucers", or any project at AMG, Wright Field. The specimens were carefully examined by both tectmicians of the Analysis Division (T-2) and Electronics Sub-division (T=3), The latter organization stated that these specimens definitely had no connection whatsoever with the “Mogul” project nor with any other research and devele opment project of this Command, ‘ $ 2. It is also the opinion of this Command that these specimens have no connection with the so-called "Flying Saucer" or "Disc", These \ specimens, therefore, are coisidered as part of a hoax that could be per~ me petrated by most anyone seeking publicity or for any other reasons, 3. The specimens shown in the attached photograph include frage vy ments of an undetermimable shape made from plaster of paris or similar ceramic and containing some electrical resistance wire for measurement or heating purposes. The condition of the ceramic indicates that the resistance wire was heated electrically eat one time or another. These fragments could not be connected with any AMC project. The other articles at the top of the photograph reading from left to right are identitjéd as ~ follows: A eel &@ An outmoded type of magnetic speaker diaphragm ‘of almm- inum alloy, manufactured by The Nathaniel Baldwin Company of Salt Lake City, Jtah, which was first patented May 1, 1910, This article cannot be connected with any AMC project. De The second and thizmd articles are bakelite coil forms ‘" 20, 0G,Aar, Wash. Do- ; 25 August 197 Spijects Flying Saucers E > wrapped with ordinary thin enameled copper wire. These coils indicate that they were skillfully uade at one time but were crudely rewrapped by one not familiar with the art of making a coil, These coils also have no connection with any AMO project. : cG. The fourth article is a metallic bax which is the remains of an electronic filter emdenser made by the Polymet Manufacturing Company of New York, Ne Y. This article also has no connection with any ANG proe ject, ad. ‘the fifth article is the remains of a metallic magnetic ring that could not be identified as any part of any device used at this command, lL, This information and attached photograph may be transmitted to the FBI to inform various agencies throughout the United States as to what action to take in the event other similar specimens are found, FOR THE COMMANDING GENERAL: H. M. MeGcy 2 Inel: Colonel, Air Corps 1 Photo S-1/2x12 Deputy Commanding General “Flying Saucer" Intelligences (T-2) aie ‘ ‘ ENCLOSURE ae 4 ENCL( ISURE - a a . h “a FL VIN G SAVCER ; ALCEGEO SPRECIGEVS, a. | 233138 | 5) 7 4 \ \ a . r\ | \ Ey ‘ i . H 4 . ay ~ y ae inf ‘ , | . ee Be = ae Cn Tt ea A iy aE » he pp ee y * oe ing Sosreer ‘s Ge 2 io 2P o ta > 5 Ss —- at? \ < SS ee —— & 1k) “4 . > ‘as | Var ee Re | f a. wicca Ee | wo DS) ¥ , rt vo J ee ] eo — —— ‘ seaiiigas > a Ee ae : ¥ —, A) vA f HO t QO Jf WRIGHT FIELD O < OHIO i ) ~ < y SS y , \ C2 AR F _ WS. a // z A Nis P al i ’ Se T-2 S }/ | VY : | | * EE n= | ) Office Memorandum * UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT 7 “TO : Director, FBI DATE: Septémbar 15, 1947 / , ' A FROM : SAC, Salt Lake City “4 | é way ie ne WZ SUBJECT: FLYING DISCS. , CH nae Rs ET >, 2 “i, F i ™ : D J \ Remytel tenth instant. (>) - On September 10, 1947 an item relative to flying saucers appeared in y e "pene Salt Lake Tribune indicating that two young couples, Mr. and Mrs. GAYLON LPEDIELL and Mr. andMrs; RICHARIDHDERS IN, Logan, Utah, ‘who had been playing bridge, revorted that they saw three brief flights of saucers, the first at 10:40 p.m. and two more before 11:10 p.m. the evening of Septenber 8, 1947. This news or REDE YTIN contained the namesof KETIORUGEDS, JOANABROUKSTON, and Mr. and Mrs. FREB/THUNELL of Logan who had likewise made separate reports of havine observed these flying discs. Mr. and Mrs. RICHARD ANDERSON, when interviewed by an Agent of this office, advised