^^FrA MD A RD FO RM N O . 64 _ O ffice 'Memuro,rJum • U NITE D ST go ver nm ent to : DIRE CTOR, FBI DATE ; October 9, 1947 ^A m : SACj PORTL AND subject/ FL Y ING DISCS SE CU RITY M ATTE R - X. Reference is m ade to Portland teletype dated Septem ber 13, 1947. Records of the Radio Dispatcher, Portland Police Departm ent, reflect that first notice of unidentified objects in flight over the city on Septem ber 11, 1947 was received from officers in District 18, which is in the extrem e north­ east section of the city, at 5*21 P.M . The log further reflects that at 5^23 P.M . the radio requested District 14, which is further south, to attem pt to locate and identify the objects and that at 5*24 P.M . a report was received from the car occupied by Chief of Police JE NKINS, reporting that they had sighted som e objects. District 14 at 5’27 P.M . reported seeing nothing unusual in the sky. ROBE RT D. ADAIR, 4325 S.E . M adison Ave., Portland, advised that he was one of the two officers on duty in District 18 on Septem ber 11. The car was in the vicinity of N.E . 25th Avenue and Saratoga Court when ADAIR and his fellow officer noticed a num ber of people looking upward and pointing. U pon looking at the sky ADAIR observed the very bright reflection of the sun on som e object which was apparently m ade of silvery m etal. The object was com ing from the east and m ade a wide turn over the city and disappeared to the south. ADAIR estim ated its speed at about 150 m iles per hour and its altitude at about 5,000 feet. He watched it for a period of about two m inutes and during that tim e it gradually disappeared in such a m anner as to appear that the angle was slowly changing, so that the sun was no longer reflected into ADAIR*s eyes. He says that the shape appeared to be round but that the glare was so bright that it could have hidden the true outline of the object. There was no oscillation visible - only steady flight. ADAIR believes it was an ordinary m etal airplane reflecting light of the afternoon sun. .__———■“»-"'-"" J. R. CAL DWE L L , 7652 S.E . L incoln St., Portland, Oregon was ADAIR’s partner in District 18 on Septem ber 11. CAL DWE L L states that the object appear- red to him to take the sam e course as that described by ADAIR. He pointed out that the speed, height, and size of the object were difficult to judge, because of the interdependence of the three factors. However, he believes that the object when first sighted was about three m iles away and about two m iles high. He believes it was traveling at a m uch greater speed than a conventional air­ plane and was a great deal larger. It appeared to him to be elliptical in shape, and inasm uch as it did not bank or tip he could not judge its thickness. PD 62 -1531 Chief of Police L E ON V . JE NKINS advised that he was travelling south on N. William s Avenue near Russell St., when he and Officer H. S. RANE Y , his driver, received a call on the police radio requesting District 14 to attem pt to observe an unknown object in the sky reported by officers in District 18. JE NKINS observed what aopeared to be a round silver object, about 10,000 feet high, travelling northeast to southwest. It was directly to JE NKIN’s left when observed first. He thought it was a weather balloon. Further observation con­ vinced him that it could not be a balloon because of its speed which was extrem e­ ly great. As JE NKINS watched, it turned gradually until it was travelling due south, and as it did so, its shape seem ed to change until it appeared to be egg-shaped. It disappeared in about 30 seconds. Patrolm an H. S. RANE Y stated that when he first observed the object it was straight ahead of him and travelling straight away from his car. RANE Y was driving south on N. William s Avenue. To RANE Y it appeared to be just a glare of sun on som e object, and he was unable therefore to tell its shape. It appeared to be very high and travelling extrem ely fast. It was out of sight after he had travelled 4 or 5 city blocks at a speed of about 25 m ph. RANE Y stated that he has never seen an object at such an extrem e height before and that if the sun had not reflected from it he could not have seen it at all. He believes it could possibly have been a reflection from a large airplane at great altitude. ROBE RT W. SHAY L OR, 4810 N. Fessenden St., Portland stated that he was on duty in District 14 with Officer DONAL D W. COAL ING on Septem ber 11, 1947 and received the call to watch for the object flying over the city. SHAY L OR and COWL ING im m ediately scanned the sky from a vantage point in open territory where they could see the entire sky. They saw nothing in the sky at that tim e, SHAY L OR stating that they did not even see any airplanes. A short article in "The Oregonian", Portland daily newspaper, for Septem ber 12 , 1947, describes the object as seen by Chief of Police JE NKINS and also states that "The Oregonian" received several calls from other persons reporting the object. FRE D M . WHITE , Assistant City E ditor, advised that the paper has no record of the identities of the people m aking the calls. 62 -1531 L HK:tkw TO : Director, FBI ROM : SAC, Anchorage SU BJECT: j^p^ OF FIXING DISCS m • U NITE D ST/ OV E RNM E NT DATE : 10/18/47 This is to advise that we have been flyer, JACkITSGK, who is em ployed by the Al Jones Bethel, Alaska. It had been im ported to M ilitary M r PE CK and his co-pilot V IN QAL Y had observed able to locate a Flying Com pany in Intelligence that som e flying object near Bethel, Alaska, in July, 1947^ E fforts previously to contact M r. PE CK were negative until the above instance He related that the occasion of seeing the flying object near Bethel was on a July day when the sky was com pletely clear of clouds, and it being during the early part, it is daylight the entire night. The tim e of his sighting this flying object was about 10 PM and the sun had just dropped beyond the horizon. Flying weather was extrem ely good and he, with M r. DAL Y , was com ing into the Bethel Airport with a DC-3. He observed the flying object im m ediately to his left and stated that it apparently was observed at approxim ately the sam e tim e by M r. DAL Y and both of them m anipulated the controls of the plane m aking efforts to m iss the object inasm uch as they could not tell in which direction it was going. They m ade a forty-five degree turn in order to get out of the way of the object and then noted that it appeared to be going away from them . He described the object as appearing to be som e flying wing and s said that it appeared to be about the size of a C-54 without any fuselage. He could not see any propellor or any exhaust from jet propulsion or any vapor trails and could not estim ate the size due to his failure to be able to estim ate the distance he was away from the object. He was flying at 1,000 feet and stated that he tried to catch up with the object and in­ creased his m anifold pressure to approxim ately 42 inches and was trave at the rate of 170 m iles per hour. He called on his radio to the Civil Aeronautics Adm inis­ tration station at Bethel, asking what aircraft was in the vicinity and they had no reports of any aircraft. The object he sighted was som e five or ten m iles from the airport before his arrival and stated that the path did not go directly across the airport. He, of course, could not tell whether the object was m aking any noise and stated that it was flying at a thousand foot altitude and estim ated travel at 300 m iles per hour. It was traveling in the direction from Bethel to Nom e, which is in a northwesterly direction. He noted no radio interference and is unable to describe the color other than that it appeared dark but of definite shape and did not blend into the sky but had a definite, concise outline. Both he and M r. DAL Y clearly observed the object at this tim e. - 2 - Anchorage File 100-1406 It m ay be stated to the Bureau that M r. PE CK is a well known flyer as well as M r. DAL Y and both are known to be very reliable and responsible people, and it appears definite that they observed som ething. The above is being subm itted for the inform ation of the Bureau. L OTjIM R 100-1406 STA N D A RD FO RM N O . 64 O ffice l^A-emoTandum • united states go ver nm ent to : Director, FBI fr o m ; SA C, A lbany SU BJ ECT: ^FL Y ING DISCS A. COU RT M E Y /FARKE R, INFORM ANT Reurlet dated 9/25/47. DATE : Novem ber 1, 1947 An Agent of this office contacted M r. A. COU RTE SY PARKE R at his rosi- dence in South Royalton, V erm ont and he corning the flying discs he saw, is set Bureau dated Septem ber 17, 1947. stated that all the forth in the letter inform ation he has con­ that he sent to the M r. PARKE R advised that as far as he knows, no one else in South. Royalton saw these flying discs, and that he believes he saw them inasm uch as he has unusually good eyesight and that he can see bees, etc. further than anyone else. He stated that possibly these flying discs were out of the range of norm al vision. M r. PARKE R was asked to furnish any additional inform ation that cases to his attention concerning these flying disos directly to the Air Forces since they now handle m atters of this type U iAJORDO No further action is being taken by this office RCC :m f s 62-689 TN® E XE ® $ '^ iWv xa^k ^'^ A iSBk^ ar. Tolson________ M r. E . A- Nairin M r. Clegs_____ M r. OlavIn M r. L add ““ M r. Nichols M r. Rosen_____ M r. Tracy M x . E gan M r. Gurnea___ M r. Hario M T. M ohr M r. Pennington M r. Quinn Taran Tele. Roar M r. Neese M iss Gandy N ovember 1, 1947 A. LfcCaul 70-33 68th Place G lendale Brooklyn,N ew York Dear MrsU cCaul: 1947, has Your letter postmarked October 26 been received and I want to express my appreciation to you for having written as you did* Sincerely yours. John Edgar H oover Di rector NOTES This woman rambles on and furnishes no specific information about anything f VW Pt jfpl; COMMUNICATIONS SECTION ☆ M OV 3 1 947 P.M . FED ERA L BUREA U O F IN VESTIG A TIO N 4, 3 . D EP A RTMEN T O F JUSTIC E M R. JO N ES w 7 2 U9PM ’47 RECEIVE!) •RD RD M rs. M ilo A< Durand E lizabethtown, New Y ork Novem ber 10, 1947 Dear M rs. Durand: Y our letter postm arked Novem ber 5, 1947, has been received and I do want to thank you for writing as you did. The patriotic m otives which prom pted your suggestions concerning the subject about which you have written are indeed appreciated Sincerely yours, John E dgar Hoover Director 'S tasis 55555555. Tolson________ . E . A. Taco . Cleg '_________ . Olavin ■ L add -------- . Klcho^ZZZZ. Rosen_________ • ^acV . E gan__________ . Gurnea________ . Harbo_________ . L ohr______ . Pennington . Quinn Tam a Tele. Room ________ M r. Nease_________ M iss Gandy FED ERA L BUREA U O F IN VESTIG A TIO N U. 8. D EP A RTMEN T O F JUSTIC E COMMUNICATIONS SECTION M AILED 1 1 ☆ NOV 1 0 1 947 P.M . « November 8, 1947 ■ 'r, Joseph if^yniline 6071 69th Avenue Ridgewood Brooklyn 27, N eu York Dear H r, O nt U ne: Your letter dated November 2, 1947, has been received* The information contained in the files of this Bureau has been declared confidential and available for official uee only, and I an unable to be of any asstetance to you* I an sure you will draw no inference fron ny inability to comply with your request* Sincerely yours, John Edgar H oover Director . NOTE: This individual asked questions concerning " ftyVW saucers and the Bureau's investigation of Russians', Postal G uide reflects Ridgewood is a branch of the Brooklyn Station <^j ^ ^ 5 E 5 « 5 5 « ij Tolson C O MMW W C A TK^^ J E. A . Tfc Cleg' Glavin * L add Nichols' Rosen Tracy E gan-" Gurnea Harbo ” M AILED 1 2 fc NOV 8 1 947 p.M . W £»*i aiMUtf W MVtSIIG A nO N = U. S. MP M'MMI O f UfKJf Tele. Room U r. Nea^ JU ss Garriy ov^w Port Allegany, Pa* Novem ber 18, 1947. Federal Bureau of Invest!gallon, Pittsburgh, Pa* Gentlem ent Fallowing the appearance in this town on Novem ber 6, 1947, of a M r* JojH^pplncott. Director of the E astern Area, Red Cross, Pittsburgh, Pa., as "speaker of the evening", at the annual local Red Cross dinner, I was told by Dr* H. E ^Croinwell, local practicing dentist, that in a personal conversation, fallowing the dinner, M r* L ippincott told him that the "saucers" reported as seen In various parts of the country, were actually from Spain. He said that M r* L ippincott said that this had been ascertained by the Governm ent in Washington, but that it was not being m ade known. He said that M r* L ippincott had been in E urope and inferred that he had been in Spain and knew conditions over there. Dr. Crom well Is a m an active in the M ethodist Chruoh and the local Protestant M ens Club, and it Is easy to see how far this report can be spread. The fact that the Federal Governm ent Indorses the Red Cross m akes a statem ent of an official representative of that organisation alm ost indisputable. As a representative tka of the Federal Governm ent and as a citisen interested in truth and World peace and racial and religious harm ony in our own country, I question the advisability of an accredited representative of the Red Cross giving out this inform ation, even "off the record". I thought you m ight be able to check with M r. L ippin­ cott or his organization. V v- January 14, 1948 ^ la^^s w w ■ y®0°'**' Miss Marlon Beuscher 604 Teat Vain Street Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin Dear Miss Beuscher: Your letter of January 5, 1943, has been received and I want to thank you for forwardi ng i nformati on to me relating to the subject you mentioned. The facts you related, however, do not reflect any vi olati on of a Federal statute within the investi gati ve jurisdicti on of the FBI. The thoughts prompting your communication are indeed appreci ated. Sincerely yours, John Sdgar H oover Di rector NO TE: Correspondent reports co rresnondence she has had with the Ziff-D avis Publi shing Company in conn ecti on with the "flying saucers" which were observed by her brother. She is of the opinion that this publication may be trying to conceal informati on related to our Nation's security and she mentions a threat that does not refer injury to person or property. £ S' . Tolson_______ . E . A. Tam . Clegs . Glavln------------ . Nichols . Rosen • ‘racv _. E gan________’ . Gurnee_______ . Hario________ . 1‘ohr______ . Pennington . Quinn Tanzn__ Tele. Room V r. Nease_________ M iss Sandy E ?lftft?5ii < f£!fli5lflse? C UMMUN IC A TtO N S SEC TIO N M AILED 8 ☆ JAN 1 5 1 948 PM FED ERA L SO REA D O F tRVFSTKMTIO N U, 8. UtfA RIMlN f O f JUSTIC E < m m ;> 4 February 5, 1948 TBCORDE C Mr, H , J, Marshall Dural Doute One Covington, Ohio Dear Mr, Marshall: Your letter dated January 39, 1948, has been received, and I want to express ny appreci­ ation to you for having node known your views con cerning the natter younenttoned Sincerely yours. John Edgar H oover Director ^cj M r. Tolson M r. E . A- 1 M r. Clegg M r. Glavln M r. L aCC_ M r. NlchoB" 1 M r. Rosen_________ vr. TraCY M r. E gan__________ M r. Gurnea________ M r. Harbo M r. M ohr M r. Pennington M r. Quinn TanE i___ Tele. Room ________ M r. Neese_________ M iss Gandy ■ 1 FEB &" 1 948; P.m. rtD H W . BUREA US I«^« «. depar twem t of wm « ‘"‘^} '7 3(j 1 8 J .jM which It. tained in Bureau Bulletin No. 57, Series 1947, dated October 1, 1947, in * is indicated that all future reports connected with flying discs .rents the referred to the Air Force and no investigative action taken by B re * * Bureau \< requested to advise this office, as well as other in er to offices, as ~ whether there has been a change in Bureau P0^/ ™tobeT 1 1947 the handling of s_. m ^rs or whether Bureau Bulletin No. 57 dated October 1, in effect. .is still A HfRRY A KIM BAL L , SAC. V ery truly yours 0 CO PIES D E HM K :em t? E nclosure (ia duplicate) '^"1 WW 1' unS Inl’i^wjinHHDlja^N M AJ Q 1 O#0B1 XU #£IB#BX3 aA rnol#ne##A - Idl io#O9ixG :i!2 iaeG rwaolone ^ ^ ri '>•* to: SM n M il83 H81 ev 1 XA -xioa 2 aoi#0in#aax exi# o# viei#aoo ei* BQaiG -JKIY J’i : ©H X - ib##b& v#HxJoe2 enneoioae eirfT 6 01 0t IXA ESj^C bs^laU S-A roil-0B9 ri#H9V 01J ri#iuol 41G I <8/1 h3i3 3 OTA^To iBienev #aaaa#w exJio nox-j«gx#a9vnx erf# bh ibo xio o 21 lennoeioq eoioi ixA Teri# E aM olhal riolrfw xlleial eoioS ilA90H63 o# belle le iJiul el ox#ne##e inoY edeulbiooo erf IIlw E aoitfegxrfsevnl"#^# e9#eoxbHl rioxxiw /£> -M te—_ « bemeoroo eol^U eri# ri#lw i 9;^ ittM eri# niiantHr ex noli I eO S oaBXoaeii nsc 8^1 «SI vnsxnrfe? — J23-I ^fFsiiaM CoimH - Bb IIm t b# .eotrio siftt BBlvbs od b»j«*w?»i e* of eane’relBi Hdiw xoiXbo naBTuS ax o'U Xfria a need bbH snadd iBiiderfw ^ as aeo x-o ol£ axdellwa U BBt^ neiidfm 'w ip B^etd-^n dove, to §AXJV £6I <1 i9do#o0 he#4b V 2 toelle ax ££!#« ax bujo v vim # viev 31 to.. M E .JJAWL X <& Sieollqub *1) eineoloa eeKTIDSNTIAL Headquarters Air Defense Com m and M itchel Air Force Base, New Y ork 4 February 1948 D 333.5 (CIB) SU BJE CT: Investigation and Reporting of "Flying Disc" Incidents TO: Com m anding Generals, First, Second, Fourth, Tenth, E leventh, and Fourteenth Air Forces, Air Defense Com m and ATTN: AC of S, A-2 1. The num bered air forces of this com m and are responsible for the prom pt investigation and reporting of incidents relating to "flying discs" which occur within their respective areas. Num bered air force A-2s, after evaluating disc incidents, will determ ine the extent of investigation. Futile expenditure of m ilitary funds and m anpower m ust be avoided. 2 . "Flying discs" will be investigated as provided for in Counter Intelli­ gence Incident Cases, taking cognizance of the U SAF Operating Intelligence E chelon structure. Where it is evident that witnesses, who were together at the tim e of incident but who are widely separated at the tim e of investigation would corroborate each other’s story, only one witness need be interrogated. If there is a reasonable indication that a reported incident is a hoax or the fabrication of a publicity seeking individual, no further investigative effort will be expended. However, a report of such circum stances will be subm itted to the FBI office concerned. a. CIC personnel attached to the num bered air forces of this com m and m ay be utilized to prosecute the investigation of subject incidents. b. Investigations will be coordinated with the FBI Office concerned in accordance with instructions contained in letter, thia headquarters, D 333.3 E X, subject, "Cooperation of FBI with AAF on Investigation of ’flying Disc’ Incidents," 3 Septem ber 1947. 3, Reports will be narrative in style and will cover only those facts pertinent to the subject. Where source credibility cannot be established, or when an incident lacks foundation, the report will m erely state sam e. Two types of report will be subm itted on all incidents. a. Spot Reports (fragm entary reports) will be subm itted on all incidents and will be followed by a L etter Report. b. L etter Reports will be subm itted to report the com pleted investigation of all "flying disc" incidents. 4. Reports will be subm itted in duplicate prom ptly, usually be regular m ail. However, Spot reports on incidents of substantial character, i. e., those in which the patent credibility of the witness is beyond challenge and whos# technical e nclosure backgrou is com patible with his observations of an occurrence obviously not atno- spheric c> celestial phenom ena, m ay be transm itted by TWX, Reports will be subm itted directly to Headquarters, U SAF, ATTN: Directorate of Intelligence, Air Intelligence Requirem ents Branch. One inform ational copy of each report subm itted will be for­ warded to this com m and, ATTN: AC of S, Intelligence. Reports will be classified at least CONFIDE NTIAL . BY COM M AND OF L IE U TE NANT GE NE RAL STRATE M E Y E R: RICHARD W. GE U SS Captain, U SAF Aotg Asst Adj Gen RGF:rb SE CU RITY M ATTE R - X W EN T O f JUSTIP f San FranciscoSAC inform ation which the Air Forces volunteer M r. Tolson M r. L add M r. Nichola M r. Rosen M r. Tracy m . E gan M r. Gurnea M r. Harbo M r. M ohr U r. Pennington Tele. ur. Nease M iss COMMU February 20, 1948 ■sector, FBI i L Y ING DISCS February 12 , 1948 Reference is m ade to your letter in the captioned m atter dated Y ou are advised that Bureau Bulletin No. 57 dated October 1 1947, still applies with respect to flying discs no investigations concerning flying discs The Bureau is conducting We will, however, give the Air Forces any inform ation which com es to our attention and will receive any The Headquarters of the Air Forces in Washington are being contacted by the Bureau in order to insure that there is no m isunderstanding as to the Bureau’s position in this m atter M r. E . A. Tara M r. Clegg_________ M r. Glavin M r. Quinn NATIONS SECTION ( MAILED ~ OF investigatio n I Feb 21 2wPin8 RECEIVEO-MAIL ROOM FBI J.S. DEP’ "r ;TICF SE CU RITY M ATTE R - X DATE : 3/1/48 U NITE D STATE S GOV E RNM E NT M r. Tolson ________ M r. E . A. TaSn________ M r. Clegs_____________ Kr. Coffey____________ M r. Glavln_x________ M r. L add__________ M r. NlchoTT^ZZZZZM r. Rosen_____________ M r. Tracy_____________ M r. Carson____________ M r. E gan______________ M r. Jurnea__________ M r. Hendon__________ M r. Pennlnglon"“r' M r. Quinn Tele, ho M r. M as Reference is m ade to a m em orandum to you from M r. J. P. Coyne in the above-captioned m atter datpd February 19, 1948. The m em orandum indicated that the San Francisco Field Division had received a letter from the headquarters of the Air Defense Com m and, M itchel Air Force Base, New Y ork, dated February 4, 1948, entitled, "Investigation and Reporting of ’Flying Disc’ Incidents.” This conBnunication indicated that investigations should be coordinated with the FBI. The Agent in Charge of the San Francisco Field Division inquired as to a change in policy regarding the investigation of flying discs. A letter was forwarded to San Francisco advising them that there had been no change in the Bureau's policy. This m atter has been discussed by Special Agent S. W. Reynolds of the L iaison Section with L ieutenant Colonel C. P. M artin of the Intelligence Division of the Air Force. Colonel M artin advised M r. Reynolds that apparently the Air Defense Com m and at M itchel Field was not aware of the fact that the Bureau was no longer conducting investigations regarding flying discs. He stated that he would take the necessary action and straighten out the Air Defense Com m and as to the present policy regarding ..incidents of 29 ^ 9^48 1 //tJT ^U^^^^l 1 r * n * <7 STA N D A RD FO RM N O . 