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4-536 (Rev. 3-20-79) DO NOT DESTROY FOIPA # 993087 STAMP: SECRET DO NOT DESTROY FOIPA # 1360401 PICKETT STREET Transfer - Call 3421 Use Care in Handling this File FBI - CENTRAL RECORDS CENTER HQ - HEADQUARTERS Class / Case # Sub Vol. Serial # 0062 83894 1 1 52 [HW: X] SECTION 1 SERIALS 1-52
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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 [HW: July 7] [STAMP: SE 40] [STAMP: INDEXED] [STAMP: NOT RECORDED] [STAMP: 83 JUL 10 1947] Page About Saucers Priest Finds 'Whirring' Disc In Yard and Holds It for FBI Chicago, July 6 (U.P.) - A Catholic priest at Grafton, Wis., said tonight that a round, metal disc, which might be one of the mysterious flying saucers," had crashed into his parish yard and that he is holding it for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Rev Joseph Brasky of St. Joseph's Church at Grafton, 45 miles north of Milwaukee, said he heard a swishing and whirring noise this morning A second later, he said, he heard a thud and a mild explosion. He investigated and found a sheet metal disc about 18 inches in diameter resembling a circular saw blade. "The object still was warm, weighed about four or five pounds, and was about one eighth of an inch thick," he said. There was a hole about one inch in diameter in the middle of the disc, he said, and in the opening were "gadgets and some wires." The priest said he did not know if his discovery were important whether it might be an elaborate practical joke He said he had notified the FBI of his find. H K Johnson of the Milwaukee FBI office said he hadn't heard yet about the disc but that an official report might be at his office The flying discs have been reported "seen" by persons in 30 States but Brasky's disc was the first one that actually had been found if that is what wa found His report came a few hours after a military plane made an unsuccessful speed dash in an attempt to track down one of the discs and the Army and scientists sought to ascertain whether coast-to-coast reports about the discs zooming through the sky were fact or fancy Army planes scoured the northwest Pacific skies for them without success today and one "eyewitness" even reported having seen one of the discs take off in Arizona A St Louis railroad man exhibited some paper "discs" he said he had seen floating over St Louis The flying saucers which have been reported skimming through America's skies at speeds up to 1200 miles have eluded the usually keen eye of radar Capt Tom Brown of Army Air Forces public relations st See SAUCERS Page Col
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U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE FBI RECEIVED-TAHM JUL 7 8 53 AM '47 MR. JONES U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE FBI RECEIVED-DIRECTOR JUL 7 12 42 PM '47 U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE FBI RECEIVED-DIRECTOR JUL 9 9 53 AM '47
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[STAMP:] CFRS—From Page Priest Finds 'In Yard and Holds' said the Army Airways Communications Service had reported late yesterday that so far its radar scopes throughout the country have been unable to pick up any strange objects in flight. And in the Pacific Northwest—where most of the fly-happy plat ters have been reported—the Army has radar equipment which can pierce fog and darkness and pick up objects in the sky 200 miles away. Even so, Brown acknowledged that the Air Forces had decided "there's something to this" and had been checking it for 10 days. "And we still haven't the slightest idea what they could be," he added. And a new wrinkle—the reported landing of a fleet of eight skimming platters—was reported from Idaho in full view of 10 persons. A. Dishman, Idaho housewife, said she and others in her party had seen the saucers land on a mountainside near St. Maries, Idaho. She said they came into view at an extreme speed, suddenly slowed, and then "fluttered like leaves to the ground." "The mysterious part was that we couldn't see them after they landed," she said. "We could see them flutter down into the timbers yet we couldn't see that they did anything to the trees." She said she hoped to hike into the timber tomorrow and search for the objects which she said were saucer-shaped but resembled wash tubs more than disks and were "about the size of a five-room house." Locally, Hazen Kennedy of 2615 4th st. ne. reported he had seen one passing over the Northeast section of the city at about 8:40 p.m This would be the first one reported over District, although others have been reported over nearby Maryland. Kennedy, who has 125 hours flying time as a student pilot in Army Air Forces to his credit, said he believed saucer he had seen was traveling at "well over" 1000 miles an hour at an altitude of between 1200 and 1500 feet. "The best way I can describe it," said Kennedy, "was that it looked like an orange lamp bulb without socket. It was going faster than any jet plane I've ever seen." In Hagerstown, Md., Mrs. Maclyn Ganoe, 30, said she had seen five of discs racing in formation at terrific speed from her back porch. "They sounded like a faraway train," she said. [HW:] In [HW:] In [HW:] In Dr. Winfred Overholser, nationally known psychiatrist and superintendent of St. Elizabeths Hospital here, said it "has some of earmarks being national hysteria." "Everytime someone comes up with sea-serpent story," said Dr Overholser; others with vivid imaginations are sure they have seen same thing. "The critical faculty man last one received is still not very well developed." Scratch surface' you find same mass hysteria which predominated during witchcraft scare.' Some persons are quite ready to see things follow beliefs.' Dr Overholser said when made rounds mental patients yesterday St Elizabes not one commented on flying saucers story. "I think may be little skeptical," he added. However Dr Overholser said wasn't trying dismiss matter joke because there so many strange things going on today that one can't be sure.' Maj Alexander P de Seversky noted aircraft designer told Post by telephone New York until sees flying saucer wouldn't pass judgment. He agreed with Dr Overholser much if not all story may be because hysteria. "After all," he says we are more or less hysterical Nation.' Major deSeversky says possible persons claim aerial discs have instead glimpsed exhaust jet-propelled planes. He conceded too might guided missiles let loose as part experiment but added: "I don't think Government would fire them so promiscuously They would test them one spot isolated area like atomic bomb." Maj Gen Curtis E LeMay Deputy Chief Air Staff Research Development would know if saucers involved experiments guided missiles commented: "Whatever these people have seen hasn't anything resulting from experiments by Army Air Forces As for concerned there's nothing to it at all The whole thing is unfortunate." Howard W Blakeslee Associated Press science editor says whole business may optical illusion. "At distance close limit how far person can see" wrote all objects appear round nearly law sight covers both small things nearby large ones great distances "One outstanding fact virtually all saucers is that they no structure—they seemed merely round flat That description fits exactly tricks eyes play This trickiness varies differences weather lighting' However Nova Hart St Louis mechanic who trained service war spot types aircraft yesterday offered minute description one flying patterns claimed saw flying altitude about feet Reporter Sees One He described circular ribbed framework silver gray color He appeared motor propeller attached center kept turning airplane doing slow roll Although many explanations offered none convincing Los Angeles newspaper quoted unnamed
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[STAMP: UNITED STATES POSTAGE 5 CENTS] [HW: The M.B.D.] Washington District of Columbia [HW: New Brunswick] [JUL 5] [2 M] [1947 N.J.]
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Dear 21 B D It is my opinion about those "flying discs" reported seen over, Kentucky, New Mexico, California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Colorado, South Carolina and Eastern Canada that some European country is using them by filling them up with germs or highly RECORDED 42-83894- 32 JUL 8 1947 63JUL 16 1947 I suggest that you keep
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lot of [REDACTED] on hand. On else something might happen to us in the United States. From: a friend
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FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE COMMUNICATIONS SECTION JUL 8 1947 TELETYPE FBI NEW ORLEANS 7-8-47 11-22 AM TMC DIRECTOR ROUTEIN RE FLYING DISCS, MISCELLANEOUS. DISC REPORTED FOUND BY F. G HARISTON REVEALED TO BE PRANK. WEEKS Flying Saucers END 9 1-24 PM OK FBI WA BW V [STAMP: 57 JUL 8 1947] [STAMP: RE] [HW: Mr. Tolson] [HW: Mr. E. A. Tamm] [HW: Mr. Clegg] [HW: Mr. Glavin] [HW: Mr. Ladd] [HW: Mr. Nichola] [HW: Mr. Rosen] [HW: Mr. Tracy] [HW: Mr. Egan] [HW: Mr. Gurnea] [HW: Mr. Harbo] [HW: Mr. Mohr] [HW: Mr Pennington ] [HW: M r Quien Tamm ] Mr Nease Mrs Gandy STOP
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RECEIVED LIAISON SECTION 9 11 45 AM '47 FBI DEPT. OF JUSTICE STAMP: JUL 8 2 37 PM '47 STAMP: JUL 8 1 25 PM '47 RECEIVED INTERNAL SECURITY F.B.I. DEPT. OF JUSTICE STAMP: JUL 9 9 13 AM '47
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Date: August 5, 1947 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: 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. [STAMP:] [STAMP:] [STAMP:] [STAMP:] CONFIDENTIAL BY SPECIAL MESSENGER
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Federal Bureau of Investigation Washington D. C. Flying Discs Gentleman: on July 7th, 1947, 10:30 p.m. [HW: Gertrude Sniffen] my mother in law and I witnessed a flaming object which dropped in street in front of our house at 2315 Kimbrough Ave Omaha Neb. Upon examination, the object was solid and had form of round circular disc, approximately the size of a silver dollar and [ILLEGIBLE] thick, burning with extreme heat. RECORDED INDEXED The World News newspaper was notified and reporter was sent out. In the mean time, a boy kicked
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RECEIVED JUL 16 12:36 PM '07 INTERNAL SECURITY F.B.I. [STAMP:]
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the object over and it fell into pieces. When the reporter arrives he scoops up the fragments and said he would have them analyzed. Your 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 saucers" or any such phenomena but we did want some kind of a reasonable explanation because if this object had dropped on a roof top, it would have certainly set fire. We can definitely say it
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was not tobaccos ashes as inferred by Dr. Kenny. It furnes with such extreme heat as to scorch pages on and near pages when it let. Possibly this could have been a late Fourth of July Firework or something similar but at any rate we are calling us 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
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'Flying Saucer' Just Someone's Pipe Dream' The "flying saucer" that fell near 2319 Himebaugh Avenue Monday evening was nothing but "ashes from somebody's pipe dream." So says Dr. C. L. Kenny, head of the chemistry department at the Creighton College of Dentistry. He had two students analyze the ashes. They found sodium, potassium, iron, aluminum, carbonate, sulphate and unburnt carbon, he said. "This is the same analysis you would get from ordinary pipe tobacco," Dr. Kenny said. [HW: 62-83894-4] ENCLUSION
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[STAMP:] Dear Mr. [REDACTED] G.I.R.E I have also seen a flying saucer - the evening of July 4 - about 10 30 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 search 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 that line [ILLEGIBLE]
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third beam faded out from the ground RECOOED to the saucer. Recently 9 mentioned the distressed ship in the Pacific not being due enter to natural phenomena. [STAMP: 58 JUL 22 1947] and co ord that ship, the bomb [STAMP: 34 JUL 9 1947] [HW: EX-12] [HW: FBT]
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Mr. J. Edgar Hoover Washington, D.C. Personal attention
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NEW YORK, N.Y. JUL 11 930PM 1947 STAMP: UNITED STATES POSTAGE GRAND CENTRAL STATION 3 CENTS 3 Mr. J. Edgar Hoover, Director Federal Bureau of Investigation U.S. Dept. of Justice Bldg. Washington, D.C.
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July 11, 1947. Dear Sir: Have you seen one of the mysterious "Saucers"? What did it look like? Do you think these strange, celestial manifestations 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 [STAMP: 62-83894-6] [STAMP: 37 JUL 1947]
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[REDACTED] STAMP: F.B.I. INTERNAL SECURITY IL 18 403 PM RECEIVED
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Boston Mass. July 14 '47 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," recently, by a writer called Lincoln. Also, an
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[REDACTED] apology 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 anyone for their efforts. Someday, when something will happen when they are needed, they probably will not bother Miss [HW: Pinkelstein] Formerly of Keene
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STANDARD FORM NO. 64 Office Memorandum · UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TO: MR. D. M. LADD FROM: H. B. FLETCHER DATE: July 7, 1947 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, perhaps 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 event [HW:]the priest made a report to furnish details of report immediately but in view of nature information his possession no inquiry should be conducted at present. HBF:cmw [STAMP:] RECORDED INDEXED FBI JULY 1947
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U.S. DEPT OF JUSTICE FBI DIRECTOR RECEIVED-TAINTED JUL 7 5 52 PM '47 STAMP: FBI RECEIVED-TOILSON JUL 8 10 09 AM '47 STAMP: FBI RECEIVED-TOILSON JUL 8 5 48 PM '47
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[STAMP: JUL 15 8 44 AM '47] [STAMP: MAIL ROOM -- WASHINGTON] [STAMP: FBI] [STAMP: 62-83894-9] [STAMP: 34 JUL 17 '47] RECEIVED JUL 15 1947 gentlemen: I do send to you something new from Texas. Flying of fire car- led arounds of the Pa- restine and the prev- ple are afred of lit and crownde Cuero, not far away from yoakum. fue down so- mekind luckht from a ropeas Anyway got in that hands, enemy or Nazi mob and want ruin'd the RECORDED & INDEXED
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[STAMP: RECEIVED STAMP: JUL 15 1943 STAMP: INTERNAL SECURITY STAMP: 9 AM ONCE]
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They did start in Texas city demach the factory. In the private part of Noakum airport and Broad casting Station are such alone- my like that, We do not know no are them. Now got no airplanes here, just hangars and Broad casting tower with light on rolling towers and light are I like needles to our eyes and got the lights around The hole air- port and from the lights is runing
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the electric and make us sick and the air is full of electric by richy- ding in run fire ball from telephone box in the store far away above half mile. The airport is co- nected with alamo Register in San an- tohio and people are talking with us. The people are Arbi- shop Robert Lucier leading in new residence and is talking with us. In the Broadcast- ing Stations and alamo Register press.
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4 and with the old archbishop's residence, and with the cathedral 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 posing together and we can hear them. The archbishop is bad, man and immoral, and working nothing. all work is done by the Cathedral Board.
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5 In The alls arbi- shops residence are some priests, One its name Morkov- sky, hy is bad man to/ Hi was in care wreck with arbishops care and his Mother his kild, and from that time hi is plane in the old re- sidence, and talking with us. His brother is priest in Hallteevile land talking with us too. All the people suck somthing like tresh, are no cityzen United States, no speak En- glish, they say they are coming from Checko- slovakia.
