HS1 834228961 62 HQ 83894 Section 4

l 4 1£CT!~ 62-fHQ~3894 iRiiS 131-185 REET PICKE - ~ ..... Q: ~ ::, 0 u.. ~ ~ HQ - HEADQUARTERS 0062 83894 ..... :t- Sub Vol. Serial# 4 131 185 1• a, ~ ~l z ,... ..... - , , , .-- 1111111111111111 RRP003IXGX C :, ~ .. fll - 8/11/1274191 - ~ FBI - CENTRAL RECORDS CENTER Class I Case # n r=:. ::) 'S -- ;:,i:CT IO N 4 SE-RIAL C ~3 ~-1 85 0 u.. ~ ~,== cc ~ ~ ,. . ._ I: ...., ~ . • 4 ! ~ ~ CG I I - f Office >Memu,,,,,,,rlum • UNITED ST. v~OVERNMENT ... l , TO : DIRJYJTOR, FBI c,JoM : SAC, PORTLAND SUBJECT:[ DATE: October 9, 1947 FLYrnG DISCS SECURITY MATTER - X. Reference is made to Portland teletype dated September 13, 194?. Records of the Radio Dispatcher, Portland Police Department, reflect that first notice of unidentified objects in flight over the city on September 11, 1947 was received from officers in District 18, which is in the extreme north­ east section of the city, at 5:21 P.M. The log further reflects that at 5:23 P.M. the radio requested District 14, which is further south, to attempt to locate and identify the objects and that at 5:24 P.M. a report was received from the car occupied by Chief of Police JENKINS, reporting that they had sighted some objects. District 14 at 5:27 P.M. reported seeing nothing unusual in the sky. ROBERT D. ADAIR; 4325 S.E. Madison Ave., Portland, advised that he was one of the two officers on duty in District 18 on September 11. 'lhe car was in the vicinity of N.E. 25th Avenue and Saratoga Court when ADAIR and his fellow officer noticed a number of people looking upward and pointing. Upon looking at the sky ADAIR observed the very bright reflection of the sun on some object which was apparently made of silvery metal. The object was coming from the east and made a wide turn over the city and disappeared to the south. ADAIR estimated its speed at about 150 miles per hour and its altitude at about 5,000 feet. He watched it for a period of about two minutes and during that time it gradually disappeared in such a manner as to appear that the angle was slowly changing, so that the sun was no longer reflected into ADAIR's eyes. He says that the shape appeared to be round but that the glare was so bright that it could have hidden the true outline of the object. '!here was no oscillation visible - only steady flight. ADAIR believes it was an ordinary metal airplane reflecting light of the afternoon sun. , , 1 :mnau:r, 1t'l'-'l J. R. CALDWELL, 7652 S. E. Lincoln St., Portland, Oregon was ADAffi's partner in District 18 on September ll. CALDWELL states that the object appeai­ red to him to take the same course as that described by ADAIR. He pointed out that the speed, height, and size of the object were difficult to judge, because of the interdependence of the three factors. However, he believes that the obj ect vrhen first sighted was about three miles away and about two miles high. He believes it was traveling at a much greater speed than a conventional aii­ plane and was a great deal larger. It appeared t o him to be elliptical in shape, and inasmuch as it did not bank or tip he could not judge its thickness. It was of a very bright silver o~ ~ su tanco. ~✓::,OH f9 COPIES DESTROYED 2 7 0 NOV 18 l 9b4 RJiJCORDEn -93 i J -i o "F~ 19 C l .... ... • :1 • 5' n a,, flit o v £I 1 Nu• • • • Nos,vn