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Flying Saucer Review - Volume 32, No. 5 1987
1. FLYING
SAUCER
REVIEN
Volume 32, No. 5, 1987
Forty Years On: Kenneth Arnold
and the F.B.I.
See page 2
2. The book that settles all The two books that have changed
argument about the matter everything ...
ABOVE TOP SECRET:
THE WORLD-WIDE
INTRUDERS
by Budd Hopkins
UFO COVER-UP publ. by
Random House,
by New York.
TIMOTHY GOOD 1987. Price: $17.95
Foreword by
LORD HILL-NORTON, GCB.,
Chief of Defence Staff 1971-73. COMMUNION
by Whitley Strieber
Published July 1987 British edition by
Price £14.95
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Artwork: Eve and Contributors
ii
4. KENNETH ARNOLD AND THE F.B.I.
(From documents obtained by Peter Gersten and CAUS}
With Comments by John A. Keel, FSR Consultant
URING the 1 960s, I approached the Federal Bureau ter sent to the Army at an earlier date. Like so many
Dof Investigation (F.B.I.) in Washington, D .C., ask of the F.B.I. papers from the J. Edgar Hoover era, this
ing to see their UFO-related files. Each time they as item would not stand up in a court of law. But it is
sured me that the F.B.I. had absolutely no interest in very interesting, nonetheless.
UFOs and therefore no such files existed. But in the The second document describes a phone call made
late 1 9 7 0s, the New York lawyer Peter Gersten ap to David Johnson, aviation editor of the Idaho Daily
plied the new Freedom of Information Act and forced Statesman, although his name has of course been de
the F.B.I. to produce hundreds of documents. Among leted. (Most of the other deletions in this document
these were the original reports on Kenneth Arnold. As are Kenneth Arnold's name.) Lieutenant Frank
is their practice, the F.B.I. carefully deleted the names Brown wrote this for the Army Air Force investigating
of the individuals mentioned in the reports, but it was group. The third document is also by Brown, and is
easy to restore most of the missing information, using basically an endorsement of Arnold as a reliable wit
Arnold's public statements and later interviews. ness. These two documents by Brown were both writ
Although there was a massive "ghost rocket" wave ten for the Air Force's Confidential file, and both were
in Europe in 1 945-46, most UFO historians regard later found in the F.B.I.'s UFO file even though the
Arnold's sighting on June 24, 1 94 7, as the real begin F.B.I. professed to have no interest in UFO matters.
ning of the "Flying Saucer". He was an exceptionally Two weeks later, Lt. Frank M. Brown and Captain
credible witness, as the interviewers note in these William Davidson would die in a plane crash shortly
documents, and his later involvement in the Maury after taking off from McChord Field in Tacoma. They
Island "hoax" proved him to be an exceptional inves had been visiting Arnold who was investigating the
tigator as well. But in the years following the events of notorious "Maury Island" affair. At that point in time,
1 94 7, he and his family were hounded by eager UFO Brown and Davidson were the only Air Force officers
buffs and bewildered witnesses. Finally, he delib involved in UFO investigations. Two weeks after the
erately spread the rumour that he had moved to Aus plane crash, Paul Lance, a newspaper reporter in
tralia. He made very few public appearances and pur volved in the Maury Island mystery, died very sud
posefully demanded an exorbitant lecture fee. But he denly. Harold Dahl's 1 2-year-old son vanished sud
did speak in Chicago, Ill. in June 1 9 7 7, before a UFO denly at the same time. Dahl and his son had been
convention organized by Jerome Clark and FATE aboard a boat in Tacoma harbour when they sighted
magazine. some "flying doughnuts" near Maury Island. Weeks
Kenneth Arnold passed away in January, 1 985, in later, Dahl's son was found in the tiny village of Lusk,
Bellevue, Washington, only a few miles from the site Wyoming, many hundreds of miles from Tacoma. He
of his 1 94 7 sighting. was suffering from total amnesia!
The big surprise in the F.B.I. documents was a re A rigorous campaign was also waged by someone to
port by a prospector who had been working the Cas ridicule and discredit Ray Palmer, the Chicago editor
cade Mountains on that same afternoon of June 24, who sent Kenneth Arnold $200 for expenses to inves
1 94 7, when he saw "five or six" disc-shaped objects tigate the Maury Island case.
weaving through the mountains ! Apparently this man The last of the documents was written by Arnold
(his name was deleted from the report by the F.B.I.) himself and submitted to the F.B.I. It proves him to be
was a corroborative witness to Arnold's sighting, and a very careful observer and is filled with significant
was viewing the objects from the ground while Arnold detail. It also raises some rather astonishing questions.
was watching them from the air ! Note that the docu These questions haunted Arnold privately.
ment bears the notation "REPORTS OF FLYING His attention was drawn to the objects by a bright
D ISCS . . . SECURITY MATTER -X". flash of light. Twenty years later, at his speech in Chi
cago, he provided more details. "As I was making this
I should mention that in handling stacks of these 1 80 ° turn," he said, "and flying directly toward
liberated Government documents, I have found that Mount Rainier at about 9200 feet elevation, a tremen
the F.B.I. reports in particular were very badly writ� dous flash appeared in the sky. It lit up my whole
ten, lacking in significant detail and often filled with aircraft even the cockpit, and I was startled. I thought
idiotic speculation and innuendo. The prospector's re I was very close to collision with some aircraft I hadn't
port is completely lacking in background detail. We seen. Or, I thought, possibly a military plane had
don't even know if the prospector spoke to an F.B.I. dived over the nose of my airplane and the reflection
agent directly or if this report was derived from a let- of the afternoon sun against his wing surfaces had
2
5. caused the flash. All this went through my mind in what he thought he saw.
less than a tenth of a second as I began to look around The most amazing thing of all is that, although his
below me and ahead of me. And then the flash came story has been told over and over again in countless
again. This very bright flash, almost like an arc light, books and articles, no-one has ever raised these
was coming from a group of obj ects far up to the simple questions before.
north of Mount Rainier in the area of Mount Baker, The objects passed over a measurable course fifty
which is almost in a line with Mount Rainier and miles in length in 1 0 2 seconds. "I had worked out
Mount Adams. I saw a chain of very peculiar aircraft mathematically how fast the strange craft were going,"
approaching Mount Rainier very rapidly - I think I Arnold said in 1 9 7 7, "and every time I reworked it, it
described their formation at the time as looking like a came out that they were going over 1 7 00 miles an
+ail of a Chinese kite." hour. It was mind-boggling! I even measured the base
Read his report carefully, and the report of the of the mountains - both Mount Rainier and Mount
prospector, and you will see that the objects were ap Adams - on my aeronautical charts, and took the
proximately 30 feet in diameter. They were weaving minimum reading of twenty-nine miles and refigured
among the mountains at a speed in excess of 1 ,200 it; they still clocked out at over 1 300 miles an hour."
