FBI 62-HQ-83894 Serial 130 — Portland Police Sightings (Sep 1947)

Official title: 65_HS1-834228961_62-HQ-83894_Serial_130
FBI PDF Partial
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

Serial 130 — October 9, 1947 SAC Portland memo to Director FBI on the September 11, 1947 Portland police flying-disc sightings (Officers Adair, Caldwell, Chief Jenkins, Patrolman Raney, Shaylor, Cowling), plus a SAC Anchorage memo of October 18, 1947 on Bethel, Alaska pilot Peck and co-pilot Vincendaly (Daly) sighting a flying-wing-shaped object near Bethel in July 1947.

📑 Source PDF 101.7 MB · 126 pages Open PDF ↗ Download

Prior disclosure: Partial

The 1947 Portland police and Bethel Alaska reports are part of the 62-HQ-83894 file partially on FBI Vault with prior redactions; this individual serial may be a less-redacted version of previously visible material.

What was disclosed earlier

Prior-disclosure links

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DECLASSIFIED




                                        HEADQUARTERS

     IN REPLY                        AIR DEFENSE COMMAND
     REFER TO:                        MITCHEL FIELD, NEW YORK


                                                                 12 September   1947




      SUBJECT:     Unidentified Flying Object
                    (Interview - Alpheus O, Powell)

                   # INFORMATION:

                 The following information was recsived 12 August 1947 from Mr.
      Alpheus O, Powell, 28 Redwood Road, Wew Hyde Park, Long Island, relative
      to the sighting of & possible flying dise 4 August 1947,

                 On 4 August 1947,   Mr Powell, an Airlines Captain with Pan American
      Airways, Inc,, was the first pilot of a Constellation type airoraft on
      flight from Gander, Newfoundland, to La Guardia Field, New York.          Mr. Powell
      took over the aireraft at Gander, Newfoundland and departed at approximately
      1230 P,M., Eastern Daylight Saving Time for La Cuardia Field, New York.  At
      1600 P.M,, 8t a positiom approximately midwey between the Everett (Mass) Fam
      Marker and the Bedford Redio Beacom (Everett is 3 miles NW of Boston, Mass.,
      and Bedford is 15 miles NW of the same oity) both Mr Powell and Mr W. White,
      navigator on this trip, sighted unidentifisble flying objects.         To the best
      of Mr, Powell's kmowledge, the following weather conditioms exi sted at that
      times      TVisibility was goods cloud coverage was from 6-3/10ths, with tops at
      10,000 feet; end the wind at the 8,000 foot level was estimated as being
      270/25 miles per hour,         The sircraft was at 8,000 feet; airspeed 265 mph;
      and the course was 244 degrees, magnetic.

                  Mr White, who was sitting in the co-pilots seat (the right side of
      the cockpit) first called Mr. Powell's attentiom te a bright crange objeot,,
      which was on the right side of the plane, snd slightly below the level of the
      aireraft, Nr Powell was unable to see the object, as he had no visibility to
      the right and down, from his position, Mr Powell immediately glanced out his
      side window and noticed, at a 45° angle to the left, and wnidentified flying
      objest, It was about one mile away at ean altitude of approximately 7,800
      feet, Mr Powell banked to obtain a better view of the object, The object
      was under observation for approximately 30 seconds, and during this time was
      viewed by Mr Powell,      lNr Powell described the object as being about the length
      of & P-40 fuselage, blunt at both ends, cylimdrical in shape, and having a
      bright orange hue,  Mr Powell stated that the object had a definite shape, and
      that there was no suggestiom of gaseous dissipation as there would be if the
      orange color wers the exhaust from a rocket, or a jet aircraft. Mr Powell
      estimated the course of the objest to be 200° magnetic, emd that the object
      was travelling at approximately 160 mph, Mr Powell lost sight of the object,
      when a cloud came betweem the aireraft snd the object.  The pursuit of the
      object was not continued, inasmuch as it would have mecessitated a departure
      from the established alrways,
                        SONHDENTHAL

                                         HEADQUARTERS

IN   REPLY
                                        AR DEFENSE COMMAND
                                        MITCHEL FIELD, NEW YORK
REFER TO:




 ‘oundland        to
mately       10   mil
he     was   umabl


                                                                  sighted
                                                                     ot   balow

                                                                          objeet
                                                                          hite




                               al ter         hite hag   been
                        ive   years       2   Wavi         ‘el
in conjunction with contract flying for the AAF.,           Mr    White states that he
has flown with Mr Powell on & number of occasions,              and he considers him
to be a very stable person; completely reliable,           and not given to
"flights of fancy",

Related Report:          Eee Summary of Informetiom,   12 September 1947, Hq ADC,
subject, "Unidentified Flying Objects" (interview - Alpheus 0. Powell).