A ,'J3t1 PD 62-1531 Chief of Police LEON V. JENKINS advised that he was travelling south on N. Williams Avenue near Russell St., when he and Officer H. s. RANEY, his driver, received a call on the police radio requesting District 14 to attempt to observe an unknown object in the sky reported by officers in District 18. JENKINS observed what a ppeared to be a round silver object, about 10,000 feet high, travelling northeast to southwest. It was directly to JENKIN's left ffllen observed first . He thought it was a weather balloon. Further observation con­ vinced him that it could not be a balloon because of its speed which was extreme­ ly great . As JENKINS watched, it turned gradually until it was travelling due south, and as it did so, its shape seemed to change until it appeared to be egg-shaped. It disappeared in· about 30 seconds. Patrolman H. s. RANEY stated that when he first observed the object it was straight ahead of him and travelling straight away from his car. RANEY was driving south on N. Williams Avenue. To RANEY it appeared to be just a glare of sun on some object, and he was unable therefore to tell its shape. It appeared to be very high and travelling extremely fast. It was out of sight after he had travelled 4 or 5 city blocks at a speed of about 25 mph. RANEY stated that he has never seen an object at such an extreme height before and that if the sun had not reflected from it he could not have seen it at all. He believes it could possibly have been a reflection from a large airplane at great altitude. ROBERT W. SHAYLOR, 4810 N. Fessenden St ., Portland stated that he was on duty in District 14 with Officer DONALD r'l. CO,JLit{G on September 11, 1947 and received the call to watch for the object flying over the city. SHAYLOR and COWLING-immediately scaMed the sky f rom a vantage point in open territory where they could see the entire sky. They saw nothing in the sky at that time, SHAil.OR stating that they did not even see any airplanes. A short article in "'lhe Oregonian", Portland daily newspaper, for September 12, 1947, describes the object as seen by Chief of Police JENKINS and also states that 11The Oregonian" received several calls from other persons reporting the object. FRED M. WHITE, Assistant City Editor, advised that the paper has no record of the identities of the people making the calls. 62-1531 IHK:tkw te Memor - TO ,, Director, FBI c:!Jr--aoM SAC, Anchorage • m • UNITED ST/i JVERNMENT DATE: 10/18/47 ( SUBJECT: REPORT OF FLYING DISCS -This is to advise that we have been able to locate a .flyer, JA~K, who is employed by the Al Jones Flying Compa.cy in Bethel, .Alaska. It bad been ~ported to Military Intelligence that Mr . PECK and his co-pilot VIN AJJi bad observed sane flying object near Bethel, Alaska, in July, 194 Eff or ts previously to contact Mr. PECK were negative until the above instance. He related that the occasion of seeing the flying object near Bethel was on a July day when the sky was completely clear of clouds, am it being during the early part, it is daylight the entire night. The time of bis sighting this flying object was about 10 FM and the sun had just dropped beyom the horizon. Flyir€ weather was extremely good am he, with Mr . DALY, was coming into the Bethel Airport with a DC-J. He observed