DISCLOSURE / FILE
Section 1 of FBI case file 62-HQ-83894 (Serials 1-52), opening the bureau's flying-disc correspondence from July 1947 with citizen letters, teletypes, news clippings, and internal memos routed through D. M. Ladd's office.
65_HS1-834228961_62-HQ-83894_Section_1
Section 1 of FBI case file 62-HQ-83894 (Serials 1-52), opening the bureau's flying-disc correspondence from July 1947 with citizen letters, teletypes, news clippings, and internal memos routed through D. M. Ladd's office.
This is the first section of FBI headquarters file 62-HQ-83894, the bureau's central UFO file, covering Serials 1 through 52 from July 1947. The pages collect citizen letters to J. Edgar Hoover, Western Union telegrams reporting sightings (Darlington SC, San Marcos TX), an Office Memorandum from H. B. Fletcher to D. M. Ladd dated July 7 1947 documenting the Father Joseph Brasky 'circular saw' incident in Grafton WI, a July 7 1947 New Orleans teletype confirming a reported disc find by F. G. Hariston was a 'prank,' and a referral from Hoover to Army G-2's Colonel L. H. Forney transmitting the Fred R. Reibold Omaha letter. The records show the bureau receiving, acknowledging, and forwarding flying-disc reports to the War Department within days of the Arnold sighting, while internally treating most as pranks or misidentification.
Upon examination, the object was solid and had form of round circular disc, approximately the size of a silver dollar and ¼" thick, burning with extreme heat.p.11
There were six people who actually saw the object and can testify to the extreme heat at which it was burning.p.13
He declined to comment. He stated as a matter of fact the priest had not made any contact with him, and he learned from the Associated Press that the priest was intoxicated and as far as the Associated Press was concerned they were not releasing the story because all that was involved was a circular saw.p.24
CHECK FILES IN INVENTORS COUNCIL FOR DRAWING OF MULTI-SPRING CATAPULT THIS INVENTION SENT BY ME TO WAR DEPARTMENT IN 1945 POSSIBLE LEAKAGE OF INFORMATION HAS RESULTED MY DEVICE OR VARIATION THERE FROM COULD CONCEIVABLY CATAPULT A DISC AND IN SILENCE FOR SEVERAL MILESp.38
There are attached hereto copies of a letter received from the above-captioned individual, together with copies of a newspaper clipping enclosure, concerning "flying discs."p.10
RE FLYING DISCS, MISCELLANEOUS. Disc [ILLEGIBLE] REPORTED FOUND BY F. G. HARISTON REVEALED TO BE PRANK.p.8
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[DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE] (partial, top edge) FB - CENTRAL RECORDS CENTER FB - HEADQUARTERS CABLE CASE # Sec. Vol. Serial # 8151427199 62-HQ-83894 SECTION 1 SERIALS 1-52 DO NOT DESTROY FOIPA # 293087 PICKETT STREET DO NOT DESTROY FOIPA # [ILLEGIBLE] SECTION 1 SERIALS 1-52 SECRET Transfer - Call 3421 Use Care in Handling this File Declassification authority derived from FBI Automatic Declassification Guide, issued May 24, 2007.
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Mr. Tolson Mr. E. A. Tamm Mr. Clegg Mr. Coffey Mr. Glavin Mr. Ladd Mr. Nichols Mr. Rosen Mr. Tracy Mr. Carson Mr. Egan Mr. Hendon Mr. Pennington Mr. Quinn Tamm Mr. Nease Miss Gandy [ILLEGIBLE] 72055 [Newspaper clipping:] More About Saucers Priest Finds 'Whirring' Disc In Yard and Holds It for FBI Chicago, July 6 (UP)—A Catho- lic priest at Grafton, Wis., said tonight that a disc-shaped object fell from the sky in his garden yesterday evening, and that he had turned it over to FBI agents for investigation. A second false alarm this morning. A second [ILLEGIBLE] this morning: [ILLEGIBLE] said [ILLEGIBLE] had actually had been [ILLEGIBLE]. The report came a few hours after the Army and [ILLEGIBLE] sought to ascertain whether mys- terious reports about the discs streaming through the sky were [ILLEGIBLE] true. Army planes scoured the north- west Pacific skies for them without success today and one "gentleman" even reported having seen one— the disc type of airplane. A [ILLEGIBLE] "circus" he said he had [ILLEGIBLE] The flying saucers which have been reported streaming through the skies at speeds of up to 1,200 miles have eluded the usual methods of radar. Capt. Tom Brown of the Army Air Forces [ILLEGIBLE] See SAUCERS, Page 4, Col. [ILLEGIBLE] SD 40 INDEXED 62-83894-1 83 JUL 10 1947 JUL 7 1947 WASHINGTON POST Page [ILLEGIBLE]
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CONFIDENTIAL
EXHIBIT I
EXHIBIT II
CONFIDENTIAL
EXHIBIT #167Concatenated page-by-page transcript. Born-digital pages came through pdf.js; scanned pages were transcribed by Claude vision OCR. Pages marked unreadable failed multiple OCR retries (heavy redaction, microfilm artifacts, or blank separators) and are kept in place for audit.
[DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE] (partial, top edge) FB - CENTRAL RECORDS CENTER FB - HEADQUARTERS CABLE CASE # Sec. Vol. Serial # 8151427199 62-HQ-83894 SECTION 1 SERIALS 1-52 DO NOT DESTROY FOIPA # 293087 PICKETT STREET DO NOT DESTROY FOIPA # [ILLEGIBLE] SECTION 1 SERIALS 1-52 SECRET Transfer - Call 3421 Use Care in Handling this File Declassification authority derived from FBI Automatic Declassification Guide, issued May 24, 2007.
Mr. Tolson Mr. E. A. Tamm Mr. Clegg Mr. Coffey Mr. Glavin Mr. Ladd Mr. Nichols Mr. Rosen Mr. Tracy Mr. Carson Mr. Egan Mr. Hendon Mr. Pennington Mr. Quinn Tamm Mr. Nease Miss Gandy [ILLEGIBLE] 72055 [Newspaper clipping:] More About Saucers Priest Finds 'Whirring' Disc In Yard and Holds It for FBI Chicago, July 6 (UP)—A Catho- lic priest at Grafton, Wis., said tonight that a disc-shaped object fell from the sky in his garden yesterday evening, and that he had turned it over to FBI agents for investigation. A second false alarm this morning. A second [ILLEGIBLE] this morning: [ILLEGIBLE] said [ILLEGIBLE] had actually had been [ILLEGIBLE]. The report came a few hours after the Army and [ILLEGIBLE] sought to ascertain whether mys- terious reports about the discs streaming through the sky were [ILLEGIBLE] true. Army planes scoured the north- west Pacific skies for them without success today and one "gentleman" even reported having seen one— the disc type of airplane. A [ILLEGIBLE] "circus" he said he had [ILLEGIBLE] The flying saucers which have been reported streaming through the skies at speeds of up to 1,200 miles have eluded the usual methods of radar. Capt. Tom Brown of the Army Air Forces [ILLEGIBLE] See SAUCERS, Page 4, Col. [ILLEGIBLE] SD 40 INDEXED 62-83894-1 83 JUL 10 1947 JUL 7 1947 WASHINGTON POST Page [ILLEGIBLE]
[Mostly blank reverse of routing sheet. Stamps visible upside-down at bottom:] MR. JONES F B I RECEIVED 9 9 33 AM '47 No. 7 8 56 AM '47 U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE RECEIVED [ILLEGIBLE] No. 7 12 45 PM '47 U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE RECEIVED-LADD F.B.I.
[Newspaper clipping, continuation — partial heading at top left: CFR—From Po[ge?]] [Left column, partial:] said the Army Airways Communi- cations Service had repeated late yesterday that no radar or other electronic equipment anywhere in the country had picked up any unknown objects in flight. Even more of the fly-happy Na- tion's eyes have been reported [ILLEGIBLE] with reports from the Pacific Northwest—where the Army Air Forces have radar equipment which cannot see through fog and dark- ness—far to the south and east. And a new wrinkle—the report- ed landing of a fleet of eight spin- ning platters—was reported from Idaho. A man at Millwaukee, said Holsmon, [ILLEGIBLE] housewife, had found this morning A second fake alarm this evening by a boy who had seen them look and also, he said, he heard a loud and whirring and there is a hiss bite into this mill explosion. [Right column, partial:] [ILLEGIBLE] There's the [ILLEGIBLE] enthusiasm [ILLEGIBLE] paid. Howard W. Blakeslee, Associ- ated Press science editor, said [ILLEGIBLE] "At any distance which is close to the limit of [ILLEGIBLE] be a person can see an [ILLEGIBLE] in the sky 300 or nearly so. The [ILLEGIBLE] would have been large [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] lines seen nearby and large [ILLEGIBLE] at great distances. "The most outstanding fact about [ILLEGIBLE] all the saucers is that [ILLEGIBLE] none of them [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] had more covered and fell [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] most of what the tricks that eyes play. This [ILLEGIBLE] varies with differences in weather and lighting." However, Maj. H. H. Dolan, a test pilot, who was trained during service in the war at [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] yesterday offered a theory that yesterday offered by the Army and Air Force pilots and [ILLEGIBLE] reports about the discs streaming through the sky might not [ILLEGIBLE]. "I think they may be a hide [ILLEGIBLE]," [ILLEGIBLE] he said. However, Dr. Overholser said he was trying to dismiss the whole thing as a joke "because there are so many strange things going on that one can't be sure." "I could be wrong" his explanation was that they didn't caught that the aircraft designer said that it would be a flying saucer [ILLEGIBLE] wouldn't be the pay [ILLEGIBLE] quoted an analysis of the boss columns by [ILLEGIBLE] David [ILLEGIBLE] Atomic Energy Commission, and several processes [ILLEGIBLE] Story Experts Ward [ILLEGIBLE] national commander [ILLEGIBLE] of the Veterans of Foreign [ILLEGIBLE] Wars said yesterday at Co- lumbus, Ohio, that he was expect- [ILLEGIBLE] ing a report from the region [ILLEGIBLE] of Southwest Washington which [ILLEGIBLE] would confirm information he [ILLEGIBLE] said never arrived. [ILLEGIBLE] Kennedy, who has 128 hours [ILLEGIBLE] flying time [ILLEGIBLE] his credit, said the Army Air Forces to his credit [ILLEGIBLE] confirmed it was the correct section of the city at about 5:40. This would be a 5th. level, area [ILLEGIBLE] where flying saucers have been [ILLEGIBLE] seen over a wider area. Local officers have been reported over [ILLEGIBLE] three times, with 100 and 200 [ILLEGIBLE] altitude of below an alt[itude] of [ILLEGIBLE] 1500 feet. Kennedy, who has 128 hours [ILLEGIBLE] flying time [ILLEGIBLE] his credit said [ILLEGIBLE] to the Army Air Forces by his [ILLEGIBLE] had seen an unknown disc flying at altitude of below and altitude of [ILLEGIBLE] 3,000 feet. [ILLEGIBLE] The last saucer which have been reported streaming through the sky at speeds of up to 1, 1200 miles have eluded the usual methods of radar. [ILLEGIBLE] Capt. Tom Brown of the Army [ILLEGIBLE] Air Forces [ILLEGIBLE]
[Envelope front:]
[Postmark: BIRMINGHAM [?] JUL [?] [?]M 1947]
[3 cent stamp]
The F.B.I.
Washington
District of ColumbiaDear F.B.I.:
ANONYMOUS COMMUNICATION
KEEP ENVELOPE ATTACHED
It is my opinion about
those "FLYING DISCS"
those flying discs reported
seen over, Kentucky, New Mexico,
California, Oregon, Washington,
Idaho, Colorado, South Carolina
and Eastern Canada that some Euro-
-an Country is using them by filling
them up with germs or highly
RECORDED
explosives, and after a couple thou[sand]
miles they drop their contents and
dissappear.
32 JUL 8 1947
63 JUL 18 1947
33 suggest that you keep
[text continues on next page]lots [ILLEGIBLE] disinfect[ant] on ha[nd]...
Or else something might happen
to us in the United States.
From
a friendFEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION U. S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE COMMUNICATIONS SECTION JUL 8 1947 Orig TELETYPE [Routing box — names partially visible:] Mr. Tolson Mr. E. A. Tamm [ILLEGIBLE] Clegg [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] Ladd [ILLEGIBLE] Nichols Mr. Nease Mr. Treat [?] Mr. Rosen [ILLEGIBLE] Mr. Pennington Mr. Quinn Tamm Mr. Nease [Signature: Jno. [?] / E. Fitch [?]] FBI NEW ORLEANS 7-8-47 11-22 AM TMC DIRECTOR ROUTEIN RE FLYING DISCS, MISCELLANEOUS. Disc [ILLEGIBLE] REPORTED FOUND BY F. G. HARISTON REVEALED TO BE PRANK. WEEKS Flying Saucers END S 1-24 PM OK FBI WA BW V 55 JUL 18 1947 15 [ILLEGIBLE] Cancelled not filed at [ILLEGIBLE] [?] [ILLEGIBLE] 62-83894-3 INDEXED [ILLEGIBLE] 29 JUL 10 1947 98
RECEIVED LIAISON SECTION 9 11 05 AM '47 F.B.I. DEPT. OF JUSTICE No. 9 9 13 AM '47 INTERNAL SECURITY F.B.I. [ILLEGIBLE] No. 8 2 37 PM '47 RECEIVED-LADD F.B.I. DEPT. OF JUSTICE JUL 8 1 25 PM '47 RECEIVED TELETYPE UNIT FBI DEPT. OF JUSTICE
[CONFIDENTIAL — crossed out/declassified] BY SPECIAL MESSENGER
ts: August 5, 1947
To: Director of Intelligence
War Department General Staff
The Pentagon
Washington 25, D. C.
Attention: Colonel L. H. Forney, Chief, Security Group
From: John Edgar Hoover - Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation
Subject: FRED R. REIBOLD
There are attached hereto copies of a letter received from the
above-captioned individual, together with copies of a newspaper clipping
enclosure, concerning "flying discs."
Mr. Reibold's letter has been acknowledged and he has been advised
that copies of his letter have been furnished to you for your consideration.
[Stamps:]
LIAISONS SECTION
[Date stamp: ILLEGIBLE] P.M.
[ILLEGIBLE]
INVESTIGATION
[ILLEGIBLE] JUSTICE
[ILLEGIBLE]
APPROPRIATE AGENCIES
CLASS
AND FILE 10/31/38 [ILLEGIBLE]
DECLASSIFIED BY 1759
OR 10-25-71Federal Bureau of Investigation
Washington D. C. [Flying Discs — stamp]
Gentlemen:
On July 7th, 1947, 10:30 p.m.
Gertrude Sniffen, my mother in law
and I witnessed a flaming object
which dropped in street in front
of our house at 2315 Kimbaugh Ave
Omaha Nebr.
Upon examination, the object
was solid and had form of round
circular disc, approximately the
size of a silver dollar and
¼" thick, burning with extreme
heat.
The World Herald newspaper
was notified and reporter was
sent out.
In the mean time, a boy kicked
RECORDED
83894 - 4
INDEXED
98RECEIVED JL 16 12 36 PM '47 INTERNAL SECURITY F.B.I. [ILLEGIBLE] [Remainder of page is bleed-through from reverse side — text ILLEGIBLE throughout]
The object over and it fell into
pieces.
When the reporter arrived he
scooped up the fragments and
said he would have them analyzed.
You attention is directed to
attached analysis.
There were six people who
actually saw the object and
can testify to the extreme heat
at which it was burning.
We did not claim it was
one of the so called "flying saucer"
or any such phenomena but we
did want some kind of a reasonable
explanation because if the object
had dropped on a roof top it
would have certainly set fire.
We can definately [sic] say itwas not tobacco ashes as
suggested by Dr. Kenny.
It burned with such extreme
heat as to scorch pavement on and
near pavement when it let [?].
Possibly thes could have
been a late Fourth of July
firework or something similar
but at any rate we are calling
it to your attention as the
answer the "learned" Dr. Kenny
gave as lung pipe ashes is full
of ridicule an entirely unsatisfactory.
Yours sincerely
FRED R. REIBOLD
Fred R. Reibold
2315 Kimbaugh Ave
Omaha Nebraska[Reverse of letter — official letterhead watermark visible in background]
[Newspaper clipping, taped to center of page:]
'Flying Saucer' Just
Someone's Pipe Dream
The "flying saucer" that fell
near 2315 Himbaugh Avenue [sic]
this evening was nothing
but "ashes from somebody's pipe."
So says Dr. C. L. Kenny, head
of the chemistry department at
the Creighton College of Den-
tistry. He had two students an-
alyze the ashes. They found sil-
icon, potassium, iron, alumi-
num, sulphate and sil-
icon [sic]. "This is the same analysis you
would get from ordinary pipe to-
bacco," Dr. Kenny said.
62-83894-1
[ILLEGIBLE stamp]Dear Mr. [ILLEGIBLE] -
ANONYMOUS COMMUNICATION
KEEP ENVELOPE ATTACHED
G.I.R. [?]
I have also seen a flying saucer -
the evening of July 4 - about 10:39 PM - only
it was in the air at the same level as
two obvious portions of light in the
search light beams from the air field
near Lake St. Clair. I was sitting on my
porch at the time. A few trucks could
with proper equipment create the
same illusion. There were two clearly
outlined beams - one partly faded out to the [ILLEGIBLE]
The saucer [text continues on next page]
[Margin notation: FLYING SAUCERS]third beam faded out from the ground to the saucer. Recently [?] mentioned- the distressed sky in the [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] not being due entirely to national phenomena and co- [ILLEGIBLE] that alive, the bomb [Stamps:] RECORDED 62-83894-5 55 JUL 22 1947
[Envelope, address side:]
Mr. J. Edgar Hoover
Washington, D.C.
Personal attention.[Envelope, front:]
[Postmark: NEW YORK [?] JUL 11 [?] PM '47 GRAND CENTRAL STATION]
[3 cent stamp]
Mr. J. Edgar Hoover, Director
Federal Bureau of Investigation
U.S. Dept. of Justice Bldg.
Washington, D. C.[Margin notation: FLYING SAUCERS]
[Stamp: G.I.R. 5]
July 11, 1947.
Dear Sir:
Have you seen one of the mysterious "Saucers"?
What did it look like?
Do you think these strange, celestial manifesta-
tions are harbingers of a better day?
Do you believe it means that a new and revolutionary
advance is coming?
Will it make your life brighter, happier, more
useful?
We believe one of these startling discs is on its
way to you. Then the secret will be out.
The Combined and Amalgamated Committee
of Sky-Scanners, Disc Decipherers and
New-Product Introducers.
RECORDED 62-83894-6
37 JUL [ILLEGIBLE] 1947
51 JUL 21 1947[Reverse of letter — bleed-through from obverse, ILLEGIBLE throughout] [Stamp at bottom, partially upside-down:] RECEIVED INTERNAL SECURITY F.B.I. JL 18 4 03 PM [Bottom left — handwritten notation:] [ILLEGIBLE]
Boston Mass.
July 14, 47.
G.I.R. 5
[Left margin, vertical:] Flying Saucers
[Left margin, vertical:] No return address
1
Dear Sir:
May I call your
kind attention to the
"heartless criticism
in some papers,
of people who re-
ported the "Flying"
Saucers;" especially
an article in the
"Boston Globe," [ILLEGIBLE],
by a writer called
Linlen. Also, an
RECORDED
INDEXED
EX-74
03
34 JUL [ILLEGIBLE] 1947apology in the "Boston
Post" this week.
This criticism
of people who make
these reports is very
unfair. Everyone
from oculists to
psychiatrists slammed
them, publicly, in
articles. It is a
poor way to thank
[people] anyone for their [ILLEGIBLE].
Someday, when some-
thing will happen when
they are needed, they
probably will not bother.
MISS [ILLEGIBLE]
[ILLEGIBLE][Standard FBI routing box, top right — initials illegible]
Office Memorandum • UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
TO : MR. D. M. LADD DATE: July 7, 1947
FROM : H. B. FLETCHER
SUBJECT: √
At 10:45 a.m., July 7, 1947, I talked to SAC Johnson of the
Milwaukee Office concerning the United Press item appearing in the
Washington Post for Monday, July 7, with reference to a flying disc
or flying saucer allegedly reported to the Milwaukee Office by
Reverend Joseph Brasky of St. Joseph's Church, Grafton, Wisconsin.
SAC Johnson advised that the Associated Press and the United
Press between the hours 1:00 and 6:00 a.m. today had made inquiry of
him as to whether anything had been reported to the Milwaukee Office.
He declined to comment. He stated as a matter of fact the priest had
not made any contact with him, and he learned from the Associated Press
that the priest was intoxicated and as far as the Associated Press was
concerned they were not releasing the story because all that was involved
was a circular saw. Mr. Johnson stated the Milwaukee Sentinel apparently
sent the report out and that they handled United Press service. He stated
a photograph of the priest was in this morning's paper holding a circular
saw which apparently covers the body of the priest from arm pit to arm pit.
Attached to the saw are several wires and two small tubes described as
about three inches long and one inch in diameter. The news item in the
Milwaukee Sentinel indicates it was believed some prankster had thrown it
into the yard together with a firecracker attached. Mr. Johnson stated the
Milwaukee Sentinel had stated the priest would make a report of this matter
today to the Milwaukee Office. I instructed SAC Johnson in the event the
priest made a report to furnish details of that report immediately, but in
view of the nature of the information in his possession, no inquiry should
be conducted at the present.
