FBI 62-HQ-83894 §3 — 1952 Savannah River Plant & Hoover Form Letters

Official title: 65_HS1-834228961_62-HQ-83894_Section_3
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Incident date
N/A
Incident location
N/A
Released by DOW
5/8/26
Case ID
62-HQ-83894
Source URL
war.gov original ↗

Our research summary

Section 3 of FBI HQ case file 62-HQ-83894, including 1952 incident reports (e.g., Savannah River Plant sightings) and the Bureau's Hoover-era form letters acknowledging citizen UFO reports.

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Public on FBI Vault since the file's release; this 2026-05-08 version is a less-redacted re-release per the official DOW description.

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FOIPA #_?M
       STANDARD FORM NO. 64              .                                ’


       O]j%e' Memo: - .dum + vNiTED $1                                           OVERNMEN
                                                  P
       TO
                        Director, FBI                (Jjj                 DATE: September L, 1947
                                                   L/
\,\P‘:‘_ FROM           SAC, San Francisco       '                              ATRMAIL
                                                                           SPECIAL DELIVERY
       SUBJECT:
                       REPORTS o%ymc DISCS
                                     S




                                   Enclosed is a copy of a letter dated August 25, 1947, with
                        attachment fram 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. MKJOENSON should be interviewed in this matter.

                                In accordance with Bureeu 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 Amy Intelligence.


                        DWK: MR
                         Encls. 2
                         62-2938

                         cc Portland (Encls. 4) = AMSD
DECLASSIFIED

   Authority

  NND 90986



                                     HEADQUZ                                     FORCE
                        Office of                            ant   Chief of Steff,
                                                   itelligence
                                         Hamilton Pield,             California


    4AFDA



                      Flying Disc.



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



                1.     The   attached true          copy of a          letter from Mr.                F.
    was        received by this officer                 22    August      1947.


                2e     Your attention is            invited to the               similarity between Arnold's
     early report and this                    gentleman's          report.       A    possibility exists            that
     Mre       Johnson might        have       reed some of this in the                        newspapers when Arnold
    was        publicigzed    re    this      matters


                3.    This    heedquarters          does not          intend         to    investigate      this    incident.
     It    is    requested        thet    a    rosuls    of    any    interview you may make                be     furnished
     this headquerters.




                              v                                            DONALD          L.,   SPRINGER
                     (dup)                                                 Lt.       Colonel,         GS&
          Ltr fr      F,M,Johnson                                          AC of          8,     A2
               (True Cy)
              o    Cole          Donald                L.           Springer,              Assistant                 Staff


             ir.           Saw       in     the             portlar                          BT              hort     time       a
                  le       in    regards                    to       the        so                       flying           disc
       ‘acte           %
                       I         1    Say          8            &    prospector and was                              in    the
on    June        24th          the       day
          etion        of       flyin




                                            ;                       uld                &          plane.
          tail     end                    looked       1i                  tg         hend        of     a
    ide    like        a       big    magenet.                        There           speed            as      far    as    i    lmow

greater                    n    anything                    I       ever        saw.              Last                I
we:        standing .            on       edge              Banking              in    a      Cloud.




A     TRUE    COPY:




                       1, osc/
                   A=2           /4
STANEARD FORM No, 64




                                                               ¢
Ofi?ce- Mefi                       d%m e UNITED ¢                        GOVERNMENT
                 Director, FBI                                   DATE:    September L, 1937
                     Atten:  Assistant Director D. M. LADD
                 SAC, San Francisco
                                                                           ATRMATL
SUBJECT:
                REPGRTS OF FLYING DISGS

                           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
                      /\    (S nyal s § nig ol
                             (&}   L 0¥ L ¢ o |                      &




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


 4AFDA                                                                    27 August   1947
333.5/1208-1                        993 };;‘L
                             62
 SUBJECT:    Re Flying Disc.


T0:          Special Agent in      Charge,   FBI,    U.   S.    Department   of   Justice,
             Federal Office    Building,     Room 422,         San Francisco,     California.   i

                                                                                                    X       |
                                                                                                        ¥   |
                                                                                                            {
      1,  Following is extract from the Weekly Intelligence Summary,                                        |


Alr Transport Command, Weshington 25, D. C., dated 20 August 1947,
_Copy Nos 120, Article I, pE 13

             "PLYING OBJECTS IN GUAY: Unidentified flying objects have
         been observedthree
                       by   Americen enlisted men of the 147th Alre
         ways and Alr 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 smell, crescent shaped and
         traveling at a speed twice that of a fighter plane, passed over
         them on a zig-zag course in a westerly direction at an                      proxi-
         mate altitude of twelve hundred feet.                 The objects disappeared
         ‘into olouds and a few seconds later a similar object possibly
         one of those previously cbserved, emerged from the clouds and
         proceeded west, No further details have been reported."