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The Cathedral Board are men or pretato german and they all are working for germany [ILLEGIBLE] such fresh people we got in Texas and name the alamy palace that is saint to lo [ILLEGIBLE] against the mexicans Santa ana. And I am ending with warldo ; Remember alamo and Texas City. Mrs. Anna Benys, Mr. Joe Benys MRS. ANNA-BENYS MR. JOE-BENYS
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62-83894-9
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5 CENTS PER COPY. No, 91 PAGE «i fie beeen Gino. any -the past of menths a Sweet Home has brought honor to his unity by winning literary holastie acclaim, st to achieve himself was in Anthony Matusek, Yoa: High Schocl graduate who a ‘sehelarship to A, and M. ge. Now word - reaches us Dennis Brenek, cleven-yearson of Mr. and Mrs. Ed iek of Sweet Home ,has b ‘ded a prize of-a $25 Savi lin the KTRH Farm Essay est, annis won sixth place with his y on the subject ‘‘How Radio Best Serye the Farm and Farm Home.’? In commenting this éssay, George Roesner, tH Farm and Rane Dir stor essay contained ideas. whieh et to use in future farm prose nning contests is nothing who, in 1946, won istered pig with an essay sd in the Seavs-Roebuck conAgain, in February 1947, he ed a calf in the Hallettsville Club Show, and out of 12 s awarded he took fifth 8, Brenek ‘is Sweet Home’s nee Growing ateurs’ Display akum softball teams showed f good playing in the games cd at the Bulldog Stadium week. ¢ teams, organized by varmerchants and eoneerns in 1, are composed of members amatenr standing who hav: some previous experience with Lpt_ or school ball playing r, some of the -players such expert — ballrtsmanship that s hard to believe they are not essionals out ef place. The chants who organized these a8 are certainly deing their ‘6 toward providing recreation lities for the young people of community, and are to be plimented on their fine work. er merchants or concerns who to organize a team may n all the particulars from hh MeMaster at the Firestone re on Lott Si or from R. ©. McClendon at Lack’s wiate Store on West Grand. boys or men wishing to play one of the teams may make lieation at the F tone Store, k's, Rohan’s Service Station, Hamilton’s Jewelry Store, deding on the player's choice of eam to play with, There is plenty of room for good vers, So anyone interested is ed to contact one of these ns. Inky one game eduled for next week, and that| fonday night, when The Fire ne Store will tangle with the wales Dr. Peppers, Tuesday ht Lack’s Associate Store will yy but their opponent has not n named yet, Also, on Thursnight the Firestone team will in play a game, but no team been stated to oppose them lay night of this week, d, but the pate have start about iveryone is inid cheer for his each sight. to come {. Davis, field representaf San Antonio Social Seeufice, will be in Yoakum at ty Hall at 8:30 am, Wed- , duly 23, 1947, for the | wo! is definitely [> A lot of Texans are disk-gusted with the flying saucers, but others are just plain disk-turbed: Flying balls of fire circled a wide area around Palestine, and some negroes, believing the end of the world was near, begau praying, A white man grabbed a rifle and shot at the mysterious objects. Sheriff Paul Stanford of Anderson County described them as orange basketballs phn Revealing Flying Disk Data May Bring Prosecution Anyone willfully communicating information bearing on the defense or security of the nation! — even in time of peace —. is subject to a fine of $10,000 and imprisonment of 10 years, aceording to Assistant United States District Attorney Joseph .W Cash. Tf the present myst f ing disks are connected dar or guided missile experiments, the law might apply, he said, The law applies whether the information is released accidentally, ‘‘through gross negligence,’? or ‘with intent to injure the United States or aid some foreign nation,’ according to the act. The Atomie Energy Act of 1946 provides even stricter penalties for revealing information, My. Cash said. Public Law 585 of the Seventy-Ninth Congress préivides death or life imprisonment, after due process of law, for disclosing atomic information with intent to injure the United States. For accidental disclosures a fine of up to 420,000 and im prisonment up to 20 years are provided, Mr. Cash pointed ont. Gas Truck Hits Local Station A eatin Halen seve of the Texas Consolidated Transport Co. van into a heavy pipe upright in front of Rohan’s Service Station Monday, doing some damage to the station and more to the truek. The trek was coming from town, along West Grand, and ‘ned into the station,. As. the driver ent the cab back to swing the trailer into position, the eab skidded into the steel pipe roof support on the right of the truck, hending it considerably. The truck itself suffered a bent bumper and a smashel fender, A gasoline pump directly behind the upright was not damaged by the erash. See Se Lions To Make Farmer Award The Lions Club has announced that at its regular ‘noon meeting Tuesday, July 15th, it will present to Lee Pargmann of Route |5, the plaque for the Outstanding Farmer for the Middle Guadalupe Basin Soi] Conservation Di et. The plaque is given each year to the farmer from each conservation district, who has eontributed most to the soil conservation pr in the particular d The awardis spongored by a nuriber of organizations, among thom the Lions Clubs of the various towns, Sinee the Lions do play an active part in sponsoring this award, the local elub is given the ‘privilege of presenting the plaque fo Mr, Pargmann, Representatives of the Soil Conservation Service will be present to make short congratulatory and explanatory speeches on the giving of the annual award, purpose of reeeiving claims and discussing Old Age and Survivors Insurance with all who wish to contact him. Dayis will not be able to furFIRST ITS FLYING DISKS — NOW ITS “FIRE BALLS” PEOPLE SEF, Tt was the first time the aerial chjects were reported in that area, Residents of the Brushy Creek community, 15 miles northeast of Palestine, called Sheriff Stanford about 8:30 last night, saying 12 balls were flying in a straight line over the community, Then, they reported, the balls formed a circle which began moving toward Palestine. By 9 p. m. hundreds of Palestine spectators reported seeing as many as three balls in the sky at once, moving in a eirele. Sheriff Stanford discounted any suggestion that the balls originated from a spotlight. Bud Everett, druggist, chased them for a better view. He said they finally disappeared about 11 p.m. Mrs. Horace Valenting saidi she saw two’ perfectly round balls that ‘‘nearly seared me to death”? when they appeared over her | home. Sho. s9i3—-figp seemoq (> be’ playing with each other, the way they jumped around. Her husband and Lee Chavers shot a box of .22 rifle bullets without any effect on the objects. Mrs, Valentine said neighboring neero families thought the world was coming to an end, and began praying as the balls of fire gamboled overhead. Mrs. Lorens Shrader, Big Springs reported she saw a fiery yed ball streaking overhead last night. Mrs, Marian Reed, farm wife, found what she believed was part of a flying disk, It landed in her back yard while she was hanging out the clothes yesterday afternoon. She admitted shé was frightened. She deseribed it as a round. piece of tinfoil eight inches wide, scorched or buried around the edges. Both sides were shiny, but one side was marked with black, stenciled lines a anarter-inch apart. She said’ thé tin. foil dropped straight down from the sky. She lifted it with a stick, put it in a tin can, and droye . five miles to Gunter, 20 miles sonthwest of Sherman, Scores crowded about to see it. At Melissa, Collin County, Mrs. Marie Killian and Mrs. Kay Craft reported seeing a strange objéet 40 p, m. yesterday. Chavles Calhoun, and his fath- ‘Calhoun, prominent Grayson County farmers, said they saw a disk yesterday near Sherman. Cuero Reale See Flying Dise a a Cuero has finally produeéd 315 first flying dise, TE vas wanenieg by Ane TN Haak of 410 Stockdale street, and both she and her husband saw it. However, Mrs. Haak’s flyi 1g dise is no particular thystery, td her. She thinks she knows just what cause] it. Tt was simply a reflection front an airplane, she said. Sitting on the porch with har husband abont 4 pm. Sunday, Mrs. Haak said she heard a strange noise from the sky, and leoked up, Soon. an airplane came into view, high in the clouds. 1 was very small, but plainly discernableag a plane, she said. ft was coming from the east. Soon it turned north, atid j after that a perfect dise was ible some distance from where the plane disappeared into tHe clouds. The dise appeared bright and very. silvery. Ip appeared to Be smaller in size than an ordinary steering wheel of a car, Mts. Haak reported. Tt seemed to be ‘Floating’? across the heavens. She called her husband’s © attention to it, They both saw it. After about five seconds the dise was gone, The plane and the sound disappeared Mrs. Haak is convineed tha flying saucer was reflected from the airplane. This theory also: has been advanced by others. The flying dise mystery has the nation in a dither with separts coming from all. sections on the jects. Mrs. Haak’s explanation is as reasonable as any nish information conceming Old Age Assistance pensions, yet put forth, and may be the solution to the ‘“phenomenon,’’
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P*SGE TWO YOAKUM WERALD - TIMES Owned by MALEC PUBLISHING Cc. JOSEPH J. MALEC, Editor-Manager Largest guaranteed circulation of ny publication in this pea oOn Jerald Est. Li Sonsoudated Oct, 25, 1943 twscription Rave —- — —$2.50| Published every Tuesday and Fri- ‘ay uiurming — 810-812 Lott St., Lavaca and DeWitt aintersd as secund-class matter at! the Post Ofiice, Yoakum, Texas, inder the Act of March 3, 1: WHEN ADVERTISING CIRCU-|| LATION OOUNTS — TRY THE} HERALD- eee POLITICAL ANNOUNCEMENTS | For Senator, 18th Dist. JOHN J, BELLMORRIS ROBERTS | WE SPECIALIZE Ei ec A Whiskies, Wines j and Ging KF DARLING peose pe Chas. Micek Your WATKINS City Dealer phone 599-W ‘7rs a your tlew home of firesafe CONCRETE A house of whatever architectural style or floor plan fits your family requirements wil? have longer life, lower main- | « tenance cost and greater firesafety if it has concrete walls end subfigars and a firesafe roof. Let us tell you how to get sucha house built now using our quality tested concrete block. R.&M. Concrete Products Yoakum. Texas 516 GGide — Phone a | DR. & R. TUBBS Vewevinarian Zarge.ané Small. Animals Offise Phone 831 Residenre Paone 749-W She’il Never Forget# THIS GIFT See Us For QUALITY MERCHANDISE° EXPF RT WATCH REPAIRING HAMILTON JEWELRY Yoakuin Horace Wimberly, Jr. Lawyer Offices now in Yoakum National Bank Building Phone 50 E | It is.a French paper in | Paris that claims that AmeEi rica has a far more destruc-| 4| tive bomb than any ever inH: vented before. In one blow it E firmed by Robert M. 1 \ ON DOESN ay ANT I NIT i | BY THR WAY | — By W. M. — je IO NDT IR NY ) John L. Lewis calls the new labor law a “slave law” x trusts had undoubtj edly the same idea about the | anti- trust laws when first | introduced. And what are ths trusts compared to the harm | the unions can do with their strikes? Norman Thomas debate about Russia. mas questions gave | “T seriously ques j ested in world domina aing to rehabilitate the ; Says Wallace, just w! What happened Hungary, and what ue jcountry, should be b what the Reds say, 1 “And, once agai ference between the Hitler Germany, in government struc = Wy * { If the aew labor laws are “slave laws”, so are the anti-trust laws and aay other laws for the protec- | tien of people against a- | buses by any group. So far the people were utterly helpiess against the labor i i | power. | sp * | simple, and far mor age. But when Russia the same. j they don’t differ greai When independence is and maintained in Gre dictators as}. eae abo: {ing to Wallace’s reasor | Lewis, Petrillo, others, have a far greater power to harm this country than the British king ever had. This is just las untolerable today as it | was then. But since the Reé mocracy, it’s very simp to suit the purpose. Ey Moscow's fifth column, Wallace talks of h |sistance and sincere pil i people.” How can. Wall * ya# t Sunday was, for the, h, a national Day of! Russia will take ; ey eeever. The king with Prime, without changing in t = | Minister Attlee and other] | And How Can he tat. | government leaders went to| when there cannot be St. Paul’s Cathedral to pray| less, voiceless, and cu with the nation for help in| any friendship reach these ominous i time:mes. ! Wallace aro . Eka, | went through the | desperate struggle in her’ whole history. The peace is not yet established and even a. greater menace threatens the (people of Eagland and elsewhere to | whom freedom means so much. In a great danger brave peeple tura to God. ee Truck Award The oldest’ ( ft) Operon in the United Here, too many do Not) citored’ in the recent. cor | fully realize today’s danger.', 1915 1-ton model, The We suffered comparatively | tr k was built on Oct little and the Red threat)"918 in Chevrolet’s seems to be distant, . But! California pinnt. | that does not minimize it. Le a ‘ k a ee ane | We need to face the te Mostra. onde ie ; with the same Seriousness tied through Pioucer | the British people with their) ihe Chevrolet dealer in Ul |leaders manifested last Sun-| which |day. For, we cannot escape|City Zone, | it. | The winner's. prize of x oe yAdvance-Design Chevrolet It cannot be said ee ate: be ted to Myr [iss GHSNST aha fiction. |[tiers were [ee from | Pelly man, near Houston, On! hronq publie interest. Enth it was a warning about its|duded more than 50-1919 | military secret and that the} | Army Air Force at Spokane,| | Washington be notified at)TM | once. i | 2m | So the mysterious disks | are not messengers from Mars or some other star. Nor are they missiles which Red Russia is already showering upon us. They are our own secrets with which our armed forces are experimenting. What propels them? How far can they fly? What is their purpose? —That is a mighty secret. ss * located im our-Sa ter the winning ber of jemph [talahs of Chevrolet. trucks could destroy all of Paris or Moscow. This is also con-) Hutchins of the University of Chicago, familiar with what goes on here. We can thank only the good Providence ;| that this immense power is in! our hands. aw # Writes John Fisher in his) book “Why ‘They Behave) Like Russians’: Officially) religion is still ‘regarded as} a deplorable superstition, and church-goers can never hope to gain admittance to the Communist Party.” Yet what do yeu find in this country?’—Even certain chureh leaders have only praise for the very | tule which exeludes a ) Christian, but they con- | demn their fellow Christians, instead of the Reds.