Previous      Distribution:
 - None
                                                            Evaluation

Distribution

 -   AAF (8    copies)                           of    source       of   information
 - ADC (2 copies)                                      T                    : %
AGENTS NOTES:       Mr.   A,    O,   Powell is      a   graduate of the Aviation Cadet Flying
Training Program, having graduated from Maxwell Field, Alabama, with the
Class of 41-C,  Since graduation, Mr, Powell has flown for Pan American
Airways    and,   at this      date,   has    over 4,000 command pilot hours             to his credit,
Mr,   Powell   eppears     to be     a calm,      intelligent    individual,     not   given     te
flights of     fanoy,     or easily swayed by what he has previously read im the
newspapers     as regards       reports      of   this types     Mr,     Powell has & fear       of publie-
city and seemed hesitant to even tell his story lest he become the object of
ridicule,      Mr Powell was         questiomed as       to   the peossibility that what he
sighted might have been a tow target,                   a pilet balloom,       or a radiosonioc device
used for meteorologieal purposes,                   Mr Powell stated that he has           seen numerous
pilot balloons, radiosoniec devices                 and tow targets, while on flights;                the
object observed on this flight definitely was mot ome                         of them,




                                                                         Evaluation
Previous Distribution:
  « Hone                                                        of   source        of information

                                                                     c                       3

Distribution
- AAF (3 copies)
- ADC   (2 copies)
                                  RESTRICTRD




BASIO:        Ltr. Hq, BARTD, Birmingham AAF,
                                              Birminghem, Ala,, dtd 8 July
              sudbjt Rep  ort on Loeal "Flying
                                                                           b7,
                                               Dise.
                                                   "         .

                -

3196
                                           lst   Ind,
                                                                         D


                  »   TOURTEENTH AIR FORCE, Orla
                                                 ndo, Florida,

70:   Commending General, Air Defense
                                      Command, Mitchel Tield, New York,

         1,    Torwvarded for information of
                                             your Headquarters,

      2.  This Headquarters has made no inve
                                             stigation of *Flying Disc"
reports because this is an 1sola
                                ted case,

               TOR THE COMMANDING GENERAL:




                                                        /[ V2200 //ql/




                                  RESTRICTED
                                                                      24-
MMJ%M;&L@-_”
D333.5 1D       (8 Jul 47        -    2nd Ind
HQ., AIR DEFENSE COMMAND, Mitchel Field, New York, 25 July 1947.

T0:     Commanding General, Army Air Forces, Washington 25, D, C.
      ATMTMN:   AC/AS=2


        Forwarded for your information.


        FOR THE COMMANDING GENERAL:




  n/c                                     Colonel, GSC
                                          Asst Chief of Staff-Intell,
                                                                               THE           WEA.
                                                                    "    UPurnished by the U, 8. Weather
                                                                              For    Birmingham        and Yichity
                                                                        - Partly       cloudy and warm toda
                                                                                         d
                                                                                    tomorrow with a few
                                                                                   showers this afternoon.
                                                                               oday 86, low tonight 70, high
                                                                         tomorrow 0.



7                                     *%                                             PRICE:            5     CENTS



'Flying Saucers’ Reported
From 39 States, But Seem
To Be Concentra ted Here
                                                                                City Is Baffled By
                                                                                Dazzling Display
                                                                                Of Spooky Discs
                                                                                The      strange    things      that    have
                                                                              been in night skies since June 25,
                                                                              were over Birmingham last night.
                                                                                On one thing everyone who     has
                                                                              seen the mysterious objects agree
                                                                              —they are round, s:                     . After

                                                                                             of callers who re-
                                                                              ported witnessing the baffling sky
                                                                              demonstrations here last night had
                                                                              & different version           of what    they
                                                                              saw.
                                                                              I:‘.T‘ne       id llllre no.n;,ecu were
                                                                                     ', some small.            were move
                                                                              ing at great speed. They were sus-
                                                                              pended in the air. There was sound




                                                                            But whatever the things are that
                                                                          have set the nation agog since first
                                                                          reported 12 days ago by a man in
                                                                          Washington          State,       they definitely
                                                                          were over the Magic City last night.
                                                                          It seems, in fact, that more ‘Bir