         2. For your information.




                                                               L. SPRIN
                                                    Lt.   Colonel,    GSC
                                                    AC of §, A=2
                              Ln
                                   £n
                                        A
                                        >0
                                             e
                                                 -
                        HEADQUARTERS FOURTH AIR FORCE
             Office of the Assistant             Chief of       Staff, A-2
                                     Intellligence
                         Hamilton       Field,    California


4AFDA
                                                                             27 August     1947
33345/1208-1


SUBJECT:    Investigation       of   Flying    Dise.




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



            Attached    swmmary forwarded for your                   informations




                                                 DONALD L.          SPRINGER
1   Inel:                                        Lte    Colonel,       CSC
    Summary of   Informstion.                  AC      of S,   A-2




                                                                                   AUG 30 1947

                                                                        SAN FRANCISCC
                                                                     RUUTED   TO
                                              'H AIR FORCE
                                            Chief of       Staff,      A-:
                                   telligence
                        ianilton   Field,    California

4AFDA
                                                                         27   August   1947
33345/1208~1


SUBJECT:   Investigetion      of Flying    Disc.



704        Special    Agent   in Charge,    FBI,    U.   5.   Department      of   Justice,
           Seattle,
                                                                                              s

                      Washingtons




           Attached   swmwmary forwarded      for    your     information,




                                                   DONALD L.      SPRINGER
           of   Informetions                       Lt.   Colonel,      GSC
                                                   AC of    8,   A-2
                                                      copyY
                                                           UE   SERVICE

                                                      T 8 (62a AAF BU)
                             .o('hord :iuld                Tacoma,        %ashington


                                                                                                         4 August             1947


                      Final       ¥ission Report

                      Commending Officer
                      Adr Rescue Service
                      ¥acDill       Field,          Florida



                      NISSION NUMBER ThirtyeNine.


                      RATURE.


                      fe     At    C400       PST,    1    August     47,       ARMY    FLIGHT         SERVICE notified this
detachment that a plsne                         had been seen to orash and dburn thirteen                                          (13) miles
south of             KEL3IO,      Weshington          (468N,          182965'W).


               Ss     ACTIOR


                      se     1    fug 47«           At 04180 PST, AFS                received information from                             Mre    Os
Ce    Clark,          looal       sheriff of KELSO,                 Wash.,       that      the    scene       of    the       crash was
fiftoen (15) to twenty (20) milos emst of KELSO in the vicinity of QUBLE
                    The    XBLSO    Chief of Police                 saw an       airoraft fly low ovcr                        the        towm,
then       orash and             burn    to    the    soate.        The    time      wms     about      0236       PS          A    oheck        of
airoralt Imown to                   be    in the vieinity revesled that                               5-256 {1316 had departed
iC         RD       FIELD    st    0212       P37    for    HANILTON           PIELD,      California.              The       westher was
reported as                CFRs     A    full       moon   made visibility exceptionally                                goode            The
pilot's neme was CAPT.                         W.    C.    DAVIDSON;           the   plane       oarried three                (3) additiensl
parsonss              The    Base Operntions Officer snd Base                                PIO were notified.                          Thie
detachment                began organiszing a               ground        party      of base          persomncl          to    supploment
that       being          formed    by the KELSO Chief                    of    Police.          4t    0500    PST informstion
was    received             from    KELSO       by APS       that     ground         fog     in the      valleys at                the     seene
of the          erash was preventing a                      ground        party      frem locating             the       plane.            Sinece
no    communication                had been          received        from       Be25    #1316,        it was                 umed        thet    it
was    the          plane    reported as orashode                    ARS Ce47 was pre-flighted to transport
the    Arny ground                perty to          KELSO but       a check of the fleld conditions there
doemed it advisable to use a smaller aireraft.  Of the two CedSs available,
one belonging to AFS wes unserviced after a night flights the other, belong=
ing to AAGS, was readied even though a                                         responsible officer of                        that        organe
izetion was not                   present to suthorigze                   the    flight,          ¥     at     KBL30 prevented
takesoff until 0700 PST,                             The ground party,                 led by CAPT,            W,       L,    LITTRELL snd
CAPT                 H.    FORSBERC,          conaisted of           six men         ineluding a medical technician
end    a       photographer,              At    0600            ,   the    X          Chief of Polioe motified AFS
           A    pesgonger          of    the    erashed         mirplane        wes     in    his     office        and       had        confirmed
                                     AT          TIVIATT                       A
                               IS Y TIN                               T1A]