the flyiq,; object immediately to his left alli stated that it apparently was observed at approximately the same time by Mr . DAIX am both of them· manipulated the controls of the plane ma.king efforts to miss the object inasmuch as they could not tell in which direction it was going. They made a forty-five degree t urn in order to get out of the way of the object arxi then noted that it appeared to be going away from them. He described the object as appearing to be some flying wing arxi s said that it appeared to be about the size of a C-54 without any fuselage . He could not see any propellor or any exhaust f r om jet propulsion or any vapor trails arxi could not estimate the size due to his failure to be able to estimate the distance he was away from the object . He was flying at 1 , 000 feet and stated that he tried to catch up with the object am in­ creased his manifold pressure to approximately 42 inc hes am was traveli!)g at the rate of 170 miles per hour. ~t.A-,,L'-. cc:::::: He called on his radio to the Civil Aeronautics J,dminis­ tration station at Bethel, asking what aircraf't was in the vicinity am they bad no reports of any aircraft . The object he s ighted vras some five or ten miles from the airport before his arriva l and sta ted that the path did not go directly across the airport. He, of course, could not tell whether the object was making aey noise arxi stated that it was flying at a thousand foot altittrle am estimated travel at 300 miles per hour. It was travel ing in the direction from Bethel to Nome, which is in a northwesterly direction. He noted no radio interference and is unable to describe the color other than that it appeared da rk but of definite shape a nd did not bl erxi into the sky but had a definite, concise outline . a oth he and Mr. DALY clearly observed the object at this time. ~JtJo OR.u,el) ,/ g \bl:1J 8'7T- I \"?:>\ p acr ~rx1•i . ~ ~ ii::lCD ~~~ ~ O'), ( QIJJ!' ~ , Anchorage File 100-1406 It may be stated to the Bureau that Mr. PECK is a well known flyer as well as Mr. DALY am both are known to be very reliable and responsible people• am it appears def'inite that they observed something. The above is being submitted for the information of the Bureau. LOT: I1,1R 100-1406 DATE : llovember 1. Diraotor. FBI TO 1947 / /j)1-noM SUBJECT: SAC, Albany FLYING DISCS./ A. COURTNEV'.i?ARKER., INFORMAm Reurlet dated 9/25/47• .An. Agent of this office contacted Mr. A. COURXNEY PARKER at his resi• denoe in South Royalton. Vermont and he stated that all the information he has con­ cerning the flying disos he saw. is set forth in the letter that he sent to the Bureau dated September 17• 1947. Ur. PARKER advised that as far as he knows~ no one else in South Royalton saw these flying discs., and that he believes ha saw them inasmuch as he haa wiwmally good eyesight and th.at he can see bees. etc. further than anyone else. He stated that possibly these flying discs '\'18re out 0£ the range of llOrmal vision. Jlr. PARKEB was asked to furnish any additional information that comas to his at'..ention conoa:-;1i~ t.hase flying discs directly to the Air Forces since they now handle matters of this type. No further action ia being taken by this office. RCC:mf's 62-689 .. -- .. .. . 