HBF:cmm
[Stamp, bottom right:]
62-[ILLEGIBLE]3894
13
JUL [ILLEGIBLE] 1947
[Stamp, bottom left:]
58 JUL 22 1947
13[Reverse of office memorandum — bleed-through from obverse, ILLEGIBLE throughout] [Stamps at bottom, upside-down:] JL 7 5 52 PM 47 U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE FEDERAL BUREAU [ILLEGIBLE] JL 7 12 53 PM [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] RECEIVED-LADD F.B.I. [Bottom left notation:] 97 96 [ILLEGIBLE]
[Stamp, top left:]
CIVIL AERONAUTICS ADM[INISTRATION]
JUL 15 8 44 AM '47
MAIL ROOM
WASHINGTON
[Handwritten:]
Yoakum, July 12, 1947.
B.I.M. [?]
[Red stamp:]
RECEIVED
JUL 15 1947
Gentlemen: FLYING FIRE
I do send to you
something new from
Texas.
Flying of fire cur-
led around the Pa-
lestine and the peo-
ple are afraid of it.
And around Cuero,
not far away from
Yoakum, fell down so-
mething like [what?] from
aeroplanes.
Anyway got in
that handy enemy
or Man mob, and
want ruin the
Texas,
RECORDED 62-83894-9
INDEXED
F B I
54 34 JUL 17 1947[Reverse of letter — blank lined notebook paper] [Stamps at bottom, upside-down:] RECEIVED JUL [ILLEGIBLE] 1947 [ILLEGIBLE] [Stamp, bottom right:] RECEIVED INTERNAL SECURITY F.B.I. JL 17 9 24 AM
2
They did start in
Texas City demach
the factory.
In the Private part
of Yoakum airport
and Broadcasting
Station are such done
my like that. We do
not know ho are
them. Now got no
aeroplanes here, just
hangars and Broad-
casting tower with
lights, on roling tower
and lights are like
needles to our
eyes.
And got the lights
around the hole air-
port and from the
lights is runningthe electric and
make us sick.
And the air is full
of electric by light-
ning is run fire
ball from Telephone
box in the store, far
away above half mile.
The airport is co-
neckted with Alamo
Register in San An-
tonio, and people are
talking with us.
The people are Arbi-
shop Robert Lucey
leaving in new residen-
ce and is talking with
us.
In the Broadcast-
ing Station and
Alamo Register pres,
34
and with the old
Archbishop's residence,
and with the Cath-
edral priests.
The Alamo Broad-
casting is operate with
by two German old
men, and the men
are now sick, are blind
from the electric
and they talk with us.
And there are two men
more and they are fi-
ting and foxing togethe
and we can hear them.
The Archbishop is bad
man and unmoral,
and working nothing.
All work is done by
the Cathedral Board.5
In the old arbi-
shops residence are
some priests.
One is name Morkov-
sky, he is bad man
to.
He was in care wreck
with Archbishop's care and
his Mother is killed.
And from that time he
is leave in the old re-
sidence, and talking
with us.
His brother is priest
in Hallettsville and
talking with us too.
All the people look
something like fresh,
are no Citizen United
States, not speak En-
glish, they say they are
coming from Czecho-
slovakia.6
The Cathedral
Board are men as
priests, German and
they all are working
for Germany.
The such fresh people
we got in Texas and
named the Alamo place
that is saint to Te-
xas people, fighting
against the Mexican
Santa Ana.
And I am ending with
words:
Remember Alamo
and Texas City.
Mrs. Anna Benys
Mr. Joe Benys
MRS. ANNA BENYS
MR. JOE BENYS
6[Manila envelope — back side] 62-83894-9
[Newspaper clipping — left edge trimmed; publication appears to be a Texas paper, likely "HERALD-TIMES"]
[...]-TIMES
FIRST ITS FLYING D I S K S — NOW
ITS 'FIRE BALLS' PEOPLE SEE
Revealing Flying
Disk Data May
Bring Prosecution
[Left column headline, partial:]
Growing
[ILLEGIBLE] Display
[ILLEGIBLE] Fuss
Gas Track Hits
Local Station
Cuero Residents
See Flying Disc
Lions To Make
Farmer Award
[Article text beneath headlines — too small / degraded to transcribe reliably; ILLEGIBLE throughout]
[Bottom partial text:]
[ILLEGIBLE][Newspaper page — Yoakum Herald-Times] YOAKUM HERALD-TIMES [Column heading:] BY THE WAY [Column text — too small / degraded to transcribe reliably; ILLEGIBLE throughout] POLITICAL ANNOUNCEMENTS [ILLEGIBLE] We SPECIALIZE Treating Wines and also E. T. LESSING PACKAGE STORE You will save by building your new home of brands CONCRETE B. & N. Concrete Products [ILLEGIBLE] [Don't Never Forget] THIS GUY [ILLEGIBLE] HAMILTON JEWELRY [ILLEGIBLE] [Right column headline, partial:] Most Men Win Truck Award [Additional advertisement text — ILLEGIBLE]
[Newspaper masthead clipping]
[ORDERS OF BUREAU OF CIRCULATION — partial, top edge]
THE
ALAMO REGISTER
[Registered by the U. S. Patent Office]
[Date and volume information — too small to read] SECTION TWO[Small newspaper clipping — editorial cartoon] [Article text above cartoon — too small / degraded to read; ILLEGIBLE] [Cartoon illustration: man playing violin/fiddle, standing on a box labeled:] WORLD UNREST
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
COMMUNICATIONS SECTION
[Date stamp: JUL 7, 1947]
WESTERN UNION
TO MUST 47/46 2 EXTRA COLLECT
SAN MARCOX TEX JULY 7 1947 714P
FBI
WASHDC
CHECK FILES IN INVENTORS COUNCIL FOR DRAWING OF MULTI-SPRING
CATAPULT THIS INVENTION SENT BY ME TO WAR DEPARTMENT IN 1945
POSSIBLE LEAKAGE OF INFORMATION HAS RESULTED MY DEVICE OR
VARIATION THERE FROM COULD CONCEIVABLY CATAPULT A DISC AND IN
SILENCE FOR SEVERAL MILES
RECORDED 62-83894-10
INDEXED [ILLEGIBLE] JUL [ILLEGIBLE] 1947
WOODSON C COPE CLIFFSIDE HALL
1945.
941P
[Handwritten notation at bottom:]
[ILLEGIBLE][Reverse of teletype — very faint, largely ILLEGIBLE] [Stamps, upside-down:] RECEIVED TELETYPE UNIT JUL 7 1947 FEDERAL BUREAU INVESTIGATION [Time/routing stamps:] JL 7 12 43 PM [ILLEGIBLE] U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE [ILLEGIBLE] [Additional stamps — ILLEGIBLE]
Office Memorandum • UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
TO : D. M. LADD DATE: 7-10-47
FROM : J. P. Co[ILLEGIBLE]
SUBJECT: WOODSON C. COPE
G.I.R. 5
[Margin notation: Flying Disc]
There is being attached hereto a Western Union telegram
received from the above individual in which information is
furnished concerning a "disc." This telegram has been acknowledged.
ACTION:
It is recommended that this telegram be turned over to the
Liaison Section in order that they may make the information contained
therein available to the War Department.
[Initials/signatures]
RECORDED 62-83894 [ILLEGIBLE]
INDEXED
107 [ILLEGIBLE] JUL 1947
EX-74
Attachment[s]
63 JUL 23 1947
EX-74[Stamp, upper left:] RECEIVED [ILLEGIBLE] 9 [ILLEGIBLE] INTERNAL SECURITY F.B.I. [Stamp, upper right:] Jul 11 3:39 PM '47 RECEIVED-LABS F.B.I. [ILLEGIBLE] [Remainder of page blank with scattered marks at bottom]
WESTERN UNION QA SE G-CHARGE FONDARLINGTON 50CAR 6 630P [Received stamp, top right:] RCVD JUL 6 PM 6 5[ILLEGIBLE] US DEPT OF JUSTICE [handwritten notation ILLEGIBLE] WASRDC ABOUT 12 30-CALL FLYING DISCS PASSED OVER DARLINGTON SC APPROXIMATELY 5:30 PM TODAY -ADVISE IF WISH DETAILS- J U WATTS JR [ILLEGIBLE] 12 5:30 PM [ILLEGIBLE] EX-30 [ILLEGIBLE] 6200 [ILLEGIBLE] GUARD ADV NAME WHO DLVT SA 1/2D
[Reverse/back side of document; image oriented upside down] [Stamp, upside down:] RECEIVED INTERNAL SECURITY F.B. [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] 4 ST PM [ILLEGIBLE] [Upside-down handwriting:] DEPT OF JUSTICE [Faint bleed-through text and partial date stamps — ILLEGIBLE throughout]
Office Memorandum • UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
TO : D. H. Ladd [handwritten check/notation]
FROM : J. F. [ILLEGIBLE]
SUBJECT : [ILLEGIBLE] Flying [Disc] Information DATE: 7-10-47
There is being attached herewith a Western Union telegram
received from the above individual in which information is
furnished concerning a "disc." This telegram has been
acknowledged.
ACTION:
It is recommended that this telegram be turned over to the
Milwaukee Section in order that they may make the information contained
therein available to the War Department.
Attachment
[Handwritten initials and notations in margins — ILLEGIBLE]
EX-56
50 JUL 24 [ILLEGIBLE]
[Stamps: ENCLOSURE, date stamps — ILLEGIBLE][Stamp, upper left area:] Jul 11 3:39 PM '47 RECEIVED-LABS F.B.I. [ILLEGIBLE] [Stamp, upper right:] Jul 11 3:39 PM '47 RECEIVED-LABS F.B.I. [ILLEGIBLE] [Stamp, center:] RECEIVED [ILLEGIBLE] 1:39 PM INTERNAL SECURITY F.B.I. [Remainder of page blank with scattered marks at bottom]
[Newspaper clipping] 'Saucer' Stories Disk Found Is [ILLEGIBLE] Priest Hears a 'Bang' Discovers a Circular Blade With Teeth, Other Disks 'Seen' [Article text, multiple columns — partially legible:] [ILLEGIBLE] — Perhaps it is just popped out [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] a call from [ILLEGIBLE] Thompson, who said he had found [ILLEGIBLE] discs [ILLEGIBLE] [Additional overlapping story on same clipping — text largely ILLEGIBLE] [Further article sections ILLEGIBLE] [File stamp at bottom:] 60 0 0 1 1 - 1 3 0 [ILLEGIBLE] ENCLOSURE [ILLEGIBLE] 62-83894-[ILLEGIBLE] JUL 16 [ILLEGIBLE]
[Newspaper clipping — two columns] [Left column:] 'Saucer' Tales Buzz in State Disk Found by a Priest Is Circular Saw; Widely Seen by Milwaukeeans From page 1, column 5 [Article text, left column — partially legible:] [ILLEGIBLE] 'the saucer' [ILLEGIBLE] [Multiple paragraphs ILLEGIBLE] [Right column:] Laws of Eyesight Clarify- Reports of Flying Saucers By HOWARD W. BLAKESLEE AP Science Editor [Article text, right column — partially legible:] Descriptions of virtually all of [the?] saucer [objects] [ILLEGIBLE] tradition facts with [ILLEGIBLE] [Multiple paragraphs ILLEGIBLE] [Sub-heading near bottom of right column:] Mussman, Traveler Says Philadelphia, Pa.—[ILLEGIBLE]
[Photograph: A man in dark clerical clothing holding a large circular saw blade, examining it] [No printed caption text visible on this page] [Faint stamp notation at lower right: ILLEGIBLE]
Sharp-Eyed Sight Disks, but Only a Saw Blade Is Found [Top photograph: A person examining the underside of an aircraft] [Bottom photograph: Three women standing together in conversation] [No other text visible on this page]
[Photo caption text:] Who, what, where, why are flying disks? The[se] men's biggest mystery produced [ILLEGIBLE] from Sunday [ILLEGIBLE] that everyone that the saucers were everywhere and [ILLEGIBLE] the saucers [ILLEGIBLE]. Lower [left]: Mrs. Walter Johnson (right) of Spokane, Wash., and her [children?] [ILLEGIBLE] the sights [ILLEGIBLE] tell how they saw the saucers [travel?] across [ILLEGIBLE] a mountain[side?] in [ILLEGIBLE]. [Right caption:] Right is Father Joseph Brasky of St. Joseph's Catholic [church?] at Grafton. Who, says, he [stated?] the disk [ILLEGIBLE] it [turned out to be?] a saw blade. [ILLEGIBLE]. A lot of Milwaukeeans [reported?] they saw the saucers [traveling?] past Sunday night. —AP Wirephoto and Journal Staff [File/stamp notations at bottom right: ILLEGIBLE]
[Newspaper clipping] Seen In 36 States! Jet Fighters Alerted SEEN IN 36 STATES. First sighted June 25 and [reported?] [ILLEGIBLE] every day since [sighted?] in 36 states. Most of the [objects?] [ILLEGIBLE] observers [ILLEGIBLE] were reported [ILLEGIBLE]. [Multiple paragraphs ILLEGIBLE] JET FIGHTER[S]: [ILLEGIBLE] piloted [ILLEGIBLE] reporting the flying discs [ILLEGIBLE] military [ILLEGIBLE]. Pilots reported [ILLEGIBLE] flying discs [ILLEGIBLE] from [heights of?] 1,200 to 1,800 [feet?] [ILLEGIBLE]. [Military report sub-section — ILLEGIBLE] PROPELLER OR CIRCLE: Nova Hall, Mr. [ILLEGIBLE] of Technolog[y] [ILLEGIBLE] the [same?] [questions?] [ILLEGIBLE] to the environment [ILLEGIBLE] flying [discs?]. He said it was [ILLEGIBLE]. [Additional article text ILLEGIBLE] [Stamp/case reference at bottom:] MILWAUKEE [ILLEGIBLE] [Case number: ILLEGIBLE] 80 0 011- 19[ILLEGIBLE]
[Newspaper clipping] Planes Chasing Disks Find Only Empty Sky Jokesters Add Some Comedy to Air Mystery East St. Louis Objects Prove to Be Washers; Chicago Woman Spots One With Legs [Byline: ILLEGIBLE] [Article text — partially legible:] [ILLEGIBLE] platoon [ILLEGIBLE] chased [ILLEGIBLE] flying saucers. Pilots report [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] planes [ILLEGIBLE] that no discs [?] were found [ILLEGIBLE]. [Multiple paragraphs ILLEGIBLE] [Sub-section:] Skeptical [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] Give 'Em Room [ILLEGIBLE] [Additional article text ILLEGIBLE] [Date/stamp at bottom:] 7/[ILLEGIBLE] ENCLOSURE [ILLEGIBLE] 62-[ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] 613
[Newspaper clipping — continuation of article] New Jersey residents said they 'thought' that one flying [disk?] was [ILLEGIBLE] Pallerdin [?] or [ILLEGIBLE] by [ILLEGIBLE]. Skeptical scientists [assumed?] that the ob- jects to some [point?] [ILLEGIBLE] the saucers which have been reported—would have to [left?] [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] over the side [ILLEGIBLE] cases they would have [ILLEGIBLE]. [Further text — partially legible:] Dr. [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] of [ILLEGIBLE] Institute of Technolog[y] at Cleveland, [ILLEGIBLE]: 'There's something in it [ILLEGIBLE] might [ILLEGIBLE],' he said. 'I can [ILLEGIBLE] that there's something in it. [ILLEGIBLE] that it's [ILLEGIBLE] at all.' [ILLEGIBLE] the possibility that it's all [a] lot.
[Newspaper clipping] U. S. Planes Hunting Discs; Russ Tells of 'Atom Saucers' FBI Probes Story of Soviet Ship Officer LOS ANGELES, July 8—[AP]—Federal agents today investigated [ILLEGIBLE] [a letter?] [ILLEGIBLE] [concerning?] [ILLEGIBLE]. [Multiple paragraphs — partially legible:] A top flight saucer [ILLEGIBLE] detailed [ILLEGIBLE] at the Veterans [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] complained a letter to the FBI concerning the [ILLEGIBLE] which a [ILLEGIBLE] published [throughout?] the country [ILLEGIBLE]. ALIEN EVEN WORDS [ILLEGIBLE] ALL LOVE RESTRICTED [ILLEGIBLE] [Continuing article text — partially legible:] They loaded a few small [saucers?] [ILLEGIBLE] and directed the cloud over the [ILLEGIBLE]. [Quote or dateline:] 'The cloud had to be controlled [ILLEGIBLE] from a robot-piloted 'basket' [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] constructed in the rubber [ILLEGIBLE] and the cloud has his [ILLEGIBLE]. The carrier and [ILLEGIBLE].' [Remaining article text ILLEGIBLE] Milwaukee Sentinel Milwaukee, Wis. July 7, 1947 [Stamps:] ENCLOSURE [ILLEGIBLE] 60 OCT 11 [ILLEGIBLE] [case/file numbers] [ILLEGIBLE] JUL 16 [ILLEGIBLE]
[Newspaper clipping] Quirks of Eyesight May Explain Disc Mystery By HOWARD BLAKESLEE AP Science Editor NEW YORK, July 8—Curiosity of human sight will explain much of what has been described about the flying saucers reported from nearly all parts of the [nation]. [Article text — partially legible:] At any distance which is close to the limit of how far a person [can see?], approximately [ILLEGIBLE] feet. A man [ILLEGIBLE] of nearly so. This law of sight comes [ILLEGIBLE] a small [something] [ILLEGIBLE] disturbance. HARD TO PICTURE [ILLEGIBLE] NOT A MYSTERY [ILLEGIBLE] [Closing line:] 'Yes, yes, I see it too.' [ILLEGIBLE] [Stamps at bottom:] 80 OCT [ILLEGIBLE] ENCLOSURE [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] 62-83894-[ILLEGIBLE] 10
[Newspaper clipping] 'Saucers' Fly Here; Grafton Disc Joke [Photograph: Father Joseph Brasky, a Catholic priest, holding a large circular saw blade] [Caption:] What was reported as a 'flying disc' which caused a stir in the state Sunday when [Brasky of?] [ILLEGIBLE] was found attached [ILLEGIBLE] [Article text — partially legible:] Father Brasky [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] family [ILLEGIBLE] his [three?] [ILLEGIBLE] [Multiple paragraphs ILLEGIBLE] GRAFTON IN STIR [ILLEGIBLE] Second [Pair/Find] in Three [Sections/Reports] [ILLEGIBLE] REPORTED IN JANESVILLE [ILLEGIBLE] Janesville [ILLEGIBLE] Persons in Janesville [ILLEGIBLE] [Stamp/enclosure at bottom:] ENCLOSURE [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] 223
[Handwritten note on a piece of paper, stapled/attached to a backing document] HA! HA! WINCHELL HAS REVEALED THE 'SAUCER' SECRET. YOU CAN'T HIDE ANYTHING FROM US & OUR AGENTS LIKE WINCHELL COMMUNS! [Handwritten notation, left margin, vertically:] Flying Saucer [Stamp and case reference, lower right:] 162-83894-[ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] JUL [ILLEGIBLE] [Page marker at lower left:] 166
[Reverse/back side of document; image oriented upside down] [Stamp, upside down:] RECEIVED INTERNAL SECURITY F.B.I. [ILLEGIBLE] 4 [ILLEGIBLE] [Remainder of page blank with scattered marks — ILLEGIBLE]
Office Memorandum • UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
TO : DIRECTOR, FBI DATE: July 7, 1947
FROM : [REDACTED], MILWAUKEE
SUBJECT : FLYING DISCS OR SAUCERS;
ATTENTION: MR. [REDACTED] OF [REDACTED]
TELEPHONE CALL FROM MR. FLETCHER
OF THE BUREAU AT 9:30 AM, 7/7/47
Attached are newspaper clippings from the Milwaukee
Sentinel and Milwaukee Journal of July 7, 1947.
For the Bureau's Information. United Press and Associated
Press Teletype were at my residence about three to four times between
1:00 A.M. and 3:00 A.M. Sunday, July 7. The United Press representative
informed me that Father [REDACTED] had been called by the Associated
Press, and he informed me that as far as the Associated Press was
concerned the facts were that a circular saw blade had been found
and a story had been obtained from a priest who had been described
as [having seen] a 'Flying Saucer.' The UP representative said that
apparently the United Press desired to get a statement from respondent;
he affirmed that a circular saw blade had been found and apparently
the United Press was suffering under a misinterpretation of any
comment he had made, and possibly the report of the story has not
yet [appeared?] [throughout?] the country. The United Press
representative called to know if I had any additional information,
other than on 'Document.'
[Second paragraph — partially legible:]
On [two or three?] occasions, I asked him what the actual
details were, and he stated he did not know [ILLEGIBLE].
He stated that [ILLEGIBLE]. The feature quality [ILLEGIBLE].
[Further text regarding alleged statement by Father [REDACTED] that he attempted
to set in [?] the Milwaukee FBI office concerning [ILLEGIBLE] — ILLEGIBLE]
[Signature/initials at bottom right]
[Stamps and case reference numbers at bottom]
51 00[ILLEGIBLE][Document — continuation memo or separate communication. Image highly degraded; text largely ILLEGIBLE throughout.] [Faint header/routing text — ILLEGIBLE] [Multiple paragraphs of body text — ILLEGIBLE due to document age, fading, and image degradation] [ILLEGIBLE] [Stamps at bottom:] RECEIVED INTERNAL SECURITY F.B.I. [ILLEGIBLE] 4 [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] [MILWAUKEE?] [ILLEGIBLE]
[REDACTED] [Postmark stamp - illegible date] [3-cent postage stamp] Mr. J. Edgar Hoover, F.B.I., Washington, D.C.