84 Office Memorandum U NITE D STATE S GOV E RNM E NT TO FRO M SU BJECT: 3 M r. D. M . L add J. P. Co I FL Y ING DI^ SE CU RITY M ATTE R - X . f1/> The attached 1< date: February 19. 1948 E rf Tolson the San Francisco Field Division •dated February 12 , 1948, raises the question as to whether there has been a change in policy concerning the investigation of flying discs KF. Cleg-_____: E r. Coffey M r. Slaving” M r. L add U r. Nichols M r. Rosen"” M r. Tracy M r. Cars-? E r. E gan______ M r. Gurnee M T. H®P*"SZE r. PdnnlrigwflJ M ry'Qulnn 7a.-r Tele, koocn___/ M F RE COM M E NDATION:, It is recom m ended that the inform ation contained in the attached ^letter be discussed by the L iaison Section with the Air Forces. ACTION: A letter is attached to San Francisco advising them that there has been no change in Bureau policy, M AJ* U i. STOP RGF;rb ^scoKDid ££rjb^.?y_ / ^^_ ^ ^ 29 “R 9j948 ' * M aO C H A N G O RN EY . STY L ES BRID G ES, N . H „ C H A IRMA N D A K. C . W A Y L A N O BRO O K*S, IL L . C L Y D E M. REED , »$A N ^. JO SEP H H . BA L L , MIN N . H O MER FERG USO N , MIC H ., KEN N ETH S. W H ERRY , N EBR. G UY C O RD O N , G REG . L EVERETT SA L TO N STA L L , MA SS. MIL TO N R. Y O UN G , N . D A K. W IL L IA M F. KN O W L A N D , C A L IF. H EN RY C . D W O RSH A K, ID A H O KEN N ETH MC KEL L ^^TEN N . C A RL H A Y D EN , A RIZ. EL MER TH O MA S, O KL A . MIL L A RD E. TY D IN G S, MD . RIC H A RD B. RUSSEL L , G A . P A T MC C A RRA N . N EV. JO H N H . O VERTO N , L A . JO SEP H C . O MA H O N EY , W Y O . TH EO D O RE FRA N C IS G REEN , R. I. ^Crutch Ciales Senate C O MMITTEE O N A P P RO P RIA TIO N S EVERA RD H . SMITH , C L ERK C EC IL H . TO L BERT, A SST. C L ERK M arch 22, 1948 Honorable J. E dgar Hoover, Director Federal Bureau of Investigation Departm ent of Justice Washington 2 5, D. C. Dear M r. Hoover: Attached you will find letter which m ay or m ay not be of interest to your office. However, I felt it should be passed on to you for whatever the inform ation is worth Kindly return m y constituent’s letter although if you wish you m ake a copy of it Cordially yours, KSW:em n-3 E nc RE CORDE D [ L _S^ & I’" 13 INDE XE D 31 M AR 2? 194p c 0 p Y Benke Iman, Nebraska March 14, 1948 Mr, Kenneth Wherry U nited States Senate Washington, D, C, Dear Mr. Wherry: O n March 13 at 2:30, M.S.T. o’clock in the afternoon I witnessed a strange sight in the sky traveling at a very high rate of speed at a very high altitude. I was first attracted to this sight by a noise of motor or whatever it was. It sound__ to me like that of a train rumbling in the distance of from 10 to 12 miles on a still day, At first glance it looked like it might be a vapor trail left by a high flying plane, But the white streak that was in the sky never changed its shape or did it change in the directi on of travel, It traveled much faster than any plane I have seen traveling in sky high enough to leave vapor trai1, As near as I can describe this sight was that it might appear to be a stream lined train traveling at a very high altitude at very high rate of speed. This rocket or whatever it might have been was high enough to disappear from sight while it was yet very far above the horizon, I am not writing this so that it might seem to be another disc, fan or whatever you might call them, I just saw this and it has been on my mind and I thought if there was anything that I could be of help to solve this thing I would write this to you and you can forward this to the proper Dept, if it is necessary, Thanking you kindly Yours Truly P.S, This object looked like /s/ Kenneth Lu Frasier E NCL OSU RE ^ 7 . * > 5 ^ / y was traveling from east to west it might have traveled over Den 0 p Y KENNETH L. FRAZIER « Colo, or a little to the south. I live almost due east about 160 mi. by air and I looked to the south a little to be able to get sight of object. This object was also witnessed by my son who was with me at the time. I saw the smoke cloud left by so called meteor which exploded over at Norton_Kans. This object was not a bright ball of fire like it was. The silver streak in the sky traveled as if it were a long connected streak. This did nat resemble a line of smoke left by a train traveling along it moved altogether as a unit. If it is not against any regulation and if possible would like to have answer to this object. C 0 March 24, 1946 rECORDBO H onorable Kenneth Mt Therry U nited States Senate Washington, D, C, My dear Senators Your letter of March 22, 1948, with enclosure, hae been received. Since the subject matter mentioned in your con­ stituent's letter is not within the scope of authority of this Bureau, I have taken the liberty of forwarding a copy of his letter and yours to the Secretary of the Army, national Defense Building, Washing­ ton, D, C,, for his information. Your thoughtfulness in bringing this to my attention is indeed appreciated, I am enclosing a copy of my letter to Mr, Frasier which I thought you might like to have for your files, together with hie letter. Wtth expressions of my highest esteem and best regards, Sincerely yours, Kfl^ar Hoover.- U r. Tolson U r. E . A. Taran U r. Clege_____‘ U r. Slavin MT. U r, IM F. L add Nichols' Rosen Tracy H * - Jurnea _ '. Harbo_____ • . Y ohr ’. PenningE on • . Quian Taran’ • le. Room ___ 2 . r^ase ss Sandy COMMUNICATIONS VSteTtfM M AI LED 3 Enclosure Incoming from Frasier and copy, of our letter to VWPtJec- FEI SA L BUREA U O F IN VESTIG A TIO N z^/J- & depar tm ent o f justice «. ^.^d s'' ^d'^q ^ - ; € g 3 j ^ ^ L jfr*4Arm iwJJAu-.’l'iM .^JC 4».U March 24, 1048 RECORDED li^ Mr. Kenneth L. Procter Benkelman, N ebraska Dear Mr. Frasier: Your letter dated March 14, 1948, to the H onorable Kenneth 8. Wherry, U nited States Senator, has been referred to me for attention. Since the matter you mentioned is not within the scope of authority of this Bureau, I have taken the liberty of furnish­ ing a copy of your communication to the Secretary of the Amy, N ational Defense Building, Washington, D. C., and in the event you have any additional information, it is suggested you may desire to communicate with him. Sincerely yours, J, Sdgar Hoover John Kdgar H oover Director CC: Senator Wherry Ctn*^ • Nameof town per Postal G uide VWPijec Tolson_______ E . A. Tam Clegg_________ Glavln L add Nichols Rosen_________ Tracy E gan___ Gurnea Harbo_________ ':ohr_______ PonnTnrTorT^Z Qulan Tam . Tele. Room ________ M r. Neese 5 5 5 5 5 15 65 5 5 5 5 5 ^/ COMM ATlONS SECTION ☆ M AR 25 1 948 pfT’ Fir -SA L 8UKtA U O F rN VtSTlC H H O N U. 8. D EP A RTH EN T O F JUSTIC E Wpl APR 7-1 948 ^^.^ *”>' ^^ A^?" - L T ^- ^^■^- • 1 z^„ v?^ . { ' -w W MisrM* •■JxiA c.iJ? jW H * i j«w k io »^w -iia^U • W^AI^ STY L ES BRID G ES, N . H . C H A N G URN tY . S. D A K. C . W A Y L A N D BRO O KS, IL L . C L Y D E M. REED , KA N S. JO SEP H H . BA L L , MIN N . H O MER FERG USO N , MIC H . KEN N ETH S. W H ERRY , N EBR. G UY C O RD O N , O REG . L EVERETT SA L TO N STA L L . MA SS. MIL TO N R. Y O UN G , N . D A K. W IL L IA M F. KN O W L A N D , C A L IF. H EN RY C . D W O RSH A K, ID A H O C H A IF KEN N ETH MC C A RL H A Y O EF EL MER TH O M MIL L A RD E. T RIC H A RD B. RI P A T MC C A RRA L , N EV. JO H N H . O VERTO N . L A . JO SEP H C . O MA H O N EY , W Y O . TH EO D O RE FRA N C IS G REEN , R. EVERA RD H . SMITH , C L ERK C EC IL H . TO L BERT, A SST. C L ERK 9 QICnH eb Elates ^ertaie C O MMITTEE O N A P P RO P RIA TIO N S April 1, 19h8 The Honorable J. E dgar Hoover Federal Bureau of Investigation U nited States Departm ent of Justice Washington 2 ^, D. C. Dear M r. Hoover: Tk^ank you very m uch for forwarding M r. Kenneth iSFrasier^ letter to the proper authorities. Y our cooperation in this instance was deeply appreciated. tfWKXT70 $£ Ahr 9 ig48 5 0 A P R 19 W w»i«ai bureau of inurstigU llU «t Minted States department of Sustire Post Office Box 1850 Atlanta 1, Georgia August 10, 1948 A IRMA IL SPECIA L DELIVERY Director, FBI Dear Sir: RE : M RS. M ADE L INE GWY NN^E E OHANT; INFORM ATION CONCE RNING Tlf/fl& disc-3 Transm itted, herewith for the Bureau's inform ation are copies of a letter, together with enclosure, from the above captioned, individual. Inasm uch as there is no record in this office concerning captioned person, no reply has been m ade to instant letter, with the thought the Bureau m ay desire to acknow­ ledge instant com m unication or com m unicate further concerning the m atter with the Dallas Office. For the inform ation of the Bureau and the Dallas and San Antonio Offices, the clippings referred to are transm itted herewith to the Bureau, Dallas and San Antonio Offices, it being noted that Wichita Falls is covered by Dallas and Fort Sam Hous­ ton is covered by the San Antonio Office. E nclosures - S cc-Dallas (E nc-3) AM SD cc-San Antonio (E nc-3) AM SD E JF:SL - D io. vl ^8Kt 1 6 1 > *1 1 w #^ ip nuiA»o wtFwn Hue 17 9 3f WERNAL SECURITY SR F B I S OEP* nF JUSTICE Gu-gew ynpougo (■300-3) VWS’) ' ’ ’A’" co-DS/yera (pwc-a) .-^D ' I , ?ucj 36rn.Ge - 9 - ASIA fJUTjl lOfrxa* POD 78 COAK Vig pl fp© SEW ^upOOTO O^tT0®* nopeg pyup AWK® b?TT® T® coASiag pi dejj^s sug joxp cub yajje- yGXGwgpp 4:0 pye sflxesn’ dhjjhb vug 3&P yr^oujo OlV0®8* V psp* 28p yupoujo ottJc®®* £P® cjjbbjutia xe^axxag po au pwiimpppGg jpx pp© jdxoxbi^tob O’ pvG gnxesrrr rag puo D^jjba eng ^« QS^pex M-pp ppe owTr°a OtlT#®* j«g%e fnapvsf oO>n»rnTfGC>.p$Qtf ox GOBiiun^o&fG vrxfpbx g6#c»xvjdS jnejwf j6fCGX‘ ^TTp FF® .eporf^jp ^pe pnxGsrr asl gearx,© j?o s^ojoa- O^^go® copcsiqat Ge^f^onGg beteo^* no xebjA pre peep wye ^0 p^^gouag gyggA^girFj'’ prsroMrcp pa £p#re ge no xsGO&g jv £FTS cobjaa o^ sr jeppex’ fo€.epp‘ v°® FP® s'poxo jittmrffeq pglomt^p £ox py© gffxswrje 7D%oxw&pqon na D®— 2TI-1 mojnraio&coHcwjM. WH2* XTTIHTO GWE& ^: DTX.BGpox* £31 fiBHVir^a^STf? dstlikbi Ynkfrap jq* fdxs y$j«i£p I* (j6oxST» L0^^ OUTG® 30X npo [C Fortr.-Jio. 10 -513 (Rev 1 A ug 46) ^ 6 A VE H EA D QUA RTERS AIR M ATERIEL COM M AND W F-L -25 N O V 47 10 O M D ECLASSIFIED Authority : NND 90986 IN REP L Y A D D RESS BO TH C O MMUN IC A TIO N A N D EN - VEL O P E TO C O MMA N D IN G G EN ERA L , A I R MA TERIEL C O MMA N D , A TTEN TIO N FO L L O W IN G O FFIC E SY MBO L : M CIAXO-J M CIAXD-j/FWA/aw Wright-Patterson. AF Base W M9ac0 seaeR3 omx9ttt9c 9 Septem ber 19^8 Director Federal Bureau of Investigation Departm ent of Justice Washington, D. C. ATTN: FBI L aboratory SU BJE CT: Project "SIGN" Gentlem en: Accom panying thia letter is a sm all sam ple of soil. This soil, was taken from a depression reputed to have been caused by a "flying saucer'1 described as being approxim ately two feet in diam eter and one foot thick which supposedly settled gently to the ground, rebounded to a height of about twenty feet and then continued on its journey. Although the declivity was im m edi­ ately covered by a large wash tub a heavy rain subsequently filled ( the depression about one/third full of water before any sam ple of dirt could be taken. m ine In an effort to approach this incident objectively to deter- every possible clue, it has been deem ed advisable to have this soil sam ple analyzed and tested. U pon inquiry, your Dayton representative stated that the E BI L aboratory would accom plish the required tests. 5 pECOW*” ’1 It is the desire of this E_ — —----------— — ------------^ _—__ s to-aseeFtain, in parti­ cular, if there are traces of unusual V Cem er&S or Alloys adhering to the surface of the particles, ortlf ^y ibnhAkality in structure exists showing that the soil was subjected to intense heat, gases or radio-active substances, etc. U nfortunately, in this regard, no one thought to forward a sam ple of-the-Wf^i'-surrounding the de­ pression so no com parison of soils can be m ade at this tim e. Should the subsequent test show anything unusual som e arrangem ent could be m ade to procure som e of the surrounding soil so that a com parative analysis could be m ade. The accom panying sanrole has not been test— 270 NOV 18 1% 4 Project "SIGN" Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation 9 Sept 19^ In the event the tests scow nothing warranting further investiga­ tion you m ay dispose of the sam ple. The report should he addressed to this Com m and m arked for the attention of M CIAJD-J* This Division will appreciate your cooperation in this m atter. V ery truly yours. Incl W. R. Coloni ^/^^s^r Chief, Technical Intelligence Division Intelligence Departm ent 2 REP O RT of the LA BO RA TO RY ___A FED ERA L BUREA U O F IN VESTIG A TIO N W A SH IN G TO N D . C . O ctober 7, 1948 Corananding General A ir Materiel Caaaand W right-Patterson A F Base Dayton, O hio A ttention: MCIA XO -3 There fallows the report of the FBI Laboratory on the of evidence received from your office on S nation in Edgar H oover, D irector YOU R FILE NO. FBI FILE NO. LAB. NO. Exa™,*.’^’**' *r Reference: Examination requested: RECORD ED . 98 £*52^ Specimens: Letter dated September 9# 1948 01 Sample of soil, Results of Rianinationt The sarplo of eoil designated as specimen 01 consisted of various sised elements or alloys adhering to the surface of the particles, evidence of intense heat and radioactive substances* N othing unusual was noted on the pebbles or in the sand and dirt that would indicate a metallic object had rubbed #• Inst this sample* N o £: e?jlW— abnormality was noted in the structure of the and rooks, nor Si ^|fiK= was there any indication of extreme heat or the presence' 'Radioactive sub- M r. Nichols — stances.M r. Rosen M r. E gan 2 -s ’ ’' . £• % ™»------ Ths speoiosQ designated as 01 will be retuMM to your office under M r. PennTngfon^_ separate cover by registered nail M r. Quinn Tann___ Tele. Room M r. M ease_________ M iss Gandy RHJ/m ek L-.40 L aboratory work Sheet M CIAXO-3 Result of E xam ination: Specim ens subm itted for exam ination Be: Project ’’SIGN" E xam ination of Soil. File L ab. PC-23142 CO RE CORDE D sag 270- N FE DE RAL BU RE AU OF INV E STIGA U NITE D STATE S DE PARTM E NT OF JU STICE Attention: JE V ONSE xam ination by: 9/22/48 E xam ination requested by: Com m anding General, Air haterlei XXX AF Base, Dayton, Ohio Date of reference com m unication: letter 9/9 E xam ination requested: QI, Sam ple of soil Sxm 62 -83894-146 Com m and, Wright-Patterson Date received: 9/17 M icro (Petrographic-Geologic) E vid. 9/14 Reg.1171535 COPIE S DE STROY E D DE RAL BU RE AU OF INV E STIG 1TE D STATE S DE PARTM E NT OF ; RECO RDED 9/22/43 kag Re: Project -SIGS” Examination of Soil, L aboratory Work Sheet E xam ination requested by: Commanding General, A ir Materiel Coosand, W rignt-Patterson lit A F Base, Dayton, O hio A ttention! 3CIA XO -3 Date of reference com m unication: ot r g/g Date received; 9/17 A vid. 9/14 Reg.1171535 E xam ination requested: jaiero (Petro, raphis-Oeologio) Result of E xam ination: E xam ination by; «JEW SS QI, Sample of soil. 52 ^2 ^ VaJ^^, n- &. &<&■ ivf/ 9 y f h o r ded ■ $ *OCT 22«« O ctober 19, 1948 Valley City, N orth Dakota Dear Mrs. H oliday: Y our lett r dated O ctober 15, 1948, has been received and I do vaat to thank you for the patriotic motives which prompted you to make available your thoughts concerning thesubject you nentioned Sincerely yours. Director ZBI: inh. COMMUNICATIONS SECTION 7 ® / W . 1W M»___ *• cum Mr. O la?IEr~~ »• l*m_~ZZ Mr. N ict»lS2~ Mr. RO MP Mr. Tracy_______ m t. t8«>________Mr. O urnaa__ Mr. H arbo ~~“ Mr. Mohr________ Mr. P ennTncW E Mr. Quinn Tam_ Tele. Roo«__ Mr. Soane_______ Mlar O endy M AILED 1 3 OCT 20 1 948 p.m. FED ERA L BUREA U O F IH VEStlG A TIO N U. S. D EP A RTMEN T O F JUSTIC E )V 241 948 i rbEb* 1 3 cm s^ub^ rfLC£MtD-r RECEIVED-LADO x FBI U 3. DEPT. OF JUSHCE l-j# Date October 7, 1948 • ice of Contents from BU RE AU OF INV E STIGATION -orilNGTON, D. C. Case References 62-833945—Project "SIGN " Consigned to: _______,, _COM HnRttng_Oeneral Air M ateriel Com m and SK Eunination of Soil Wright-Pattdrson AF Base-------------------------------- _. . _ Attention* M CIAXO-3L ist of ContentsDayton, Ohio COMMUNICATIONS SECTION ma ile d 1 $ OCT Op-8 1 948 px PC-23142 CO Mr. H arbo, 7641 ftO ERA l BUREA U O f IN VESH flA TIO N 3 . O EP A RTMEN T o f justice Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. Conrad, 7142 ____ Downing, 6228 IB ____ Siaoo, 7601 J Baughman, 712(1 . RBGISTE RFD’AIL SPE CIAL INSTRU CTIONS: M ail Room , place date of shipm ent and registry num ber; Shi ate of shipm ent a ight. After this nvoice; s been then return it to person whose nam e is checked , show n colum n at Rooso initialled, invoice should be placed in adm inistrative file. I, L OS ANGE L E S FED ERA L BUBC A U O F IN VESTIG A TIO N U. S. D EP A RTMEN T O f JUSTIC E C O MMUN IC A TIO N S SEC TIO N 281948 12-28-43 DIRE OR AND SACS HOU STON, CINCINNATI U RGE NT M r. Tolson................ M r. Clegg .—... M r. Giavin................ M r. L add.............. M r. Nichols.............. Bosca.............. Tracy................. ___E gan............... Cvi'l M r. Barbo ............... M r. M ohr ............... M r. Pennington ... ATTENTION INSPECTOR HOWARD FLETCHER FL Y ING DISK, L ONNIE E DWARD>NOACK COM PL AINT. RE DE C. TWE NTY E IGHT. M R. R.C. PE RSONS, V ASCO M ^WC E L E CTRIC COM PANY , L A, PRE SE NTL Y IN ARIZONA, E XACT WHE RE ABOU TS U NKNOWN TO HIS OFFICE , E XPE CTE D TO CAL L M ORNING OF DE C. TWE NTY NINE . M R. NATHAN ^\SM ITH, SM ITH M ANU FACTU RING COM PANY , SOU TH PASADE NA, CAL IF. ADV ISE D HE S . AND PE RSONS PU RCHASE D AIRPORT IN M OJAV E DE SE RT NE AR HE L E NDAL E , CAL IF. STATE D THAT IN E ARL Y PART OF DE C. E XACT DATE U NKNO^, PE RSONS ADV ISE D HIM HE . HAD FOU ND A FL Y ING DISK ON THE IR AIRPORT. M R. AND M RS M ITH, PE RSONS, AND L ONNIE 7WOACK PROCE E DE D TO AIRPORT WHE RE THE Y L OCATE D DISK, TOOK PICTU RE S OF IT AND RE M OV E D M K PORTIONS OF DISK, NOACK RE TAINING SOM E PARTS AND SM ITH KE E PING SOM E PORTIONS WHICH ARE STIL L IN HIS POSSE SSION. SM ITH AD.V ISE D THAT DAY AFTE R L OCATING^HE DISK AN E M PL OY E E OBSE RV E D PARTS RE TAINE D BY SM ITH, AND STATE D HE BE L IE V E D THE OBJE CT HAD BE E N M ANU FACTU RE D BY OL SE N AND RICE M ANU FACTU RING COM PANY , TOY M ANU FACTU RE RS L A. SM ITH STATE D HE THE N CONTACTE D OL SE N AND RICE WHO STATE D THE Y WE RE FIN­ ANCING CL AU DE L E RO^OL FE RT L A IN DE V E L OPING A KITE FOR M M » SAL E ON OPE N M ARKE T OL SE N AND RICE OL SE N AND RICE AS A TOY . SM ITH STATE D HE HAD PRE V IOU SL Y GIV E N PE RSM ISSION TO U SE HIS PRIV ATE AIRPORT AT ANY TIM E TOL D SM ITH THE Y HAD TAKE I^XPE RIM E NTAL KITE S TO SM ITHS E ND PAGE ONE t,O#5 W RECORI IND 6 ’DEC 3^948 Z . 'lU v.mW' KHM M Vi JAWSOJI IhKD I W ^WlflM p 2 b Hanoi; ZWHTWJHilMW 8&P3S 030 im:ii4&I3 T PAGE TWO AIRPORT AND U PON DE TE RM ING KITE S NOT PRACTICAL HAD ABANDONE D THE PROJE CT. SM ITH STATE D HE HAD TAKE N SIXTE E N M M PICTU RE S WHICH ARE PRE SE NTL Y BE ING DE V E L OPE D. STATE D WOU L D M AKE PICTU RE S AND PARTS FROM OBJE CT AV AIL ABL E TO THIS OFFICE . SM ITH DE SCRIBE D OBJE CT AS APPROXIM ATE L Y SIX FE E T IN DIA­ M E TE R, CONSISTING OF DISK M OU NTE D ON AXE L WITH BE ARINGS, WINGS ON E ITHE R SIDE , TAIL SU RFACE SU PPORTE D ON BOOM S, CU P M OU NTE D ON E ACH WING TIP RE SE M BL ING ROCKE T POWE R CONTAINE RS. SM ITH STATE D DID NOT OBSE RV E ANY CHE M ICAL OR OTHE R M ATTE RIAL IN CONTAINE RS WHICH COU L D BE U SE D AS SE L F PROPE L L ING FORCE . M R. HE NRY T.\r ICE OF OL SE N AND RICE M AN­ U FACTU RING COM PANY ADV ISE D CL AU DE L E ROY WOL FE RT FINANCE D BY THE IR COM PANY IN DE V E L OPING TOY KITE , THAT WOL FE RT HAD PROACHE D IDE A OF M AKING L ARGE M ODE L TO BE U SE D AS TOW TARGE T FOR AIRPL ANE S BU T RICE DE CIDE D THAT HE M AKE‘ONL Y KITE SU ITABL E FOR SAL E AS TOY S. M M M K HOWE V E R, WOL FE RT M ADE L ARGE M ODE L APPROXIM ATE L Y SIX FE E T IN DIAM E TE R, WE IGHING FIFTY POU NDS, WHICH TOGE THE R WITH OTHE R M ODE L HAD BE E N FL OWN IN DC THRE E OWNE D BY OL SE N AND RICE TO PRIV ATE AIRPORT OF WWNW«( PE RSONS AND SM ITH. RICE COU L D NOT RE CAL L E XACT DATE , BU T MM- STATE D W K IT WAS IN E ARL Y PART OF DE C. RICE STATE D DIFFICU L TIE S E NCOU NTE RE D IN FL IGHT OF KITE , AND THAT IN V IE W OF SIZE OF L ARGE M ODE L IT WAS NE CE SSARY TO TOW IT BE HIND PL ANE TO OBSE RV E FL IGHT. STATE D M ODE L CRASHE D AND OL SE N AND RICE ABANDONE D E XPE RIM E NT L E AV ING AIRPORT WITH WOL FE RT RE M AINING BE ­ HIND TO CONDU CT FU RTHE R E XPE RIM E NTS. RICE STATE D DID NOT KNOW THAT WOL ­ FE RT HAD L E FT THE L ARGE M ODE L AT THIS AIRPORT U NTIL ADV ISE D BY SM ITH E ND PAGE TWO ^Vl'^f1 ^ ^^ PAGE THRE E THAT THE Y HAD FOU ND THE OBJE CT. CONTACT WIL L BE AND WOL FE RT, TO SE CU RE PHOTOGRAPHS AND SAM PL E S. HOOD E ND A IN ORDE R PL S A 7-45 PM OK FBI WASH DC WjR HKHM U M KVKBH H6M R OK FBI HO U ICF CI OK FBI CI JW M ADE WITH SM ITH, RICE , BU RE AU WIL L BE ADV ISE D CISC > - REC EIVED TEL ETY P E UN IT D ec ZD 7 w PH NO F.8.I. D EP T. O F JUSTIC E m o IT) r U NITE D STATE S GOV E RNM E NT TO M R. D. M . L ADD date. Decem ber 2 8, 1948 : H. B. FL E TCHE R subject: FL U NG DISCS FRO M M r. Tolson _ M r. Clegg__ M r. Glavln M r. ^add M r . Nichols' M r. Rosen__ M i. Tracy__ M r. E gan M i M T ;urnea________ Her bo_________ At fOO a.m . today, SAC Willis, Houston, called in and stated that Fuller/^lackwell, a business m an in Houston, Texas, had furnished certain pictures taken by a friend of his, L onnie^Noack of the Hum boldt Oil Com pany, Houston, Texas, and had related that Noack had been flying with a friend in a private plane from California to Houston and that ata M r. “ohr — M r. Pennington _ M r. Quinn Twa®___ Tele. Room ________ M r. Nease_________ M iss Holies.