1r.2;.abi'L \ ~ s :I. ' 31 NOV iQA1 .rm,E'XD •JiiOORDD t ,, :{J .. •, ·e ·.:1 ~ 1.111no3s 7~N"3J.Ni .:, HJ Bs i, l/ At 031tl3:J31:1 , • I _/J-~~~·t J,1,'- ) /~ t~ L v~ • • llouenber 1, 1947 Sa 'J ? ll'-J! L/ • Mrs. A..1fcCaul 70-33 68th Place Glendale Brooklun, New Tork De ar Urs. l!cCaul: You r lett er postriark e d Octobe r 28 , 1947, has been received and l want ~o ezpress nu a pprectatton to you .tor havt ,ig written as you, d id. S i ncere ly yours, John Edgar Ooove r JJi rsc-tor NOTE: This woman rambles on and furnishes no specific information about anything. -~i \\\\~ '),i ' ~\.~ s i \ i~\ \ , . I .., '" .... ' .. ,,. B? 9/ /2November 10, 1947 Mrs. Milo A~u1:·and Elizaootntown, New York Dear Mrs. Durand: Your letter postmarked November 5, 1947, has been received and I do want to thank you for writing as you did . The patriotic motives t'lbich prompted your suggestions concerning the subject about wh1ch you ho.ve written are indeed app1•eciated. Sincerely yours, John Edgar Hoover Director ( COMMUNICATIONS SECTION * 11 NOV 10 1947 P.M. MAILED f£DWL IWREAU OF IHVESTISATION u. s. DEl'ARTtmrr OF JUSTICE \ I ·" ,. • \ -U /4-.- ~~~ ~11~ J f1._.... . 0~ k ~ CL- ~ ' C . , '~ ,,4t.,;_,,:t;f,J.. ~ a_ / / U ~ Jw· ~ ' / /I\) ~ J'U/7 t/4-. Ct_,,. C'/t_ ~_.,;(JAAA4'J.Y~. / ~ - ~-....,,,-..,,,.,,(..c.Jr ~ , f/ FBI_? F8 / C-O-,,~~~ ~, 1wL~ i~-il ~~ ? r 'fl ' ~ ~v,& i · (uvl~~ ~V' .,rTrl.AS.,-1 JJ . - t---v ~ • r,1~11-"# ~~ ~ ~ ( / .. ' ' 0 ,_·.-:: c ii (j , 'i)( ' C , -- ·· ~VI , • ~ noucnbcr a, 1947 !Jr. Joseph . / 41~nc 8071 69th Auc~~a Rtdgouood Brooklyn 27• llco York Dear !Jr. Ontltnc: t~ Your letter datod llo1.1enber 2:, l9d7_, to you . I cm eure vou wtll dr.aw no in)'.e7"encc hao bean recetved. The tnj'.o'l"CUJ~ion contatncd tn the .ttZco oJ ~hto Bureau hew boon declared conJ'tdenttal and avatla~le .t,or of.ftctaI :uoc only, and I cm unable ~o bo of any aaatatance 1IIIOORDIW & ?NDEXED ir- .f:ron ny inability to conply with your reguent. Stnccrely yours~ John Edgar Hoover Director NOTE: Thia tndtvtdual aaked 1uesttons concerning O flytng sa~s and the Bureau 3 tnvesttgat~on of Russ tans . re/lectsJjtdgewood ts a Postal Gutde ~ - - - - -_ br_ _ an_ ch _ _ oj~ the Brooklyn?lstatton~ • COMMUNICATtOP»P~ u-. E, Tols~on Mr. A, ::: gi:~rn lfc::O l.!r. Rosen ­ M A I L £ 0 NOV 8 ) Ottt 12 1947 l::: \ P ..M. Vr . T r a c y ~ :g_; tfur-8::e;t:E flAl ltHtW., f)f lli~£8l16ATI0!i ltr. Harbo l!r, Penn ng I.Ir. !.'.ohr~~~ I.tr . qulnn T U•===~~O£~P~IUi;;;;lM~(~ll.:Of;J,:.:lt::C£~J ::~"o:iE= OV~7 ~ e ' Port Allegany, Pa• lonmber 18, 19,1. Pederal Bureau ot Inveatigation, Pittsburgh, Pa• Gentlemen, \J ~l~owing the appearance in thi• town on Jbvember 6, 1947, or a Mr• J~~ppincott~ .Director of the Eaatern Area, Red Cross, Pittsourgn.Jlia., aa speaker of the eve~r,", at the annual looal Red Croes dinner, I aa told by Dr• H. B, Cro~, local pra.otioing den ti at, that in a personal connrea 1 n, lowi:ng the dinner, !lr• Lippincott told him that the •aauoere" reported as seen in "Tarioue parts of the country, were aotually tror:. Spain. He eaid that Mr• Lippincott said tha.t thil! had oeen aeoertained by the Government in r..aahington, but that it 110.a not being made known. He said that. 