PHONE 422 BOOTH PHONE 614 LOCATED IN SU[ILLEGIBLE] DISTRICT
HOTEL WOODSTOCK
WOODSTOCK, ILLINOIS
[RESTRICTIONS ATTACHED - red stamp, left margin]
G.I.R-5
Dear Mr. Hoover: Flying Saucers
On todays page I see more
news concerning the flying saucers.
Now those are without a doubt from Russia.
I see they are likely checking how completely they
can cover the U.S. in [ILLEGIBLE] shal. — I feel it
is very force to report aerasin [ILLEGIBLE] check
they [ILLEGIBLE] been.
In traveling I sat by a spiritualist [ILLEGIBLE]
[ILLEGIBLE] women sure what she was — I talked to [ILLEGIBLE]obtain
much information as I could — I [ILLEGIBLE]became [ILLEGIBLE]
[ILLEGIBLE] close in an atom bomb that will destroy not [ILLEGIBLE]
the flying saucers headed [ILLEGIBLE] for Russia how it [ILLEGIBLE]
reported a device which [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] a whole
country in one shot. [ILLEGIBLE] the [ILLEGIBLE] 1947 saucers were
[ILLEGIBLE] less [ILLEGIBLE] in milk. [ILLEGIBLE] New Orleans [ILLEGIBLE] here home
[ILLEGIBLE] cover — Me are foolish to give
[Red date stamp: JUL 29 1947]them [ILLEGIBLE] information. Now this women may only be guessing but it should not be passed up — The name she gave me — Mrs. Mac [ILLEGIBLE] Nass (Mrs. Mac Nass 811 E. State St) Milwaukee, Wis. (W. Phone [ILLEGIBLE]) Daily 3136 Why do we wait till we are [ILLEGIBLE] or nearly so before we act — If we aren't ready in 3 seconds the next war will end all — It seems to see [ILLEGIBLE] already in there latest event — Let our worst [ILLEGIBLE]. Take notice — It's time to beat — We should secretly drop men — bomb all of our guns set for a moment's notice — We must be ready. But can we afford to wait if Russia plans destroying us in one shot? Why not let the know it and how it in big doses for all — That's the only way I see us coming out of it at all — Sincerely 2
PHONE 422 BOOTH PHONE [ILLEGIBLE] LOCATED IN [ILLEGIBLE] DISTRICT
HOTEL WOODSTOCK
WOODSTOCK, ILLINOIS
[Blank page — reverse of letterhead][Blank reverse side of document] [Stamps at bottom, inverted/rotated:] RECEIVED [ILLEGIBLE] DEPT. OF JUSTICE F.B.I. [ILLEGIBLE] 23 [ILLEGIBLE] PM '47 RECEIVED LIAISON SECTION F.B.I. [ILLEGIBLE] 3 31 PM '47
STANDARD FORM NO. 64
Office Memorandum · UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
TO : D.M. LADD[ILLEGIBLE] DATE: July 11, 1947
FROM : K.C. Howe
SUBJECT: Flying Disc+
[Routing matrix, right margin, partially illegible:]
Mr. Tolson
Mr. [ILLEGIBLE]
Mr. [ILLEGIBLE]
Mr. [ILLEGIBLE]
Mr. [ILLEGIBLE]
Mr. [ILLEGIBLE]
Mr. [ILLEGIBLE]
Mr. [ILLEGIBLE]
Mr. [ILLEGIBLE]
Miss Gandy
At 10:45 PM on the evening of July 11, 1947, Clerk Piercy of the
Washington Field Office called and stated that at the instruction Mr.
Henrich he wanted to pass on to the Bureau information he had just re-
ceived from one Alvin B. Parker, 200 6th Street, Laurel, Maryland, to the
effect that a "flying disc" had just landed in Parker's yard "and the
machinery is still buzzing." Piercy stated Parker was apparently so excited he had
a difficult time even getting his name out, and no further detail could be obtained
from him.
At 10:50 PM I passed the above information on to Captain West, duty
officer at G-2 who indicated he had also received the same data from another source, and
would pass our information along to appropriate army quarters.
Sid Roberts of the AP called at about 10:55 PM and asked whether the
Bureau had received any report on a "flying disc" in Laurel Maryland. After
checking with Mr. Nichols I told him we had received such a report and had passed
it on to army authorities.
KCH:H
[Stamp: RECORDED & INDEXED 62-83894-15]
[Stamp: 36 JUL 16 1947]STANDARD FORM NO. 64
Office Memorandum · UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
TO : MR. E. A. TAMM DATE: July 11, 1947
FROM : D. M. LADD
SUBJECT:
[Routing matrix, right margin, partially illegible]
[Left margin handwritten:] Flying Discs
S&G Johnson of the Milwaukee Office called to advise he had
just received a telephone call from Colonel Harry Schafer, Reserve
Officer with the Civilian Air Patrol, Black River Falls, Wisconsin.
Colonel Schafer reported that at 3:30 p.m., July 10, one Sig Hanson,
City Engineer at Black River Falls, Wisconsin, had found a large
12" disc which appeared to have been possibly made out of cardboard
painted with silver airplane dope. In the center was a tube connected to a
small motor with a propellor attached to the side. Colonel Schafer
expressed the opinion that this disc would not be able to fly by
itself. He advised it would be taken to the Air Corps Headquarters.
Colonel Schafer advised, however, that Hanson did not want to release
the disc without FBI approval.
I instructed Mr. Johnson to advise the Air Corps officer
to get in touch with Colonel Schafer and tell him he saw no reason for
the Bureau to attempt to secure the release of the material since it
was not in our custody and we had no control. He stated the press was
also calling concerning this matter. I instructed him to make no
comment to the press.
DML:cmw
G.I.R-b
[Stamp: RECORDED 162-83[ILLEGIBLE]47-16]
[Stamp: 37 JUL 17 1947]
EX-56
[Bottom stamp: 32 JUL 24 1947]STANDARD FORM NO. 64
Office Memorandum · UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
TO : MR. LADD DATE: July 12, 1947
FROM : F. P. GRIFFIN[ILLEGIBLE]
SUBJECT: FLYING DISCS
[Routing matrix, right margin, partially illegible]
Reference is made to Mr. Howe's memorandum to you
dated July 11, in the above-captioned matter.
At 11:55 P.M., July 11, I took a phone call from
Sergeant Louis of the Laurel, Maryland, Police Department. Sergeant
Louis said that he had examined the "flying disc." He said that it
had been made from a Gulf Oil sign and the top of a garbage can and
had been painted with aluminum paint. It had been recently painted
because the paint was still wet. Attached to it were a dry cell
battery, a flashlight bulb, some wires and a buzzer. He asked if
the Bureau was sending anyone out to look at it. I told him that
we were not, that we had referred the matter to the Army, and
suggested that he call them.
I subsequently telephoned Captain Calvert, the Duty
Officer at G-2, and passed on to him the information furnished by
Sergeant Louis.
FFG:jc
G.I.R-5
[Stamp: RECORDED 62-83894-17]
[Stamp: 36 JUL 17 1947]
EX-56
[Bottom stamp: 57 JUL 24 1947][Blank reverse side of Office Memorandum] [Stamps at bottom, inverted/rotated:] RECEIVED LIAISON SECTION F.B.I. [ILLEGIBLE] 14 10 09 AM '47 U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE RECEIVED LIAISON SECTION F.B.I. [ILLEGIBLE] 23 3 31 PM '47
[U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE COMMUNICATIONS SECTION] [Handwritten routing annotations at top right: Harvey, [ILLEGIBLE]] TELETYPE FBI DALLAS 7-8-47 6-17 PM DIRECTOR AND SAC, CINCINNATI URGENT FLYING DISC, INFORMATION CONCERNING. MAJOR CURTAN, HEADQUARTERS EIGHTH AIR FORCE, TELEPHONICALLY ADVISED THIS OFFICE THAT AN OBJECT PURPORTING TO BE A FLYING DISC WAS RE-COVERED NEAR ROSWELL, NEW MEXICO, THIS DATE. THE DISC IS HEXAGONAL IN SHAPE AND WAS SUSPENDED FROM A BALLOON BY CABLE, WHICH BALLOON HAS APPROXIMATELY TWENTY FEET IN DIAMETER. MAJOR CURTAN FURTHER ADVISED THAT THE OBJECT FOUND RESEMBLES A HIGH ALTITUDE WEATHER BALLOON WITH A RADAR REFLECTOR, BUT THAT TELEPHONIC CONVERSATION BETWEEN THEIR OFFICE AND WRIGHT FIELD HAD NOT [REDACTED] BORNE OUT THIS BELIEF. DISC AND BALLOON BEING TRANSPORTED TO WRIGHT FIELD BY SPECIAL PLANS FOR EXAMINATION. INFORMATION PROVIDED THIS OFFICE BECAUSE OF NATIONAL INTEREST IN CASE [REDACTED] AND FACT THAT NATIONAL BROADCASTING COMPANY, ASSOCIATED PRESS, AND OTHERS ATTEMPTING TO BREAK STORY OF LOCATION OF DISC TODAY. MAJOR CURTAN ADVISED WOULD REQUEST WRIGHT FIELD TO ADVISE CINCINNATI OFFICE RESULTS OF EXAMINATION. NO FURTHER INVESTIGATION BEING CONDUCTED. MYLY RECORDED END CXXX ACK IN ORDER EX-29 WA 52 FBI CI MJN EPI NB 6-30 PM O 6-22 PM OK FBI [ILLEGIBLE] [Stamp: RECORDED 62-83894-18] [Stamp: 29 JUL 29 1947] [Handwritten signatures/initials at bottom right, partially illegible:] [ILLEGIBLE] G.W. Reynolds [ILLEGIBLE]
RECEIVED TELETYPE UNIT Jul 8 8 22 PM '47 F.B.I. DEPT. OF JUSTICE RECEIVED LIAISON SECTION JUL 11 2 56 PM '47 F B I U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE [Additional stamps, partially inverted/rotated:] RECEIVED-LAISON JUL 9 8 00 PM [47] F B I [Further stamps illegible]
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE COMMUNICATIONS SECTION [crown symbol] TELETYPE [Handwritten routing at top right, partially illegible] FBI NEW ORLEANS 7-7-47 8-02 [ILLEGIBLE] DIRECTOR FBI VERY URGENT FLYING DISCS, MISCELLANEOUS. T. L. HARRISON, FIFTEEN FIFTY FOUR [ILLEGIBLE] AVENUE, SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA ADVISED HE OBSERVED A CIRCULAR DISC AT SIX FIVE ON THIS DATE COMING FROM NO DIRECTION. DISC LANDED IN FIFTEEN HUNDRED BLOCK OF TEXAS AVENUE. HARRISON PICKED UP DISC AT FIFTEEN FIFTY FOUR TEXAS AVENUE. DISC WHIRLING WHEN SEEN IN AIR AND FIRE SEEN SPOUTING FROM SIDES. FIRE WENT OUT ON LANDING AND SMOKE ISSUED FEW SECONDS AFTER FIRE WENT OUT. DISC PICKED UP AND HOT NOT. [ILLEGIBLE] HARRISON NOTIFIED C-B BARKSDALE IMMEDIATELY AND THEY TOOK DISC BEFORE SA ARRIVED. DISC DESCRIPTION— THIN ALUMINUM DISC SIXTEEN INCHES IN DIAMETER. HAS SMALL COILS TWO INCHES IN DIAMETER AND FOUR INCHES LONG AT THE ENDS OF THE DIAMETER. COILS CONNECTED BY TWO COPPER WIRES TO TWO TERMINALS ON EACH COIL AND THESE WIRES ARE CONNECTED AT THE CROSSING IN THE CENTER OF THE DISC TO AN OBJECT ONE INCH IN DIAMETER BY TWO INCHES LONG, SIMILAR TO STARTER ON FLUORESCENT LIGHT. CENTER OBJECT WAS ON UPPER END— —MADE IN HEAD—MADE SOUND LIKE A POLICEMAN'S WHISTLE AND SHOOTS WIRE TOWARD EARTH IN FLIGHT. BARKSDALE FIELD AGREED IF NOT HARMFUL WOULD TURN OVER TO FBI IF WE WANT IT SUBJECT TO SUPERIOR INSTRUCTIONS. NAMES OF ALL PERSONS WHO HANDLED DISC BEFORE ARRIVAL OF AGENT [REDACTED]. [REDACTED] TOOK PHOTOS. WILL SECURE AND FORWARD PHOTOS TO BUREAU. [Stamp: RECORDED 62-83894-19] END
RECEIVED TELETYPE UNIT Jul 7 10 19 PM '47 F.B.I. DEPT. OF JUSTICE RECEIVED LIAISON SECTION JUL 8 5 53 [ILLEGIBLE] '47 [Additional stamps, partially inverted/rotated:] RECEIVED LIAISON SECTION [ILLEGIBLE] F B I [ILLEGIBLE] [Further stamps illegible]
July 10, 1947
RECORDED 62-83894-20
EX 53
Mr. L. C. A. Hoersch
349 Central Avenue
Jersey City, New Jersey
Dear Mr. Hoersch:
Your letter dated July 6, 1947,
has been received and I do want to thank
you for making this information available
to me. Your interest is appreciated.
Sincerely yours,
John Edgar Hoover
Director
FHI:mjo
mjo
[Stamp: COMMUNICATIONS SECTION
MAILED 11
JUL 11 1947 P.M.
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE]
[Stamp: 65 AUG 6 1947][Blank reverse side of letter] [Stamps at bottom, inverted/rotated:] COMMUNICATIONS SECTION-REGISTERED MAIL NOD-[ILLEGIBLE] MAILED JUL 11 1947 P.M. FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE
Chas. G. MacReynolds Telephone 2-10[ILLEGIBLE]
The MacReynolds
305-307 Sumner Avenue
Asbury Park, New Jersey
7/6/47
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Washington, D.C.
Gentlemen:
For your information & for what
ever value it may be I should
like to report seeing one of these
"Flying Discs" on July 4. It appeared
to have started from the dance hall
here at Asbury Park & momentarily
I thought it was a balloon but it
went in a definite direction at an
apparently constant speed &
gradually ascending following a path
similar to the trajectory of a
bullet but [ILLEGIBLE] pronouncedly. It
disappeared in the distance going north
along the [REDACTED] [ILLEGIBLE] then
Miller and [REDACTED] apparently
at the dance hall.
I hope this may be of some help [ILLEGIBLE]
Yours very truly
L.C.A. Hoersch
349 Central Ave
Jersey City, N.J.
nml
ack 7/10/47 FRI[Blank reverse side of letter] [Stamps at bottom, inverted:] RECEIVED F B I [ILLEGIBLE] 1:50 PM '47 MR. JONES
Mr. J. Edgar Hoover
Wash. D.C.
Doesn't it seem wisest for you to forbid papers – (Do not forbid – but ask
the co-operation of all papers) to keep all news of those discs out of the news
until you are sure just what they are & where from.
Seems to us with all the enemies we have, even within our borders,
it could be something far more important than may seem at first. I had 2 sons
in this war & another who over-did for his America - & we do want it really
protected from danger from now on. Enough are dead & maimed – with-out losing out
now as it easily could be. Why have the papers carried that story if reporters
were made to see how much more sensible not to report – it except to the F.B.I.
There is too much of danger ahead anyway --
Hastily
/s/ G. T. Norris
1734 Thomas Ave
Chicago –
TRUE COPYSTANDARD FORM NO. 64
Office Memorandum · UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
TO : D. M. Ladd DATE:
FROM : H. B. Fletcher[ILLEGIBLE] July 11, 1947
SUBJECT: FLYING DISCS
[Routing matrix, right margin, partially illegible]
SAC Bannister of the Butte Office called at noon today and
stated that a Mrs. Fred[ILLEGIBLE] Masterbrook, 215 7th Avenue East, Twin Falls,
Idaho, at 2:15 A.M. Mountain Time today heard a noise in the back of
her home. She thought a collision had occurred and investigated and
found in the back yard of the home next door an object described as follows:
A disc 30½" in diameter, circular in shape, it is dished like a
saucer and actually there is a saucer within a saucer in the manner of
cymbals. On one surface there is attached a plastic dome described as about
11" in diameter and affixed by 8 bolts in a rather rough manner. The bolts
can best be described as similar to stove bolts. On the other surface is
another dome of metal which is gold in color on one side and on the inside is
silver in color, which looks like tin. Through the plastic dome can be ob-
served three tubes similar to radio tubes and there is some wiring. The disc
generally is 10" thick and at the point where the domes are located about
11" in thickness. There is an object on it that bears the words "Inspected 72".
There is also an object on it and bears the words "Inspected 72". Some of
the wiring has been burned off and it looks as though something might be
missing.
Mr. Bannister stated that if this were the work of some prankster
he want to quite a bit of trouble. He stated the press is aware of this
incident. He stated that the disc had been picked up and was now at the
Police Department, Twin Falls, Idaho. He was instructed to notify the local
Army authorities of the existence of this disc.
HBF:PGS
[Stamp: RECORDED
INDEXED 62-83894-21]
[Stamp: 37 JUL 29 1947]
LA-65[Blank reverse side of Office Memorandum] [Stamps, some inverted/rotated:] F B I LABORATORY DIVISION [ILLEGIBLE] OCT 25 [ILLEGIBLE] RECD [ILLEGIBLE] RECEIVED LIAISON SECTION F.B.I. [ILLEGIBLE] 16 5 09 PM '47 U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE RECEIVED-LAISON-LABO[ILLEGIBLE] F B I [ILLEGIBLE] 15 10 02 PM '47 U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE CRIMINAL LABORATORY [ILLEGIBLE] 15 9 43 AM [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] 17 10 06 AM [ILLEGIBLE] F B I RECEIVED-LAISON-[ILLEGIBLE] F.B.I. [ILLEGIBLE] 15 5:29 [ILLEGIBLE]
July 18, 1947
Mr. C. T. Morris
1734 Thome Avenue
Chicago, Illinois
EX-43 Dear Mr. Morris:
INDEXED
I wish to acknowledge receipt of your letter postmarked July 7, 1947.
The information contained therein has been carefully reviewed and is being made
a matter of permanent record in the files of this Bureau. Your interest in
writing as you did is indeed appreciated.
In the future should you have information which you feel might be of
interest to this Bureau you might find it convenient to contact the Special Agent
in Charge of our Chicago Office, which is located at 1900 Bankers' Building,
Chicago 3, Illinois.
Sincerely yours,
John Edgar Hoover
Director
cc - Chicago (With Incoming. There is no identifiable information in the Bureau's
files concerning the writer of this letter. Despite the fact that
this letter refers to "Flying discs", it is not believed that the
information furnished is sufficiently important to refer to Army
authorities.)
WVC:MJ
[stamp: COMMUNICATIONS SECTION / MAILED 10 / JUL 18 1947 P.M. / FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION / U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE]
[stamp: AUG 13 1947][Reverse side of page 81 — text bleeds through as mirror image, ILLEGIBLE throughout]
notif you are sure
just what they are &
where from.
Seems to be with all
the enemies we have, even
within our borders,
it could be something
far more important than
may seem at first.
I had 2 sons in this
war & another who
over did for his America —
& we do want it
really protected from
danger — now on
Enough are
dead & maimed — with-
out losing out now
as it easily could be.
Why have the papers carried
that story — if reporterswere made to see how much more sensible not to report it — except to the F. B. I. There is too much danger ahead any way — Hastily B. [ILLEGIBLE] Morris 1734 Thome [ILLEGIBLE] Chicago Mr. J. Edgar Hoover [ILLEGIBLE] Wash. D.C. Doesn't it seem wisest for you to forbid papers, (no not forbid — but ask The co-operation of all papers) to keep all news of those discs out — of the news RECORDED 62-83894-23 meeting 7-[ILLEGIBLE]-47 [ILLEGIBLE] [stamp: RECEIVED / FBI INTERNAL SECURITY / U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE]
Office Memorandum • UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
TO : MR. LADD DATE: July 10, 1947
FROM : Roy E. Wood
SUBJECT: FLYING SAUCERS (DISCS)
INFORMATION CONCERNING
At 5:45 AM this date, SAC Hood telephonically contacted the
Bureau and advised at approximately 11:30 PM, July 9, 1947, the office
in Los Angeles had received information from the Resident Agent at Burbank,
California, that a "Flying disc" had landed in or near Burbank and had been
seen to burst into flame when it landed. Apparently it had set fire, all metal,
disc shaped, and having a radio antenna. It was reported to have burst into
flames upon landing. At the time of the report the disc was being held at
the Valley Fire Department in Van Nuys, California.
Coincident with the information received from Burbank, the Los Angeles
Office received calls from the newspapers requesting information. The newspapers
stating they had called the Army Air Force Intelligence who had stated "we are
not interested". According to Mr. Hood, this comment had aroused the newspapers
and they stated they intended to publish this quotation and belabor same in their
first issues. Mr. Hood stated that he had refrained from making any statement
to the press other than to admit possession of an object and that it was being
turned over to military authorities in the morning (this AM), it being Mr. Hood's
opinion that he did not want any quotes in the press and certainly not one to the
effect that we were not interested.
