65 HS1-834228961 62-HQ-83894 Section 3

Office Memo: .dum + owrrep s1

TO

wn FROM

SUBJECT:

Director, FBI DATE: September 4, 1947
(a)

SAC, San Francisco UY AIRMAIL
SPECIAL DELIVERY

REPORTS of- FLYING DISCs

Enclosed is a copy of a letter dated August 25, 1947, with
attachment fran Lt. Col, DONALD L. SPRINGER of A~2, Hamilton Field,
California. Even though Col. SPRINGER feels that Mr. JOHNSON may
have read some of his claims in a newspaper, Col. SPRINGER believes
that Mr, F. MX JOHNSON should be interviewed in this matter.

In accordance with Bureau Bulletin No. 42, dated July 30,
1947, Portland is requested to exhaustively interview Mr. F. M,
JOHNSON, 106 N.W. First Ave., Portland, Oregon, regarding his
alleged sighting of a "flying disc" on June 24, 1947. Copies of
the result of this interview should be furnished the San Francisco
Field Office for distribution to the 6th Army Intelligence,

DWK:MR
Encls. 2
62-2938

cc Portland (Incls. 4) — AMSD

HEA

Office of

Hamilton Field, California

Special A

gent in Charge, FBI, U, S
Federal Office Building

S. Department of Justice,
» Room 422, Sen Francisco, Calif.

le: The attached true copy of a letter from Mr

« Fe Me Job

was received by this officer 22 August 1947.
2. Your attention is invited to the similerity between Arnold's

early report and is gentleman's report, A possibility exists that

Mre Johnson might ve reed some of this'in the newspapers when Arnold
was publicized re this matters

5. This headquarters does not intend to investigate this incident.
Tt is requested thet a result of any interview you may make be furnished
this feadquarters.

DONALD L. SPRINGER

ne MW Lt. Colonel, Gs¢

utr fr F.M, Johnson AG of S, A-2
(True Cy)

TAM DID T
CONFIDENT:

Lte Col. Donald L.
Saw in

in re

Sire
cle

greater

were stan

TRUE COPY:

Li Colonel, G8¢/

AC of 8, A-2

ON, August 20th

1947

DENTPIAI

RIDT
ZiINivL

DDIViiAL,

ards to
any basis

istri

ure

ot

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ou

pass

STANRARD FORM NO. 64

SUBJECT:

6

Office: Men dum * UNITED § GOVERNMENT

Director, FBI DATE: September 4, 1937
Atten: Assistant Director D. M. LADD
SAC, San Francisco

AIRMAIL

Enclosed for your information are copies of two letters
from Lt. Col. DONALD L. SPRINGER of A~2, Hamilton Field, California,
dated August 27, 1947, with attachments reporting the sighting of
"flying discs" on Guam, and result of A-2 investigation at Tacoma
and Kelso, Washington.

DWK: MR
62-2938

anemia
" ‘ SY CECDE-
\ - @ SECRE rT a

HEADQUARTERS FOURTH AIR FORCE
Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff, A=2
Intelligence
Hamilton Field, California

27 August 1947

5/1208- *
335. I

62-2937 :
SUBJECT: Re Flying Disc.

TOs Special Agent in Charge, FBI, U. S. Department of Justice,
Federal Office Suilding, Room 422, San Francisco, California. {
X

V

1. Following is extract from the Weekly Intelligence Summary,
Air Transport Command, Washington 25, D. C., dated 20 August 1947,
Copy Nos 120, Article I, Pg ls

|

j

|

f

|

| “PLYING OBJECTS IN GUAM: Unidentified flying objects have

boon observed by three Americen enlisted men of the 147th Air=

| ways and Air Communications Service Squadron at Harmon Field,
Guem, The men report that at 1040 hours on 14 August 1947 the
‘two objects, which they describe as small, crescent shaped and
traveling at a speed twice that of a fichter plane, passed over

f "i them on « zig-zag course in a westerly direction at an

—— mate altitude of twelve hundred feet. The objects dis

bene ‘Aimto clouds and a few seconds later a similar object possibly

one of those previously observed, emerged from the clouds and

proceeded west. No further details have been reported."

2- Yor your information.

L. SPRIM
Lt. Colonel, GSC
: AC of S, Aw?

ie)
dy)
(
50
thy
“4

HEADQUARTERS FOURTH AIR FORCE
Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff, A-2
Intelligence
Hamilton Field, California

4APDA 27 August 1947
333 65/1208-1

JECT: Investigation of Flying Dise.

Special Agent in Charge, FBI, U. S, Department of Justice,
Federal Office Building, Room 422, San Francisco, Californie.

Attached summary forwarded for your information.

DONALD L. SPRINGER
1 Incl: te Colonel, GSC
Summary of Information. AC of S, Aq?

AUG 30 1947

SAN FRANCISCC
ROUTED 10 s

POURTH AIR FORCE
t Chief of Steff, A-'
gence

lamilton ld, California

4AFDA 27 August 1947
333 5/1208-1

SUBJECT: Investigation of Flying Disc.

Special Agent in Charge, FBI, U. S. Department of Justice, .
Seattle, Washington.

Attached summary forwarded for your information,

1 Incl: DONALD L. SPRINGER
Lt. Colonel, GSC

Summary L
AC of 8, Ae?

ascue SERVICE
CHMENT 8 (62d AAF 50)
MeChord Field, Tacoma, “ashington

4 August 1947
SUBJECT2 Pinal Mission Report
TOs Commanding Officer

Air Rescue Service
WaeDill Field, Florida

le MISSION NUMBER ThirtyeNine.

2- NATURE.

&- Ab 0400 PST, 1 August 47, ARMY FLIGHT SERVICE notified this
Getachnent that a plane had been seen to crash and burn thirteen (13) miles
south of KELIO, Washington (46°R'N, 122°55'W).

Se ACTION TAKEN

@e 1 Aug 47. At 04:50 PST, APS received information from Mrs

Ce Clark, local sheriff of KELSO, he, that the scene of the crash was
fifteen (18) to twenty (20) sithes east of KELSO in the vicinity ef GOBLE
CREBK. ‘The KELSO Chief of Police saw an aireraft fly low over the tow,
then crash and burn to the east. ‘The time was about 0256 PST, A check of
airoraft mown to be in the vicinity revealed that 5-25 71516 had departed

D FIELD at 0212 PST for HAMILTON PIELD, California. The weather was
reported as CPRs A full moon made visibility exceptionally goods. The
pilot's nome was CAPT. W. C. DAVIDSON; the plane carried three ($) additional -
persona. ‘The Base Operations Officer and Base PIO were notified. Thi¢e
detachment began organizing « ground party of base personne] to supplement
that being formed by the KELSO Chief of Police. At 0500 PST information
was received from KELSO by APS that ground fog in the valleys st seene
of the crash was preventing a ground party from locating % plane. Since
no communication had been received from 8-25 #1316, it was umed thet it
was the plane reported as crashed. ARS C47 was pre-flighted to treneport
the Arny ground party to KELSO but a check ef the field conditions there
deemed it advisable to use a smaller aircraft. Of the two Ceé5s available,
one belonging to APS wes unserviced after a night flights the other, belong-
ing to AACS, wus readied even though @ responsible officer of that organ-
ization was not present to euthorige the flight. Fog at KSLSO prevented
takewoff until 0700 PST. The ground party, led by CAPT. W. L. LITTRELL and
C. E » consisted of six men including a nedicel technician
end a photographer. At OG00 » the KELSO Chief of Police notified AFS
that a passenger of the crashed airplane wes in his office and had confirmed

Subjects Final Mission Report” 4 August 1947

The belief that the crash was that of the unreported 3-25, The Passenger,
TAPF, of FT. LAWTON, SEATTLE, was uninjured, but reported that
chief, T/Sgte Ne De MATHEWS, was at a farm house near the scene of
the orash and was injured. Sgte TAFF then led en ambulance to Sgt. MATHEWS
who was subsequently taken to @ local hospital, At 0610 PST an attempt
was made to telephone Sq, 3 at HAMILTON FIELD but no answer was received;
however, it was mown that HAMILTON APS was aware of the incident and
would notify Sq. 8. At 0700 PST Capt. LITTRELL departed in a Ce46 for
At O745 PST Sq B wae contacted by phone end given a flash report.
PST CAPT LITTRELL phoned and informed that he had placed CAPTAIN
© in charge of Army personnel proceeding te the seene of the crash.
No serial search necessary sa civiliens in the area knew tho exact
location of the erash and had reported finding one (1) body in the wreokkge.
CAPT. LITTRELL prepared to fly Sgt'’s TAFF and MATHEWS to MCCHORD FPIRLD a
for medical attention, arriving at 0945 PST. The survivors steted that |
they believed neither the pilot nor co-pilot has parachuted from the
planes. ‘The cause of the incident was at thie time determined to be a fire
in the left engine, CAPT LITTRELL was informed by Sgt. TAFF that he
believed classified documents had been aboard the planes CAPT FORSBERG
was instructed to take necessary precautions. An anbulance met the plane
at MCCHORD FISLD carrying the two survivors and took thom to the hospital.
Interrogation revealed that the left engine had onught fire in the power
section and flames and smoke had spread to the flight deck almost imned-
lately. The crew chief, MATHERS, ieted TAFY in attaching his chest
pack and TAPP abandoned the plane at an estimated altitude of 10,000 ft
(thie fact Le doubted tut ta not considered necessarily rolevant)«
UATHEWS helped the pilot and co-pilot attach their chest packs (211 per=
sonnel had boon wearing the harness) and as he left the plane wos aware that
the co-pilot wan preparing to follow. The pilot had started to leave and,
to the best recollection of MATHEWS, was partially stending and holding
the control wheel with his left hand. MATHEW'S statenents indicate that
proper emergency procedures had been performed but that the flames had en-
veloped the «ntire left side almost immediately. TAPF stated that, because
of the full moon and good visibility, he MATHEWS leave the plane and
was able to follow the plane to the ground and that he saw no one else
bail out. The ship was enveloped in flames and was beginning to fell apart
vefore hitting the ground where it exploded and burned about one (1) mile
from where he, TAFF, landed. le lit in a tree, end not knowing how to
release his parachute of the quick-detachable tind, cut himself loose frou
the herness with hie pocket knife. Se kicked end struggled and eventually
jumped to the ground, receiving e jolt on impact but was unable to cuess
how far he hed fallen. He thon followed a cow path for an estimated two
(2) miles to a farm house, arriving efter MATHEWS, Moanwhile, as MATHERS
eleared the plane he turned and sew the plane strike the ground, explede
and burne Just before or just at the time of impact he saw an object
afire thrown clear of the plane but did not know whether it wes « person
or part of the planee MATHEWS also Lit and after freeing himself
from his harness, fell to the ground wh i s back. te lost
conselousness and on recovering went to the burning piene, about fifty

DIDO TrAT
PTD tA

ee es

: Final Mission Repers * 4 Auguet 1947
-
(60) yards away. Flares were going off and he thought best to leave the
Scene, He heard a stream nearby end followed it until he came to a house and
roused the oceupantss Seon TAFF arrived at the same house and, being un-
injured, was driven into towne. Then he led an anbulance to effect transporta-
tion of MATHEWS to a hospitale Meanwhile, civilians r ned the seene of
the erash where they found one body. At 0930 PST, a message from Sq 3
informed that top sseret material was in the navigators kit and to request
fommanding Officer MCCHI to expedite al1 available information to
Commanding Officer BAMIL' FIELD. Meanwhile, CAPT PORSSERG and four (4)
enlisted men departed KELSO at 0830 PST for of the crash. ‘hoy were
transported by the * {INGTON STATE POLICE who knew the exact locetion of
the plane (46°09'N + 122043'W). ‘The ground party determined upon arrival
16 soene, that two (2) bodies were in the wreckage. Indications led to
belief thet the co-pilot was afire when he left the plane an instant ‘
before impact. Th. pilot's ‘ins were found in the wreckages Pree
liminary investigation by RSBERG disclosed the planes left wing
about one hundred twontyefive “(125) yards from the widely scattered port-
tions of the planes The loft wing was intact and hed spperently torn
off just outboard of the left engine before impact. The forward portion
of the wing stub was melted but the rear two thirds indicated thet it had
ripped loose from the inboard seetion of the wing. The wing leading edge
was undamaged, The naVigation and landing 1 8 were unbroken. The
aileron was undamaged but the flap section was crushed, leading to the
belief that the wing struck the teil section. From these indicetions
it 1s believed the wing ripped from the airplane just after MATHENS
abandoned the pla: The resulting spin thus prevented the remmining
erew members from bailing out although the co-pilot may heve been in the
hateh, A few civilians were in the area when CAPT FORSDERG arrived
and he took preosutions to prevent them from disturbing the wreckage.
At 1157 PST CAPT LITTRELL flew CAPT RICH, M. C., to KEELSO, An ambulance
a@igpatched from MOCHORD PIELD, met them at KELSO, and was led to the ene
of the erash by the STATE POLICE. The bodies were recovered and trans-
ported in the azbulance to } D PIBLD. CAPT LITTRELL returned to
MCCHORD FIELD where camping equipment was prepared to be drepped to the
ground party. CAPT LITTRELL, made a successful drop at dusk by sighting
on 8 signal fire. The ground party set up camp at the wreckage scene to
set as guard and to investigete further the following dey. They were
relieved of responsibility of «11 recovered documents by a CIC agent who
had arrived about 1600 PST.