miles per hour! And they were twenty miles from Ar There was only one man-made supersonic plane in
nold's position. So Arnold was observing small (30 existence in 1 94 7, and it could not attain 1 7 00 mph.
feet) objects travelling at supersonic speed twenty If Arnold could not have seen obj ects moving that
miles in front of him ! Something is wrong here. I all fast, what did he actually see? After the first flash of
f
his calculations were correct he would not be able to see light he may have watched part of something . . . some
those things at all. They were too small . . . they were too thing much larger and much different from what he
far away . . . and they were moving too fast to be visible thought he was seeing. The strobe-like movement of
to the naked eye! the objects even suggests that either they - or Ar
About the flashes. As I have pointed out in my nold - were in a different time-frame . . . a phenom
books and numerous articles, a brilliant flash of light enon well-known to Forteans. Arnold's navigational
often occurs before the appearance of UFOs, angels, clock could have been malfunctioning temporarily.
demons and chimeras. And in hundreds of cases, such Whatever happened on that sunny June 24th in 194 7,
as the famous Ohio helicopter incident in 1 9 73, a Kenneth Arnold opened a magical door for all of us that
flash phenomenon takes place j ust prior to distortions afternoon, and all manner of weird entities and objects
of time and space. In the Ohio incident the helicopter have been pouring through it ever since. - J.A.K.
was suddenly transposed 3,000 feet with no action on
the part of the pilot.
It was around 2 p.m. when Arnold saw the flash. A DOCUMENT NO. 1
beautiful, cloudless day. He was travelling NE and the
sun was above and slightly behind him. The obj ects OFFICE MEMORAND UM. UNITED STATES
were going SE. It is remotely possible that the sun GOVERNMENT
could have reflected from the objects but remember TO : Director, FBI Date : 9- 1 7 - 4 7
that Arnold was almost level with them and they were FROM : SAC, Portland
twenty miles away. So it is highly unlikely that the SUBJECT : REPORTS OF FLYING DISCS
flashes were reflections of the sun It seems more probable SECURITY MAITER-X
that they were aimed directly at A rnold, a tiny speck in
the sky twenty miles distant. KENNETH ARNOLD
WAS SOMEHO W MEANT TO SEE THESE THINGS. Refer San Francisco letter dated September 4, 1 94 7.
Clocks and stopwatches are very important in aerial xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, Port
navigation and, like all pilots, Arnold was accustomed land, reported without consulting any records that on
to their use. His estimates of the speed of the UFOs June 24, 1 94 7, while prospecting at a point in the Cas
are probably accurate, ± 200 miles. But can anyone cade Mountains approximately five thousand feet
see a 30-ft. object travelling at 1 ,200 miles an hour at from sea level, during the afternoon he noticed a re
a distance of 20 miles? flection, looked up, and saw a disc proceeding in a
The answer is: no. south-easterly direction. Immediately upon sighting
The general rule is that anything going faster than this object he placed his telescope to his eye and ob
7 00 mph is invisible to the naked eye. A bullet, for served the disc for approximately forty-five to sixty
example. However, experienced soldiers can not only seconds. He remarked that it is possible for him to
see artillery shells and mortar rounds in the air, they pick up an object at a distance of ten miles with his
can even tell where they are going to land. But they telescope. At the time the disc was sighted by Mr. xxx
travel at speeds between 400- 700 mph. xxxxxxxxx it was banking in the sun, and he observed
Kenneth Arnold led an exemplary life. He was a five or six similar obj ects but only concentrated on
decent, honest man. There is no reason to think that one. He related that they did not fly in any particular
he lied about his sighting. Yet he could not haue seen formation and that he would estimate their height to
3
6. be about one thousand feet from where he was stand had seen the aforementioned flying disks. xxxxxxxxx
ing. He said the obj ect was about thirty feet in diam xxx stated that after xxxxxxxxxxxx reported having
eter, and appeared to have a tail. It made no noise. seen the flying disks, that the editor of the paper had
According to xxxxxxxxxxxx he remained in the assigned him, xxxxxxxxxxxx the assignment of taking
vicinity of the Cascades for several days and then re the airplane belonging to the newspaper and exhaust
turned to Portland and noted an article in the local ing all efforts to prove or disprove the probability of
paper which stated in effect that a man in Boise, Id flying disks having been seen in the north-west area.
aho, had sighted a similar obj ect but that authorities The results of this assignment to xxxxxxxxxxxx and
had disclaimed any knowledge of such an obj ect. He what he subsequently saw is put forth in a sworn
said he communicated with the Army for the sole pur statement signed by xxxxxxxxxxxx attached to this
pose of attempting to add credence to the story fur report as Exhibit B.
nished by the man in Boise.
xxxxxxxxxxxx also related that on the occasion of
his sighting the objects on June 24, 1 94 7 he had in his
AGENT'S NOTES ; xxxxxxxxxxxx is a man of ap
possession a combination compass and watch. He
proximately 3 3 to 35 years of age. From all appear
noted particularly that immediately before he sighted
ances he is a very reserved type of person. xxxxxxxxx
the disc the compass acted very peculiar, the hand
xxx has logged 2900 hours of flying time in various
waving from one side to the other, but that this con
types of airplanes up to and including multi-engine
dition corrected itself immediately after the discs had
aircraft. D uring part of the war years, xxxxxxxxxxxx
passed out of sight.
as the xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Informant appeared to be a very reliable individual
being assigned to the Twentieth USAAF and
who advised that he had been a prospector in the
stationed on Tinian Island, in the Pacific. It is the per
states of Montana, Washington, and Oregon for the
sonal opinion of the interviewer that xxxxxxxxxxxx
past forty years.
actually saw what he states that he saw in the attached
FJS :KAM
report. It is also the opinion of the interviewer that x
6 2- 1 53 1
xxxxxxxxxxx would have much more to lose than
2 cc: San Francisco (62-2938)
gain and would have to be very strongly convinced
that he actually saw something before he would report
DOCUMENT NO. 2
such an incident and open himself for the ridicule that
would accompany such a report.