                                                                          -                    .«   vx

                                                                            REPORTS BEGAN coming into
                                                                          the Age-Herald city room around
                                                                          8 o'clocklast     night. For more than
                                                                          an hour thereafter, the place was
                                                                          bedlam. The switchboard operators
                                                                          were swamped with calls.
                                                                          ers, office boys, copy readers—
CAMERA HERE CATCHES “FLYING              $AUCER"—Robert Cross-            everyone in the place was called
land, Age-Herald copy reader, has camera proof that the much-dis-         into” action.
cussed flying discs were over Birmingham last night. The picture             Reports cante in from Edgewood,
above was made by Mr. Crossland at 8:37 p.m. last night at his home       Mountain Brook, Avondale, South-
2t 23th Street and Highland Avenue.   He said he gave the film (g         |side,     Fairfield,     Pratt     City,    West
15-second exposure.                                                       End, Central Park, Bessemer.
                                                                               There was fear,         excitement, hor-
                                                                         fror, skeptic                the wf-.gl‘ One
m.m omuuum5 ga
      g¥3aaET s 23



                     4H
                     g,




                                 2]     2
                    .;
             RADY 0-GUI
                              D, SAYS LA
                  “T'd liw
                         ke              D
                            un
             al     it wi
M 4.32.Hm
     MWWM%
                          Emawwhmmwwn




                          m
                             2 nmm
G AS TABLES”
               HiY
                               m,R
                     mnmuw)mum»m
    ," Jimmy   said, "Dutlt'uho
[low 'for that. It had a long red tail”|

Searchlight Reflection




£ym~,
                                                                               TRI'CY


                                           §=MeA-P-H-B-N-17




         I,    Staff Sergeant            Ira         L,   Livingston,              RA    1l 153       072,       Air    Corvs,
aporoximately           250 homrs        flying            time       ms       vilot    and    Armorer       Gunner          have
the following           statement        to     meke        concerning the                   annearence          of "Wlying Discs"
in the vicinity             of Birmingham,                 Alabama,


          At 2045 hours, 6 July 1947, while T wne                                        eating sunmer at my residence
at 1354 Meadow Lane,                Gresn Acres, Birmingham,                             Alabama,          my next door nei
Mr, Herman M.           Sookwell,          called          for me          to    come to       the    front       door       that    t!
 some "Flyinz Disce"               outside.               Immediately T                went    out    in    the front yard                 to
 observe the          obBjects.      The        objects          avneared          to the West             of Birmingham             traveling
in a    South       ®astern Airection.                    They    =mneared             to be    evnwroximately               2000    feet
above the horizon at a li5 degree angle from where I was standing ot                                                                an un-
 estimated distance away.                       The objects anneared                         to be apnroximately                   two     (2)
 feet    in    diameter,       round       in    shane,          nroducing a             dim glow          of light          snd    troveling
 at an estimatdd.speed of five (5)                               to six          (£) hundred miles ver hour.
 The objects          or object      annenred to be traveling in »                                   definite =rec            rather than
 straight and          as   soon    23     one was          out       of       sight    another       would       aonear       behind
 it,    but not       always      in the        s-me vath.,                I    saw one that          secemed      to    come       strnight
uv.      The view of where it                   came from was                   obstructed       by    a    nearby       house;           and
when     4t    reached      the    altitude           of    avrroximately                2000feet,          it    started          off     in
 the    same direction as            the        others.           I    did       not    at    any    time    see       any    more        than
 one at       the    time and      even.    though          there          could have been only                   one,       my nerennnl
belief is that there were seven (7) to ten (10).                                                The Discs were silent and
 avpeared       to be composed             of    a    single          light.




                                                                                 SAe
                                                                                   Ak qlac
                                                                                  Ira L, Livimzston
                                                                                  Stoff Sergeant, RA 14 153 972



 Subseribed end sworn to before me thie 7th day of July 1947,


                                                                                                                             —


                                                                                                                   O           Foptoon
                                                                                               JAMES L, MROFARLANE
                                                                                               1st Lt.       AC
                                                                                               Asst Adj.
                                                         P




                                             CONFEIDENTAL                                     —rvy
                                    NEADQUARTERS, NEWFOUNDLAND BASE COMMAND.                    }’ E2 e
     3 RESTR\CTE - - FORT PEPPERRELL, NEWFOUNDLAND
~d           AT            »           ANTIC DIVISION,       AIR   TRANSPORT COMMAND
                                                                                                  gb
                                     APO 862,% POSTMASTER,         NEW YORK,   N.   Y.