As described to him, Mr. Hood stated that the object was an aluminum
disc about 2' in diameter weighing about ten pounds, painted with aluminum paint
and having some sort of a radio tube in the center of the disc. This object was
in possession of the resident agent at Burbank and would be turned over to
military authorities (G-2) in Los Angeles in the morning.
Mr. Hood's purpose in calling was to place the Bureau on notice regarding
the above described object and any further information would be transmitted to the
Bureau at once.
Action: None indicated.
PBH:da
RECORDED 62-83894-23
EX-53[Reverse side of page 85 — text shows through as mirror image, ILLEGIBLE throughout] [Multiple received stamps visible in inverted orientation, dates circa July 1947]
62-83894-24 [Orange/manila envelope]
[PHOTOGRAPH — side view of disc-shaped metallic object with raised vertical fin/keel, no text visible on photograph face]
SIDE VIEW 62-83894-[ILLEGIBLE]
[PHOTOGRAPH — bottom view of circular disc-shaped object, approximately 2 feet diameter, with raised outer rim, central cylindrical porthole, and multiple triangular cutouts arranged around perimeter, no text visible on photograph face]
BOTTOM VIEW
[PHOTOGRAPH — top view of disc-shaped circular object showing concave surface with central porthole and outer rim, no text visible on photograph face]
TOP VIEW
Office Memorandum • UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
TO : Director, FBI DATE: July 17, 1947
FROM : SAC, Los Angeles
SUBJECT: RECOVERY OF "FLYING DISC",
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA,
JULY 9, 1947
On the evening of July 9, 1947, a report was received at the Los
Angeles Office that a so-called "flying disc" had landed in the vicinity of
Radford and Magnolia Streets in North Hollywood, California, the contraption
being briefly described as approximately 30 inches in diameter, all metal,
disc shaped, and having a radio antenna. It was reported to have burst into
flames upon landing. At the time of the report the disc was being held at
the Valley Fire Department in Van Nuys, California.
SA RICHARD D. AUERBAGH went to the fire department immediately at
which time it was found that a number of people had gathered including news-
paper reporters and photographers who were taking pictures of the disc.
Battalion Fire Chief WALLACE E. NEWCOMB advised Agent that at approximately
10:30 P.M., an unknown woman called on the telephone and excitedly reported
that the disc had dropped into her garden where it began to flame, her
residence being located at 11858 Magnolia Boulevard, North Hollywood. A
fire department truck was sent there and put out the flaming object with the
fire hose, after which the object was taken to the fire station. SA AUERBAGH
thereafter arranged to transport the disc to the office.
The device is briefly described as consisting of two convex steel
discs approximately 2 feet in diameter, fused together at the outer edge
and fastened together in the center by a hollow cylindrical connection. A
vertical galvanized iron fin was screwed to the top of the disc, and a short
length of pipe directed at one end up from the outer circumference into the
interior of the contraption. What appeared to be a radio tube was installed
in the center of the top side. The contraption had a total weight of
approximately 20 pounds.
At the Bureau Office a series of photographs were taken of the
device from various positions, and a set of these photographs are being
forwarded herewith for the Bureau's inspection and information.
The "Flying disc" was thereafter turned over to Major COURTNEY W.
HEMPSTEAD, A.C., G-2, Fort MacArthur, San Pedro, California, who subsequent-
ly reported that the object was definitely a hoax and under no circumstances
could have flown under its own power.
RECORDED
INDEXED 62-83894-24
EX-64 103
COPIES DESTROYED 270 NOV 18 1964
EX-64 3000[Reverse side of page 94 — text shows through as mirror image, ILLEGIBLE throughout] [Multiple received stamps visible in inverted orientation, circa July 1947]
Director, FBI July 17, 1947
Re: RECOVERY OF "FLYING DISC",
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA,
JULY 9, 1947
On the following day, July 10, 1947, one FRANK V. BROWN, 6552
Teasdale Avenue, North Hollywood, reported that on this morning he was at
the North Hollywood Service Station stating at which time there was
considerable talk about the Flying disc having been found in the vicinity.
A number of what appeared to be young high school students were present
and were having quite a laugh about the excitement caused by the finding
of the disc. BROWN stated that he received a definite impression that
these young students either had themselves or knew of someone who had been
working for the past two weeks making this "flying disc". BROWN was
unable to furnish the names of any of these young men but identified one
of them who was making the statements as being employed in a Chevron
Service Station at the corner of Victory Boulevard and Whitsett Street.
He described the youngster as about sixteen years of age.
The above information was also furnished to the G-2 Office at
San Pedro, California.
WAH:HGM
100-9099
ENC. (3)
- 2 -Office Memorandum • UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
TO : Director, FBI DATE: July 3[ILLEGIBLE], 1947
FROM : SAC, Butte
SUBJECT: FLYING DISCS
Mr. DAVE JOHNSON, of the Idaho Daily Statesman, Boise, Idaho, tele-
phonically contacted the Butte Office and asked if the FBI was checking on
the flying discs reported to have been seen by many citizens. He advised
that so many had reported having seen them that it undoubtedly was not a
figment of the imagination. He said that these discs had been seen on July
1, 1947, in the vicinity of Trail Creek near Sun Valley, Idaho, by reputable
citizens.
The writer informed Mr. JOHNSON that this office was not making
an investigation and inquired as to whether he had contacted Army and Navy
officials. He said that he was inquiring of these agencies.
WGB:LB
AIR MAIL
RECORDED
& INDEXED
EX-46
62-83894-25
FBI 36 JUL 23 1947
51 AUG 5 [ILLEGIBLE] 1947
[handwritten: W. Harvey]
[handwritten: R.G. Fletcher]
[handwritten: If necessary on the file]RECEIVED [ILLEGIBLE] 7 10 54 AM [ILLEGIBLE] INTERNAL SECURITY F.B.I. DEPT OF JU[ILLEGIBLE] [handwritten upper right: Copy / No. [ILLEGIBLE] / 0] [Reverse side of page 97 — otherwise blank]
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE COMMUNICATIONS SECTION JUL 1 6 1947 [ILLEGIBLE] TELETYPE 7-16-47 10 [ILLEGIBLE] FBI SEATTLE DIRECTOR URGENT RE FLYING DISCS. MRS. I. D. [ILLEGIBLE], [ILLEGIBLE] SIX [ILLEGIBLE] HIGH [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] THINS AVE., WEST, SEATTLE, REPORTER FLYING DISK HAS LANDED [ILLEGIBLE] ABOUT NINE FORTY TWO PM LAST NIGHT. THAT IT WAS BURNING AT [ILLEGIBLE] IMMEDIATELY EXTINGUISHED. SHE ALSO ADVISED ONE, AND DISK FELL SHORT DISTANCE FROM THEIR OFFICES. [ILLEGIBLE] IMMEDIATELY DISPATCHED TO SCENE AND RECOVERED DISK TAKEN OUR OFFICES AND EXAMINED BY HAVE MORE [ILLEGIBLE] ELECTRONICS [REDACTED] LIBERTY AND AGENTS. DISK DESCRIBED AS ABOUT [ILLEGIBLE] TWENTY EIGHT INCH [ILLEGIBLE] CIRCULAR PIECE THREE FIFTEENTH INCH PLYWOOD CUPPED UP ON TWO SIDES AND HELD SAID POSITION BY WIRE ACROSS ITS CENTER. DISK NEWLY PAINTED LIGHT GRAY OUTSIDE AND HER INSIDE, AND INSIDE OF DISK [ILLEGIBLE] PAINTED LETTERS IN WHITE PAINT AT FOLLOWS QUOTE U.S.S. [ILLEGIBLE]. ALSO [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] UNSURE, WHICH COULD APPEAR TO BE DYE PAINTED LACQUER AND A HAMMER AND SICKLE. MOUNTED ON PIECES OF BAKELITE IN THE CENTER OF THE INSIDE OF THE DISK WERE TWO RADIO TUBES, WHICH WERE PILED UP AND ALSO SO MOUNTED WAS ABOUT A QUART TYPE CYLINDRICAL SHAPED OIL CAN TO WHICH HAS FITTED A SHORT PIECE OF [ILLEGIBLE]-TUBING RUNNING FROM CAN TO ENTRANCE IN A PIECE OF ONE INCH [ILLEGIBLE] FOURTEEN INCHES LONG, THE PIPE EXTENDED THROUGH THE DISH [ILLEGIBLE] 62-83894-26 WAS ABOUT A SIX-INCH [ILLEGIBLE] PIECE OF GLASS [ILLEGIBLE] WAS [ILLEGIBLE] ABOUT AND [ILLEGIBLE] INTO THE END OF THE PIPE. THE END OF THE CLOTH WAS CHAR[ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] BURNING. THE CLOTH WAS [ILLEGIBLE] WITH SOME SUBSTANCE [ILLEGIBLE] INDEXED EX-57 58 AUG 7 1947 cc: Mr. [ILLEGIBLE]
[Reverse side of page 99 — pink paper, multiple FBI received stamps displayed in inverted/upside-down orientation] [stamp visible right-side up: JUL 18 7:40 PM 47 / F.B.I. / U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE / RECEIVED-TAMM] [Additional received stamps from various FBI offices, ILLEGIBLE in inverted orientation]
CONFIDENTIAL COPY/WJ
2-10-51
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION
111th CIC, FAO # 8, P. O. Box 379, Knoxville, Tennessee.
OBJECT SIGHTED OVER OAK RIDGE,
TENNESSEE.
(In compliance with letter AJAGI-360.33 General, dated 15 November 1950,
Headquarters, Third Army. SUBJECT: Unconventional Aircraft, the following is
submitted.)
A. Location and Time of Sighting:
Between 0800 and 0830 hours on 18 December 1950, on the Turnpike,
within the controlled area, approximately one (1) mile from the White
Wing entrance and Y-12 plant.
B. Weather at the Time:
At 0730 hours - wind from the Northeast, seven (7) miles per hour;
temperature - 20 degrees F. according to the Atomic Energy Commission
Meteorological Division.
C. Names, Occupations, and Addresses of Witnesses:
Dr. A. J. Miller, 513 Delaware Avenue, Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
Dr. V. P. Calkins, 105 Disston Road, Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
Mr. J. Frank Cosnybear, 112 Meadow Road, Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
Mr. A. C. Mooneyham, 101 Dewey Road, Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
Mr. F. T. Ely, 221 Villanova Road, Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
Lt. Col. John R. Hood, U.S.A.F., 200 Virginia Road, Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
Cdr. N. W. Hribar, U.S.N., 103 Norris Lane, Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
Maj. Walter L. Cares, U.S.A.F., NEPA Division, Fairchild Engine and
Airplane Corporation, Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
D. Photographs of Objects, if available:
None.
E. Object Sighted:
A light emanating in the shape of a circle, of an intensity much greater
that that of a bright moon, giving the impression of form in connection
with the light. The light was white in appearance and did not show any signs of
refraction in a band or continuous spectra. It appeared to be from 15 to 30 degrees
elevation above the horizon, and appeared to be traveling in a Northwesterly direction, 15 to 30 degrees elevation above the horizon, and
appeared to diminish considerably in size during thirty seconds of observation.
The observers were unable to identify the object in terms of mass
or shape, other than the circular appearance of the light. How-
ever, the circular area appeared to darken, starting at approx-
imately 7:00 to 9:00 o'clock along the perimeter and continuing
to darken along the perimeter and inner area until the light was
concentrated in approximately 1:00 to 3:00 o'clock position of a
very small diameter, at which point it appeared somewhat similar
to a large star.
F. Any other pertinent information:
Following is quoted from the Radar Log maintained by the McGhee Tyson
Air Force Base: [handwritten] 3/14 -- 2662 January 1951
111th CIG, FAO #8, P. O. Box 379, Knoxville, Tennessee.
OBJECTS SIGHTED OVER OAK RIDGE,
TENNESSEE.
F. (Continued)
"0832 hours - Atomic Energy Commission reported aircraft over
Northeast end of area - no paint. (Paint meaning indication on the radar
scopes.)
"0839 hours - Small paint near Southeast corner of area on 190 degree.
(Magnetic bearing of objects travel.)
"0845 hours - Lost contact. Fighter interception was attempted with
negative results."
Attached hereto are two certified true copies of the statements made
by the above mentioned observers.
Attachments - 2
2STATEMENT
Following is a report of the sighting of an unidentified
object in the Oak Ridge Area by the undersigned. On the morning of
18 December 1950, the following personnel were riding to their work
at NEPA Division, Fairchild Engine and Airplane Corp., in the B-50
Area at Oak Ridge, Tennessee:
Lt. Col. John R. Hood, USAF
Cdr. N. W. Hribar, USN
Major James L. Steels, USAF
Major Walter L. Cares, USAF
Mr. James B. Gray
Mr. William G. Frey
Mr. Gray, Commander Hribar, and Major Steele were riding in the front
seat; Col. Hood, Major Cares, and Mr. Frey were in the rear.
At approximately 0807, while riding southwest on the turnpike
just outside the restricted area, Col. Hood sighted a very bright
reflection through the windshield of the car. Major Cares, who was sit-
ting beside Col. Hood and whose attention was attracted by Col.
Hood's looking at the sky, sighted the same reflection. Col. Hood then
called the attention of the remaining occupants of the car to the
reflection. Of these, Commander Hribar also sighted the reflection,
but Mr. Gray, Mr. Frey, and Major Steele did not sight it.
The reflection was visible through the front windshield of the
car only for a moment because, shortly thereafter, the road turned to
the right. The corresponding turn of the car so placed the relative
position of the reflection that it could not be seen through the left
front windows and was viewed again. The windshield, however, was not
frosted and permitted excellent vision.
The object appeared only as the bright reflection of the sun from
an apparently metal surface, such as might be expected from an aircraft
at a great distance. No accurate estimate of the object's size or
range could be made from the observation. It appeared to be southeast
of Oak Ridge Townsite at an angle of elevation of about 25 degrees from
the level.
s/John R. Hood, Jr. t/JOHN R. HOOD, JR., Lt. Col. USAF
s/Edward W. Hribar t/EDWARD W. HRIBAR, Commander, USN
s/Walter L. Cares t/WALTER L. CARES, JR., Major, USAF
CERTIFIED TRUE COPY:
WILLIAM B. GRAY, SAC, Knoxville, Tenn.CONFIDENTIAL
This document contains information affecting
the national defense of the United States
within the meaning of the Espionage Laws, Title
18 U. S. C. Sections 793 and 794. Its trans-
mission or the revelation of its contents in
any manner to an unauthorized person is
prohibited by law.
December 28, 1950
SUBJECT: Visual Observation on December 19, 1950
TO: Mr. William G. Frey
Assistant to the AF Plant
Representative for Security
Office of the AF Plant Representative
Air Material Command
NEPA Division
Fairchild Engine and Airplane Corporation
Post Office Box R
Oak Ridge, Tennessee
1. On December 18, 1950, at sometime between 0820 and 0830, the
following NEPA employees were riding in a vehicle on the Turn-
pike within the Controlled Area, the NEPA Project approx-
imately one half short of the Y cutoff to White Wing entrance
and Y-12:
Dr. A. J. Miller
Dr. V. P. Calkins
Mr. J. Frank Cosnybear
Mr. A. O. Mooneyham
2. The passengers, with the exception of Dr. Calkins, who did not
attempt to participate in the viewing, observed a light emanating
in the shape of a circle, of an intensity much greater than that
of a bright moon, through the windshield of the vehicle. The
viewers had the impression that there was form in connection with
the light. The light was nearly white in color. The light was white
in appearance and did not show any signs of refraction into a band
or continuous spectra. It appeared to be from 15 to 30 degrees
elevated above the horizon. They appeared to be traveling in
a Northwesterly direction. The impression of its traveling is due to
the fact that the object appeared to diminish considerably in size during
approximately thirty seconds during which it was viewed. The vehicle remained
in motion and in following the course of the road, changed its rela-
tive position so that the object was viewed through the last few
seconds from the side windows. As the vehicle proceeded down the
road a near-by ridge obstructed the view of the object, and although
the vehicle completed the turn toward X-25 at the "Y" intersection
CONFIDENTIAL
Fairchild Engine and Airplane Corporation
NEPA Division, P. O. Box 415, Oak Ridge, Tenn.CONFIDENTIAL
Mr. William G. Frey December 28, 1950
Assistant to the AF Plant Page 2
Representative for Security
Subject: Visual Observation on
December 18, 1950
and the passengers had a relatively clear view at points along
the road, the object was not viewed again. The observers were un-
able to estimate approximate size, speed, or vertical elevation;
and, therefore, were not certain whether the object was over the
Controlled Area or a considerable distance away. There was no
vapor trail or any other visible condition within the vicinity of
the object and there were no clouds which could have obscured it.
The observers were unable to identify the object in terms of mass
or shape, other than the circular appearance of the light. How-
ever, the circular area appeared to darken, starting at approx-
imately 7:00 to 9:00 o'clock along the perimeter and continuing
to darken along the perimeter and inner area until the light was
concentrated in approximately 1:00 to 3:00 o'clock position of a
very small diameter, at which point it appeared somewhat similar
to a large star.
3. The observers were not in complete agreement as to whether the
object was moving at a speed which caused it to diminish in size
or actually was diminishing in size without any great velocity of
travel due to the darkening effect described above.
NEPA Division
FAIRCHILD ENGINE AND AIRPLANE CORPORATION
s/ Gene A. Goodjen
t/ GENE A. GOEDJEN
Plant Protection Manager
GAG:VM
CONFIDENTIAL
Fairchild Engine and Airplane Corporation
NEPA Division, P. O. Box 415, Oak Ridge, Tenn.
CERTIFIED TRUE COPY:
WILLIAM B. GRAY, SAC, Knoxville, Tenn.20 January 1951
111th CIC Detachment, FAO #8, P.O. Box 379, Knoxville, Tennessee
OBJECTS SIGHTED OVER OAK RIDGE,
TENNESSEE
(In compliance with letter AJACI-360.33 General, dated 15 November 1950.
Headquarters, Third Army, Subject: Unconventional Aircraft, the following
is submitted.)
A. Location and Time of Sighting: On 1247 hours on 20 December 1950.
B. Weather at Time of Sighting: At 1200 hours on 20 December 1950; Ceiling -
2700 feet; broken overcast; Seven miles visibility; Temperature - 37 degrees
F; Dew Point - 31 degrees; and Wind - Calm.
C. Names, Occupations, and Addresses of Witnesses: Personnel of the 663rd
AO and W Squadron, McGhee Tyson Airport, Knoxville, Tennessee.
D. Photographs of Objects, if available: None
E. Object Sighted: The radar log of the 663rd AO and W Squadron, McGhee Tyson
Airport, Tennessee contained the following entry: "20 December
1950. 1247 hours. Small paint in area (Oak Ridge Controlled Area). Very,
very slow. Made perfect intercept (with F-82 Fighter aircraft) and orbit
surrounding and made ahead."
F. Any other pertinent information: This report is made because of its
possible aid in determining the identity of the numerous unidentified
objects sighted over Oak Ridge, Tennessee
SOURCE: Personnel of 663rd AO AM, Squadron, McGhee Tyson, Knoxville,
Tennessee, and the log of the 663rd ACSW Squadron.
[handwritten] 62-83894-26520 January 1951
111th CIC Detachment, FAO #8, P.O. Box 379, Knoxville, Tennessee
OBJECTS SIGHTED OVER OAK RIDGE,
TENNESSEE
(In compliance with letter AJACI-360.33 General, dated 15 November 1950,
Headquarters, Third Army, Subject: Unconventional Aircraft, the following is
submitted.)
A. Location and Time of Sighting: From 1505 hours for about three (3) hours,
on 14 December 1951, on the Radar Scopes of the 663rd AO and W Squadron,
McGhee Tyson Airport, Knoxville, Tennessee.
B. Weather at the Time: At 1500 hours on 14 December 1950--"Ceiling-2100 feet;
Broken overcast; Seven (7) miles visibility; Temperature- 37 [degrees]
Southwest at thirteen (13)miles perhour.
C. Names, Occupations, and Addresses of Witnesses: Personnel of the 663rd
AO and W Squadron, 30th Air Division, McGhee Tyson Airport, Knoxville,
Tennessee, who were on duty at the time. Their occupations are Radar
operators, Supervisors, and experts.
D. Photographs of Objects, if available: No photographs taken. See "F" below.
E. Object Sighted: A group of targets blanketed the Radar Scopes in the area
directly over the government Atomic Energy Commission projects at Oak
Ridge, Tennessee. These objects could not be identified from the radar
image and a perfect fighter interception met with negative results.
F. Any other pertinent information: Lt. Robinson of the 663rd AO and W
Squadron, McGhee Tyson Airport, Knoxville, Tennessee, took photographs of
the scope readings with a personal, four (4) by five (5) Speed Graphic
Camera, using Plus-X civilian procured film, a lens opening of F-2.5,
and a shutter speed varying from twenty (20) to fourteen one (1) seconds.
The negatives were printed and forwarded to the 30th Air Division, Selfridge
Air Force Base, Michigan, which installation printed the negatives and
sent copies thereof to the 663rd AO and W Squadron. The numerous targets
can readily identified from the permanent radar echos by comparing the
photographs.