'r• Lippincott had been in &.trope and interred that he had been in Spain and kr:ew conditions ovor there. Dr. Cranwell ie a man active in the Methodist Chruch and the looal Protestant ens Club, and it is easy to see how tar thie report can be spread. The taot that the Federal Government indorsee the Red Crose makes a atatement of an ofCioial reprenntati ve ot that organisation almost indisputable. Aa a repreeentatiTe tu ot the Federal Government and ae a o1t11en interested in truth and World peace and racial and religious harmony in our own country, I queation the ad'Yieability or an aooredit.d repreRentatin ot the Red Crose giTtng out thi• information. even "ott the Noord". I thought you might be able to oheok with Mr• Lippin- cott or his organia.ti:-n. Tours v,..ry truly, ~~ r.ll.) a ~ \ ,,. ~ ••.. , :,~~,: !- '- • • ~ "' , ;, .. . -~...~ ... , ..,~,.....,, ...."~ \':-' ....... '- ' ~ ,j' "" V ' - .~,;)., ~-- ,. '-:t: l:Hl1 - -:: -f :;f-1 B~, w~ 6'1 01 £\ NVr . \ .... \:~...... : ..i ~ ..::,-,.,;;,. ~ .~ ~ ' -y . . . ... • ~ \,~, _.... "-'~~~'~ '-..) I a~, Wd L£ V 9 NVf .. ,., .., ._ I', ..J~ -~ \\ J... .. .., • I January 14, 1948 /j Miss Ua rion DeuBcher 604 est Mai n Street Menomon ee Fal ls , ¥ts constn Dear Mis s Beusc~er: Your letter of January 5, 1948, has been recetued and I want to t~an k you /or fo r warding informatton to Me rel at tn g to the su bject you ment ioned. The facts you rel at ed, however, do not ref lect any violation of a Fed eral statute ~ithtn the inuestt gative jurtsdtctton of the FBI . T\e thoughts prompting your communtcatton are tndeed apprect at ed . Sin cerely yours, John Edgar Hoouer Di rector W'N : cm NOTE : Correspondent reports corr es pondence she has had with the Ziff -Davis Pub lis hinp Company i n connection with the "flying saucers" which were observed by her brother . She is of the optnton that thts public ation may be trying to conceal information related to our Nation ' s s ecu r ity and s he mentions a threat t~at ...,doer s not re/en inju r y to pe r son or property. ri ;i;• ~ :z: ~ c..r, I ::, :::0 co~. •""-> i,. CUMMUNtCATtOHS SECTt 8 JAN 15 1948 P.M. MAILED ffOEll-l llll!t'.AII or ll!V£8TIOATfOI U. S• .ult'~lll!EHJ OF JUSJICf I .0~ 71 0 .:::IJ,) -o ::c: /)11~ .. ..c:.. ~ J ¥ ~ \/'1/ ·, .J , r11, I.I o,•, rid IO 2 ~ ·1r -' d:! O 3 , I E 83.:J •• I •I F,cbruary 5 ~ 2948 ~1< ' tt'EOOR'nlW (, 9." - t'\r LiiJ\• '.j Fl /;pr,, { J1r . JI. J . liaraliall Rural Ro tl"ta ona Ool1'tngton, Oh to Dear llr . 'ar:11ial1: Iour lette r dated ,Tammry '29., "].948, has been raoctvcd, and I oont to e~prcaa ny approci~ atton to you Jlor llavtng i:iada 1movn yoU;r vt.et.'\? con­ ccrntng the oottcr you nenttoncd. stncore ly yours_, ~ Jolin Edgar llooucr Dtrector . C.!J 0 '? M llr , Toloon / ").. llr. £. J.. ~ llr. Cloffn Mr , Olav - - : : = z ::: ~~.u ~• ~ FEB ~tJ ,s4si IP. IT1 <"') l'T1 -< l'T1 -r; rT1 CD CJ'I I :::, ~ w ' .-... I'\) 0 C') ::0 0 ? 50 ;.o rr, brr. ltl)EIAL BUREAU OF IIIIIESTISATIOII OfP,.RTIIEKl Of JUSllCE u. s. Mr. Rosen - - 11>-. T r a c y - - Mr . l:ian llr . Ournea Mr . H a r b o - Mr . l!Ohr - Mr . Pennington )Ir , Qu1M ?811121r.10 . Room llr. Nease - lllso OM<lyt--:----,.: yJn 'Cf ~ - ~ N -0 :3: ... ,;; "'t~,,Hi« 1 If . •lier,,,, 11 ~a //J1 . • - 30,1f 0, i j fu,'.!; ;r am1J111Moa •o,~.fw-o§Ai;,,,._ A M 0~·, l· ·tti'ill&gr 8J.:J 831 * KOITAf) T83"Y111 ~ {l~/IIJS J,'lRJfUi 1 ~llBUt iO 1,!Jl!Jli,\ilO .f ,U • ..,. 