Subjeoty         Final Mission Report’                                                                      4 August 1947

The belief that the orash was that of the unreported Be2Ss  The Passenger,
Sgts Be Ls TAFF, of FT. LAWION,    TTLE, was uninjured, but reported that
the erew ohlef, T/Sr,t. We Us MATHEWS, was ot & farm house near the scene of
the arash and was             injured.      3gte       TAFF then led &n ambulance to                            Sgte    FATHEWS
who was        subsequently       teken    to    &   loeal          hospital,          At 0610 PST an attemps
wes made to telephone 8qe 3 at HAMILTON FIELD but no answer wes receiveds
however, it was known that HAMILTON APS was aware of the ineident mnd
would notify Sq. B,  A% 0700 PST Cept. LITTRELL doparted in a C=46 for
KELSO,  At O746 PST Sq B was contacted by phone end given a flash report.
At    0BOS    PST     CAPT   LITTRELL phoned and                informed that               he    had placed      CAPTAIN
             € in     charge of    Army porsonnel proceeding                          to    the    soene of the orash.
fo norial        search was necessary ss civiliens in the aree knew tho exact
looetion of the erash and had reported finding one                                          (1) body in the wreokbge.
CAPT,       LITTRELL prepared to fly Sgt's TAFF and MATHEWS to MCCHORD FIELD                                                       .
for medical attention, arriving at 0845 P8Y.                                        The survivers steted that                   3
they belleved neither              the pllot nor               coepilot has parschuted Prom the
planes        The     osuse of the      ineident was et this time                           determined to be a fire
in the left engine,               CAPT LITTRELL was informed by Sgte TAPF                                   that he
bolieved olassified documents             had been sboard the planeg  CAPT FOKSBERG
was instructed to             take necessary precautions.  An ambulance met the plane
at MCCHORD FISLD earrying                the     two      survivors and took thom to the hospital.
Interrogation revealed that the left engine had omught firs inu the power
soction       and     flames ond    smoke      had     spread         to   the       flight deck almeat            immed=
iately         The     orew ohief, HATHEWS, mssisted TAPF in attaching his                                        shest
paok and TAFY abandoned              the    plene st            an estimated altitude                     of 10,000 It
(this fact 1s doubted but ia not considered necossarily rolevant ).
 IATHERS      helped the       pilot and       co-pilot attach                     thoir    chest    packs      (211 pere
sonnel had bYoon wearing the harness) and as he                                      left the plens wus aware that
the    coepilot was preparing to                 follow.             The   pilot       had    started      %o    leave      and,
to    the    best    recollection of        MA            8,    was    partislly            stending      and    holding
the    control wheel with his left hand,                             HATHEW'S         statements indicate that
proper       emergency       procedurss     had      been       porformed           but     that    the   flames      had    en-
veloped the smtire left side almost immodiately.  TAPF stated that, decause
of the full woon snd goed visidility, he sew MATHENS leave the plane end
was able to follow the plane to the ground and that he saw no one olse
bail oute            The ship was euveloped in flames and was be sinning %o fell apart
before hitting the ground where                      it    exploded and burned about                       one    (1)    mile
from where he, TAFP,             landeds         e 1it in a tree, end not knowing how teo
releass his parachute of the gquickedetachable kind,                                        ocut himself loose fron
the    herress with hie pooket             kmife.,             He    kicked end            struggled and eventually
Jumped Go the ground, receiving e jolt onm impeot but was unable to ruess
how far he hed fellen.              He then          followed a            ocow path for an           estimated          two
(2) milos to & farm houss, arriving after VATHEWS,                                          Moanwhile, as MATHENS
olenred the plane he turned and sew the plane strike the                                            ground,      explode
snd    burne        Just before    or just at tho time                     of impaet he            saw an    ob jeet
afire    thrown       olear of    the   plane        but       did not         know whether         it was &      person
or    part   of the     plane.     MATHEWS       also          lit    in   a    tree,      and    aftsr    freeing himselsl
from his harness, fell %o the ground                           where he injured his back,                         g     lost
conselousnoss and on recovering went                           to the burning plene, about                       rifty




                                    ANERTITITATTTEATYT
                                            T     I 1oIN                   T
Subjest:
                         SAWRIE
                Finel Mission Eepgrs
                                                                    R                          4 August 1947
                                .