4

bs 2 Aug 47_ The ground party remained at the scene of the crash
pending official securing of the incident. No serial activity.

@e S Aug 476 MOCHORD LD Operations Officer departed at 1000
PST to investigate the accident and to relieve CAPT FORSBARG, who returned
et 1600 Incident closede

sorties flown

Army aireratt

As Cooperation reosived from s11 civiliter r s concerned
was complete and excellent.

otvoRraphs

CRALQUARTARS FOURTH AIR FORCE @

Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff, A-2
Intellisense

ASON FOR INVESTIGATION: 2veetigation initiated at the request of Air Defense
Coumninds reference ltr lig ADC, dtd 7 Jul 47, file DSS3.5ID, subj: Investigation of
Flying Dieses

SYWOPSISs

On SL duly 47, ire Arnold, Aviation “ditor of the Idaho veily Steteaman, tele-
phoned Lie Grown requesting he return te Tacoma because Arnold believed he had some
very vitel information en the flying disce

Lie Srown end Capt. Devidson interviewed a Ure Fred Le Crigman and a Yr. llarold
Ae Dahl, slong with Capt. Smith of the United Air Lines, and Mrs Arnold, at the Wine
throp Hotel in facom, “ashington, on the nicht of 31 July 1947.

The summary ef their interrogation and findings was related te Major Sender,
Public Information Officer, MeChord Field, by lire Arnold and Capt.e Smithe Major
Sander retold the results ef the investigetion to thie officer from his notes.

ire Dahl and Mir. Criaman were net available for interview while this officer
was in that area, althoush every effort was meade to contact theme

Further investigation of thie particular incident wes left with Mre Srady,
Sesident Agent, FBI, Tacoma, Washing-tone

it was epperent from newspaper clippings, telephone calls to thie officer, and
conversations with tsjor Sander, that a United Press correspondent, of the Tacoma
Times, was instrumental in keeping this case alive. This officer and Major Sender,
aithough quoted many times in the press, did not discuss this matter with the press
during the period of this report.

The anonymous mystery caller in Tecoma could possibly be Mrs. Crigmans

DIsTRIBUTION
AAP

ADC 2
Ge2 6th Army | ate i caaae asc
PSI, Seattle PMs mes Ss OMOEA

POI, San Franeisco 1

+nF-Fites r yan AUG 30 1947

SAN FRASNOISCKr
W.D., P.M. G. Form No. 110 } ROUTED ~~

Ci-R1 Report a " 6

le uring the afterncen of 31 duly 47, Mire Arnold, Aviation Séiter of the
idehe Daily Statesmen, telephoned Lt Srown, CIC Sub=Detachment Commander at tieade
Fourth Air Fores, and stated in eubstance: That he, Arnold, and Capt Geith
had errived in Tacoma to investigate the purported flying dise explosion on @ sure
face craft on 21 dume 47, This investigation was requested and financed by @ Ure
w+ Palmer of the Venture Prees, 305 Studie Bldgs, 1718 “hermen Avenue, “Svenston,
Tilinocis.

AGENT*S WOTEs See Enclosure 1 and Inclosure 2. The signatare to Inclosure 2, Ure
Gave Johneon, is that of the editor of the Idaho Deily Statessane “re dolmson is «
former Arey Air Porece officer end from ali indications ie a very patriotic American.
On the reesipt of Inelosure 2 at Seadquarters Fourth Air Force, thia officer requested
the San Praneisoo FRl Office te chesk the Chicago FRI Offies for Re Ae Palmer and the
Venture Preas, the return enewer, by telephone, was te the effeot that the Shieags
indices of the PRI, the Chicago Police, and Sredit Sureau head no record on Re Ae
Pelser or the Venture reas.

Ze L& Grown and Capt Savidson arrived at MeTherd Field during the afternoon
of 31 daly 47¢ They changed from their wuiforms to civilian elothing in the aircraft
and, on being queried by Operations as to why they desired transportation te Tacoma,
they replied they were to aake a speeches

AGENTS NOPMke Thie wee in compliance with par 4, itr fr tg AG, Pile 0555.61),
7 dal 47, gubje Investigation of flying “isce

Aeoording to Major George Sander, Public information Officer, Sechord Field, The
Tacom: Times received an anonysous telephone ceil that Arnold and Gaith were present
in the “inthrop “etel for the purpose of conducting an investigation on the fiying
diese. The Tacome Times shecked and found thie te be true, moh to Arnold's end Snith's
eurpriees % Srown end Gapt Devidson did interview 4. Sarold 45 Uehl, Mrs Fred Le
Crieman, in @ hotel room in the Winthrop Notel, Teacoram, “ashe, in the presence of

tr. Arnold and SCnpt Gmithe If notes were teken of this conversation, they were de-
stroyed in the eircreft accident. re Arnold stated to “a jor Jander that Lt Srown
ebteined from Yr. Gehl end Mee Crigman semples of on unidentified substence thet were
identical to those appearing in Inclesures 3 to 7. ‘the samples pictured in Inelosures
& to 7 wore taken by Ure Arnold from the seme box thet Dahl and Criewan offered le
Grown and from whieh he obtained his samples. %/Sgt Matthews, Grew Chief on the
wreeked aircraft, upon being interrogated by thie officer, stated that he placed «
heavy cardboard carten in the rear comparteent of the 25 thet erashede % did not
leek in the box nor heer any comments from 14 Grown or Capt Sevideon es to its cone
tantse yy.

S. ‘The following sammeriges what was roleated by Mre Arnold and Capt Smith to
Wajor Sander as to the substance of the interrogation by Lt Srown and Capt Davidsens
Theat on 21 dan 47 re Behl wes preceeding scuth of Maury Island in Mire Gricean'’s
beste Five flying diece came down out of the clouds ani circled siewly around the
vay, dropping te an estimated clevetion ef 600 feet. These disos appeared round and

CONFIDENTIAL

W.D.,P.M.G. Form No. 110

: : : -CONFIDENTFIAL-

flattened similar to @ deflated automobile inmmertube., ‘They were judged by Uahl to
be Gpproximately 100 feet across with a 25 foot opening in the center. The outer
age of the object had round portholes and the inner ring hed square windows or
portholes. The dises were silent and from hie viewpoint he could see no moans of
propalsions ne of these dises eppeared to falter end waver in the air, another of
these aforementioned five Gises drepped down close te the dise that appeared to
waver and bumped it, dumping “tons” of the stuff as pictured in inclosure & te 7
on his dont, knocking off the hendrail, horn, and generelly damaging the boat to
the extent of $200.00, and killing Dahl's dogs

AGEST*S HOTSs This officer, in the company of Mejor Sender, boarded the aforemene
tioned boat where it was docked in the Sacoun harbor on 6 Aug 47%» 4 hand rail was
miosing, bat the ares where the hand rail wes previously fastened had been painted
over with seversl conte of paint and wae oresked by the werthers The deck and roof
of the cabin was of a very thin construction and the eabin further had glass on the
front and oides,. 1% is thia officer's opinion thet if any of the objeote presented
by Behl a6 eauplees of the material dropped by the flying cise had hit this boat, it
would have certainly been necessary be replace the foredeck ani the cabin roof.
These two arene were very heavily coated with several esate of paint and had deep
weather oracka thet would take evveral seasons to aequires

Mre Uriaman, «ho owns the boat and eperates a shoreline water patrol for various
business firms, evidently visited the area at Heury Islend to check Dahl's story.
Be te supposed to heve stated that he found the aaterial that he presented to Lt
Brown and Capt Yevideen in a send pit near where the ineident was supposed to have
occurred. “hile he, Crigmn, was at the soene of the incident, a flying disc cane
out of the clouds and behaved in « cinilar wanmer es the ones previously described.

AGENT'S HOT: The witnessing on two ceensions, in broad daylight, of an object so
large and clearly visible within several miles of the olty ef Tacoma certeinky should
heave bewn eesn and reported on by other then Deh] and Crisman. A check was made of
the newapapers on and after 21 dume end no mention could be found of « systerious
object appearing over the Tecoma harbors

Mre Crigwan is supposed to have sent samples of the objects that he picked up in the
Maury Island sand pit to a friend of hie at the University of Chiceage for an analysis
reports te ia reported to have net reecived the enalysis reporte

AGENT*S WOLEe It te poesible that the tire B, A, Palmer, reference Inclosurs 1 snd 2,
sight have come eeress this ineident through the University of Chicagos

The interrogetion of bah) and Crisuan by LS Grown was completed shout sidnight on

E> 9 dary/h Auguste i Brows and Capt Sevidsen returned to SeCherd Micsld end prepared
for @ night flight to Samilton Field, the weather was clear with a bright meen
shining. They departed approxiwately 0200 hours and crashed at approximately 0230
hours on 2 August 1947.6 (See inclosure %).

%e On 6 August 47, thie officer, tx the company ef Wajor Sendery Metherd Field,
and Mee Sragy, resident agent, Tacome Fetiorsl Surenu of Investigation, attempted to

CONFIDENTIAL

W.D.,P.M.G. Form No. 110

CI-R1 Report é @

\ Fs “CONFIDENFIAL-

Contest elther Hre Dahl or Mire Grisman, without success, Capt Smith and Wr, Arnold
departed the fscome aren on 3 August 47, therefore, this officer did not have the
@pportunity of conversing with them directly.

AQENT*S WORKe A record cheek was made by telephone by “re Brady with the Seattle
Field Office, FRI, for records on Mre Criemmn and Ure Dehli. the sheok on re Crieman
was negative. The Seattle PSI indloss indicated thet @ Hareld ahh had been charged
with twe inaidente of iliege] weering of the uniform and one with theft of national
propertye 1% ould not be determined at the tine whether Sarold As Ushi, the eubject
in question, and Zereld Sshl of the FRI indiows, was once and the sande

Se Mrs Crieoan had indlested to Capt Gnith, Arneld, et al, that he was a
former fighter pilot end held ceamiesion se Captain in the Air Reserves

ANEUT*S te 6On & August 47, thie officer checked the records of the 400th AAP
QO(RT) and detersined that Fred lL, Crigmmn was regietered with thet Reserve Unit as
Captain, Serinl Bamber 0758951, with residences at 125 Woodland, Sacom, Machingtony,
Primry “0S 1064 and 1006. Im 1042 he was with the Criminal Investigation Mivisien,
State of Weohington, end previously had been en o1] teehnician with the Union Pacific
Railway. Crlesen extered the services in 1942 as an enlisted man and served as such
for seventoon months, In 1943 he was comeiesioned on graduation from flying sehool
and served a totel of teenty-nine monthes cheek ef the Tncome eity directory was
wade on Gerold A, Dahl, which indicated his home was at 3903 8. Gobs Sis, telephone:
Preetor 7117. Suciness address was listed es 235 Widdle “aterwayy telephone: Broade
wey 77336

RECOMMENDATION’

le That no further investigation be undertaken on this apecifie incident by
Apny Aly Foree persomel.