     N REPLY REFER

         B
     we____




             SUBJECT:          Letter of Transmittel,



             T         s       Commanding General,
                               Atlantic Division, ATC,
                               Fort Totten,      Island, N, Y,
                               (ATTENTION:   AC/S, Intelligence)

                               Reference Letter of Transmittal, this office, dated
                                                                                   28 July
             1947, with four (4) inclosures (Inclosures 1, 2 and 3, Final Reports of
             Sightings of "flying seucers"; and Inclosure 4, Signed Statement -
                                                                                Con-
             stable KEARSEY),        transmitted herewith is Pinal Report of S:             ing of         /
             'tmmm‘hmw,vmmalm                                                                 » Stephen=
             ville, Newfoundland at 03452, 23 July 1947.




                                                                        MARION C. MILLER,
                                                                        Captain, Air Corps,
           -1 Inels                                                     AC/S, Intelligence,
              Final Rpt of Sighting, 23 Jul 47



                                                             1st Inde

                 M, ATLANTIC DIVISION, ATC, FORT TOTTEN, L.I., NEW YORK                     6 Aug 47

                 TO:       Commanding General, Air Trensport Command, Washington 25, D.C.
                           ATTN:  Chief of Staff

                      Forwarded in accordance with inst:
                 TiX CM~95, your Headquarters.        /




             ‘4 Incl:
                 n/c
                         GENFIDENTIAL                 langteg

                                                                LUV                o
                                                                           cencellien
'RESTR CTE s REFCRT OF SIGHTING/),{
                OTET                                       )          ¢             -




1.   Ol'ganiut!:onx   1388th AAF Base Unit
                      APO B86L, c/o Postmaster, New York, N,Y. °

     Sighting         Strange intermittent flashes that may tie in
                      with "Flying Discs".

     Place            Harmon Field, Stephenville, dJewfoundland.

     Time             03452, 23 July 1547.

     Altitude         Approximately 10,000 feet high,

     Weather          High scattered condition; visibility better
                      than fifteen (15) miles.

     Heading          From South, heading MNE (approximately 30° )

     Speed            High velocity; stated to be faster than a
                      conventional airplane.

     Description :    The observers saw a light which at first appeared
                      to be a shooting star or airplane.              It appeared
                      agein,   and a mmwber of intermittant flashes were
                      seen for a period of approximately three (3) minutes.
                      The flashes were reddish in color.              Observers said it
                      was not a falling star because it did not appear as
                      such; nor was it an airplane, hbecause manceuvers werec
                      too abrupt and there was no noise of a motor,

                      Migs Patricia Abbott,(Newfoundland National) Govermment
                      Bmployee ard Lt. Hammaker, Navigator and Public Relat-
                      ions Officer.

                      The informants (noted in Par.10) were walking when they
                      noticed a peculiar reddish light.        Both Miss Abbctt and
                      Lt. Hammaker stated that at first,       they thought it was
                      a falling star, but if left no streak.              It appeared
                      agein; they thought it might be a plane flying at a
                      very high altitude.    After observing its manoesuvers,
                      they concluded, because of the silence (no hum of motor)
                      and abrupt darts of the light, it was definately not
                      an airplane.  Neither Miss Abbott nor It. Eammaker had
                      seen anything like it before.




                                             WILLIAM H. ;ITH
                                              Captain, Air Corps,
                                              Intelligence Officer.
               e



                                        5


                                   RESTRICTED
                                   TN

                       e           HEADQUARTERS
                           Newfoundland Base Command, ATLD=ATC
                              Fort Pepperrell, Newfoundland
                       APO 862, ¢/o Postmaster, New York, N. Y.


/4
                                                                  28   July   1947


  /
SUBJECTs       Letter of Transmittal.


» Iy e "‘M‘L‘.L..'*‘;mg!,s.                                            s
 "7 (arreerioNs” :z, Intelligence)
       1.      Transaitted herewith, as inclosures 1, 2 and 3, are Final
Reports of Sightings of "flying saucers" in Newfoundland and vieinity
listed as followss

                 Final Report of Sighting = 20002, 10 July 1947
                   .      .    »    .     = 003    11 0z,
                                                      July 1947
                       "       "    .       .   = 001
                                                    20 52,
                                                       July 1947

       2,      Reference TWX - EN 18,69, this headquarters, dated 1217302
July 1947, regarding sightings of "flying ssucers® by Constable ERIC
KEARSEY, Newfoundland Constabulary, at Grand Falls, Newfoundland,
                                                                  on
the night of 9 July 1947, attached herewith, as inclosu
                                                        re 4, is signed
statement of this sighti   by Consta
                                  ng ble KEARSEY.