(80) yards away,           Flares were going off and he thought best Lo leave the
soere.           heard a       stream nearby end fellowed it                 uptil he came to & house and
aroused the oocupantss                 Joon TAFF arrived st the same house and, being un~
injured, was driven luto town,                    Then he led an anbulance to effect transporta=
tion of MATHEWS          to @ hospital,           lsarwhile, civilisns              reached the seene of
the orach where they found one body.                         A% 0830 PST, a m            ge from Sq B
inforned thet top seoret materisl was in the navigators kit and to request
‘ommanding Offlcer MCCH                        LD %o expedite all available               informetion to
Commanding Officor HAMIL                      PIZLD,     Mearwhile, CAPT PORSSERQ and four (4)
enlisted men departed KELSO at                  0830 P3T for seene            of    the crashs        Thoy were
                                     IROTON     3TATE POLICE who knew the exast                 locstion of
the plane (46909'N « 122045'W)s                    The ground          party determined upon arrival
                  , that two (2) bedies were in                      the wreckage.      Indications led te
                    % the go-pllot wae afire when he                    left the plane an 1instant *
before impacts          Ti. pilod's -             ins mn found in the wreckages                       Pre=~
liminary investigation by CAPT                               G disclosed the planes left wing
about one hundred twenty~ive (125) 'Il‘fll from the widely seattered port-
                   planes        .‘w loft wing was intact end hed spperently torn
                 thoard of       the left       engine    before impact.                forwerd portion
                                                                                                                    b
of the \dn;, stab was mltsd but                   the redr two thirds indicated that                    it hed
rippsd looge {rom the               inboard seotion of the wing.                   The wing    lesding edge
was undemageds           The navigation and            landing      lights were unbrokens              The
aileron was undamaged but                the flap section was orushed,                 leeding to the
belief that tho wing             struck the      teil     sections      From these       indicstions
it    1s believed the wing ripped                from the airplane           just efter MATHEWS
abandoned the plsne.                The resulting spin thus prevented the remsining
orew members       from bailing out            slthough      the    co-pilot may       heve    been    in     the
hatchs        A few civilians were             in the ares when        CAPT    FORSBERG arrived
and he       took precautions to          prevent      them from disturbing the wreeksge.
At    1157 PST CAPT       LITTRELL flew CAPT RICE,                 M, C.,    to KELSO,        An ambul
digpetohed       from MOCHORD PIELD,            met them st         KELSO,    and was    led to the           &
of the       erash by the STATE POLICE.                The    bodlas were recovered and trans-
ported       in the ambulence to          HO       D   PIELD.       CAPT LITTREILL returned to
MCC      b FIELD where osmping equipment was prepared to be dropped to the
ground party.           CAPT LITTRELL,mede & suocessful drop at dusk by                          sighting
on &    signal fire,           The ground party set up camp at the wreokage                       scens to
8ot as guerd and te investigete further the following deye.                                   They were
relieved of responsibility of =1l recovered documents by a CIC mgent who
hed arrived mbout 1800 P8%.


         by     2 Aug 47         The   ground party remeined at the                  scene of the crash
pending officlal          seouring      of the     ineident.         No sorieal setivity.


         Ge     3 Aug    47,     HOCHORD               Operations      Officer departed at             1000
P5ST %o investigete the mecident snd to relieve                         CAPY       FORSBERG,   who returned
et    1600          Incident closeds
                                                        Personnel       in


                                                                            onnel
                                                                     timnte)



                                                                    epraonnel




                                                             y   alreralt




         »     COMM

              ae      Cooperstion   recaived   from      |                  »pennies   soneerned
was   complete and      exesllent.




                                                      Captain,
                                                      cosmandin




             opraphs
                                                       ARALQUARTRRS POURTH AIR FORCE .
                                     Office of the Assistent Chief of Staff, Ae2
                                                                Intellizence
                                                       Haeilton Pleld, California




                                                                  PERIOD COVERED        31 July through
                                                                                                    7 August 1847
                                                                  CASE CLASSIFICATION     Inclident
                                                                  STATUS OF CASE

    ASON FOR INVESTIGATION:                                Investigation initiated at the request of Alr lefense
é%E-lnd. referonce 1tr Hq ADC, dtd 7 Jul 47, fMle DES3.6ID, subjs Investigatioof
                                                                               n
Flying Dise.