2e That in view of the reported statements by Mire Crianan, that consideration
be given te revoke his Air Seserve commiceion and flying status as an undesirable
and unreliable officer.

4 Incles
le Photogtat, ltr fr ReAsPaleorse
2e Photostat, telegram fr Dave Johnsons
Se to Te Photographs, Unidentified Substances
6» Pinal Miesion Report, Air Kessue Services

W.D.,P.M.G. Form No. 110

| LON ‘ % : i Ds,

® @ ‘

a .

VENTURE PRESS q

t

Jaly 22, 19}?

fia, Hig

6
| Mr. Kenneth Arnold, y
Zoise, Idaho

{
| Dear Mr. Arnold:

/ Quite obviously you have been ribbed so much you'd like to |

f forget the flying saucers--but I'd sure like to heave your
personal story, your photo, pio of your plane, etc, as I

| askea before. And you won't he made to look silly, because

| there's more to this than the rewspapers and the "experts*

|

|

have made of it.

Besides the article, I have another Propesition, You seem to
get around quite a bit, and if you can maks a trip to Tacome,
Washington at 6)1 feasible, I'd be willing to pay expenses
plus ® oice amount to make it worth your while.

I'a want you to see Mr. Herold As Dahl, P. 0. Box 154, Fera |
Will Station, Tacoma, and Mr. Fred Le Crisman, osner of the j
Tacoma Harbor Patrol, Inc. Dahl, and two other seamen, on a |
patrol near Murry Island, off Tacoma, saw six discs, one in |
trouble, witnessed an explosion, saw falling stuff which f
smashed their wheelhouse end searchlight snd lended on the |
veach, They sent me samples whioh Chicago U has failed to }
analyze. I want a picture of the beach and the stuff that 13
landed there (about twenty tons, they said). And I want \
i somebody who'll get the trath, to find out if these doys are }
| on the up and upe You could do thet. I hope you will. If

ugreeable, please write and perhaps we oan telk business. Fal
I think you'd like to prove this thing toos

Anyway, I still wnt that article!

Sincerely yours,

|
Re A Palner _
|
|

WESTERN WESTERN
UNION UNION

WESTERN
UNION

q

, mn

WuA41 PD a ;
BOISE IDA JULY 29 1947 255P “s

LT FRANK M BROWN, A=2 (RPT A=2)

OFFICE 4TH AIRFORCE HAMILTON FIELD CALIF.
VENTURE PRESS 305 STUDIO BLDG 1718 SHERMAN AVE EVANSTON ILL. RA
PALMER. SENT ARNOLD $200 TO GO TO TACOMA TO INVESTIGATE FLYING
DISC REPORT THERE. SUGGEST THIS OUT OF LINE FOR PRESENT PUBLIC
INTEREST IN STORY AND BELIEVE:AS | SUGGESTED ON YOUR VISIT HERE
VENTURE PRESS SHOULD BE CHECKED

DAVE JOHNSON

305 1718 $200
308P

q

e UNITED Sila... +sOVERNMENT

DATE: T=29-47 y,

SUBJECT: METAL FRAGMENTS ‘Ol SERVED AT WEST RINDGE, NEW HAMPSHIRE, JULY 7, 1947
SECURITY MATTER (X|

Reference is made to Boston teletype to the Bureau dated July 18, 1947,

Dean John M. Bunker, the original informant, has advised that a spectographic
examination has been completed of the metal pertioles referred to. They were
determined to be of ordinary cast iron which had been subjected to a very
high degree of heat, The heat caused scales to be formed on the cast iron
which were originally thought to be of some metallic alloy.

The scientist examining the partioles concluded that if they had come through
the air from any great altitude in as small pieces as they were found then
most of the hoat would have been taken from them by the time they reached

the ground end fires would not have resulted, It is noted they landed
approximately 700 feet from a railroad track and inquiries were conducted by
MIT to determine whether or not the particles could have been originally a
part of a liner in a smoke stack or some other part of the steam engine, These
inquiries resulted in positive information that the particles did not come from
a train or locomotive. Measurements of the four pieces examined revealed

that they had most likely been originally all part of one hollow cylinder,
eight inches in diameter and three sixteenths of an inch in thickness, It

was felt that ono piece falling from a great height would have still retained
@ good part of its heat and probably would have smashed when it hit the ground.

A scientist, whom Yean Bunker did not identify by name, recalled that cast
iron oylinders of similar measurements had been used in New Mexico on
research work on a guided missile project. However, this unidentified scientist
not so conolude to the exclusion of all other possibilities,

O Tr. INPQU
I eA iateret ting to note that the examination at MIT was actually conducted

(b) (7)(D) Who furnished the Boston Office with an informal report similar .,
in all major details to that supplied by Yean Bunker above, The men at MIT af
are gathering through friends all additional pecan of the original oyli: Pe
available, These will be turned over to the Yoston Office, No furthe: z
examination is being conducted by MIT and no effort is ra el
reoonstruot the original cylinder, = "

SANDY RD

Unless advised to the contrary by August 15, 1947 the Boston Office will
eeerey, these specimens, In the interim they will be transmitted to the
ureau on specifie Bureau instructions, £L f 94. m fe 4

DESTROYED

Novisise4  FX-64

(b) (7(D)

It is noted that the original 4oston teletype reflected that this inquiry

was being treated as “secret” matter at MIT. (b)(7)(D) has advised that
the comparatively small number of research scientists at MIT during the summer
are all cognizant of the incident and the results of the research, However,
no publicity has been given and it is not anticipated that any will result.
The Sureau's interest is not known to the scientists at MIT. There has been
no speculation that a guided missile originating in a foreign land landed

in New Hampshire,

As indicated above, unless the Bureau requests specifically further investigative
action, this case is being closed in the Boston Office,

BSG:md
100-20698

FBI BUTTE 8-15-47 5-45 PM
RECTOR, FBI URGENT

FLYING DISCS. ON INSTANT DATE A. CURIE OF TWIN FALLS, oandoys ag

INFORMED LOCAL NEWSPAPER THAT COMMUNITY THAT AT ONE PM ON ea. &
LAST, AUGUST THIRTEEN, HE AND TWO SONS BILLIE, AGE TEN, KEITH, APRKK
AGE EIGHT, SAW AN OBJECT NINE MILES NORTHWEST OF TWIN FALLS, RE-
SEMBLING FLYING DISC. URIE STATED THIS OBJECT WAS PROCEEDING @MxX
DOWN SALMON RIVER AT TERRIFIC SPEED ESTIMATED BY HIM AT ONE THOUSAND
MILES PER HOUR. URIE AND SONS DESCRIBED OBJECT TO NEWSPAPERS AS
TWENTY FEET LONG, TEN FEET WIDE AND TEN FEET THICK, LIGHT SKY BLUE
IN COLOR AND ALSO OBSERVED FLAMES EMANATING FROM SIDES OF OBJECT.
AT TIME URIE AND SONS SAW OBJECT THEY ALL HEARD LOUD SWISH WHEN
OBJECT DISAPPEARED FRIM SIGHT. CURRENT EFFORTS BEING MADE TO INTER-
VIEW URIE AND SONS PURSUANT TO BUREAU BULLETIN FORTY TWO, SUB DIVISION
B, DATED JULY THIRTY NINETEEN FORTY SEVEN. BUREAU WILL pe PROMPTLY |
AND FULLY INFORMED OF ALL PERTINENT DEVELOPMENTS. : jal is
BANISTER

PLS ACK AND HOLD =) Ae ¢ Oy. |

257
7-48 PM OK FBI WA BW

uynoas, WN8ALS

yagau

STANDARD YEORM NO. 64

‘Ofkee Men bd Aum + UNITED ‘ GOVERNMENT

TO. aes The Director DATE: August 1y¢ 1947

FROM : Mr. D. M. Ladd
SUBJECT:

In connection with your request to be advised as to the facts

concerning newspaper reports of flying discs in the Portland area and the

reported conference of army offici in Portland concerning flying discs,

the Portland Office has advised that Leaveritt G. Richards, aviation

editor of the. "Oregonian," has stated that Captain Willian LADavidson

and Lieutenant Frank } ‘own of the Fourth AAF Headquarters, San Francisco,

were in Portland on July 27, 197. While in Portland they interviewed Dick
“\rankin, an experienced pilot, who had reported that he observed, on June Ih,

a formation of ten flying discs over Bakersfield, California. Richards added

that Davidson and Brown had also inte wed the following four experienced

pilots who were among the first.to report seeing discs, KennetkXirnold, businessman

from Boise, Idaho; Captain E. Ixs mith, a co-pilot; Ralpb/Stevens, United Airlines

and DaveXJohnson, aviation editor, Idaho"Statesman." In order to determine the

purpose of these interviews Richards contacted Major General Twining of Wright Field,

Ohio, and from him gained the impression that the AAF instituted this investigation

to wash out the disc reports since they are definitely not of AAF origin.

On F. y, August 1, the plane in which AAF investigators, Captain
Davidson and Lieutenant Brown, were flying, crashed at Kelso, Washington and both
re killed. The wreckage was screened by AAF Intelligence from McChord Field.
The "Tacoma News Tribune" and through them the United Press put out a story that
the plane was carrying parts of a dise which had struck a boat owned by Harold
Dahl and Fred Chrisman. It has also been inferred that this plane was sabotaged
to prevent these disc parts from being examined.

STATUS

Investigation by the Bureau has reflected that this plane was definitely
not carrying parts of a disc and there appears to be no substantiation of a sabotage
charges

For your further information there is attached a blind memorandum setting
forth in more detail the results of the investigation surrounding the above plane
crash. No further inquiry is being made in this matter.

Air Force Intelligence has been advised of the results of our investi-

rere

&

COPIES DESTROYED
270 NOV 18 1964

2511sar 40 1d30-S'y

i
ANVI~O3A199 34

August 14, 197

G DISCS

The "Tacoma News Tribune" and through them the United Press put out
a story that an am lane which was allegedly carrying parts of a disc which
had struck a boat owned by Harold Dahl and Fred Chrisman had crashed on August
1, 1947, killing two Air Force Intelligence officers who were interviewing
persons who were alleged to have seen flying discs.

Harold A. Dahl and Fred ¢ m interviewed by Bureau Agents,
advised in a signed statement on August ie 1947, that in the early part of June,
197, they picked up some strange rock formations from a gravel pit on Mauri
Island, Washington. They sent a cigar box of these formations to one Ray Palmer,
editor of the Venture magazine in Evanston, Illinois and also editor of the
Fantasy magazine in Chicago, Illinois. According to them they requested Palmer
to make only a chemical analysis of the rock formations. Palmer then wrote
asking for additional samples stati: been unable to analyze the material.
Dahl and Chrisman r ked that a few i ter the flying disc stories appeared

during the latter part of June, Palmer contacted them by telephone saying he would
pay for an exclusive story if the materials they had sent him were fragments of
a flying disc. Dahl said he wrote Palmer a letter in ch he represented the
material as being a part of a flying disc, and both Dahl and Chrisman admitted
that this statement was entirely false.

Dahl and Chrisman then received a call f one Kenneth Arnold of

Boise, Idaho who requested them to meet him at the Winthrop Hotel in Tacoma on
July 31, 1947. According to m Arnold called in army intelligence officers
from Hamilton Field, California and one Captain Emil H. Smith of United Airlines
of Seattle, Washington to attend this meeting. Dahl and Chrisman maintained
they told the intelligence officers Captain Davidson, Lieutenant Brown, Kenneth
Arnold and Emil H. Smith exactly how they got the rock formations and that they
had no connection with any flying discs. Dahl and Chrisman stated that they then
furnished some of the rock formation to the intelligence officers as samples.