that they, in company with Mr. and Mrs. GAYLON CALDWELL, observed approximately a dozen objects flying in group formation at about two or three - thousand feet in the air. They stated that they first observed these objects on September 8, 1947 at 10:30 p.m. when their bridge game broke up and both couples went out on the porch. The ANDERSONS believed these objects to be similar in size to pigeons and stated that they seemed to be rather white and illuminated. They informed that the objects could have been birds; however, they appeared to be moving faster than birds as they circled the city in anproximately one to two minutes, and then disappeared in a northern direction. My, and Mrs. ANDERSON claimed to have observed no wing movement during the flight, and are unable to make up their minds as to exactly what they saw. fr. ANDERSON informed that Mr. and Mrs. CALDWELL are presently en route to an unknown city in Nebraska. Mr. KEITH HUGHES and JOAN CROOKSTON both advised that they were unable to state how their names appeared in the newspaper as havines observed flying saucers inasmuch as neither had ever had the opport mity to view these flying objects, and the newspaper report was erroneous. 3 fue yt : Mrs FRED THUNELL advised that.she, her husband, and five other people had observed flying objects between 10:30 and 11:00 p.m. on the evening of } September 8, 1947. She stated that they ‘saw five groups, each containing thirty-five to sixty small objects, which were rather yellowish white in color and were circling the city at a high rate of speed. Mrs. THUNELL stated that these objects were several thousand feet in the air and it was impossible for 5 then to determine the size due to the distance, speed and cloudy ¢ agtinG // /A4 RECORDED [INDEXED (62% ey MA - / Mrs. THUNELL informed that Mr, ang pep ge eee Mig. H. P. Fiwozzs0n, and Mrs, sete fp BECKS were peeent and observed the} flyinc objects; however, none df iom fwere able to determine whak these objects might have been. (iy 19/ty "| Ky L FA od a | en ¢ , ’ Kg ws uungy ‘9 7 +93 iid S Wy be sexe «Hd Of SN € | wee * ss =} IAI39> fs mee Jay yu wee sani you ‘ ant \t dp sore tg Wh 3. ‘yy Z z Sip a y va - Mr. and Mrs, NORMASPRELL, ,ogan, Utah, advised that they viewed flying objects traveling clockwise above the city at approximately l0:30 p.m. the evening of September 8, 1947. They informed that they first believed the objects to be lights of an airplane. However, these objects seemed to change in formation and appeared to be similar to a group of moving stars. My, and Mrs. HALL believed these objects were traveling much faster than [t was determined that Mr. and Mrs. H. P. JERSON and Mrs. BESSIE HENDRICKS were not available for interview: Japtain B, E, NASON, Military Intellisence Division, Fort Douglas, Salt 4ake City, Utah, is being advised by letter of the results of this investiration. In view of the indefinite information furnished relative to this matter l i eS no further investiration is being conducted by this office. AMSD . = 427 Wi 3a Avenue = sne. Washiry b ey jpokane, W sshington August 8, 1947 filitery Intelligence Division, UseSeA- itLemen: Following the reading of an account of the visit of Mr. Kenneth rnold; Boise, Idaho,’ as published in the Spokesman Review under date of ist ‘7, 1947, the undersigned considered the enclosed account of This account has not bee iven to any newspaper or other publica~ Yours truly, /s/ RR. J. Wadden Re Je MADDEN Division Plant tngre 2 The Pace Tel. & Tele Coe ¢.o py Tm E -= = A ~ «a *” ‘ Ds / : nyon Ferry to fork, Sot in tana some 25 miles N.E. of Helemie hen at a point 4; proximtely 1/4 mile NW. of Canyon ferry, {as shown on Forest Service Map to be in the NEq of NS} of Sec. 10 TION RD ) Karl suddenly shouted "See it! See 44] There's a flying saucer$" Steve immed tietawhile scanning the sky in the direction pointed by Karl in an effort to