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MEMBER OF AUDIT BUREAU OF CIRCULATIONS This Paper Is Connected With NCWC Washington News Headquarters by Direct Leased Wire, Has International News Service Daily Wires, Its Own Special Service, Religious News Service, Inter-Catholic Press Agency, Lumen Service of China, Fides Service, Religious News Photos, International Illustrated News, NCWC Picture Service, Photo Features THE ALAMO REGISTER (Name Registered in the U. S. Patent Office) [STAMP: 6-46] SECTION TWO
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Speaking at Castelgandolfo, his summer home, Pius XII asserted that the world today has men who ignore not only the Church, but the very rudiments of religion itself; in. men who see no evil in evil deeds and lust and would spurn "the primary norms of morals and justice;" "there are cynics who would deride holy things and weak men who would permit these offenses to pass. . ." Despite this turmoil, His Holiness said, "there are great rays of hope and fields white with harvest for those who labor to bring Christ to the world." He stressed the oath of the Jesuits, which enables them to bring "a spirit prepared and prompt to obey in all things the true Spouse of Christ . . . our holy Mother Church." In another audience, held for the Most Rev. Emmanuel Suarez, O.P., and the Dominicans who elected
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FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE COMMUNICATIONS SECTION JUL 7 1947 WESTERN UNION TU WU17 47/46 2 EXTRA COLLECT SAN MARCOX TEX JULY 7 1947 714P FBI WASHDC CHECK FILES IN INVENTORS COUNCIL FOR DRAWING OF MULTI-APRING CATAPULT THIS INVENTION SENT BY ME TO WAR DEPARTMENT IN 1945 POSSIBLE LEAKAGE OF INFORMATION HAS RESULTED MY DEVICE OR VARIATION THERE FROM COULD CONCIEVABLY CATAPULT A DISC AND IN SILENCE FOR SEVERAL MILES WOODSON C COPE CLIFFSIDE HALL 1945. [HW: Ack memo Ladd] [HW: WVC] 941P STAMP: EX-74 37 JUL [ILLEGIBLE] ONCE '47 STAMP: FBI [HW: cancelled - changes referred for Mr Howe - ST] [HW: copper]
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STAMP: JUL 8 12:39PM RECEIVED STAMP: JUL 7 10:42PM RECEIVED TELETYPE UNIT F.B.I. DEPT. OF JUSTICE
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Office Memorandum UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TO: D. M. Ladd FROM: J. P. Coyne SUBJECT: WOODSON C [REDACTED] COPE Informant DATE: 7-10-47 G.I.R.-5 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. Attachment [HW:] Info Graduation [HW:] 7/14/47 [HW:] [STAMP:] EX-74 63JUL 23 1947 WVC:mn RECORDED INDEXED [STAMP:] 162 -83894-10 F B I [STAMP:] 37 JUL '59 1947
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[STAMP:] RECEIVED [STAMP:] JUL 23 9 51 AM '47 [STAMP:] INTERNAL SECURITY [STAMP:] F.B.I. [STAMP:] DEPT. OF JUSTICE [STAMP:] RECEIVED-LADD [STAMP:] FBI [STAMP:] U.S. DEPT OF JUSTICE
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WESTERN UNION A. N. WILLIAMS PRESIDENT CLASS OF SERVICE This is a full-rate Telegram or Cablegram unless its deferred character is indicated by a suitable symbol above or preceding the address. SYMBOLS DL = Day Letter NL = Night Letter LC = Deferred Cable NLT = Cable Night Letter Ship Radiogram The filing time shown in the date line on telegrams and day letters is STANDARD TIME at point of origin. Time of receipt is STANDARD TIME at point of destination QA 92 Q•CNA392 PD=DARLINGTON SOCAR 6 630P US DEPT OF JUSTICE: :WASHDC= [HW: Oh guard] [HW: Peter] 1947 JUL 6 PM 6 50 ABOUT 12 SO-CALL FLYING DISCS PASSED OVER DARLINGTON SC APPROXIMATELY 5:30 PM TODAY *ADVISE IF WISH DETAILS* J U WATTS JR. [STAMP: ack "M" 1-10-47] [STAMP: never-Late] [STAMP: WVA] FED. BU. OF INV. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE JUL 7 1947 DIVISION OF RECORDS EX-58 RECORDED [ILLEGIBLE] ONCE [ILLEGIBLE] ONCE [ILLEGIBLE] ONCE [ILLEGIBLE] ONCE [ILLEGIBLE] ONCE [ILLEGIBLE] ONCE [ILLEGIBLE] ONCE [ILLEGIBLE] ONCE [ILLEGIBLE] ONCE [ILLEGIBLE] ONCE FED. BU. OF INV. GUARD ADV HAVE MSG DLVD SA 720P
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STAMP: 5 JUL 6 PM 7 20 STAMP: 5 JUL 6 PM 7 20 STAMP: A 57 PM [REDACTED] STAMP: INTERNAL B.I. JUSTICE [HW:] [ILLEGIBLE]
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FROM SUBJECT: Informant There is being attached hereto a Western Union telegram above individual in ich information is t gram has been acknowledged yy received from furnished concerning a "disc." This t ACTION: is telegram be turned over to the It is they may make the information containe recommended that th Liaison Section in order that therein available to the War Department. ae Attachment
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[STAMP:] JUL 11 3 23 PM '47 [STAMP:] JUL 11 3 55 PM '47 [STAMP:] RECEIVED-LADD [STAMP:] FBI [STAMP:] DEPT OF JUSTICE RECEIVED JUL 23 I 39 PM '47 INTERNAL SECURITY F.B.I. DEPT OF JUSTICE
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'Saucer' Stories Disk Found Is Priest Hears a 'Bang,' Discovers a Circular Blade With Teeth; Other Disks 'Seen' Tries to Call FBI Man Father Brasky said he did not bother to show the disk to any of his parishioners Sunday. He tried to telephone an FBI agent whom he knows, but was unable to reach him Sunday, he added. Asked whether it could have been the work of a practical joker, Father Brasky re- plied: "Could be. I don't know." The disk, apparently of steel, had a one and three-eighth inch hole in the center. Through it ran a few wires. To each end of the cluster of wires was attached what looked like a small condenser about three inches long. The condenserlike ob- jects were wrapped in black tape which still was sticky. The disk was greasy and somewhat dirty. Stamped on it was: "Approved, Dunlap." Father Brasky declined to part with the disk. He showed a number of items in his trinket collection. All of them had something to do with fishing, Father Brasky's favorite sport. They included his "bass bottles," beer bottles with the head of a fish - and a fish pole from Manila which folds up into a cane. When opened, it extends to 12 feet. "I use it in reaching folks who can't be touched with a 10 foot pole." Father Brasky quipped. Others Report "Saucers" Father Brasky also passed out copies of his recent publication, "Fish Tales." "I'm going to revise this thing," he explained. "I've got some new and better tales to put in it." There were other reports around Milwaukee and Wisconsin of "flying saucers." Mrs. Anthony Hoffman, 3410 W. Layton av., said she and her husband saw one at 8:25 p.m. Sunday flying toward Billy Mitchell field from the northwest. When it neared the field, it veered toward the south and disappeared, she said. It was flying high and appeared illuminated, according to Mrs. Hoffman. "It looked like a small meat plat- ter," Mrs. Hoffman asserted. Glenn Rowden of Detroit claimed he saw a "saucer," about 50 inches in diameter, over Billy Mitchell field at 10:05 p.m., when he alighted from an airplane. He said it was in sight for 90 seconds. William Humphrey, who lives with his wife in a quonset hut at 3148 S. 20th st., telephoned police at 9 p.m., Sunday that he and Mrs. Humphrey had seen a slightly illu- minated disk which appeared to fall to earth near Pulaski high school. Mrs Humphrey said Monday that her husband tried unsuccessfully to photograph the disk. Changed Colors, He Says Erwin Rottman, 1328 N. 19th st., claimed he saw three of them flying through the air in a northwestern direction at 6 p.m., Sunday They turned from orange to gold to silver before disappearing, he said. Reports came also from Janesville where Mr and Mrs Alva Sievert and Mr and Mrs Howard Roth reported seeing a flying disk about 11:35 p.m Saturday The Roths were leaving the Sievert home when Sievert saw it according to Roth It appeared to be several thousand feet up and about ten miles away Roth said He described it as vaguely resembling the moon and as hav ing regular motion in counter clockwise elongated orbit It appeared Roth moving faster than an airplane He said it was yellow on its face but when turned looked silver Roth said that four of them viewed the disk for ten minutes Stopped In Sky Claim "It fluttered around faded out and came back again once just stopped hung there for about two minutes" Roth said The last time we saw it had very Turn page col ENCLOSURE RECORDED [HW:] [STAMP:] F B I [HW:] [STAMP:] JU JUL [HW:] [STAMP:] [ILLEGIBLE]
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'Saucer' Tales Buzz in State Disk Found by a Priest Is Circular Saw; Others Seen by Milwaukeans From page 1, column 3 Laws of Eyesight Clarify Reports of Flying Saucers By HOWARD W. BLAKESLEE Associated Press Science Editor New York, N. Y. The flying saucers may be explained by certain laws of eyesight. All objects appear round or nearly so at any distance close to the limit of how far a person can see. If the objects are seen by reflected light, as in most cases reported, they are almost certain to be round, and if the reflections are sunlight then the sizes reported are those which would be expected from distant light reflections. Descriptions of virtually all the saucers as round and flat fit exactly with the tricks that eyes play. This trickiness varies with differences in weather and lighting. This writer has seen flying saucers over Long Island sound, not only this year but in previous years. They were round, bright and moving fast. But they were no mystery because they were light reflected from the bodies of airplanes that soon identified themselves by changing course and coming near enough to be seen distinctly. Mirages, Traveler Says Philadelphia, Pa. -(P)- Dr. Aurel Aczel, editor of a Hungarian language newspaper, expressed belief that the flying saucers were mirages—possibly circularly distorted reflections of real airplanes many miles away. A world-wide traveler, Dr. Aczel said: "Years ago I have seen similar things on the Egyptian desert and on the Buszta (Hungarian plain). At sea I have also seen mirages of ships known to be a great distance away. "In July and August, and sometimes even in June, atmospheric conditions are especially adaptable to the creation of mirages." Stops Car Disk Vanishes
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[HW: 6a 10519] [STAMP: 32 JUL 16]
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Sharp-Eyed Sight Disks, but Only a Saw Blade Is Found
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Who, what, where, why are flying disks? The year's biggest mystery produced these Sunday photos while reports came from everywhere and everyone that the saucers were everywhere. Top left, a movie camera is fitted to a P-51 fighter plane at Portland, Ore., as Oregon national guard planes are made ready to chase the disks. Lower, Mrs. Walter Johnson (right) of Spokane, Wash., and her children pose and tell how they saw the saucers land on a mountainside in Idaho and disappear. Right, is Father Joseph Brasky of St. Joseph's Catholic church at Grafton, Wis., with the disk he reported struck his church early Sunday. It turned out that the disk was a prankster made projectile, featuring a Dunlop circular saw blade. Note that something apparently took a glass ball off one of the lightning rods. A whole lot of Milwaukeans reported that they saw the saucers traveling past Sunday night. AP Wirephotos and Journal Staff
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[STAMP: 62-83894] [HW: Enclosure] [HW: Recorded] [HW: F D] [HW: 22 Jul 16] MILWAUKEE SENTINEL MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN 30 OCT 1 - 1947 [ILLEGIBLE]
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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 By the United Press Army pilots were ready Monday for another air search for the mysterious "flying saucers" now reported seen in 39 states and parts of Canada as practical jokesters added to the confusion. Equipped with telescopic cameras, 11 army planes searched the Pacific northwest Sunday without finding any trace of the flying disks which had been reported over scores of communities the preceding two days. At Sioux Falls, S. D., a national guard plane already in the air was ordered to investigate a silvery disk with a short tail which Gregory Zimmer said he saw shoot across the heavens. The pilot found nothing but empty sky. The army "camera patrol" over the Cascade mountains Sunday included eight P-51 pursuit ships and three A-26 bombers. Illusions Or Jokes There was growing belief that the concentrated aerial search would show the saucers to be optical illusions or the work of practical jokesters magnified by aroused imaginations. A number of "disks" whirled over rooftops in East St. Louis, Ill., Sunday. J.T. Hartley, a locomotive engineer, gathered some of them up and found they were made of pressed white paper, 11 inches in diameter and with a two inch hole in the center. Railroad workers said they looked like locomotive packing washers. [HW: Searchlights on Clouds] A Birmingham radio station was deluged with more than 400 calls in one hour by persons who said they saw fluorescent balls circling over the city and clearly outlined against near-by mountains. A carnival at Alabaster, Ala., was playing searchlights on cloud wisps. An argument raged at Lodi, Calif., over the cause of a spectacular glow in the sky and a roar shortly before electrical power went off. Mrs. W.C. Smith said she heard a noise "like what a crop dusting plane was doing in the air at dawn on Sunday." It was first time any noise had been attributed to flying saucers. J.U. Watts, Jr., Darlington (S.C.) attorney, said he saw an army pursuit plane chasing a V-formation of flying saucers at 250 miles an hour 3,000 feet high. However, no pilot reported such a chase. Saw One With Legs Meantime authorities were plagued with reports that bordered on fantastic An excited Chicago woman reported that she had seen a flying saucer with legs "I was standing on my porch and I thought for sure it was coming right down and slap me in face," she said George Kuger of Denver said he saw a flying disk with an American flag on it Francis Howell Tempe Ariz claimed he saw saucer two feet in diameter disappear behind row trees near his home When rushed to inspect it he said flat thin aluminumlike disk took off high rate speed toward Phoenix nine miles away Mrs Walter Johnson returned to Spokane Wash after vacation near St Maries Idaho after reading newspaper reports flying saucers said she several others had seen speeding shiny objects as big as four or five room house disappear into forest covered mountains The first of saucers New York State reported by Mrs Kenneth Wohley Rochester N.Y who said her husband saw object about size ordinary saucer flying above her back yard at 830 p.m Sunday Give 'Em Room Newport News Va Peninsula airport here is taking no chances with flying saucers Pilots reporting Monday take out planes found this notice bulletin board Two thousand feet vertical horizontal clearance required between aircraft operating from this field any flying saucers [HW: Four motored bomber] just before lights went off dawn Erving Newcomb Pacific Gas Electric Co offered explanation that low flying crop dusting plane probably struck power line burned out transformer However no planes were reported damaged no one could explain [STAMP: MILWAUKEE JOURNAL MILWAUKEE WISCONSIN] [STAMP: RECORDED] [STAMP: ENCLOSED]
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New Jersey residents said they “thought” they saw flying disks over Palisades Park and near-by Bergenfield Sunday night. Skeptical scientists recalled the mysterious “rockets” seen over Swe- den last year. Eighty per cent of the “ghost” rockets” proved to be meteors, and Swedish officials said the others could be discounted as pure imagination. Scientists asserted that the ob- jects in order to be seen clearly at 10,000 feet—the level at which most of the saucers have been reported— would have to be 20 feet in diameter, would require a large mass of metal, would be more conspicuous at night and would be seen by a far greater number of persons. Dr. J. S. Nassau, director of the Warner & Swasey observatory at the Case Institute of Technology at Cleveland, said he was inclined to “think the reports are fancies.” Capt. Tom Brown, army air force spokesman at Washington, said the army was trying to run the reports to earth. “We’re not dismissing the possi- bility that there’s something to it,” he said, “and we’re not dismissing the possibility that it’s all a hoax.”