SYROPSISy


          On 31 July 47, Mre Arnold, Aviation “ditor of the Idaho laily Statesman, teles
phoned Lt. Urown requesting he return o Tscoma because Arnold believed he had some
very vital information on the flying disece


      lte Srown and Cepts Davideon interviewsd & ir. Fred L. Crissen and a Y. lareld
Ae Dahl, along with Capt, Smith of the United Adr Linecs, and Ve Arnold, &t the Wine
throp fHotal in Tacoma, Washington, on the night of 31 July 1947,

      the summary of their interrogation and findings was related to Major Sender,
Public Information Offlicer, MeChord Field, by YNre. Arnold and Capt. Smith. iajor
Sander retold the results eof the iluvestigetion to this officer from his notes.


          ire Uahl and lr. Crimmn wore net svailable for interview while                                           this officer
was in that area, although every effort wvas mede o contact them


      Parther investigution of this particular incident was left with YNre                                              Srady,
Yosident Agent, FBI, Tacomn, Vashington.


          It was epperent from nowspaper elippings,                                telephone oalls to this officer, and
conversations with                    s jor Sander,            that & United Press correspondent, of the Tacome
Tines, wes instrumental in keeping this case alive,  This officer and Major Seander,
although 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                           Tecome could possibly be lr, Crismeans


               DisTRIBUTION                                                APPROVED:
                      AAP

                     ADC


                      Ce 6%h Army


                      FBI,      Seattle                    1


                      FUI,      Sen Franeiseo 1

                     D                                     -                                                    AUG 30 1947

                                                                                                SAN FRANMOISC(
         w.n.,p.ln‘x.ol.mrmr:o.uo
                                                                                            : ROBTED   1)       T       e
(This form supersedes W. D., 0. C. S. Form No. 19, which                                    ]
     will not be used upon receipt of this revision)                                            o           e      e   T S 6. &
Cl-R1 FRpport                      ‘              :     L               '

 DETAILS


       le  During the afterncen of 31 July 47, ¥r. Arnold, Aviation E¢iter of
                                                                              the
 ideho Daily Statesmsn, telephoned Lt Spown, CIC Subelotaohment
                                                                Commander at leade
 quarters Fourth Alr Foree, and stated in substence:  That be, Ameold, and Capt Smdth
 had arrived in Tacomm to investigate the surported flying dise
                                                                explosion on & sure
 fece oralt on 21 Jume 47,  This investigation was requosted and finenced by e Wy,
 flolh Falner of the Venture Press, 305 Studie ¥ldg., 1718 Lhersen Avemue,
                                                                           “vansten,
 Illincis.


 AGEST'S WOTEs  Ses Inclosure ) and Inclosure 2.  The signature %o Inelosure 8, Mr,
 bave Johneon, is that of the editor of the Idaho laily Statessa
                                                                 n.  lr. Johmson is e
 forser Arwy Adr Poroe officer snd frem sll indicstions 1o
                                                           & very patriotie Ameriocan,
 On the reesipt of Inslosure 2 et Jesdquarters Fourth Alr Yoree,
                                                                  this officer requested
 the San Preneiseo Fil Office te oheok the Uhlemgo PUI Offics for Re
                                                                      4. Palser and the
 Venture Preass            UThe return enswer, by telephons, was to the effeot that the Chieages
 indleos of the FBI, the Chicago Police, and Credit Suresu
                                                           had no record on R 4.
 Peluer or the Vesture "ress,

       2¢  It Grown and Jept Lavidson arrived et Mefhord Field during the afternoon
 of 31 July 47   They changed from thelr wniforms to elvilian elothing in the siroraft
end, on belng queried by Opereations as to why they desired transportation te Teooma,
 they replied they wero So smke a speechs

AGERI'SG ROTEs  Thie wns in complisnce with par 4, 1tr fr Ng ADC,             Pile DB3S.513,
T dal 47, subln   Investigstien of Flying Visee