Incident
1 I ncl : Exhibit "B"
4AF 1 208 I
FRANK M. BROWN, S/A, CIC 4th AF
1 6 July 1 94 7
DOCUMENT NO. 3
MEMORANDUM FOR THE OFFICER IN
CHARGE
I ncident
4AF 1 208 I
1 . On 1 2 July 1 94 7, a call was made at the news
1 6 July 1 94 7
paper office of the "Idaho Daily Statesman", Boise,
Idaho. The xxxxxxxxxxxx of the paper, xxxxxxxxxxx
MEMORAN D UM FOR THE OFFICER IN
x, was interviewed in regard to how well he knew
xxxxxxxxxxxx of Boise, Idaho, and as to the credi CHARGE
bility of any statement made by xxxxxxxxxxxx. The
purpose of this interview was an attempt to verify 1 . On 1 2 July 1 94 7, xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
statements made by xxxxxxxxxxxx on 26 June, 1 94 7 , x, Boise, Idaho, was interviewed in regard to the re
t o various national news services t o the effect that he, port by xxxxxxxxxxxx that he saw 9 strange objects
xxxxxxxxxxxx had seen 9 obj ects flying in the air flying over the Cascade Mountain Range of Washing
above the Cascade Mountain Range of Washington. ton State on July 25th. xxxxxxxxxxxx voluntarily
These obj ects were subsequently referred to as flying agreed to give the interviewer a written report of
saucers or flying disks and will here-in-after be re exactly what he had seen on the above mentioned
ferred to as such in this report. xxxxxxxxxxxx stated date. The written report of xxxxxxxxxxxx is attached
that he had known xxxxxxxxxxxx for quite a period to this report as Exhibit A.
of time, having had relations with xxxxxxxxxxxx on
various occasions, due to the fact that both he, xxxxx'
xxxxxxx and xxxxxxxxxxxx were private fliers and AGENT'S NOTES : xxxxxxxxxxxx is a man of 3 2
frequently got together to talk shop. xxxxxxxxxxxx years o f age, being married and the father o f two chil
stated that as far as he was concerned anything xxxxx dren. He is well thought of in the community in which
xxxxxxx said could be taken very seriously and that he lives, being very much the family man and from all
he, xxxxxxxxxxxx actually believed that Mr. Arnold appearances a very good provider for his family. xxxx-
4
7. xxxxxxxx has recently purchased a xxxxxxxxxxxxxx age and achieved the rank of Eagle scout before I was
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx in which to conduct his fourteen. My former scout executive was xxxxxxxxxx
business to the extent of which is explained in the att xx now a xxxxxxxxxxxx for the Boy Scouts in Kansas
ached exhibit. I t is the personal opinion of the inter City, Kansas.
v;'::w er that xxxxxxxxxxxx actually saw what he stated As a boy, I was interested in athletics and was xxx
that he saw. It is difficult to believe that a man of xxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx I entered the
xxxxxxxxx character and apparent integrity would U.S. Olympic trials in xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
state that he saw obj ects and write up a report to the xxxxxxxxxxx I taught swimming and diving at scout
extent that he did if he did not see them. To go camps and the municipal pool in Minot, North Da
further, if xxxxxxxxxxxx can write a report of the kota. I went to the University of Minnesota, where I
character that he did while not having seen the ob swam and did fancy diving under xxxxxxxxxxxx and
jects that he claimed he saw, it is the opinion of the also played football under xxxxxxxxxxxx but upon
interviewer that xxxxxxxxxxxx is in the wrong entering college I was unable to continue my football
business, that he should be writing Buck Rogers fic career because of an inj ured knee. My high school
tion. xxxxxxxxxxxx is very outspoken and somewhat football coach was xxxxxxxxxxxx who is now xxxxxx
bitter in his opinions of the leaders of the U.S. Army xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx I had little or no
Air Forces and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for finances, and my ambition in furthering my education
not having made an investigation of this matter in college was through my athletics. As a boy in Mi
sooner. To put all of the statements made by xxxxxxx not, North Dakota, I did a good deal of dog sled
xxxxx in this report would make it a voluminous vol racing. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
u me. However, after having checked an aeronautical In 1 938 I went to work for xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
map of the area over which xxxxxxxxxxxx claims that xxxxx, a manufacturer of automatic fire fighting ap
he saw the objects it was determined that all state paratus. In 1 939 I was made xxxxxxxxxxxx for them
ments made by xxxxxxxxxxxx in regard to the dis over a part of the western states, and in 1 940 I estab
tances involved, speed of the obj ects, course of the l ished my own xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
obj ects and size of the objects, could very possibly be xxxxx I have been working as an xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
facts. The distances mentioned by xxxxxxxxxxxx in xxxxxxxx on xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
his report are within a short distance of the actual dis xxxx.
tances on aeronautical charts of this area, although My flying experience started as a boy in M inot,
xxxxxxxxxxxx has never consulted aeronautical North Dakota, where I took my first flying lessons
charts of the type the Army uses. xxxxxxxxxxxx from xxxxxxxxxxxx who was originally from Great
stated that his business had suffered greatly since his Falls, Montana. Due to the high cost at that time, I
report on july 25 due to the fact that at every stop on was unable to continue my flying and did not fly of
his business routes, large groups of people were wait any great consequence until 1 940. I was given my pi
ing to question him as to j ust what he had seen. xxxx lot certificate by xxxxxxxxxxxx senior CAA inspector
xxxxxxxx stated further that if he, at any time in the of Portland, Oregon, and for the last xxxxxxxxxxxxx
future, saw anything in the sky, to quote xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx covering my entire territory with same
xx directly, "if I saw a ten story building flying and flying from forty to one hundred hours per month
through the air I would never say a word about it", since. D ue to the fact that I use an airplane entirely in
due to the fact that he has been ridiculed by the press my work, in january of this year I purchased a xxxxx
to such an extent that he is practically a moron in the xxxxxxx airplane, which is an airplane designed for
eyes of the majority of the population of the United high-altitude take-offs and short rough field use.
States. In the type of flying I do, it takes a great deal of
I Incl : Exhibit "A" practice and judgment to be able to land in most any
FRANK M. BROWN, S/ A, CIC 4th AF cow )>;lsture and get out without inj uring your air
plane; the runways are very limited and the altitude is
very high in some of the fields and places I have to go
DOCUMENT NO. 4 in my work. To date, I have landed on 823 cow pas
tures in mountain meadows, and in over a thousand
SOME LIFE DATA xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx I hours a flat tire has been my greatest mishap.
was born xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. My father's The following story of what I observed over the
name was xxxxxxxxxxxx was xxxxxxxxxxxx I was a Cascade mountains, impossible as it may seem, is posi
resident of M innesota until I was six years old when tively true. I never asked nor wanted . .. notoriety for
my family moved to also homesteaded in Scobey, j ust accidentally being in the right spot at the right
Montana, and became quite prominent in political cir time to observe what I did. I reported something that
cles along with xxxxxxxxxxxx, the famous xxxxxxxx I know any pilot would have reported. I don't think
xxxx. that in any way my observation was due to any sensi
I went to grade school and high school at Minot, tivity of eye sight or j udgment than what is consid
North Dakota. I entered scouting at twelve years of ered normal for any pilot.