(2-2)
SOURCE: Personnel and logs of the 663rd AO and W Squadron, McGhee Tyson
Airport, Knoxville, Tennessee.20 January 1951
111th CIC Detachment, FAO #8, F.C. Box 379, Knoxville, Tennessee
OBJECTS SIGHTED OVER OAK RIDGE,
TENNESSEE
(In compliance with letter AJACI-360.33 General, dated 15 November 1950,
Headquarters Third Army, Subject: Unconventional Aircraft, the following is
submitted.)
A. Location and Time of Sighting: At 2145 hours on 16 January 1951.
B. Weather at the Time of Sighting: Clear; visibility twenty (20) miles;
Temperature - 37 degrees F.; and Wind - Southwest at five (5) miles perhour.
Winds aloft: At 2000 feet - 240 degrees at 8 knots
3000 " - 210 " - 3 knots
5000 " - 200 " - 3 knots
C. Names, Occupations and Addresses of Witnesses: 663rd ACSW Squadron Personnel
who are Radar operators, ANO Patrol Personnel, policemen at Oak Ridge,
Tennessee. Captains L.G.M. Clevenger and Wm. Allen, Controllers of 663rd.
D. Photographs of Objects if available: None
E. Object Sighted: Two bright objects in the sky, one of which was east of
McGhee Tyson Airport and the other was west. The object to the east was
a light, brighter than any other star, emitting intermittent glow of
various colors of the color spectrum. An aircraft attempted interception
and found it was watching directly for a star. Weather personnel
explained that the spectural reflection of the star was caused by the
volume of atmosphere and physical nature, together with heat, which must
be looked through to see a star close to the horizon. These phenomena
caused refraction of the light rays from the star thereby reflecting a
continuous spectral change of light from the star.
The light to the West was observed through a twenty (20) power spotting
scope and the light seemed to be descending. It took about one hour to
descend if it was moving. It disappeared from the sight of observers.
Captain Clevenger stated that this light, when viewed through the spotting
scope, took on many peculiar forms, with lines, cures, tails, etc, therein,
thus generally fitting the description of all "flying saucers" ever described
to him.
Shortly after this object disappeared from sight (behind trees) ANO
personnel at Oak Ridge, Tennessee reported they had sighted an object about
twelve (12) miles Southeast of the K-25 Plant in the Controlled Area. They
also observed the aircraft which had been sent for interception but stated
the aircraft was too far north for the aircraft to make identification, and
ANO personnel later reported that they had observed a star.20 January 1950
111th CIC Detachment, FAO #8, P.O. Box 379, Knoxville, Tennessee
OBJECTS SIGHTED OVER OAK RIDGE,
TENNESSEE
F. Any other pertinent information: The Commanding Officer of the 663rd ACSW
Squadron, 30th Air Division, McGhee Tyson Airport, Knoxville, Tennessee, in
a letter to his Commanding Officer on 17 January 1951, Subject: Report of
Unusual Incident 214: hours 16 January 1951, stated:
" 1. In compliance with telephone instructions from the ADOC 17 January
1951, the following unusual incident report is herewith submitted:
Time Date-16 January 1951
1915: An unusual airborne object was sighted approximately
10 miles NNW of the station, the lights appeared very similar to
a star but much brighter and slightly larger than other visible
stars at the time, as the observer began the object seemed to be approximately
5,000 feet above the terrain and appeared moving slowly. As the object
appeared to be over or near the Oak Ridge Area, the ANO Patrol
Headquarters was notified and their ground observer alerted.
About this time some interference was noted on the Radar Scopes
(AN/CPS-11 in the approximate area of the observed object); however
no interference was noted on the height finder (AN/CPS-4). (See
attached Para 117 and 17 Jun 1951.)
1925: Object still apparently descending, F-82 scrambled to attempt
interception, still no report from ABE Headquarters.
1930: Similar object observed 15 to 20 miles east of station; seems to be
descending rather than descending.
1935: AF T477 (Locally based and piloted by assigned AF officer) C-45
requested, sightings type, requested first to try - AF fixed
25 miles SW of station, Pilot Major Raymond C. Gare - AF T477
requested to investigate object east of station.
1945: AF T477 sighted subject object and reported it to be a star
1946: F-82 orbiting S/E corner of Oak Ridge Area no electronic or visual
observation still no electronic observation by station 47.
1946: Visual observation reported by Oak Ridge Ground Observers, 12 miles
southeast of K-25 area (This is in the SE corner of Oak Ridge Area)
F-82 in sight and is north of object. F-82 vectored south toward
object but no contact, electronic or visual. Object report 2800 feet
above terrain by Oak Ridge Observers.
1955: Oak Ridge Patrol Headquarters reports that observed object determined
(to be a star)20 January 1951
111th CIC Detachment, FAO #8, P.O. Box 379, Knoxville, Tennessee
OBJECTS SIGHTED OVER OAK RIDGE,
TENNESSEE
to be a star.
2000: F-82 reports clear sailing and no restrictions to visibility,
still patrolling area for possible pickup of object, still no joy."
NOTE: This is an extract of the information listed in logs kept at
the Radar Site by Radar Personnel. (2-2)
SOURCE: Personnel as in "C" above.[stamp: GS-EmahoProcess No. 40]
Office Memorandum · UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
TO : MR. C. E. HENRICH [handwritten annotation] DATE: February 26, 1951
FROM : MR. E. H. MOSSBURG
SUBJECT: FLYING SAUCERS
It is recommended the attached article which
appeared in Look magazine January, 1951, be filed in
captioned case for information purposes.
Attachment
EHM:gmu
[handwritten annotations in margin:]
A.I.R. 7
5-[ILLEGIBLE]
[ILLEGIBLE]
[handwritten red stamp:] 62-83894 - 266
MAR 6 1951
RECORDED - 9 EX-56
[red stamp:] 65 MAR 14 1951[Manila envelope, back side] [handwritten red:] 62-83894 - 266
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A NUCLEAR PHYSICIST EXPOSES FLYING SAUCERS "There is no longer any need for secrecy," says Navy physicist, after finding that his own research started the "saucer" scare. By RICHARD WILSON [ILLEGIBLE] [Left column article text - partially illegible at this resolution] [ILLEGIBLE] October 1950, physicists from the [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE] [Bottom left image caption:] Skyhook rocket in a [ILLEGIBLE] "Saucers" over [ILLEGIBLE] of NERL's experiments [ILLEGIBLE] under Dr. Liddel's supervision. [Top right image caption:] [ILLEGIBLE] No "Saucer" Without Skid [Right column text - partially illegible] [ILLEGIBLE] Scientists Discovered [ILLEGIBLE] the Bug [ILLEGIBLE] 30
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[Right page - article continuation]
[Image caption:] Skyhook ready for ascent. "Saucers" were sighted off ONE's experiments
in the atmosphere began under Dr. Liddel's supervision.
FLYING SAUCERS continued
Bigger Skyhooks coming—
then more "saucers" will fly
[Article text]
recorded on the instruments during the flight from Oahu. The instruments
are released electronically by parachutes at the end of the flight.
The aluminum particles themselves came from showers which originated
as distant locations from which the lightning had driven these numerous
reports of light phenomena thought [ILLEGIBLE]. They were
later discovered to be cosmic particles striking at about 1000 miles
per minute at the top of the atmosphere.
Cosmic-Ray Mystery
The source of these cosmic particles was unknown. One theory long held
had them originating as high-energy radiation from explosions on the sun.
Their impact into the upper atmosphere [ILLEGIBLE] their power and origin
are quite distinct from the solar system.
Whatever their source, these particles strike atoms in the upper
atmosphere, crashing them in so dramatic a fashion as to produce brief
showers of electrons and atomic debris.
[I]nvestigators recently discovered that the higher they could track
a balloon, the more certain they could be about the cosmic ray intensity
with the greatest accuracy. Their ultimate aim was to establish cosmic
ray intensity as a function of altitude and carry the results into the
far regions of the upper atmosphere. Mount Evans at [ILLEGIBLE]
Cleveland, Ohio in 1951.
A third type of [ILLEGIBLE]
Four groups of cosmic-ray observers have been at it in those B-29
bombers, fitted out as flying labs across [ILLEGIBLE]. Their destination
is North Pole and away from it before [ILLEGIBLE] Chalks, Charlotte,
and Iowa, Peru [ILLEGIBLE] flying laboratories attached to the planes
are making records.
The fourth type is the Skyhook project. But there is no end to
reports of flying saucers. But there are still more to come.
The Office of Naval Research are working on a new balloon with four
times the capacity of the Skyhook, which can rise to heights of 125,000
feet. This will carry instruments into the earth's atmospheric envelope
above 25 miles.
It can safely be predicted that a year from today there will be a new
crop of new "saucers" in the sky as the new, improved model will be
observed by civilians and alarmed citizens of middle America. These
observers will be unable to identify them as balloons. The interest in
outer space is gaining on us.
END
54CLASSIFIED
INCOMING
MESSAGE
CONFIDENTIAL
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
STAFF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE
[stamp:] RECORDED - P - 3 Through PARAPHRASE NOT REQUIRED
[ILLEGIBLE] [CHANNELS]
AF H30
FEB 13 1951
FROM: NEAC PEPPERRELL AFB NFLD
TO: CSAF WASH DC
NR: NW 0212 10 FEB 51
Text on following page.
[handwritten annotations:]
Flying Saucers
Follow - Flying [ILLEGIBLE]
Information
[ILLEGIBLE initials]
ACTION: AF
INFO : 02, 03
CAP IN 97532
DA IN 131
(12 Feb 51) DTG: 100400Z
[stamp:] RECORDED - 137
MAR 8 1951
14
[stamp:] DECLASSIFIED
Authority
NND 90686
12 FEB1351
CONFIDENTIAL COPY NO. 28
[DA 903 FORM 22-3]
[U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1948-O-838841]
[handwritten red:] 62-83894 - 267
[stamp:] 61 MAR 15 1951
[stamp:] 373DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE
STAFF MESSAGE DIVISION
INCOMING CLASSIFIED MESSAGE
CONFIDENTIAL PARAPHRASE NOT REQUIRED, NOTIFY
PRIORITY CRYPTOCENTER BEFORE DECLASSIFYING
FROM: NEAC PEPPERRELL AFB NFLD
TO: CSAF WASH DC
NR: EV 0212 10 Feb 51 (DTG 100400)
Unidentified object seen at 0055Z 10 Feb at 49 degrees
50 min north, 50 degrees 03 min west by crew of Navy 6501, VR1,
Patuxent River, MD. Originally seen as heavy light in distance
on the surface as lights of a city. The yellowish light, like a
fire in color, approached rapidly and grew very bright and very
large with a semi-circular shape. It was on a true course of
about 125 degrees, plane on a true course of 225 degrees, as it
approached the plane it suddenly turned about almost 180 degrees
and disappeared rapidly over the horizon as a small ball. Speed
was terrific. Seen fr an angle of about 45 degrees looking down
fr the plane. Crew all experienced North Atlantic Fliers Lt S.A.
Kingdon, Lt A.L. Jones, Lt O.R. Bethune, Lt N.O.F. Koger, Lt
J.R. Meyer, all saw object over a period of fr seven to eight min.
Plane flying at 10,000 altitude.
ACTION: CIN
ADDED DIST: ARMY, STATE, CIA, OSD(OULO), JCS
CAP IN: 97532 (10 Feb 51) MEL/ref
CONFIDENTIAL
COPY No.
[AFG 1998 O-309 B]
THE MAKING OF AN EXACT COPY OF THIS MESSAGE IS FORBIDDENFebruary 23, 1951
Mr. Jimmy W. Shore
310 Caddo Street
Arkadelphia, Arkansas
Dear Jimmy!
[stamp:] RECORDED INDEXED / 62-[ILLEGIBLE]894 - 268
Your letter dated February 14, 1951, has been
received.
While I appreciate the concern which prompted
your writing in this regard, this Bureau does not have
available for distribution any material concerning
so-called "flying saucers." It was thoughtful of you
to bring your observations in this connection to my
attention.
I am enclosing some material which I thought
you might like to have.
Sincerely yours,
J. Edgar Hoover
John Edgar Hoover
Director
Enclosure:
List of courses of study
SA and Clerical Job Sheets
25 Years of Identi[ILLEGIBLE]
Personnel and Services of Lab
NOTE: The only record located in Buffiles indicated that
correspondent requested and received descriptive material
[ILLEGIBLE] concerning the Bureau in 1949. Data presently enclosed is
[ILLEGIBLE] requested.
[stamps:]
MAR 14 1951
FEB [ILLEGIBLE] 1951[Reverse side of page 119 letter -- page is upside down, showing postal routing stamps and carbon impression] [stamps, upside down:] RECEIVED-MAIL ROOM DEPT. OF JUSTICE Feb 24 4 [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE stamp] RECEIVED-MAIL ROOM FEB [ILLEGIBLE] 1951 DEPT. OF JUSTICE [ILLEGIBLE routing and index stamps] E. D. O. DEPT OF JUSTICE [Faint carbon impression/bleed-through of letter text from front of page -- ILLEGIBLE]
(b) FLYING DISCS -- The Bureau, at the request of the Army Air Forces Intelligence,
has agreed to cooperate in the investigation of flying discs. The Air Forces have
confidentially advised that it is possible to release three or more discs in odd
numbers, attached together by a wire, from an airplane in high altitudes and that
these discs would obtain tremendous speed in their descent and would descend to the
earth in an arc. The Army Air Forces Intelligence has also indicated some concern
that the reports of sightings might have been made by subversive individuals for
the purpose of creating a mass hysteria.
7-30-47
BUREAU BULLETIN NO. 42 - 2 -
Series 1947
You should investigate each instance which is brought to your attention
of a sighting of a flying disc in order to ascertain whether or not is is a bona
fide sighting, an imaginary one or a prank. You should also bear in mind that
individuals might resort to seeing flying discs for various reasons. It is conceivable
that an individual might be desirous of seeking personal publicity, causing hysteria
or playing a prank.
The Bureau should be notified immediately by teletype of all reported
sightings and the results of your inquiries. In instances where the report appears
to have merit, the teletype should be followed by a letter to the Bureau giving
in detail the results of your inquiries. The Army Air Forces have assured the
Bureau complete cooperating in these matters and in any instances where they fail to
make information available to you or make the recovered discs available for your
examination, it should promptly be brought to the attention of the Bureau.
Any information you develop in connection with these discs should be
promptly brought to the attention of the Army through your usual liaison channels.
[stamp: 62-83894
AUTH INDEXED
78 AUG 4 1947]
[stamp: 58 AUG 18 1947]AFTER FIVE DAYS RETURN TO 4319 Mission St. Daly City, Calif. [postmark: DALY CITY CALIF JUL 1947] [stamp: BUILD YOUR WISELY U.S. SAVING] Mr. J Edgar Hoover F.B.I. Washington, D.C.
Daly City Sheet Metal Works
Air Conditioning - Gas Furnaces
Sky Lights - General Repairing
4319 Mission St. Phone 4-6689
July 30,
MR. J. Edgar Hoover
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir, Flying Discs
Reading about Kenneth Arnold seeing
these flying saucers. I got a brain-
storm. Maybe there is someone that is
manufacturing a contraption that could
be sent up by Remote Control, and
could be used against us.
Yours truly,
[ILLEGIBLE]
[ILLEGIBLE]
[stamp: RECEIVED
INDEXED
30 SEP 30 1947
SAC AUG 28 1947]
[handwritten: 34][Reverse/back side of page 123 - blank with routing stamps, mirrored text, ILLEGIBLE] [stamp: 5 DEPT OF JUSTICE FBI AUG 28 1947 INTERNAL SECURITY]
[blue label: This image contains all the
information on the document]
Office Memorandum · UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
TO : D. M. LADD DATE: 7/10/47
FROM : E. G. Fitch
SUBJECT: FLYING DISKS
At request of Brigadier General George F. Schulgen, Chief of
the Requirements Intelligence Branch of Army Air Corps Intelligence,
Special Agent S. W. Reynolds discussed the above captioned matter with him
on July 9, 1947. General Schulgen indicated to Mr. Reynolds that the Air Corps
has taken the position that every effort must be undertaken in order to learn
and ascertain whether or not the flying disks are a fact and, if so, to learn
all about them. According to General Schulgen, the Air Corps Intelligence are
utilizing all of their contacts in order to ascertain whether or not such a
phenomenon could in fact occur. He stated that this research is being conducted
with the thought that the flying objects might be a celestial phenomenon and with
the view that they might be a foreign body mechanically controlled.
General Schulgen also indicated to Mr. Reynolds that all Air Corps
installations have been alerted to run out each reported sighting to obtain all
available data to assist in this research project. In passing, General Schulgen
advised that an Air Corps pilot who believed that he saw one of these objects was
thoroughly interrogated by General Schulgen and scientists, as well as a psy-
chologist, and the pilot was adamant in his claim that he saw a flying disk.
General Schulgen advised Mr. Reynolds that the possibility exists that
the first reported sightings of the so-called flying disk were fallacious and
prompted by individuals seeking personal publicity, or were reported for political
reasons. He stated that if this was so, subsequent sightings might be the result
of a mass hysteria. He pointed out that the thought exists that the first reported
sighting might have been the result of foreign individuals sympathetic with the view to
causing hysteria and fear of a secret Russian weapon.
General Schulgen indicated to Mr. Reynolds that he is desirous of
having all the angles covered in this matter. He stated that reports of his
scientists and findings of the various Air Corps installations will be available
in his office. General Schulgen also complimented the Bureau on the assistance
of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in locating and questioning the individuals
who first sighted the so-called flying disks in order to ascertain whether or not
their statements were prompted by personal desire for publicity or political reasons.
General Schulgen assured Mr. Reynolds that there are no War Department or Navy
Department projects presently being conducted which in any way could be tied
tied up with the flying disk. General Schulgen indicated to Mr. Reynolds that
if the Bureau would cooperate with him in this matter, he would offer all the
facilities of his office as to results obtained in the effort to identify and
run down this matter.
Mr. Reynolds advised General Schulgen that this request would be made
known to the Bureau and an answer made available to him as soon as possible.
[stamp: 62-83894
INDEXED
[date] AUG 7 1947]
[handwritten: 33]
[stamp: 58 AUG 7 1947][Reverse/back side of Office Memorandum page 125 - text bleed-through, ILLEGIBLE] [stamps: RECEIVED - TAMM FBI NO 1 2:37 PM '47 U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE RECEIVED - TAMM FBI JUL 15 8:51 AM '47 U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE MR JONES JUL 18 11:44 AM '47 RECEIVED LIAISON SECTION RECEIVED FBI JUL 15 9:47 AM '47 U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE INTERNAL SECURITY RECEIVED FBI JUL 15 8:57 AM '47 INTERNAL SECURITY]
Memorandum for Mr. Ladd
Mr. Reynolds also discussed this matter with Colonel L. R. Forney of MID.
Colonel Forney indicated that it was his attitude that inasmuch as it has been
established that the flying disks are not the result of any Army or Navy experi-
ments, the matter is of interest to the FBI. He stated that he was of the opinion
that the Bureau, if at all possible, should accede to General Schulgen's request.
SWR:AJR
[initials]
ADDITION
I would recommend that we advise the Army that the Bureau does not believe it
should go into these investigations, it being noted that a great bulk of those
alleged discs reported found have been pranks. It is not believed that the
Bureau would accomplish anything by going into these investigations.
TML
[initials]
[red initials: GKT]
[initials]
I think we should do this
7-15
I would do it but before agreeing
to it we must insist upon full access
to discs recovered. If on instance in
the in case the Army grabbed it &
would not let us have it for cursory
examination.
[initials]
- 2 -July 30, 1947
Mr. George J. Pluskat
907 Seneca Avenue
Brooklyn 27, New York
Dear Mr. Pluskat:
[stamped: RECORDED 62-83894- 35]
I desire to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 14, 1947,
and to express my appreciation to you for bringing this matter to my attention.
The information set forth in your letter has been carefully reviewed
and is being maintained in this Bureau as a matter of record.
Sincerely yours,
John Edgar Hoover
Director
NOTE: Pluskat has been a previous correspondent with the Bu file 62-0-34750.
No record could be located in the Crime Records Section indication that the
correspondent might be a mental case.
[stamp: COMMUNICATIONS SECTION
JUS:FM MAILED 10
JUL 31 1947 P.M.
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE]
[stamp: 58 AUG 13 1947]
[initials and routing notations]907 Seneca Ave.,
Brooklyn 27, N.Y.
July 14th, 1947.
Mr. J. Edgar Hoover, Chief of the F.B.I.,
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir;
Please forgive me for taking up your time with this item. It really isn't
necessary. Yet, although everybody's tongue was wagging from the East and to the
West coast, I couldn't resist putting my car in.
Flying Saucers in the Sky. Heading for the Milky Way. Funny? I don't know.
We read and read and read. "Sky Disc Derby Open to All" - "Calls 'Saucers' Trick
of Vision" - "Believe it or not, 27 States see those flying saucers" - "Who saw the
Saucers? 40 States in the Game" - "Celestial Dishes sought between the Raindrops" -
and this gem: "'Disks' called 'Flying Saucers' By House member" (Reports that Air
Planes resemble 'Flying Saucers") - "Air-liner crew reports seeing 9 flying disks
for 12 minutes." That's the way it went on, for days and days.
Please, don't remind me that this is a military problem. Soldiers fight the en-
emy out in the open and away from home if possible. The Federal Agents (the unsung
heroes) fight the enemy under cover and in the home grounds. So, here I am.