Asoording to lajor George Sander, Publie iuformetion Officer, NeThord Field, The
Tacons Times received an enonymous telephone cell that Arnold and Swith were
                                                                              presand
in the Winthrop Hotel for the purpose of conduoting en investigation on the
                                                                             fiying
dises  The Tacome Times checked and found thds %o be true, muoh %o Arnold's end Smith's
surprises  Lt Urowm snd Japt Devidson d4id interview ¥y, lmreld A, Dehl, ¥r, Fred L.
Crisman, in & hotel room in the Wimtkrop Hotel, Tacoma, Wash., in the presence of
Ere Arnold snd Onpt Smithe  If notes werc teken of this conversstion, they were dee
stroyed in the airereft aceldent,  Urs Arnold stated to Yejor Jander that Lt Brown
obtalned from ¥re imhl end ¥r, Crisman samplos of an unidentified substence thet
                                                                                 were
identienl to those sppearing in Inclesures 3 to 7,               The samples plotured in Inclosures
§ %o    7 wore taken by ¥p, Arneld from the seme
                                              box thet Dehl and Crismsn offeored l4.
Srown and frow which he obtained his samples.               1/Sgb Yatthews, Crew Chief om the
wraekod alrareft, uwpon being interrogated dy this officer, stated that he pleced &
asavy oardboard carton in the rear compartuent of the 325 that erashed.                o did not
look in the box nor heer any comments frem 14 Srown or Capt Usvid
                                                               es %o eon
                                                                     its cone
tenta,                                                      o

         Se     The following summerises what weas related by ¥r, Arneld end Qupt Smith %o
Yajor Jander as %o the sudbstaunce of ths Interrogation by 14 Srcwm and Cept Davidsons
Thet on 21 Jum 47 Yr, Jahl wes proceeding scuth of MNsury Island in ¥re Crigssn's
boats  Fiwe flying diece came down out of the clouds and cireled siowly around the
bay, dropping %o an estbmabted eclewation of 600 fests  These disos sppesred round and



                                            —CONFHDENTHAL
¥.D.,P.M.G.     Form No.   110
 flattenad sinilar %0 & deflsved automobile lmnertubes  They were jJudged by lshl %o
 be spproxinately 100 feet soross with o 20 foot oponing in the eeuter.   The outer
 edge of the objeoct had round portholes snd the inmer ring hed squere windows or
 portholess  The dises wors silent and from his viewpolnt he could see ne means of
 propalsions  Ome of thess dises eppearsd to falter and waver in the air, snocther of
 these nforementioned five disos dropped down elose te the dise shat appesred o
wever and bumped it, dumping “tonsTM of the stuff as pictured in inslosare § te 7
 on his boat, soeking off the hendrail, horm, end generelly desaging the boat %o
 the extent of $800.,00, snd killing Jadl'e doge

AGEST'S NOTHs  This officer, in the company of iejor Sender, boarded the aforsnen=
tiened bost where L% wes dooked in the Jacous harbor on 6 Aug 47    2 hend rail was
missing, bal the ares whers the hend rail wes previcusly fastened hnd been peinted
over with seversl coats of palnt end was oresked by the weathers   The deck and roof
of the eabin wes of « very thin construstion and the esbin furtber had glass on the
front and eldess  It ie thia offieer's oplinion thet if mny of the objesta presented
 by bkl as sasplee of the mstorisl dropped by the flyins dise had hit this boat, i
would have ssytaiuly besn neosesary %o replase She foredeck and ths cabin roof,
These twe arens were wery hmevily conted with geverel ccets of paint end hed deep
woather orachks thet would talke evveral seasons Lo eeguire.


 lire Urismen, who owns the beat and eporates a shoreline waber patrel for warious
 business firms, oevidently visited the area at Heury Islend to check Dshl's story.
 e is supposed
           o have stabed that he found the materisl that he prossuted
                                                                   to Lt
Brown amd Capt Levidson iz & send pit near where ths ineident was supposed to have
vocurrads “hile ke, Crismn, was &% the soene of the imoldent, a Plying dise cane
 out of e elouds and behaved in & slmiler wammer as the ones previously deseribed.