1fcb~rtd Bun-au of fnuestigation _, Uniteh itates Deparbncnt of lJustic.r Saa Frtmc i1co t, Cd it'orr 1a February 12, 1948 AIR MAIL PERSCIIAI, JIM) ec1,,<1:M._ Director, FBI - ~A_t_t~e_n_t~io~n;...;..:...,;;A~a~•~i~a~t_an~t__D~i~r_e_o_t_o_r_o_._M_._LAD __ D Res 0 FLYING DISCS Security ~atter - X Dear Sir: I b transmitting herewith for the information of the Bureau copies 0 £ an enoloeure dated February 4, 1948 reoebed from Lieutenant Colonel DONALD SPRlll<IBR, A-2, United States Air Force, Hamilton Air Force &ee, Califonia. Th~a •nclosuro is a con£ident1al letter addre•a•d to the Camnanding Generals ot the First, Secom , Fourth, Tenth, Eleventh, and Fourteenth Air Foroea, Air Defense Comnand, from Headquarter•, Alr De£enae Comnand , ¥1tchel Air Force Baae , New York, by oo'll'me.nd 0£ Lieutenant General STRAfDtEYER . It conoerna the inveatigation ot flying d.iacs by Air Foroe personnel. You~ attention is particularly called to Paragr~~h 2, whioh indicates that certain r•ports ~onoerntni the imeat1gation or flying disos by Air Force Intelligence ~\ll be r•por~•d to ~he FBI office concerned. Your attention ia further called to 2 -B, •hich Paragra.~h FBI Off'ice oonce---.d iud1oatea 11 -that "imeatigationa will be coordinated with < the ;> L~i L ,,,1 COIJUl:a d I.naamuch as the,. recent inatruotiona of the Headquartere, Air Defense t a.uied ~- n in • l!H.ahell Air Foroe Bureau Bull t 4 - N0 b..ae, 57 New York: • are contrary · to the illltnictions conia indicated that 11 • .u • , Series 1947. dated Ootober 1, 1947, in which~~ referred t 0 th • ~uture report, OOIU:lected with flying diaoa should 'ti. Eureau ~ • Air Poree and no im-eatigative action taken by Bureau agent,, t.he offices ' 1~•q1Jeated to advlae thia oftioe, as well•• other iaterested &ireau t the handling 0 !,he bor there has been a challf'e in Bureau policy with r•tere'QCe to i s atUl in effect.'' a-ia"-tera or whether P.~reau Bulletin No. 57 dated October l, 1941 - ,• . . , • • •• • ) • • • ' J,.i .. Very truly youra, ~ - f< ' BMK,emo' Encloaure ( in duplicate) ~Ol)J~~ n~c-Tn OYED ~1 ~ ~~ 1%,~ 4 • ..G~ ~ rntE G~hdl af.tr"ll')·Hh:l , S ooe.toa.n'if a.ea ~£! , SL ·,ri..evxoe~ ._.:utan n 11 ,u J.AM -~r\1t~ 0 1 - o ~ ~=c~o ~i~ ~~o;;.=.;.t ~~ = A - 80wl ~·iYJl IA Zf _u_a_AJ_ _ . 0_ 't_o_1_o~o~~L~·-0_ _~" ~ ~•~j~c~l-c~n~A~.... . 1_ _ - - 1 t l ,,o.to~~tq :eff X - ~ :~s= yjl~u: o~ lo , S· i I lqoo us ~u eft 1o aol~ tt"lu'iAl o,~ao!o.~e elrt~ , .blI0036 , .:tnl - bn~ ~ ~ol ~ l a , n al.tt lmnD'I~ r:ui l E c!JaHOCI l&lIO!o'.J .i'am,:t1:t.11elJ co-r? bovleo , 8{\eJ 1 :1> y;:runc!e i be:t.eb e-weo.ton .e.t:enol l ! t!O , eoaS 0010~ 1lA ~ot!l!liau , ~,o~ , ! A e ts1Z be:lar , s­ e.rut ':to e!n oneO ~lba.o~ M o:t bee " e"l.bb.a , e~:te! I.el.tnebl '!no:> s r;l cd.tne'l' , .r.~,s. 'i rro1'l , b!UlT.ra~ fHut e 'loCJ 1.tA , 2 010'1 "1 t Mneo.t·:uro'II brr2 , 1'!:tnevo! lo to "'lll'OO "-:~ t 1-ioY we'H , ez oo-io l -ilA Lerlo.t) 'f , b.aammoJ cano'l ~ aoalb 3a!t11 lo nol•.a~~e~vlt.f on;:t aa,eo.aoo jl a -i.U. , ~"Iohaur, . H r~~AfiT8 L•~ea~o ~JUa~~uelJ . !o!lnoe-iQq eo~c¾ "1lA .t~d:t 20:t.eolbal rlolrl , .s !iq1.1-r i,·u'l o1 'boH.eo bJJfi:o.f:t"Ia 81 nol:tn .ttJ "1110Y e:in l.UefaI :>·101 ,.l:A "\:d'. '"ozlb ""~!'i 'io t10.U ~.tJz: evnl orlct ;, 1l ineono:::i a:t'loqe--r nlcne o;t b ll~o ~edj~~ al oM f{11 ol&netja ~uo1 .., 1~lb,ooo ed !H . bP,.,.i'l~oo:oo eol1lo 81 erl~ o: beJ~oqe-i ~J !!lw -s q.e-i]a"fis<! {a:teol!oab al) '"U.JllO L0!'1 ;r t.aol :t15ii.1sevnl11 ~brl:t Bsj-,eo!bnt tiol w t 11 f •• • •• • •• bem :>C!.OO ool'!'l.0 lEi"I :fa:e: ·. , t»\.