Captain Davidson and Lieutenant Brown left Tacoma, Washington in a B-25
to return to Hamilton Field, California about 2:30 A.M. August 1, 197, and were
killed when their plane cras| at Kelso, Washington, after the left engine
burned out an exhaust stack ch in turn caught the left wing on fire which caused
it to break off. The crew chief and each officer parachuted to safety.

Ernie Vogel, an Associated Press wireman at Tacoma advised that two or
three days after the flying disc story started he contacted Dahl to check the story

COPIES DESTROYED
270 NOV 18 1964

that the Seattle Post-Intelligencer had received from the Fire Chief at
Harbor, Washington, to the effect that Dahl had some flying disc fragments.
At this time Dahl admitted to Vogel that the entire story was false.
Relative to Arnold, Dahl and Chrisman stated that he was paid by
Ray Palmer of the Fantasy magazine and possiblg the Boise "Statesman! to cone
to Tacoma and obtain a story from them regarding the flying disc fragments.

On July 31 and August 1, a total of five anonymous calls were
received by a Tacoma Times reporter and the United Press Wireman at Tacoma
iving information regarding the meeting at the Winthrop Hotel over the disc
ragments and stating that the B-25 had been shot down or sabotaged which
killed Captain Davidson and Lieutenant Brown, inferring that this was done
because the intelligence officers were carrying disc fragments in their plane.

Dahl and Chrisman stated that these calls could only have come from
hemselves, Arnold or Smith, who, they stated, had a friend on the Chicago
Times and was possibly selling the story to the Chicago Times through this
friend. Dahl and Chrisman denied making these calls.

Smith, upon interview, stated that reporter Lantz of the Tacom:
Times and Morello of the United Press office in Tacoma had informed him that
Arnold had several anonymous calls and from the accuracy of the information
transmitted Smith believes they were made by either Dahl or Chrisman.

Federal Pireau of Inuestigah

United States Department of Justice
ington

» 1947

ton on A

atrolling in his boat nea

fluttere

ROLD DAHL wrote

fantasti

2saphed
ID, Boi
i 3 ) 1ad previously made a contract for
a story j ep ing A f come to Tacoma. and check thi Lory, ab.
related by F I E -

J oma, hington July 30, 1947 and
is room 502, Winthrop Hotel, Tacome shington. D
to attend t meeting in.2 H, United
also reported i

this meeting. | : NOLD, Captain EMIL 3 D HAROLD
DAHL, Captain DA ) Lieutenant ) A A-2 Intellig ence from
Hamilton Field, Ca all met in (OLD''s: room at various ves during
the afternoon and even: July 31, 1947.and discussed the flying disc

story as. related by CE AN and DAHL. The Army Intelligence Officers, Captain
DAVIDSON and Lieutenant B I, left about 2:00 A.M. the morning of August 1,
1947 to, return to Hamilton California for Air Force Day in a B-25-and
were carrying some of the reported disc fragments, The left engine on the
B-25 burned an exhaust stack which in turn caught the left wing afire, the
wing Bae quently breaking off and tearing off the tail. The B-25 crashed,
killing Captain DAVIDSON and Lieutenant BRON. However, the Crew Chief and

a hitelishi ker parachuted to safety. Intelligence Officers at McChord Field,
Washington advised there was no indication of any sabotage. The plane crashed
at Kelso, Washington approximately 2:50 A. M, August 1, 1947.

Five ‘anonymous calls were received by a reporter, Tacoma

Times, and the United Press Wireman, Tacoma, between 11:30 A. M., July 31, 1947
and 5:30 P, M., August 2, 1947. The first call was to a Tacoma Times reporter
approximately 11: A. M., July 31, in which the caller stated that there was
a meeting taking place at that time in room 502 of the Winthrop Hotel concerning
the disc fragments found o: ury Island. The second call received between
11:00 A. M. and 12:00 noon; August 1, 1947-by the Tacoma es reporter in

ich the caller ad that moment a t i as taking place

ID's. room number 502, Winthrop Hotel; thet the B-25 which crashed was
dise. fra its that McChord Field officials had stated it was
shot down or: sabotaged. 1¢€ rd call was received Friday, August 1, 1947
at. 5:30 P. M. by the United Press "ireman, Tacoma, in which the. caller stated
that the B-25 ch crashed at Kelso, Washington was carrying flying disc
fragments and that the dead officers were Captain DAVIDSON and Lieutenant

J, A=2 Intelligence Officers at “amilton Field, ifornia., This call
was prior to the release of the dead officers' names by Army authorities and
ller indicated that when the names were released, it-would verify the
Lv nation he was furr shing was correct... The fourth phone call was received
t approxi eo), 5 Po M., Friday; Au the United Press Wirem
ich call the caller stated the BH25 Wi niteyshot down and.that if he

contacted Army Intelligence officers, th 2 i The fifth phone
r with
er had also
1d Tuesday
es Hee the dead Intelligence
er, tt
several articles
after inferring the 1 ad t rt n abotaged because of
‘act ee at it 5 ca i D. ad CR: have admitted
ER had no connection h any
to that effect which are being

August 19, 1947

herein, DAHL and CRISMAN deny, however, that they actually started
ise’ story and their actual part in the story, United Airlines pilot,
states that DAHL and CRISMAN on July 31, 1947, both related their
EP: flying dise fragment story. Information gathered would indicate that
the anonymous phone calls were possibly made by. FRED CRISMAN in order to build
up the flying disc story to the point where they could’ make a profitable sale
of the story to RAY PALMER, Ct ea Illinois. No facts have been developed
which would definitely prove that CRISMAN made se calls, However, from all
facts and information gathered, it ARS he is SS a the most likely to
have made the anonymous calls, The detailed interviews of the persons contac-
ted in regard to this flying dise story are being set out below,

The following investigation was conducted by Special Agent
DAVID A. MacCULLOCH at Tacoma, Washington on August 6, 7, 1947:

BL, Associated Press “ireman, Tacoma, Washington,
advised that in the early part of June, 1947 he was‘ requested by the Seattle
Pact Tnt.elligencer to check on a story which he was informed had been obtained
from the Fir larpe ashington. The story was supposed to have
originated wi PRE F « VOGEL stated that the story was to the effect
that DAHL, ile pabroliing in his boat near Maury Island, saw five or six
flying dises, one of which, fluttered toward’ the ground.and finally disintegrated.
Fragments of the disc were reported to have showered down on the boat of HAROLD
DAHL, ‘causing some damage and killing his dog. Mr. VOGEL stated that he went
to the home of HAROLD BAHL on 3903 North Gove, Tacoma, Washington to check with
him on this flying dise story. He stated that as best he could recall, this
was just a few days after the first flying disc stories had appeared in the paper
and was on @ Sunday evening. He believed it was the early part of June. He
stated that DAHL took him in the kitchen and proceeded to talk about this flying
disc story in low muffled tones. He stated that DAHL acted rather suspicious
and that shortly his wife came’ into the kitchen and was in a considerable rage,
telling DAHL to admit that the entire story was a plain fantasy which he had
dreamed up. He stated that after his wife told DAHL to admit the entire story
was false, that DAHL then admitted that there was nothing whatever to the story
and it was an entire hoax. VOGEL stated that in view of the enraged condition
of DAHL's.wife, he immediately left and reported to tnehgeattle Post Intelligencer
that. the entire story was a hoax and that they. should rint it in any way,
He further ‘stated. that he advised the Seattle Post Intelligencer that DAHL was
a mental case and that nothing which he had reported should be carried as far
as a news story. « VOGEL stated that since that time he had received repeated
requests from the Boise Statesman requesting information as to the flying disc
stories reportedly originatin, with FRED CRISMAN and HAROID DAHL, VOGEL stated
that he had never, in his experience, hi such pressure brought upon hin to
release. a news story and that he re ees advi potent the Boise Statesman that
the story of seeing the flying discs by DAHL and CRIS was a complete fabri-

Pee

August.19, 1947

cation and should be in no way, carried as a news story and refused to furnish
any information regarding these reports. He further stated that he advised
the Boise Statesman shortly before, or at the time K. ETH ARNOLD left Boi

to come to Tacoma to check on the flying disc storie 1 ‘
that ARNOLD should not ‘come as the entire story. was a hoax.

The Agee! ing information was obtained from F rape
4513 South. 7th, Tacoma, Washington, Proctor 8416, a rpporter for the
Times:

Lt we h limes pa whi irst issued a story
on August.2° and’ subse tome Stones intim A > Be2s ich crashed at
Kelso, hington on the early morning of ad be botaged or shot
down because of the fact that i Li ying dise fragmen’ LANTZ stated
that on Thursday, July 31, at 4 ii: $30 A, M. he received an anonymous
phone c 2 which the caller ted + y NOLD and Army Intelligence
officers were meeting in room 502 of the 1 Hinthrop Hotel to check on the flying
dise story from. wh: fragments were obtained on Maury Island. .LANTZ stated he

turned around to speak i and he picked phone again the
line was dead, e stated that the caller asked for Suppo TIE, a reporter

on the Tacoma, Tin who was out at the time of the call, ‘He, stated that BURT
McMURTIE called ARNOID at room 502 in the Winthrop, Hotel and was advised by
ARNOLD: that he could furnish no information as he was there: on a Government
mission... Li stated that on Friday,. A 1, between 11:00 A. M. and noon,
he received another phone call for B TH in which the anonymous caller
stated that he might have sone information for him. LANTZ asked the caller if
he was not the same party that had called the previous date and he said yes.

The caller then related that at that moment there was a big meeting in progress
in ARNOLD's room, 502, in the Winthrop Hotels that the. B-25 which crashed that
morning in Kelso was carrying flying disc fragments from California and that
McChord Field officials had stated the plane was sabotaged or shot down. The
caller then hung up after making sone statement to the effect that he was a
switchboard operator, LANTZ stated that. he went to the Winthrop Hotel on Friday
about noon and found that there was no male operator on duty. He stated he then
went to. room 502 and ARNOLD answered the door and that Captain EMIL J. SMITH,
United Airlines pilot, was on the phone. ‘LANTZ stated thet he heard SITH make
a statement to the effect that the information must be very strictly confidential,
He stated that there were one or two others in the room besides SMITH and ARNOLD,
but that he could not identify them. He stated that ARNOLD told him he could
mae no statement and that he had attempted to check the story with various people
on Maury Island with negative results. He stated that about 3:30 P. M., Friday,
he wrote a story regarding the mysterious informant and called ARNOLD at his
hotel room, stating that he had written thig-story and that ARNOLD had better
check it. He stated that he talked to RELLO, the United Press Wireman,
Tacoma, who advised that the story so mpflertio, LANTZ stated that about

5:30 P. M., Friday, August 1, an anofymous caller called TED MORRELLO, the

Sei

August.19, 1947
United Press Wireman, stating that Captain DAVIDSON and Lieutenant BR
were the Intelligence off: aes that. were killed in the crash. of the
that lians ‘and the sheriff had been kept away from the wreckag
Army guarding ite. He stated the anonymous caller then said that the names
had not i released yet by the Army and that this would verify his statements.
PAUL LA stated that the follo’ orning, Saturday, August 2, the Army
verified that the officers killed were Captain DAVIDSON and Lieutenant BROWN
and-two days later verified that they were Army Intelligence officers. LANTZ
stated that the anonymous caller again leter contacted TED MORRELLO, calling
him by that name, and at this time stated he did not call the Tacoma NEWS
Tribune or the Associated Press and denied calling PAUL LANTZ or BURT McMURTIE.
In this call the anonymous caller stated that, "Don't think I'm doing this for
you." He then asked if the story had been put .on-the wire and when MORRELLO
said yes, the caller stated, "We want this to get back to: New Jersey." The
caller further stated that the B-25 was shot down by a 20 m,m.. cannon and that
the marine plane which was recently found wrecked on the side of Mt. Rainier,
having been missing for Bevery month. ad also been shot downs The caller
stated to M that: he ir th a flyer named MORGAN’ with
United Airlines who, he stated? was with Captain SMITH when they were shot at
over Montana. The caller then stated, "T111 see you Tuesday... I'm going to
San Francisco." LANCE stated that he had checked with Captain EXMIL SMITH of
United Airlines who denied knowing any pilot by the name of MORGAN; denied
ever ing* flown over Monta LANTZ stated that MORRELLO received another
anonymous call in h the caller stated that would be sent to Wright
Field on Tuesday and that Saturday one of the men who found fragments of the
flying disc was to be flown to Alas} ‘ stated that in vi of the fact
that the ongny ion as’ to the Inte t -25 had been: as
rpished y th sronenes3 eee bseqt lybeen verified by the Army,
i disc fragments returning to
1 the plane -had..been
sabotas ed or sh v NTZ ie 8 on Sunday, August 3,
he contacted C in = RITH is home, West EF. urelhurst Drive,
Seattle at which time & en. any story out to the Post
Intelligencer at ptt nae stated t! tie had gotten a telegram to call a number
in Boise and when he called and found out it-was the Boise Statesman, he had
hung up. He stated that t 3¢ , contacted him, at which time
he admitted he had. seen the dise fr: at he did not take any of
H informed’ LANTZ that he had been with Major GEORGE
Officer from McChord Field, all afternoon until about
SMITH informed IANTZ that he had told the Army authorities every-
ing get h knew about the flying disc fragments story from the
ise, Idaho and he ‘had es Seattle, Washington.