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U. S. Planes Hunting Discs; Russ Tells of 'Atom Saucers' FBI Probes Story of Soviet Ship Officer LOS ANGELES, July 6—(Special)—Federal agents today investigated a letter to the Examiner describing Russian supersonic atom-powered planes resembling the "flying saucers." A top flight atomic scientist to whom the Examiner referred the letter said it was "not all non- sense," and suggested the matter be turned over to the FBI. The letter writer said he got the information from an officer aboard a Russian tanker recently in Los Angeles harbor. KILLED EVEN WORMS The Russian, he said, also de- scribed experiments with con- trolled radioactive clouds in the Arctic, where birds, animals and even worms were killed. The planes, as described by the Russian to the writer, are only 18 inches thick, with a kidney- shaped outline and no propellers. The pilot lies on his stomach and is artificially cooled against the heat developed by air friction. "The outer surface is highly polished," the Russian said. Both upper and lower surfaces are convex, like a giant lens. The lifting force is an entirely different principle found about 10 years ago among unpublished papers of a Russian chemist. "Energy is required only for climbing, but no energy is needed for support when the airplane goes along the earth's gravitational contour lines." The writer of the strange letter said he met the Russian officer in Wilmington and, because he wanted to hear about Russia, invited him to dinner. [HW: Enclosure] [STAMP: 62-83894-13] [STAMP: Recorded] [STAMP: E1/2] [STAMP: 32 JUL 16 1947] Milwaukee Sentinel Milwaukee, Wis. July 7, 1947
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Quirks of Eyesight May Explain Disc Mystery By HOWARD BLAKESLEE AP Science Editor NEW YORK, July 6-(P)-Certain laws of human eyesight will explain much of what has been described about the flying saucers reported from nearly all parts of the United States. At any distance which is close to the limit of how far a person can see, all objects appear round or nearly so. This law of sight covers both small things seen nearby and large ones at great distances. Regardless of shape, the object near the limit of sight looks round. If the thing is silhouetted against a bright sky, as some of the flying saucers have been reported, then it is more likely to reveal its true shape. HAVE 'NO STRUCTURE' If the thing is seen by reflected light, as in most cases reported, it is almost certain to be round, and if the reflections are sunlight, then the sizes reported are those which would be expected from distant light reflections. The one outstanding fact about virtually all the saucers is that they had no structure—they seemed merely round and flat. That description fits exactly with the tricks that eyes play. This trickiness varies with differences in weather and lighting. This writer has seen flying saucers over Long Island Sound near his home, not only this year but in previous years. They were round, bright and moving fast. NOT A MYSTERY But they were no mystery because they were light reflected from the bodies of airplanes that soon identified themselves by changing course and coming near enough to be seen distinctly. Last week this writer also saw one oval flying form which for a moment looked exactly like [REDACTED] photograph of the oval object taken by Yeoman Frank Ryman north of Seattle, Wash. The Long Island oval came closer and turned into an airplane. Planes at great distances tend to look round when light is reflected from their sides. Many descriptions of movements of the flying saucers fit with common maneuvers of airplanes singly or in groups. They fit also with what birds look like, flying at a considerable distance. However the bird illusion is not very common. Some of the maneuvering reported which took saucers out of sight and back into sight again resembles what can be seen while watching distance airplanes. SPEED MYSTERY There is no explanation for reported speeds of 1,000 or more miles an hour. Meteors although they go much faster than that do not explain it because the saucers mostly appear in daytime and there are not enough daylight meteors. Ice crystals forming little round clouds have been suggested. But these fail to fit in most cases because ice crystals form at altitudes which are higher than most of the saucers reported. Nothing published in science or atomic studies gives slightest clue to flying saucers unless objects are aircraft. One scientist today said that at least a lot of saucers are explained by force suggestion which causes a person to say himself: "Oh gee I see it too." RECORDED [HW: 142] 32 JUL 16 1947
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'Saucers' Fly Here; Grafton Disc Joke Other passengers with him also saw it, he said. He gave the name of J. W. Rowden of Detroit. Despite its bobbing, the saucer was going at great speed, and was out of sight in a few seconds, he said. Rowden is stopping at the Plaza Hotel. DISCS HAD TAILS Erwin Rottman, 1328 N. 19th St., said he saw three of them, with tails, flying northwest to southeast, as he stood at N. 18th and W. Vliet Sts. They turned from gold to another color and then to silver, he said. Frank Phifer, stopping at the Maryland Hotel, said he saw three balls of fire shoot across Lake Michigan at 8:20 last night, about a mile from shore, and "going at terrific speed." What he described as an illuminated saucer was seen last night by William Humphrey, 3148 S. 20th St., he said. It was zigzagging directly over the Heil Co. plant, said Humphrey, and seemed to land in a wooded area nearby. REPORTED IN JANESVILLE Four Janesville residents reported they had seen a flying disc Saturday night. They are Mr. and Mrs. Al Sievert and Mr. and Mrs. Howard Roth. They saw the disc flying in a northwesterly direction from Janesville at a "terrific speed." They viewed it for 20 minutes. It was yellow-golden, and seemed to turn at times to a silvery color; they stated An oval flight pattern was followed Then they said tails appeared on the disc and shortly afterwards it disappeared. John Bosch, 4377 S Adams St., Milwaukee A machinist insisted he saw two flashing saucer-shaped objects pass over Billy Mitchell Field shortly after midnight yesterday They were close enough so he could definitely state they were not shooting stars nor airplanes He said Bosch's home is near the airport. WIRE AND TUBES It was a large circular saw—about 16 inches in diameter—and still hot when Father Brasky picked it from the lawn. There were wires and two tubes attached to it The tubes were an inch in diameter and three inches long. STAMP: [HW: Enclosure] RECORDED [HW: F B I] [STAMP: JULY 16 1947]
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HA! HA! WINCHELL HAS REVEALED THE "SAUCER" SECRET. YOU CAN'T HIDE ANYTHING FROM US & OUR AGENTS LIKE WINCHELL COMMUNIST Flying discs REDACTED STAMP: 62-83894- STAMP: 37 JUL 15 1947
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[STAMP:] F.B.I. INTERNAL SECURITY [ILLEGIBLE] 23 4 57 PM '47 RECEIVED
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STANDARD FORM NO. 64 Office Memorandum UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TO: DIRECTOR, FBI FROM: SAC, MILWAUKEE SUBJECT: FLYING DISCS OR SAUCERS MISCELLANEOUS TELEPHONE CALL FROM MR. FLETCHER AT THE BUREAU AT 8:30 AM, 7/7/47 DATE: July 8, 1947 ATTENTION: MR. H.FLETCHER [HW:] 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 telephoned me at my residence about three or four times between 1:00 A.M. and 2:30 A.M., July 7, 1947. The United Press representative informed me that Father JOSEPH BRASKY had stated on interview by a Milwaukee Sentinel reporter, one BILL WEEKS (Phonetic) that he, Father BRASKY was going to call the FBI concerning the contraption which apparently was identical with one of the flying discs recently publicized throughout the country. The United Press representative desired to know if we had any statement to make on the matter. I informed him that I had no official comment other than "No Comment." Since I have contacted the United Press representative on various occasions, I asked him what the actual details were and he stated he did not know except that the interview of the priest reflected that a circular saw had been found with some devices attached to it. The Associated Press called me shortly after the United Press representative did and on being advised that I had no comment to make concerning the story, I asked the Associated Press representative what the actual facts were and he informed me that as far as the Associated Press was concerned, facts were that a circular saw had been found and a story had been obtained from a priest who had been drinking quite heavily. The Associated Press representative informed me that apparently the United Press desired to get a statement from me denying or affirming that the FBI was investigating this matter. I informed the Associated Press representative that apparently someone was suffering under a misinterpretation of any comment I had made and possibly some reporter was in an embarrassing position if a story went out over wire services. I then telephoned [STAMP:]the United Press representative who apparently in meantime had been called by [STAMP:]the Associated press in an effort to straighten out [STAMP:]the United press No reference was made to FBI in Milwaukee Sentinel article appearing July 7, 1947 but Milwaukee Journal article which is attached referred to an alleged statement by Father BRASKY that he attempted to get in touch with an FBI Agent whom he knows Father BRASKY has never contacted Milwaukee FBI Office or any Agent concerning his find In my opinion this is just another hoax story since photograph of Father BRASKY with saw indicates no basis for any investigation by any authority. [STAMP:] Enclosures
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[STAMP: FBI 10-5 pm] [STAMP: FBI 3:57 pm] [STAMP: FBI 4:15 pm] [STAMP: FBI 4:12 pm] Rules: - Output the visible text exactly as it appears, preserving line breaks. - Black bars or boxes covering text → write [REDACTED] - Handwritten annotations → prefix with [HW:] - Stamps → prefix with [STAMP:] - Form labels and their values: keep them on adjacent lines - If a small region is illegible, write [ILLEGIBLE] ONCE for that region - If the rest of the page is blank or you have transcribed everything visible, STOP. Do not repeat [ILLEGIBLE] to fill space. - Output ONLY the page transcription — no commentary, summary, or explanation. UNUNITED STATES GOVERNMENT DATE TO FROM REDACTED [HW:] DATE TO FROM
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[REDACTED] WOODSTOCK JUL 7 7 AM 1947 ILL. [STAMP:] 3 CENTS 3 Mr. Edgar House. J.B.O. Washington, D.C.
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HOTEL WOODSTOCK WOODSTOCK, ILLINOIS G.I.R.-5 [HW: flying Saucers] [STAMP: 58 JUL 29 1947] [STAMP: FBI] [STAMP: 36 JUL 14 1947] On today's page, & see more, news concerning the flying saucers. Now those one without a doubt from America see they are likely checking how completely the Comm cover the U.S. in Pohol. I feel it is wrong for us to report areas in which they are seen. In traveling solo by a spiritualist I wasn't sure what she was - I talked to obtain much information as I could - I became interested when she said - Russia has a poison which she will place in an atom bomb that will destroy not one city but dozens of cities - so when I read of the flying saucers [REDACTED] perfected a device when [ILLEGIBLE] whole country in one shot - see the flying saucers were reported in Mich. Dr. New Orleans. These home- less dies out and out & determine what area We are foolish to give
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them [REDACTED] information Now this woman may only be guessing but it should not be [REDACTED] up - The name she gave her Mrs. MAC NASS Mrs. Mae Nass 811 E. State St) Milwaukee, Wis. (W. Phone [ILLEGIBLE] 3136 Why do we wait till we are destroyed or nearly so before we act - If we aren't ready in 3 seconds the neither will act nor - Do see it all Reading in these latest event - Let ours work dept. take notice - Its no time & sleep - We should secretly drop men home all other 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 her know it and how it in big doses final - That the only way I can seem coming out quiet all - Adincerely
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PHONE 636 BOOTH PH 814 LOCATED IN BUSINESS DISTRICT HOTEL WOODSTOCK WOODSTOCK, ILLINOIS
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STAMP: F.B.I. INTERNAL SECURITY STAMP: U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE STAMP: F.B.I. STAMP: JUL 23 10 25 AM '47 STAMP: JUL 22 3 24 PM '47 RECEIVED RECEIVED ATOMIC ENERG'S SECTION
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STANDARD FORM NO. 64 Office Memorandum · UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TO: D.M. LADD FROM: K.C. Howe DATE: July 11, 1947 SUBJECT: [HW:] Flying Disc 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. Hennrich he wanted to pass on to the Bureau information he had just received 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 RECORDED & INDEXED STAMP: EX-16 STAMP: FEBY STAMP: JUL 16 1947
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Office Memorandum UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TO: MR. E. A. TAMM FROM: D. M. LADD DATE: July 11, 1947 SAC 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 17" disc which appeared to have been possibly made out of cardboard painted with silver airplane dope. In the center was a tube and 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 [STAMP:] RECORDED [STAMP:] EX-56
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Office Memorandum UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TO: MR. LADD FROM: F. P. GRIFFEE SUBJECT: FLYING DISCS 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 Lonis of the Laurel, Maryland, Police Department. Sergeant Lonis 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 Lonis. STAMP: G.I.R.S. STAMP: FBI STAMP: EX-56 STAMP: 62-83894-17 STAMP: JUL 17 1947
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UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT Office Managing Director [REDACTED] [HW: 23 31 PM '47] [STAMP: FBI] [STAMP: DEPT. OF JUSTICE] [STAMP: INTERNAL SECURITY] [STAMP: LIAISON SECTION] RECEIVED JUL 14 10 09 AM '47
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FBI DALLAS 7-8-47 6-17 PM DIRECTOR AND SAC, CINCINNATI URGENT TELETYPE 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 BALLON BY CABLE, WHICH BALLON WAS 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 PLANE 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. WYLY RECORDED 62-83894-18 FBI 29 JUL 22 1947 END CXXXX ACK IN ORDER EX-29 WA 9½ FBI CI MJW BPI H8 8-38 PM O 8-22 PM OK FBI WASH DC WH
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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 RECEIVED-INTERNAL SECURITY JUL 9 9 43 AM '47 FBI U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE RECEIVED-TECHNICAL LABORATORY JUL 15 9 43 AM '47 FBI U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE STAMP: JULY 10, '47, INTERNAL SECURITY, FBI
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FBI NEW ORLEANS 7-7-47 8-02 PM CGB DIRECTOR FBI VERY URGENT FLYING DISCS, MISCELLANEOUS. F. G. HARISTON, FIFTEEN FIFTY FOUR TEXAS AVENUE, SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA ADVISES HE OBSERVED A CIRCULAR DISC AT SIX FIVE PM THIS DATE COMING FROM NW DIRECTION. DISC LANDED IN FIFTEEN HUNDRED BLOCK OF TEXAS AVENUE. HAIRSTON 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 NOT HOT. HAIRSTON NOTIFIED G-2 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 HAS ON UPPER END-- [REDACTED] --MADE SOUND LIKE A POLICEMAN'S WHISTLE AND SMOOTH SIDE 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 PERSON WHO HANDLED DISC BEFORE ARRIVAL OF AGENT SECURED. BARKSDALE FIELD MAKING PHOTOS WILL SECURE RECORDED 62-83894-19 AND FORWARD PHOTOS TO BUREAU. BELIEVED PRESS AWARE OF INCIDENT 29 JUL 22 1947
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RECEIVED TELETYPE UNIT JUL 7 10 18 PM '47 F.B.I. DEPT. OF JUSTICE TEGEN DIRECTOR U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE Jul 0 5 53 AM '47 RECEIVED LIAISON SECTION 8 9-51PM '47 FBI DEPT. OF JUSTICE STAMP: U.S. DEPT OF JUSTICE STAMP: F.B.I. STAMP: U.S. DEPT OF JUSTICE
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July 10, 1947 RECORDED 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 FRY:mjo [STAMP:] COMMUNICATIONS SECTION MAILED 11 JUL 11 1947 P.M. FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
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[STAMP:] COMMUNICATIONS SECTION FBI DEPT OF JUSTICE [STAMP:] MAIL ROOM [STAMP:] 6 11PM * JUL 11 1947 P.M. [STAMP:] W A I L E D * JUL 11 1947 P.M. [HW:]
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CHAS. G. MACREYNOLDS 305-307 Sunset Avenue Asbury Park, New Jersey The MacReynolds 305-307 Sunset 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 those "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 more pronounced. It disappeared in the distance going north along the state line. [HW: Clem Miller & Tex Benecke are presently at the dance hall.] I hope this may be some help to you. L.C.H. Hoersch STOP
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STAMP: FBI STAMP: RECEIVED STAMP: 8 PM '47 STAMP: MR. JONES
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Mr. J. Edgar Hoover 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 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 - without 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/ Y. T. Norris 1734 Thome Ave Chicago - TRUE COPY
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STANDARD FORM NO. 64 Office Memorandum · UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TO: D. M. Ladd FROM: H. B. Fletcher DATE: July 11, 1947 SUBJECT: FLYING DISCS SAC Bannister of the Butte Office called at noon today and stated that a Mrs. Fred Easterbrook, 215 7th Avenue East, Twin Falls, Idaho, at 2:45 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 1¼" 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 observed 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 1¼" in thickness. There is an object on it similar to electric coil which has some type of an arm on it and bears the words "Inspected TS". 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 went 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. RECORDED INDEXED 62-83894-21 FBI 37 JULY 22ND 1947 HW:Fletcher HW:Fletcher HW:Fletcher
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STAMP: FBI LABORATORY DIVISION DATE: JUL 17 10:22 AM '47 RECEIVED BY ARBO STAMP: FBI DATE: JUL 15 9:29 AM '47 RECEIVED-LABO STAMP: FBI DATE: JUL 16 5:09 PM '47 RECEIVED STAMP: FBI DATE: JUL 16 10:02 AM '47 RECEIVED STAMP: FBI DATE: JUL 17 10:08 AM '47 CHINICAL ABORATORY
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July 18, 1947 Mr. G. T. Norris 1734 Thome Avenue Chicago, Illinois Dear Mr. Norris: 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.) STAMP: COMMUNICATIONS SECTION STAMP: MAILED 10 STAMP: JUL 18 1947 P.M. STAMP: FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION STAMP: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
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[REDACTED] [HW: 99] [STAMP: COMMUNICATIONS SECTION MAIL ROOM FBI] [STAMP: FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE] [STAMP: 18 JUL 1941 PM 6 W.M.]