5
8. On June 2 4th, Tuesday, 1 94 7, I had finished my so clear that it was very easy to see obj ects and deter
work for the xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx at Cheha mine their approximate shape and size at almost fifty
lis, Washington, and at about two o'clock I took off miles that day.
from Chehalis, Washington, airport with the intention I remember distinctly that my sweep second hand
of going to Yakima, Wash. My trip was delayed for an on my eight day clock, which is located on my instru
hour to search for a large marine transport that sup ment panel, read one minute to 3 P.M. as the first
posedly went down near or around the south-west obj ect of this formation passed the southern edge of
side of Mt. Rainier in the state of Washington and to Mt. Rainier. I watched these objects with great inter-
date has never been found. est as I have never before observed ........... s flying so
I flew directly toward M t. Rainier after reaching an close to the mountain tops, flying directly south to
altitude of about 9,500 feet, which is the approximate ..... st down the hog's back of a mountain range. I would
elevation of the high plateau from which Mt. Rainier estimate their .... tion could have varied a thousand feet
rises. I had made one sweep of this plateau to the one way or another up or down ... they were pretty
westward, searching all of the various ridges for this much on the horizon to me which would indicate they
marine ship and flew to the west down and near the were near the same elevation as I was.
ridge side of the canyon where Ashford, Washington, They flew like many times I have observed geese to
is located. fly in a rather diagonal chain-like line as if they were
Unable to see anything that looked like the lost linked together. They seemed to hold a definite direc
ship, I made a 360 degree turn to the right and above tion but rather swerved in and out of the high moun
the little city of Mineral, starting again toward Mt. tain peaks. Their speed at the time did not impress me
Rainier. I climbed back up to an altitude of approxi particularly, because I knew that our army and air
matey 9,200 feet. force had planes that went very fast.
The air was so smooth that day that it was a real What kept bothering me asl watched them flip and
pleasure flying and, as most pilots do when the air is flash in the sun right along their path was the fact that
smooth and they are flying at a higher altitude, I I couldn't make out any tail on them, and I am sure
trimmed out my airplane in the direction of Yakima, that any pilot would j ustify more than a second look
Washington, which was almost directly east of my pos at such a plane.
ition and simply sat in my plane observing the sky I observed them quite plainly, and I estimate my
and the terrain. distance from them, which was almost at right angles,
There was a DC-4 to the left and to the rear of me to be between twenty to twenty-five miles. I knew
approximately fifteen miles distance, and I should they must be very large to observe their shape at that
judge, at 1 4,000 foot elevation. distance, even on as clear a day as it was that Tuesday.
The sky and air was as clear as crystal, I hadn't In fact I compared a zeus fastener or cowling tool I
flown more than two or three minutes on my course had in my pocket with - holding it up on them and
when a bright flash reflected on my airplane. It star holding it up on the DC-4 - that I could observe
tled me as I thought I was too close to some other quite a distance to my left, and they seemed smaller
aircraft. I looked every place in the sky and couldn't than the D C - 4; but, I should j udge their span would
find where the reflection had come from until I looked have been as wide as the furtherest engines on each
to the left and the north of Mt. Rainier where I ob side of the fuselage of the DC-4.
served a chain of nine peculiar looking aircraft flying The more I observed these obj ects, the more upset I
from north to south at approximately 9,500 feet el became, as I am accustomed and familiar with most
evation and going, seemingly, in a definite direction of all objects flying whether I am close to the ground or
about 1 7 0 degrees. at higher altitudes. I observed the chain of these ob
They were approaching Mt. Rainier very rapidly, j ects passing another high snow-covered ridge in bet
and I merely assumed they were j et planes. Anyhow, I ween Mt. Rainier and Mt. Adams, and as the fi rst one
discovered that this was where the reflection had was passing the south crest of this ridge the last obj ect
come from, as two or three of them every few seconds was entering the northern crest of the ridge.
would dip or change their course slightly, just enough As I was flying in the direction of this particular
for the sun to strike them at an angle that reflected ridge, I measured it and found it to be approximately
brightly on my plane. five miles so I could safely assume that the chain of
These obj ects being quite far away, I was unable for these saucer like obj ects were at least five miles long. I
a few seconds to make out their shape or their forma could quite accurately determine their pathway due to
tion. Very shortly they approached Mt. Rainier, and I the fact that there were several high peaks that were a
observed their outline against the snow quite plainly. little this side of them as well as higher peaks on the
I thought it was very peculiar that I couldn't find other side of their pathway.
their tails but assumed they were some type of jet As the last unit of this formation passed the south
plane. I was determined to clock their speed, as I had ern most high snow-covered crest of Mt. Adams, I
two definite points I could clock them by; the air was looked at my sweep second hand and it showed that
6
9. -
<:(
w
C A r� I ll !'I
<.__.)
0
Lat 48 N
<.__.)
ll. s. �'
lL
<._.;
<:(
o__
Lat 47 N
Y �K I MA
"
FLYING (WINGED) •
SEEN HERE
Mt.HELENA
9, 671 ft. A
sea 1e
( mi 1es) PEtiDL E TON
20 4L 60 80 100 •
they had travelled the distance in one minute and after taking a last look at Tieton Reservoir I headed
forty-two seconds. Even at the time this timing did for Yakima. ............ ght add that my complete obser-
not upset me as I felt confident after I would land vation of these objects, which I .......... en follow by their
there would be some explanation of what I saw. flashes as they passed Mt. Adams, was around two
A number of news men and experts suggested that and-a-half or three minutes --, although, by the time
I might have been seeing reflections or even a mirage. they reached Mt. Adams ..... were out of my range of
This I know to be absolutely false, as I observed these vision as far as determining shape or form. Of course,
objects not only through the glass of my airplane but when the sun reflected from one or two or three of
turned my airplane sideways where I could open my these units, they appeared to be completely round ;
window and observe them with a completely unob but, I am kaing (sic: for making) a drawing to the best
structed view. (Without sun glasses.) of my ability, which I am including, as to the shape I
observed these objects to be as they passed the snow
Even though two minutes seems like a very short covered ridges as well as M t. Rainier.
time to one on the ground, in the air in two minutes When these objects were flying approximately
time a pilot can observe a great many things and any
straight and level, they were just a black thin line and
thing within his sight of vision probably as many as
fifty or sixty times. when they flipped was the only time I could get a
j udgment as to their size.
I continued my search for the marine plane for These objects were holding an almost constant el
another fifteen or twenty minutes and while searching evatio n ; they did not seem to be going up or coming
for this marine plane, what I had j ust observed kept down, such as would be the case of rockets or artillery
rolling through my mind. I became more disturbed, so shells. I am convinced in my own mind that they were
7
10. some type of airplane, even though they didn't con obj ects of similar shape and design as I described and
form with the many aspects of the conventional type assured me that I wasn't dreaming or going crazy.
of planes that I know. I quote xxxxxxxxxxxx a former Army Air Forces
Although these objects have been reported by pilot who is now xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
many other observers throughout the United States, xxxxxxx, "What you observed, I am convinced, is
there have been six or seven other accounts written some type of j et or rocket propelled ship that is in the
by some of these observers that I can truthfully say process of being tested by our government or even it
must have observed the same thing that I did; particu could possibly be by some foreign government".
larly, the descriptions of the three Western/Cedar Anyhow, the news that I had observed these spread
City Air Lines/,Utah employees, the/(pilot) gentleman very rapidly and before night was over I was receiving
from Oklahoma City and the locomotive engineer in telephone calls from all parts of the world; and, to
I llinois, plus xxxxxxxxxxxx and Co-Pilot xxxxxxxxx date I have not received one telephone call or one let
xxx of United Air Lines. ter of scoffing or disbelief. The only disbelief that I
Some descriptions could not be very accurate taken know of was what was printed in the papers.