NOLD's room at the Winth tel and that ¢ Y and DAHL had been in
he room Thursday afternoon. On Monday PAUL LANTZ stated that he called
\ROID DAHL who advised that if this were not used in the paper, he and FRED

= Sin

August 19, 1947

CRISMAN would see him after lunch, LANTZ stated that about noon DAHL and
CRISMAN contacted him at which time DAHL stated that he and his son had been
exploring a gravel pit on Maury Island and found -s strange rock formations.
He stated they picked up some of these samples and that. FRED CRISMAN later
saw them and they went back over to Maury 4sland at which time additional
samples were obtained and that CRISMAN sent these to a friend of his at the
University of “Chicago to have analyzed, They stated that they received a
report and that apparently this friend had asked a newpaperman to find out
where the rock formations were obtained.  CRISMAN and DAHL told LANTZ that
sometime after the first. flying disc story had appeared, they received a tele-
ean Press from Chicago wanting infommation on th flying
cane hae at no time i te ne
Captain EA,
interested 5 the rock formations and they d nied
TH and ARNOLD,

RRELLO, a United Press Wireman, Tacoma, Washington
substantially the me i i a obtained from PAUL LANTZ,
the Tacoma Times.reporter, regardi. he anonymous phone calls which he had
received, He stated furt that rst call he: received was on Friday,
August 1, at a 3 M.. At this time the caller stated. that the B-25
which crashed at. & Washington y carrying disc fragments and that the
two officers killed were Cap Lieutenant | officers with
Army A#2. Intelligence at Hamilton 1d é and that the fragments were top secret
material. He stated the caller indicated that when the Army released the names
of the dead officers it would verify that the information he was furnishing was
correct. MORRELLO s ed that: the second call he received at’ approximately
6:45 P. Friday, August 1 at which time the caller’stated that the B=25 was
definitely shot down and that if he contacted Army Intelligence A-2, the man
in charge would not deny it. BELLO. stated he thought the man said to con-
tact Colonel GUYS, but it was found out it was.Colonel GREGG who was in charge
of Army Intelligence A-2. The caller further stated that the Sheriff's Office
had been kept away from the crash and that’ no civilians had been allowed near
the Sea {0 LLO stated the third call he received at 5:30 P. M., August 2,
and that this time tt ted that one of the men who had been conferring
with Captain SM ¥ aken to Alaska that day. The caller
further stated aie the i h rom the air with a\20 mm. cannon;
the t BBS : Rainier had aie been shot down;
nd that :a
then they
shot at over 2 s ing f Francisco
would. be back Tue

PAUL LANTZ and TED 1
rt ‘to apt ork ti DO. Ot n his Panep as
seless and +) a d ques ng him he would

refuse to furnish any further infor

Special
Tacoma,

he B-25 and he was was being conducted by
Seattle Office. CRIS elated in a rambling story that he
a ions which he had forwarded to a friend
ve ately yzed and that eters in some
manner unknown to
ments of a flying disc.

viewed a
denied any knowledge of h he ‘rock formati ch they had picked up to
have alalyzed became connected with the flying disc stories. Both denied
making any statement to anyone + these rock formations were portions of a
It parent fron the start of the interview that DAHL and
mplete and true connection with the flying
disc. story. ed gi any definite information to what they said
or had done wh L to become involved in ng disc story, but
gave evasive answers and repeatedly stated that the: d nothing to do with it
were at a loss to understand how they became connected with the flying disc
After ‘consi ble questioning, tt t+ in the ‘early part of
i ch published
7 azine in Evanston, Illinois,
some rock formations whi kf Island. They stated they
sent these formations, ing P have them analyzed. hey stated that
later PAIMER kk fi pass advising he had failed to analyze
a DAHL stated they have never sent any additional samples
at the next they he arding the rock formations which they had sent
PALL Ss when he J AR D. ies: if the rock form one could
have com
could have c ma f. ying he nimedistely sat down and wrote
a letter to PAL h was in the latter part of June in which he stated
the material could e been portions of a flying disc. ‘DAHL claimed that he
thought he told PAIMER over the phone something about being in his boat when
he obtained these rock fo: ions, but stated could not recall what he had
AIMER and claimed that he passed the. whole thing off as a joke,

iL were questioned at length in an attempt to obtain specific
aPeane ion as to é w had done with regard to the rock forma-
tions. How ever, éach stated that the only thing. they had done was tell RAY PAIMER
the formations could have come from a f ng des in view of the fact it iupeneee
‘that's what he wanted them to say", No definite information could be obtained
from either DAHL or CRISMAN as to what each specifically had done to start the
flying dise story.

The signed statenént which was obtained from CRISMAN and

<s6he!

August 19, 1947
DAHL 1 in<whi hey i rock formations had no’ connection with
any fly of is z forwarded he Bureau herewith. | statement
contains no infor € the is’not being set forth herein.

rs n h was held in the Winthrop
on Thursday, July 31, CRISMAN a d that they both met KENNETH ARNOLD
there about 1:00 P. M. ‘They sta é hey all left ARNOLD's room about
3:00 P. M. and + CRISMAN took ARNOLD to rry's Airport at Tacoma and
ARNOLD flew his plane to Seattle sré he ‘picked up Captain EMIL SMITH, CRIS-

Y stated that he picked up and SMITH at Bérry's irport about 5;00

M, and that HAROLD DA eNO? $s room about fat: we P
stated that he SMITH
to get his car AH mn t 1 CRISMAN stated they
returned about & c ne 2 y ace officers were
in ARNOLD's room pe N left ‘abo ight e stated that he
returned to ARNOLD's room Friday y afternoon for 1f hour
from 2:30 to 3:00 P. M., Lin OLD SMITH were still there and
neither seemed to be all if DAHL was in ARNOLD's: room on Friday,
August 1 The best tt ud ‘ € MAN and DAHL as
took ple Ou effect most of the talk

i that no ‘one seemec y i ted he formations a that

no connectior any flying disc.

sta: ted that } N v 1 ictures of the plece
rock for t 2 ba 1 that the Intelligence: officers did not

appear to

1 Lumber Company at 235
water. Avenue, z N ir i. FRED. CRIS recéntly been —_—
H } et

tection to
or Sheriff's officers. CR. 1 resides at 1: ‘oodland, Tacoma, W
Amy serial number 0-758-951. the war he 1 a pilot and it is believed

presently holds a, Reserve Officer e's commission a Captain.

Regarding the B=25. which hed, killing 4
and Lieutenant BROWN of the 4th Aire Forces, Capt in ROBERT G, BJORNING,

Officer, Mc Chord Field, vised that this. in vestigation of the crash reflected
an aust stack had burned out on the left engine which in turn caught the

left g afire and that when the left wing broke off, it also broke off the
tail. The plane at the time of the crash was carrying Captain DAVIDSON,
Lieutenant BE > the hitch-hiker and a man as Crew. Chief to take care of the
airplane. The Crew Chief and the itch-hiker parachuted to safety, but Captain
DAVIDSON and Lieutenant BRO ere killed. He stated that their investigation
reflected no indication of a at whatever.

of the records of the Winthrop Hotel at Tacoma,

Washington revealed t) ARNO. zivi is address as Route #1, Mount-
Boise, Idaho. rented room 502 from Ju ly 30 at 7:43 P.M. until

August 19, 1947

August 3, A record of Phone calls made from room 502 during this period

y made by Miss SA GG. This record reveals that 1- ARNOLD on
July 31 called PALMER “at +-5200,. Evanston, Illinois, collect. On the same
date called Lieutenant BROWN at 5800 Hamilton Field, California, collect,

ARNOLD also called 0109-J in ise, Idaho on July 31. On August 1 ARNOLD called
LON-1,936, Portland; PALMER at Dearborn 5200, Chicago; and SMITH called RODDY

at Dearborn 2323 at Chicago. Both Chic. go calls were collect, The remainder
of the calls appear to be personal calls and are not bei: 1g set out. A record
of the phone calls made are being retained as an exhibit in the Seattle Office,

The following information was. obtained by Special Agent
PIERRE H. LE in intervi August 12, 1947 with Captain MML J. SMITH,
3027 West Laurehurst Drive, ited Airlines pilot: It should be noted tha
Captain SMITH has previously received publicity for having supposedly seen
flying discs or similar objects on July 4, last while on a routine United Air—

s flight out of Boise, Idaho in.co

concerni this incident. Captain SKITH states that they took ise,
Idaho at 83:12 P. M. and’ headed Northwest at 300 degrees and while still climbing
at 8,000 feet, co-pilot STEVENS called his attention to some objects in the
sky ahead of them about ten degrees left which neither one could identify.
SMITH states t he called a CA erator at Ontario, Oregon and reques-
ted him to step outsi shack and see if he could see any of these
objects overhead, The CAA radio operator replied in the negative,

( 1 states that he first met KE T NOLD on
July 5 in the offices Seattle Post Intelligencer where both were being
interviewed concerning i i y . Si states that he
next met A I qi ks a in Boise, Id é ich time he, SMITH,
was on anoth ‘Ligh rough Bois ( Da F: > ay-over there,
On tt sir par Cay LLLIs DSON and
Lieutenant FRANK f. reporter JOHNSON
of the) Boise smar a ARNOLD was ‘on Thursday,
July 31, last when he da sph 2 Pom NOLD calling from. T;
in the early a noon at which time t SMITH to come ov
join him ui i isc story for
and some 2 ad r might be