               FOR THE COMMANDING GENERALs




       ’
                                                   Caers: U
                                                    Captain, Air Cotps,
4 Incles                                            AC/S, Intelligence.
  1,   TFinal Rpt of Sighting, 10 Jul 47
           .      el           "     s 11 Jul 47
           "     L]        "   L     » 20 Jul 47
       Signed Statement = Const KEARSEY




                             ESTRICTED
                           RGONPIE  NTAL
                   CONFIDENTIAL
                        FINAL REPORT OF SIGHTING




Orge       b 1388th AAF BU, NEC, ATLD, ATC. Harmon Field, Newfoundland.
Sighting   s Flying Disc or other airborne object.
Place      t Approx six (6) miles SSW of Harmen Field.
Time       s 2000/2, 10 July 1947
Altitude   @   £~ 10,000 ft.
Weather    s   Clear,     Scattered Cumulus € - 10, 00C ft.
Heading    3 NNE on horizontal course.
Speed      H Very high velocity.    .
Shape & Size    Circular like a wheel, estimated to be same size as a C-54
                as seen from 10, 000 ft.
Color      :    Translucent or Silvery, left a Mluish Plack trail approx
                15 miles long.
Fhotographs:    )r. Robert W. Leidy reported that he took two (2) Kodachrome
                snap shots of the trail.
Reperted By:    Vr. John N. Merhman, TWA mechanic; Mr. John W. Woodruff,
                PAA mechanic; and Vr. Robert E. Leidy, PAA mechanic reported
                the above facts to the Intelligence Officer on 15 July 1947.
                A Flash Report was TWX ed to : Action copy Commanding
                General, Yq. ATC, Attn. Asst. Chief of Staff, Intelligence.
                Info copies: Commanding Cenerals Hq. ATLD and Hq. NEC
                Mister's Verhman, Woodruff, and Leidy were enroute from
                Stephenville Crossing to Harmon Field at the time of the
                sighting. Wr. Woodruff was the first to see the Disc, it
                appeared to rent or split the clouds thru which it passed
                and left a Pluish Black trail approx. fifteen (15) miles.
                long behind it. The trail was similar to the afterglow of
                a powerful landing light or search light beam after it is
                suddenly switched off.      Ihe object maintained & straight and
                horizontal course according to Mr. Merhman and Mr. Woodruff,
                Mr. ‘Leidy stated it appearéd to be on a great curved course
                on a horizontal plane. The object disappeared into the
                North Northeast. Mr. Leidy says he took two (2) Kodachrome
                Photographs of the trail. The film has been transmitted
                to the Asst. Chief of Staff, Intelligence, NewBaundland
                Base Command for processing.




                                               CAPT. A.C.
                                               Intelligence Officer



                        RESTRICTED

                        CONFIDENTAL—
                                   FINAL    REPORT OF            ING
LAY   St    |
       .




      1.    Organi zation:   1388th AAF Base Unit
                             APQ 864,       o/o Postmaster,      New York,   N.Y.

      2,    Sighting         Flying Disc or other airborne objec
                                                                 t.

      3.    Place            Codroy,       Newroundland,    59°03' W Long.; 17°50'       N Lat.

      I     Time             0030Z hours,        11   July 1947.


      Se    Altitude         Approximately 6,000 feet.


      -8    Weather          Clear;     at dusk.

      Te    Heading          From northwest heading eastward.

      8.    Speed            Very high velocity.

      9     Shape & Size:    Disc shaped; was reported as being the size of a
                             barrel-head, dinner-plate and size of a plane
                             that is       flying high.    The trail      gave the whole
                             object     the appearance      of a cone.


      10, Color          :   Flame colored with a trail of a lighter flame anlor.

      11, Reported by ¢      Mr. John Legge, Ur. Wm.          Evans and Albert Samms of
                             Codroy,     Newfoundland.


      12,   General          Mr. Legge and Mr. Evans were standing outside Mr.
                                                                                                Legge's
                             store when they both sighted the object.  Both men stated
                             that the disc was very bright with an after-glow which
                             made the object look like a cone.  It was a very clear
                             night.  In spite of the high velocity of the flying
                             object, they said thev could not possibly have
                                                                            mistaken
                             it for a plane or a falling star.  Besides the two men,
                             the object was sighted by Albert Samms; he reported what
                             he had seen to his mother.  Mrs. Samms stated that Albert
                             was   in   no way   alarmed about it,       he was alore and      on    his
                             way home when he sighted it,              and watched it while it was
                             in sight.       Alhert was quite convinced from the color and
                             behaviour of the object that it was not a                plane,   but
                             definately some flying objact.