______ M iss Gandy________ point about 30 m iles east of L one Pine, California, som e object lying on the ground m ade a very strong reflection and they m ade a check to determ ine what would cause this bright reflection. They finally landed the plane and found an object which could be described as being 8’ in diam eter with wings about 4’ long. The object is about 1* in thickness and in the center there appears to be som e type of gyroscope. The wings apparently are fitted with som e type of jet propulsion. An exam ination was m ade by Noack and his friend and they could find no identifying m arks and took photographs of the object they observed. SAC Willis stated he had inform ed L ieutenant Robert Flem ing of the AAF, E llington Field, and Captain Bush, the Arm y representative in Houston, of this object and that Noack would be interviewed that m orning in the Houston Office with L ieutenant Flem ing being present. L ieutenant Flem ing wanted the statem ents of Noack taken down by a stenographer and he will furnish the stenographer for that purpose. I instructed SAC Willis to furnish com plete details of this m atter by air m ail special delivery, including a copy of the photograph. I further instructed that he furnish the sam e details to the proper field office because unquestionably the Bureau would want to run this thing out. After talking with you, I phoned SAC Willis back and told him to HBFicm w insure the presence of a Bureau Agent at the tim e this object was exam ined by the Arm y Air Forces and that he should m ake proper arrangem ents with the office in California to see that an Agent was present of the developm ents. I also told him to advise m e 5 3 JAN 7 JA N 4 caCT™ FBI/HOU STON FED ERA L BUREA U O F IN VESTIG A TIO N A U. S. D EP A RTMEN T O F JUSTIC E " C O MMUN IC A TIO N S SEC TIO N D EC 2 81 teletype 12-28-48 1-12 PM CST M r. Tolson- M r. Clegg—. M r. Glsvln... M r. L iv’d E P IRE CTOR, SACS CINCINNATI AND L OS ANGE L E S U RGE NT E NTION I L Y ING PE CTOR HOWARD FL E TCHE R K. L ONNIE E DWARKNOACK, COM PL AINANT. COM PL AINANT M r. I 4.. M r. Gurnei M r. E arbo ^M r. M ohr M r. Pennington...... M r. Quinn Tam m . M r. Nease............... M ies Gandy—........ RE SIDING TWO NINE TWO ONE CHICAGO STRE E T, HOU STON, CONTACTE D THIS OFFICE DE CE M BE R TWE NTY SE V E NTH ON CAPTIONE D M ATTE R AND IN SIGNE D STATE M E NT TODAY SU BM ITTE D THE FOL L OWING. NOACK, E M PL OY E DlAS A M ACHINIST BY HU M BL E OIL COM PANY , HOU STON, L E FT HOU STON BY COM M E RCIAL AIRL INE DE CE M BE R FIFTH L AST ON BU SINE SS FOR HOL L Y WOOD, CAL IF. ON M ONDAY , DE CE M BE R SIXTH, CONTACTE D R.C, PE RSON, FOU R ONE ONE SIX AV AL ON BL V D., L A., AN ACQU AINTANCE , WHO RE M ARKE D OF HAV ING SE E N ON THAT DATE SOM E DISTANCE FROM HOL L Y WOOD IN A DE SE RT ARE A, WHAT APPE ARE D TO BE A FL Y ING DISK. PE RSON OPE RATE S V ASCO E L E CTRICAL M ANU FACTU RING CO., L A ADAM S FIV E TWO E IGHT ONE ON DE CE M BE R SE V E NTH, NOACK, PE RSON, AND M R. AND M RS. NATHAN SM ITH, ONE NAU GHT FIV E SOU TH PASADE NA AV E ., SOU TH PASADE NA, CAL IF., DE PARTE D BY PRIV ATE L Y OWNE D AU TOM OBIL E IN SE ARCH OF DISK. SAM E L OCATE D APPROXIM ATE L Y ONE HU NDRE D AND FIFTY M IL E S NORTHE AST OF PASADE NA AND ABOU T TWE NTY M IL E S NORTHE AST OF L ONE PI^, CAL IF. PE RSON, SM ITH, AND NOACK TOOK PHOTOGRAPHS OF DISK SPE E DGRAPHIC CAM E RAS. THE NOACK FIL M WAS E IGHHIIL KM E TE RS IN SIZE ^- AND CAM E RA M ADE BY RE V E RE JAN 4 1 949 DISK L OCATE D DE SE R^RE A NE AR NINE HU NDRE D! ACRE S OF L AND OWNE D BY PE RSON AS PRIV ATE AIRFIE L D. NOACK HAD HIS FIL DE V E L OPE D BY E ASTM AN KODAK COM PANY AT U NKNOWN ADDRE SS L OS PAL M AS ST.,L A 6 3 JAN . ^9 E ND PAGE ONE RECEIVED-LATin F B I u. 5. DEPT. OF JUSTICE Dec 28 3 55 PM *48 REVIVED Jan 6 2 55 PM’J1 N i c K N A t • ► । k : * • 3 H HECEIVED-O’.RECT f g J uxos-oAesW.''’ Dec 20 2 52 PM ’>18 4 Jd 3FWf4mi»0Mz 2ECUGM Hrr PAGE TWO THE SE FIL M S RE CE IV E D NOACK, HOU STON, BY M AIL DE CE M BE R TWE NTY THIRD L AST. FIL M SHOWS DISK TO BE APPROXIM ATE L Y SE V E N FE E T IN DIAM E TE R AND APPROXIM ATE L Y TWO FE E T THICK IN M IDDL E WITH FE ATHE R E DGE ON RIM . ABU TTING SAU CE R IN M IDDL E AND ON BOTH SIDE S ARE FOU R FOOT WINGS RE SE M BL ING CONV E NTIONAL AIRPL ANE TY PE . NO M ARKINGS, NO RADIO, AND APPE ARE D TO HAV E L ANDE D AT GRE AT SPE E D. DISK IN COM PARATIV E L Y GOOD CONDITION. THE E NDS OF BOTH WINGS HAD ATTACHE D A SM AL L AL U M INU M CY L INDE R APPARE NTL Y FOR JE T PROPU L SION. ONE OF THE SE CY L INDE RS OBTAINE D BY NOACK AS SOU V E NIR AND CU RRE NTL Y IN POSSE SION OF THIS^ OFFICE ^ FIL M SIM IL ARL Y M AINTAINE D. SA ROBE RT FL E M ING, OSI RE PRE SE NTATIV E ,.ISL INGTON FIE L D,.TE XAS., NOTIFIE D DE CE M BE R TWE NTY SE V E NTH. NOACK FIL M E XHIBITE D THIS OFFICE INSTANT DATE AND SHOWS DISK IN AL L POSITIONS AND ARE AU THE NTIC. M R. FL E M ING, OSI, ON DE CE M BE R TWE NTY E IGHTH NOTIFIE D DISTRICT COM M ANDE R, FIFTH OSI DISTRICT, WRIGHT FIE L D, DAY TON, OHIO. SAC R. B. HOOD, L A., NOTIFIE D TE L E PHONICAL L Y OF ABOV E INFORM ATION WITH RE QU E ST THAT HE M AINTAIN CONTACT WITH R. C. PE RSON IN ORDE R THAT BU RE AU AGE NTS M AY ASSIST OR ACCOM PANY OSI RE PRE SE NTATIV E S IN ACTU AL L Y OBSE RV ING AND^RE TRIE V ING FL Y ING DISj£. THIS ACTION TAKE N PE R BU RE AU INSTRU CTIONS. NO FACIL ITIE S AV AIL ABL E HOU STON FOR RE PRODU CING M OV IE FIL M OF NOACK, HOWE V E R, STIL L SHOTS CAN BE DE V E L OPE D BY COM PE TE NT f» 2 U €bl Ok n?r?i? E ND PAGE TWO RBCEIVED-LADn F B I U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE Dec 28 3 55PMN8 RECEIVED JAN 6 2 55 PM’J* N ■ ■: hrN C * DPP* ip fipncf /TA N O A RD FO RM N O . 64 Office M.ewo7^idum • unite fir. Near M r. Pennington___ STATE S GOV E RNM E NT. M r. Cie de................. M r. G1 TO DIRE CTOR FBI FRO M SAC KNOXV IL L E B^ECT: "FL UN G SAU CE RS" OBSE RV E D OV E R y OAK RIDGE ARE A INTE RNAL SE CU RITY - X There are being subm itted herewith two photographs of reputedly"flyii saucers" which were seen at Oak Ridge, Tennessee, som etim e during July of 19*7 All of the inform ation contained in this letter was received from M r. GE ORGE RATE M AN, Chief Investigator, Security Division, Atom ic E nergy Com m ission, and Colonel C. D. GASSE R, Resident E ngineer, Air M aterial Com m and, U nited States Arm y, who is the principal arm y technician at the Nuclear E nergy for the Pro ­ pulsion of Aircraft Research Center at Oak Ridge, Tennessee. M r. RATHM AN advised that the attached photographs were taken by W. R. PRE SL E Y in July of 19^7* He stated that Interview with PRE SL E Y revealed that he had been snapping photographs of his fam ily in front of his residence at 2 18 Illinois Avenue, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, late in the afternoon, when he looked into the sky and observed the vapor trail as exhibited by the photograph num bered "1." PRE SL E Y stated that he took a snap of this trail, was winding the film to the next num ber, when he looked into the sky and* observed the ball of fire as .shown in photograph 2 . U pon observing the unusual phenom ena, he used his L ast ^film in taking photograph #2 . PRE SL E Y m ade these photographs available to re­ porters of the Knoxville News-Sentinel and a story concerning them was run in that paper; however, as shown by the photostatic copy of the newspaper clipping, which is also being subm itted herewith to the Bureau, the print was very indis­ tinct; the news story did not contain any factual inform ation; and it was regarded generally by the public at the tim e as a -..ossicle trick. L ater, it was learned by M r. RATHM .' .nd Colonel GASS SR that PRE SL E Y had m ade several copies of this photograph and had distributed them am ong his acquaintances at Oak Ridge, Tennessee. U pon Colonel GASSE R's finding that the photographs had received som e distribution, he requested M r. RATHM AN as Head of the Com pliance and Investigations Division, to recover as m any as possible of the photographs, advise the persons in whose possession they were found to say nothing to anyone concerning them , and to return the said photographs to him for transm ission to the U nited States Air Force Intelligence Service. M r. RATHM AN advises that he succeeded in rounding up twenty-four copies of these photographs, and that, according to the statem ents of PRE SL E Y , no m ore copies were m ade or distributed. RATE M AN further stated that GASSE R had appeared extrem ely concerned over the m atter and seem ed to be quite em phatic that the m atter should be given no m ore publicity than was absolutely necessary. RATE M AN also advised that he studied the negatives from which the reproductions were m ade, and th^y appeared to be authentic in that trick photography should have been apparent, ut from the RECORD ED • 1 21 ^•j7 .IND EXED .- 1 21 ^ 31JW 4,^ . >"zV v^' RECEIVED ATOMIC ENERGY LIAISON SECTION Jan N 4 56 PM M3 F.B.I.* U.S.DEPT.OF JUSTICE R^EIVEOrHVED ^.JN^1!^ c S f)FP* ip hcQpg ^ICf r. negatives certainly did not appear to be the case. It was M r. RATHM AN’s observation that had the negative been "doped" with som e sort of chem ical, it would have rem oved the em ulsion from the face of the film in such a way that the nem tive would have been thin at the point which is supposedly a ball of fire, whereas, in fact, both the vapor trail and the corona of fire are dark on the^negative, indicating that it was an actual exposure. It was the opinion of M r. RATHM AN that the photographs were, without doubt, authentic. In accordance with Bureau instructions, no active investigation of this m atter was m ade, but it was deem ed advisable to Interview Colonel GASSE R prior to subm itting the photographs to the Bureau. W- Colonel GASSE R predicated his rem arks concerning the "flying saucers" or "m ystery m issiles" by statlirtig that he knew nothing of an official nature concerning them , other than the fact that they were believed by air force intelligence officials to be m an-m ade m issiles, rather than som e natural phenom ena. It was his further belief that a great deal of inform ation had been com piled concerning these m issiles by air force intelligence, and that research on the m atter was being extensively done at Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio. He also expressed the opinion that inform ation at the disposal of the U nited States Arm y Air Force Intelligence had, in all probability, been m ade available to the Bureau at Washington, D. C. [Colonel GASSE R then continued with his own ideas as to what m ight be the nature of these discs, which ideas he had form ulated through review of those known facts and theoretical conjectures of him self and other scientists concerning the nature of flying discs and m ethods of propulsion for such type of aerial m echanism . According to him , flying discs have long been a theoretical . possibility and, in fact, a possibility which would indicate one of the best “m eans by which to break through the barriers of the supersonic area. Scientists * have, for m any years, been attem pting to develop this type of aircraft. Som e experim entation has been done even in the U nited States, but insofar as is known in the U nited States at the present tim e, there have never been any practical developm ents. As a second factor of consideration, Colonel GASSE R stated that insofar as is known to U . S. scientists at this tim e, there is no known chem ical fuel which would m ake possible trem endous range of flight such as is ascribed to the reported "flying saucers." There is only one possible fuel which could be utilized which is in accord with present theory, and that is the utilization of atom ic energy .'J As further evidence of this possible m eans of propulsion, Colonel GASSE R called attention to the vapor trail and gaseous corona described as a ball of fire, which he states m ight give som e evidence to the fact that a radio-active field is present. He explained that the corona, or exhaust, has what appears to be layers of Intensity which are circular rather than elongated and have no tendency to trail at the extrem ities, as would be the case if a norm al type of exhaust from a com bustion engine was being utilized in the propulsion of these aircraft. He continued that the vapor trail left by the m issile appears to be one single line of uniform intensity which is extrem ely slow in dissipating. It was pointed out by him that in the case of a norm al - 2 - vapor trail being left by an aircraft m oving at extrem ely high speeds or extrem ely high altitudes, the vapor trail usually will be from the wing tips and/or the exhaust of the engines, thus presenting several lines. But, in any event, even though only one line were visible, it would be rather quick to dissipate. This indicated to him that the vapor trail represents setae atm ospheric change along the path of the m issile, which would not be the case were it any presently known type of aircraft. ^?^ He continued that Inform ation furnished by him should be treated with, the utm ost confidence, in that he wag not speaking officially, but as a personal getter of eggpeyatjon- He stated that the m atter was being given absolutely no dis'sem ihation by the air force or other m ilitary personnel, and that they had not deem ed it advisable to advise him of all inform ation pertaining to the m issile. He continued, however, that in his conversation with representatives at Wright Field and in reading reports returned to this country by foreign agents, he had gathered together certain inform ation which m ight be of assistance in determ ining whether or not these so-called m issiles were authentic, usable and of danger to the U nited States. First, he pointed out that knowledge of such a possible aircraft is not by any m eans new, it having been known as early as four years ago that som e type of flying disc was being experim ented with by the Russians. In addition thereto, he stated that m ore recent reports have been received from representatives of the Central Intelligence Agency in Southern E urope and Southern Asia to the effect that the Russians were experim enting with som e type of radical aircraft or guided m issile which could be dispatched for great dis­ tances out over the sea, m ade to turn in flight and return to the base from which it was launched. This fact was extrem ely worthy of notice as experim ents in this country have so far only developed to the point where we are concerned with delivering a m issile to the required point of im pact, and no consideration has been given to im parting to that m issile the ability to return. Secondly, he stated that it is a known fact that the Russians are attem pting to develop som e type of nuclear energy, that they received a wealth of inform ation concern­ ing nuclear energy at the tim e of their occupation in Germ any, and that they too have at their disposal the lim ited supply of the necessary fissionable m aterials. He stated that insofar as any opinion as to/Whether or not they have the ability and scientific knowledge to create such a/nu^Xaaj^progelled m issile is strictly a m atter of conjecture, and that he would liesitate to m ake any definite statem ent. He pointed out, however, that the Russians have sem e very capable scientists in the field of atom ic energy and that, in addition thereto, they took into their custody sem e of the m ost advanced and capable scientists of the Germ an Nation. He also stated that a peculiar fact concerning the m issiles exists from reports he has received which is worthy of notice, and that is that from all appearances, they usually approach the U nited States from a northerly direc­ tion and have been reported as returning in a northerly direction. None have ever been known to crash, collide or disintegrate over Am erican soil, but it would appear that they com e to the U nited States, cruise around, and go back over the North Pole. He states that insofar as is known to him , there has never -3 - been any piece of one recovered from any source whatever in order that analytical study of its nature could be m ade. Insofar as was known to him , the only actual m aterial which would be of any value in determ ining its nature are telephoto PhoW^-aphs which are now in the possession of engineers at Wright Field, Dayton, Ohi^p How detailed and how clear these photographs are, he was unable to state. He stated that one report has been received concerning a collision of these m issiles with another type of aircraft. This report, according to him , took place a short tim e prior to the report of num erous discs over the U nited States, and the report em anated from Czechoslovakia. This report was that a Czecho ­ slovakian transport had collided with som e unidentified m issile while in m id-air over the ocean, and that said m issile and said transport had been com pletely disintegrated without recovery of parts or survivors from either. It was the belief of Colonel GASSE R that this undescribed m issile was perhaps the sam e type of thing as the flying saucer^ Another factor of notice, according to Colonel GASSE R, and as is portrayed by the photographs, it would appear that the m issiles can be m aintained at a certain altitude above the contour of the ground. This could be done by m eans of som e type of radio altim eter or radio control. Natu­ rally, the path of the m issile is not in exact parallel to the contour, as its purported great speed would create considerable lag in its flight. Another factor which is worthy of note, according to Colonel GASSE R, is that it is norm ally reported as being seen at trem endously high altitudes and always travel­ ing in a straight line. He stated that he him self observed,on one occasion, a single vapor trail com ing from som e type of aircraft at unbelievably high altitudes which vapor trail extended from horizon to horizon in a perfectly straight line. He observed the vapor trail while it was in the process of form ation and states that it was com pletely unlike any vapor trail he had ever observed before in all of his experience with the air force. It was his Judgm ent that whatever created the vapor trail was traveling At an unbelievably trem endous speed. This, together with reports that when close to the ground, the m issile travels at speeds which m ake possible visual observation of its actions, would reflect that there is som e ability to control the speed of these m issiles as well as the altitude. Colonel GASSE R concluded that this m atter, while still purely a m atter of guesswork, is nevertheless a source of great concern to the m ilitary establish­ m ent of this country. Great efforts have been expended by the service to determ ine Just what the nature of these m issiles m ight be and, upon so determ ining, decide whether or not an adequate defense can be established. He also stated that it has given Im petus to the research being done by the air force in their own pro ­ gram of nuclear energy for the propulsion of aircraft to develop guided m issiles. He also advised that insofar as was known to him , there was absolutely no con­ nection between these m issiles and the fact that they were observed close to Oak Ridge, Tennessee. He stated that this was perhaps, and probably, a m atter of coincidence and they were seen in this area m erely as they were seen in forty- six of the forty-eight states of the U nited States during the M onth of July when so m any reports were being received. This inform ation is being subm itted to the Bureau for whatever value it m ay be, and no further action in the m atter is being contem plated by this office, unless advised to the contrary. CCM :bk 65-11 E nclosures - 3 STA N D A RD *rO RM N O . W ’ O ffice Memorandum U NITE D STATE S GOV E RNM E NT rector, FBI •.’SAC, Houston Fly ing dis^ y L ONNIE E DWARD/NOACK, Com plainant Attention: Assistant Director D.M . L add DATE : 12 /2 8/48 Rem ytel 12 /2 8/48 in the above captioned m atter. F£P"'the Bureau’s inform ation, on 12/27/48 M r. FU L L E R 'BL ACKWE L L , an attorney with offices 410 Kress Building, Houston, Texas, telephonically contacted the Houston Office to advise that he had a friend, L ONNIE /iWACK, who had som e inform ation on an object which iSight be a flying disc. M r. BL ACKWE L L stated he was calling in response to M r. NOACK's suggestion and as a m eans of determ ining what authorities would have an interest in this m atter. He said M r. NOACK was a m achinist em ployed by the Hum ble Oil and Refining Com pany, Houston. M r. BL ACKWE L L , in calling, advised that the disc, or object, was approxim ately eight feet in diam eter, had a tail and wings, and apparently was equipped for jet propulsion. He stated NOACK had observed this,object at a desert location near L as V egas, Nevada; further, that M r. NOACK had taken som e m ovie film of the disc and that this film was currently in his possession. Im m ediately upon receipt of the above inform ation, M r. Robert B. Flem ing, Special Agent, O.S.I., E llington Field, Texas, was notified as was true of Captain Harold Bush, M ID representative, also Houston. As a result of these referrals, arrangem ents were effected with M r. NOACK to bring his film to the Houston Office for a show! .