ipproxmiately ten seco ids elavsed between the time Karl rep yrted seeing a > é ak oS L 2 rectly aneau, wij) < v 3 MLLes Gisvals ai apt xXLOALeLY JV ive tb round, a bright disc hovering ind fluttering in the aire Jesc¢ 1d— sroceeded northwesterly along the road, bub could discern no evidence of the sasence of the "disc" along or jacent to that thorefaree fe | 31 {8 / e ve banca, \e Ve El 3 Eee Stig Ff - » ¢ q Post-OrFice DEPARTMENT q > BUREAU OF THE CHIEF INSPECTO! ‘ -* . H. Barkow OFFICE OF INSPECTOR * {NSpecToR Chicago 7, Illinois Case No. 56114-F bl rof September 19, 1947. LAemees:, ILLINOIS: Alleged violation of Section 2350, P. L. & Re, vies Arc Foundations sale of informa- tion ‘on@flying discs. Federal Bureau of Investigation, Washington, D. C. Gentlemen: up subject involved in case of above description is Cc. Y ‘stevens, formerly of “ake Forest, Illinois, who may also have given a Chicago address at various times. Can you advise whether you have a record of this man and if so, will you please forward a copy of same to me. Sincerely yours, + 2 ( 1 Post Office Inspector. aks lal 2 ey ) < by AN S85 < fy sansa eae > . Office Memorandum , v ¢ UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT 72 * DIRECTOR, FBI DATE: September \13, 1947 = FROM = gAC, SEATTIZ Sih), Dada Z 7 (vy AN MAUM E S , Suayect: FLYING DISC SIGHTED Mite Oe i July 29, 1947, neay’ CANYON FERRY, / =! TF EIAs TANA,, BY KARL/MERIMAN pe StBvE YY YC] HERRMANN and Re Je | DDEN; SECURITY MATTER - X Enclosed herewith for information of Bureau and Butte Division are , copies of the following received September 2, 1947, from H. Re PETERSON, Ate /e Oe Air Force, S-2, McChord Field, Washingten: REDDER ere oon letter to Military Intelligence Division, USA, McChord Field, Wash. from Re Js MADDEN, 427 W 3rd Ave. Spokane, Wash. dated 8/8/47, with enclosure of Madden's "Report on a'Flying Saucer'." No action being taken by Seattle. JE f REQORDED “ LS 100-18945 . FT |’ ; Enclosures - 2 \ | g1 Mi (6 7R Tey LIYNIIS TWNUZIN pte ALTO) gy “ung " 2 38 Wasiy O3A1393y ae ‘ é 2x - Lee ee a B> September 24, 1947 Mr. T. H. Barkow ee Inspector Post Office Department Chicago 7, Illinois RBOORDED ‘ Alleged violation of Section 2550, P. L. & ' EX-8 R., by des Arc Foundation; sale of information on flying disos. Reference is made to your letter dated September 19, 1947, requesting information regarding one C, W. Stevens, your case #56114-F,. You are advised that an effective search cannot be conducted through the files of the Identification Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation on the basis of the name only. If you are able to fur- nish the physical description of Stevens or other means of identification such as a registry number, a search will be conducted in an effort to furnish you with the information desired. RHG: jb * MAILED «9 INA + Tolson : * ure 2 194%—P.M + Ladd : « Nichols_____ 4 ’ berbbes p FEDERAL 8 VESTIGATION . , ; |, Mole ee poemesactianemnaenetiqasianens cqupuntieinaidinbaimsiidtassias % h, “ Office Memorandum + owntrep 81... GOVERNMENT f ¢ y TO : " DIRECTOR, FBI DATE: Sept. 12,1947 y i : SAC, SEATTLE | 4 yy io ft) SUBJECT: - FLYING DISKS Reported by BRUCRYZRMSTRONG Wi ty and Wf. A-7MTICHOLS, Seattle, Washington, () v AY, Y Bye August 12, 1947 yo / SECURITY MATTER X fy q se The newspaper, Seattle Post Intelligencer, carried an article in the morning issue of August 13 reporting the sighting of flying disks. The article appeared on the fifth page and was headed "Blue Triangle LatestThing Seen In Disks". Under this caption there was a short writeup which stated, in substance, that one BRUCE ARMSTRONG, an electronics technician, and e number of other en-— gineers at the Boeing Aircraft hed sighted a mysterious flying object about 2:20 p.m. on August 12. The newspaper report further stated that the object seemed to be fluttering like a leaf, and appeared to be a