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[STAMP:] [HW:] until you are sure just what they are where from. [HW:] Seams 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 cows in this [STAMP:] [HW:] war & another who overdid for his America & we do want it really protected from now on danger from now on enough are dead & maimed with but losing out now as it [ILLEGIBLE] could be. Why have the papers carried that story of supporters
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[REDACTED] made [REDACTED] how much more sensible not to report it - except- to the F.B.I. There is too much danger ahead anyway - Hastily P.D. Morris 1734f Thome Clr Chicago STAMP: 62-83894-52 STAMP: 43 18 JUL 24 1947 Mr J Edgar Hoover Flying Discs Wash. D.C. Doesn't it seem wisest for you forbid papers [HW:] not forbid - but ask The co-operation [HW:] papers to keep all news those discs out - [HW:] News [ILLEGIBLE]
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STANDARD FORM NO. 64 Office Memorandum · UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TO: MR. LADD FROM: Roy E. Wood DATE: July 10, 1947 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. Further, that it had been the cause of a fire in some woods, this fire either in Burbank or possibly in the city limits of Los Angeles, which Mr. Hood could not be certain. The fire chief at Burbank had called the resident agent at Burbank and told him he would hold the disc for him. 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 this morning. RECORDED [62-83894-23] Mr. Hood's purpose in calling was to place the Bureau on notice regarding above described object and any further information would be transmitted to Bureau at once. Action: None indicated. REW: da [HW:] [HW:] [HW:] [STAMP:]
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Office of the Secretary U.S. Department of Justice RECEIVED-TAMM U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE FBI RECEIVED U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE FBI RECEIVED-ILLOCA U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE FBI STAMP: FBI Liaison Section STAMP: FBI Liaison Section ATOMIC EISEN SECTION
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62-83894-24
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Office Memorandum UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TO: Director, FBI FROM: SAC, Los Angeles DATE: July 17, 1947 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. AUERBACH went to the fire department immediately at which time it was found that a number of people had gathered including newspaper 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 AUERBACH 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 each disc; and a short length of pipe closed at one end ran from around its circumference into its interior. What appeared to be a radio tube was installed in each center top side. The contraption had a total weight of approximately 20 pounds. At Bureau Office a series of photographs were taken of this device from various positions; and a set of these photographs are being forwarded herewith for 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 subsequently reported that object definitely hoax under no circumstances could have flown under its own power. STAMP: EX-64 STAMP: EX-64
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STAMP: FBI STAMP: FBI STAMP: FBI RECEIVED LIAISON SECTION Jul 31 12 05 PM RECEIVED F.B.I. INTERNAL SECURITY Jul 31 06 PM '47 S. DEPT OF JUSTICE
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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. [REDACTED], 6552 Teesdale Avenue, North Hollywood, reported that on this morning he was at the North Hollywood Service Station eating 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. MMB: MGM 100-9099 ENC. (3)
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STANDARD FORM NO. 64 Office Memorandum · UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TO: Director, FBI FROM: SAC, Butte DATE: July 3, 1947 SUBJECT: FLYING DISCS Mr. DAVE JOHNSON, of the Idaho Daily Statesman, Boise, Idaho, telephonically 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 [HW:] Necessary on this mail RECORDED & INDEXED EX-46 [STAMP:] 62-83894-25 [STAMP:] 36 JUL 23 1947
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RECEIVED JUL 7 10 54 AM '67 INTERNAL SECURITY F. B. I. DEPT. OF JUST
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FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE COMMUNICATIONS SECTION JUL 16 1947 TELETYPE 7-16-47 10 15 AM PST M-2 FBI SEATTLE DIRECTOR URGENT RE FLYING DISKS. MRS. T. L.-KREMMER, TWO SIX NAUGHT EIGHT DASH TWENTY THIRD AVE., WEST, SEATTLE, REPORTED FLYING DISK HAD LANDED ON HER ROOF ABOUT NINE FORTY TWO PM LAST NIGHT, THAT IT WAS BURNING AT TIME AND IMMEDIATELY EXTINGUISHED. SHE ALSO ADVISED ONI, AND DISK FELL SHORT DISTANCE FROM THEIR OFFICES. AGENTS IMMEDIATELY DISPATCHED TO SCENE AND RECOVERED DISK TAKEN ONI OFFICES AND EXAMINED BY NAVY BOMB AND ELECTRONICS [REDACTED] EXPERTS AND AGENTS. DISK DESCRIBED AS ABOUT TWENTY EIGHT INCH [REDACTED] CIRCULAR PIECE THREE SIXTEENTH INCH PLYWOOD CUPPED UP ON TWO SIDES AND HELD THIS POSITION BY WIRE ACROSS ITS CENTER. DISK NEWLY PAINTED LIGHT GRAY OUTSIDE AND RED INSIDE, AND INSIDE OF DISK HAD PRINTED LETTERS IN WHITE PAINT AS FOLLOWS QUOTE U S S R UNQUOTE, ALSO QUOTE E Y R UNQUOTE, WHICH WOULD APPEAR TO BE RYE PRINTED BACKWARD 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 WIRED UP AND ALSO SO MOUNTED WAS ABOUT A QUART TYPE CYLINDRICAL SHAPED OIL CAN TO WHICH WAS FITTED A SHORT PIECE OF RUBBER TUBING RUNNING FROM CAN TO ENTRANCE TO A PIECE OF ONE INCH PIPE ABOUT FOURTEEN INCHES LONG. THE PIPE EXTENDED THROUGH THE DISK AT THE OUTER END OF THE PIPE WAS ABOUT A SIX INCH PIECE OF CLOTH, WHICH WAS WOUND ABOUT AND STUCK INTO THE END OF THE PIPE. THE ENDS OF THIS CLOTH WERE CHARRED FROM BURNING. THE CLOTH WAS SATURATED WITH SOME SUBSTANCE STAMP: 62-83894-26 INDEX: 112 FX-57 cc: Mr. Ladd
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STAMP: JUL 16 4 28 PM '47 STAMP: JUL 16 3 42 PM '47 STAMP: JUL 17 9 48 AM '47 STAMP: U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE STAMP: FBI STAMP: RECEIVED-NICHOOLS STAMP: RECEIVED-TAMM STAMP: U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE STAMP: FBI
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PAGE TWO BELIEVED TO BE TURPENTINE. CONSENSUS OF ALL PRESENT PRESENT THAT DISK COULD NOT FLY. DISK PRESENTLY IN POSSESSION OF ONI SEATTLE AND NO INVESTIGATION BEING CONDUCTED. NO PUBLICITY THUS FAR AND NO COMMENT BEING MADE IN EVENT PRESS INQUIRIES ARE RECEIVED. END 2-22 PM OK FBI WA NM [HW: Info brought Dadeville 3 km G.C. Green Ave M ID] MAYNOR
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RECEIVED TELETYPE UNIT JUL 16 2 26 PM '47 F.B.I. DEPT. OF JUSTICE [STAMP:] JUL 16 7 00 PM '47 RECEIVED-LAUSD FBI U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE [STAMP:] JUL 17 3 12 PM '47 LIMSON SECTION RECEIVED [STAMP:] JUL 17 9 48 AM '47 ILLEGIBLE ONCE
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Office Memorandum UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TO: DIRECTOR, FBI FROM: SAC, NEW HAVEN DATE: July 18, 1947 SUBJECT: "Flying Saucers" EDWIN M. BAILEY, JR. STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT, INFORMANT ATOMIC ENERGY ACT For the information of the Bureau this is to advise that on July 7, 1947, EDWIN M. BAILEY, Jr., 6 Home Court, Stamford, Connecticut, appeared at the Stamford Resident Agent's office and furnished the following information: Mr. BAILEY prefaced his remarks by stating that he is a scientist by occupation and is currently employed at the American Cyanamid Research Laboratories on West Main Street in Stamford, Connecticut, in the Physics Division. Mr. BAILEY further indicated that during the war he was employed at MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the Radiation Laboratory which Labora- tory is connected with the Manhattan Project. BAILEY advised that he is thirty years of age and is a graduate of the University of Arizona. Mr. BAILEY stated that the topic of "flying saucers" had caused considerable comment and concern to the present day scientists and indicated that he himself had a personal theory concerning the "flying saucers". Prior to advancing his own theory, BAILEY remarked that immediately after the conclu- sion of World War II a friend of his RENATO FECHETTI allegedly observed the "flying saucers" from an observatory in Milan and Bologna Italy. He stated that apparently at that time the "flying saucers" had caused a little comment in Italy but that after some little publicity they immediately died out as public interest. Mr. BAILEY stated that it is quite possible that actually the "flying saucers" could be radio controlled germ bombs or atom bombs which are circling the orbit of earth and which could be controlled by radio and directed to land on any designated target at specific desire of agency or country operating bombs. He stated that one of items of interest which he personally has observed is fact saucers have been observed in Mexico City New Orleans Philadelphia New York Boston Halifax Newfoundland Paris Milan Bologna Yugoslavia as well as Albania By placing string around globe earth it [REDACTED RECORDING] FXM/clb 117-0 [STAMP:] G.I.R.-6 [STAMP:] EX-36 [STAMP:] FBI [STAMP:] 15 JUL 22 1947 [STAMP:] COPIES DESTROYED [STAMP:] NOV 18 1964
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RECEIVED ATOMIC ENERGY SECTION JUL 23 4 26 PM '47 F.B.I. U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE [STAMP:] RECEIVED ATOMIC ENERGY SECTION JUL 24 9 03 AM '47 INTERNAL SECURITY F.B.I. U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE [STAMP:] RECEIVED ATOMIC ENERGY SECTION JUL 28 9 20 AM '47 F.B.I. U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE
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Letter to the DIRECTOR, FBI July 18, 1947 Re: "FLYING SAUCERS" EDWIN M. BAILEY, JR., STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT, INFORMANT ATOMIC ENERGY ACT would be noticed that all of the above-mentioned cities form a direct orbit or circle around the earth and would be more or less in line of any path in which the saucers could be circling. Mr. BAILEY further stated that he had recently talked with RICHARD PERKIN, one of the owners of Perkin-Elmer Company in Glenbrook, Connecticut, and had been informed by Mr. PERKIN that his company is making a large powerful telescope to be used in searching the strato- sphere for atom bombs.
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FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE COMMUNICATIONS SECTION JUL 18 1947 TELETEYPE WASHINGTON FROM BOSTON 3 DIRECTOR [HW: Flips] METAL FRAGMENTS OBSERVED AT WEST RINDGE, N.H., JULY SEVEN, FORTYSEVEN, SECURITY MATTER-X.. DEAN JOHN [HW: M] BUNKER, SECURITY OFFICER, M.I.T., CAMBRIDGE, MASS., ADVISED THAT TODAY HE WAS IN CONTACT WITH ONE CHARLES [HW: T]ASKER, OF WEST RINDGE, N.H., A RETIRED VICE PRESIDENT OF THE NEW ENGLAND TEL. AND TEL.CO. MR.TASKER ADVISED THAT AT APPROXIMATEY THREE PM ON JULY SEVEN LAST SEVERAL PEOPLE SITTING ON A PORCH OBSERVED ON THE LAWN OF EARL WHITEHEAD, ROUTE TWO NAUGHT TWO, WEST RINDGE, N.H., LITTLE CURLS OF SMOKE, WHICH ON INSPECTION DISCLOSED SMALL BURNED [REDACTED] SPOTS ABOUT ONE AND ONE HALF INCHES IN DIAMETER ON THE GREEN LAWN. ALSO IN THE LONG DRY GRASS ON BOTH SIDES OF ROAD IN A CIRCLE APPROXIMATELY TWO HUNDRED FEET IN DIAMETER SEVERAL LITTLE BLAZES HAD STARTED AND THE FIRE [REDACTED] DEPT.WAS CALLED. FIRES WERE APPARENTLY CAUSED BY METALLIC FRAGMENTATIONS WHICH WERE TURNED OVER TO PROFESSOR RENTGES, OF MIT, BY A MR. PARKE D. [HW: X]APPEL, OF THE TELEPHONE COMPANY. RENTGES HAS ADVISED DEAN BUNKER THAT THEIR GENERAL [REDACTED] APPEARANCE ARE SIMILAR TO THE LINING OF V DASH TWO BOMBS, WHICH HE HAD OBSERVED AT NEW MEXICO. PROFESSOR L.H. [HW: T]ESEWALD, AN OUTSTANDING METALLURGIST AT MIT, STATED THAT THEY ARE POSSIBLY THE LINING FROM A JET TURBO PLANE. AT PRESENT TIME HE IS IN PROCESS OF ANALYZING TWO OF THESE PIECES. THESE SCIENTISTS IN ROUGHLY RECONSTRUCTIN THE METALLIC OBJECT STATE IT WAS APPROXIMATELY FOURTEEN INCHES IN DIAMETER. 58 AUG 13 1947[ILLEGIBLE] COPIES DESTROYED A------END PAGE ONE------270 NOV 18 1964
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STAMP: 10 37 AM '47 U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE FBI STAMP: 10 37 AM '47 U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE FBI STAMP: 4 48 PM '47 U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE FBI STAMP: 4 52 PM '47 U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE FBI RECEIVED Liaison Section RECEIVED Liaison Section
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---PAGE TWO--- SIXTEENTHS OF AN INCH THICK, AND MACHINE TOOLED, AND SOME FRAGMENTS INDICATED THEY WERE BURNED AND [REDACTED] APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN SUBJECTED TO TERRIFIC HEAT. THESE SCIENTISTS ARE TREATING THIS MATTER AS CLASSIFIED INFORMATION. MR. [REDACTED] TASKER, AT WEST RINDGE, N.H. IS ALSO ENDEAVORING TO COLLECT ADDITIONAL FRAGMENTS AND HAS STATED THAT THE FIRE CHIEF AT WEST RINDGE HAS ALSO SEVERAL FRAGMENTS IN HIS POSSESSION. MR. TASKER INDICATED THAT THE WHITEHEAD RESIDENCE IS SEVEN TO EIGHT HUNDRED FEET EAST OF THE RAILROAD TRACKS. DEAN BUNKER STATED HE WILL MAKE THE RESULTS OF MIT RESEARCH AVAILABLE IF SIGNIFICANT. OPINIONS OF SCIENTISTS AS SET FORTH ABOVE SUGGEST POSSIBLE MILITARY INTEREST. MILITARY AUTHORITIES AT BOSTON HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. SOUCY [HW: Info & attention] [HW: Ltr G C Jacobson] [HW: 8/11/42] STOP
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RECEIVED TELETYPE UNIT JUL 18 11 06 PM '47 F.B.I. DEPT. OF JUSTICE JUL 19 5 54 AM '47 J.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE STAMP: JUL 21 9 39 AM STAMP: INTERNAL F.B.I. RECEIVED-LADD FBI
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July 23, 1947 Mrs. John Maurice Clark 41 Wright Street Westport, Connecticut Dear Mrs. Clark: Your letter dated July 17, 1947, together with enclosures, has been received and I want to thank you for submitting the letter you mentioned to me. Sincerely yours, John Edgar Hoover Director [STAMP:] COMMUNICATIONS SECTION MAILED 2 JUL 23 1947 P.M. FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE [HW:] WO [HW:] EX-57 [HW:] RECORDED INDEXED 38 [HW:] 62-83894-29
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STAMP: FBI STAMP: FBI STAMP: FBI L 23 5 02 PM Jul 25 10 54 AM '47 RECEIVED-MAIL ROO [HW:] [ILLEGIBLE] ONCE
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Mrs. John Maurice Clark Three Cornered Pond R. F. D. 6 Augusta, Maine Mr. J. Edgar Hoover, F.B.I. Washington, D.C. Dear Mr. Hoover: The enclosed came to my husband yesterday. After reading it aloud to the family, as a good example of crack-pot-ism, advertising or what have you, he threw it into the wastebasket. I retrieved it, thinking it might better go into your wastebasket than ours, examined by your department en route thither, as of possible value. I presume several thousand have been mailed, and you may receive numberless duplicates. I will risk that. Mr. Clark as an economist at Columbia University receives many strange missives. This is as strange a one as has come for some time, and very appropriate to the present moment. Sincerely yours, Winifred G Clark [HW: Flying Disc] [STAMP: 15 JUL 28 1947] [STAMP: EX-57] [STAMP: INDEXED 28] [STAMP: RECORDED 62-83894/29]
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STAMP: FBI STAMP: U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE STAMP: INVESTIGATIVE DIVISION STAMP: RECEIVED-PUSEN STAMP: 11 47 AM 47 STAMP: OCT 19 PM 47 MR. JONES RECEIVED DIRECTOR U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE JUL 21 9 08 AM 47 JUL 21 5 28 PM 47
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July 11, 1947. Dear Sir: Have you seen one of the mysterious "Saucers"? What did it look like? Do you think these strange, celestial manifestations 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. [HW:62-83994-29] ENCLOSURE