                             The informant, ¥r.         Legge,    is believed to be reliable,
                             He is'a men of approximately forty; has had considerzble
                             experience as foreman of Buchans Mire,              Newfoundland,   where
                             he was in charge of three hundred men.                 During the war,
                             Mr. Legge was a mamber of a civilian volunteer Air
                             Detection Corps.  With that > ckground, Wr. Legpe stated
                             that he felt sure that the object he had seen was some-
                             thing new which he had never seen before.
Final Report of Sighting       Wz’
General cont'ds
                    blbert Samms 15 & twelve year old     boy. He was alone
                                        ing object, he wac very def
                    when he saw the flyseen                             inite
                     {hat “e nad never       anything like it befcre. town  His
                                                            ress  of  the      ,
                    mother, Mrs. Samms, is the Post Mist         felt  that  it
                    and after heering Albert's desc   ri ption,
                    answered  to thé desc ript ion of a WFlying Disc"., Mr.
                    Legge reported his sighting shortly afterwards to Mrs.
                                                                  known to
                    Samms bermuse he was sure it shonld be made
                                                             repo rted M
                    her in order that the incident migh t be
                    telegram immediately.


                    There was one other sighting reported from a River
                    Warden at South Branch,                not
                                                The man could  be con=
                    tuoted at time of interviews with other parties.
                    However, a second-hand description of his sighting
                    was obtained, and it apgreed with the sightings at
                    Codroy.




                                                WILLIAM H. SMITH
                                                Captein, Air Corps,
                                                Intelligenes Officers
                           CONFBERTAL-
                         FINAL REPORT OF SIGHTING




 Organization:    1388th AAF Base Unit
                  APO 86L, c/o Postmaster,       New York,   N.Y.

 Sighting         Flying Disc   or other Airborne Object.

 Place            On board Steamship "BURGEO" emroute
                                                              from Sydney,
                  Nova Scotia to Port arr Basques,         Newfowndland,
                  about one hour out from       Sydney,

 Time             0015Z 20 July 1947,

 Altitude         30° off the horiszon at an estimated quartc-
                                                               mile range.

 Weather         Clear and dark.

 Heading     s   NNE (30° East of Trus North) on horizontal
                                                            plane.

 Speed       s   Hizh velocity,    stated to be faster than a tracer bullat,

 Description :   Ohgervers did not see the object,          they saw its flashes
                 and all   four ohservers agreed there were          four     (L)   or
                 five (5) flashes approximately one (1) second apart
                 and   equidistant.,   The   flashes were    said   to   be   silvery
                 to reddish ir color,        and werc described by two observ-
                 ers to be like    those of a     Fire   Fly only larger and at
                 equal intervals,      and did not look like a shooti ng star
                 or girplane,


                 Messrs Maitland, Larkin, Douglas and Hamilton
                                                               of
                 Hamilton, Metcalfe and Kansas City Bridge Companies
                 which concern is doing the construction at Harmon
                                                                   Field.

                 The four gentlemen (noted in Par.10) and Captain Gullage,
                 Master of the "Burgeo", were standing on the starboard
                 deck, and as the Captain was trying t. Jescribe a
                                                                   previous
                 sighting, he saw the flashes; the other four gentlemen
                 also saw them &s described herein, and believed that it
                 was not a meteorite or airplane because of its speed,
                 color, and evenly spaced discharges or flashes,

                 Ceptain Gullage told the four gentlemen that he had seen
                 the same thing at approximately the same time and location
                 (ship's position) on the evening of 15 July 1917, except
                 at that time, the object or flashes were traveling faster
                 and frequently €hanging course (he said it changed course
                 abruptly several timeeg and was headed generally to the


RESIRIV:-
                   —CORFBERTIL
Fina) Repor* of Sighting:


 General cont'd         s SSW,    The Captain also told the four gentlemen
                            thit he was willing to make a complete report
                            if the information is desired for official
                            purposes.




                                                        M SMITH
                                                 WILLIAH.
                                                 Captain, Air Corps
                                                 Intelligence Officer.
        ¢ 2o




        /



    A




            RESTRICTED mw"::-
v



                              APO g6%, o/o Postmaster, Now Yok, N. Y,
               reg
               e
               re
               e
               re.




               Q
               A,


               Q.
               A,


               L3    Did you see the Disk iteelf?                             :
               A,                          %0 be was & transl      diskucent
                                                                        1ike & vheel
                     Sravelling at & Serrific rate of speed sad opened the clouds as
                     1% went through the air.                             :            g
                     Hov was this Disk Sravelling, heriseatal, desce
               o




                                                                    or
                                                                     nding
                                                                       ascending!
                     It was horisemtal.                                   )
               4




                     Adout
                       how big 4id it appear
                                         to you?
                     From the height
                                 of 1%, I'd say it was adous the sige of a 5% or a
                     Constellation.