¢NOLD in Tac and /
fly over ick hi 3 Airport at 4:00 F
soeing Fi
Tacoma, We ¥ they w met.t

proceeded in CRISMAN's. ca: t linthrop
room 502. ARNOLD d ‘ thing to eat and
or CRIG called a ROTD. DAH: ited him up
SMITH states he had r
cipants in the latest fl.
acquaintance wi
While in tk n S
RAYMOND F of. the: \ s hicas equestir OLD investigate

the CRIS H ory i ma, ARNOLD: in
called
h cz 7 forwarded him
for cover: s J ortly thereafter, at about yi} = I
arrived a 1e room 1e discussion began among the four
DAHL a CE {AN had seen on Maury Island. DAHL professed reluc-
tance to tell the s i that several unfortunate incidents |
g discs he believed the entire
s connection he stated that four or
rting the flying dises, a ealled at his
home and h da i 1 him the course of which DAHL was warned to
forget all about everett 2 Maury Island. In addition
to that, DAHL stated that year, old son had run away from home
followi incident and en “picked up by the police somewhere in
Montana. After some further d i ia finally agreed to tell his story,
of the flying disc incident in front of SMITH after eliciting a promise from
SMITH that he would not discuss the matter for at least two weeks, It should
be noted that DAHL had previously told his story to ARNOLD and GRIS! At
this point DAHL related the incident which t already been described and which
he alleged had taken place on or about June 23 or 24. While relat the
incident Dé mentioned that he had taken pictures of the flying dise vh ich
he had seen but that the printed films were. marred with ite spots. When
DAHL had concluded his stor, s "elated that he had gone the following

day to Mi Tsla: 3 1 told him concerning the fra
and had 3 time picked up severa 1 fragments taken them with him.
this tim R. N related that he also saw one of the flying discs hovering
e Island but that it had di peared into a cloud. When DAHL and CRIS
ed telling their story LD told the group that had earlier in
that. evening called Captain DAVIDSON and Lieutenant BROWN, Army Intelligence

officers and rere on their way to the Hotel room. At this point DAHL

protested that he did not hh to tell his story» before anyone else and he
dvised by SMITH that if the case why didn't he just leave and not
nere when ae arrived. C » DAHL and {ITH then left the room and
downstairs. , DAHL departed alone. .-( SMAN drove SMITH back to Boeing Field
Seattle where SMITH desired to pick up his own personal car, which he’ did.
y then returned to the found Captain DAVIDSON and Lieutenant
Y in room 502 with K HA OLD met them at the door and seemed
excited, explaining to & Captain DAVIDS d just drawn a reproduction
of a. frea is h he Saipeaeale been seen by a woman in / Arizona | d that
this dre 1 KA reproduction of the fly: Sr which he, LD, had
states that shortly after
DAHL's Satory to the Army offi-
discussion with Lieutenant
the story for
d to tell t the story at this ti Me 5 BROWN
story for one mnths Following this
is story of the flying dises over Maury

st 19, 1947

us) did ee
whether

1en went down to the lobby where
i entered a phone booth to call for a car
he group. and met BROWN outside the phone
booth where t ive to the credibs
i and DAl HL's ei a BROWN h
out if the story was on the level
day regarding this matter. The group then proceeded. to the front of the Hotel
at which time C AN brought hi to the front of the Hotel and took from
his trunk a box of tt leged flying di agnents picked up on Maury Island.
e offered them to nd DAVIDSON end the “Army ¢a rrived m McChord
ield the box of fr bs was placed ir e car wi st 5 CRI
departed alone and JOLD. and SMITH went in search of s hing to eat and later
returned to the Hotel for the night.

On Friday. morning, August’ 1, 1947, ARNOLD received a call
from CRISMAN informing him that a ad crashed during the night and it was
believed to be the ne plane which BROWN and DAVIDSON were flying. Following
this call CRISMAN and DAHL came to the Hotel room and from the room CRISIAN

gain called McChord F in ¢ ten gi nformation about the crash.

TH took the phone from i a 2 a Colonel GREGG, identifying
himself s the only one which had taken
off from McChord Field the pre BGG told him that it was, Follow-

s call ARNOLD called RA) h t in Chicago d informed him of the
t's conversations th AVIDSON ere believed
to have been killed. PALM
the Ancident and that. he, PALMER, s no longer interested. S&S
Me and Beker PAIK if he could shed any light on Pk
ditentaent ff AN v
lowing th k
iis and an aviation. e e Chicago
H states that he had prefiously made an agreement with RODDY in
Chteacs that. should he evér run across any flying disc stories ch. showed
promise of news value, that he would contact, RODDY and this call was a result
of that agreement, Shortly afterward, Colonel GREGG called him from McCh ord
a ane that i Field had’ requested that OLD, ITH, CRISMAN
' milton Field for convenience Of any Army
be forthcoming, After this call the
four mer 1 restaurant for lunch. During the course of this meal SWITH
excused himself from the table and attempted to call SAC BOBBITT of the Port-
land « Field Office, Federal reau of Investigation with whom he cleims acquain-
tance. BOBBITT, however, unevadlable and & was unable to complete. the

Pete Tey

a Mr,
lephone
while
under the

commu=
eminent and
ortly

the Coffee Shop

eutenant BROWN.

t he would
(Siinday)
norrow (Sunday)

August 19, 1947

SMITH an s Office where a reporter met them
and took them to M There they read the
latest press’ releases and had a di sion with MORRELLO regarding the enony-
mous phone calls. In the course of this discussion MORRELLO mentioned the
name of Major GEORGE SAN ic Relations Officer at McChord Field as
being one of the officers, interested in the investigations

RS. P
RS, F

+ which time
SMITH and

Following this discussion
res they still refused to divulg
he Hotel for the night.

ID returned to

On: Sunday morning, August. 3, 1947, DAHL & eared at the

Hotel room-and told’ them that he had received a letter from © 1 which said
in effect, "Take care of my business. I'll be out of town for three or four
days." DAHL had a letter with him but he did not show it. to 3 or ARNOLD.
The three men then drove to DAHL's secretary's house in South Tacoma. and
ana the four of them then went to breakfast on the South Tacana

them nt to breakfast SMITH excused himself
feld and arranged an appointment to meet
. They then took DAHL's secretary to her
iter and then drove SMITH and OLD back
as going to take them to Maury Island thet
not. further stated that he was sick of the
was ever contacted by the Amny or the au i
ything and claim to be "the: bi
to the Hotel, SMITH met i

ked her up
While the fou

and called
him at. the
home where Dé
to the Hotel.
day and
entire business and
he was going to deny ever having seen
that ever lived". Shortly after returning

Major SANDERS

in the lobby and they % in SUITH's car to a coffee shop in South Tacoma where
j stire story of the incidents which

SMITH proceeded to tell }
had occurred in Taco
afternoone

duced him to
entire story

and DAHL story since Thursday.
Hotel and intro=

oy

rove
not: r to the fragments

and DAHL had left in the Hotel room. . They, then ret rned to the Hotel room and
SANDERS left tt Afte. ck: i é SMITH took A

s, Sl OLD to Berry's
H drove himself back to Seattle.

ch was

rival in Seattle,
appeared at Si ts home
paper containing ; story which had orig ted
ho in the Boise rich was written by JOHNSON following
that fragments d been carried by Tieutenant BROWN and
at this time continued to
Press and told LANTZ that he had placed

Mey

refuse to give any statements for th

Federal
advises
at the County-City
to the incidents in
morning,

and

deposition is in no y

Portland,
ices by the
y this office.

Bur

For
Intelligence pee M
0.N.I,-S.1.D.-F.B.1. &
at McChord Field had re
Forces f
Officer
could be eb
related that
not handle it.

1e9h5 :

Port land
San Francisco

San Francisco z

the. incident. SMIT

not. yet been contacted,
a trap for him".
eared before Lawiy

deposition of

yer JO OLAN
the facts relating
last until $

August 3, last.

in possession of the w
It should be noted that thi
aken by the writer above

tion are being sent to the
nformation only.

Butte,
Unless

R

ra

3ureau, Captain BJORNING,
Meld, Ft. Lev shington advised at the weekly
elligence conference that the Pubic Relations Officer
Mies a telephone call from an individual at Army Air
ch call the Public Relations
N. which
Captain BJORNING further
ion in this matter and that he did

ic

a tnas spabit cly close

ARNOLD to mee

KENNETH

i

AB L ert G Y/C7-

STATE OF WASHINGTON }
ss
COUNTY OF KING )

d. E. SMITH, being first duly sworn, on oath, deposes
and says:

This is a narrative statement as to what took place in
Tacoma from Thursday, July 31 until Sunday, August 3.

Thursday I received a telephone call from Tacoma from a
Kenneth Arnold. The gist of this conversation was that he thought
it would be a good idea for me to come to Tacomg and listen to the
story of two men whose names were Fred Crismon and Harold Dahl.
This Kenneth Arnold I had met two times previous -= once on July 5
at the office of the P.I. in Seattle for a very brief time and the
~~ time in Boise, Idaho when I was passing through on one of
my trips.

In this conversation with Arnold on the phone, I made the
statement that it would be impossible for me to go over to Tacoma
due to my going out to Salt Lake City the next morning. He said
that he would fly over from Tacoma and pick me up at Boeing Field.
I agreed to this proposition from Arnold. At 4o*clock I met
Arnold at the Boe. Field and we flew back and landed at Barry's
Airport. We were picked up at the airport by Fred Crismon, who
drove the two of us into the Winthrop Hotel. We went up to Room
502 ~~ Crismon, Arnold and myself.

Fred Crismon put a telephone call into Harold Dahl and
asked him would he come up to the room. A half hour later Harold
Dahl made his appearance. At this time there were four men in the
room -- Crismon, Dahl, Arnold, and myself. Mr. Arnold asked Mr.
Dahl to relate his story as to what took place on June 24. Mr.

Dahl was very hesitant about telling the story to me. Arnold and
Mr. Crismon were already aware of the statements that Dahl had made
previous. Mr. Dahl made the statement to me that if any statements
he would make relative to his story, if I would keep it confidential
for two weeks, that he felt definitely that I would want to forget
the whole thing. I made the statement to Mr. Dahl that as far as I
was concerned, I would keep any statements he made to me confidential
for at least two weeks.

Here is Dahl's story: On June 24 (this date to be checked
later) he was in a boat owned by Fred Crismon, who owns the Harbor
Patrol in Tacoma. They -~- Mr. Dahl, a Mr. Knight, and Mr. Dahl's
son age 16, were cruising around Maury Island looking for logs that
had broken away from booms. They were fairly close to shore of
Maury Island when they saw four or five objects in the sky at an
altitude of approximately 1500 feet. He said these objects were

Page #2

100 feet in diameter, circular in shape, and it appeared that
there was a hole in the center of each as he could see the sky
through this hole. He also mentioned that on the inside of the
circle or the hole, that portholes were visible. Their speed was
neglizible as they appeared to hover over a given spot. One of
these objects appeared to be in trouble. Another object came
over and appeared to make contact. After making this contact for
approximately two minutes, it rose to its original position.

At this time the object that appeared to be in trouble
seemed to throw a lot of debris from one of the portholes, These
objects then disappeared from view. Some of this debris that
landed broke in the wheelhouse of the boat, the spotlight, and
the klexons While this debris was falling, my boy and Mr. Knight
got off the boat and hid under some logs. This debris that fell
killed our dog and a sea gull. I asked Mr. Dahl what was done with
the doge He made the statement they threw the dog into the water.

This story was told to Mr. Crismon, who the next day
went out to this Island to check on this story. He verified the
fact of the damage to the boat, also to the fact that there appeared
to be quite a few pieces of either rock or metal on the shore. Mr.
Crismon also stated that while he was over there investigating on
Maury Island, ke also saw a disk. This disk was of the same shape

and contour as the objects explained by Mr. Dahl.

At this point Mr. Arnold clarified for me as to the reasons
he was investigating this story. Mr. Arnold stated that he received
a letter from a Mr. Raymond Palmer, supposedly editor of the Venture
Press, Evanston, Illinois. The gist of this letter was that Mr.
Palmer received a letter from Mr. Dahl and Mr. Crismon, also a
package of these fragments that were found on Maury Island. Mr-e
Palmer also made the statement in the letter that the Chicago
University failed to analyze these fragments and that would Mr. Arnold
please investigate the story. Mr. Arnold was sent a Western Union
check for $200.00 to take care of any expense that he might incur
while making this investigation.

Mr. Arnold had made a telephone call to Hamilton Field to
contact a Captain Davidson and a Lieutenant Brown, who were with
A-2 Intelligence at Hamilton Field, asking them would they make a
trip to Tacoma to also listen to this story of Dahl and Crismon.
When Mr. Arnold acquainted me with the fact that he had made this
phone call in front of Mr. Dahl, Mr. Dahl made the statement that
he would not tell this story to anybody in Army Intelligence. I
made the statement to Mr. Dahl that if he felt this way, that he
should not be in the room when these two Intelligence officers
arrived. Mr. Dahl thought this was an excellent idea.

Page #3

Mr. Dahl, Mr. Crismon, and myself left the hotel room to
go downstairs as Mr. Crismon wanted to get some metal that was in
the back of his car that he had picked up on Maury Island, to
bring back to the hotel room. Mr. Harold Dahl departed.