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July 10, 1947 Mr. Woodson G. Cope Cliffside Hall San Marcos, Texas Dear Mr. Cope: I wish to acknowledge receipt of your Western Union telegram dated July 7, 1947. Your interest in making this information available to me is greatly appreciated. Inasmuch as the contents of your telegram appear to be of interest to the War Department only, I have taken the liberty of making the information furnished by you available to that Department. Sincerely yours, John Edgar Hoover Director cc - San Antonio NOTE: The telegram referred to "flying discs." RECORDED & INDEXED EX-64 89 F B I 51 JUL 23 1947 JUN 14 JUN 26 PM THE FEDERAL INVESTIGATING OFFICE WVC mn STOP
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RECEIVED-MAIL 800 L H 317 PM RECORDED BI [STAMP:] COMUNICATIONS SECTION MAILD 5 JUL 17 1947 P.M. FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
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July 10, 1947 72054 Mr. J. U. Watts, Jr. Darlington, South Carolina Dear Mr. Watts: I wish to acknowledge receipt of your Western Union telegram dated July 6, 1947. Your interest in bringing this information to my attention is greatly appreciated. Inasmuch as the contents of your telegram appear to be of interest to the War Department only, I have taken the liberty of turning this information over to that Department. Sincerely yours, John Edgar Hoover Director cc - Savannah NOTE: The telegram referred to "flying discs." [STAMP:] COMMUNICATIONS SECTION MAILED 2 JUL 14 1947 P.M. FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE [STAMP:] RECEIVED READING ROB + h/ Jr 6/3- h/ Jr 28-36 The HJ-3894-36 [HW:]
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[STAMP: FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION] [STAMP: COMMUNICATIONS SECTION B I] [STAMP: Mailed Jul 11 1941] [ILLEGIBLE] ONCE
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FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION U. S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE COMMUNICATIONS SECTION AUG 14 1947 TELETYPE FBI SEATTLE 8-14-47 5-15 PM FB DIRECTOR ROUTINE FLYING DISCS SIGHTED BY FRED CHRISMAN AND HAROLD A DAHL, TACOMA, WASHINGTON, SM X. REURTEL INSTANT DATE. PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT DAHL DID NOT ADMIT TO SMITH THAT HIS STORY WAS A HOAX BUT ONLY STATED THAT IF QUESTIONED BY AUTHORITIES HE WAS GOING TO SAY IT WAS A HOAX BECAUSE HE DID NOT WANT ANY FURTHER TROUBLE OVER THE MATTER. COMPLETE REPORT NOW EN ROUTE TO BUREAU AMSD, WHICH INDICATES PROBABLY CHRISMAN OR DAHL MADE THE ANONYMOUS PHONE CALL IN THE HOPE OF BUILDING UP THEIR STORY THROUGH PUBLICITY TO A POINT WHERE THEY COULD MAKE A PROFITABLE DEAL WITH [REDACTED] MAGAZINE, CHICAGO ILLINOIS. DAHL AND CHRISMAN WILL NOT BE REINTERVIEWED UNLESS ADVISED TO THE CONTRARY BY THE BUREAU. WILCOX A AND HOLD PLS 9-16 PM OK FBI WASH DC GAR [STAMP: AUG 26 1947 252] [STAMP: AUG 15 1947] [STAMP: G.I.R. - RC: Mr. Fletcher] [HW: Rec 10/9] [HW: ntr] [HW: gmr] [HW: ] [HW: ] [HW: ] [HW: ] [HW: ] [HW: ] [HW: ] Mr. Tobin Mr. E. A. Tamm Mr. Clega Mr. Glavin Ladd Mr. Nichols Mr. Rosen Mr. Tracy Mr. Igan Mr. Gurnea Mr. Harbo Mr. Mahr . Pennington . Cleto Tamm
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RECEIVED AUG 15 9 31 AM '47 INTERNAL SECURITY F. B. I. [ILLEGIBLE] ONCE
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(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 reported sightings might have been made by subversive individuals for the purpose of creating a mass hysteria. 7-30-47 BUREAU BULLETIN NO. 42 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 report 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 containing 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] [STAMP: NOT HANDED] [STAMP: 78 AUG 4 1947]
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AFTER FIVE DAYS RETURN TO 6512 Mission St [HW: Daly City, Calif] [STAMP:] SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF. JUL 21 1-PM 1947 BUILD YOUR [ILLEGIBLE] WISELY, SAVE U.S. SAVINGS BONDS 3 CENTS 3 Mr J Edgar Hoover F.B.I. Washington, D.C.
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6512 Mission St. Jasper 4-4469 Daly City Sheet Metal Works Air Conditioning - Gas Furnaces Sky Lights - General Repairing July 20 1947 Mr J Edgar Hoover M. Washington D.C. Dear Sir, [HW: Flying Saucers] Reading about Kenneth Arnold seeing these flying saucers. I got a brainstorm, Maybe there is someone that is Manufacturing a contraption that could be sent up by Remote Control. and could be used against us. Yours Sincerely, F.Herman STAMP: 50SEP301947 129 STAMP: 36JUL311947
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[STAMP: FBI] [STAMP: 5 DEPT OF JUSTICE] [STAMP: RECEIVED] [STAMP: 25 309 PM '47] MR. JONES
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Office Memorandum UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TO: D. M. LADD FROM: E. G. Fitch DATE: 7/10/47 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 attitude that every effort must be undertaken in order to run down and ascertain whether or not the flying disks are a fact and, if so, to learn about them. According to General Schulgen, the Air Corps Intelligence are utilizing all of their scientists 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 view that they might be a foreign body mechanically devised and 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 possible 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 psychologist, 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 disks 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 sightings might have been by individuals of Communist sympathies 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 angles covered in this matter. He stated that reports of his scientists and findings of various Air Corps installations will be available in his office. He advised that to complete picture he desired assistance from Federal Bureau Investigation in locating and questioning individuals who first sighted so-called flying disks in order to ascertain whether or not they are sincere in their statements or whether their statements were prompted by personal desire for publicity or political reasons. General Schulgen assured Mr. Reynolds there are no War Department or Navy Department research projects presently being conducted which could in any way be tied up with flying disks. General Schulgen indicated to Mr. Reynolds if Bureau would cooperate with him on this matter he would offer all facilities his office as results obtained effort identify run down this matter. Mr. Reynolds advised General Schulgen request would made known Bureau answer made available him as soon possible. STANDARD FORM NO 64
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U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE FBI RECEIVED-TAMM JUL 15 2 27 PM '47 U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE FBI RECEIVED-TAMM JUL 15 8 53 AM '47 U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE FBI RECEIVED-TAMM JUL 15 6 45 PM '47 U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE FBI STAMP: U.S. DEPT OF JUSTICE - NICHOLS RECEIVED-TOLOSON JUL 15 3 17 PM '47
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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: AJB ADDENDUM 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. [STAMP:] [HW:] I think we should do this 7-15 [HW:] I would do it but before agreeing [HW:] we must insist on full access [HW:] to discs recovered. For instance in [HW:] La case the Army grabbed 84 [HW:] would not let us [REDACTED] for cursory examination
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July 30, 1947 Mr. George J. Pluskat 907 Seneca Avenue Brooklyn 27, New York Dear Mr. Pluskat: 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: FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION STAMP: DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
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907 Seneca Ave., Brooklyn 37, 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 everybodys tongue was wagging from the East and to the West coast, I couldn't resist putting my oar 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" - "Find 'Disk' is weather kite" - "Disks called chunks of Mirage" - "Report new Red 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 enemy out in the open and away from home if possible. The Federal Agents (the unsung heroes) fight the enemy under cover and in their home grounds. So here I am. These so-called saucers may be kites, but according to reports, these things didn't flutter or float; they sailed and kites don't sail; the strange part is they all sailed in the same direction from West to East. Rewards were offered; no collectors. Planes chased them; none captured. They had to land; no finders. So As long as the Military Scientist and Civilians deny being responsible for this Were 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 sound (like a silent whistle for dogs) what it's supposed to do th their enemy I don't know If a country was experimenting such a weapon the brave people of U.S were not scared They only informed the so-called enemy how successful they thought they were It could be an optical illusion or supposing some unwelcomed persons planted a few well-chosen words here and there and left the rest to an confused mind These innocent people reporting phenomena What confuses me is that when we became too curious and determined to find out what they really are those things disappeared and we found substitutes called kites These things resembling description as near as possible to real thing Why couldn't these things have been directed back home again like a homing pigeon? To make sport of this thing is bad taste It sort of reminds me of boy that cried WOLF When wolf really came Twas sad He was niceboy There should be law against such jokes or experiments announced to proper authorities These in itself should be tried for treason even if so-called joke seems less or ridiculous We can't take any chances At this age Time is slow Man is This POOH POOH business Is no joke I had in mind that floods were responsible for these disks (mirages) rushing waters of Mississippi Missouri Platte Columbia Ohio Rivers sun going from East to West plus Catskill in Easternly North Blue Ridge in East Rocky Mountains West Reflections whatever went from West East Hence Disks I hope RECORDED 62-83894 Respectfully submitted George J.Pluskat
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MEMORANDUM FOR D. M. IADD 7/23/47 RECOMMENDATION There is attached a Bureau Bulletin to the Field for their assistance in handling this matter. Attachment
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STANDARD FORM NO. 64 Office Memorandum UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TO: D. M. LADD FROM: E. G. Fitch DATE: 7/24/47 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 noted 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 La 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 desired 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 all discs recovered be made available for examination by FBI Agents. General Schulgen pointed out to Mr. Reynolds that he will from time to time make results of studies of his scientists available to Bureau for assistance of FBI Field Offices. General Schulgen indicated to Mr. Reynolds that there has been a decrease in reported sightings of discs which might be because fact it has lost much of its publicity value He indicated however, that he believed necessary follow this matter through determine as near as possible if discs were fact seen and determine their origin. General Schulgen inquired of Mr Reynolds method by which Bureau would make information obtained from Bureau's inquiries known Air Corps Field War Department level Mr Reynolds pointed out General Schulgen best procedure appeared through regular established channels It was pointed out General Schulgen Bureau Field Offices maintain close liaison with Intelligence Divisions various Armies as well as close liaison with Intelligence Division War Department General Schulgen indicated he would be satisfied receive information through this means. General Schulgen indicated Mr Reynolds believed entire matter might have been started subversive individuals purpose creating mass hysteria He suggested Bureau keep this mind interviews conducted regarding reported sightings. General Schulgen stated Mr Reynolds would make available Bureau all information possession Air Corps regarding sightings first reported so Bureau could conduct some investigation regarding these individuals ascertain their motives reporting they had observed flying discs When General makes information available regarding these individuals will be promptly brought your attention. [REDACTED]
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STANDARD FORM NO. 64 Office Memorandum • UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TO: DIRECTOR, FBI FROM: SAC, EL PASO DATE: July 22, 1947 SUBJECT: Mrs. GWYNNE M. [REDACTED], Informant FLYING OBJECTS IN AIR Mrs. GWYNNE M. [REDACTED] 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 followed by explosions. She advised that one of such objects was reported 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. [REDACTED] called attention to clippings from various newspapers concerning "disc-like" objects seen in New Mexico and other parts of the country. Mrs. [REDACTED] claims to be a student of radio waves and ray forms, and contends that the above mentioned objects may be missiles similar to those appearing over Sweden some time ago. Mrs. [REDACTED] 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 NEWBURGER, Chief of Security and Intelligence for the A.E.C., has advised that officials at Los Alamos consider Mrs. [REDACTED] 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. [REDACTED] 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. [REDACTED] has written to several government officials and Mr. WINCHELL. 62-0-3594c FTM: GH STAMP: Recorded Indexel 38 STAMP: 62-83894-37
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Office Memo DATE: 18/03/47 TO: Mr. Jones FROM: F.B.I. LIAISON SECTION RECEIVED STAMP: FBI S DEPT OF JUSTICE INTERNAL SECURITY STAMP: FBI S DEPT OF JUSTICE INTERNAL SECURITY
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STANDARD FORM NO. 64 Office Memorandum UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TO: D.M. LADD FROM: K.C. Howe SUBJECT: FLYING DISCS Miscellaneous DATE: July 7, 1947 9:50 PM 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 developments, 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. [HW:] Harvey [STAMP:] 3 OCT 2 1947 [STAMP:] 32 AUG 6 1947
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STAMP: F.B.I. DEPT OF JUSTICE STAMP: F.B.I. DEPT OF JUSTICE STAMP: F.B.I. DEPT OF JUSTICE STAMP: F.B.I. DEPT OF JUSTICE STAMP: F.B.I. DEPT OF JUSTICE RECEIVED 1 31 PM '47 RECEIVED 8 43 PM '47 RECEIVED 8 9 27 AM '47 RECEIVED 8 9 27 AM '47 RECEIVED [ILLEGIBLE] PM '47
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CONFIDENTIAL 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, 195803, 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 inconceivable 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 it was his opinion that the objects were approximately 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.M.T.C., Point Hugu Port Hueneme Calif. 2. On 1 July 1947 Captain Malcolm G Armstrong O-734168 Instructor Single Engine Williams Field Chandler Arizona was interviewed by this Agent and stated in substance: That his brother lst Lt E B 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 his brother stated the objects were heading south and were at approximately 1000 feet altitude. AGENT'S NOTES: Captain Armstrong could not give too much information on the objects that his brother had seen Lt E B Armstrong can be contacted at Hq 10th AAF Brooks Field Texas for further information. Lynn C Aldrich Special Agent CIC AAF FDTRC F B I THIS IS A TRUE COPY /s/ John K Orr, JOHN K ORR Major A C. STAMP: Received STAMP: Received