~ ' <t. '\~¥--0 ~s ~ • ... ' 'e'() ';r1 ~~~ -~ ~, <i, .) ()~ ~~ ~~'?) (?>~ .. ..... 1' ,,. i 80HF fBEli'fIAb ' Headquarter• Air Defense CoDnand Mitchel Air Force Base, New York 4 February 1948 D 333.5 (CIB) SUBJECTs Invutigation and Reporting of "Flying Disc" Incident• T01 Comnanding Generals, First, Seoond, Fourth, Tenth, Eleventh, and Fourteenth Air Foroes, Air Defense Command ATTNs AC of S, A•2 1. The numbered air forces of this command are responsible for the prompt investigation and reporting of inoidenta relating to "flying disos'' which occur within their respeotive areas. Numbered air force A•2s, after evaluating disc incidents, will detennine the extent of investigation. Futile expenditure of military funds and manpower must be avoided. 2. "Flying discs" will be investigated as provided for in Counter Intelli• genoe Incident Cases, taking cognizance of the USAF Operating Intelligence Echelon structure. Where it ia evident that witnesses, who were together at the time of incident but who are widely separated at the time of investigation would corroborate each other's story, only one witness need be interrogated. If there is a reasonable indication that a reported incident ia a hoax or the fabrication of a publioity seeking individual, no further investigative etfort will be expended. However, a report of such eiroumstances will be auanitted to the FBI offioe concerned. a. CIC personnel attached to the numbered air forces of this command may be utilized to prosecute the investigation of subject inoidents. b. Investigations will be coordinated with the FBI Office concerned in accordance with instructions contained in letter, thi• headquarters, D 333.3 EX, subjeot, "Cooperation of FBI with AAF on Investigation of •Flying Diao' Incidents," 3 September 1947. 3. Report• will be narrative in style and will cov$r only those faota pertinent to the subject. Where aouroe credibility cannot be eatabliahed, or when an incident lacks foundation, the report will merely atate aame. Two types of report will be subnitted on all inoidenta . a. Spot ~•ports (fragmentary reports) will be subnitted on all incidents and will be followed by a Letter Report. b. Letter Reports will be subnitted to report the completed inTeatigation of all "flying diso" incident•• 4. Reports will be aul:mitted in duplicate promptly, usually be regular mail. However, Spot reports on incidents of substantial character, 1. e., thoae in which the patent credibility of the witness is beyond challenge and whoa )eohnical fto,~1' ◄ I ' baokg ,..,,_tible with his observations of an ooourreme obviously not atmo- . spherio- G ~eft\al phenomena, may be transmitted by TWX. Reporta will be submitted directly to J.