At this time I mde the statement to Mr. Crismon that I
should like to pick up my car in Seattle. Mr. Crismon drove me to
Boeing Field, Seattle. After leaving me at Boeing Field, he drove
back to Tacoma and I drove my own car back to Tacoma. After I had
put my car in the garage at Tacoma, I went up to the Winthrop Hotel
and in the room at that time was Mr, Arnold, Mr. Crismon, and Captain
Davidson from Army Intelligences. Lieutenant Brown was downstairs 4
getting sandwiches and coffee. When Lieut. Brown came back, the
stories were again related and Lieut. Brown made a statement that
all the facts of these stories would be held in strictest confidence
until released by Mr. Dahl.

After Mr. Crismon had told all the facts, relating not
only his own story but that of Mr. Dahl, he asked for the opinion
of both officers as to what they thought. Lieut. Brown made the
statement that he would like to obtain some of these fragments to
take back to Hamilton Field.

At this time Capt. Davidson and Lieut. Brown were debating
the thought as to whether to stay over night in Tacoma or leave for
Hamilton Field immediately, as the B-25 they were flying was
supposed to be at Hamilton Field the next day for the Air Show.

The five of us then left the hotel room and went down to
the hotel lobby where Mr. Brown made a telephone call to McChord
Field asking them to send a driver to pick up Capt. Davidson and
himself. Lieut. Brown came up to me and made the statement that he
and Capt. Davidson were going back to Hamilton Field and that he
would get in touch with me tomorrow and if after I had seen the
fragments on Maury Island, if I thought in my own mind that this
was authentic, they would immediately leave Hamilton Field and
returne I was to hold this statement by Lieut. Brown in the
strictest of confidence from the other group of three (Dahl, Crismon,
and Arnold).

We then went down to the street where Mr. Crismon drove his
car up in front and took out a box of fragments and gave this box to-
Davidson and Browne While waiting for the driver from MeChord Field,
Lieut. Brown and I discussed Pacific operations and things not pere
tai to this missione Capt. Davidson and Lieut. Brown departed at
app: tely 12:45 AsMe Mr. Arnold and I went back to our hotel
room after having a midnight snack.

Page #4

Friday the lst: At approximately 8 o'clock in the
morning, Mr. Crismon called up our hotel room and acquainted us
with the fact that the B-25 had crashed. Also that he had called
McChord Field and from information he received also verified the
fact that the two men in the ship were Capt. Davidson and Lieut.
Brown, plus a flight engineer and a hitch-hiker, This left both
Mr. Arnold and myself in a very bad state of concern. Approximate-
ly an hour later Mr. Crismon and Mr. Dahl made their appearance in
the hotel room. I still wasn't sure that this was the same B-25
that the two Intelligence officers had left in last night. Mr.
Crismon then again called McChord Field and talked to a Colonel
Gregg and the fact was verified again that the two pilots were
Davidson and Browns.

After an hour or so Mr. Crismon and Mr. Dahl left the
hotel room with a plan in mind of the four of us meeting the next
morning (Saturday) for breakfast and going out to Maury Island.

That evening (Friday) there was a message for me to call
this particular telephone number that was on the message. I called
this number and was asked by the party to please call them from a
paystation. This party was a Mr. Lantz, a reporter on the Tacoma

Times. He told me, "I most certainly am doing myself out of a good
story but I thought you ought to know that somebody has been calling
this paper and giving us a blow-by-blow description of all that has
taken place in your room since you arrived." To verify this, Mr.
Lantz repeated back to me discussions that I felt had only been
taking place in our room.

Mr. Lantz also made the statement that there was a leak
either from the switchboard operator or our room had been tapped.
I asked Mr. Lantz why he was tipping us off with this information.
He made the statement that he didn't mind doing this if in return
that any information that I may let out would be given to him.
After this conversation with Mr. Lantz I went back to our room and
told Mr. Arnold. what took place on the telephone.

Saturday morning: Mr. Arnold and I met Mr. Dahl and
Fred Crismon for breakfast. We then drove out to the boat to go
to the island. The boat was unserviceable at the time so we went
back to the hotel. Mr. Crismon said that he would call later on
in the day and let us know when the boat would be repaired. That
was the last time I saw Mr. Crismon.

Approximately 11 o'clock Saturday morning Mr. Crismon
phoned me and made the statement it would be impossible for him to
keep this appointment with me. We were cut off by the switchboard
operator as this was classified as not an emergency call. The
reason we were cut off was due to a strike in all the Tacoma hotels.

Page #5

Mr. Lantz called up and said if I would call him at
8:30 that evening, he would have some additional information for
me. I called Mr. Lantz at 8:30 that evening. He told me that
this anonymous caller had again called a Mr. Marillo of the
United Press and said that one of the parties that Mr. Arnold and
IT had come down to see was flown to Alaska. Also he mde the state-
ment Mr. Smith would be called to Wright Field Tuesday. This
anonymous caller made the statement to Mr. Marillo that this B-25
was shot down. Mr. Marillo asked this person calling what his
interest was. This anonymous caller made a statement - "Don't think
I am doing it for the newspapers. All I am interested in'is seeing
that this information gets back,to New Jersey."

After I finished the conversation with Mr. Lantz, I went
over to the United Press and talked with Mr. Marillo and had him
read back to me the conversations that he had had with this
anonymous caller. But no opinions at this time were voiced either
by me or Mr. Marillo.

Sunday morning I called a Major Sander of S-2 McChord
Field and asked him to meet me at the Winthrop Hotel at 11 o*clock.
I met this Major Sander at 11 o'clock and we drove to a small coffee
shop on the Tacoma Highway where this complete story was related to
him by mes We then drove back to the Winthrop Hotel where Major
Sander was introduced to Mr. Arnold by me and again listened to
Mr. Arnold's story. Mr. Arnold and I departed from the Winthrop
Hotel Sunday afternoon at approximately 4:30.

This is to certify that the foregoing statement was taken
before me, a notary public; that prior to making said statement, the
witness was first sworn to tell the whole truth and nothing but the
truth; that the statement was then reduced to writing and signed by
me on the day of August, 1947.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and official
seal the day and year last above written.

Notary Public in and for the State
of Washington, residing at Seattle.

Affidavit of EMIL J. SMITH

R WT VT) Tare aTAUTRN R PRT ACTCOMAN and HAROTD A NAUT
ne 3 YING DISCS SIGHTED BY FRED ChKiSMAN and HAROID A. Danhy

ma, Washington

ss

(.

)

Roe
Ve

* —SrANohnD Form no. 64 a @ @
t
- ‘

“Office a Se * UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT -

TO : » Director, FBI - AIR MAIL DATE: August 26, 1947

FROM ; SAC, San Francisco
t a)
SUBJECT: ‘REPORTS OF FLYING DISCS

There are being transmitted herewith to the Bureau photostatic copies
of three reports received from Lieutenant Colonel DONALD-SPRINGER, A-2, Fourth
‘Yair Force, Hamilton Field, California, involving reported sightings of aay
discs. C44
The Los Angeles Office is being furnished with a photostatic copy of/
the report of Lieutenant Colonel SPRINGER dated August 18, 1947 concerning the
investigation conducted at the Muroc Flight Test Base, Muroc, California.

The Butte Office is being furnished with a photostatic copy of the
report of Lieutenant Colonel SPRINGER dated August 20, 1947 which sets forth a
letter received from Mr. R. Je MADDEN, Division Plant Engineer, Pacific Telephone
and Telegraph Company, Helena, Montana.

This office is maintaining contact with Lieutenant Colonel SPRINGER
and will furnish the Bureau with a subsequent report from him concerning the ob-
servations of Mre RAY A.»SWITZER, Sacramento, California, who has reported
certain observations which he believes may involve a flying disc at Placerville,
California, on August 14, 1947.

EMK :EMB

Enclosures - 3

cc Los Angeles (with enclosure)
Butte (with enclosure)

at, t 1
ea OS Ee: ~ > CONFIDENTIAL
~AADQUARTERS FOURTH AIR FORCE
Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff, ee
_._.___Intelligence
Wanilton Field,

| ‘Tre Investigation of Flying Dise. Invesrication MADE AT
| eee
i ConTROLLING OFFICE -
_... Perrop coverep _.
Case crasstricarion Incident
Status oF case... Pending

| REASON FOR INVESTIGATION: Investigation initiated at request of Air Defense Command
| reference ltr Hq ADC, dtd 7 Jul 47, file D533.5 ID, subj: Investigation of Flying Diso,

SYNOPSIS:

On 8 July 1947, approximately 1000 hours, two incidents occurred in the vicinity
of Muroc Flight Test Base.

No further investigation of these incidents is being considered by this headquarters.

SAN FRANCIS™:

ROUTED TO

7 D.. O. C. $. Form No. 19, whicts
upon Fecsipt of this oe

Commanding, “oftic Muroe J
Captain Taree age Intel on

Colonel
time to be pal and ieee
enough to be reported wes noth!
Colonel to make = farther prone: Jus

TON AT

C )

AFELTOAY1T

STATE OF CALIFORNIA)
COUNTY OF KERN) °

The following is a statement given by Major Richard R. Shoop,
Office of Chief of Tech. Engineering Division, Wuroe Army Air Field,
Muroc, California, statement given on 11 July 1947.

At approximately noon on 8 July 1947, my attention was called to an |
object in the air by Colonel Gilkey. I observed between five (5) and ]
eight (8) miles to the North what appeared to be a thin metallic object.

It appeared to be metallic because the method in which it was flying caused

the sun to reflect like an apparently aluminum colored surface. The object

moved from an intermediate altitude in an oscillating fashion, almost to

the surface of the ground and then started climbing again. It climbed to

a fairly high altitude and moved off slowly into the distance. Tho object
appeared to be the size of a pursuit airplane but did not have the shape of a
conventional plane. The time that the object was in view was approximately

eight (8) minutes. ‘his same object was seen by my wife at the sane time. |

This statement has been given freely and voluntarily without any threats
or promises under duress. This statement consists of one (1) page, and is
the truth to the best of my knowledge and belief. I have initialed all
corrections deemed necessary.

s/s_richard r. shoo,
MAJOR, RICHARD R. SHOOP, AC

WITNESS:

s/s thomas a. momillan
(OAS

have

STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) |

COUNTY OF KERN )

The following is a stetement given by lst. Lt. Joseph ©. “icHenry,
Billeting Officer, Muroc Army Air Field, Muroc, California, statement
given on 11 July 1947, to Mr. Thomas A. McMillan, CIC S/A. this Station.

The following statement concerning the actual observance of what has }
been termed as a "flying Disc" or a "flying Saucer" is true and correct and |
it will be noted that the above mentioned observance was made by me per=
sonally while enjoying complete health in mind and body.

On Tuesday 8 July 1947, at approximately nine-thirty A.¥. (09:30) |
I was in conversation with nersonnel in the Post Exchange Office. My part |
of this conversation was as follows: |

"Someone will have to show me one of these Disc before I will |
believe it.” |

Upon leaving the Post Exchange, I went directly to my Office and be-
fore entering heard one of our local aircraft in the traffic pattern.
Looking up, as I always do I observed the aircraft, and looked slightly
to the left, whereupon I observed two (2) silver objects of either a
spherical or disc-like shape, moving about three hundred (300) miles an
hour, or perhaps less, at approximately eight thousand (8000) feet, heading
at about three hundred twenty degrees (520°) due north.

When I first observed these objects I called S/Sgt. Gerald ©, Nauman,
T/Sgt. Joseph Ruvolo and Miss Jannette Marie Scotte who immediately came
to where I was standing. I pointed in the direction of the objects and
asked them the question "Tell me what you see up there." Whereupon, all
the three (3) with sundry comments stated, "They are flying Disc". To
further verify my observance I asked them to tell me in what direction the
objects wore travelinc, without indicating their direction myself, and again,
all three (3) in a consistent nature stated thet the objects were moving
toward Mojave, California.