black or dark blue triangular substance. Jn this article also appeared another report of a disk supposedly sighted by one M. A. NICHOLS, 1125 S. wW. l02nd Street, Seattle, and NICHOLS des— cribed it as a big ball reflecting light, giving it a purplish tinge. N Interview with BRUCE ARMSTRONG on August 13 revealed that ARMSTRONG was standing in front of Section D of the Boeing Aircraft Plant with about ten other research engineers and had noticed a small black object flying about 200 feet high, going south over Boeing Field runway. ARMSTRONG further stated, upon " interview, that the object appeared triangular in shape and floated in the air like a leaf, and he estimated the speed to be about fifteen miles per hour. ARMSTRONG could not accuretely determine the distance between him and the object but it is noted that Section D is ebout half a mile from the opposite side of yy Boeing Field where he supposedly had sighted it. nT Heees L The following other research enginters were also interviewed regarding this object: sa e j | le 3 ae Mr. JOHN H. STONER V/A/ © Mr. GEORGE H. STONER r RECORDED y, dy o Mr. LEROY PERKINS INDEXED 4y : Se Mr. DAN HAGE ft 2-605 (4 -~ tel 74 Boma a fae FA The consensus of opinion of these men was that the object resembled 2 Uiack Yeef " in flight and looked more like a piece of tar paper than anythinglCTWHelicttie object reached the end of the runway in Boeing Field it climbed into the sky in a south- westerly direction and ar ae ok Mr. KEN GRANT, oper bbor of the control tower for the Northwest Airlines wes then contacted. Mr. GRANT stated that he reviews 211 reports of objects seen in the vicinity of the, ftetd and makes a log of such. Mr. GRANT reviewed his log but could not Sg pany record of such an item, but upon contact with Mr. VAUGHN LOCKWOOD, who was “om duty at the time the object was supposedly sighted, the following infopped¥ ion wee obtained: LOCKWOOD stated that about 2 o'clock in the \ i Ap \4 eon \porms DESTROYED om Ns Q 270 NOV18 1564 va XO! J , ® + ’ \ 3 2 yas Ls yWe- ’ y, a \S Sat AS No, ~ Hh 9 WY ~ (D2 oa s e é “. DIRECTOR, FBI FLYING DISKS, Report of 8/26/17 afternoon there were several pieces of burnt paper which flew over the field, and he did recall a large piece of burnt paper which the wind had blown across the runway and down the south end of the field. LOCKWOOD estimated that the paper was approximately three feet in length. Mr. GRANT stated that undoubtedly this was the object in question, and inasmuch as the control tower has a complete view of the area in which the engineers had sighted this object if anything fur- ther was noted it would have appeared in the log. Mr. M. A. NICHOLS, 1119 S. W. 102nd Street, was then interviewed regard- ing his report of a flying object. NICHOLS stated that about 4 p.m. on August 12 he had sighted an object which he estimated to be about 35,000 feet in the air, which was flying over his home in a southwest direction. A neighbor, RAY STANLEY, also saw the object and STANLEY examined the same with a pair of binoculars. According to STANLEY the object looked like a white dock moving, cylindrical in shape, end reflected the light of the sun with a sort of purplish tinge. Other witnesses who hed seen the object at this time were a Mr. and Mrs. GEORGE KROGSTADT, of 1113 S. W. 102nd Street, Seattle, and their version of the object corresponded with that of NICHOLS and STANLEY. Contact with Mr. THOMAS E. GERMAIN, of the Seattle Weather Bureau Office at Boeing Field, revealed that weather balloons are released every six hours from his field commencing at 1:30 a.m. The balloons, according to Mr. GERMAIN, are of a white gum color and reflect the light of the sun at a high altitude. Although Mr. GERMAIN could not understand why a balloon could have been sighted at 4 p.m., he nevertheless was certain that, from the description of the object seen by these people, it must