^^o P.M ., 12 /2 7/48. This was done with M essrs. Bush, f^ Fiem lng, Noack, and Special Agent Graham W. Kltchel and the writer observing. Arrangem ents were then m ade for M r. NOACK to again appear at the Houston Office on the \\ m orning of 12 /2 8/48 in order that his inform ation m ight be reduced to writing. M r. NOACK in m aking his initial «^pearance at the office surrendered, his m ovie film which ^consisted of one 50 foot roll of 8' m m m ovie film . Approxim ately / n fifteen feet of this roll relates exclusively to the pictures of the flying disc. roll relates exclusively to the pictures COPIE S DE STROY E D 27 0 NOV 1 8 1 96 4 ^ rE COW®'^ tjd&ffi' JAN 1 4 1 949 w oo® - Director Re; Flying Disc HO 12 /2 8/48 While observing the object, M r. NOACK noted an alum inum cylinder which had becom e detached from one of the wing tips and he brought this back with him as a souvenir. This cylinder conceivably could act as a rudder, a rocket housing, or fuel tank attachm ent. M r. NOACK initialled the cylinder and surrendered It also. There are attached hereto for the Bureau two copies of a signed statem ent taken from M r. NOACK dated Houston, Texas, 12 /2 8/48. Two copies of the statem ent are attached for the L os Angeles Office, and one inform ational copy is being designated for the Cincinnati Division. The original is being retained in the Houston file. One copy of the statem ent is attached to the copy of this letter for the FBI L aboratory. During the interview with M r. NOACK, M rs. ROSE C. ROTSE L , a stenographer for O.S.I., E llington Field, recorded the statem ent for O.S.I. use. Initial inform ation obtained concerning this flying disc was furnished telephonically to Inspector Howard Fletcher at the Bureau, 9 A.M ., 12/28/48. M r. Fletcher requested the Bureau be given a sum m ary of the inform ation by teletype, with interested offices being sim ilarly notified, and that the signed statem ent of NOACK be subm itted AM SD. He further instructed that he did not want the Bureau ’’side tracked” in the handling of this m atter, but that FBI representatives should assum e an active Interest in the investigation throughout, cooperating, of course, with O.S.I. representatives. M r. Flem ing’s headquarters are the District Com m ander, 5th O.S.I. District, Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio. On the m orning of 12 /2 8/48 M r. Flem ing sent a telegram to his District Com m ander giving a general sum m ary of the original com plaint. M r. Flem ing was unable to advise how the 5th O.S.I. District would handle their inquiry in this m atter. He stated this could either be handled by Wright Field dispatching a special plane to California or by having their District Com m ander, 18D, O.S.I., San Bernardino, California handle it. He stated in any event it would be necessary for O.S.I. representatives to first confer with M r. R.C. PE RSON, nam ed in this statem ent, as being the individual who initially discovered the flying disc and would know also its present whereabouts. -2 - Director Re: Flying Disc HO 12 /2 8/48 M r. PE RSON, as indicated, m aintains a business at 4116 Avalon Boulevard, L os Angeles, California, telephone Adam s 5281. To insure the Bureau’s participation in this m atter, SAC R.B. Hood, of the L os Angeles Office, was contacted telephonically at approxim ately 11:30 A.M . (CST) 12 /2 8/48 with the suggestion he m aintain contact with M r. PE RSON. Also in keeping with Bureau instructions, the roll of film received from M r. NOACK, together with the alum inum portion of the fuselage, is being forwarded separately to the Bureau, attention FBI L aboratory. GNW:NK E ncl.(2) AIR M AIL SPE CIAL DE L IV E RY CC: L os Angeles (E ncl.) AM SD Cincinnati (E ncl.) AM SD FBI, L aboratory (E ncl.) Package -3- con® ”^ w g70 N O ^ 181 vKCLOS^ Houston, Texas Dec. 28, 19*8 I, LONNIE EDWARD NOACK, residing 2921 Chicago Street, Houston 17, Texas, make the following statement to Special Agent Robert B. Fleming and Christopher R. Bradley, representatives of the Office of Special Investigation, Ellington OSI Detachment, Ellington Field, Texas, end Special Agents Graham W. Kltchel and $alen N. Willis who I know to be Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. On Monday afternoon December 6, 1948, at about 6 P.M., Mr. R.C. PERSON, Mr. NATHAN SMITH, Mr. C,A. TOCE, Mr. ROBERT BROUSSARD and another man, name not recalled, and I had dinner at the Old Virginia Inn, Los Angeles, California. After dinner we went back to Mr. Smith's electrical manufacturing company which he owns and operates in Los Angeles, California. Mr. PERSON told us about seeing a flying disc and we made an appointment to leave early the next morning by car, with our cameras, to go to the location of the disc. Mr. PERSON was detained at some private air field so we did not leave until about 2 P.M. on December 7, 1948. We arrived at the scene of the flying disc and took pictures of the disc which was still lying around. Mr. SMITH took about 10 feet of 16 mm film and Mr. PERSON took five or six shots with a Speed Graphic Camera. He noticed that the first three shots were taken when the adapter on his lens was closed too much and I don't know if they turned out all right. Mr. SMITH suggested I hold the flying disc up and rotate it around and he would take my picture with my camera. After taking the pictures, we patched the fence of Mr. PERSON'S property where people had been cutting the wire to get to a road. We left and then drove back and had dinner at Eaton's Inn and they took me back home to Hollywood, California. I would like to recite that I left Houston, Texas 11:30 A.M. on Sunday, December 5, 1948, for California by plane and flew to Hollywood, California on a commercial plane on business matters. On arriving in Hollywood, I met Mr. PERSON in Hollywood on Monday, December 6, 1948, and at that time he told me about the flying disc he had located. He stated he had gone to Las Vegas by his personal plane and saw the disc from the air on his way back. On December 7, 1948 we went out in Mr. NATHAN SMITH 'S car and picked up his wife and left his home in South Pasadena about 11 A.M. We drove out to an airport where his plane was about forty miles from Pasadena Were he was having the plane repaired. He wanted to be sure the plane was on a truck before we left for the destination where the disc was. In making this trip, we proceeded out by a race track and passed one of the Kaiser steel works and the Virginia Dare Wine Orchard. I would say we went directly north or northeast from Pasadena, California. We drove through a town called Matonia (phonetic) and followed a road through some mountains and through a small desert. I would estimate the distance from Pasadena to where the disc was found to be about 150 miles. The terrain in which the disc was found could be described as flat,desert, and desolate. X would like to explain that Mr. PERSON has private property (an airport which he purchased from the government) right by the location of the disc. Mr. PERSON thought the disc might have been launched from his airport, but whether that was it or not - we don’t know. Mr. PERSOH said he usually flew at an altitude of about 8,000 feet and, of course, he flew lower in some spaced. He did not mention his altitude at the time he first saw the disc. The disc was located practically Just outside his property and we were going north, so it would be east of his property. He has about 900 acres. When we arrived at Mr. PERSON'S property, we saw the disc, or flying wing, and it was on the ground in a 3end.-vertical position, approximately a 45 degree angle, with the left wing imbedfed in the ground. In looking at the ground, it appeared that the object had hit the earth with considerable force and had slid 300 to 400 feet. It was dented but was generally intact. I think the pictures I took with a Revere 8 mm camera quite well show the form, shape and size of the "wing.** I am 5'7" tall and in standing next to the object when it was in an upright position, it was slightly higher than my height. I would say it was roughly seven feet in diameter, before crashing. On each side of the object there were wings approximately four feet by twenty inches and three inches thick with an axle that protruded through the disc and into the wings. It was mounted on ball bearings which the disc rotated on. 2 The disc Kself was approximately two feet thick in the center, tapering to a feather edge at the rim. On the outside of the disc, near the rim, there were funnel shaped cups bradded on and these were spaced all around on both sides, each cup being approximately twenty inches apart. The openings of these cups were to the rear. The disc itself was natural aluminum with no paint on it except of the type of aluminum which was 24 3.T. and it bore this stamp. The wings were painted a yellow-green camouflage color. The wing has a leading edge similar to that of an airplane and tapers to the rear to a feather edge. The wing was ribbed throughout with aluminum ribs for substantial strength. Each wing had a similar rocket cartridge on each tip fastened by two bolts. I had one of the wings in my possession and have turned it over to the proper authorities. The cartridge on the one I had was apparently knocked off in the crash. There were two strut bars attached approximately twenty Inches from the disc leading to the rear with an elevator. Also, the two struts protruded toward the front with something attached, a weight or some tow system, which was during the crash anchored into the ground and bent and we could not exactly determine how it was weighted or controlled. I would say the elevator was approximately twenty-two inches long and about 5/8 inch thick with a slight taper to the rear and probably ten inches wide. The struts , extending from the trailing edge of the wing to the elevator were made of 5/8 inch steel tubing. 'Rie disc, in being lifted, I would judge to weigh from 80 to 100 pounds. With respect to the pictures taken, I took approximately 15 feet of colored 8 mm film. The disc was built where they had the proper equipment to do the necessary work because they had to have a spot welder and building equipment to make the different angles. I might add that I am an instrument maker for the Humble Oil and Refining Company and have a generally good knowledge of machine and metal work. There was nothing on the object to indicate its origin, whether American or foreign make. It would appear, however, from the aluminum,workmanship, etc. that it probably was American made. -3- After we finished taking our pictures and discussing the object among ourselves, Mr. PERSON expressed an intention of obtaining a truck and hauling the object to his shop. I cannot say at this time whether he did this or not or where the object may be at this particular date. We finished our observation and picture taking at approximately 5x30 or 6 P.M. on December 7- In response to Mr. Fleming’s inquiry, there was np radio equipment noted on the object In any fashion or form. We returned to Pasadena, California, that evening arriving in Hollywood about 9 or 9:30 P.M. I took some more pictures that night along Hollywood Boulevard on the unfinished roll of film and then wetn over the Chinese Theatre and took a picture of the signature of George Raft and finished the roll. I bought another roll of film, and took them to the Eastman Kodak Company the following Monday which would be December 13, 1948. As I recall, this Eastman shop was on Los Palmas Street in Los Angeles, California. They Informed me they would develop the film and that It would be ready on Thursday I left California on Wednesday so they mailed the film to me at my business address, Humble Oil Building, Room 159, Houston, Texas. I received these films on December 23# 1948. After my return from California I mentioned to several of my business and social acquaintances that I had seen his object, a disc or saucer or whatever you might call it, and told them that I had taken pictures and would be glad to show them when the pictures arrived. As stated, I received the film on December 23 and at 1:30 P.M. on the same date I showed the film in the projection room at Humble Oil to the following: D.W. BLAIR; J. HATTAWAY; S.A. PETERSON; JAMES S. OLIVIER; WILLIAM RIED, JR.; A.E. MELETON; WAYNE CRAWFORD; D.A. BATTLE and two other men whose names I do not recall. All of these men work in the Instrument shop with me at Humble Oil & Refining Company. I also showed the film to my brother-in-law, E. KULAK, of Pasadena, Texas, at home on the following night. On Christmas Day I met some friends and one of the girls was with a young boy who was interested In photography. I do not know his name but he works at Southern Pacific. I told him I had some pictures of the flying disc but I did not show him the pictures but explained the disc. I think this boy Is the person who had his friend at the newspaper contact me. I got home about 10:30 A.M. and FRANK REED, of the City Desk at the "Houston Post" called me and wanted to know about the disc. I told him I could not give him any information on it. He begged me for the story, but I told him I would let him know and that I had friends I had to contact before I could give him any information. I then got in touch with Mr. Blackwood, my lawyer, the following morning and asked him if he knew anyone in the FBI. He stated all the FBI personnel he knew were no longer stationed here. I then contacted the FBI and turned the material over to them. Although I can't describe where this object is located, I believe I could go back to it and I am sure Mr. PERSON and and Mr. SMITH could go back to it. Mr. NATHAN SMITH'S business address is Nathan Smith Electrical Company, 105 South Pasadena Avenue, South Pasadena, California. Mr. R. C. PERSON is president of the Vasco Electrical Manufacturing Company, 4116 Avalon Boulevard, Los Angeles, California. For record purposes, in taking the pictures above referred to, I did so using exposure of 16 frames per second at a diaphragm opening of f6.3. I used Cine-Kodak Kodachrome film. ^^CAt/Jo^ Th* above statement, made voluntarily and for the retention of proper authorities, is made to ay best knowledge and belief. TWIT o./Vh TOOT Witnesses $ Representatives (ST, E llington Field, Texas FBI, Houston, Texas -5- E NCL OSU RE TO THE BU RE AU RE : FL Y ING DISC; L ONNIE E DWARD NOACK, Com plainant SAC, Houston January 25, 1949 Director, FBI % JSNG L ISCS x / L ONNIE E DTAJiD^ACK, Com plainant Reference is m ade to L os Angeles teletype dated 12/29/48 and to Houston teletype dated 12/28/48, and trie subsequent transm ittal of 8m m m ovie film taken by M r. L ONNIE NOACK, along with several parts the supposed flying disc to the laboratory for exam ination. an of Since prior to receipt of tie above item s by the L aboratory inform ation was obtained which identified the supposed flying disc tow target and later a toy kite, no exam ination was conducted here. the m ail Accordingly, these item s are being returned to you via registered cat SAC U r. Tolson________ M r. E . A. Tam a y......... RM Z: KAG Str. Niche M r. Rosei L os angeles *°0h ‘Ki " £ ^F0m 9»A^AI2»«'> * 31 194? Hr. Peru; ing ton____ V r. Quinn Tam m "elo. Room r. Nease ' U ss Gandy '60 ■usnr ju xOO.^ • 8 ' O lY W O SY ^ T9O IN H . H t-O i03 Q 3 M 3 93H W SIA IQ A UG JtMI^^A SVA N D A H O FO RM N O 64 U NITE D STATE S GOV E RNM E NT = The Director da te . January 2 4, 1949 FRO M ; D. M . L add SU BJECT: FL Y ING DISCS M r. Tolson M r. M r. M r. M r. M r. Egan Jumea H arooI thought you m ight be interested in the following inform ation concerning^l^to which hasbeen furnished to the Bureau on a confidential basis by Colonel C. D^Gasser, resident E ngineer, Air M aterial Com m and, U . S.Arm y, who is the principal arm y technician at the Nuclear gggg lot toe FRSRtlsion of Aircraft Research Center at 5S BM ge M r M r. M ohr^______ M r. PennTnglon__ M r. Quinn Tam m ___ Tele. Room ______. M r. Neaae^_______ M iss Hornes_______ M iss Gandy Tennessee. Colonel Gasser stated that he knew nothing of an official nature concerning "Flying Discs" other than the fact that they are believed by Air Force Intelligence officials to be m an-m ade m issiles, rather than som e natural phenom ena. It was his further belief that a great deal of inform ation has been com piled concerning these m issiles by air force intelligence, and that research on the m atter was being extensively done at Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio. Colonel Gasser then continued with his own ideas as to what m ight be the nature of these discs which ideas he had form ulated through review of those known facts and theoretical conjectures of him self and other scientists concerning the nature of flying discs and m ethods of propulsion for such type of aerial m echanism . According to him , flying discs have long been a theoretical possibility, and,in fact, a possibility which would indicate one of the best m eans by which to break through the barri rs of the supersonic area. He stated that scientists have, for m any years, been_attem pting to develop this type of aircraft. Sonig_experi- m entation has been done even in the U nited States, but insofar as is known in the U nited States at the present tim e, there have never been any practical developm ents. As a second factor of consideration, Colonel Gasser stated that insofar as is known to U . S. scientists at this tim e, there is no known chem ical fuel which would m ake possible trem endous range of flight such as is ascribed to the reported "flying discs." According to Gasser, there is only one possible fuel which could be utilized which is in accord with present theory, and that is the utilization of atom ic energy. He stated that this subject m atter was being given absolutely no dissem ination I by the air force or other m ilitary personnel, and that they had not deem ed it advisable to advise him of all inform ation pertaining to this type m issile. He continued, however, that in his conversation with representatives at Wright Field and in reading reports returned to this country by foreign agents, he had gathered together certain inform ation which m ight be of assistance in determ ining whether or not these so-called m issiles were authentic, usable and of danger to the U nited States. J’ E HM :hhr t 50 FEB 8 1 949^/ r KORDE B • EX-1 09 ^W4 t :.l to ECEIVED-DIRECTOR FBI ^^ 9 Ol^b.YDEPT.OF JUSTICu 5 30 PM’fl ' ;jtF’ ’^ '. ' He pointed out that knowledge of such a possible aircraft is. not..by any m eans new ani that it waa known as early as four years ago that som e type of flying disc was being experim ented with by the Russians. In addition he said that m ore recent reports have been received from representatives of the Central Intelligence Agency in Southern E urope and Southern Asia to the effect that the Russians were experim enting with som e type of radical aircraft or guided m issile which .could be dispatched for great distances out over the sea, m ade to turn in flight and return to the base from which it was launched. He related that this inform ation was extrem ely worthy of notice as experim ents in this country have so far only developed to the point where we are concerned with delivering a m issile to the required point of im pact, and no consideration has been given to im parting to that m issile the ability to return. He also advised that it is a known fact that the Russians are attem pting to develop som e type of nuclear energy, that they, received a wealth of inform ation concerning nuclear energy at the tim e of their occupation in Germ any, and that they have at their disposal a lim ited supply of fissionable m aterials. He pointed out that the Russians have som e very capable scientists in the field of atonic energy and that, in addition thereto, they took into their custody som e of the m ost advanced and capable scientists of the Germ an Nation. Colonel Gasser stated that a peculiar fact concerning these: m issiles is found in reports he has received,that from all appearances the m issiles usually approach the U nited States from a northerly direction and have been reported as returning in a northerly direction. He advised that none have ever been known to crash, collide or disintegrate over Am erican soil, but it would appear that they com e to the U nited States, cruise around, and go back over the North Foie. He stated that insofar as is known to him there has never been any part of a plsyj-le of this type recovered from any source whatever in order that an analytical study of its nature could be m ade. He stated that one report has been received concerning a collision of these m issiles with another type of aircraft. This report, according to him , em anated fro m Czechoslovakia and took place a short tim e prior to the report of num erous discs over the U nited States, w.ccording to Colonel Gasser a CzechoslovaKicn transport had reportedly collided with som e unidentified m issile while in m id-air over tie ocean, and that the m issile and transport w ere comrj etfrjv disintegrated without recovery of parts or survivors from either. Colonel Gasser concluded that this m atter, while still purely a m atter of guesswork, is nevertheless a source of great concern to the m ilitary establishm ent of this country. He advised that great efforts have been expended by the m ilitary service to determ ine the nature of these m issiles and upon so determ ining, decide whether or not an adequate defense can be established. He stated that it has given im petus to the research being done by the air force in their own program of nuclear energy for the propulsion of aircraft to develop guided m issiles. ACTION: None. The above is for your inform ation. -2 - DE CL ASSIFIE D itow aiM Authority: NND 90986 DEPA RTMEN T of the army STA FF MESSA GE CEN TER IN CO MIN G CLA SSIFIED MESSA GE CO N FIDEN TIA L PRIO RITY PA RA PH RA SE N O T REQU IRED From: CO K irtland A FB N ew Mexico To: Chief of Staff U SA F attn Dir of Special Investigations O fficer of the Inspector General N r: 0SI-1-9C 31 J anuary 1949 Reference previous reports, subject; unknown, aerial phenomena, file number 24~8, Sighting of identical object reported, at 2255Z 30 Jan 4 9 by aprx 30 people. Estimate at least 100 total sightings. A BC, A FSW P, 4th A rmy, local commanders perturbed by implications of phenomena. Sighting reported from El Paso, A lburqueroue, A lamogordo, Roswell, Socorro, and other locations. A ll appear to be same object at different points in trajectory. U nless instructed to contrary this office will make all out investigation with view to location of impact point if any. A CTIO N : A F IN FO : ID, P0 CL IN 321 RECORD ED - J® I : (2 Feb 49) DTC: 3121452 dgk/B RC 5/1 50 FEB 2 81 3 43 ^ M M BI1 B FE DE RAL BU RE AU OF INV WTIGATION Room 5744 ^^3 1949 TO LX-—Director M r- CfejjJ^ZC. M r. Glavin .....X-—- .-------M r. Clegg -------M r. Glavin M r. I^d^/-K--—j^ Z -------M r. Harbo M r. NlehoV ^.. ____M r. L add M r. Rosen J........... ____M r. Nichols M r. Tracy-----------— -------M r. Rosen M r. E gan_________ ____M r. Tracy M r. Gurnea.......... ____M r. Fletcher M r. Harbo ........... ____M r. M ohr M r. M ohr................. ____M r. Carlson M r. Pennington..... ____M r. Nease M r. Quinn Tam m .... ____M iss Gandy ____Personnel Fil [ M r. Nease.......—-. | M iss Gandy— |s Section .Records Section— M rs. Skillm an See M e For Appropriate Action Send File Note and Return Clyde Tolson :a.®a m (< «M N O . 