Kenneth Arnold Sighting
On June 24, 1947, private pilot Kenneth Arnold reported nine crescent-shaped objects flying at roughly 1,200 mph near Mount Rainier, Washington, a credible sighting that introduced the term 'flying saucer' into public discourse and triggered the first formal USAF investigation program.
On June 24, 1947, private pilot Kenneth Arnold reported nine crescent-shaped objects flying at roughly 1,200 mph near Mount Rainier, Washington, a credible sighting that introduced the term 'flying saucer' into public discourse and triggered the first formal USAF investigation program.
Brief
On June 24, 1947, private pilot Kenneth Arnold reported nine crescent-shaped objects flying at roughly 1,200 mph near Mount Rainier, Washington, a credible sighting that introduced the term 'flying saucer' into public discourse and triggered the first formal USAF investigation program. Arnold timed the objects crossing the 47-mile gap between Mount Rainier and Mount Adams in 1 minute 42 seconds. The Air Force found him a credible witness but concluded mirage; Project Sign, launched six months later, treated the case as foundational.
Metadata
- Date
- 1947-06-24
- Year
- 1947
- Location
- Mount Rainier, Washington
- Region
- United States
- Status
- confirmed
- Tag
- civilian claim
- Primary
- PROJECT 1947. Kenneth Arnold firsthand account
- Source type
- catalogue
- Sources
- 3
Key Points
- On June 24, 1947, private pilot Kenneth Arnold reported nine crescent-shaped objects flying at roughly 1,200 mph near Mount Rainier, Washington, a credible sighting that introduced the term 'flying saucer' into public discourse and triggered the first formal USAF investigation program.
- Arnold timed the objects crossing the 47-mile gap between Mount Rainier and Mount Adams in 1 minute 42 seconds.
- The Air Force found him a credible witness but concluded mirage; Project Sign, launched six months later, treated the case as foundational.
Most Interesting
- On June 24, 1947, private pilot Kenneth Arnold reported nine crescent-shaped objects flying at roughly 1,200 mph near Mount Rainier, Washington, a credible sighting that introduced the term 'flying saucer' into public discourse and triggered the first formal USAF investigation program.
- Arnold timed the objects crossing the 47-mile gap between Mount Rainier and Mount Adams in 1 minute 42 seconds.
- The Air Force found him a credible witness but concluded mirage; Project Sign, launched six months later, treated the case as foundational.
Timeline
- 1947-06-24 · Encounter
On June 24, 1947, private pilot Kenneth Arnold reported nine crescent-shaped objects flying at roughly 1,200 mph near Mount Rainier, Washington, a credible sighting that introduced the term 'flying saucer' into public discourse and triggered the first formal USAF investigation program.
- 1947 · Source record
PROJECT 1947. Kenneth Arnold firsthand account is the preferred source material attached to this encounter.
Sources
- Kenneth Arnold UFO sightingWikipedia, 2024
- PROJECT 1947. Kenneth Arnold firsthand accountNICAP / Project 1947, 1947
- Project Blue Book: The Kenneth Arnold UFO SightingThe Black Vault, 2020
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