These so-called saucers might be kites, but according to reports, these things
didn't flutter or float, they sailed and kites don't sail, the strangest part is,
they all sail in the same direction, from West to East.
Rewards were offered, no collectors. Planes chased them, none captured. They had
to land, somewhere, as long as the Military didn't care. Civilians deny, deny, deny
being responsible for this. Where does it lead to? An enemy. A little while back it was
mentioned somewhere that Russia had or has a contraption for their next war, emitting
a sound (like a silent whistle for dogs) what it makes do, is their enemy. I
don't know if a country was experimenting such a weapon, the brave people of the
U.S. were not scared. They only informed the so-called enemy how successful they
were.
It could be an optical illusion, or supposing some unscrupulous persons, planted
a few chosen observers here and there and in that way managed to get us confused.
These innocent people reporting the phenomena.
What confuses me is, that when we became too curious and determined to find
out what they really are, those things disappeared, and then we found substitutes, called
kites. These things resembling description as near as possible to the real thing.
Why couldn't those things have been directed from home again like a homing pigeon?
A man makes a noise that his dog understands, it tastes something at its best, he
cried WOLF. When the wolf really came. He was sad. He was a ninety. There should be a
law, any person suspected of [ILLEGIBLE] suspicious behavior should be seen
by [ILLEGIBLE] should be brought to the proper authorities, instead of being
ignored or ridiculous. We can't take any chances. At times a colored joke seems
this POOR FOOL but there is no joke.
I had in mind that the ricochet were responsible for these disks (mirages);
rushing waters of the Mississippi, Missouri, Platte, Columbia, Colorado Rivers,
sun going from the peak in the East to the Catskill in the Easterly North, The Blue
Ridge in the East and the Rocky Mountains in the West. Reflections, or whatever
you call them, went from East to West. Hence the Disks! Hm.
RECORDS [ILLEGIBLE]
Respectfully Submitted,
[signed]
George J. PluskatMEMORANDUM FOR D. M. LADD 7/23/47
RECOMMENDATION
There is attached a Bureau Bulletin to the Field for their
assistance in handling this matter.
Attachment
- 2 -[stamp: STANDARD FORM NO. 64]
Office Memorandum · UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
TO : D. M. LADD DATE: 7/24/47
FROM : E. G. Fitch
SUBJECT: FLYING DISCS
Reference is made to my memorandum to you in the above captioned
matter dated July 10, 1947, indicating that Brigadier General George F.
Schulgen of the Army Air Corps Intelligence had requested that the Bureau
cooperate with the Army Air Corps Intelligence in connection with the above
captioned matter. The Director on the referenced memorandum, "I
would do it but before agreeing to it we must insist upon full access
to discs recovered. For instance in the in case the Army grabbed it and would
not let us have it for cursory examination."
This is to advise that Special Agent Reynolds has recontacted
General Schulgen and advised him in connection with the Director's notation.
General Schulgen indicated to Mr. Reynolds that he desires to assure Mr.
Hoover of complete cooperation in this matter and stated that he would issue
instructions to the field directing that all cooperation be furnished to the
FBI and that full cooperation be afforded in making all facilities available to
the FBI Agents. General Schulgen pointed out to Mr. Reynolds that he will
from time to time make the results of the studies of his scientists available
to the Bureau for the assistance of the FBI Field Offices. General Schulgen
indicated to Mr. Reynolds that there has been a decrease in the reported
sightings of the discs which might be because of the fact that it has lost much of
its publicity value. He indicated, however, that he believed it necessary to
follow this matter through to determine as near as possible if these were in
fact seen and to determine their origin.
General Schulgen inquired of Mr. Reynolds the method by which the
Bureau was keeping the Army informed of the Bureau's inquiries, known to
the Air Corps in the Field as well as at the War Department level. Mr.
Reynolds pointed out to General Schulgen that the best procedure appeared to
be through the Bureau's usual liaison channels. Mr. Reynolds advised General
Schulgen that the Bureau Field Offices maintain close liaison with the
Intelligence Divisions of the various Armies as well as the Air Corps at the
Intelligence level at each Army Headquarters. General Schulgen indicated that
he would be satisfied to receive information through the usual liaison channels.
[stamp: 62-83894]
General Schulgen indicated to Mr. Reynolds that he believed that there
was a possibility that this entire matter might have been started by subversive
individuals for the purpose of creating a mass hysteria. He suggested that the
Bureau keep this in mind in any interviews conducted regarding reported sightings.
General Schulgen stated to Mr. Reynolds that he would make available to the Bureau
all information in the possession of the Air Corps regarding the discs which
were first reported and that the Bureau could conduct what some investigation regarding
these individuals to ascertain their motives for reporting that they had observed
flying discs. When General Schulgen makes the information available regarding
these individuals, it will be promptly brought to your attention.
[stamp: CONFIDENTIAL
3 COPIES DESTROYED
270 NOV 18 1954][stamp: STANDARD FORM NO. 64]
Office Memorandum · UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
TO : DIRECTOR, FBI DATE: July 22, 1947
FROM : SAC, EL PASO
[handwritten: 78 ?]
SUBJECT: Mrs. GWYNNE M. MERCHANT, Informant
FLYING OBJECTS IN AIR
Mrs. GWYNNE M. MERCHANT has come to the resident agency at Santa Fe,
New Mexico on several occasions to report that she has received information
concerning flying objects passing through the air. Some of the reports that she
has received concern light objects seen at night which have allegedly been follow-
ed by explosions. She advised that one of such objects was observed by FRANK
BURTRAM, Forest Ranger, who works near Canjilon, New Mexico. She claims that
others were seen near Park View and Tierra Amarilla, New Mexico.
Mrs. MERCHANT called attention to clippings from various newspapers
concerning "disc-like" objects seen in New Mexico and other parts of the country.
Mrs. MERCHANT claims to be a student of radio waves and ray forms, and
contends that the above mentioned objects may be missiles similar to those appear-
ing over Sweden some time ago.
Mrs. MERCHANT has discussed the above with officials of the Atomic
Energy Commission, and has written the Secretary of War and other government
officials concerning her theories. Mr. SIDNEY NEWBERGER, Chief of Security and
Intelligence for the A.E.C., has advised that officials at Los Alamos consider Mrs.
MERCHANT unreliable and possibly not well balanced mentally. She has mentioned to
agents of this office that she was struck by lightning when a child.
On July 15, Mrs. MERCHANT came to the Santa Fe resident agency and
advised that she had written to WALTER WINCHELL, promising him a story in connection
with the "flying discs."
The foregoing information is being submitted to the Bureau, inasmuch as
Mrs. MERCHANT has written to several government officials and Mr. WINCHELL.
62-O-3594c
PTM:GH
[stamp: RECORDED
INDEXED 62-83894- 37
33
E131]
[stamp: RECEIVED
50 1947]
[routing notations][Reverse/back side of page 132 - text bleed-through, ILLEGIBLE] [stamps: RECEIVED MR JONES JUL 18 11:44 AM LIAISON SECTION RECEIVED FBI JUL 30 9:47 AM U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE INTERNAL SECURITY RECEIVED FBI JUL 15 5:03 PM INTERNAL SECURITY]
[stamp: STANDARD FORM NO. 64]
Office Memorandum · UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
TO : D.M. LADD DATE: July 7, 1947
9:50 PM
FROM : K.C. Howe
SUBJECT: FLYING DISCS
Miscellaneous
[handwritten initials and: Harvey]
SAC Weeks called from New Orleans on the matter discussed in the
attached teletype. He wanted to know what policy the Bureau was following
in connection with reports concerning these "flying discs" which were being
received.
I told Mr. Weeks that, unless advised to the contrary, he should, in the
particular case at hand, allow G-2 to handle and not take any jurisdiction for the
FBI. He was told the Bureau would be interested in being kept advised of develop-
ments, and in copies of the photographs he said G-2 would make of the object
found, but that he should not allow himself to be jockeyed into a position where
investigative responsibility, if any were entailed, would fall on us. Mr. Weeks said
he would so handle unless I called him back immediately with instructions for
specific action.
As you will recall, I called you concerning the foregoing.
RECORDED
[stamp: RECORDED 62-83894- 38
FBI
32 AUG 6 1947]
KCH:rh
[stamp: 9 OCT 2 1947 2/2]
[initials and routing notations][Reverse/back side of page 134 - blank with routing stamps, ILLEGIBLE bleed-through] [stamps: RECEIVED FBI U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE INTERNAL SECURITY FBI U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE INTERNAL SECURITY]
CONFIDENTIAL COPY
[label: DECLASSIFIED
Authority
NND 90098]
UNIDENTIFIABLE OBJECTS
Williams Field, Chandler
Arizona
7 July 1947
MEMORANDUM FOR THE OFFICER IN CHARGE:
1. On 1 July 1947, Lt William G. McGinty, USN, 198803, P-80
Student, Williams Field, Chandler, Arizona, was interviewed by
this Agent and stated in substance: That on 30 June 1947, at about
0910, MST, he was flying at 25,000 feet over Grand Canyon, Arizona, in
a P-80 type aircraft. He stated that he was heading south towards
Williams Field, Ariz., when he saw two round objects going at incon-
ceivable speeds, straight down. He further stated that his reactions
were to turn away from the objects. He further stated that one of the
unidentifiable objects followed the other seconds apart. He further
stated that due to the speed of the objects, he could only see that
they were circular, and that they were possible light gray in color.
He further stated that his opinion was that each object was approx-
imately eight feet in diameter. In conclusion, he stated that the
objects would have probably hit the ground approximately twenty-five
miles south of the South Rim of Grand Canyon, Arizona.
AGENT'S NOTES: Lt McGinty gave his permanent address as: N.A.A.T.C.,
Point Hueme, Calif.
2. On 1 July 1947, Captain Malcolm [ILLEGIBLE] Armstrong, 0-734168,
Instructor, Single Engine, Williams Field, Arizona, was
interviewed by this Agent and stated in substance: That his brother
Lt. L. R. Armstrong, stationed at Hq. 10th AAF, Brooks AAF, Texas
had related to him that he saw a formation of unexplainable objects
in the vicinity of Lake Mead, Nev. Captain Armstrong, further stated
that he believed the objects were heading south, and were at
approximately 10,000 feet altitude.
AGENT'S NOTES: Captain Armstrong could not give too much information
on the objects that his brother had seen. Lt. L. R. Armstrong can be
contacted at Hq. 10th AAF, Brooks Field, Texas for further information.
[signed] Lynn C. Aldrich, Special Agent, CIC, AAF, EIGHT AIR FORCE
THIS IS A TRUE COPY
/s/ John M. Orr
JOHN M. ORR, Major, A.C.
[handwritten: Fletcher 38x]
[stamp: 53 NOV 15 NOV 13 1947]
CONFIDENTIALDate : August 1, 1947 PERSONAL AND [CONFIDENTIAL]
[handwritten: declassified
8/21/7?]
To : Director of Intelligence
War Department General Staff
The Pentagon
Washington 25, D. C.
Attention: Colonel L. R. Forney, Chief, Security Group
From : John Edgar Hoover, Director - Federal Bureau of Investigation
Subject: MRS. ARTHUR DOUGLAS [X] ANDERSON
There are attached hereto copies of a letter received from the
above-captioned individual concerning "flying saucers."
Mrs. Anderson's letter has been acknowledged and she has been
advised that copies of her letter have been furnished to you for your con-
sideration.
Attachment
WVC:mjp
[handwritten: John de Castro
n/d 8/4/[ILLEGIBLE]]
[stamp: RECORDED 62-83894- 39
INDEXED 58 AUG 7 1947]
[handwritten: 37]
[stamp: 58 AUG 13 1947][Reverse/back side of page 137 - text bleed-through, mirrored, ILLEGIBLE] [stamp: 58 AUG 13 1947] [stamp: 32] [stamp: handwritten signatures and routing marks]
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
COMMUNICATIONS SECTION
AUG 6, 1947
[time stamp]
TELETYPE
[handwritten: Fletcher]
FBI PORTLAND 8-5-47 0-30 PM 1918
[handwritten routing: Ramos [ILLEGIBLE]]
DIRECTOR AND SACS SEATTLE AND SAN FRANCISCO U R G E N T
FLYING DISCS, EM DASH X. RE TELEPHONE CALL FROM MR. LADD, ONE PM
TODAY REQUESTING TELETYPE SUMMARY CONCERNING NEWSPAPER REPORTS OF
RECENT REPORTED FLYING DISCS IN PORTLAND AREA AND A REPORTED CONFERENCE
OF ARMY OFFICIALS IN PORTLAND CONCERNING FLYING DISCS. LEAVENITT C.
RICHARDS, AVIATION EDITOR THE OREGONIAN, ADVISED THAT A CAPTAIN
WILLIAM L. DAVIDSON AND LT. FRANK M. BROWN OF FOURTH AAF HEADQUARTERS,
SAN FRANCISCO WERE IN PORTLAND JULY TWENTYSEVEN LAST AND INTERVIEWED
DICK RANKIN, AN EXPERIENCED PILOT, WHO HAD REPORTED JUNE FOURTEEN
LAST SEEING A FORMATION OF TEN FLYING DISCS OVER BAKERSFIELD,
CALIF. ACCORDING TO RICHARDS THEY HAD ALSO INTERVIEWED
FOLLOWING FOUR EXPERIENCED PILOTS WHO WERE AMONG FIRST WHO REPORTED
SEEING DISCS - KENNETH ARNOLD, BUSINESS MAN, BOISE, IDAHO, CAPTAIN
E. J. SMITH AND CO-PILOT RALPH STEVENS, UNITED AIRLINES, AND DAVE
JOHNSON, AVIATION EDITOR, IDAHO STATESMAN. TO ASCERTAIN THE
PURPOSE OF THE INTERVIEWS RICHARDS CONTACTED MAJOR GENERAL TWINING
OF WRIGHT FIELD, OHIO BY PHONE AT ALBUQUERQUE, NM, AND FROM HIM
GAINED THE IMPRESSION THAT THE AAF INSTITUTED THIS INVESTIGATION TO
RULE OUT THE DISC REPORTS, SINCE THEY ARE DEFINITELY NOT OF AAF ORIGIN.
ON FRIDAY, AUGUST FIRST, THE PLANE IN WHICH AAF INVESTIGATORS CAPTAIN
DAVERSON AND LT. BROWN WERE RIDING, CRASHED AT KELSO, WASH. AND BOTH[Reverse/back side of page 139 - blank pink teletype sheet, routing stamps only] [stamps: RECEIVED FBI INTERNAL SECURITY [ILLEGIBLE] 9:01 AM RECEIVED FBI INTERNAL SECURITY C 8 [ILLEGIBLE] 35 AM]
1
PAGE TWO
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 THE PLANE WAS CARRYING PARTS OF A DISC WHICH
HAD STRUCK A BOAT OWNED BY HAROLD DAHL AND FRED CRISMAN , TACOMA, WN.
RICHARDS ADVISED THAT TODAYS ISSUE OF THE OREGONIAN CARRIES A UP STORY
STATING THAT DAHL DENIES SAYING THE METAL FRAGMENTS HE FURNISHED WERE
FROM A DISC, AND ANALYSIS OF THE FRAGMENTS SHOWS THEM TO BE FROM A
TACOMA SLAG MILL. NO AAF INTELLIGENCE PERSONNEL AVAILABLE PORTLAND.
NO RECENT SUBSTANTIVE REPORTS OF FLYING DISCS IN THE PORTLAND AREA.
SEATTLE VERIFY AT MCCHORD FIELD AND SAN FRANCISCO VERIFY AT AAF
HDQRTS. SF, SUBMITTING TELETYPE SUMMARIES TO THE BUREAU. NO FURTHER
INVESTIGATION PORTLAND.
BOBBITT
END AND ACK
WA C137AM OK FBI WA DW
SE
S OK FBI SE KLS
SF OK FBI SF NCW CC Mr. Ladd.
DVIMSC
8/6/47
E [ILLEGIBLE]RECEIVED TELETYPE UNIT Aug [ILLEGIBLE] 1947 [ILLEGIBLE - reverse/bleed-through of preceding page] [Stamp - mirrored]: RECEIVED INTERNAL SECURITY F.B.I. [ILLEGIBLE] 15 9 01 M [ILLEGIBLE] [Stamp - mirrored]: RECEIVED INTERNAL SECURITY F.B.I. [ILLEGIBLE] 15 2 36 PM [ILLEGIBLE]
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION U. S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE COMMUNICATIONS SECTION AUG 6 1947 [ILLEGIBLE] TELETYPE Fletcher FBI PORTLAND 8-5-47 8-30 PM HMS DIRECTOR AND SACS SEATTLE AND SAN FRANCISCO U R G E N T FLYING DISCS, SM DASH X. RE TELEPHONE CALL FROM MR. LADD, ONE PM TODAY REQUESTING TELETYPE SUMMARY CONCERNING NEWSPAPER REPORTS OF RECENT REPORTED FLYING DISCS IN PORTLAND AREA AND A REPORTED CONFERENCE OF ARMY OFFICIALS IN PORTLAND CONCERNING FLYING DISCS. LEAVERITT C. RICHARDS, AVIATION EDITOR THE OREGONIAN, ADVISED THAT A CAPTAIN WILLIAM L. DAVIDSON AND LT. FRANK M. BROWN OF FOURTH AAF HEADQUARTERS, SAN FRANCISCO WERE IN PORTLAND JULY TWENTYSEVEN LAST AND INTERVIEWED DICK RANKIN, AN EXPERIENCED PILOT, WHO HAD REPORTED JUNE FOURTEEN LAST SEEING A FORMATION OF TEN FLYING DISCS OVER BAKERS- FIELD , CALIF. ACCORDING TO RICHARDS THEY HAD ALSO INTERVIEWED FOLLOWING FOUR EXPERIENCED PILOTS WHO WERE AMONG FIRST WHO REPORTED SEEING DISCS - KENNETH ARNOLD, BUSINESS MAN, BOISE, IDAHO, CAPTAIN E. J. SMITH AND CO-PILOT RALPH STEVENS, UNITED AIRLINES, AND DAVE JOHNSON, AVIATION EDITOR, IDAHO STATESMAN. TO ASCERTAIN THE PURPOSE OF THE INTERVEWS RICHARDS CONTACTED MAJOR GENERAL [ILLEGIBLE] OF WRIGHT FIELD, OHIO BY PHONE AT ALBUQUERQUE, NM, AND FROM HIM GAINED THE IMPRESSION THAT THE AAF INSTITUTION THIS INVESTIGATION TO WASH OUT THE DISC REPORTS, SINCE THEY ARE DEFINITELY NOT OF AAF ORIGIN. ON FRIDAY, AUGUST FIRST, THE PLANE IN WHICH AAF INVESTIGATORS CAPTAIN DAVIDSON AND LT. BROWN WERE RIDING, CRASHED AT KELSO, WASH. AND BOTH RECORDED INDEXED [ILLEGIBLE] 43
[Reverse/back side of preceding page - largely blank] [Stamps at bottom - mirrored]: RECEIVED INTERNAL SECURITY F.B.I. [ILLEGIBLE] RECEIVED INTERNAL SECURITY F.B.I. [ILLEGIBLE] RECEIVED-TAIRM FBI U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE [ILLEGIBLE]
STANDARD FORM NO. 64
Office Memorandum • UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
TO : D. M. LADD
DATE: August 6, 1947
FROM : E. G. Fitch
SUBJECT: FLYING SAUCERS
Special Agent S.W. Reynolds of the Liaison Section contacted
Lieutenant Colonel G. P. Martin, Army Air Forces Intelligence, inquiring
about an article which appeared in the West Coast newspapers recently
stating in substance that an airplane carrying recovered flying saucers
crashed in route from Portland, Oregon, to Los Angeles, California.
Colonel Martin advised Mr. Reynolds that the only information
that has been received by Headquarters of the Army Air Forces is that a
CIC Agent of the 4th Air Force's Headquarters, Hamilton Field, San Francisco,
was killed in an airplane crash. The Headquarters of the Air Forces have been
advised that he was on a top secret mission. Colonel Martin indicated that he
was under the impression that the CIC Agent was either on route to or from an
interview with Mr. Arnold who is one of the individuals who first saw one of
the flying saucers.
Colonel Martin stated that the Air Forces have no additional information
and will receive none until the report is received from the 4th Air Force.
Colonel Martin suggested that the San Francisco Field Office contact Colonel
Springm, Headquarters 4th Air Force, Hamilton Field, San Francisco, who
undoubtedly would be able to furnish the details regarding this matter which
are at this time unknown by the Headquarters of the Air Forces. Colonel Martin
pointed out to Mr. Reynolds, however, that it was his belief that no flying
saucers have been recovered but that it was merely an attempt to reinterview
an individual who previously had reported seeing one of the flying saucers.
SJapur
[Stamp: AUG 19 1947] 263
8/6/47 [ILLEGIBLE][Reverse/back side of preceding page] [Stamps - mirrored]: RECEIVED LIASON SECTION [ILLEGIBLE] F.B.I. [DEP. OF JUSTICE] RECEIVED INTERNAL SECURITY F.B.I. [ILLEGIBLE] 4 38 PM [ILLEGIBLE] Aug [ILLEGIBLE] 11 01 AM [ILLEGIBLE] U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE F.B.I. RECEIVED-TAIRM
Robert J. Sroka
460 N. Washington Ave.
Waukesha, Wis.
Attn.