from the ground unless these saucer-like disks were at I look at this whole ordeal as not something funny
quite a great height and there is a possibility that all as some people have made it out to be. To me it is
of the people who observed peculiar objects could mighty serious and since I evidently did ...... some-
have seen the same thing I did; but, it would have thing that at least Mr. John Doe on the street corner
·
been very difficult from the ground to observe these or Pete .... ews on the ranch has never heard about, is
for more than four or five seconds, and there is always no reason that it does not exist. Even though I openly
the possibility of atmospheric moisture and dust near invited an investigation by the Army and the FBI as
the ground which could distort one's vision. to the authenticity of my story or a mental or a physi
I have in my possession letters from all over the cal examination as to my capabilities, I have received
United States and people who profess that these ob no interest from those two important protective forces
j ects have been observed over other portions of the of our country; I will go so far as to assume that any
world, principally Sweden, Bermuda, and California. report I gave to the United and Associated Press and
I would have given almost anything that day to over the radio on two different ocasions which appar
have had a movie camera with a telephoto lens and ently set the nation buzzing, if our Military Intelli
from now on I will never be without one - but, to gence was not aware of what I observed, they would
continue further with my story. When I landed at the be the very first people that I could expect as visitors.
Yakima, Wash., airport I described what I had seen to I have received lots of requests from people who
my very good friend, AI Baxter, who listened patiently told me to make a lot of wild guesses. I have based
and was very courteous but in a j oking way didn't be what I have written here in this article on positive
lieve me. facts and as far as guessing what it was I observed, it is
I did not accurately measure the distance between j ust as much a mystery to me as it is to the rest of the
these two mountains until I landed at Pendleton, Ore world.
gon, that same day where I told a number of pilot My pilot's license is xxxxxxxxxxxx I fly a xxxxxxx
friends of mine what I had observed and they did not xxxxx it is a three-place single engine land ship that
scoff or laugh but suggested they might be guided is designed and manufactured at Afton, Wyoming as
missiles or something new. In fact several former an extremely high performance, high altitude airplane
Army pilots informed me that they had been briefed that was made for mountain work. The national certi
before going into combat overseas that they might see ficate of my plane is xxxxxxxxxxxx Is/
NOW THAT THINGS ARE STARTING TO "HOT UP" ON ALL
SIDES, WITH LIDS BLOWING OFF AND CATS PEEPING OUT,
WHY CONTINUE TO BE SO SCARED OF TELLING ALL YOUR
FRIENDS ABOUT FLYING SAUCER REVIEW? YOU KNOW
VERY WELL THAT WE HAVE BEEN RIGHT, ALL ALONG,
SINCE FSR WAS ESTABLISHED 32 YEARS AGO!
8
J
11. · ·_:Office Memorandum • UNITED STATES GOVERNMEl
. rTO- .. -�
· ·· "
�. s ·A� ;0�.· : •• ·;
� �JECTs E..PO?.IS CF. YLYTIW DISCS
SECURITY llAITU - X
..
:, ":947. -
.;. .... ;.' , ( �
.
� Refor San Francirsco lotter cinted Sept.c:r.bcr 4, _ _ .. _� .:-_ _ .._,_·.�
>=
.
. ... ·. .
. c: �-�-of_ , ,_e.;-!'.-,_t:*� 7� ::::----�- -
· : ..:�.� .... · -
. ;
.•
-��..-.� �.; o.:.:;;
:::
. .. ;;::.!�•, �� .. ..._.
·'
.:._· --.....·
�?�:W:::-
.-....J, Port.l.e.nd, reported
-.� . . . . . . ·-
. __ _ .;..-,.; ... �
. rlthout c.:>nsulti.I"4; an,y rc:c:>:-as t.hat on J�"1e 2.4, l'J47, t1hile pr-os,?ecti...n,£ at � . : · .
p-..'">int. :i.i1 th� Cascade l:ou.r-.t.ai."ls epprox:imzl.tely five thousand
feet fro� sea l6V'"'"-:.11. · ·
dUTi.n.g the u_.fte:-noon he noticed � r€ilection, looked op, n.nd Ga";f a disc pro
coeding in n coutheasterly � cti� . !rncediately upon BightL� this object
-e
he place:j hil3 telescope to h.is eye �nd observed the disc for .:;.pproxir..ate.l.;r
!ort.y-five t.O cixty cecond�. He re:::::.3.ri<ed that it is possiblG for h.ir: to pick
up an object at r. dista.""lce of t.en rllles rlth h.i.!s telescope. �t the ti...::� t�. · :
.
-
disc was td.ghtc:l. b7 !Lr. C_¥� it tyaS ba.nki.n.g ir. the t;llnJ ll.nd he observ� ·
!'iva or t;:iY. oicl..l.ar objects but only concentrated on one. He rel..at.erl t.hAt
they did not !".ly .in a.�v particcla.r .for::laticn a.11d that he l:Ould Gstbate thsi.r
height. to b3 �bout one thousc.nd .!�t !ror: �ioere he l!:a.s nt;;::.d.in.g. He c.aid the
C'bjoct �ts �bout thirty feet. in d.i.ameter�c.nd a.p��"d t.o h3.•--e e. tall. l.t �
--·
. i
.
no ooil5e. l.,
c-�';!t vid.clty
I
.tccordlll.g to he ren.ain&d in the o! the CasC!lci..o3 . �
i'or Be"craJ. d..s.ys s.nd then returned t..o Port.land .�nd noted c..n s..rticle in � ·
local psper '�hich r;tat.ed L1 Ctffect. t!.l.a.:t. :l man in Boize, Ic..aho, had sighted A
;:·i.-:-J.lar objzct but thst. �ut.hcritic� had discla1-·.:ed fli'lY knc;-:..leC:..ge of sv.c.� ru1
oojoct. He t"�.id ha COO::::IJ-'lica.ted rlt.h the Jt.r:::v- :for the s l e pl.ll"'pC!;C or atte.:Ipt o
� t.o edd czedence to t.ho story !Urni�hed by t�H:) 1::Wl in Boi!Ja.
cr::::::::!aal.so related t.h.at. en the
"
. � .. occasion or hi.s r;ig.'1tine the objec t.8
·
· · on Juno 21., l. 947 he had in t-ti!3 pos&e��ion
n cD:Dbin.at.ion co::?a�t �d -ra.tch. He
. n:>tod p.a.rt.iculc.:-ly thAt i.!:wed.iately tret'oro he cighted t.he disc the cc::;t..s:; ---.:-:
· �cted ve:-y pcculiJ:>..r', Uio h.:nd �avin:; fro:l one side to t.."ls dha, but tb.E.t t:-..i..& � _._..·.
..