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Date: August 1, 1947 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 DOUGLASS 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 consideration. Attachment STAMP: 58 AUG 131947 STAMP: WVC:mjp STAMP: STAMP: [HW:] [HW:] [HW:] [HW:] [HW:] [HW:] [ILLEGIBLE] ONCE
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[REDACTED] [STAMP: 25 AUG 1944] Rules to follow: To report to headquarters of Third Division, [REDACTED] Division, [REDACTED] Battalion, Company [REDACTED], on August 25, 1944. [HW: Signature] [STAMP: 25 AUG 1944] [STAMP: 25 AUG 1944] [STAMP: 25 AUG 1944]
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FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION U. S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE COMMUNICATIONS SECTION AUG 6 1947 TELETYPE FBI PORTLAND 8-5-47 8-50 PM HHS DIRECTOR AND SACS SEATTLE AND SAN FRANCISCO URGENT FLYING DISCS, SM DASH X. RE TELEPHONE CALL FROM MR. LADD, ONE PH 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 G. 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 INTERVIEWS RICHARDS CONTACTED MAJOR GENERAL TUINIG OF WRIGHT FIELD OHIO BY PHONE AT ALBUQUERQUE NM AND FROM HIM CAINED THE IMPRESSION THAT THE AAF INSTITUTED THIS INVESTIGATION TO WASH OUT THE DISC REPORTS SINCE THEY ARE DEFINITELY NOT OF AAF ORIGIN ON FRIDAY AUGUST FIRST THE PLANE IN WHICHAAF INVESTIGATORS CAPTAIN DAVIDSON AND LT BROWN WERE RIDING CRASHED AT KELSO WAS BOTH
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[REDACTED] [REDACTED] STAMP: F.B.I. INTERNAL SECURITY STAMP: F.B.I. INTERNAL SECURITY STAMP: F.B.I. INTERNAL SECURITY [ILLEGIBLE] ONCE
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I 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 HDQRS. SF, SUBMITTING TELETYPE SUMMARIES TO THE BUREAU. NO FURTHER INVESTIGATION PORTLAND. BOBBITT END AND ACK WA 0157AM OK FBI WA DW SE S OK FBI SE KLS SF OK FBI SF NCW DVIMSC
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RECEIVED TELETYPE UNIT AUG 6 100 AM '47 STAMP: F.B.I. INTERNAL SECURITY ONCE STAMP: F.B.I. INTERNAL SECURITY ONCE STAMP: F.B.I. INTERNAL SECURITY ONCE
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FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE COMMUNICATIONS SECTION AUG 6 1947 TELETEYPE FBI PORTLAND 8-5-47 8-50 PM HHS DIRECTOR AND SACS SEATTLE AND SAN FRANCISCO URGENT FLYING DISCS, SM DASH X. RE TELEPHONE CALL FROM MR. LADD, ONE PM TODAY REQUESTING TELETEYPE 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 G. 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 [REDACTED] 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 [REDACTED] ARNOLD, BUSINESS MAN, BOISE, IDAHO, CAPTAIN E. J. [REDACTED] SMITH AND CO-PILOT RALPH [REDACTED] STEVENS, UNITED AIRLINES, AND DAVE [REDACTED] JOHNSON, AVIATION EDITOR, IDAHO STATESMAN. TO ASCERTAIN THE PURPOSE OF TH[ILLEGIBLE]RINTVIEWS RICHARDS CONTACTED MAJOR GENERAL TWINING. INDEXED 162-03894-43 STAMP: 127 FILE: EX:30
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STAMP: Aug 6 9 AM STAMP: Aug 15 2 26 PM STAMP: Aug 15 9 AM STAMP: F.B.I. U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE STAMP: INTERNAL SECURITY
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STANDARD FORM NO. 64 Office Memorandum • UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TO: D. M. IADD FROM: E. G. Fitch SUBJECT: FLYING SAUCERS Special Agent S.W. Reynolds of the Liaison Section contacted Lieutenant Colonel C. 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, 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. RECORDED [HW: 62-83894] [HW: 40] EX-25 [STAMP: 1947] Colonel Martin stated that the Air Forces have no additional information and will receive none until the report is received from the 4th Air Forces. Colonel Martin suggested that the San Francisco Field Office contact Colonel Springer, 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. STAMP: [ILLEGIBLE]
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RECEIVED LIAISON SECTION 10 9 18 AM '47 FBI DEPT. OF JUSTICE STAMP: F.B.I. INTERNAL SECURITY UG 15 4 38 PM '47 [HW: Aug 6 11 AM '47] RECEIVED-TAINT
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Robert J. Sroka 469 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- imatly 5,000 feet high. I immediatly 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 too dark to see so we went back to town. because 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 first impression was that it was a cloud, but it was traveling at right angles to the wind. The local of this incident was approximately 20 miles north-west of Haberbishopshiem. If necessary, I will swear to the authenticity of this and to the shape of the object. Sincerely Yours, Robert J Sroka
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[STAMP: DEPT. OF JUSTICE F.B.I. INTERNAL SECURITY] [ILLEGIBLE] 5 PM 47 RECEIVED
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Invoice of Contents from FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION WASHINGTON, D. C. Date 9-10-47 Case References Flying Saucer Consigned to Mrs. J. H. Mixon Route 1, Box 30 Estill, South Carolina List of Contents Powered Soap Stone. Mr. Harbo, 7641 Mr. Conrad, 7142 Mr. Downing, 7632 Mr. Sizoo, 7601 Mr. Baughman, 7121 STAMP: COMMUNICATIONS SECTION REGISTERED MAIL MAILED 7 SEP 13 1947 P.M. STAMP: REGISTERED [HW: G-13-47] SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: Shipping Room, place date of shipment and registry number; Shipping Room, show date of shipment on 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. [ILLEGIBLE]
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[REDACTED] [REDACTED] COMMUNICATIONS SECTION MAILED 7 SEP 13 1941 P.M. [STAMP:]
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RECORDED Date: 62-73894 August 5, 1947 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: 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 STAMP: COMMUNICATIONS-SECTION [REDACTED] STAMP: FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
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[HW: 1/7/8] [HW: 1/7/8] STAMP: FEBRUARY STAMP: 2000 TO BROADCASTING TO THE PERSONAL OF THE PERSONAL RESPONSIBLE FOR [HW: 1/7/8] STAMP: FEBRUARY STAMP: 2000 FROM [ILLEGIBLE] TO [ILLEGIBLE] FROM [ILLEGIBLE] TO [ILLEGIBLE] [HW: 1/7/8] STAMP: FEBRUARY STAMP: 2000 COMMUNICATIONS SECTION RECEIVED MAIL NO. AUG-14-93 PM
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FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE CC-150 To: COMMUNICATIONS SECTION. AUGUST 7, 1947 Transmit the following message to: SAC, DETROIT "URGENT" UNSUBS, RAYMOND EDWARD [REDACTED], MRS. LAURA [REDACTED], INFORMANTS, FLYING DISC, MISC. REURT EL AUGUST 5 MATERIAL SHOULD NOT BE FORWARDED TO FBI LABORATORY FOR EXAMINATION BUT SHOULD BE TURNED OVER TO THE ARMY AIRFORCE INTELLIGENCE. HOOVER RGF:mae STAMP: AUG 7 7:38 PM STAMP: RECEIVED READING JNL STAMP: AUG 11 1947 COMMUNICATIONS SECTION FBI RECORDED & INDEXED 31 62-83894- FBI COPIES DESTROYED 270 NOV 18 1964 58 AUG 13[ILLEGIBLE]/ TELETEYPE
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[REDACTED] [STAMP: COMMUNICATIONS SECTION] [STAMP: DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE] [STAMP: TELETYPE] [STAMP: 1947]
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[STAMP: 29 AUG 11:15] [STAMP: EX-46] [STAMP: F B I] WASHINGTON 1 FROM NEWARK 8-4-47 5-36 PM EDST JFG DIRECTOR URGENT FLYING DISC REPORTED AT HACKENSACK, NJ AUGUST THREE, NINTEEN FORTY SEVEN, MISC. INFORMATION RECEIVED THAT CHARLES CASELLA, JR. AGE [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 YDS., IN AIR/ REVOLVING SLOWLY, MOVING RAPIDLY, AND NEITHER A KITE NOR A BALLOON. CASELLA TELEPHONED INFORMATION TO HACKENSACK PD. INQUIRY BEING MADE, BUREAU WILL BE KEPT ADVISED. MC KEE END ACK PLS NK R 1 WA [HW: Mr Tolson] [HW: Mr. K.A.Tomm] [HW: Mr Cheng] [HW: Glavie] [HW: Ladd] [HW: Nichols] [HW: Rosen] [HW: Tracy] [HW: Yuan] [HW: Gurnea] [HW: Harbe ] [HW: Mr Mohr ] [HW: Mr Peuntingon ] Mr Quinn Tamm Mr Neason Mr Sandy REDACTED
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AUG 4 8 07 PM '47 RECEIVED-LADD FBI U.S. DEPT OF JUSTICE RECEIVED TELETYPE UNIT AUG 4 5 37 PM '47 F.B.I. DEPT. OF JUSTICE STAMP: F.B.I. DEPT. OF JUSTICE STAMP: F.B.I. DEPT. OF JUSTICE STAMP: F.B.I. DEPT. OF JUSTICE
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Office Memorandum UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TO: Director, FBI FROM: SAC, Norfolk DATE: August 8, 1947 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 [TURRENTINE], 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 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 proceeded 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 they appeared to be extremely high. He said that they were much higher than average plane travels in the City of Norfolk and appeared to be above clouds and that a white mist followed each of three objects. BILLY was unable to state what black objects represented but admitted that they could have been large balloons. He indicated that he has observed small toy balloons flying through air but that definitely these were not toy type balloons. He said when he first observed objects they were at such great distance from him that it was not necessary for him raise his head in order see them from his porch on third floor of apartment building. He immediately turned around obtain [STAMP:] [HW:] #29 INDEXED [STAMP:] R-38
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Office Memorandum UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT DATE: August 8, 1947 TO: Director FBI FROM: DAQ Motorola SUBJECT: INMING DIES Re funeral planning for DAQ, dated July 30, 1947 DAQ was a vital and now deceased individual. There is no evidence of any involvement of DAQ in any business or political matters. No evidence of any involvement of DAQ in any business or political matters. DAQ was not involved in any business or political matters. There is no evidence of any involvement of DAQ in any business or political matters. DAQ was not involved in any business or political matters. There is no evidence of any involvement of DAQ in any business or political matters. DAQ was not involved in any business or political matters. There is no evidence of any involvement of DAQ in any business or political matters. DAQ was not involved in any business or political matters. There is no evidence of any involvement of DAQ in any business or political matters. DAQ was not involved in any business or political matters. There is no evidence of any involvement of DAQ in任何businessorpoliticalmatters. DAQ was not involved in任何businessorpoliticalmatters. There is no evidence of任何involvementofDAQuanybusinessorpoliticalmatters. [HW:] F.B.I. [STAMP:] INTERNAL SECURITY F.B.I. [ILLEGIBLE] ONCE
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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 apartment and it was necessary that he stoop and look up almost perpendicular 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 investigation will be conducted by this office in this matter. Enclosure. TJC:lab 62-182
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Flying Disc 'Bigger Than Automobile' Photographed By Youth Who Is Amazed Because No One Else Saw It By GEORGE HEBERT The flying disc "was lots bigger than an automobile," and 15-year-old Bil Turrentine, of 410 West Fourteenth Street, doesn't understand why almost everybody in Norfolk didn't see it. In fact, when he came to the Ledger-Dispatch with a photograph he had taken of the object, he wanted to know why the newspapers hadn't already taken a picture of it. "I thought your photographers were fast," he told a reporter. [HW: NORFOLK BOY AND PHOTO OF DISC-Bill Turrentine, 15, (right) tells Ledger-Dispatch reporter George Herbert (left) of the "lucky" circumstances which enabled him to take the photograph at far right of a flying disc. However, the boy said the object pictured here looked and moved more like a football, being rounded and oval, rather than disc-like. Bill took this picture from the porch of his home at 410 West Fourteenth Street between 11 o'clock and noon Tuesday, 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 600 miles an hour and he guessed they were about 5,000 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.] (Editors Note: Although Ledger-Dispatch has had many reports of flying discs and saucers in recent days, no other person reported seeing the object which Turrentine photographed.) However, Bill said he had done some fast moving himself shortly before noon Tuesday when he stood on his front porch and saw large gray object "rocking and spinning like a football" coming from southwest. He had just returned from Summer school classes at Maury he said with all talk about "flying saucers" had gone out with his camera to see if he could see anything. "I don't see why they call them flying saucers," he said. "The big one I took a picture of and two little ones that came behind it [ILLEGIBLE] ONCE
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The Flying Roll 3615 Alexia Place San Diego 4, Calif. 6751 THE ROUND ROBIN 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 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 is probably sufficient to 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 now 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 excarnate 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 disintegrate any attacking ship. They reenter 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 corresponds to the Lokas or Talas. Students of esoteric matters will understand these terms. 9. They probably cannot be reached by radio, but probably can be by radar if a signal system can be devised for that apparatus. We give information and warning, and can do no more Let newcomers be treated with every kindness Unless disks are withdrawn situation threatens with which our culture science are incapable dealing A heavy responsibility rests upon few in authority who able understand this matter. N.Meade Layne Addendum: The Lokas are oval shape fluted lengthwise oval with heat-resisting metal or alloy not yet known us front edge contains controls middle portion laboratory rear contains armament
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STAMP: FBI STAMP: S. DEPT OF JUSTICE STAMP: FBI STAMP: S. DEPT OF JUSTICE LABORATORY DIVISION FBI MR. JONES JUL 31 9 37 AM '47 RECEIVED-HARBO JUL 29 1 50 PM '47 RECEIVED
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COM-4a F.B.I. TELETYPE DECODED COPY WASH FROM SFRAN S2 8-9-47 2-50 PM KC DIRECTOR FBI AND SACS, SEATTLE AND PORTLAND URGENT FLYING DISKS, SECURITY MATTER-X. LT. COL. DONALD C. SPRINGER OF G2, SAN FRANCISCO, ADVISED TODAY HE HAS NO FURTHER INFORMATION AND THAT OUR SEATTLE OFFICE IS IN POSSESSION OF ALL INFORMATION KNOWN BY HIM AND IS HANDLING THE MATTER AT TACOMA, WASHINGTON. KIMBALL RECEIVED 8-9-47 8:15 PM EDST MG SACS SEATTLE AND PORTLAND ADVISED If the intelligence contained in the above message is to be disseminated outside the Bureau, it is suggested that it be suitably paraphrased in order to protect the Bureau's coding systems. STAMP: AUG 1947
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RECEIVED TELETYPE UNIT AUG 9 11 23 PM '47 [STAMP:] F.B.I. INTERNAL SECURITY [STAMP:] F.B.I. INTERNAL SECURITY [STAMP:] F.B.I. INTERNAL SECURITY
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STANDARD FORM NO. 64 Office Memorandum • UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TO: D. M. Ladd FROM: J. P. Coyne DATE: August 1, 1947 SUBJECT: MRS. ARTHUR DOUGLASS ANDERSON INFORMANT There is attached hereto a letter received from the captioned individual postmarked July 12, 1947, concerning "flying saucers." There is also attached a letter of acknowledgement to Mrs. 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 handled separately WVC:mjp RECORDED INDEXED G.I.R.-978 [STAMP:] 62-83894-48 [STAMP:] FBI 1 AUG 12,1947
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STAMP: AUG 8 1947 STAMP: AUG 8 1124 AM STAMP: INTERNAL SECURITY STAMP: F.B.I.