64 Office Memorandum • U NITE D STaiao GOV E RNM E NT Director, FBI date: February 18, 19^9 fr o m : SAC, Knoxville '-SU BJE CT: "FL Y ING SAU CE RS" OBSE RV E D OV E R OAK RIDGE ARE A INTE RN/L SE CU RITY - X Reference is m ade to Knoxville letter to the Director dated January 10, 19^9, entitled as above. ^ NeM *.......... Alias C There is being forwarded for the Bureau’s inform ation a copy of a letter from Colonel C. D. GASSE R, U SAF, AM C E ngineering Field’ Officer, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, to M r. G. J. RATHM AN, Security Division, U . S. Atom ic E nergy Com m ission, Oak Ridge. This letter is self explanatory and reveals that the photographs forwarded with referenced letter are the result of accident or purposeful hoax and are not actually photographs of a "fly in 3 saucer". Colonel GASSE R personally advised that while the photographs are not real, his statem ents m e de concerning the existence of flying saucers and the opinions expit bred by him nevertheless stand as previously stated. E NCL OSU RE ATTACHE D E nclosure JJU hi' 4< .did X i‘ /> J ^ MW < MI K’Rio OBMaJM C 0 P Y M CRE 0L 8/CE G/jk NE P A Project, P. 0. Box E Oak Ridge, Tennessee 10 February 19^9 M r. G. J. Rathm an Chief, Investigation Section Security Division U . S. Atom ic E nergy Com m ission P. 0. Box E Oak Ridge, Tennessee Dear M r. Rathm an This is in response to your letter dated 16 Decem ber 19W, subject "Photographs", with inclosures, addressed to M ajor D. J. Grant at this site, concerning photographs taken during the m onth of July 19^7 by M r. William Presley of 2 18 Illinois Avenue, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, of an unidentified object that appeared to be flying over Oak Ridge. Since receipt by M ajor Grant of the above m aterial, this office has taken steps to secure an evaluation of sam e by the Air Force office of the Chief, Technical Intelligence Division, Intelli­ gence Departm ent, Air M ateriel Com m and, at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio. As a result, the following inform a­ tion has been revealed; "When the negative, containing the sphere, is exam ined by strong incident light, it is noted that the em ulsion is raised at that point above the norm al level of the rem aining em ulsion. This indicates that either a drop of warm water or a drop of developer struck the film at this point and rolled down this negative and the succeed­ ing negative. "To further substantiate this, it will be noted that when the two (2) negatives are placed side by side with the edges of the film aligned, the so-called "trail" is con­ tinuous, that is the two sections m atch, indicating the drop rolled on from one negative to the next. "Sill further proof is shown on the fogged edge of the negative containing only the trail. This is proven by the fact that the trail extends beyond the norm al form at P Y C 0 c 0 p Y L tr. to M r. G. J. Rathm an, Chief, Investigation Section, U . S. AE C, dated 10 February 19^9, Re Photographs of the negative. In other words, there is a trail of that section of the negative which was not exposed in the cam era. This effect shows up in one negative and not in the other because the negative in question is fogged; therefore, this irregularity was developed. "Still further proof of these defects lies in the num ber of unevenly developed sections of the negative." In view of the above, it is recom m ended that this entire m atter be declassified and that M r. Presley be advised of the nature of the im ages, if and when the negatives are returned to him by your office. For your inform ation, this office is taking the liberty of furnish­ ing a copy of this com m unication to M r. C. C. M cSwain, Special Agent, FBI, because of official interest evidenced by his office in the m atter. Y our cooperation in furnishing photographs and negatives, together with Inform ation contained in your letter of 16 Decem ber 1948 to M ajor Grant, is sincerely appreciated. V ery truly yours, C. D. GASSE R Colonel, U SAF AM C E ngineering Field Officer 3 IncIs. 2 Negatives 1 Photostat cc - M r. C. C. M cSwain C 0 L -2 6 roice of Contents from L BU RE AU OF INV E STIGATION WASHINGTON, D. C. Date ^.^^^ Case References Consigned to H0U 0T0N TTnNTTTTS-CS----------------------- L ONNIE E DWARD NOACK, Com plainant L ist of Contents COM M U NICATIONS SECTION M AILED 1 6 8m m M ovie Him , parts of supposed flying disc M r. M r. M r. M r. M r. . FES 8- 1 3 49 P.M . RE GISTE RE D KAIL FED ERA L BISSA U O F IN VESTIG A TIO N U. S. D EP A RTMEN T O F JUSTIC E Harbo, 7641 Conrad, 7142 Downing, 6228 IB Sizoo, 7601 Baughm an, 712 1 SPE CIAL INSTRU CTIONS: M ail Room , 2 4973 82place date of shipm ent and registry num ber; Shipping Room , show date of shipm ent and initial this invoice; then return it to person whose nam e is checked in colum n at right. After this checked nam e has been initialled, invoice should be placed in adm inistrative file. „T»‘J4D A RD FO RM N O , 64 Ofae M^emorandum • united states go ver nm ent To DIRE CTOR, FBI January 31, 1949 FRO M SAC, S.Jj ANTONIO cnRiprT.PROTE CTION OF V ITAL INST. IL L ATIONS J 3U IM .U FIL S it 65-52 300 at recent feebly Intelligence Conferences DA TE: in the Fourth : rm y ..rea, Officers of C—2 , Fourth Anny hove discussed the natter op"U nidentified Aircraft" or "U nidentified Aerial Phenom ena" otherwise 'mown as^Flyring^)iscs" .^Flying Saucers", and "Dalls of Fire". Tils py.tter is consider^atopsecret by Intelligence Officers ox both the Am - end the Air Forces. - . — — -— •*■ -• —— W -^ *4 It is roll known that there have been during the past two years reports from the various parts of the country of the sighting of unidentified aerial objects which have been called in newspaper parlance "flying discs" and "flying saucers". The first such sightings were reported from Sweden, and it was thought that the objects, the nature of which was unknown, m ight have originated in Russia. In July 1948 an unidentified aircraft was "seen" by an E astern Airlines Pilot and Co-Pilot and one or m ore passengers of ths E astern ..irlincs Plane over M ontgom ery, Alabam a. This aircraft was reported to be of an uncon­ ventional type 'without wings and resem bled generally a "rocket ship" of the type depicted in com ic strips. It was reported to have had windows; to have been larger than the E astern airlines plane, and to have been traveling at an estim ated speed of 2 700 m iles an hour. It appeared out of a thunder­ head ahead ox the E astern Airlines plane and im m ediately- disappeared in anothc cloud narrowly m issing a collision with the E astern Airlines plane. No sound or air disturbance was noted in connection with this appearance. ORIGIN A L FILM IS During the past two m onths various sightings of unexplained phenom ena have been reported in the vicinity of the A.E .C. Installation at L os Alam os, New M exico, 'where these phenom ena now appear to be concentrated. During Decem ber 1948 »n the 5th, 6th, 7th, Sth, 11th, 13, 14th, 2 0th and 23th sightings of unexplained phenom ena were m ade near L os alam os by Special ..gents of the Office of Special Investigation; .Inline Pilots; m ilitary Allots, L os Alam os Security Inspectors, and private citizens, On January 6, 1949, another sim ilar object was sighted in the sam e area. Dr. L INCOL N L u. P..Z, a M eteorologist »f som e note, has been generally in charge of the observations nca.r L os .lam os, attem pting to learn character­ istics of the unexplained phenom ena. U p to this tim e little concrete inform ation has been obtained. JE J:m d ^^FSmALOO^A? b; oc; E l Pas* (2 )' Dallas (2) RECORD ED - 1 3 3 )^^22 Houston (2) L ittle Rock (2 ) Oklahom a City (2 ) F B 43 MA R 16 1949 DIRE CTOR, FBI 1/31/49 There hevc been clay tine sightings v;hich arc tentatively considered to possibly resem ble the exhaust of som e type of jet propelled object. Night-tim e sightings have taken the form of lights usually described as brilliant green, sim ilar to a green traffic signal or green neon light. Som e reports indicated that the light began and ended with a red or orange flash. Other reports have given the color as red, white, blu-white, and yellowish green. Trailing lights som e- tines observed are said to be red. The spectrum analysis of one light indicates that it m ay be a copper com pound of the type known to be used in rocket experim ents and which co ’.pletcly disintegrates upon explosion, leaving ne debris. It is noted that no debris has ever been known to be located anywhere resulting from the unexplained phenom ena. Recent observations have indicated that the unidentified phenom ena travel at a rate of speed estim ated a.t a m inim um of three m iles per second and a m axim um of twelve m iles per second, or a m ean calculated speed of seven and one-half m iles a second, or 2'7,000 m iles on hour. Their reported course indicates that they travel on on E ast - ‘.‘est line with probability that they approach from the Northern nadrant, which would be the last stage of the great circle route if they originated in Russia. lien obsci’vcd they seem to be in level flight at a height of si: to ten .riles and thus traveling on a. t ngent to the earth's surface. They occasionally dip a.t the end of the path and on two occasions a definite vertical change in path was indicated. Those phenom ena, have not been inown to have been sighted, however, at any interm ediate point between Russia end L os Hom os, but only at the end of the flight toward the apparent "ta.rgct", nam ely, L os alam os. In every case but one the shape of the objects has been reported as round in a point of light with a definite area to the light's source. One report gives a diam ond shape; another indicate.: that trailing lights are elongated. The size is usually com pared to one-fourth the diam eter of the full m oon, and they have also been com pared in size to a basketball with trailing lights the size of a baseball. On no occasion has sound been associated directly with the phenom ena, but unexplained sounds have been reported from L os ..L em os, On two occasions reports have been received of the sighting of m ultiple units, Som e nine scientific reasons are stated to exist which indicated that the phenom ena observed are not due to m eteorites. The only conclusions reached thus far are that they arc either hitherto unobserved natural phenom ena or that they arc m an m o.de, No scientific experim ents are known to exist in this country which could give rise to such, phenom ena. - 2 - DIRE CTOR, FBI 1/31/49 U rs. M ADE L INE G’.THNE M E RCHANT" v.m s the subject of a letter from the Atlanta office to the Bureau doted August 10, 1948, entitled, "M ADE L INE G'TNNE M E RCHANT; INFORM ATION CONCE RNING." She has written m any letters to m ilitary authorities concerning her theories regarding Atom ic E nergy. She h. a generally been considered unreliable and possibly m entally unbalanced. She, however, has subm itted to M ilitary authorities the only theory thus far known that has any credibility at all, nam ely, that the lights are m anifestations of cosm ic rays which arc .directed toward a specific point. She further theorizes that such rays m ay interfere with the ignition of m otors and m ay account for various unexplained air crashes. The above is subm itted for the confidential inform ation of the Bureau and offices to which copies of tils letter are directed so that these offices m ay cvaulate any such reports they m ay have received or m ay receive in the future. It is noted that the Fourth’..m y has the responsibility of protecting vital installations at L os .lenos, New lexica, S.-ndia B-se, New M exico, and Ca . Hood, Texas. Any inform ation developed should be expeditiously transm itted to G-2, Fourth ..ray. It ia further noted that C—2 and O.S.I. are actively engaged in investigating this m atter. No investigation is being conducted by this office. - 3 - STA N D A R^FO RM - JO . 64 O ffice Memorandum U NITE D STATE S GOV E RNM E NT TO M r. L add date: M arch 1&9 FRO M M r. Fletcher SU BJECT: FL Y ING DISCS PU RPOSE M r. Tolson________ M r. Clegg_________ M r. Glavln________ M r. L add___ M r. Nichols M r. Rosen_________ M r. Tracy_________ M r. E gan M r. Gurnea________ M r. Harbo_________ M r. M ohr M r. Pennington M r. Quinn Tam The approval of the E xecutive*Conference is requested for attached SAC letter furnishing to the field the type of inform ation desired by the Intelligence Division of the Air Force in connection the captioned m atter. the with Tele. Room _________ M r. Nease__________ M iss Holm s_______ M iss Candy________ BACKGROU ND Y ou will recall that by Bureau Bulletin #57, Series 19^7 dated October 1, 19h7, the field was advised that effective as of that date the Bureau had discontinued its investigative activities in connection with flying discs. The field was advised that all future reports concerning this m atter received in the field should be referred to the Air Forces. Colonel C. D. Gasser, Resident E ngineer, Air M ateriel Com m and, Nuclear E nergy for the Propulsion of Aircraft Research, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, has recently and confidentially advised the Bureau that flying discs are believed by the Air Force to be m an-m ade m issiles rather than som e natural phenom enon and that as m uch as four years ago it was learned that som e type of flying discs were being experim ented upon by the Russians. It was further determ ined from Colonel Gasser that m ost all of the flying discs seen by persons in the U nited States approached I this country from a northerly direction ana returned in the sam e direction, indicating the strong possibility that they are com ing from Russia. The Departm ent of the Air Force has furnished to the Bureau a sufficient num ber of copies of a m em orandum dated fhbruary 15, 19h9 captioned "U nconventional Aircraft" which can be furnished to our field offices. STATU S RECORD ED - 76 IC Ite At the present tim e this Bureau is conduct^^AkoSfhve&tigation of inform ation received in the field relating to the captioned RE COM M E NDATION tter It is recom m ended that the attached SAC letter and enclosure be forwarded to the field to advise them of the type of questions to be asked of persons who voluntarily subm it inform ation relative to "flying discs." Although no active investigation will be conducted by the Bureau, it is believed that the c aptioned m atter is of sufficient im portance to the internal security-of the country that our field offices should secure as m uch inform ation as possible from com plainants in order to assist the Departm ent of t he Ain Fer ce. Attachm ent STA N D A RD FO RM N O . FRO M te Memorandum U NITE D STATE S GOV E RNM E NT SU BJECT: DIRE CTOR, FBI BU RE AU PROTE CTION OF V ITAL INSTAL L ATIONS FIL E 65-58300 SAC, SAN ANTONIO DATE : M arch 22, 1949 Re San Antonio discussion had 1____s letter to the Director dated January 31, 1949, which outlined at recent weekly Intelligence Conferences of G-2, ONI, 0SI and FBI in the Fourth Anny Area concerning "U nidentified Aircraft" or "U nidentified Areial Phenom ena" otherwise known as "flying discs", "Flying saucers" and "balls of fire". It is repeated that this m atter is considered secret by Intelligence Officers of both the Am y and the Air Force. G-2, 4th Anny, has now advised that the above m atter is now term ed "U nconven­ tional Aircraft” and investigations concerning such m atters have been given the nam e "Project Grudge". G-2 , 4th Anny, advised on February 16, 1949, a conference was held at L os ..L am os, Neu M exico, to consider the so-called "Green fire ball phenom ena" which began about Decem ber 5, 1943. It was brought out this question has been classified "secret" and that investigation is novi the prim ary responsibility of the U .S, Air Force, Air M ateriel Com m and, T-2, Dr. L INCOL N L A PAZ of the U niversity of New M exico, discussed one siting which he him self had m o.de which was term ed the "Starvation peak incident" and des­ cribed the following characteristics which indicated that the phenom enon could not be classified as a norm al m eteorite fall. 1 2 3. 4. 5. There was an initial bright light (no period of intensity increase) and constant intensity during the duration of the phenom enon Y ellow green color about 5200 Angstrom s. E ssentially horizontal path. Trajectory traversed at constant angular velocity. Duration about two seconds & No accom panying noise RECORD M -ft JE J :m d 2 cc: E l Pas* (100-4562) cc: Dallas n ii Houston L ittle Rock 11 Oklahom a City _ 1 _ DIRE CTOR, FBI M arch 22, 1949 It was brought out that since Decem ber 5, 1943 there have been m ore than ten incidents analagous to the ’’green fireball" above described and som e twenty others with m iner deviations from the above. It is also pointed out that the only sitings which had occurred seem ed to have been confined to the L os Alam os, L as V egas, and ’.Test Texas triangle, G-2 also advised that as of Novem ber 1, 1948, inform ation had been received from higher M ilitary authorities that the Air Force had advised that such sitings occur periodically and that another period of sitings was then im m inent. Further, on February 14, 1949, higher M ilitary authorities advised that it was believed that ultim ately it would be found that the phenom ena in question have a natural explanation. It is further noted that about 7:30 p.m ., M arch 6, 1949, what was at first thought to be a flarc was seen approxim ately one-half m ile north of Killeen Base in the area of the V ital Installation at Cam p Hood, Texas, and a second flare was noticed at 1:45 a.m ,, M arch 7, 1949, approxim ately three m iles from Killeen Base. It has since been concluded that the flares seen near Killeen are probably sim ilar to the phenom ena previously noted in the L os Alam os, Sandia Base Area although those are the first sitings of such phenom ena near Cam p Hood, There appears to be reason to believe that the above-m entioned phenom ena m ay be connected with secret experim ents being conducted by som e U .S. Governm ent Agency as it is believed that the U nited States is farther advanced in guided m issile developm ent then any foreign power. Although the prim ary responsibility for investigating such m atters is now with the U .S. A.F. M r M ateriel Com m and, G-2 , 4th Arm y is.still interested in being advised of any further sitings of such phenom ena which m ight be observed. - 2 - FED ERAL BU REAU OF INVESTIG ATION HOU STON Form N o. 1 TH IS C A SE O RIG IN A TED A T FIL E N O . 1 05-U f5 REP O RT MA D E A T L OS ANGE L E S D A TE W H EN MA D E 3/30/49 P ERIO D FO R W H IC H MA D E 12 /2 8,2 9;1/7/9 REP O RT MA D E BY W. NATHAN PROV INSE DPZ T"U ' FL Y ING DISCS; L ONNIE E DnARDjpJQACK, com plainant; Houston, Texas, Decem ber 2 7, 1948 C H A RA C TER O F C A SE INTE RNAL SE CU RITY M SY N O PSIS O F FA CTS: Object described by com plainant as possible flying disc determ ined to be a m odel tow target or kite which had been abandoned after unsuccessful tests. Portions of target positively identified by HE NRI T. RICE , L .A. m anufacturer and erstwhile financial backer as being part of the m odel target or kite. RU C RE FE RE NCE : Teletype from Houston to Director dated 12/28/48. Teletype from L os Angeles to Director dated 12 /2 8/48'. Teletype from L os Angeles to Director dated 12/29/48. DE TAIL S: This investigation is predicated upon the receipt of referenced teletype from the Houston Office advising that L ONNIE E DWARD NOACK had located an object in the desert near Helendale, California, resem bling a flying disc. This object, described as a flying disc, had been located by NOACK, R. C. PE RSON and Nr. and M rs. NATHAN SM ITH of South Pasadena, California, approxi­ m ately one hundred and fifty m iles northeast of Pasadena or about twenty m iles from L one Pine, California. Special Agent E DWARD OL SE N determ ined that R. C. PE RSON, V asco M anufacturing Com pany, was traveling in Arizona and not available for interview. P EC IA L A G EN T in C harg e. D O N O T W RITE IN TH ESE SP A C ES fit 7- 20 3 1 A P P RO VED A N Q FO RW A RD ED : C O P IES O F TH IS REP O RT Bureau 2 - Houston 1 - IFO #2 , Fort L acArthu^y 2 - L os Angeles IDKS^O'TB V ^K FED ERAL BU REAU OF INVESTIG ATION HOU STON Form N o. 1 TH IS C A SE O RIG IN A TED A T FIL E N O . REP O RT MA D E A T D A TE W H EN MA D E 3/30/1*9 P ERIO D FO R W H IC H MA D E 12/28.29 ;1/^ REP O RT MA D E BY L OS ANGE L E S W. NATHAN PHOV INSE DPZ TITL E FL U NG DISCS; L CKilE E D ARD NOACK, com plainant; Houston, Texas, Decem ber 27, 1988 C H A RA C TER O F C A SE INTE RNAL SE CU RITT K SY N O PSIS O F FA CTS: Object described by com plainant as possible flying disc determ ined to be a m odel tow target or kite which had been abandoned after unsuccessful tests. Portions of target positively identified by HE NRY T. RICE , L .A. m anufacturer and erstwhile financial backer as being part of the m odel target or kite. RU C RE FE RE NCE : Teletype from Houston to Director dated 12/28/1*8. Teletype from L os Angeles to Director dated 12 /2 8/1*8. Teletype from L os Angeles to Director dated 12/29/1*8. DE TAI L Si This investigation is predicated upon the receipt of referenced teletype from the Houston Office advising that L ONNIE E D ARD NOACK had located an object in the desert near helendale, California, resem bling a flying disc. This object, described as a flying disc, had been located by NOACK, R. C. PE RSON and Kir. and hrs. NATHAN SM ITH of South Pasadena, California, approxi­ m ately one hundred and fifty m iles northeast of Pasadena or about twenty m iles from L one Fine, California. Special Agent E IPARD OL SE N determ ined that k. C. PE RSON, V asco lanuf acturing Com pany, was traveling in Arizona and not available for interview. A P P RO VED A N D FO RW A RD ED : Special . ag ent in C harg e D O N O T W RITE IN TH ESE SP A C ES C O P IES O F TH IS REP O RT 5/ Bureau 2 - Houston 1 - IFO #2 , Fort M acArthur 2 - L os Angeles B. a «nr«»xiiW T mw ixn orrica 7-20 3 4 L . A. 105-445 Jr. N. SM ITH, SM ITH M ANU FACTU RING COM PANY , 10$ Pasadena Avenue, South Pasadena, California, who was with NOACK at the tim e the object was discovered, advised Special Agent E IM ARD OL SE N on Decem ber 2 8, 191:8, that he was present at the tim e the object was located on his, SM