·' condition corrected itself :....r:n5�t.aly :Ute:- the d.iscs had passed out o! lti.ght.
Inforca.nt c:ppGll.rOO t.o be � very reliable inc:lividu.U mo z.dvi�d t.r..at
·.
he had been � prospecto:- in the �t.r.tes of i!ontana.1 T;ash.inf;Uln, �-1d Oregon for
tho past !ort.y pan;.
. ·--· -� ...
.
.
· . ·-
-. FJS:lal! .
{ 62-29.38)
. 62-1531
. 2 cc: San • Franci:sco
· ... . -�
·-.. · . 1 ·:-��:-. ��:!.
;· ": .( . . _::
"' -
. :. . ·.
9
12. I r < (_j e n t
1 , 2 1 2 08 I
/ 1 13 . Ju l y 1 0 4 7
1. C'n 1 2 ._Tu l y 1 � 1 7 , t c '" l l tn :: rr. t d e rt t U: � r.�!., �� c e o ff!i
f:. he " I dt ho !.: a i l y 3 t; r t. C" �:-·"' n '' , ".! o t :; C' , _ l c..l dtc . Tlw � �c__;.:__7
-- �- �-J o f t he
. knew ("=��-�:� of �tJ i S '9 1 T dn h o , s. nu a s t o t he c r e d i b i l i ty of ·
· f' npe r , c·--� -- · · -:-·:-�:=-=��-:l , t:l' s i nt e r v i c�:cC:. 1 n re Gil rd to h e '� .,..- e l l he
fny s tn t. <;-:.en t 'T(1 c l e ,, � - c�'"':---�7 Th"! !1 U r � c l S 6 () : L i d . 9 i n t e r v i e w � s a n
a t t e "•it t:o ve r i fy s tn t� r. o n t s �":� fl d e ��:.· C_:� · · =�::;:--:-:::J!I' o n 2 6 Ju ne 1 94 7 ,
to vE. r i C l l S nt� t i ono l n e w � :; c r v i. c o � t.. o t h e e f fe c t. t h a t h e , C�
hnd s -:- e n 9 ob� e c t � f l �r i n � i n t.he n i r n h ov e thcs r a s c e de Uo u n t e i n R a n g� / ?
of '7e ,� h i !1 r,ton . i'he s e ob,j c c t s we r e s u b s e q •..: IJ T i t l y r e f e r r e d t o a s flying
!J
��::-: .�_-_:;')... :; t. f t e d t h r- t he h R d kn o v.n ��- --� for
� � u c e � s �r f l y l n � � � � k s n nd w i l l h e r � -i n -a f � e r be r e f e r r e d to � s s u c h
quite a r e r i o d C ft i .-,e , l ta v i n r. had r c l n t i on � wi.f":h (�: _._-,.·=�� ·:�-:! o n va r i ou s
tn t h i s r � po rt . c:--
O C Ctt � i o r. s , due t o t he ft C t t hn t bo t h }H! 1 �··;.�·· • · J A nd C._..:_.:
.:�:-: :.�
:_""":7-
s t e t o d t h A t A s f e r r:. :-; h·� Tra s r. o n c c rn F. d A ny t 1 t l n r, t;::::.=:� s � i d o o u l d b e
t;e ro ;:> d 'l A t e f l i e r s t� nd f r e -:•1 c n t l�· r;o t t o r; c � . h e r to t A l k s �to p . ,.
G-�-� a c. t u a _l_ly _h n l i e ve d that � :r .
Ar n o l d �1!1 <! � 1) � 1 1 t h e ,. r l' r CJ r <J r. t i � n c ·J l" .l ? I ll � d � r. k s . c . � s t a t e d
t r.:- r. n ve ry s e r i o u s l y n nd t r. � t h-:! , _
art".) r c::��
that
o f 4; i t-J (! n p c r l::.Hl n s :: i ':ne d h i n , <:!�� t h� f S S : [Tlr"1e n t o f t c. k i r.g t ho
r o rt) rt c d r:e v i n :-; � 'J � n th'3 f l :-r i n r. d ." � k s , t ha t t h e e d i to r
. : r : l r · w b � l o n;: i n r, t'"' t h o: !l"! '::S p !"l. :: : r r.n . : c �: h:� u � t i n r. � 1 1 � !'fo r t s t o p r ove
The ro su l t s c r i.l . i s e s :; i r:n� �C):1t to c _:::=_� !. n d what
or • H s :-- t·ove th� ? r c- � r b .i l i t :· o f fl:· t n � c H s � s h� ·: i n [ b � t· n s e e n in the
C";::ci._�i!
r�ort �mt? :: t: a r c n . ,.
he s u� s�·quen t l y snt-.• :_ s p u t l"o r t. h � ·t a swo 1·n s t e t e !T"I �nt s i f;:1e d by
n ttr. ch·� d to t h i s r e p r) rt a·s ·:x hib i t o:$ •
c:-:2:.-J
""Te r:• r e s<' rvn d t :' p o o !' r> e r s o n . �
Af.�!T ' S ;:c-1'::3 : is n J · - n o r" n�p 1·ox i�nt c l :r 33 to 35 yea.r s of
n ;-:-, . ! ' • 1"':'1 a l l � r. ? o � rn n c c .o; is '
/
I t_..,
£�'1n � l o r:Gc-d ? �00 hou r ::� or f l :.•i n [. t i ::-1,.. tn vn r l o u s t ;rp e � of a i r p l a ne s
�;:-;; ·.��� �"��; i.:u���G �:::��� �i��·.:���;:r:�
t il gI �.�e1 t i o t h tT!:AAF r. n d s t:-. t i o n� d <'n ;' i. u i a n I s l !'. n d , i n t }:� P a c i f i c . It ' "
/) ?-. ·
1'-hE> t h�
i s t h � � � r � o n � l o p i n i o n o r t h e i n t e rv i ��:e r t hA t �.;.;:!.:it a ct u a l ly saw
��::;:::�
, t n t e l!: th:1 t h � S t'l t:" i n t i �� P. t tn ,. h e d J r. ? c- t · t . It is a l s o t he op i n i o n
O f tho. i n t e r v i Cie r t ! a r t "." O I I l d h:- ve "11.1 � h l"Ore t o l o s e t h e n (;B i ll
!' nd K' U l cl P ft V E:' t o h e 'ff:j ry s t r o n r-: 1: c o n v i n c o d tht• t he n c tu e. l l y s a w :: ome t h i n g
be for� r r:.- <:-!ou l d r " :.'<"' rt s · , c h n n i. n c i u c r. t r n J o p , n h m s e l !' fCr t he r i di cu l e
t l a n t ··. :cn. l d n c c o:-:tpn n:: s t t c h r. r e !' o r t .
1 l nc l : h rh t h i t " R"
::-r. .• i 't ., • "1 0 .:; , Sf:... , . ClC tf !. h Al'
10
13. . .
'-../ J
In d d o n t
• .