 ADERTYS HOTE:        The wituessing on two ceenslons, inm broed daylight, of an sbjeet s
 large and elearly visible within several miles of the olty ef Tacome certeinly sheuld
 heve bown sesn snd yeported on by other then Pshl snd Urisman.        A cheok was made of
She newspspers
         on and after Z1 Jure end no mentlon could
                                                 be found of & mysterious
 objest mppearicg over the Tecome harbors

 ¥ro Urisman 18 supposed to hewe sent semples of She objoots that he pleked up in She
 Haury Island sand pit to & friend of hls st the University of Chileage for an analysis
 reports       Ho 1a muported So have not received the enulysis reports

 ASENT'S NOPE:        Tt 1s posaidble that the re Fe A, Palmer, refersnse Inclosurs 1 sad 2,
 wight bave come seross this Inefdent through the University of Chiscegoe

 The in            dion of Mkl end Crissen by LS Orows wes completed about midnight on
E3 ) Myx Auguate L& Brows and Capt Devidson returned to WeCherd Misld and preparsd
 for a night flight o Sanilton Fields  Ihe weethor was clear with a bright moen
 shininge They deparsed spproxivately 0200 hours and sreshsd at approxizately 0230
 hours on } August 1947, (See Inclosurs 8).

       S+ On 6 August 47, thls officer, iz the cospeny of Najor Jender, Hetherd Fleld,
 and dre Grady, resident agent, Tacoms Federsl “uremu of Investigatlon, stlespled to


                                        ~CONFDENTHAL-
¥W.D.,P.M.G.   Form No.   110
\      T




content elther Wre Dabl or ¥re Urisman, without suvcesss               Cept Gmith end ¥re Arnold
departed the Teovms ares on 3 dugust 47, therefore, this officer did not have the
dpportunity of eomversing with them directly.


ATEFE'S HOTE:       A record check was sede by Selephone by Nr.           Brady with the Seattle
Field 0fficn, FAI, for records en            ¥re Urissan and Wre. Vehl,     The sheok on Hre Crissan
e negatives    The Seattle FEI dndloss indicated thet & fareld Jahl had been charged
with twe insidente of illegal wearing of the unifors snd one with theft of nationel
propertys      1t could mot be deternined 8t the time whether Harcld As Yshl, the eudjoot
in question, and Zereld         skl of    the   FII indioes, wae ono and the    sene,


      5¢  Hpe Crissan hod indiceted to Cept Smith, irneld, et al, that ke wes &
formsr Plghtor pilot end held scomission se Capteain in the ilr Hsserves


AGZUTYS %            On 8 Zugnst 47,     thie officer ohecked the resords of      the 400%h AP
BU(RT) and determined that         Fred L.      Crissan wes registersd with thet Heserve Unit as
Captain, Serial Pumber O753051, with residence at 128 Voodlsnd, Tacoms, Washingbon,
Feimary MOS 1064 and 1008.  Iz 1042 ho was with the Oriaisal Inwestigstion Svisien,
Stato of      Veohington, and    provieously had bDess &n o1l teshnieian     with Ghe Unien Paeclfie
Bailwnys       CUrisosn eutered the servics fu 1942 as an enlisted man and served sa such
for seventoon mouthse          In 1043 he wes comnissioned om gradustiom frem flying sohool
and served a totel of twenty-nine monthee                chaok of the Incomm eity direetory was
made on fmrold A,         Jmhl, which indiecated his home was at 3903 ¥, Gobs 54, tolephomes
Prootor 7117,       Jusiness address wss listed es 230 Widdle %aterenyj; telephone: Sroade
wey 7733,

RECOMMEEDATION

        1s    Thet mo further investigation be undertaken on Vhis apeeifie ineldent by
Apny Aly Feree porsomels


        2¢    That in view of the reported statements by lr. Crissen, thet considerasion
be given to revoke kis Alr feserve commission and flying status as an undesireble
and unrelisble offioer.




8 Incles
      Thotostat, 1tr fr RedsPalmore
      rhotostat, telegran fr Dave Johnaons
      %o Ts  Fhotographs, Unidentified Substances
       Pinal Wiseion Reporty Air Hesoue Serviees




W.D.,P.M.G.   Form No.   110
                                         -~                                                                &                                                   3
                                         2




                                                                                                           L
                                                                              .




                VENTURE PRESS
                                                                                                                                                               it

|
                                                                   ) (5]
|
                     M¥r.    Kerneth          Arnold,

                     Zoise, Idaho                                                                                  O                   -é;.—        7 ’ ( 4’




                                                                                                                   D
                                                                                                                  S=



                                                                                                                              :&
                     Dear Mr.          Arnold:

|                    Quite obviously                 you    have    tesn          ribbed    sc       muich you'd         like          to                              {
                     forget        the    flying saucers--but                      I'd    sure like to             have your
                     personal          story,        your    photo,       pie       of    your       plane,       etc,       as    I
    |                asked        before.        A4nd      you    won't       he made       to       look       silly,       becauss
    i                there's more to this than the rewspapers and the ®experts*
    \                have     made       of    it.