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Gentlemen;
Recently I have heard and read about reports of disc-shaped aircraft,
or whatever they are, in our western regions. They reminded me of a nearly
forgotten incident in Germany, after the war. I report this to you because
I feel this may be of international scope.
My buddy and I went on pass to see a friend of his. One evening the
three of us were driving along some back roads when I sighted a strange
looking object in the sky from eight to ten miles to our front and approx-
imately 5,000 feet high.
I immediately stopped the jeep for a better look. The object rapidly
came toward us, descending slowly. About a mile away it stopped it's
horizontal motion but continued a slow oscillating descent, similar to a
descending parachute. Then suddenly it dropped in a spiral motion.
Immediately I drove over to where it had dropped. It took almost five
minutes to reach the place but we saw nothing. After ten minutes of cruis-
ing around the area it became to dark to see so we went back to town.
I am not sure my companions saw this, it happened so quickly it could
easily have been missed, but I described what I had seen so vividly that
they were as excited as I was. My [ILLEGIBLE] impression was that it was a cloud,
b ut it was traveling at right [ILLEGIBLE] to the wind. [ILLEGIBLE]
The local of this incident was approximately 120 miles north-west of
Habberbishopshiem. If necessary, I will swear to the authenticity of this
and to the shape of the object.
Sincerely Yours,
Robert J. Sroka
Robert J. Sroka
[ILLEGIBLE] 1947[Reverse/back side of preceding page - severely deteriorated] [ILLEGIBLE - bleed-through text from reverse side; paper significantly degraded] [Stamp at bottom - mirrored]: RECEIVED [INTERNAL SECURITY] F.B.I. [ILLEGIBLE] 11 5 10 PM [ILLEGIBLE]
[ILLEGIBLE]
Invoice of Contents from
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
WASHINGTON, D. C.
Date 9-10-47 Case References Flying Saucer
Consigned to: Mrs. J. H. Wixon
Route 1, Box 30
Estill, South Carolina
List of Contents
Mr. Harbo, 7641 ___
Mr. Conrad, 7142 ___
Powered Soap Stone. Mr. Downing, 7632 ___
Mr. Sizoo, 7601 ___
Mr. Baughman, 7121 ___
[Stamp: COMMUNICATIONS SECTION
REGISTERED
MAILED 7
SEP 13 1947 P.M.]
[Registry No. 497251]
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: Shipping Room, place date of shipment and registry number; Shipping Room, show
date of shipment in ADDRESSEE INDEX; this invoice; then return it to person whose name is checked in column at
right. After this checked name has been initialled, invoice should be placed in administrative file.
62-83894[Reverse/back side of preceding page - mirrored image] [Reversed text - largely illegible bleed-through of invoice form] [Stamp - mirrored]: COMMUNICATIONS SECTION REGISTERED MAILED 7 SEP 13 1947 P.M. [ILLEGIBLE - additional reversed stamp text]
[Stamp: RECORDED]
62-[ILLEGIBLE] August 5, 1947
To: Director of Intelligence [REDACTED] BY SPECIAL MESSENGER
War Department General Staff
The Pentagon
Washington 25, D. C.
Attention: Colonel L. R. Forney, Chief, Security Group
From: John Edgar Hoover - Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation
Subject: ROBERT J. SROKA
There are attached hereto copies of a letter received from the
above-captioned individual concerning "flying discs."
Mr. Sroka's letter has been acknowledged and he has been
advised that copies of his letter have been furnished to you for your
consideration.
Attachment
WVC:mjp:rb
[Stamp: COMMUNICATIONS SECTION
SAFE [ILLEGIBLE]
AUG 7 1947 P.M.
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE]
[Signatures and initials at bottom][Reverse/back side of preceding page - mirrored image] [ILLEGIBLE - reversed text bleed-through] [Stamp - mirrored]: RECEIVED-MAIL-209 F.B.I. INTERNAL SECURITY AUG [ILLEGIBLE] 1947 [ILLEGIBLE - additional stamp text]
[CC-1[ILLEGIBLE]]
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
To: COMMUNICATIONS SECTION. AUGUST 7, 1947
Transmit the following message to: SAC, DETROIT "URGENT"
URSURS, RAYMOND EDWARD LANE, MRS. LAURA LANE, INFORMANTS, FLYING DISC, MISC.
REMYTEL AUGUST 5 MATERIAL SHOULD NOT BE FORWARDED TO FBI LABORATORY FOR
EXAMINATION BUT SHOULD BE TURNED OVER TO THE ARMY AIRFORCE INTELLIGENCE.
HOOVER
HOFrme
[Stamp: FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
COMMUNICATIONS SECTION
AUG 7 1947
TELETYPE]
[Stamp: RECORDED
& INDEXED
31 62-83894 40
FBI
26 AUG 11 1947]
[Stamp: COPIES DESTROYED
270 NOV 18 1964]
[ILLEGIBLE] Aug [ILLEGIBLE] 1947
[Signature] Per [ILLEGIBLE][Reverse/back side of preceding page - mirrored image] [ILLEGIBLE - reversed text and stamps] [Stamp - mirrored]: AUG 7 DUA TELETYPE [ILLEGIBLE - additional reversed stamp text]
[FBI letterhead - partial]
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
COMMUNICATIONS SECTION
AUG 4 1947
4/5
TELETYPE
WASHINGTON 1 FROM NEWARK 8-4-47 5-36 PM EDST JFG
DIRECTOR U R G E N T
FLYING DISC REPORTED AT HACKENSACK, NJ AUGUST THREE, NINETEEN FORTY
SEVEN , MISC. INFORMATION RECEIVED THAT CHARLES CASELLA, JR. AGE [REDACTED]
[REDACTED] AGE TWENTY, TWO EIGHT SEVEN EUCLID AVENUE, HACKENSACK AND WILLIAM
TRUEX, US ARMY, FT. DIX, NJ ON LATE AFTERNOON AUGUST THIRD LAST SIGHTED
FROM GROUND OBJECT DESCRIBED AS FLYING DISC. CASELLA CLAIMED IT WAS
TWO HUNDRED [REDACTED] YDS, IN AIR, REVOLVING SLOWLY, MOVING RAPIDLY, AND
NEITHER A KITE NOR A BALLOON. CASELLA TELEPHONED INFORMATION TO HACK-
ENSACK PD. INQUIRY BEING MADE, BUREAU WILL BE KEPT ADVISED.
25/ MC KEE
END ACK PLS [ILLEGIBLE] RECORDED: 62-83894 44
[Stamp: 29 AUG 11 [ILLEGIBLE]]
NK R 1 WA FX 46 [ILLEGIBLE][Reverse/back side of preceding page] [Stamps - mirrored]: Aug [ILLEGIBLE] 8 07 PM '47 RECEIVED-LADD FBI U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE RECEIVED TELETYPE UNIT Aug 4 5 37 PM '47 [ILLEGIBLE] DEPT. OF JUSTICE [Stamp - mirrored]: RECEIVED F.B.I. [ILLEGIBLE] LIASON SECTION [ILLEGIBLE] 11 23 M [ILLEGIBLE] RECEIVED INTERNAL SECURITY F.B.I. [ILLEGIBLE] 5 10 16 M [ILLEGIBLE] RECEIVED LIASON SECTION F.B.I. [ILLEGIBLE] 5 2 03 PM '47
STANDARD FORM NO. 64
Office Memorandum • UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
TO : Director, FBI DATE: August 8, 1947
FROM : SAC, Norfolk
SUBJECT: FLYING DISCS
Re Bureau Bulletin No. 42, dated July 30, 1947,
Series 1947, wherein information is set forth pertaining to
flying discs.
There is enclosed with this letter a newspaper
clipping from the "Norfolk Ledger-Dispatch," dated July 9, 1947.
The photograph appearing on this clipping is alleged to represent
a flying disc which was observed by BILLY [REDACTED], a Norfolk
school boy, who was successful in photographing the object with
his small camera.
BILLY was interviewed on August 8, 1947 by Special
Agent (A) THOMAS J. CONNOR, at which time BILLY informed that the
original negative was given by him to a Mr. BROWN of the Photo
Craftsman Service, who in turn furnished the negative to the
International News Service. BILLY advised that he has an agree-
ment with Mr. BROWN whereby the latter will share equally in any
profits derived from the use of the negative by commercial firms
or newspapers. As of August 8, 1947 BILLY has not received any
remuneration for the use of this negative.
He informed that he was sitting on the front porch
of his apartment which is located on the third floor at 410 West
14th Street, Norfolk, Virginia, around noontime on July 8, 1947.
He had read numerous newspaper articles pertaining to flying discs
and decided to sit on his front porch in the hopes of seeing one
and attempting to photograph it. On July 8, 1947 BILLY observed
a large, black object moving rapidly through space proceeding from
the southwest to a northeast direction. He said the black object
was followed by two smaller objects which also moved in the
same direction. BILLY explained that the objects were moving at
a very fast speed which appeared to him to be much faster than
the speed of an airplane, and further, that the altitude appeared
to be extremely high. He said that they were much higher than the
average plane travels in the City of Norfolk and appeared to be
above the clouds. And that a white cloud followed each of the three
objects. BILLY was unable to state what the black objects repre-
sented, but admitted that they could have been large balloons. He
indicated that he has observed small, toy balloons flying through
the air, but that definitely these were not the toy type balloons.
He said that when he first observed the objects they were at such
a great distance from him that it was not necessary that he raise
his head in order to see them from his porch on the third floor
of the apartment building. He immediately turned around to obtain
RECORDED
INDEXED
[Stamps: file numbers and dates]
COPIES DESTROYED 270 NOV 18 1964[Reverse/back side of preceding page - mirrored image] [ILLEGIBLE - reversed text bleed-through of Office Memorandum] [Stamps at bottom - mirrored]: RECEIVED LIASON SECTION F.B.I. [ILLEGIBLE] 4 3 [ILLEGIBLE] RECEIVED INTERNAL SECURITY F.B.I. [ILLEGIBLE] 18 5 19 [ILLEGIBLE] '47
Letter to Director, FBI
Re: FLYING DISCS
August 8, 1947
his camera and estimated it took him approximately twenty to thirty
seconds, at which time the discs were almost directly over his apart-
ment and it was necessary that he stoop and look up almost perpen-
dicular in order to obtain the photograph, which accounts for the
porch railing being shown in the newspaper clipping. BILLY pointed
out that the day on which he took the picture, the weather was hazy
and somewhat cloudy and there was a slight breeze blowing from the
southwest in the general direction of the northeast, which is the
same direction traveled by the black image which he photographed.
Inasmuch as the Army authorities in the Tidewater Area
of Virginia are cognizant of the above information, no further investi-
gation will be conducted by this office in this matter.
Enclosure.
TJC:lab
62-182
- 2 -[Newspaper clipping from Norfolk Ledger-Dispatch] Date: 7-[ILLEGIBLE]-47 Flying Disc 'Bigger Than Automobile' Photographed By Youth Who Is Amazed Because No One Else Saw It By GEORGE HEBERT [Left column - partially illegible small print:] The flying disc "was bigger than an automobile," and [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE - continued left column article text] (Editor's Note: Although the Ledger-Dispatch has had many reports of flying discs and sources to confirm [ILLEGIBLE]... the editors of this paper are skeptical that they represent [ILLEGIBLE]) [ILLEGIBLE - continued article text] Bill said he wasn't very surprised when he saw the object, [ILLEGIBLE] [Photo caption:] NORFOLK BOY AND PHOTO OF DISC—Bill Turrentine, 15, (right) tells Ledger-Dispatch reporter George Herbert (left) of the circumstances which enabled him to take the photograph at far right of a flying disc. However, the boy and the subject appeared to convince the photographer it looked more like a football than discs. Bill took this picture from the porch of his home at 410 West Fourteenth Street, Norfolk July 8 o'clock and 2 minutes, using an old camera, with the shutter set at 1/100th of a second. He said the "flying football" shown here was followed by two smaller ones, all moving at about one million an hour and he guessed they were several hundred feet high, just below the clouds. The photograph reproduced here is an enlargement made by Photo Craftsmen. In the foreground of young Turrentine's picture is the porch rail of his home. [Handwritten at bottom]: 62-83894 ENCLOSURE
The Flying Roll, 2015 Alexia Place San Diego 4, Calif. 6751 THE ROUND ROBIN FOR THE FLYING ROLL San Diego, California, July 8, 1947 [For your information] - A MEMORANDUM OF IMPORTANCE - THIS MEMORANDUM is respectfully addressed to certain scientists of distinction, to a number of important aeronautical and military authorities, to a number of public officials, and to a few publications. The writer has little expectation that anything of import will be accomplished by this gesture. The mere fact that the data herein were obtained by so-called supernormal means will effectively insure its disregard by nearly all the persons addressed; nevertheless it seems a public duty to make it available. (The present writer has several university degrees and was formerly a university department head.) A very serious situation may develop at any time with regard to the "flying saucers." If one of these should be attacked, the attacking plane will almost certainly be destroyed. In the public mind this might create near panic and international suspicion. The principal data concerning these craft is not at hand and must be offered no matter how fantastic and unintelligible it may seem to minds not previously instructed in thinking of this type. 1. Part of the disks carry crews, others are under remote control. 2. Their mission is peaceful. The visitors contemplate settling on this planet. 3. These visitors are human-like but much larger in size. 4. They are NOT exoreate earth people, but come from their own world. 5. They do NOT come from any "planet" as we use the word, but from an etheric planet which interpenetrates with our own and is not perceptible to us. 6. The bodies of the visitors, and the craft also, automatically "materialize" on entering the vibratory rate of our dense matter. (Cp. "apports.") 7. The disks possess a type of radiant energy, or a ray, which will easily photograph the ingoing ship. They repel the etheric at will, and so simply disappear from our vision, without trace. 8. The region from which they come is NOT the "astral plane", but norma- lands to us as Sholar. [INDEXED] Anyone familiar with occult literature knows these terms. 9. They probably cannot be reached by radio, but [ILLEGIBLE] can be by radar, if a signal system can be devised for that purpose. We give information and warning, and can do no more. Let the memoranda be treated with every kindness. Unless the disks are attacked, a situation threatens with which our culture and science are incapable of dealing. A heavy responsibility rests upon the few in authority who are able to understand [ILLEGIBLE] matter. N. Meade Layne 3415 Alexia Place San Diego, California. Addendum: The [ILLEGIBLE] are oval shape. [Illegible] laboratories of the [ILLEGIBLE]. The forward portion, containing the controls; the middle portion is the front area, contains the controls; the middle portion is [ILLEGIBLE] laboratory; the rear contains [ILLEGIBLE] power [ILLEGIBLE].
[ILLEGIBLE - reverse/bleed-through side of page 161; stamp markings] RECEIVED F B I S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE LABORATORY [ILLEGIBLE] AUG 31 9 09 AM '47 F B I RECEIVED-HARBO [ILLEGIBLE] AUG 31 9 37 AM '47 FBI LABORATORY DIVISION
[CCR-LA] F.B.I. TELETYPE DECODED COPY FROM SFRAN 12 8-9-47 2:50 PM 62 DIRECTOR FBI AND SACS, SEATTLE AND PORTLAND URGENT FLYING DISKS, SECURITY MATTER- LT. COL. DONALD C. SPRINGER OF [ILLEGIBLE] FRANCISCO SAID TODAY HE HAD NO FURTHER INFORMATION AND THAT OUR SEATTLE OFFICE IS IN POSSESSION OF ALL INFORMATION KNOWN BY HIM AND IS HANDLING THE MATTER. PORTLAND, WASHINGTON, KIMBALL [Stamp] 62-83894-[ILLEGIBLE] INDEXED [ILLEGIBLE] [Stamp/notation] 46 [Handwritten notations: R. Nelson, [ILLEGIBLE]]
[Reverse/blank side of teletype page - pink paper] W-[ILLEGIBLE] TELETYPE COPY Jun 9- 11:44 PM '47 [Stamp rotated] LABORATORY DIVISION AUG 14 6 11 [ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE]4B3588
STANDARD FORM NO. 64
Office Memorandum · UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
TO : D. M. Ladd DATE: August 1, 1947
FROM : A. J. P. Gayes
SUBJECT: GENERAL DOUGLAS [ILLEGIBLE]HENDERSON
Flying Saucers
There is attached hereto a letter received from the captioned
individual postmarked July 15, 1947, concerning "flying saucers."
There is also attached a letter of acknowledgement to Gen.
Anderson together with a letter to the War Department for approval.
It is recommended that the letter to the War Department be
forwarded to the Liaison Section for transmittal to that agency.
Attachments
MFD/alc
RECORDED
[Stamp] 62-8[ILLEGIBLE]
INDEXED
[Illegible]
[Stamp] 48
5D SEP 30 1947[Reverse/blank side of memorandum - bleed-through text largely illegible] [Stamp] RECEIVED INTERNAL SECURITY AUG 8 1947 AUG 8 1947
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION U. S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE COMMUNICATIONS SECTION AUG 11 1947 TELETYPE. FBI PORTLAND 8-11-47 1:17 PM PGT KAN DIRECTOR URGENT FLYING DISCS. SECURITY MATTER DASH 1. ONE KEN HATFIELD, FORMER NAVY FLYING PILOT AND PRESENTLY AIRPORT MANAGER, MYRTLE CREEK, [ILLEGIBLE] OREGON, REPORTS SEEING A MYSTERIOUS OBJECT ON TWO OCCASIONS THE EVENING OF AUGUST SIXTH WHILE FLYING AT ABOUT FIVE THOUSAND FEET ABOVE MYRTLE CREEK. HATFIELD TO BE INTERVIEWED. BOBBITT [Stamp] 62-83894- 49 INDEXED [ILLEGIBLE] [Stamp] BOO[ILLEGIBLE] 1947 383 EX-60 [Notation] 5-97
[Reverse/blank side of teletype - pink paper] [Stamp rotated] F B I LABORATORY DIVISION AUG 11 5 32 PM '47 [ILLEGIBLE]4B3588 [Stamp] F B I RECEIVED-HARBO [ILLEGIBLE] AUG 11 5 32 PM [ILLEGIBLE]
STANDARD FORM NO. 64
Office Memorandum · UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
TO : DIRECTOR, FBI DATE: August 12, 1947
FROM : SAC, MILWAUKEE
SUBJECT: FLYING DISCS
SABOTAGE
Reference is made to Bureau Bulletin No. 42, Series 1947,
dated July 30, 1947, Section (B), which advises that all reports
concerning flying discs should be investigated by field offices.
Prior to the receipt of these instructions, two instances
were called to the attention of this office by reporting agencies.
One report was received July 7, 1947, the details of which are set
forth in the above letter to the Bureau dated July 8, 1947, entitled,
"Flying Discs or Saucers, Miscellaneous. Telephone Call from Mr.
Fletcher at the Bureau at 8:30 a.m., 7-7-47." No investigation was
conducted concerning this report.
The second report was received by this office at 1:30 p.m.
July 11, 1947, from Lieutenant Colonel HARRY W. SCHAEFER, who is in
charge of the Civil Air Patrol of Wisconsin, an auxiliary of the
Army Air Forces. On that occasion Colonel SCHAEFER, calling from
Black River Falls, Wisconsin, telephonically advised this office that
an object in the shape of a disc, nineteen inches in diameter had been
found July 10, 1947, by one SIG HANSON, city electrician on the Jackson
County Fairgrounds, near Black River Falls, Wisconsin, about 3:30 p.m.
The disc might be made of a substance such as cardboard, covered by a
silver airplane dope material. The contraption has a small wooden tail
like or sail. The disc had a hole in the center, which appears to be
an RCA photo-electric cell or tube. Also inside the disc is a little
electric motor with a shaft running to the center of the disc. At one
end of the shaft is a small propeller. Colonel SCHAEFER was of the
opinion that contraption might possibly have been made by some juvenile.
Colonel SCHAEFER stated that he desired to return the contraption to
Milwaukee and possibly turn it over to the Army Air Forces, but that
the finder, SIG HANSON, apparently wanted to get some publicity on his
find and wanted it returned to him.
This information was telephonically called to the attention
of Assistant Director D. M. LADD of the Bureau on July 11, 1947.
Subsequently, SAO H. K. JOHNSON telephoned Colonel FRED SIEBERT
in charge of Counter Intelligence, Fifth Army, Chicago AO of S G-2
Headquarters Army, East Hyde Park, Chicago, Illinois, who
stated he would contact SCHAEFER of Black River Falls, Wisconsin.
No further investigation was conducted in this matter.
[Stamp] 62-8[ILLEGIBLE] 844 50
COPIES DESTROYED
270 NOV 18 1964Director
8-12-47
The above constitutes the only two instances in which
this office was contacted concerning flying discs. Unless contrary
instructions are received from the Bureau, this office does not
contemplate taking any further action in connection with the above
two cases, but will fully investigate all future reports concerning
flying discs.
JGF/dlc
98-0
-2-August 3, 1947
Mr. Fred [ILLEGIBLE]einold
2481 Mississippi Avenue
Omaha, Nebraska.
Dear Mr. Heinold:
C. Flying Discs
I wish to acknowledge receipt of your letter postdated July 30, 1947, together with its enclosure.
Inasmuch as the information which you furnished is
of interest to the War Department I have taken the liberty of
furnishing it to that agency for their consideration.