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FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE COMMUNICATIONS SECTION AUG 11 1947 TELETEYPE FBI PORTLAND 8-11-47 1-17 PM PST KAM DIRECTOR URGENT FLYING DISCS. SECURITY MATTER DASH X. ONE RED [REDACTED] HATFIELD, FORMER NAVY PILOT AND PRESENTLY AIRPORT MANAGER, MYRTLE CREEK, [REDACTED] OREGON, REPORTS SEEING A MYSTERIOUS OBJECT ON TWO OCASIONS THE EVENING OF AUGUST SIXTH WHILE FLYING AT ABOUT FIVE THOUSAND FEET ABOVE MYRTLE CREEK. HATFIELD TO BE INTERVIEWED. BOBBITT END 5-18 PM OK FBI WASH DC GAR [STAMP: EX-60] [STAMP: G.I.R.-9] [STAMP: 5-RF] [HW: R.G.]
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STAMP: F.B.I. INTERNAL SECURITY STAMP: AUG 12 9 55 AM STAMP: RECEIVED STAMP: AUG 11 5 38 PM STAMP: RECEIVED TELETYPE UNIT
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STANDARD FORM NO. 64 Office Memorandum • UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TO: DIRECTOR, FBI FROM: SAC, MILWAUKEE DATE: August 12, 1947 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 concerning flying discs. One report was received July 7, 1947, the details of which are set forth in Milwaukee 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 1:20 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 [ILLEGIBLE] 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 a rudder in the back and inside of the disc is what 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 very small propeller. In Colonel SCHAEFER's opinion that contraption might possibly have been made by some juvenile. Colonel SCHAEFER stated that he desired to return the contraption to Milwaukee and eventually turn it over to the Army Air Forces but that 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 [ILLEGIBLE] , [ILLEGIBLE]. Subsequently SAC H K JOHNSON telephoned Colonel FRED SIEBERT in charge of Counter Intelligence Fifth Army Chicago AC of S G-2 Headquarters Fifth Army East Hyde Park Avenue Chicago Illinois who stated he would contact Colonel SCHAEFER Black River Falls Wisconsin. No further investigation was conducted in this matter. [STAMP:]
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Director 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/ddc 98-0
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August 5, 1947 Mr. Fred R. Reibold 2315 Himesbaugh Avenue Omaha, Nebraska Dear Mr. Reibold: I wish to acknowledge receipt of your letter postmarked July 10, 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:] COMMUNICATIONS SECTION MAILED 5 AUG 1947 P.M. WVC:mjp:rb 62-83894 [HW:] Flying Discs
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DECLASSIFIED Authority: NND 90986 UNIDENTIFIABLE OBJECTS, WILLIAMS FIELD, CHANDLER, ARIZONA. 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 St., 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 [ILLEGIBLE] feet. AGENT'S NOTES: See Exhibits 1 and 2, photographs of unidentifiable objects, enlarged approximately [ILLEGIBLE] times. No further reports have been received by this office of objects seen by military personnel. Lynn C. Aldrich, Special Agent EIC - AAF FDTRC CONFIDENTIAL copy STAMP: FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION U.S DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AUG 8 1947 SAN FRANCISCO CA ROUTED TO FILE
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CONFIDENTIAL HEADQUARTERS FOURTH AIR FORCE Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff, A-2 Intelligence Hamilton Field, California 4AFDA 333.5 ID 4 August 1947 SUBJECT: Investigation of "Flying Discs" TO: Special Agent in Charge, FBI, U. S. Dept of Justice, Suite 426, 111 Sutter Street, San Francisco 4, California. Inclosed herewith is information copy of MOIC and newspaper clipping re subject. WILLIAM R. GRAHAM Major, Air Corps Deputy AC of S, A-2 2 Incls: 1. MOIC Sorensen 7 Jul 47. 2. Newspaper clipping dtd 5 Jul 47. STAMP: FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AUG 7 1947 SAN FRANCISCO FORM [REDACTED] ROUTED TO
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[HW: 62-83894-52]
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CONFIDENTIAL HEADQUARTERS FOURTH AIR FORCE Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff, A-2 Intelligence Hamilton Field, California 4AFDA 333.5 ID 4 August 1947 SUBJECT: Investigation of "Flying Discs" TO: Special Agent in Charge, FBI, U. S. Dept. of Justice, Suite 426, 111 Sutter Street, San Francisco 4, California. Attached MOIC is forwarded for your information. [HW: William R Graham] WILLIAM R. GRAHAM Major, Air Corps Deputy AC of S, A-2 1 Incl: MOIC Aldrich, 14 Jul 47. STAMP: AUG 8 1947
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CONFIDENTIAL HEADQUARTERS FOURTH AIR FORCE Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff, A-2 Intelligence Hamilton Field, California 4AFDA 333.5 ID 4 August 1947 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 3 Jul 47. STAMP: FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AUG 7 1947 SAN FRANCISCO ONLY ROUTED TO
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CONFIDENTIAL From the Oregon Journal - continued. MORE SEEN LATER. Several late flights of objects over Portland were reported Friday afternoon. E. A. Evans, 3435 SW Macadam avenue, said he saw three fly east across the Willamette river near the Ross Island 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 disks glinting in the sunlight. Later, he said, he and neighbors saw a single disk-like object flying north far away and very high. At 4:30 p.m., Mrs. Lawrence J. Hayward, 6124 NE 21st 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 W. Dwyer, 1232 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 northeast, over his home at 5:30 p.m. C. J. Bagne, Tigard, reported that four disks flew past Mount Jefferson at about 11 a.m., while he was driving near Redmond. Sherman Cook, 2000 NE 65th 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 [ILLEGIBLE] x [ILLEGIBLE] 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.F Smith Rt 2 Eugene an assistant cashier for the Southern Pacific Railroad said he was driving on a Eugene street when --
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CONFIDENTIAL FROM THE OREGON JOURNAL - 5 July 1947, Portland, Ore. AIRLINES 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. E. J. Smith, captain of the airliner, 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 3:04 p.m., he said. "We saw them clearly," he reported. "We followed them in a north-westerly direction for about 45 miles. Finally the objects disappeared. We were unable to tell whether they outsped 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 Lake Washington. Ame 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 picnickers including a woman pilot noticed them. In Vancouver Wash., Sheriff's Deputies John Sullivan Clarence McKay and Fred Krives 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 "like a flight of geese." They heard a low humming sound. OTHERS DOUBTFUL. Col. G. R. Dodson commander of Oregon national guard made an inspection of this area from air after disks were reported here He said he saw nothing suspicious Only known military airplanes in air at time reports were B-29 bombers near Astoria Despite all reports at least two persons remained unconvinced existence disks Al P Sanford Holgate moorage gave opinion that objects cottonwood blossoms Burl Nollsoh 64 of Burrage avenue telephoned Journal berate newspapers perpetuating hoax He said saw objects sky about minute after airplane passed over his house To him objects looked like bits aluminum foil perhaps cigarette wrappers
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CONFIDENTIAL PORTLAND, OREGON 30 July 1947 [HW: FBL] On 30 July 1947 Mr Richard Rankin, 834 N. S. 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 first soloed in an air craft in 1919. I have flown over all the western parts of the United States many times and have mapped all of the western part of the United States during the years before the late war for the US Forest Service. I am familiar with almost every part of the western United States. During a great part of my life I have done stunt flying for air shows and various other types of aeronautical exhibitions. My brother was "Tax"Rankin who was quite well known in both civilian and military flying circles for many years before his death and during the late war ran thousands of Flying Cadets through primary training schools owned and operated by him. To date I have accomplished 7000 hours in the air as pilot of both civilian and military aircraft. I am well acquainted with most articles that one would see in the air and I feel that I am well qualified to say when I see articles flying through the air, although I would not attempt to say that I am infallible and state that I could definitely identify every object that might be flying through the air. The following is an account of what I saw on 14 June 1947 from the yard of my home at 180 South "M" St, Bakersfield, California. At approximately 12:00 noon on the 14th June at noon on June there was a lad moving at lawn at time time time time time time time time time time time time [ILLEGIBLE] objects were flying from South to North at what would judge to be approximately what would judge to be approximately what would judge to be approximately what would judge to be approximately what would judge to be approximately what would judge to be approximately what would judge to be approximately what would judge to be approximately what would judge to be approximately what would judge to be approximately what [ILLEGIBLE] objects were probably some sort of Army or Navy test planes from nearby test centers on deserts Southern California having quite knowledge aircraft general attempted explain lad moving lawn probable objects probably some sort training mission Army Navy At that did not give slightest thought anything but probable objects were some sort test ship Government Services objects resembled pictures called Flying Flapjack [ILLEGIBLE] After objects disappeared proceeded into house had noon meal Approximately went back into yard sit lie shade At this reappeared going North South although this seven original ten objects they were flying formation with one object seemingly stargling rear formation When objects appeared second they still V formation although there only seven objects this told lad still working law remember three probably three had proceeded back their base different course actually thought case other three had probably gone back their base other side mountains from Bakersfield A week or so later when read General Arnold claiming he had seen articles flying through air over Cascade Mountains in [STAMP: AUG 7 1947] SAN FRANCISCO CONFIDENTIAL
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CONFIDENTIAL COPY FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AUG 7 1947 SAN FRANCISCO "ORNI" OUTED TO FILE 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 "silver saucers" over Bakersfield, Cal., June 23, while lying on the lawn sun bathing, he told The Oregonian. "I hesitated to say much about them," Rankin said, "until I noticed all the hullabaloo in the papers. I puzzled over their strange shape for a while and finally concluded that they were the navy's now XFSU-1 flying flapjacks, which are thin and round, with twin propellers and stubby tail." ONLY ONE XFSU-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 9000 feet, and fairly fast, about 300 or 400 miles an hour. I first counted ten of them in formation going north. About 2:15 P.M., they returned on the reverse course headed south but there were only seven in the formation." "They were not weaving or bobbing in formation; 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 resume 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 businessman who first reported them over State Washington except that Arnold clocked them at estimated 1200 miles an hour. Other reports came Wednesday from Astoria Jack Hayes patient in St Mary's hospital there said he saw two discs Monday flying southwest at rapid speed and that they vanished behind hills Mrs Earl Seado Fort Stevens said she saw a disc traveling north over Fort Stevens Tuesday noon and that other observers saw same object The army at Fort Stevens and coast guard at nearby Point Adams did not see discs The report of a Centralia Wash man Wednesday coincided in matter time with original report made by Arnold Sidney B Gallagher Centralia said he saw nine aluminum-hued objects flying north at P.M June He was working miles southwest Mineral Wash at time
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CONFIDENTIAL (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 probably 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 [REDACTED] put forth in various newspapers 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. SIGNED Richmond Rankin Portland, Oregon 30 July 1947 CONFIDENTIAL
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CONFIDENTIAL 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 1:06 p.m. Friday, after the East Side station received a score of calls that the disks were overhead. Within seconds, two prowl cars reported spotting the mystery craft. FLASHES SEEN, NOISE LACKING. First to report in were Patrolmen 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 traveling at great height and speed over the park. 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 Earl Patterson in car No. 13 stopped at SE 82d avenue and Foster road to look eastward from where the disks were reported. Telephone calls located them coming out of the sun. He saw nothing but a few seconds later observed one coming out of the west and heading southwest. The craft seemed to be aluminum or eggshell white and didn't flash or reflect light, he said. OBJECTS UNIDENTIFIED. A former aircorps veteran he said the object was unlike any plane he'd ever seen. He thought it appeared radio-controlled because the disk could change direction at a 90-degree angle without difficulty. Members of the harbor patrol at the foot of NW Irving street stepped out when they heard the all-car alert Capt K A Prehn Harbor Pilot A T Austed and Patrolman K C Hoff all saw the objects and said they appeared to be going south high over Globe mills at terrific speed Capt Prehn said flashes kept them from ascertaining whether there were three or six "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 more like shiny chromium hub cap off a car which wobbled disappeared reappeared There was a plane in sky at time but all were emphatic that disks were not planes STAMP:FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION U.S DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AUG 7 1947
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CONFIDENTIAL UNEXPLAINED FLYING DISCS 7 July 1947 5. This agent interviewed W. A. Lissy and D. W. Ellis, both Patrolmen, 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 kept 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 observation 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 hallucinations. 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 CONFIDENTIAL
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CONFIDENTIAL UNEXPLAINED FLYING DISCS 7 July 1947 MEMORANDUM FOR THE OFFICER IN CHARGE: 1. At 1305, 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 contacting the radio dispatcher, this agent was advised that Kenneth A. McDowell, Patrolman, Portland City Police Department, residing at 916 S. E. Bush Street, Portland, Oregon, on duty at Precinct #1, Portland City Police, Southeast Morrison at 10th Avenue, had called in advising the dispatcher of the flying objects. 2. This agent interviewed Officer McDowell who stated at approximately 1305, 4 July 1947, he was on duty at Precinct #1 and was in the parking lot back of the Police Station feeding the pigeons. At this time the pigeons became very excited over something and fluttered in the air all at once. Officer McDowell stated in looking around to see what had 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 color to 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 detailed observation could be made. Officer McDowell advised he notified the Police Radio who immediately broadcast 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 Number 1 Station Milwaukie 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 traveling in a Northwesternly direction 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 these objects. 4. This agent interviewed Earl E Patterson Patrolman Portland City Police Department residing at 224 Southeast 13th Avenue Portland Oregon Patterson advises he was a former Air Corps pilot during war He stated that time radio alert sounded He was at Southeast 32nd Foster Road Portland upon getting out of his car He saw one disc flying in a Southwesterly direction over Portland Patterson advised this disc was aluminum color left no vapor trail or smoke trail and was traveling at a terrific speed faster than has ever seen any flying object before Patterson further advised although not knowing exact size object difficult determine altitude estimates its altitude feet Patterson further advised flying disc definitely some type aircraft but could not give any further description as its speed made observation difficult He heard no sound emitted by flyng objects Keith A Sorensen S/A CIC Sixth Army SAN FRANCISCO CONFIDENTIAL
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CONFIDENTIAL EXHIBIT Z STAMP: CONFIDENTIAL EXHIBIT II