ITH'S, landing field near Helendale, California. SM ITH advised that they had taken som e pieces off the object and that subsequently, upon returning to L os Angeles, he had learned that the object was actually a m odel kite or tow target which had been built by the'sQHL SON AND RICE IANU FACTU RING COM PANY of L os Angeles. M r. SM ITH stated that he had talked to both OHL SON and RICE and that they had adm itted to him having experim ented with the object over his, SM ITH'S, airfield. M r. SM ITH m ade available three of the parts of the target which he had secured while at the airfield. The inform ation furnished by M r. SM ITH was verified by Special Agent E DWARD OL SE N in an interview with M r. HE NRY TT^CE , OHL SON AND RICE IANU FACTU RING COM PANY , 3340 E m ery Street, L os Angeles. The parts m ade available by Ir. SM ITH were exhibited to Nr. RICE , and he advised that the m odel tow target or kite had been taken to the airfield for flight tests by him self and CL AU DE L E ROTS^L FORD, 5454 Chesley Avenue, L os Angeles 43, California. M r. RICE stated that WOL FORD is the inventor of the object and OHL SON AND RICE had originally agreed to finance him to develop the tow target or kite as a toy. M r. RICE explained that they were prim arily interested in developing the contraption as a toy kite to be sold in a m uch sm aller m odel; however, the inventor, against their wishes, had developed a m uch larger m odel which he had hoped to sell as a tow target to be used behind airplanes. M r. RICE stated that since he had gone that far they felt that they should give the project a test and thereupon they took it out to the desert as a precautionary m easure. M r. RICE stated that the flight test was a failure; the m odel crashed soon after it was airborne and was thereafter abandoned on the field. In the absence of her husband, M rs. CL AU DE L E ROY WOL FORD, $454 Chesley Avenue, was interviewed and exhibited the three parts of the kite m ade available by M r. SM ITH. She readily identified the three item s as part of a kite her husband had built for the RICE IANU FACTU RING COM PANY * She advised that she also accom panied her husband to the desert at the tim e the tests were m ade. She explained that the kite had crashed and that the m anufacturing com pany did not want to put any m ore cash in it so it was abandoned on the desert. The three parts of the kite were returned to NATHAN SM ITH on January 7, 1949. The Sub-District Office, I. G. (U SAF), 12 06 Santee Street, Term inal Annex, L os Angeles, California, was apprised of the inform ation contained herein im m ediately upon its receipt. RE FE RRE D U PON COM PL E TION TO THE OFFICE OF ORIGIN 2. IN REP L Y , P L EA SE REFER TO FIL E N O _________________________ nitrb States SBepartment of ^PE RSd JPeUeral Bureau of Inueatigatian -ee W asliington 25, D. C. NTION DE CL ASSIFY M E M O FOR M R. HOOV E R CAL L AHAN HINCE NANNA TOL SON CAL L AN JONE S, M . A. NAU GHTE N CL E GG CARL SON KE AY NE ASE CONNE L L E Y CARTWRIGHT L AU GHL IN PARSONS GL AV IN CONRAD L E ONARD PE NNINGTON HARBO DOWNING L ONG RE NNE BE RGE R L ADD E DWARDS, H. L . M cCABE , E . J. ROGE RS NICHOL S E GAN M cCABE , N. H. SIZOO ROSE N FE E NE Y mcguire TAM M , Q. TRACY FL E TCHE R, H. B. mcintire WAIKART BAU M GARDNE R GU RNE A M OBL E Y WAL L BOSWE L L M OHR WHITSON SAC L E TTE R NO. 38 Series 19^9 FLYING DISCS Y our attention is directed to Bureau Bulletin #57. Series 194?, dated October 1, I9U 7, relating to the discontinuance of investigation by this Bureau m atters concerning flying discs. For your confidential inform ation, a reliable and confidential source has advised the Bureau that flying discs are believed to be m an-m ade m issiles rather than natural phenom enon. It has also been determ ined that for approxim ately the past four years the U SSR has been engaged in experim entation on an unknown type of flying disc. The Departm ent of the Air Force has furnished to the Bureau the attached m em orandum classified "restricted" dated February 15, 19^9, entitled "U nconventional Aircraft." This m em orandum is being furnished to you in order that all agents assigned to your office can be inform ed of the type of inform ation desired by the Air Force in this m atter. nRierBL filed As set forth in Bureau Bulletin #57, referred to above, no investigation should be conducted by your office relative to flying discs, however, the attached m em orandum should be referred to in securing data from persons who desire to voluntarily furnish inform ation to your office relating to flying discs. V ery truly yours, John E dgar Hoover Director Enclosure 150 APR 4 IQ49 3 FL Y ING DISCS. INFORM ATION RE CE IV E D AT L OGAN, U TAH E L E V E N AM TODAY THAT AT NINE AM A GU ARD AT THE ARt;Y GE NE RAL SU PPL Y DE POT, OGDE N, U TAH, OBSE RV E D WHAT APPE ARE D TO BE AN E XPL OSION IN THE AIR ACCOM PANIE D BY A FL ASH OF L IGHT FOL L OWE D BY THE FAL L ING OF SIL V E R COL ORE D OBJE CT. THIS WAS SE E N AT HIGH AL TITU DE WE ST OF OGDE N NE AR THE TOWN OF TAY L OR, U TAH. ABOU T TE E SAM E TIM E L T. RON HATFIE L D OF L OGAN, U TAH PD SAW TWO PU FFS OF SM OKE HIGH IN THE AIR WE ST OF L OGAN FOL L OWE D BY FAL L ING OF SIL V E R COL ORE D OBJE CT. AL SO AT ABOU T SAM E TIM E U TAH HIGHWAY PATROL M AN L . N. JE PPSON AT M ANTU A, U TAH, SAW A SIL V E R COL ORE D OBJE CT HIGH U P APPROACHING THE M OU NTAINS AT SARDINE CANY ON BE TWE E N L OGAN AND BRIGHAM CITY , U TAH AND AS OBJE CT NE ARE D THE M OU NTAIN IT APPE ARE D ^ E XPL ODE IN A FL ASH OF FIRE . SE V E RAL RE SIDE NTS AT TRE NTON, U TAH, WH^f IS WE ST OF L OGAN, HAV E RE PORTE D TO SO, L OGAN, SE E ING WHAT APPE AR TO BE WO AE RIAL E XPL OSIONS FOL L OWE D BY FAL L ING OBJE CT WE ST OF TRE NTON AT ABOU T NINE TWE NTY AM TODAY . ABOV E INFORM ATION IM M E DIATE L Y FU RNISHE D TO OSI, HIL L FIE L D, U TAH.’ ANY FU RTHE R PE RTINE NT DE V E L OPM E NTS WIL L BE FU RNISHE D BU RE AU FOR INFORM ATION. OSI HIL L FIE L D HAS JU ST NOW ADV ISE D ABOV E PHE NOM E NA PROBABL Y CAU SE D BY TWO B TU E NTY NINE S FROM WE NDOV E R FIE L D WHICH ARE PRACTICE -BOM BING IN THE DE SE RT WE ST OF ACK AND / 0 HIGH AL TITU DE S WHICH WOU L D CAU S^.V APOR TRAIL S. OSI CHE CKING FU RTHE R AND WIL L ADV ISE THIS OFFICE OF RE SU L TS | APg 7J849 REC EIVED TEL ETY P E UN IT A pr 5 2 3 3 PH N9 F.B;I.D EP T. O F JUSTIC E 39'1 PP'k-V&H SON RECORD ED - 1 28 Date* l&y 2, 1949 To* Director of Special Investigations (!•&•) Departm ent of the Air Force The Pentagon Washington 25, D. C. Iron: John L dgar Hoover, Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation fee* FL IINQ DISCS A reliable and confidential source has recently advised this Bureau that during the first part of Anril, 1949, ttr. C. A. Atkins, 4312 L os Feliz, Hollywood 27, California, had infom ed bin that three em ployees of the Departm ent of Recreation in Parks in the city of L os Angeles, California, had noticed objects in the sky which appeared to be flying discs. The above inform ation is being furnished to you for whatever action you desire and no investigation is being con­ ducted relative thereto by this Bureau. E HM *m dd M r. Tolson U I. Clsgg_2 = M r. Glavni M r. L add M r. Nichols-“ M r. Rosen M r. Tracy"" w. E gan M r. Gum ea________ M r. Harbo M r. M ohr M r. PennTOTOFZZ M r. Quinn Tam m Tele. Room ________ M r. Neaae________ M l sr Gandy ■ CUM TIONS SECTION BY SPECIAL WESSE ^ v ^‘2 6 IE8A L B^SItV O F iMESTiG A TiO N , jE PABIM WT O F JUSTIC E ^dM 03 G HI jausnr jo i^3 o s o I 8 j w ooy TH-OJAIHSail 'M J *1 9 Z AVN to J oj^n “^ City of Los Ange le s C O MMISSIO N ERS M AU RIE LU XFORD "P RESID EN T M RS. ROLLIN BROWN VIC E-P RESID EN T M RS. WILLIAM J. WILSON C. TONY PEREIRA ROBERT L. BU RNS J. J. HASSETT SEC RETA RY C A L I FO RN IA D EPARTM ENT OF REC REA TIO N A N D P A RK 3 0 5 C ITY H A L L LOS ANG ELES 1 2 M ICHIG AN 521 1 G EO. HJELTE G EN ERA L MA N A G ER G ILBERT L. SKU TT SUP ERIN TEN D EN T O F P A RKS Hollywood,Calif.April 10,1949. M r.V A Iter V dnchell Nev; Y ork City,N.Y . M y Dear Winchell. With reference to flying Disc^ or other flying objects,thought you would be interested in the following. It in a m easure substantiates your statem ents. Friday of last week,three of our de­ partm ent em ployees were working in Griffith Park(the nations largest p^k) when one of them ,De Jarnett by nam e noticed an object sailing through the sky and took a good look to try and distinguish it*from planes that frequently fly over. About the sam e tim e two of his m en working about a half m ile awgy saw the object. They checked with each other and arrived at the sam e conc­ lusion. It was a Disc and they ran to a telephone to report to the see if the incident. In the m eantim e DeJarnett started location where his m en were working to check and they had seen the object. beyond They had both seen it which proves a question of a doubt that som ething of the Disc type was in the air and when the third m an stated he also saw it,I am satisfied you are very m uch right in your statem ents and I am inclined to call a person a liar that saysCther^^o dls^l C.a Xi tkins. 43 1 2'Los Feliz One of your fans^r IND EXED - •^(jEivtim ^ ■a*- ,=.?\°*j 5 0 El 1 ^is ^wo ■ s0*-' SA C - San A ntonio A pril 26, 1949 Director - FBI FLY IN G DISK S ^IN TERN A L SECU RITY - R Reference is made to your letter dated A pril 4, 1949, captioned “Protection of Vital Installations." Y ou are instructed in the future to information relating to flying disks under the above caption. In regard to your request for information that would substantiate or discredit the statements made by W alter W inchell on his broadcast of A pril 3, 1949, your attention is directed to SA C Letter N o. 38 dated March 25, 1949, captioned “Flying Disks.” For your strictly confidential information, the data contained in SA C Letter N o. 38 was obtained in confidence from a colonel in the U nited States A ir Materiel Command, who obtained his information from persons actively engaged in the investigation of this subject. N o interview with W alter W inchell will be made by the Bureau con­ cerning the source of his statements referred to in your referenced letter. EH M;mpd M r. Tolson M r. Clegg” M r. Glavfn- M r. L add ~ M r. Nichols M r. Rosen M r. Tracy_________ mt. E gan__________ M r. Gurnea M r. Harbo M r. M ohr "~~~ M r. PennlngTon^ZZZ M r. Quinn Tam Tele. Room IQ M r. Nease_________ M ise Gandy STA N D A RD FO RM N O . 64 Office Memorandum U NITE D STATE S GOV E RNM E NT to : Director, FBI date: April 4, 1949 fr o m : y SAC, San Antonio AIR M AIL SPE CIAL DE L IV E RY SU BJECT: PROTE CTICK OF V ITAL INSTAL L ATIONS (Bureau file 65-48300) PX Reference is m ade to San Antonio letter to the Bureau dated M arch 22 , 1949 which subm itted inform ation related by m ilitary authorities concerning ^^unconventional aircraft. The Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff, G-2, 4th Arm y, has advised ^l^that at 11:50 P.M . M arch 31, 1949 a lighted object about the size of a basketball ■'^'^reddish white in color, followed by a fire trail, was observed southwest of . - -cydlleen Base, adjacent to Cam p Hood, Texas. The observation was m ade by 1st '\ H^L t. FRE DE RICK W. DAV IS, who was in charge of a platoon, Com pany C, 12th Arm ored o^r^Infantry Battalion, which is assigned as a part of an alert force (called force Abel) from Cam p Hood, whose function is to protect the installation at Killeen kt* DAV IS advised that the object was at an altitude estim atecT'a’t——* WKL A6,000 ft., was traveling parallel to the ground and passed directly over him at S< a rapid rate of speed. It was in view 10 to 15 seconds and suddenly disappeared IWQ high in the sky without having descended. No sound or odor was detected. The night was clear and visibility good. The object passed alm ost directly over the air strip at Killeen Base. When L t. DAV IS attem pted to advise his headquarters by telephone im m ediately after the sighting, he heard static or electrical interference on the telephone line which he stated m ight be possible radio interference. . G-2 has advised that other lights of unknown origin were observed on M arch 6, 7, 8 and 17, 1949, by m ilitary personnel of the alert force stationed approxim ately 1000 yards east of the fences which surround Killeen Base. The object sighted on M arch 31, 1949 was reported different nature from the lights seen earlier in the m onth. as being of a would substa «\ g M AY 5 >949 evening broadcast ry definitely Office, inquiring as or discredit the state- It is noted that M r. WAL TE kWINCHE L L , on his Sund April 3, 1949, stated that "flying dises" seen in this coun em anated from Russia. On April 4, 1949, G-2 , 4th Arm y, contacted to whether we had any inform ation that m ents m ade by WAL TE R WINCHE L L . 2 co - E l Paso (100-4562) ^n& CORO®' ^ JE J: E D 100-7545 RECEIVED ATOMIC ENERGY LIAISON SECTION qpfi } Apr 5 ZnPM^ F.B.I. , U.S. DE U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE 4 03 PM W T-( r JUSTICE April 4, 1949L etter to Director SA-100-7545 In view of the interest and concern of 4th Arm y m ilitary authorities who have the duty of protecting the vital installations at L os Alam os, N. M ., Sandia Base, N. M . in the E l Paso Division, and the Cam p Hood area in the San Antonio Division, it is suggested that the Bureau m ay desire to arrange to have M r. WINCHE L L interviewed concerning the source of his inform ation that "flying discs" em anate from Russia. It would be appreciated if the Bureau can supply any inform ation that can be transm itted to m ilitary authorities which would ch. rify this m atter. - 2 - reW^;^ M ay 3, 1949 EX-43 M r. Carey 141 Clain < Davis Drive, Southeast Atlanta, Georgia Dear M r. Davis: Y our letter of April 27, 1949, has been received, and I want to thank you for sending m e the newspaper clipping which you enclosed together with your observations concerning the designs you subm itted to the federal governm ent in 1942 . Although I would like to be of service checks of the type you desire are not within the scope of this Bureau’s activities. It was very thoughtful of you to contact m e in that regard. Sincerely yours, John E dgar Hoover Director WN:rlc Tolson________ Clegg_________ OlavIn________ L add Nichols Rosen_________ Tracy_________ E gan__________ Gurnea,________ Harbo_________ 5 (=5555 5555555 _Pennington Quinn Tam _ Tele. Roon_________ M r. Nease________ M ise Gandy________ I'm going upafter it. At 20,000 feet, if I’m no The closest any airm an cam e to the m ystery discs was on Jan. 7, 1948. when one was sighted over Fort Knox, Ky., the dispatch said. Four fighter planes were sent aloft to intercept it. but only Capt. Thom as F. M antell was able to get close. “I’m closing in to take a good look," the newspaper quoted him as reporting by radio. “It looks m etal­lic and of trem endous size. It’s go­ing up now as fast as I am . That’s A nd D eath of P ilot W ho C hased O ne on the other hand it was not im ­possible that they were. L ater the Air Force announced it was not m aking any further com m ents on the discs.The Dayton paper says the report on which its story is based said “evaluation team s” stated:“We can’t prove or disprove the existence of sortie of the rem aining unidentified objects as real aircraft of unconventional design. “The possibility that the saucers are J consi form to a proa not the closer, I’ll abandon chase.” M antell’s plane crashed a few m inutes’later and he was killed.The paper said a report now on file at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base lists 240 dom estic and 30 for­eign accounts of flying discs as having been investigated. Of these, 30 per cent seem to have been weather balloons and the like and 30 per cent m ore are perhaps ex­plainable conventionally—leaving 40 per cent unexplained. The Air Force recently said there was no evidence that the discs were guided m issiles fired from som e other country, but that jew D ata, Ideas A bout Flying S aucers By U nited Press DAY TON, Ohio, April 2 7.—The only airm an who ever got near a flying saucer crashed and died be­fore he could describe it, the Day­ton Journal-Herald said today. The newspaper printed a lengthy dispatch on the m ysterious flying discs, based, it said, on hitherto un­published reports assem bled at the Wright-Patterson Air Force base. The Air Force investigation has proved that the flying saucers “are not a joke.” Neither “are they a cause for alarm to the popula­ tion,” the newspaper said. 360 m iles an hour. May 10, 1949 RECORD ED - 1 3 5 IND EXED -1 3 5 BI SPECIA L MESSEN GER To: Director of Special Investigations, (I. 0.) apartment of the A ir Force The Pentagon W ashington 25, D. C. From: J ohn Elgar H oover - Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation Subject: IN FO RMA TIO N CO N CERN IN G FLY IN G SA U CERS MBS. FW flSQA RDN ER - IN FO RMA N T Enclosed is a photostatic copy of a letter dated A pril 29, 1949, received by this Bureau from Mrs. Frank Gardner concerning flying saucers. The correspondent has been advised that a copy of her letter has been forwarded to the U nited States A ir Force. This letter is being forwarded to you for any action you may deem advisable. Tolson_________ »— L add N ichols Rosen_________ E gan__________ Guinea________ M arbo_________ M ohr Perm TnFE on”! Quinn Tam __ Tele. Room j M r. Nease ___ M l sr Gandy esg^i^w? 'COM M U NICATIONS SECTION BY SPECIAL ^U SENG ER ^ fW 1 1 1 949 ft FEBEfiA L SC REW O F fMai!E*Tl« A S. O EW TMEH T O F JUSTIC E iffpi? Q 3 X-& '^^^l^Q s "<^^9 01^ ^ ^ 3 K^d) W4c^ ^ ^ -W^(^ l^A- WA^u ^Am/» kM 4> tr OF JHSUCt Cla ss of Se rvice , This is a full-rate Telegram jr Cable­ gram unless its de­ ferred character is in­ dicated by a suitable symbol above or pre­ ceding the address. ^ U N IO im _ M A M X iriTji is STAN DARD TIM E at ptat of destination SY M BOL S D L — D ay Letter NL*-Night Letter LC ~D eferred Cable NLT-Cable Night Letter 122 0 Y I No SAU CER EV& 'RKU OVER The filing tim e shown in the date line on telegram s and day letters is STANDARD TI M E at point of origin. Tim e of U CD U 1 01 6 LO&b M L PI> NEWYORK NY 1 3 = WALTER WlNCHEU j^J^EY PLAZA HOTEL I M IAM I BEACH FLO= !?s«sw *k. ^HAVE THTONLY AU THENTIC JAPANESE IN THIS COU NTRY. EECa CTSE OF I YOU R INTEREST IN THE PRESENT D AY FLYING D ISvS OF- THE RU SSIANS WOU LD LIKE VERY M U CH TO ‘HAVE YOU JOIN M E ON THE BELIEVE IT OR NOT TELEVISION SHOW NEXT TU ESD AY APRIL 1 9TH NEC NETWORK 93 0 TO 1 0PM AND G IVE YOU R COM M ENTS ON FLYING D ISC AND YOU R EXCLU SIVE KNOWLED G E OF THIS LATEST RU SSIAN M ENACE. REG ARD S BELIEVE IT OR NO =RIPLEY= pUSM^f0 s n N°^3 ® *’ HaHOia1^03^33^ hay 10. 1949 H rs. irankA ^ardner 2310 W . Gttmy £1 ionte, California ear . rs. Gardner: I ish to acknowledge your letter dated A pril 29, 1949, and to express my appreciation for your thoughtfulness in writing to me. In view of the contents of your letter, I have taken the liberty of sending a copy to the U nitedStates A ir orce. In the future, if you to this bureau, you may find it have information which may be of interest more convenient to communicate with A r. R. B H ood, Special A gent in Charge of our Los A ngeles O ffice, 900 Security Building Los A ngeles 13, California. sincerely yours Ct Los A ngeles with cop of incoming. John Sdgar H oover irector The correspondent communicated with the Bureau on one previous occasion enclosing a clipping from a Spanish language newspaper in Texas. She was apparent­ ly dissatisfied with the manner in which the Latin A mericans were being treated in Texas. A cordial letter of acknowledgement was sent to her. (100-33339) FEW :jmf 4 J M r. Toloon________ M r. Clegg_________ M r. Glavln________ M r. L add__________ M r. NlchoIs^ZZZZ U r. Rosen_________ M r. Tracy_________ E gan M r. Gurnea________ M r. Harbo_________ M r. M ohr M r. Pennington M r. Quinn Tim _ Tele. Roon_________ M r. Nease_________ M l sr Gently________ COMMUNICATIONS SECTION M AILED 1 M Y 1 0 1 949 p.M . FED ERA L BUREA U O f iN VESTIG A TItW U. D EP A RTMEN T O F JUSTIC E IND HFn -1 01 jo M r 00-6 , Office o f D ir ecto r FED ERA L BUREA U O F IN VESTIG A TIO N UN ITED STA TES D EP A RTMEN T O F JUSTIC E April 25j 1949 Mr. Mr. Mr. Rosen Tracy Egan Gurnea Mr. Tolson Mr. Clegg Mr. Glavin Mr. Ladd The the The "To attached Director notation J. Edgar was forwarded to by Walter Winchell, thereon reads: H oover, Mr. H arbo Mr. J ones Mr. Mohr Mr. Pennington Tele. Room Time?" Mr. N ease Mias H olmes Miss Gandy Attachment mt 60 JUN 1O W M r. H. B. Fletcher'.. • U NITE D STATE S GOV E RNM E NT DA TE: May 23 19^9 FRO M F. J SU BJ ECT: :HRIE M ISCE L L ANE OU S M r. Tolson /le^— W/dlavln L add 5 M r. Nichol^ M r. Rosen_ M r. Tracy_ M r. E gan___ Gurnea Harbo_ On the afternoon of M ay 20, 19 h9, M iss Kaye L oehrie, U 900 N Harding Avenue, Chicago 2 $, Illinois, was referred to m y office from the Director’s Office. M iss L ochrie stated she was going to be in Washington for a few days arfid that she was staying at the Am bassador Hotel. She stated that RoyfPalm er, M anaging E ditor of the,Jeff Davis Publishing Com pany in Chicago, had som e inform ation regarding flying discs. M iss L ochrie said that Palm er’s theory was to the effect ^that'when people died their souls entered a space on this earth which is, of course, invisible to hum an eyes. He said that in this soul world there are good and bad people and that they have becom e involved in a war. According to M iss L ochrie, Palm er’s theory is that the flying discs which have been seen are the explosives be­ ing used in the warfare between the good and bad souls. M iss L ochrie stated that the real purpose of her visit to the Bureau was to get her own nam e cleared. She said that the FBI has been con­ ducting investigation regarding her and that she wanted to know the results of the investigation. I asked her what kind of an investigation the FBI had been m aking regarding her and she stated she was under suspicion of espionage activities. I inform ed her that I could not furnish her with any inform ation which is contained in the Bureau’s files inasm uch as our files have been designated as confidential by the Attorney General. M iss L ochrie accepted this explanation and stated regarding her present activities that she had been in the Wacs as a private and had re­ ceived an honorable discharge in 19h$. She said at the present tim e she is working as a m odel in Chicago. She im pressed m e as being som ewhat m entally unbalanced. A check of the files failed to reveal that we have conducted any investigation relative to this individual. FJB:TD 52 JU N 7 1949 BE cowro-e ^s j^^p^/-ffj^ IN D EXED - 62 Hay 24 aECEl«o.