I had time to look away several times and renew my vision of the objects
+o make sure that there were not any results of eye strain, or in eny nature
an optical illusion. The objects in question were not repeat, were not air=
craft, the objects could not have been woather balloons released from this
station, since they were traveling against the prevailing wind, and since
the speed at which they were traveling and the horizontal direction in which
they were traveling, disqualified the fact that they were weather balloons.

cal
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After the observance of these phenomenon and hoping that I might have
time to enlist further witnesses, I immediately ran into the dispensary to
get personnel who are Medical Officers to verify, for my own curiosity, the
actual observance of these objects, but by the time I reached the back porch
of the dispensary, Mrs. A. C. Naum, who is a registered nurse, and about
sevon (7) other personnel were with me, the objects, had by that time, dis-
appeared, due to the speed with which they were traveling. Upon further
investigetion, two (2) of us et the same time sighted another object of a
silver spherical or dise-like nature at approximately eight thousand (8000)
feet, traveling in circles over the North-end. I called the objects to the
attention of Mrs. Naum and pointedit out to the other personnel standing near
by. All of us saw the object, with the exception of two (2) out of seven (7)
personnel. All of us looked away from the object several times to make sure
there was no eye strain or from permitting the object to become an optical
illusion.

From my actuel observance the object circled in too tight a circle and
too severe a plane to be any aircraft that I mow of. It could not have been
any type of bird because of the reflection that was created when the object
reached certain altitudes. The object could not have been a local weather
balloon for it is very impossible that a weather balloon would stay at the

same altitude as long and circle in such a consistent nature as did the
above mentioned object.

I am familiar with the results of too constant vision of the sun or
any bright object and am aware that optical illusions are possible and

probable. I wish to make this statement that the above mentioned observance
was thet of actual subject matter.

This statement has been given freely and volunterily without any threats

or promises under duress. This statement consists of two (2) pages, and

is the truth to the best of my knowledge and belief. I have initialed all
corrections deemed necessarye

s/s joseph c. mo henry
1ST LT JOSEPH C. MC HENRY AC
WITNESS:

s/s thomas a. me millan
THOMAS A. MC MILLAN

J Ogee

STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF KERN )

The following is a statement given by Captein John Pau] Strapp,
ight Test, Muroc Army Air Field, Muroc, California, statement given to
Mrs Thomas A. McMillan, CIC Agent, this Stetion, on 12 August 1947.

At 11:50 hours, 8 July 1947, while the undersigned was sitting in
an observation truck located in Area # 3, Rogers Dry Lake, for the

purpose of observing a P-82 ejection seat experiment, the following
unfamiliarity was observed. 5

The undersigned was gazing upwerd toward a formation of two (2)
P-82's and an A-26 aircraft flying at 20,000 feet, preparing to carry
out 2 seat ejection experiment, when I observed a rounded odject,
white aluminum in color, which at first resembled a parachute canopy.
The first impression wes that a premature ejection of the seat and
dummy hed occurred. This body was ejected at a determined height lower
than 20,000 feet, and was falling at three (3) times the rate observed
for the parachute which was ejected thirty minutes later. As it fell
it drifted slightly north of due west against the prevailing wind, to-
ward Mount Wilson. The speed, horizontal motion could not be determined,
but appeared slower than the maximum velocity 50-80 aircraft. :

As this object descended through a low enough level to permit
observation of its lateral silhouette, it presented a distinct ovular
outline, with two (2) projections on the upper surfece which might have
been thick fins or nobs. These crossed each other at intervals, suggest-
ing either rotetion or oscillation of slow type.

No smoke flemes, propeller arks, engine noise, or other clasuable (7)
or visible means of propulsion were noted. ‘The color was silvery, re<
serbling aluminum painted febric, and did not appear as dense as a
parachute canopy.

When the objeet dropped to a level such that comes into line of
vision of the mountain tops, it was lost to the vision of the observer.

It is estimated that the object was in line of vision about 90
seconds. Of the five (5) people sitting in the observation truck, four i
(4) observed this object and made remarks about it. These people includes

Mr..Lenz - Civilien, Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio
(Other names not given)

The following is my own personal opinions about this ‘Objects

1. I think it was a man-made object, as evidenced distaintly by
the outline and functional appearance.

|
]
|

SEARS T ~~

AFFIDAVIT

STATE OF CALIFORNIA )

COUNTY OF

)

The following is a statement given on 14 July 1947, by Jdannette
faric Scott, Secretary to lst Lt J. C. McHenry, Billeting Officer,
Muroe Army Air Field, Muroc, Californias

I am fully “aware of my Civil end Constitutional Rights, and under-
stand prior to making this statement.

On Tuesday morning 8 July 1947, at approximately 10:00, while typing
some cards, and taking care of my routine work, Lieutenant McHenry
called me, along with T/Sgt. Josoph Ruvolo and S/Sgt. Gerald 2. Nauman,
to the front of B.0.Q. "A" Bldg. Pointing up in a direction directly
above me he asked us to explain whet we saw. There were two, silver
colored disc like ébjects flying toward Mojave, California, one directly
back of the other, at a speed of about 300 to 400 miles por hour, having
an altitude of approximately 8000 feet. I listened carefully for a few
minutes, and heard no drone, such as should be heard from any aircraft.
I also cast my eyes to another direction and looking back to the same
spot, I was able to distinruish the same objects again. Having assured f
myself thet there was no eye-strain, I wes convinced these objects were sift
not weather balloons due to the horizontal position in which they were i
flying. Nor could they have been birds of any nature, due to the de-
finite reflection from the sun rays. {
i have been on this Jase, considering an absence of six months, i
approximately eighteen months, and am familiar with all type aircraft.

About three or four minutes, after these flying objects had nearly \
peared, I glanced around and sighted another flying object,

lar to the above montioned objects. This flying object was silver i
colored and was in the shape of a dise. Unlike the first two this object f
was flying ine ticht circle, neither losing nor gaining altitude, at Re
approximately eight thousand feet, therefore I was convinced it could i

not have been a weather balloon, and because of the tight circle it could
not have been any type aircraft.

This statement was given freely and voluntarily without threats
or promises under duress. This statement consists of one (1) page, and
is the truth to the best of my knowledge and belief. I have initialed
all corrections deemed necessary.

I am of sound mind and body, and swear that this statement is true

and correct.
s/s _jannotte marie scott
Jamnette Marie Scott

WITNESSES:
s/s thomas a. me millen ayn eae St
; 7
THOMAS A. MC MILLAN Sere ete ————

ATIAIMT —
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APURT DAF -1.f

STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF KERN )
The following is a statement given by S/Sgt. Gerald *, Nauman,

4144th AAFBU, Muroc Army Air Field, Muroc, California, statement given
on 14 July 1947, to lst Lt. J. ©. McHenry, Billeting Officer.

On the eight of July 1947 at ten o'clock (10:00) in the morning
I observed personally two (2) flying disc, flying in a north west direction
at an estimated altitude of seven or eight thousand feet, traveling at
approximately three or four hundred miles per hour.

Just a few minutes before this I was in the Silleting Office and
First Lieutenant Joseph ©. Mellenry, called me and two (2) others out-
side. He then asked us what we saw. I saw two (2) objects with my own
eyos, and I am now end was then in perfect physical condition. I have
20-20 vision and I am positive these two (2) objects could not have been
Aircraft, weather balloons or birds. ue to the altitude in which they
were flying, they gave off a definite reflection from the rays of the sun.

In eddition to these two (2) dise I saw another object a fow
minutes later at the same altitude doing certain maneuvers such as flying
in a tight circle. The two disc had already disappeared. This object to
my knowledge of aircraft could not have been an airplane because of the
very tight maneuver it was undergoing. I have been flying in and heve
been around all types of aircraft since 1943 and never in my life have I
seen anything such as this. If necessary I can and will swear to this
statement.

This statement has been given freely and voluntarily without any
threats or promises under duress. This statement consists of one (1)
page, and is the truth to the best of my knowledge and belief. I heve
initialed all corrections deemed necessary.

s/s te. ce robinson
PFC. T. C. ROBINSON

WITRESS:

s/s thomas a. mc millan
: Mt

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Sica Pd

UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT
4@AF°1208-I
20 August 1947

MEMORANDUM FOR THE OFFICER IN CHARGEs

1. On 20 August 1947, this agent and Special Agent Hubbard

interviewed Mr. Ray A. Switser, Insurance Adjustor, at his home, 3431

David Way, Sacramento, California, and he stated in substence: On the
afternoon of 14 August 1947, he was driving his automobile from Placer=
ville, California, on the Cedar Ravine Road.
the front seat of the automdbile and Mrs, Switser’s mother and the two

Switzer children were in the back seat of the car. At about 1600 hours
they were at a point approximately five miles southwest from Placerville

Switser's wife was in

when Switzer saw a white snoke trail out of the corner of his eyes In
searching for a rocket ship (P80) he saw an object, four to six feet in

length, ten to fourteen inches wide, and of a metal color, bright like

highly polished chromium, In relation to the travel of the automobile

the object was first seen at 1030, and when the object \ = reached a

point at approximately 1200, it was engulfed in a puff of dark gray smoke ]
about ten feet in diameter. The object was traveling at a terrific rate |
of speed and seemed to be in @ very shallow dive. When the puff of smoke
appeared, the object disappeared completély and there were no particles

seen to have fallen from the smoke. The point where the object was en=

gulfed in the smoke was about eight hundred yards distant (in front of

)
Switzer with no possibility of the object being hidden from view by yege= sy

tation or terrain.

The object appeared rectanguler in shape except for

one very short period of time it appeared to have a top surface that was
very slightly curved. Mr. Switzer turned to tell his wife about the

object and found her with her mouth open in an effort to say

and with her hand in a pointing gesture toward where the object had dis- \
appeared. The object was not very high in relation to the terrain and |
seemed to be following the contour of a canyon. ; .

2 In @ separate interview Mre. Switzer concurred in the informat
obtained from Mr. Switzer with the following exceptions: ‘The smoke
and the puff thet engulfed the object appeared dark pray in color and there
was no change in the color, Mre+ Switzer estimated the object to be about |
five feet long and'about « foot wide with the top surface being slightly —
curved. The object appeared to be some larger in front than in the rear, Re

AGENT'S NOTES: At the time this object was seen, the sun was to the Switser'
back, the sky was clear and the object gave off a very bright reflection,
Mr. Switzer has been connected with the field of insurance investigation for

the last eighteen years and appears to be a man not
The other passengers of the car did not
the process of moving to a ranch near Placervill

ee!
will be Box 43, Aukum, Eldorado County, Calif.

to meet Mr. Switzer at 1400, 26 Aug 47 at Raffe:

for the purpose of going back over Cedar Ravirje Road + UReRe 67
where the object disappeared. | } fl

Bryden E. Moon, Special Agent, 4AF CIC

FAN FRAWCIEC!

CONGIDNEAITT Nope

VINE LIN 21d eS

Pn sa RE hee Pa) Fae

AMONGINEN TA
Fé Liv

i I Pe:
WALN INL LCAL

HEADQUARTERS FOURTH AIR FORCE k
Offiee of the Assistant Chief of Staff, A-2
Intelligence
Hamilton Field, California

4AFDA 20 August 1947
33305/1208-1
SUBJECT: Flying Disc.

TOs Special Agent in Charge, FBI, U. S. Dept. of Justice,
Federal Office S5uilding, Room 422, San Francisco, Calif.

1. The attached letter was received by this office from \frs
Re Je Maddon, Division Plant Engineer, Pacific Telephone and Telegraph
Company, on 15 August 1947.

2e No further investigation will be made of this reported inei-
dent by this headquarters.

L. SPRING!

1 Incl Lt. Colonel, osc if
As indicated. AC of S, Ao? Vv
gen

-
wool
6th Army - 1 cy
PoIel
inka =a esem anon
ee ie
€ U. 6. OF _ ai

OUTED TO

427 W. 34 Avenue
Spokane, Washington
August 8, 1947

Military Intelligence Division, U.S.A.
MoChord Field, Washington

Gentlemen:

Following the reading of an secount of the visit of ur. Kenneth
Arnold, Boise, Idaho, as published in the Spokesman Review under date
of August 7, 1947, the undersigned considered the enclosed account of

an observetion of a "flying saucer" would be of interes

[…truncated…]