                     Besides the erticle,                    I    heve    another propssition,                         You    seem          to
    |                get     around       quite       a    bit,    and    if       you    can    maks       &   trip     to       Tacome,
                     Washington           at    e]1       feasible,       I'd be          willing to pay                expenses
                     plus     2    nice amount             to make       it       worth your          while.


                     I'G     want      you to        see Mr.       Herold A.             Dahl,       P.    O.   Box     154,       Fera                                {
                     Hill     Station,          Tacoma,          and Mr.          Fred L.       Crisman,          osner of the
                     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 explcsion,               saw falling              stuff which
        |            smashed their wheelhouse end seerchlight snd lended on the
        !_           beach,         They sent me samples which Chicago U has failed to
        |            analyze.          I wanit a picture of the beach and the stuff that
                     landed there              (about twenty tons,                     they said).              And I        want
                     somebody          who'll        get   the     trath,         to     find out          if these boys                   are
        i            on     the   up    and     upe        You    could       do    thet.        I   hope       you will.                  If                      {
                     agreeable,          please write and perhaps                          we oan telk business.                                               7al
            i        I    think you'd           like to          prove this            thirg tool


                     Anyway,        I stillvant that                article!


                                                                                                      Sincerely yours,




                                                                                                      Re A        Palmer               .                               1


                                                                                                                                                                           x
                                                                                                                                                                           i
                                                                                                                                                                           1
WESTERN
 UNION
           WUA41    PD              &               :            "

                      BOISE   IDA JULY 29 1947 255P

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

                   OFF ICE 4TH AIRFORCE HAMILTON FIELD CALIF

           VENTURE PRESS 305 STUDIO BLDG 1718 SHERMAN AVE EVANSTON         ILL. RA
WESTERN



           PALMER. SENT ARNOLD $200 TO GO TO TACOMA TO INVESTIGATE FLYING
 UNION




           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
 WESTERN
  UNION




           305 1718 $200

                               308P
 {
AT TP TN
ALV0 B3
T %       5 Iy [ A}
LR   WS   VIS   W vy   =
O]fice Memo                              1
                                             ~w2d2 » UNITED Sln... >OVERNMENT
                                         \


TO         :          Directory    FB,                                                         T=29-47    y

FROM :                                                   ik‘l’/
SUBJECT:             METAL FRAGMENTS .O\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 partiocles referred to.                         They were
      determined to be of ordinary cast iron which had been subjscted to a very
     high degree of heat, The heat caused scales to be formed on the oast iron
     which were originally thought to be of some metallic alloy,


     The scientist examining the partiocles conoluded that if they had come through
     the   air from any great altitude in as              small pieces       as they were found then
     most of         the    heat would have been     taken from them by       the   time   they reached
     the ground and fires would not have resulteds                   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 oylinder,
  eight inches in diemeter and three sixteenths of an inch in thickness,  It
  was felt that one 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 soientist, whom Uean Bunker did not identify by name,                           recalled that ocast
  iron oylinders of               similar measurements had been used in New Mexico               on
  Tesearch work on a guided missile project,  However, this unidentified scientist
   id not so conolude to the exclusion of all other possibilities,
       )       VF.

  I “ion\ ‘int'e"rbei%iug to note that the examination at MIT wes actually conducted
                     INPTI




       (®)(M)(D)           " who furnished the Boston Office with an informal report similar                         2


  in all major details to that supplied by Dean Bunker above,                              The men at MIT     \"‘G
  are      gathering through friends all additional                sieoe- of the       original oyli:           4
  available,               These will be turned over to the         Soston Office,         No further
  examination is being conduoted by MIT and no effort is being made b
  reconstruct the original cylinder,


  Unless advised to the oontrary by August 15, 1947 the Boston 0ffice will
  destroy these specimens,                   In the interim they will be transmitted to            the
  Bureau on specifio Bureau instructions,                                / /7        /f A
                                                                         S    14~      JU%
(b) (7)(D)
It is noted that the original Boston teletype reflected that this imgquiry
was being treated as "secret" matter at MIT. (b)(7)(D)     has advised that
the comparatively small number of research soientis ts at MIT during the summer
are all cognizent of the incident and the results of the research, However,
no publicity has been given and it is not anticipated that amy will result.
The Bureau's interest is not know

[…truncated…]

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