                     About hew far spart 444 it bresk the cloud!
               re




                     It spresd the clouds out adout half mile,



                                          RES |   1L   )             N2


                                                                 s
                           RESTRICTED

: Interrogation of John B, Woodruff (Comt'd)

       W¥hat kind of a bresk 4id 4% make in the clouds!-
       It cut a straight path right throug     h eloud,
                                             the

       Did 1% leave a traill
 re




       Yes, it left a trail dark dlueish in color similar %o a hMgh pover
       light. The trail was from approximately fifteen (15) to tweaty
       (20) miles long.

       Have you ever seen a meteor?
 re




       Yeos.

       Do you thiak this was a meteor?
 re




       ¥o, I don't thiak so, 1t was cut too clean. This was as straight
        a8 an arrov,                                                   A

  Q.    What was the course of the objeet?
  A,    ¥ell, looking at the map I'd say North North Bast,

  Q.   Have you bdeen working aveund airplanes long emough to kmow the
       ;.Inlfndmmflmhmfihunnnmi
  A      os.


  Q.   Fov. long have you deen working around aireraft!?
  A,    Seven (7) years,

        Vere you ia the Aray during the time of the VWar?
  re




        ¥o.       .

        Did you take smy pictures?
  e




        o, 1 414 not, but ome of the beys took some.

        Do you think the pietures will show up?
  re




        Yes, it was sn ideal day for pletures.
                                     '     A
                                                  /     (.75




                                               Chief Mechanie
                                               FPan American Alrvays
                             HRADQUARYERS 1386TH AAP BASE UNIT 4
                            NEWIOUNILAND BASE COMMAND, ATLD.ATG
                          APO g6k, o/o Postmaster, New York, ¥. Y,


                                                                         16 July 1947
                 Interrogation of JONN ¥. MENMMAN, JR,, Supervisor and Mechamic
                                                                                ,
 Trans VWorld Alrvays, Harmon Field, Nevfoundland, taken at 1430 WP,
                           by Captain Williem H, Smith, AC, Iatelligemce Officer.
rerere




                 Hov long have you beem associated with aireraft and avistion
                                                                              !?
                 Since approximately 1938,


                 Vere you in the Army during the Var?
                 Yes.,


                 ¥hat 414 you do in the Army?
                 Aerisl Gunner.

                 Did your Job during the war entail you to be adle to
e




                                                                      jJuige distamces
                 and sises of objects and ranges?
                 Yes.

                 On the evening of 10 July 1947, 444 you see one of the so called
o4




                 *Flying Disks® or an object in the sky?
                 l’u.nmmmwomm-mmm-llu»-
                 ville Crossing.   mmm.mnml-‘nn‘ummn
                 thr    the
                          oug
                            vindshielh
                                     d., Mr. Woodruff said "look at the cut ia the
                 sky". I looked up and sav a blueish dlack vapor trail,

                    Jou see the odject!?
         4alo,      I Just sav the trail as 1t was left dehind.
                 i




                          desoribe the effect the odject hed
                                                          on the clowd formation!?
                            were very scattered and were adbout frem S000 feet to
                         feet, the odject passed through and cut the cloud
                                                                           leaving a
                            you could see the dlue sky, like a knife had cut it.
                                                                                 The
                        were feathered similar $o & weld, as if you cut a
                                                                          weld in half.

                     the object appear to be deseending, aseending, or horisomt
                                                                               al?
                  ¢ was horisontal and seemed to remain on strue course.
           .      .                       I\'L‘\"   I
Inter
    ofrogat
      Joha N, Nehrmea,
                    ionJr '


               Osn you doscride
                           the trall?
re


               It was dlueish black ia coler, very easily distingaished frem $he
               blue sky.    A diesel exhaust would de similar to 18,

               Vas the trail fan sheped?
               Fo it vas more or less & band acress the cky in & straight path.
{ % L IR




               D4 1t make & meise?
               o moise,

               Vhat wvent on ia the ear vhen you sighted the odject?
               Ve stopped the car snd got out and looked at it. Ome of
               had & cemera snd took a photograph of the Srail that the ed)
               lefs.


Q.             Vhat wvas the msme of the mem whe took the photegraph!
s              Roders Leidy.


Q.             Do you knov what type of film Mr Leidy was usiagl
A,             Kodachrome      delieve.
re




               Do you know vhether Mr, Leidy sav the Disk or object?
               I don's believe se.