Sincerely yours,
John Edgar Hoover
Director
[Stamp] 62-8[ILLEGIBLE]
INDEXED [ILLEGIBLE]
[Stamp] INDEXED
131
[Notation] 51copy
CONFIDENTIAL
UNIDENTIFIABLE OBJECTS,
WILLIAMS FIELD, CHANDLER,
ARIZONA.
[DECLASSIFIED
Authority:
NND 90086]
14 July 1947
MEMORANDUM FOR THE OFFICER IN CHARGE:
On 8 July 1947, this Agent obtained pictures of unidentifiable
objects, (Exhibits 1 and 2) from the managing editor of the Arizona
Republic newspaper. The pictures were taken by Mr. William Rhoads,
4333 N. 14th, Phoenix, Arizona, at sunset, on 7 July 1947. The
Subject objects flew at unconceivable speeds, making three circles in
the vicinity of Mr. Rhoads' home. The pictures were taken with
a box camera, size 620. The photograph (Exhibit 1) was taken as the
object passed in front of Mr. Rhoads, and Exhibit 2 as the object
turned towards Mr. Rhoads. The height of the object was estimated at
1000 feet.
AGENT'S NOTES: See Exhibits 1 and 2, photographs of unidentifiable
objects, enlarged approximately 20 times. No further reports have been
received by this office of objects seen by military personnel.
Lynn. C. Aldrich, Special Agent, HIC - AAF, FETRC
CONFIDENTIAL
[Stamp] FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
U. S. D[ILLEGIBLE]
AUG 8 1947
SAN FRANCISCO
ROUTED TO
copy
[Handwritten] Incl #1CONFIDENTIAL
HEADQUARTERS FOURTH AIR FORCE
Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff, A-2
Intelligence
Hamilton Field, California
4AFDA 4 August 1947
333.5 ID
SUBJECT: Investigation of "Flying Discs"
TO: Special Agent in Charge, FBI, U. S. Dept of Justice, Suite 425,
111 Sutter Street, San Francisco 4, California.
Inclosed herewith is information copy of NOIC and newspaper
clipping re subject.
WILLIAM R. GRAHAM
Major, Air Corps
Deputy AC of S, A-2
2 Incls:
1. NOIC Sorensen 7 Jul 47.
2. Newspaper clipping dtd
5 Jul 47.
[Stamp] FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
U. S. D[ILLEGIBLE]
AUG 7 1947
SAN FRANCISCO
ROUTED TO
CONFIDENTIAL[Nearly blank page] [Notation at top] 62-83894-52
CONFIDENTIAL
HEADQUARTERS FOURTH AIR FORCE
Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff, A-2
Intelligence
Hamilton Field, California
4AFDA 4 August 1947
333.5 ID
SUBJECT: Investigation of "Flying Discs"
TO: Special Agent in Charge, FBI, U. S. Dept. of Justice, Suite 425,
111 Sutter Street, San Francisco 4, California.
Attached NOIC is forwarded for your information.
William R. Graham
WILLIAM R. GRAHAM
Major, Air Corps
Deputy AC of S, A-2
1 Incl:
NOIC Aldrich, 14 Jul 47.
[Stamp] FEDERAL B[ILLEGIBLE]
U. S. D[ILLEGIBLE]
AUG 8 1947
SAN FRANCISCO
ROUTED TO
CONFIDENTIALCONFIDENTIAL
HEADQUARTERS FOURTH AIR FORCE
Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff, A-2
Intelligence
Hamilton Field, California
4AFDA 4 August 1947
333.5 ID
SUBJECT: Investigation of "Flying Discs"
TO: Special Agent in Charge, U. S. Department of Justice, Suite 426,
111 Sutter Street, San Francisco, California.
Forwarded herewith is information copy of statement and newspaper
clipping re subject.
WILLIAM R. GRAHAM
Major, Air Corps
Deputy AC of S, A-2
2 Incls:
1. Statement of RANKIN,
dtd 30 Jul 47.
2. Newspaper clipping,
dtd 5 Jul 47.
[Stamp] FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATIO[N]
U. S. D[ILLEGIBLE]
AUG 7 1947
SAN FRANCISCO
ROUTED TO
CONFIDENTIALCONFIDENTIAL
From the Oregon Journal - continued.
MORE SEEN LATER.
Several late flights of objects over Portland were reported Friday
afternoon. R. A. Evans, 3433 SE Rosedam avenue, said he saw three fly
east across the Willamette river, near the steel bridge about 2 p.m.
The objects did not appear high, he said, and were traveling so fast
that, appearing in the west, they were out of sight in the east in two to
four seconds. He said they resembled metallic discs glinting in the sunlight.
Later, he said, he and neighbors saw a single disk-like object flying
north far away and very high.
Mrs. Lawrence J. Baynard, 6154 NE 71st avenue, reported
sighting a disk "like a new dime flipping around" in the air over the Sandy
district. She said it seemed to be moving slowly.
PAPER RECOVERED.
Thomas M. Dwyer, 1252 NE 59th Avenue, said he sighted two white or
silver objects flying southeast high over Portland a few minutes before
5 p.m. He reported another, headed northwest, over his home at 6:30 p.m.
J. W. Ragan, Tigard, reported that four discs flew past Mount Jefferson
at about 11 a.m. while he was driving near Redmond.
Sherman Cook, 5000 NE 56th avenue, recovered from Rose City golf course
a piece of paper he said had fallen from a great height in the sky. Time of
its fall coincided with some of the reports of flying disks. The paper, of
low quality, measured 22½ x 36 inches.
SILVERED DISKS, DROPPED BY PLANE.
EUGENE, July 5 -(AP)- A Eugene railroad cashier said Friday he saw
silvered disks being dropped out of a light airplane flying over this city.
E. V. Smith, Rt 2, Eugene, an assistant cashier for the Southern Pacific
Railroad, said he was driving on a Eugene street when --CONFIDENTIAL
FROM THE OREGON JOURNAL - 5 July 1947, Portland, Ore.
AIRLINE CREW CONFIRMS REPORTS OF FLYING DISKS: FIVE SPOTTED.
Circumstantial reports of flying disks in the sky Friday came from
the crew of a United Airlines plane over Boise, Idaho, and a coast guardsman near Seattle, as well as from Portland area police and citizens.
Capt. J. Smith, captain of the airline, said he told United Press that
he sighted five "somethings" which were "thin and smooth on the bottom and
rough appearing on top." The objects appeared against the sunset shortly
after the plane took off at 9:04 p.m. from Boise.
"We saw them clearly," he reported. "We followed them in a northwesterly direction for about 45 miles. Finally the objects disappeared.
We were unable to tell whether they outpaced us or disintegrated."
NOT AIRCRAFT.
"We can't say whether they were saucer-like, oval or anything else,"
the captain said, "but whatever they were, they were not another aircraft,
nor were they smoke or clouds."
In Seattle, Coast Guardsman Frank Ryman, 27, reported to United Press
that he snapped a picture from the front porch of his home which showed a
"white saucer" flying over the north end of Washington.
Ames News Pictures, New York City, said a 7x9 inch print of the photograph showed two tiny dots, one of which was a flaw in the print.
Don Metcalfe, 19, Oaks Amusement park employee, reported that he saw
several objects "like spinning disks" in the sky Friday. He said several
bystanders, including a woman pilot, noticed them.
In Vancouver, Wash., Sheriff's Lt. John Sullivan, Clarence
McKay and Fred Krivan heard the Portland police radio broadcast and ran
out of the Sheriff's office to look at the sky. Over Portland, three to five
miles away, Sullivan said, they saw 20 to 30 objects flying "like a flight of geese."
They heard a low humming sound.
OTHERS DOUBTFUL.
Col. C. B. Dodson, commander of the Oregon national guard, made an
inspection of this area from the air after the disks were reported here.
He said he saw nothing "suspicious."
The number of airplanes in the air at the time of the reports
were 25 B-29 bombers near Astoria.
Despite all the reports, at least two persons remained unconvinced
of the existence of flying discs. Al F. Crawford, Holgate moorage, gave his
opinion that the objects were cottonwood blossoms.
Burl Rollena, 64, of 2604 N. Burrage avenue, telephoned the Journal
to berate the newspaper for "purposely stirring a hoax." He said he saw objects in
the sky about a minute after an airplane flew over his home. To him the
objects looked like bits of aluminum foil, perhaps cigarette wrappers.CONFIDENTIAL
PORTLAND, OREGON
30 July 1947
FBI
On 30 July 1947 the Richard Rankin, 419 N.E. Simpson Street,
Portland, Oregon, was interviewed by this agent and stated in substance as
follows:
My name is Richard Rankin. I am 7 years old and have flown since
I was nineteen years old. I am an air scout Air Credits in 1930. I have flown
over all the western parts of the United States so many times and have mapped
all of the western part of the United States during the years before the last
late war for the U.S. Government. I am familiar with almost every part of
the western United States. During a great part of my life I have done stunt
flying for air shows and various other kinds of demonstrations and exhibitions.
My brother was Tex Rankin who was quite well known in both civilian and military
flying circles for many years before his death and during the 1930's he was
champion of the world stunt flyer. During my flying career I bought and operated
by him. To date I have accomplished 7000 hours in the air as pilot of
both civilian planes in the past. I think I know as much as anybody about
that one would see in the air and I feel that I am well qualified to say
when I see articles flying through the air, although I would not attempt to
say, it would be impossible for me to identify for any purpose positively every
object that might be flying through the air. The following is an account of
what I saw in June of 1947 from the yard of my home at 112 South [ILLEGIBLE], Bakersfield, California.
At approximately 1200 noon on the 14 of June I was lying in the
front yard of my home. There was a lad mowing the lawn at the time. I looked
up into the sky and saw 10 objects in formation. The altitude I estimated at
what I judge to be 6500 ft. The objects were flying at approximately what I
would judge to be 250 miles per hour. As I have stated before, I have done
stunt flying for years for air shows so I was familiar with every craft that
at the time I saw the articles I mentioned it to the lad who was mowing the
lawn at the time. The objects had been going in the direction over what appeared
been areas of Army or Navy test planes from the many test centers on the
deserts of southern California. Having quite a knowledge of aircraft in
formation I immediately surmised they were test planes. I thought the objects
were probably on some sort of training mission for either the Army or Navy.
At that time I did not give the objects any thought of anything peculiar.
I was able to see, as they were flying for fun, but not commercially, he
said. He now operates a string of auto courts, spending his winters at
Palm Springs.
The objects appeared in decent time they were still in the
V formation although there was only seven of the objects at this time
when I saw them. I noticed that I saw them, and they were out of the fern,
that probably three of the objects had proceeded back to their base on a different course. I concluded that it was possible that during the intermediate
objects had a lucky nose back to their base on the other side of the mountain [ILLEGIBLE] Bakersfield. A week or so later when I read of the Arnold sighting
that he had seen articles flying from the top of the [ILLEGIBLE] mountains inCONFIDENTIAL COPY
[Stamp] FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
U. S. D[ILLEGIBLE]
AUG 7 1947
SAN FRANCISCO
ROUTED TO
FROM "THE OREGONIAN" - Thursday, July 3, 1947
PILOT RECALLS SEEING DISCS.
Dick Rankin Tells Of Odd Aircraft:
More reports of "flying flapjacks" turned up Wednesday, one from
no less than Dick Rankin, brother of the late Tex Rankin, and himself an
experienced pilot of more than 7000 hours' flying time.
Rankin, who is recovering from an old back injury received in an
automobile accident, came to Portland over the weekend to spend the summer.
He saw the objects above the "Creston-Kenilworth area, June 14, while lying
on the lawn sun bathing, he told The Oregonian.
"I had nothing to say much about them," Rankin said, "until I noticed
all the hubbub in the papers. At first I counted ten of them in formation,
going north. About 8:15 P.M. they returned on the reverse course, headed
south, but there were only seven in the formation.
"I was too far away or because of lighting conditions I couldn't make out
the number or location of their propellers and couldn't distinguish any
wings or tail. They appeared almost round. They looked like pictures of
the navy's flying flapjack," Rankin said.
Rankin, who plans to spend the summer here at 834 N. E. Simpson St.,
is now able to get around a little, flying for fun, but not commercially, he
said. He now operates a string of auto courts, spending his winters at
Palm Springs.
ONLY ONE XF5U-1 BUILT.
The navy and the manufacturer have announced officially that only
one such machine was built and that it never left Connecticut.
"These planes were flying high, maybe 8000 feet, and fairly fast,
about 300 or 400 miles an hour. He first counted ten of them in formation,
going north. About 8:15 P.M. they returned on the reverse course, headed
south, but there were only seven in the formation.
"I was or wearing or because of lighting conditions; I couldn't make out
the number or location of their propellers and couldn't distinguish any
wings or tail. They appeared almost round. They looked like pictures of
the navy's flying flapjack," Rankin said.
Rankin, who plans to spend the summer here at 834 N. E. Simpson St.,
is now able to get around a little, flying for fun, but not commercially, he
said. He now operates a string of auto courts, spending his winters at
Palm Springs.
TWO DESCRIPTIONS CHECK.
Rankin's description of the mysterious aerial objects agrees with
that of Kenneth Arnold, Boise, Idaho, business man, who first reported them
over the State of Washington, except that Arnold clocked them at an estimated 1500 m.p.h.
Other reports came Wednesday from Astoria. Jack Hayes, patient in
St. Mary's hospital there, said he saw ten of the discs Sunday flying southwest-
ward rapidly. He said he heard a low drone as they flew over.
Mrs. Teel Seado, Port Stevens, said she saw a disc traveling north
over Fort Stevens Tuesday noon, and that other observers saw the same object.
Observers at Fort Stevens and at the coast guard at nearby Point Adams did
not see the discs.
The report of a Centralia, Wash., man Wednesday coincided in matter of
time with the original report made by Arnold. W. W. Wallach, of Centralia,
said he saw nine aluminum-hued objects flying north at 5 P.M. June 24.
He was working 11 miles southwest of Mineral, Wash., at the time.
CONFIDENTIAL COPY(2)
Washington I realized that the articles that I saw were probably the same thing.
I was still reluctant to mention this to anyone thinking that they would prob-
ably say that I was crazy. After some time I mentioned the incident to the
editor of the "Oregonian", a Portland, Oregon newspaper. At this time I was
in Portland for the remainder of the summer. The results of the conversation
with the editor of the paper is put forth in the accompanying newspaper
article.
I fully realize that this is a broad statement in view of the fact
that there has been so much publicity humbug put forth in various news-
papers of the country. I am of sound mind in every respect and I am firmly
convinced that the articles I saw are actually some sort of flying machines
although I cannot say from where they came or to where they were going. I say
what I have said with no idea of publicity or personal gain.
[ILLEGIBLE] [ILLEGIBLE]
Portland, Oregon
30 July 1947CONFIDENTIAL
181
FROM THE OREGON JOURNAL - 5 July 1947, Portland, Ore.
"PROWL CARS SPOT DISKS IN SKY HERE"
Whatever they are, there are some disk-like objects flying around
in the sky.
Or else eight Portland area policemen and deputy sheriffs who
sighted the objects Friday, numerous private citizens, the crew of a
United Air Lines plane over Boise, Idaho, and a Coastguardsman who claims
to have photographed one near Seattle, are all wrong.
In Portland the alert was sounded over police radio at 1:05 p.m.
Friday. Within a short time, reports received at scores of points that the disks
were overhead. Within seconds, two prowl cars reported spotting the mys-
tery craft.
FLASHES SEEN, NOISE LACKING.
First to report in were Patrolman Walter Lissy and Robert Ellis in
Car No. 82, who stopped near Oaks Park. Both World War II veterans and
civilian pilots, they sighted three of the objects within 30 seconds trav-
eling at great height at a fast speed. They reported they heard no
engine noises but saw flashes. The objects seemed erratic and changed
direction of flight. The patrolmen agreed that without knowledge of the
size of the objects it would be impossible to judge their speed or altitude.
Patrolman Lari Patterson in Car No. 19 stopped at SE 82d Avenue and
Foster road to look eastward from where the disks were reported. Telephone
pole looked bronze-colored cut in the sun, saw nothing, but a few seconds
later observed one coming out of the west and heading southward. The craft
seemed to be aluminum or eggshell white and didn't flash or reflect light,
he said.
OBJECTS UNIDENTIFIED.
A former airforce veteran, he said the object was unlike any plane
he'd ever seen. He thought it appeared radio-controlled because the disk
could change altitude, direction and speed instantaneously, he said.
Members of the harbor patrol at the foot of NW Irving street stepped
out when they heard the all-car alert. Capt. E. A. Prehn, Harbor Pilot,
and T. E. Moff, Patrolman No. C. Moff all saw the objects. Prehn said they
appeared to be going south high over the Globe Hills at terrific speed.
Capt. Prehn said the flashes kept them from ascertaining whether there were
one or more objects, speed or altitude. No sound was made by the objects.
"The disks would oscillate and sometimes we would see a full disk,
then a half-moon shape, then nothing at all," he reported. The objects
looked like like a shiny chromium hub cap off a car which wobbled, disappeared
and reappeared."
"There was a plane in the sky at the time, but all were emphatic that
the disks were not planes.
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
U. S. D[ILLEGIBLE]
AUG 7 1947
[ILLEGIBLE]
CONFIDENTIAL SAN FRANCISCO
ROUTED TOCONFIDENTIAL
UNEXPLAINED FLYING DISCS
7 July 1947
5. This agent interviewed W. A. Lissy and D. W. Ellis, both Patrolman,
Portland City Police Department and both possess private pilots licenses.
Both officers advised that upon hearing the radio alert, they saw three flat
round discs, having a white color to them. These discs were, according to
these officers, flying at a terrific speed in a Southerly direction away from
Portland. They described them as flying in a straight line formation, the
last disc fluttering very rapidly in a side way arc. They further advised
the discs were equally spaced and both in formation. Both officers estimated
the discs altitude at 40,000 feet. They saw no evidence of any motivating
powers and vapor trails or smoke trails. Both officers stated these discs
were traveling so fast, they were out of sight before any detailed observa-
tion could be made, or any sound could be heard.
AGENT'S NOTE: All informants mentioned herein are known to this agent as
very dependable and trustworthy officers, not being afflicted with hallucin-
ations. The weather in the Portland area at this time was clear with little
or no cloud formations being visible from the ground. Ground temperature at
this time was 82 degrees Fahrenheit.
Keith A. Sorensen, S/A CIC, Sixth Army
CONFIDENTIALCONFIDENTIAL
[ILLEGIBLE]
UNEXPLAINED FLYING DISCS
7 July 1947
MEMORANDUM FOR THE OFFICER IN CHARGE:
1. At 1336, 4 July 1947, a radio alert was issued via the Portland
City Police Radio, advising all cars and listeners that some fast flying
objects were in the air over Portland and vicinity. Upon receiving the
radio dispatcher, this agent was advised that Kenneth A. McDowell, Patrol-
man, Portland City Police Department, residing at 816 S. E. Bush Street,
Portland, Oregon, on duty at Precinct Station, City Police, at S. E.
Morrison at 10th Avenue, had called in advising the dispatcher of the flying
objects.
2. This agent interviewed Officer McDowell who stated at approximately
1336, 4 July 1947, while on duty at Precinct #1, he was feeding the pigeons
at the book of the Police Station, at this time of the year. At this time the pigeons
became very excited over something and fluttered in the air all at once.
Officer McDowell stated in looking up in the direction that disturbed them,
he saw five large discs in the air to the East of Portland two discs Flying South
and three flying in an Easterly direction. Officer McDowell stated he could
determine no details on the discs, but advised they were dipping in an up and
down oscillating motion and were traveling at a great speed. He was unable
to give an estimate of the speed or altitude of these discs as they were out
of sight before any details could be determined. Officer McDowell ad-
vised he notified the Police Radio who immediately broadcasts an alert. Officer
McDowell advised he saw no indication of any motivating force or heard any
sound coming from these discs and could give no description other than round.
3. This agent interviewed Sergeant Claude Cross, Oregon State Police
Officer on duty at District Headquarters, 405 S. E. Hawthorne, Oregon. Cross
stated upon hearing the radio alert he went outside and upon looking in an
Easterly direction he saw three discs following each other at an undetermined
altitude and at a terrific speed, the sun striking the objects clearly. Cross
advised he noticed a whitish brown glint to these objects as the sun
reflected from them. Cross was unable to give any other description nor could
he judge the objects' speed or altitude. No sound was made by the objects.
4. This agent interviewed Earl S. Patterson, Patrolman, Portland City
Police Department, and residing at 124 Southeast 15th Avenue, Portland, Oregon.
Patterson advises he was a former Air Corps pilot during the war. He stated
that on 4 July 1947, at approximately 1:35 p.m., he was driving on Powell
Road, Portland, and upon getting out of his car he saw one disc flying in a
Southwesterly direction over Portland. Patterson advised this disc was alumi-
num in color with no vapor trail or smoke trail and was traveling at a terri-
fic speed, faster than he has ever seen any flying object before. Patterson
further advised, although not knowing the exact size of the object, it is diffi-
cult to determine its altitude, but estimates its altitude at 40,000 feet.
Patterson further advised the flying disc was definitely some type of air-
craft but he could not give any further details as the speed of the disc made obser-
vation difficult. He heard no sound emitted by the fly[ILLEGIBLE]
[ILLEGIBLE]
Keith A. Sorensen, S/A CIC, Sixth Army
CONFIDENTIALCONFIDENTIAL
EXHIBIT I
EXHIBIT II
CONFIDENTIAL
EXHIBIT #167