4 .'. F l 2 C8 I
· ,
1 6 Ju l y 1 9 4 7_
. .
. .
... .• .. : -.:....... ·: .
< .. :. · . .7)
-� .
�Tu ly .::.:.�:��.::.-<· �� ! r
•
. I � ·.' :..
r-- ·;"f'7. ·:·::.
�· t h.s t
.
' • .. . .
IJ y
. 1. On 1 21�4 7 , L. ·, ; : :· :' :�;:;· , • • Bo i s e , I d e h o .
....
l'rn. � 1 n t e r v 1 �llo d t n r e r,.:1. rd t o t, h o rc �ort.; :>y f · ' . . : · · . h o � n• fJ
c·.-:...;...:_ .:..,_::::> v oltm'ts ri ly
s t r s n ee o b j o c t � f l:ri n � " v o r t l1 e Ca :-: c " d o : !o u ri:.ulr1"'i.n.t;o o f �ia s h i n ;t c n
July
St e. t o o n 25th . A (,r e e d to r;i VO t h e i n t e rv i o vu r
report
n,e 'O"i.tten r e [.> o r t o :'i.__.;::;,;·;�:�� t c.. t t� c�o d
a wr i t t e n o r e x :l c t l y v;:1 A t h r h n d S O O n e n t h o e. b o V O me n t i on e d d� t o .
to t H ') r e ;:>o r t as L.xh ib i t A c
[-��: ::> 1 -; a.
o r �- ;;;- -�! : i 1 ;;: . ro
,n conr.r..mi ty
Ar;O:! ' :i N0T S-.j : o f �2 )"C I'I. r s o r f' r,o , bo i :JG r.ar r i e d o..n d
1:t n
t�o r�t hc r i s '·:o l l t ho u rht o r 1 n t h e in
frOM nll
't'1:hi c h ho 1 1 VO !Y 1 b o i � � Vt:' r;,' MU Ch t h e rn ., i l �r l':' n n A n d 8?p O a. ra. n c o 8
ll ve ry r,o o 1 !l r c v i c ·� r r o r h i s rP n i l S • ��.J;e.s ro �o_:;- l :o.• purcha.�ed A
���h:{�u�t.rj�,���� �-u-��i��'?tor��;n:!�o��r���� � c�
I t i s t he r�r �onal o p i n i on of tho i nt e rv 1 c w o r t h e t �
£=���r;�i-r?;�e h �
czs�� lc f;•J 'l l ly
a t t� c h� d e x h i � i t .
o f <:.��-� - ·.!�-�che.rn ct e r t� nd a !'l p e. r e n t 1 n t e c r 1 ty t1'0ul d 1 t & t s
"'fh f' t he s t !lt e d t he t he
S n "tT It i t d i � f i c u l t to b e l l"' TO .
r; e. w .
t.h 11 t a ne n
'lo ��� A n
th�t h e ��" ob j e c t s� n d �T i t e u p e rc �o rt t o t h e e x t e nt t h a t he di d i f h o
did not seo them. r:o fu r the r , i f ,;r i t e a rep o r t o f ·the
-t;u. t C _. :,�::. ��
�.: �
eherncter t l 1 r t h f'l d i d wit i l � n o t h e vi n r: s e � n t. t 1 P. � ': � -:- -: : -, t};r.t h e c .!. � i =e d �5
��-:;:::"'}i tt If
_f; e.'!" · it i s thl" o p � n i <:l n o r t he i n t e r v 1 -; r.c r __ i n t h e ""T o n.::;
l b u :J i n e s s . H : n t he s : 1n u l d b� -:tr i t i n � U. , c-lc ?. o c� r c; f i c t i c n . {y v
Vt> lJ o u t s p o r'3 n A n r3 � IJ n O &. ! t b 1 t � c r t n h i s O f-' l n i o n s o !' t h o l e a d e r s o f th�
U . 3.• A r,:y i. l r fo r c c 3 • nd �hP. fo c! e r "' l �u re e u ..,r I n v � s t 1 t:�>- t i o n ro r not ho rl t: z::
tna d o e n i nv c � u ,. � t t C' n o f t h i s cm t t e r s Nm e r , 'l'o n u t e l l of t h o t> t n. t �J ::Y.) n t ::
>
· ne de by C:::::>.:..:� i '1 thi e report ho u l d r: � h 1 t c - v o lurni n o u n YJl,�:_::- ·2 :.t; .1)"'':_":.' o :- .
�,.. '
e ft e r h r v i n r: c h e c k e d n n a e r o na u t i e l l ll'l" P o f t h e are� over "h i c h.r:""'----=- -� -... _ .:,_
�<-< �:. :.;:� i n
<: 8pood oou r�
..., s t ! , n t h e s a"N tl 1 c ob j o c t s ! t � s :3 s t o :- m 1 n o d th" t & 1 1 s b. t e mo nt 15 -::: � d e by
ol'
r e r;a rd t o the d h t ,.. n e c e t �v C' lvc d , o f tho ob j o ct s: ,
c�::.� 1 n
.: ' r
·
t he o l>j o c t s e n d n i r.. e of t ho olJjects, cou l u � e ry p o � s i bly � e fc. ct 8 . T.M
c.l thou�h {"';-� !rJ ['
d i � t f.I O C C :"' �e n t i on o d t-:· h l !' r e p o rt a r e lli t h i !t &. short t! i s t ll O C � .
o � t l 1., o c t u n l d i s t l'l n � ' :; c.n l' o r�>nP u t i ea l c � rt .s o f thi s c. r e k ,
�r;�v� t 111 tod
e:�·�:�J.'n .,
�
n e v e r con :; u l t o d � e r o n n u t i c e l c hC r t s o t t h e t :-?e t h e J.. nn y u � e a .
_
t h :-1 t h � s bu � i no s ! h " <l . s u ffo r o d ::ron t ly e in c f'l h i a r e p o rt
· on Ju l y 2 5 d u e to t h e r� ct t h � t ft t e �c ry s t o p on h l. s hu 5 1.�o s s rou t e s , l e.n;e
r rnu :- � nr p o o r l , -wfl r n n: d t l :1 r, t. o '1 H c :; t 1 Nt hi1: r 5 to ju :; t lYhn t ho }la d c e e n .
� �., t:�ri
c...���-:!. il'c etly.
ru r � h ., r t : ,-. t 1 !' !'lc , n t any t i � i n the fu ture , &1'.-rt" n n:rt h i n(;
i - t tho s �: . to qu o t e 11 i f I ZI R IT £ tou s t o ry bu i l di ng .
_. -; �
·.
f ly ine;
_
I w o u l :1 n c v o r s o y a "'o r d
t h r o u 1�h t � o e ir i t " , due t o the n'Jou� ·
f a c t U : 11 t h<J hA s b f.l o n r i : H c u b d b:: t h "' p ro � s t o !l U C h o n e x t e n t thA t he . _ ./
i s p r e c t i c o l 1 y e. mo r o n i n t he � y e s o f t h e mA j o r i ty o f t he p o p u l � t i o n o f
t h e Un i t � d S t a t e s .