                                     RESTRICTED
                                                   plied gr   <L
                                        TS
                                         A A
                                                        Ceafs
                                               Ca JADAT Cfl/
                                                                   e
                                     .
                                             (Ruk] _   (Dat:)?/ l




                           the cloud and left this epening.

               s @oing up, or coming down!
dd 34 dd




           i! % 3
          nRESTRICTRDsty
i




            oftio
    Inverrogs      n ¥, hotdy (Gomt'e)
               Radert




    G
    A,

    G     O:mmt-u\bu.‘nnnc-hfiowl
    A             v




    Q     How long have you deen working areund plames, oto?
    A,    #ix (6) years.

    Q.    :unhmh.mhufl
    A,

    Qo    How sasy piou tr
                      4id     take?
                          yeu es
    A,

    Q.
    Ao    An Avgus, P2,-

     Q@   Was the fils Viakk snd vhite oF kedashreme!
    A     It wvas kedachrome.          sl
                           lm
          Where are the'fimew?
          ux.lmmawmmunl-m-m-m‘
     Q.
     A
          pletur   on.
               arees

     L                                    $hat they are deing developed,
           1 wnderstosd from Nr. Veodruf? —m
     A,    L:u:'numum                           m.mxmmmm

          Vi1l you give us the four yedle of £118 so vo ¢om Dave them precessed
     Y-




           Tove
              o,      si%.
                        e
Iaterrogation of flt&[m [ (egay'a)
Q.   Ave you williag to give the Army & ocopy of the plctures of the
      Srald?
A,   TYes,




                                           Geptata,
                                                Alr» OoCorpe
                S    BURKE            OF
                17       July     1947.

           At       epproximately                     10   o'eloaek    in       the       evening of 10          July    1947
I    was    stending by                     my       store    door;   I     happened             to   look   up and      saw
what       appeared              to        be    a    "FLYING      SAUCHEE".              It   definately        was    not      a
sheoting star;                    I'd           scen       several    stars       shoet          before,     but never like
this!  mor was                    it an airoplane, it was too "1lit up" and traveling
at too great a                    speed.  It wasn't en siroplene on fire because it
would       have fallen                     in the water.             It        was a niee elear night,                     no
elouds,             it    wras    just           getting dark.              I    would         say    it   was    traveling at
the rate of a shooting star but mueh eloser.   I'd say roughly at
6,000 feat.  It was visible for about fifteem (15) seconds.   It
egme from the North West heading Eastward.   The cirele looked to
be    sbout          the     size of a barrel                      head,        and       the trail        behind looked
to be sbout                fifteen               (15)       feet   long.         The trail behind the dise
made the whole object                                 look    like a eome.                 Another thing that               makes
me feel sure it wacn't aj shooting star is; & shooting star usually
leaves & temporary                              streak,       this    objest          I    saw    left mo        streak eonly
the one that appeared to travel behind the eircle whieh looked like
an after-glow.  The eirele was & bright red, nearest I could des-
eribe it would be the eoler of a flame, the after-glow(eomne-shaped)
was & fainter shade.  What I saw last Thursday night resembled a
shooting star in no way whatsoever.  There was only one.




                                                                                      UL       hnsllos            peturpi
                                                                                               7~ JORN P.    LEGGE
                                                                                                                  A4
                                                                                                       )

                                                                                  Witness:
                                                                                         |
                      @LSTRICTED                    ®

STATEMENT OF MR, WM.    EVANS,   CORDROY; NEWPOUNDLAND.   TAKEN BY
MERCEDES BURKE OF THE INTELLIGENCE OFFICE{ HARMON FIELD, NEW-
FOUNDLAND.   17   July 1947.

     At epproximately 10 e'eloek in the evening of 10 July 1947,
I was standing eutside Mr. Legzo's store talking with him.           We
both saw this thing desh aeross the sky.   I eouldn't be sccurate
about the direetions.  If it was & shooting ster, 1I'd never seen
one as large before, and it was mueh brighter than anything I've
ever seen in the sky.  It looked to be a round object, I eouldn't
say it was anything else but round; it-had a teil on it whieh
showed yellowish, but not as bright as the eirele which appeared
end nearest I could deseribe it would be sort of red and yellew.
The streek behind, I would say, was little over a yard long; the
eirele looked to be about the size eof a large dimner plate.  It
went so fast, it was hardly in sight before it disappeared.   1
eould not give any idea of the height; all I ean say is it was
much eloser than a shooting star and travelling at a great speed.
Whatever it was it was flying through the air; it wasn't just
@ streak meross the eky.  To me it w

[…truncated…]

Tags

194762-HQ-83894bethel-alaskafbifbi-vaultpolice-sightingportland-oregonserial-130