-^w „ i o PM ’iP tai’ 4u' A RECEIVED - Fl ETCHER 9 no ./W ’49 ^y/j li03^'',‘ VFD-niRFf J.S. DEPT, or . : T;c, May 24 \\ >3^^ STA N D A RD FO RM N O . 64 Office Memorandum • united states go ver nm ent Director, FBI SAC, New Orleans £ FL Y ING DISCS DA TE: June 2 , 19119 Re SAC L etter 38, dated M arch 2?, 19h9 entitled as above. The Bureau is advised that through the Office of Naval Intelligence, New Orleans, L ouisiana, this office has been advised that -within the past ten days three sightings of flying discs have been reported in the City of New Or­ leans. The infom ation seem s to be that the single discs were in straight flight and traveling in a general direction of North, in late afternoon, about the size of an observation plane, but the shape of a saucer. The Navy stated that two witnesses have advised that the object was traveling end over end; that weather conditions were good; that sightings vrere m ade outdoors by persons who did not wear glasses; that the dates were M ay 18, 19 and 23, 19h9. The Navy states that it was possible these objects were weather balloons, but that these are used from only one airport, released over an hour before the tim es of sighting and would generally be out of sight in a few m inutes. The above is being furnished the Bureau for future reference since the Navy has inform ed that all three instances were investigated by the Am y Intelligence PW/m m d .WW -6 “ * Vj To H oover H a!" u^ May 23j 1949 Office o f D ir ecto r FED ERA L BUREA U O F IN VESTIG A TIO N UN ITED STA TES D EP A RTMEN T O F JUSTIC E Tele. Room Mr. N ease Miss H olmes Miss Gandy Mr. Tolson Mr. Clegg_______ Mr. Glavin . Mr. Ladd _V_ Mr. N ieMpsV___ Mr. Rosysn Mr. Tracy Mr. Egan / Mr. Gurnea / Mr. H arbo Mr. J ones Mr. MohrX^___ "Mr. Pennington The attached was sent tv the Director by Walter Winchell. The handwritten notation there on reads: ‘^Attachment 1 San L uis Obispo ’ay 15, 1949 Walter Winchell New Y ork, New Y ork Dear Sir: U nder attached cover you will find am ple our item Should you do no m ore than take ou FL Y IN * SAU CE R out, care­ fully read the instructions, and fly it; I will have accom ­ plished a portion of m y expectations. California For the past few weeks I have listened with m ore than an in­ different attitude, to your various Sunday evening broadcasts and com m ents concerning Flying Saucers. From the start, m uch as m any another individual who has tried to get ahead by his own initiative, I have visialized what the right type of publicity would do for m y interests. To state m y actions in any other m anner, would belittle your intelligence, and the we-Im of forethought and sincerity in which this is subm itted. Y our com m ent this evening, concerning the Gyroscopic Theories, sparkplugged m y actions. Along with the phases of m erchandising m entioned in the att­ ached articles, I should like to m ention that one troop of Boy Scouts in L os Angeles are purchasing and nthusiastic- ally include them as a m ajor portion of their recreation program . By these facts, it is apparent that our L Y IN ’ SAU CL R is worthy of every effort we are able to sum m ons in m aking it anot^ggjlm erican pastim e of Y o-Y o proportions. Trusting that we are justified of your consideration from a newsworthy standpoint, I,rem ain v JU KI 51 3 49 1767 Conejo Drive San L uis Obispo, Califo ia Mr™ ww-Jw c^^ gaM Q o ^^w - '^H yw -S A w en GREAT FU N FO R THE W HO LE FAM ILY! FL Y IN -SA UC ER performs in on amazing w ay as you develop your skill in flying it. A novel w ay to play catch. Y ou w ill think of many games to play. A daptable to almost any game. HO W TO FLY L aunch your FL Y IN -SA UC ER straight ahead w ith a snap of your w rist making it spin as fast as possible. D O N ’T TH RO W TO O H A RD . . . . It's the spinning that gives it lift. Begin by flying about 10 feet. W hen w indy, throw across the w ind. Y ou w ill quickly learn how to bank to the left or right. =FAVMf-& WCEIt (A G yroscopic Airfoil) PRECISELY EN GIN EERED • AERO DYN AM ICALLY CO RRECT M ADE TO U GH TO RESIST RO U GH HAN DLIN G FLIG HT INSTRU CTIONS FLYIN' SAU CERS have flight characteristics very similar to airplanes. The SAU CER IS launched in identically the same manner as sailing y our hat onto a hook—by spinning and forw ard mo- t ion. In order to fly In a straight line, the SAU CER must leave the hand In a level position. To curve the SAU CER, It must leave the hand banked or tilted in direction of desired curve—for example: for left curve—the left side of the SAU CER must be tilted dow n. FOR BEST RESU LTS — The spinning of the SAU CER Is most important and most difficult to mas­ ter. Because the spin creates a gyroscopic action w hich control! the attitude of the SAU CER in flight, a smooth, fast spinning delivery should be developed D o not hold the SAU CER too tight. Analyze your mistakes and make corrections by tilting or banking SAU CER. The correction must be applied to the SAU CER as it leaves the hand. SA IL 'EM BA C K A N D FO RTH - P L A Y C A TC H I Begin by flying y our saucer about 1 0 feet. The distance y ou are able to fly it w ill quickly increase w ith practice. MA KE ‘EM TURN ! By releasing the SAU CER In a tilted manner, you can make it turn to the left or right. Bank It the w ay you w ant it to turn. It Is advisable to learn to fly straight be­ fore starting to make turns. MA KE ‘EM C O ME BA C K ! After learning to fly straight and make ns, y ou1II be able to SAU CER return to you y sailing it into the breeze at a sharp angle. The harder a w ind blow s, the flatter an an­ gle you can fly it to make it return Spin SAU CER as much as possi ble. MA KE ‘EM SKIP ! Right-handers launch SAU CER so that left side strikes hard surface. Right side for left-handers. _ H A H O SUR^A C L THE G AM E OF HECKLE THE G AM E OF HECKLE provides a means of utilizing the unique manner in w hich the FLYIN' SAU CER can be guided. Rules and regulations are provided, forming the basis for skill and compet11 ion PLAYERS — Four — w ith tw o on each team. OBJECT — To fly SAU CER around HECKLERS into your partner's circle. All Cir cle* ar e 6 feet in diam eter .. Center Space m ay var y with Anility. All play ers must remain in their circle until SAU CER is airborne. The game begins w ith the Flier (A) attempting to sail the SAU CER around the HECKLERS in the circles IB) and (C) so that his partner in the Receiver's circle (0) can catch it. Flier I A) must remain in his circle w hen serving the SAU CER. HECKLER IB) must remain in his circle at all times w hile his team is defensive. He may at­ tempt to stop the flight of the SAU CER, or distract the Flier in any manner. Should he step or fall out of his circle, his team forfeits I point and the offensive team retains serve. HECKLER IC) remains in his circle until SAU CER is airborne. He may then leave his circle to heckle the Receiver ID ) in any manner so long as he doesn't interfere w ith flight of SAU CER or touch the Receiver, or step into the Receiver's circle. Hecklers forfeit 2 points for each infraction. Receiver ID ) attempts to catch the SAU CER In his circle. Should he do so, then his team re­ ceives 2 points. Should it be necessary for the Receiver to leave his circle to catch the SAU CER, then his team scores but I point. Should he drop or miss the SAU CER, no points are scored, and the teams change positions. (A) changes w ith IB) and (C) changes w ith ID ). IC) is now the Filer, and IB) the Receiver. HECKLER 1 0) must remain In his circle, and the HECKLER (A) becomes the roving HECKLER. Teams change positions w hen the Receiver fails to cater the SAU CER. In the event that no Referee is available, disputes w ill be settled by mutual agreement, or the flip of a coin. First team to score 25 points w ins the game. KEEP 'EM FLYIN' This is a PIPCO PROD U CT San Luis Obispo, Calif. Flying Saucers C ome from Southern C alifornia Do yo u h ave spots before your eyes? Do vari-colored discs flutter and sail in the air in front of you? Do you see flying saucers in the skies? If you do, don’t call the doctor nor jum p on the wagon. And don’t worry. Other persons are seeing flying saucers too—seeing them fly through the air—and seeing them on the sales counters of the stores. Y ou can even pick them up and feel them , and, preferably, buy them to play with. It all started m any years ago—long before the recent flurry of flying saucers—when a little boy nam ed Freddie used to play with his m other’s pie tins. If he threw them with just the right twist of the Wrist, they spun and turned in fascinating curves. Freddie grew up into a m an called Fred M orrison, who always rem em bered what fun he had had playing with the pie tins. As a grown-up, he applied his knowledge of aerodynam ics to the problem of developing a disc which could be thrown and tossed and its flight controlled by the thrower. He evolved a m etal m odel that sailed through the air in a m ost satisfactory m anner. The curved disc was 9 in. in diam eter and a scant 2 in. deep, with radiating arc- shapped fins and a heavy outside rim . A snap of the wrist when throwing gives a centrifugal m otion to the disc which in turn gives guidance in flight. The radial fins create a vacuum on top of the whirling disc, and stability from beneath is provided by the heavy rim . The m etal m odel sailed through the air beautifully— but also, being m etal, it sailed through windows and hedges and other obstacles, som ewhat after the m anner of a m iniature cyclone. A m aterial other than m etal seem ed a wise idea if the disc—or flying saucer—were to becom e a com m ercial product. A lightweight, slightly flexible plastics looked like the answer, and M orrison brought his m etal m odel to Southern California Plastic Co., Glendale, Calif., to see what m ight be done in plastics. Stanley J. Gray and E dward L . Ken­ nedy, president and secretary of the firm , took the m etal disc out on the lawn to "dem onstrate” its possibilities and were soon breathlessly convinced that a great deal of fun could be had by young and old alike. A plastics m odel of the disc was carved from a solid block of m aterial, and then a m old m ade in the shop of Southern California. E ngraving of the m old was done by U nited E ngravers, L os Angeles. Then cam e the problem of the right m aterial. A search was m ade throughout the range of therm oplastic m olding com pounds to find the proper m aterial that com bined flexibility, im pact strength, and stability while in m otion. (The discs achieve considerable speed—and strain—when in flight.) Cellulose acetate provided the best com bination of properties to do the job. Acetate discs will not break glass windows, nor shatter when falling from a great height, nor scar the finish on autom obiles, nor injure the players. That's a real Flyin' Saucer this y oung man has just throw n into th? air—molded of tough and lightw eight cellulose acetate by Southern California Plastic Co., G lendale. D esigned in accordance w ith aerody namic principles, the Fly in' Saucer spins through the air w ith the greatest of ease. Note the radial fins on the disc in the boy's left hand. An investing part of the story is that producing the acetate "Flyin’ Saucer” is only part of the story. It is a product with a wide m arket (how m any yo-yos were sold in the U S last ear, do you suppose?); but it m ust be dem onstrated to be sold. E veryone who sees a Flyin’ Saucer in action is enthusiastic. Anyone who sees one lying on a sales counter is likely to pass by. That presents a m erchandising problem that has the sales staff of Southern California Plastic hard at work, thinking up ways and m eans for dem onstrations, action publicity, visual prom otional stunts. With a record of steady-selling staple consum er item s now on the m arket, Southern California has no intention of letting the Flyin’ Saucers sit on the sales counters. Carefully-controlled distribution, related to on-the-spot dem onstrations or pro­ m otional cam paigns, has been the rule so far. National m arkets will not be tackled until all the prom otional kinks have been unraveled. Reprinted from P A C IFIC P L A STIC S, A ugust 1948 "Sky D evil-Ship Scares Pilots; Air Chief Wishes He Had One EA L FLIERS DESCRIBE W IN GLESS A IRCRA FT Copilof J ohn" W hitted and Capt. C. S. Chiles (right). Plane M akers D ubious About Alabama 'Thing' By W ILLIA M K EY What was that Thing that scared the daylights out of two 1 Atlanta E astern Air L ine pilots in the spooky hours Saturday m orning? Is there som e stratospheric L och Ness fire-breathing m onster on the M ilky Way run between At­ lanta and New Orleans? The pilots. Capt. - C. S. Chiles, of Atlanta, and Co-Pilot J. B. Whitted, of Hapeville, would like to know. The Arm y Strategic Air ■Com m and would like to know. Big [ airplane m anufacturers also are 'curious, but slightly dubious. Pilots Chiles and Whitted told j their thrilling story upon arriv-; ing at m unicipal airport here Sat- | urday on the Houston-Atlanta. Boston run. Here is what they say they saw, near M ontgom ery: A gigantic plane without wings, iblack against the night sky. streaking through the heavens at 5,000 feet altitude with a fiery com et’s tail 25 to 50 feet in length. It had a 100-foot fuselage about four tim es the circum fer­ ence of a B-2 9’s, and two rows of brilliantly lighted square I windows. Creepiest of all, it was a veritable Flving^Jlutchm an of the Skies. Nary a living soul was seen aboard! ATL ANTA JOU RNAL SU NDAY , 7/2 5/48 Contiaunu$ tyght The pilots adm itted they had goose pim ples riding pick-a-back on goose pim ples. What’s m ore, they said one of their 2 0 passen­ gers—C. L . M cKelvie. of Colum ­ bus, Ohio—was awake and saw the sam e thing. Reporters nailed M r. M cKelvie at Kennett Square, Pa. How about it, they asked him —had he seen what the Atlanta pilots said he •saw? Well, now, said M r. M cKelvie— not exactly. He said he saw “no form of ship” whatever. He saw a “continuous light speed past” his window. “But,” added M r. M cK., “I’m not very well versed in aeronau­ tics, and certainly I wasn’t look­ ing for any Buck Rogers space ship.” Out at Santa M onica, Cal., the fam ous Gen. George C. Kenney, chief of the Strategic Air Com ­ m and, was bearded in his den. His eyes twinkled. No, he said, cautiously, it wasn’t one of his planes. The Arm y as yet hasn’t got anything like the Thing seen over M ontgom ery. N ot Boeing Plane “I wish we did,” the general said wistfully. “1 sure would have liked to see that Thing.” So said William M . Allen, pres­ ident of the Boeing Aircraft Co., up at Seattle. ‘.T’m pretty sure it wasn’t one of our planes,” said M r. Allen, m odestly. Alm ost identical statem ents is­ sued by the Arm y Air Forces at Washington and the U nited States Weather Bureau at M ontgom ery tended to throw som e light on this fantasy. Both sources sug­ gested that the Atlanta pilots had flown past an air radar weather observation balloon. Those things, they explained, are 10 feet in diam eter and have square, tinfoil boxes fastened to them . The boxes reflect light and “give strange illusions” as they twist and turn. M axwell Field said they send ’em up at six-hour intervals. And M axwell Field is at M ont­ gom ery. ATL ANTA JOU RNAL SU NDAY , 7/2 5/48 'Hying Floor Lamp- Again Sighted Here she did see “a great ball of fire with a great long purple tail on it.” That was about 9:40 p. m . •Bluish Streak of Light” An attendant at the naval air station thought he was watching a falling star, until it started clim bing and banked away from Atlanta. To him , it looked like a “bluish streak of light.” By CH A RLES PO U That “flying floor lam p” is at | it again! An . illum inated cantaloupe rolled over the city! And a newspaperm an saw “great balls of fire! What’s m ore, two Richm ond V a., schoolteachers say they saw the sam e “flam e-spurting” sky m on­ ster which was spotted by E astern Air L ines pilots near M ontgom ery. Like Red Floor Lamp “I saw Halley's com et—and it was nothing like what I saw last night.” declared M rs. W. R. Delk, of 914 Hem phill ave., N. W. Breathlessly, M rs. Delk continued: “The front end of it looked like a flying floor lam p—a fiery-red floor lam p. Then it trailed off in little square sections. “Oh, Halley’s com et was nothing I like that.” And M rs. Delk was joined by at । least 15 other Atlantians who saw a Thing which banked and rolled and breathed fire over the city M onday night between 8 p. m . and 9:45 p. m . In the downtown section,, M r. and M rs. Richard P. Sellers were And now about the newspaper­ m an. John Battle, city editor of the Augusta Chronicle, hung up the telephone after a dozen calls about weird goings-on in the Augusta S'!‘K' aHe looked R^c-J’iniK * He sum m oned his sta'^ s -! $ ‘®reat balls c^'irej* m inding their own business when a “reddish-white ball of fire about the size of a cantaloupe with a tail on it” darted over buildings. M rs. A. C. Siibj, lifCarey Park, has never seen a purple cow but ATIANTA JOU RNAL , 7/27/48 ^- Z^ Z//-M 'LIKE BIG FLOOR LAMP FLYING ALONG ——X Every body 's Seeing 'Things' Whizzing Through Night Sky By CH A RLES PO U Is that Thing no m ore than a wayward floor lam p? M rs. Noah Atkinson, of Brook­ haven, saw it. And what did that Thing look like? “A great big floor lam p, all lit up. Oh, it was beautiful!” And C. M . Bowles, an E xposi­ tion M ills painter who lives near the M unicipal airport, Sunday night saw a “huge, brilliantly lighted object” streaking over At­ lanta skies at m aybe 30,000 feet. M r. Bowles thinks the Thing was straight from M oscow. Two air line pilots first were startled by the newest astronom i­ cal “what-is-it” near M ontgom ery early Saturday. To them , it was “a wingless craft, spurting flam e like a Buck Rogers rocket ship.” E lse­ where, all over the country, that Thing was variously identified as:1. An alum inum covered bal­ loon. 2. A ball of fire. A Are-jgi usually bright light. 4. A red and blue flam e that burst in m id-air. 5. A flash of cherry fed fire. 6. A m eteor. M rs. Atkinson kept her Fly­ ing Floorlam p secret three weeks. But she knew she wasn’t seeing things when she saw the Thing. She and her husband, who also saw it, kept m um . The story really sounded a little silly until the two air line pilots saw their Thing gam boling and fire-breath­ ing through air-line skies early Saturday m orning. After that, she decided her tale could be told: “M y husband and I were sit­ ting on our front porch the night of July 5, and at a quarter to 9 o ’clock we saw this Thing. Our front porch doesn’t have a screen, and we were sitting near the edge where we could see good. “I saw it first. It was not high up—about 2 00 feet, I guess, but it looked like it was right above the treetops. ’L ooka there’, I yelled to m y husband, and he saw it too. "It looked like the top part of a floor lam p, and it was the prettiest thing I ever saw. It cam e and passed so quick—I guess it m ust have been 500 m iles an hour or faster.” And how about the two air­ line pilots, C. S. Chiles and John B. Whitted, of Atlanta? Well, they took off today, arm ed with a cam era. And they hope to bring back a picture of that Thing. Beach Throngs Crane At 'Silver Cy linder' ASBU RY PARK, N. J., July 2 6. (TP)—Boardwalk throngs at this resort city craned their necks M onday at a “silver cylinder” they reported flying high over­ head. They described it as “way up in the air,” and like a blim p “only blunt at both ends.” Officials, recalling “flying sau­ cers,” asked Fort M onm outh per­ sonnel to see if they could identify it. - ATL ANTA JOU RNAL , 7/26/48 CO PY CO TY csex 1515 - 9th St W ichita Falls, Texas A ug. 5, 1948 Publisher, A tlanta Journal, A tlanta, Georgia. Dear Siri O n J uly 25, 1948, I mailed a letter enclosing .35 cents In coin and an airmail self-addressed envelop to your circulation department, asking for tear sheets of the A tlanta Journal containing the stories on a "strange1’ or "mysterious” aircraft seen near Montgomery, A labama, July 24, 1948, by two pilots, Cap't C. S. Chiles and John B. W hltted, of the Eastern A ir Lines. These have not arrived. I asked for two copies each of the stories. Enclosed is an additional .35 cents, and another stamped self-ad­ dressed envelop. W ill you kindly see that your circulation department com­ plies with this simple request? I assure you that my Interest in the above stories is prompted by interest in the defense of our country, and you are hereby given my fullest permission to turn this letter requesting the copies of the stories over to the FBI, should you wish. Thanking you very kindly, I am, Sincerely, cc/A gent-In-Charge Federal Bureau of Investigation A tlanta, Georgia /s/ Mrs. Madeline Gwynne Merchant Mrs. Madeline Gwynne Merchant The incident was, I believe, an important one. A nd though I have already made reports to Maj. Sidney H ewburger of Los A lamos and to General K andy, I would appreciate the fuller newspaper stories appearing in the press there. Thanking you kindly, I am, Sincerely, /s/ Mrs. Madeline Gwynne Merchant Mrs. Madeline Gwynne Merchant C^PY CO PY CO PY 1515 - 9th St. W ichita Palls, Texas A ug. 5, 1948 A gent-In-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, A tlanta, Georgia. Dear Sir: Enclosed is a carbon of a letter requesting tear sheets of the un­ usual aircraft seen near Montgomery, A labama, J uly 24, 1948, stories con­ cerning which were carried by A P and U P, originating in A tlanta, It may have been oversight by someone in the circulation dep't of the A tlanta Journal, or it may have been "alarm" that a woman would be re­ questing this type of information, even though it was published, and there­ by open Information. Even though I cannot identify myself to the A tlanta Journal publisher or staff, I can to you. I have worked independently on the problem of