1 Inol t F.xh ibi t " J!t
�'T7:-:'L .
�t
.,
.
.
�r,. -r- !.J;"
��J. �. �· ;., • J
'
11
14. -
.
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.
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• '-�- 1 .r;·_ . ·.
--- ·
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�n " c:a /.h- ,.., o./d Js
�o �.k.e.Jc.h es 9/ #L
{J 1="0.9 {pAo/-os�t}
'- - .. _
- ._._ _ _ .. ·
f.
l/2ll th
They s o e m e d l t: ,.t e r thnn
-;-ri d e , t he i r
t hl c kno s s vm s �·)ou t
o r the i r wi dth
T h e y seemed l o n g e r than wide, t h e i r
t h ickness w a s about 1h o t h of t h e i r w i d t h
M i rror Bright
: !f r r o r � r i �:h t They d i d not appear to me to w h i rl o r spin b u t
di� not � ;��� � ;�; ;��;�
seemed i n fi x ed pos i tion, travel i n g a s I h a v e made
Thc.y n ppcar t o · cl r · g x x
!:1e ".; o r.h i r l �r - p in bu t
p o :. i t i o n .,
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CLOSE S I GHTING BY PORTU G UESE AIR
FORCE P I LOTS (NOVEM BER 1 982)
Jose Sottomayor and Antonio Rodrigues
(C. N . I.F.O. UFO Investigation Group, Lisbon)
(Precis Translation from Portuguese)
We are much indebted to our esteemed Portuguese Consu ltant, Sr. Joaquim Fernandes, of the Portuguese UFO
Investigation Group C . N . I . F . O . for send ing us this lengthy and pai nstaking report o n a recent event i n his country.
Owing to our lack of space we regret that we can only g ive the salient details of it. He and other senior members
of C . N . I . F . O . were able to d iscuss the case subsequently, in a private interview, with General B rochado M iranda,
C hief of Staff of the Portuguese Air Force, a fact clearly emphasising the entirely serious view which that Air
Force takes of this very typical U FO slg hting. - EDITOR
His episode occurred in fine bright daylight, bet Lt. ].M.G., flying at an altitude of around
Tween 1 050 and 1 1 50 hrs on the morning of No 1 500- 1 600 m. over Maxial, saw a shining object be
vember 2, 1 98 2 in the region between Torres Vedras low, seemingly very close to the ground (maybe at 50
and the Serra df Montejunto (mountain range). That or l OOm., he thought) moving on a N-S course. Just as
is to say, in an area j ust to the north-west of Lisbon, he had decided that it would be a good thing to con
and over the Province of Estremadura. tinue to watch it, it suddenly changed behaviour, as
The sky was clear, with unlimited visibility and though realizing his presence, and in ten seconds it
little wind. In terms of index of strangeness it is graded shot up to the same height as himself, which would
as 2, and in terms of index of credibility as 3. mean that it had risen at about 504 km.p.h.
As indicated, the total sighting time was about 25 It then commenced to fly around him in great
minutes, and two Portuguese Air Force trainin ' g sweeps, and he was obliged to perform a series of tight
planes were involved, with pilots aboard them. These curves accordingly, so as to keep track of it. It was
men, Pilot Lt. ].M.G., Ensign C.G., and Ensign A.G., now near enough for him to see that it was round and
were flying in Canadian-built Chipmunk DHC- 1 «resembled a hall of mercury ". It consisted of two hemi
primary training craft and came from OTA Air Base spheres (the lower one being reddish), metallic, shin
No. 2. ing, and with a circular dark area at the centre of its
12
15. Then finally, the UFO made a sweep, passing very
near to J.M.G., and dashed off towards the slopes of
the Serra de eintra Range, lying to the south-west,
and vanished from sight.
Back at Base, the three witnesses agreed that the
qbject could not possibly have been a "balloon", and
was clearly intelligently controlled.
As mentioned above, their general accounts agree,
though not all of the three pilots had quite the same
clear view of the central "grid" around the obj ect, or
(- - - - - - - - - -> of its lower dark circular centre. While two of them
mentioned a system of "ribs" on the lower half of the
obj ect, the third did not, and A.G.'s account and
sketch of it showed it rather as "cylindrical", with
base. Around the edge, where the two "hemispheres" rounded ends, like a capsule, although he admits that
met, he thought he could distinguish some sort of pro
tuberance or irregularity. The obj ect reflected the sun
light brightly, and, as will be seen later, the final esti I
.
mate of its diameter set it at around two metres.
Lt. J.M.G. reported to his Base what he was seeing,
-- �
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- "a ball of mercury". Various other pilots in the ---
vicinity picked up his message and there was some
mutual badinage, with suggestions that he was seeing
a balloon, or even a football, or that he had "been at
the bottle". To which he retorted that it would be a
pretty remarkable "balloon" or "football" that could
shoot up from 1 00 metres to 1 500 metres in seconds
and then fly rings around him at a fantastic speed.
And that silenced the chatter . . .
The UFO was now flying vast circles around him,
estimated by him to have a perimeter of 2 1 ,000
metres and to be 6,000 to 8,000 m. in diameter, over
the area between Torres Vedras and Montej unto.
J.M.G. himself was flying in tight rings with a perime this may have been due to perspective. But A.G. was
ter of about 1 ,500 metres, and diameter of 450 metres, piloting, and was therefore obviously unable to view it
and at a speed of 1 7 0 km.p.h. He estimated the speed as well as his companion, C.G. did.
of the UFO at over 2,500 km.p.h.
At no time did he observe any effects on his instru
ments or upon himself.
The other two eyewitnesses, Ensign e.G. and En
sign A.G., arrived on the scene, also in a Chijnn wzk
trainer, at about 1 1 .0 5 a.m. Their description of the
obj ect agrees largely with that of J.M.G., namely that N OTI C E TO
it seemed metallic, of a rounded shape, with two
raised convex areas and a "grid" around the centre.
FSR SU BSC R I B ER S
This "grid", they thought, emitted very intense
"flashes", which they did not feel were due to sunlight, Now that the E . E . C . regu lations on
inasmuch as the "flashes" seemed to be reddish on paper producti on have taken fu l l
one side and green on the other side, and thus re
effect, o u r pri nters are no longer able
sembled rather electrical discha rges.
They duly reported to Base that they too had the to buy paper of the same size as
obj ect in view. The object continued to fly around for previous ly.
about ten minutes or so. At one moment it passed bet Consequently, begi n n i ng with
ween the two aircraft, and e.G. was able to observe as Vo l u me 33, No. 1 , our jou rnal wi l l
it came in front of ].M.G.'s 'plane, and he was thus
appear i n the larger A4 format.
able to arrive at an estimate of its width - namely
about two metres. (The "Ch ijmnm k " trainer is 7 . 7 5 m.
long and 1 0.46 m. wide).
13