have been either one of his balloons or one released from some other area in the vicinity. No further investigation is being conducted in this matter by this office. JJS:JG 62- See -¥ NG 4 ‘ n =) pS Ss Wu s Federal Bureau of Investigation oy ie Ae eS” , eS ite Rtenaye): United States Department of Justice : Ua _ ee 422 = Federal Office Building, Civic Center \Jae ae Rs g ay, San Francisco 2, California mS ; September 19, 1947 PLE NO. —__ —_______.. _/Pirector, FBI Attention: Assistant Director D. M. LADD sy ik RE: -REPORTS OF FLYING DISCS oY . Dear Sire ' I am transmitting herewith copies of a restricted" letter we | September 3, 1947, which was furnished to me by Lieutenant Colonel DONALD L. SPRINGER, A-2, Army Air Forces, Hamilton Field, California, which letter is designated to certain Commanding Generals in the Army Air Forces from Colonel R. H. SMITH, Assistant Chief of Staff = Intelligence, Headquarters Air Defense Command, Mitchel Field, New York, concerning "Cooperation of FBI with AAF on Investigations of ‘Flying Disc' Incidents", It is my understanding from recent Bureau instructions that we are } to assist the Air Force Intelligence personnel in the investigation of flying disc incidents. However, it will be noted from the attached letter that it f is Army interpretation that it was their intent that the Bureau would investi-/ gate those incidents of the so-called "discs" being found on the ground and | apparently not those which are observed only in flight. Further, the atten- tion of the Bureau is respectfully called to paragraph two of this letter and to the last sentence therein which states, "The services of the FBI wore enlisted in order to relieve the numbered Air Forces of the task of tracking | down all the many instaniées which turned out to_be ash can covers, toilet . seats and whatnot." In the first place, the instructions issued by the Army Air Forces in this letter appear to limit the type of investigations which the Bureau will be asked to handle and secondly it appears to me the wording of the last sentence in the second paragraph mentioned above is cloaked in entirely uncalled for language tending to indicate the Bureau will be asked to conducts investigations only in those cases which are not important and which are /YA~ almost, in fact, ridiculous. ras The thought has occurred to me the Bureau might desire to discuss this matter further with the Army Air Forces both as to the types of investi- { gations which we will conduct and also to object to the scurrilous wordage bg which, to say the least, is insulting to'thé Bureau in the last sentence of paragraph twoe ¥ 3 [ok 4 R wees fate . yf ne ws 1) ENG wey ft v4 ii od aie {tf : , iv ‘ ‘ | we Be. \ yy wy Vv Pt Za se td J . e t a : ‘ “G awit aU ids ; ey. Oo % LNUNIBS WNYBLN °% Aa Wd 62 pop AS : Pik REN ERES ‘ ) Director, FBI 9/19/47 RE: REPORTS OF FLYING DISCS In the event the Bureau decides to discuss the matter further with the Army Air Forces, it is recommended that no indication whatsoever be given indicating this letter was referred to me by Lieutenant Colonel SPRINGER inasmuch as it would undoubtedly cause him serious embarrassment and would certainly cause the excellent personal relationship which exists between Lieutenant Colonel SPRINGER and this office to be endangered. Very truly yours, eal C =< gent in Charge HMK :mhr 62-2938 7, ~~ '§ * a ies 60. Pp -Y HEADQUARTERS AIR DEFENSE COMMAND Mitchel Field, New York In reply refer to: D333 .5EX 3 September 1947 SUBJECT: Cooperation of FBI with AAF on Investigations of "Flying Disc" Incidents. TOs Commanding Genrals, First, Second, Fourth, Tenth, Eleventh and Fourteenth Air Forces ATTENTION: Assistant Chief of Staff, A-2 = 1. The Federal bureau of Investigation has agreed to assist Air Force Intelligence personnel in the investi gation of "flying disc" incidents in order to quickly and effectively rule out what are pranks and to concentrate on what appears to be a genuine incident. 