aerial missiles, of which I believe this was an example, with all my data going di­ rectly to officials and members of the security office of the A tomic Energy Comm., Los A lamos A tomic Project, Loe A lamos, N .M., and to high members of the W ar Department, including Gen. Thomas T. H andy, Fourth U . S. A rmy Com­ mander, Ft. Sam H ouston, Tex,, head of this U . S. A rmy district. -cannot and should not ^ to do ks£e w a“of^^ nO t W lth the e!i«s-| n ly intolerant n?e^C O nvert be ohnd- L • *ntoieiant of those w hn - ™ 'nediatelv have the courage of alii h C ou g hs^C ol ds = rf'^^e than Ita dose. Try it today. at less el f com ijiunicator, CAA, i . Glenn airport, said none aircraft Preston of the L yncnburg tower m en had sighted any unusual objects in the sky. FBI - RIC H MO N D M aY 1 41949 IN REP L Y . P L EA SE RTFER TO RLE N O _______________________ federal Surrau nf Inucsfigatum W ited states SJvpartment nf hastier D id You See It? Well, What Was It? \ By W ELLS CA LDW ELL The strange object seen travel­ ing across the heavens just after sundown last night has caused widespread speculation here in Radford as well as in other sec­ tions of Southwestern V irginia and E astern Tennessee. E xactly what the m ysterious traveler was, no one here seem s to know, and the num ber of con­ flicting reports have only added to the confusion. This m uch seem s to be cer­ tain: the object appeared over the Southwest horizion shortly before 8 p. m . and was m oving eastward. Also, it was black, or at least part of it was. A Radford m an, living in the east end section, asked that his nam e not be used, but give this version: “I was working in the yard when I glanced up and saw a long black thing flying across the sky. It cam e from the direc­ tion of Pulaski. It looked a great deal like a rounded stick of wood which was burning in front. The object was trailed by either vapor or sm oke and faded from view when it seem ed to be directly overhead.” M rs. Alfred Tolley, of 1702 Seventh Street, west, reported her 12-year-old son, Albert, was playing next door and noticed the object. She said her son had been studying com ets in school and called her attention to the phenom enon, thinking that it was either a com et or a m eteor. “The strange looking object”, she said “was long and black with a light on the front end. It seem ed to follow the air route from the directon of Pulaski, later turning and heading toward Blacksburg. There was a light on the front end and great long streaks of fire. We saw it for about 10 m inutes.” M iss Joe Stewart, of the Rad­ ford College biology departm ent, said she saw the object and as­ sum ed it was the exhaust from an airplane. She added that she was “in no way alarm ed.” Fred W. Hurt, of Fourth and Harvey Streets, gave this ver­ sion: “At the first appearance it looked like a com et. I recall Halley's com et and it resem bled that. There was, at first, a bright spot ahead of the stream of fire, but the trail didn’t look so bright when the object reach­ ed its zenith. “It appeared to be m oving slow­ ly at first and later very fast, which indicates that it was quite a distance away when I first saw it. The object seem ed to follow a straight path, however it veered a little once — in sort of an arc — and then straighted out agin. I heard no noise.” M rs. Jam es D. Heinline, of 60 Jackson Street, M onroe Terrace, said she and her husband watch­ ed it with som e neighbors. “It looked like a long black cigar which was on fire”, she stated. “We heard a faint sound, which m ight have been a sm all m otor. At tim es it looked like an airplane ’way, ’way off. 1 thought at first it m ight be a com et or a m eteor, but it seem ed to be traveling too slowly for that. It appeared in the south­ west and traveled toward the east. There was a kind of red­ dish looking sm oke about it.” M iss Dody Jones, of Harvey Street, reported watching the phenom enom with a group of children in the neighborhood. She said it looked like “what I think a com et would look like.” “It was a red flare”, she con­ tinued, “which was light on the front. It m oved slowly from the Southwest and traveled what seem ed to be straight up- It curved toward the east and the fire streaks trailing it got longer as they began to fade out.” L . B. Graybeal, of Christians­ burg, a form er Air Force pilot, estim ated the altitude of the object at 6.000 feet. He said there was a light from the object as it passed over and a “roaring sound.” Other reports have been re­ ceived from as far West as Kings­ port, Tenn., and as far E ast as Bedford. FBI - RIC H MO N D M AY 1 6 :949 b / enclo sur e Remember Flying Saucers? Well Looks Like Flying Seegars Now Flying saucers are passe. Now people in Bristol are see­ ing “long, cigar-shaped ob­ ject” flashing across the sky. But Bristolians were not the only spectators of the strange craft yesterday evening. The flam ing object was re­ ported sighted at Kingsport, Christiansburg and Roanoke and three at Pulaski. Rex Rainey, 1805 State Street, reported that he saw a “whit­ ish, glistening m ass, long and cylindrical like a big cigar,” flying from east to west about 7:15 yesterday. He said he sighted the “cigar” flying very rapidly over V irginia Heights and got out his binoculars to look at it. An unidentified caller in­ form ed the Herald Courier last night that she had sighted som ething that “looked like white sm oke with a blue flam e that traveled to the north and e^t” about the sam e tim e. “It difin’t look like an airplane,” she said, “only like white sm oke. Ill was just a streak and alm ost oft of sight it was so high.” Another local wom an reported that she had seen a “silver streak that looked like it was about 100 feet long” flash across the sky shortly after seven o ’clock. She estim ated the speed at about 200 m iles per hour. A traffic controlm an at Tri­ Cities Airport, who asked that his nam e be withheld, said that the strange craft had not been seen at the airport although they had had inquires on the “cigar-streak.” He said he had checked with the Atlanta Air Route traffic control center after receiving inquiries but they reported no knowledge of any jet aircraft in this vicinity. He speculated that the streaks m ay have been caused by a jet- propelled plane or planes. “The objects were reported flying at an altitude of 30,000 feet,” he said. “If a jet plane were fly­ ing that high, it would be m ov­ ing so fast the vapor trail would be about all a person on the ground could see.” The controlm an said that the Pulaski radio reported two seen there. One about 4 p. m ., and the other an hour later. He said that Pulaski also had a pi­ lot’s report of the "streak” trav­ eling northeast at an altitude of about 30,000 feet. Reports on the “flam ing ob­ ject” were received at Chris­ tiansburg and Roanoke but air­ ports in those vicinities reported no inform ation on the strange craft. ^CLOSU RE- . Chimney Farm Nob le b oro, M a ine L ax [lL t Chimney Farm NOBLEBORD , M AINE Chimney Farm ^□b le b oro, M a ine uu FILE NO. 62-2542 V FH FED ERAL BU REAU OF INVESTIG ATION Form N o. 1 this ca se origina te d a t PHIL ADE L PHIA $ PE NNSY L V ANIA REP O RT MA D E A T PHIL ADE L PHIA, PA. D A TE W H EN MA D E 6-15-49 P ERIO D FO R W H IC H MA D E 5-20-49 REP O RT MA D E BY JAM E S L . KIRKL AND TnL E U NKNOWN SU BJE CT^i»uo,-<:ubU3T /♦ T .?'p;so .pus 'p'-.q po tcc^c >-qr kxx ^e pig ■' . “•' ' ■ puw'?’'£&$ ^yas >:uq o-'Uf.j O.rs2p -.or. St ■ ■ ■ • . c- rxydj;yx,3j aos tyyr jcq y xyi.C-psq pp^p o cox; ./t.si a'3 j;gpx.3: s^p .'V C £TX Xjn’C; ;. U| t V-'p.fXWv'O 4?O ^<: ■? k / - pe^xr xccu-Aaq V'°® c^ ,31.01 ■;'.■ ,.>7ss qj py :;rf r \ . '-,. rZcnsup q u'31-o ju pecr OAq pA Eft® .^-’^Tf- u; .Tt: u> qfp tu axMoueia ok EVcXa; M •". •' fl^Q^yviEFi^^ffl^ii? .- C>iVrtkx|& OU Cl “E • • rrtwcHFwyoa . 1 HEbO^XWVDS VJ. “ * j O/xEMHEV. H^OE | v<^iOO*OUfcEbOkiX WYDC »A - ’ uiivx i^ EEDEBVF BDBEVD Ok MAESJJeVllOW PH 62-2542 Acting Chief GE ORGE KINGTON advised that he had interviewed M ARQU ARDT at the tim e he cam e to the office since Captain HANNAN was absent at the tim e. He said that he then learned for the first tim e that the fire in question had taken place near Scranton, Pennsylvania, and haOccurred about sjj^onthg, .--Previously. This caused the M arshal’s Office to withdraw from the case on a question of jurisdiction and M ARQU ARDT was advised that any further action on his part should be referred to the State Police authorities. At the sam e tim e, KINGTON furnished M ARQU ARDT with the results of the analysis which had been m ade of the ash subm itted, and which analysis had been m ade by Dr. E DWARD BU RKE , City Chem ist, Chem ical L aboratory, Room 875, City Hall. This report reflected that the ash contained M agnesium , Alum inum , Iron, and Calcium in the form of silicates, sulphur and carbonates. FRE DE RIC M ARQU ARDT was interviewed at his place of business, the H. A. KU L JIAN COM PANY , Broad Street and Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At this tijne he advised that he had received the sam ple of ash from a friend, WOCDXz^HAE FFE R, L ake Ariel, R. D., Wayne County, Pennsyl­ vania, through the m ail* He said that L ake Ariel is about one m ile south of South Canaan, near Scranton, Pennsylvania. He stated that SHAE FFE R’S house had burned about six m onths ago, that the fire had occurred at night during a storm and that a large object had struck the roof and ignited the house which had burned to the ground in less than an hour. He said that he had not been present during the fire but that these details had been furnished by letter from SHAE FFE R at the tim e a sam ple of the ash was forwarded for analysis. He said that he was of the personal opinion that the ash m ight be a part of a m ilitary flare or a ’’flying saucer”. He pointed out that he has been advised by associates in the engineering field that one of the characteristics of som e types of flares is the fact that they burn for a considerable period. He stated that the m ass of the ash residue had rem ained ignited for a period of twelve hours. He also stated that he did not think there had been an explosion but that a loud noise had probably been caused by the vacuum created as the m issile or object struck the roof. He added that there rem ains a quantity of the ash, am ounting to one bushel, at SHAE FFE R’S prem ises at L ake Ariel. - 2 - PH 62-2542 M ARQU ARDT advsed that he had been em ployed by the Atom ic E nergy Com m ission at Oak Ridge until 1943* He was entirely rational. He discounted the theory that a portion of a m eteor had struck the house on the basis of the chem ical analysis m ade by the City Chem ical L aboratory. M ARQU ARDT advised that at the suggestion of the City authorities, he had written to SHAE FFE R and suggested that any further in­ quiries be directed to the State Police. The file of the Philadelphia Office reflect that the records of Im m igration and Naturalization Service were negative to an inquiry concern­ ing FRE DE RIC S^ARQU ARDT, OE M (Bureau File 77-30297). The files of this office likevri.se reflect that M ARQU ARDT by letter received August 14, 1947, requested of this office the identity of a powder or dust used to catch thieves. Inasm uch as there is no violation indicated within the Bureau’s jurisdiction, there is no further investigation being conducted in this m atter. However, the ash residue obtained from the Fire M arshal’s Office is being forwarded to the Bureau L aboratory for any interest or study the L aboratory m ay desire to conduct relative to flares or in connection with the possibility of the presence of ’’flying saucers”. - CL OSE D - - 3 - ERA L BUREA U O f iftA o* < «'■ "'" II. S. D EP A RTMEN T O F JUSTIC E C O MMUN IC A TIO N S SEC TIO N TELETYPE FBI M AHA 7-14-49 4-55 I.vE CTOR U R G E N T FL Y ING DISCS INFORM ATION CONCE RNING M r. Tolson M r. L add.. M r. Clew. M r. Nichols PM CST WHIL E ON V ACATION R M r Tracy ... M r. Serbo .. M r. M oLr Tele. Boom . M r. N®an®-.. ma G andy HE HAS FU RNISHE D FU L L INFORM ATION CONCE RNING SAM E TO U .S R RE PORTE D TO THE BU RE AU U NL E SS ADV ISE D TO THE CONTRARY DAL TON E ND ACK DC E JC FORCE INTE L L IGE NCE , FORT CROOK. NE BRASKA, AND SAM E WIL L NOT BE 94i PL S AT L AKE OF THE WOODS, NE AR KE NORA, ONTARIO, CANADA, SA CL T^E G ^^ ■ M ATTHE WS OBSE RV E D U NCONV E NTIONAL AIRCRAFT RE SE M BL ING FL Y I^ DISC 31 ■3W3U fA ^ifh’wt^o RECEIVED TEL ti i. --■ Jul 14 6 5 9 P O '°< D EPT. Or JU STICE 30IJSQC JO j. lU 'S'a 4#V gOU SOf J0"1^ * HQW^F’^h ^UA '^ h|1R Q3 M3 0 3 ^ y3 H 0 13 U~Q3 A I3 0 3 8 STA N D A RD FO RM N O . 64 O ffice Memorandum U NITE D STATE S GOV E RNM E NT TO : DIRE CTOR, FBI fr o m : SAC, NE W ORL E ANS SU BJECT: FL Y ING DISCS AND SAU CE RS M ISCE L L ANE OU S INFORM ATION CONCE RNING DA TE: July 21, 1949 For the Bureau’s inform ation, several citizens in the com m unity of Alexandria, L ouisiana, have recently reportedly seen flying discs. The Alexan­ dria, L ouisiana daily paper has carried num erous articles concerning thia. At a recent m eeting of the Y oung M ens Business Club in Alexandria, a m em ber suggested that since Alexandria, L ouisiana is known as a convention city, the club should try prom oting a convention of flying saucer seers. This particu­ lar com m ent appeared in the Alexandria paper and was picked up by the AP lines. M r. A. M ,/DdANGE L O, a m em ber of the Y oung M ens Business Club, advised Special Agent WAL TE R E . M OE HL E that since the AP release, they have received a large num ber of requests regarding the convention of flying saucer seers from m any parts of the U nited States. M r. DeANGE L O states that the interest of the people is evidenced by their inquiries about convention particulars, stating they are flying saucer seers and want to attend such a convention. This gentlem an further advised that in view of the volum e of inquiries com ing in, it appears that the Y M BC will have to hire an em ployee to handle all the correspondence. It m ight be noted that he advised a representative of the Air Force from Barksdale Field, L ouisiana, has inquired as to plans of a flying saucer convention, stating that they are interested in furnishing an observer if such a convention were held. This inform ation is being furnished the Bureau, as it is possible such an enterprise m ay cause people to falsify that they have seen flying discs or fly­ ing saucers. Such falsifications m ight be m ade so that they m ight attend such a convention or becom e official delegates thereto. WE M :gp 62 -0 RECORD ® - ® index® • ® 63M 2 9;yf . j _j^i.hi<2« ..aA sansa bcobjfi xo tajEpA bps/ r '. paA & .u ..a?:- $1^? ^ V' ip^c ruV^sp^ --u J’s w.jk vha?-?uei fps jnvsn'- - t- fc x^rrjTc. ancL' i -■ :• . • . . .' 1 ' ’■ ■ ■ • . i . ate# ■ .7. .■ v ■ ■■ - .■ ;..i,-‘: yu’ Tr sbbssj.- . ■ .-? /pt- ; / . . ■ ; 3t -PP5 ^oynw o.i. ~ ■ t bsx^ron^ts’ abs^yo^ . . - •■ - Lad^edba L^S^gTi/? pps csHAWjrTOV oi, ..'' T:' '.-ns . • • • ? .7 •■■’mojii, rft*. •■.$/•• .: p’Jv- H7k .6 '. ■,<-7.tri;'. * ; oryr.j: fs fr /vo. . rr. ^ ."’■.. ■ ; iu cy.:-' SAC, Phoenix June 30, 1949 RECORD - Y ^ Director, FBI 0 WIL L IAM AL BE RT RHODE S INFORM ATION CONCE RNING FL U NG DISCS Reurlet June 8, 1949, captioned "Flying Discs." It is believed that the reference appearing in the first line of your referenced letter to the Bureau is incorrect. Com plete details m atter referred to in your referenced com m unication appear in a your office dated Septem ber 4, 1947* and not Septem ber 9# 1947. concerning the letter from Pursuant to your request, you are granted authority to furnish the attached blind m em orandum , which was forwarded to the Bureau with your referenced letter for approval, to M r. L ynn C. Aldrich, 061 representative, Phoenix, Arizona. Attachm ent E HM :E FF 5B^I55m5lf555 Tolson Clegg__ Glavln L add “ Nichols' Rosen Tracy E gan Gum ea Harbo______ M ohr Pennington' Quinn Tam Tele. Room ____2 M r. Nease M ise Gandy COMMUNICATIONS SECTION M AILED 1 5 * JU L 1 1 949 P.M . „ JttDE M ta»yM 5.0riW:STi5AT«0H J u s p£M SW.£NT OF jusnot ^^"^^ J; ' W ^?l / » • ' M U 3 3 2 ezo:T/piriU M M OO G F G 3 J ! A M .M .9 CM 1 lU t * * v*’.-.s .vjcn ’ > *;<*)» v ’hw sa 'ik: j » I STA N D A RD FO RM N O . 64 Office' Memorandum U NITE D STATE S GOV E RNM E NT to : Hr, H. B. Fletche fr o m L ish Whitson SU BJECT: WIL L IAM AL BE RT/RHODE S INFORM ATION CONCE RNING ' FL Y ING DISCS'___________ date: June 30, 1949 Tolson L add Clegs Olavin Nichole Rosen Tracy Harbo '■ M ohr Tele. Roos Purpose «.» G andy Y our approval is requested in order that the attached letter and m em orandum can be forwarded to the Phoenix Office, authorizing that office to furnish the attached m em orandum to M r. L ynn C. Aldrich, OSI representative, Phoenix, Arizona. Background In July 1947, William Albert Rhodes was jointly interviewed by Special Agent J. Bailey Brower (Bureau Agent) and George Fugate, Jr., A-2 representative from Ham ilton Field, California. The purpose of the interview was to secure from M r. Rhodes inform ation and photographs of a flying disc, which had been sighted and photographed by Rhodes. The com plete results of the interview and subsequent events are contained in the attached m em orandum subm itted by the Phoenix Office. M r. L ynn C. Aldrich, OSI representative at Phoenix, Arizona, has requested the Phoenix Office to furnish him com plete facts relating to this interview, which are to be subsequently forwarded to the OSI Office at San Francisco. According to Aldrich, M r. Fugate, referred to above, has been questioned concerning this m atter by his superiors and he has advised them that his recollection is “hazy" on the m atter. According to Aldrich, M r. Rhodes has apparently now requested the Air Force to return the photographs, which were previously obtained from him . Recom m endation It is recom m ended that the Phoenix Office be advised that the m em orandum attached m ay be forwarded by them to M r. Aldrich, OSI representative, Phoenix, Arizona. Receive ^UG I 2 5U PM ■ I RECEIVED FLETCHER npp- >p icticf B - ^xct ’unM II 53 UN ’’1° 1 . . : - > . • T ' si • i l : po • " r.jfoetsp- cl~c-' vh^.o:;'; x;a r ■ / 07 r? i. •’ ■'' ■:,7>7 T'- :.. .• or ,gl ri ; r- ' s/p c so ' r^". il Surratt of luurstigatinu K nifrii States Department of H iisttee Phoenix, Arizona June 8, 1949 Director, FBI RE : FL Y ING DISCS Dear Sir: Refer Phoenix letter to Bureau, dated Septem ber 9, 1947, captioned, RE PORTS OF FL Y ING DISCS, for the attention of Assistant Director D. M . L ADD, setting forth the result of an interview con­ ducted by GE ORGE FU GATE , JR., then a representative of the Air Force Intelligence, from Ham ilton Field, California, and Special Agent J. BAIL E Y BROWE R with one WIL L IAM AL BE RT RHODE S, 4333 N. 14th Street, Phoenix, Arizona, concerning his observation and photographing of an object which was considered by the Air Force of significance from a security standpoint. On June 7, 1949, M r. L Y NN C. AL DRICH, OSI representative, Phoenix, Arizona, called at this office, advising that he had been requested by his superiors in San Francisco to obtain detailed in­ form ation concerning this interview since RHODE S apparently, has requested the Air Force to return the photographs. • ' " FU GATE , when questioned by his superiors concerning the m atter, stated his recollection was ’’hazy" on the m atter. OSI is anxious to secure the substance of inform ation in the Phoenix file concerning this m atter. M r. AL DRICH was furnished the substance of the interview, as set forth in letter of reference and he has now requested that he be furnished with a blind m em orandum setting forth this inform ation in detail in order that he m ay m ake it available to the OSI at San Francisco. A m em orandum setting forth this inform ation has been pre- pared by this office and is attached hereto. The Bureau i shouldp.be'm ade avalto advise if such m em orandum houl equested Attachm ent WAM -kb 62-213 yw W. A. M U RPHY . ' SAC AIR M AIL sai tcai? - ic»:l to w nainS In?iG jt> «iO :»nd eon 9tf Jr-fW nnlafv^fl .■•u/’^o ain i Jr.. t»4£L ^\e:roa\^ -ni b9Ts£j0O fi.te.Jd6 qJ I'f-aipnAn^ rcl ci 'rfQrroy^ Bid ■<’.•'.•■ ^oJaawooi r 9‘J4-3H'tKi©rnoo'rro.?.-Tsc../3 .sbi ^d. b^nobteevo a$rM ,2 Tk-^J.jjjL xi ICO iied4*-.® •■;>-•• J 60 ''i«d? asw. ne?J swlloo^ aid hsiede •^s.tdw $£i\ xiniKjd^ and » c rrTd/.t/iHolnJ' 10 eortodadue aril V tueoa od ^Hiij^s: lo.ewbfedifs and-b'XtaioiM l ecw'M OIflCJA »iM .'TM ie? 3.M 4\^iJft3aflf>:? won ssri ad boB aon'jia'fai. Io is.tiei nt ddigi 4'»9 or ^rc.tvs^nJ 9f'4 .;*7pi snid'daa fiuibheionsp bnlj.d.6 ddi'^ bo'ffainTwl ad &d'JjJj baAoak^'O-x . •” 1 ■ L dHunw-di KTcn \Otjf dri isilJ io tto nl IXirJob n.r npldBRnoTtri si43 --:■'( ■'.<<' ■ ■' ■ J dj'jpl 3«i(Jd6B ;n:inni.-ir> ^n Ai ^Sesrinff': ei r-u/n:.. •■ •; 1 .oJaifH: bedni 44s ai bns? on.rl ^Ci bsrisq STA N D A RD rO RM N O . 64 O fficeMem TO FRO M SU BJECT: the TH E DIRECTO R D. M. LADD m • U NITE D ST GOV E RNM E NT DA TE: -July 20, 1949 You will recall that Mr. Ernest Cuneo advised Bureau of a letter which Valter Winchell had received U r. Tolson U r. Clegg____ M r. Qlavln U r. L adA K ~ M r. NlchfM Z^ M r. RoseW________ M r. Tracy M r. E gan__________ M r. (Jurats________ M r. Hartx>______ M r. M ohr M r. Pennington____ M r. Quinn Tam Tel®. Roon________ M r. Ne as®__________ M iss Hoboes_______ M iss G&ndy________ from an individual in Los Angeles indicating that he had seen a flying saucer leave the ground within his view and which letter he theorised that this might have been a landing from another planet. in The Los Angeles Office was requested to locate and interview the writer of this letter, Peter Camerlon Jones, 164 West 37th Street, Los Angeles 7, California. The Los Angeles Office has now advised that the present owner and former manager at this address have no knowledge of any Peter Camerlovr^ones and that other investigation to locate Jones was unproductive. It would appear, therefore, that this may have been a prank. You may desire to advise Mr. Cuneo that there is no such person at the address given inasmuch as he indicated that Mr. Winchell intended, to do a .column on this letter. IND EXED '- 5 » -"'l 26 (949 !. VED - OIRFC’ F B i j. S.OEH. OF jusnct Jin. 22 10 is AM’49 16 PIO ^