26 It was the original intent of the AC/AS=2, Headquarters, Army Air Forces that whereas the ADC Air Forces would interview respon- sible observers whose names would be furnished by AAF, the FB1 would investigate incidents of so called "discs" being found on the ground. The services of the FBI were enlisted in order to relieve the numbered Air Forces of the task of tracking down all the many instances which turned out to be ash can covers, toilet seats and whatnot, 3. It is requested that each A-2 informally coordinate and cooperate with the FBI, generally keeping the FBI informed of any proposed calls that intelligence personnel will make on this subject. Very shortly, with the separation of the AAF from the War Department, a firm policy will be established to clarify the liaison arrangements between A-2's and FBI “pecial Agents. Presently, it is considered inadvisable to promulgate a formal interim policy <= only to have it replaced in a month or so by anothere BY COMMAND OF LIEUTENANT GSNERAL STRATEMEYERs /s/ Re He SMITH R. He SMITH Colonel, GSC ° ne Asst Chief of Staff-Intell. . kel gic onl , J | , i} ‘a \A “zx (verve DISCS --Effective immediately, the Bureau has discontinued its investi- : gative activities as outlinea in Section B of Bureau Bulletin No. 42, Series 1947, dated July 30, 1947, All future reports connected with flying discs should be referred to J the Air Forces and no investigative action should be taken by Bureau Agents, v ‘ i i LRWCORDND i <= Go OCF 6 1947 z 5 a SPACES Ry ees eames ete: rat \ =» J % ul o STANOARD Fx Office Nlemovranaum + UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TO : Director, FBI DATE: September 27, 1947 4 cH e AHMAP iro, Butte SUBJECT: FLYING DISCS SIGHTED MAY 5, 1947, BETWEEN ELLENSBURG AND SEATTLE, WASHINGTON Warden JONN HENRY, Montana State Prison, Deer Lodge, Montana, has advised the writer that while driving betwoen Ellensburg and Seattle, Washing~ ton, about 3:50 P.M., on May 5, 1947, he sighted a silver object streaking across the sky. This was also seen by MELBOURNE MeHILL, convict chauffeur, and Mrs, HENRY, This object went into a nose dive and they thought it would crash, However, before reaching the earth it disintegrated, leaving a long pillar of “gas" hanging in the sky. It was particularly odd because this re- mained in form and did not blow away. It was observed by these three people While they drove from twenty to thirty miles, ’ This smoky, gaseous pillar was a long ways off ant’ Yemained high yp) in the sir, Warden HENRY said that this silver object was traveling at an //’ excessively high rate of speed and when it disintegrated it was still a long wey from the earth. Warden HENRY said when he first saw it he thought it was probably a jet propelled plane but that he ‘couldn't tell except that its mo- tions were erratic. He said he had not reported it wtil he had noticed so much in the papers about these discos, Although three people saw it, they de- cided that they must be "seeing things", The Seattle Office is requested to advise Mr. H. R. PETERSON, 4th Air Force, S-2, McChord Field, Washington. ‘ No further action is being taken by the Butte Office due to the time elapsing between the sighting of this object and the report, : oe ; j ff St | a | : co = Seattle * Lt o47/% % iif * nar {¢ Yan j ~~. a re Ww pt « / 2 ¢ iS It coal | 9 he ; RECO} SDEXED ¥ L ah | 3 IN Ati ( aj LIUNIZS TWHYZiN ; ‘Hid SS & Of ¢ fee hed ese Peet a vai pes. UNITED st\1W GOVERNMENT TO = MR. LADD DATE: Ootoberaay eit a a ——— SUBJECT “PLYING DISCS —— there are attached hereto, photographs of various reports ots : As . s . 1 : > r. ease — received by the Air Corps in connection with the above-captioned matter, a. — TOG Ene he we ee eel heant & j faymnlAas* § J 7 ¢h 279, : * i % 2 S34 ; > “4 ue ae 2 \ yun? 4 ¥ Ny : ae an? ) { j