••4~rters, USAF, ATTN: Directorate of Intelligence, Air Intelligence Requiremed•'f'B$ol\. One 1.nformational copy of each report submitted will be for­ warded to this command, ATTN, AC of S, Intelligence. Reports will be claesified at least CONFIDENTIAL. BY CCMMAND OF LIEUTENANT GENERAL STRATENEYERs RICHARD W. GEUSS Captain, USAF Aotg Asst Adj Gen .,. -. SAC, San Francisco 0 til ector, FBI "] February 20, 1948 • J 1ttn1W 1 LYING DISCS ,,'-\ \ G SECURITY MATTER - X ~ Reference is made to your letter in the captioned matter dated February 12, 1948. You are adVised that Bureau Bulletin No. 57 dated October 1, 1947, still applies with respect to flying discs. The Bureau is conducting no investigations concerning flying discs. We will, however, give the Air Forces any information which comes to our attention and will receive any information which the Air Forces volunteer. • The Headquarters of the Air Forces 1n Washington are being contacted by the Bureau in order to insure that there is no misunders~ing as to the . Bureau's position in this matter. r-.., RGF:rb I ' ... .- i .:13/1( J0 'l<130 s·r. I9d H00l:l 11VI ·03Al33.3b .. .. • STANDARD FORM NO. e4 Office Me~ .andum • UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TO FROM SUBJECT: Mr. Ladd DATB : 3/1/48 IC', Tolson :-: ~ie~ Tamn= = = V. P. Ke : : g~!;r~- - - : : lfi~g-oIB_ _ _ : : ~~:- - ­ : : ~.:'.="·===== ::: ~~~:.::,,~·-:,,,-;..-::.== Mr . PeM1 Eon j FLYING DISCS SECURITY MATTER - X J r.io~UJ~ IC'. Neas ~ Reference is made to a memorandum to you f'rom Mr . J. P. Coyne • • L s in the above- captioned matter dat~~ February 19, 1948. The memorandum 1 indicated that the ~an Franc:h.sco Field Di vision had re·c eived a letter from the headquarters of the Air Defense Command, Mitchel Air Force Base, New York, dated February 4, 1948, entitl ed, urnvestigation and Reporting of ' Flying Disc ' I ncidents . " This communication indicated that investigations should be coordinated with the FBI. The Agent in Charge of the San Francisco Field Division inquired as to a change in policy r egarding the investigation of flying discs. A letter was forwarded to San Francisco advising them that there had been no change in the Bureau's policy. This matter has been discussed by Special Agent S. W. ·Reynolds of the Liaison Section with Lieutenant Colonel C. P. Martin of the Intelligence Division of the Air Force. Colonel Martin advised Mr . Reynolds that apparently the Air Defense Command at Mitchel Field was not aware of the fact that the Bureau was no longer conducting investigations regarding flying discs. He stated that he would take the necessary action and straighten out the Air Defense Command as to the present policy regarding incidents of flying discs . . JtECO'RD~ I ~ - o·_:) / : p -J.\•~ _ll-i, 29 MAR 9 I 5./ -· I vj,_;_ -1 J k ~ r , "{}.A~·•vv (/ • ' STANDARl:>l'ORMN0.64 Office Memorandum • •oNI T En sTATEs GovERNMENT TO FROM SUBJECT; Mr. D. M. D ATE: J. P. Co ~ FLUNG DI S , i~,y~ SECURITY MATTER - X 1 The attached ·1H.r flom ,the San Francisco Field Division dated February 12, 1948, raises the question as to whether there has been a change in policy concerning the investigation of flying discs. RECOMMENDATION:, It is reco!!lTJ).ended that the information contained in the attached letter be discussed by the Ll.aison Section with the Air Forces. ACTION: A letter is attached to San Francisco advising them that there has been no change in Bureau policy. RGF:rb ... FEB ZQ I 38 P~ '~8 ilE CE P~Et: - t. A!Ii: F BI ··' 5. 0Ef'1 OF J l ; S '!'!C f. j . • ·• • S'YVLES BRIOGES. N. H., CHAl"MAN CHAN GtJRN£Y, C. OAK., • KENNETH MCKE:L C. WAYLANO,OROOK\, ILL, CARL HAYDEN, ARlZ, £NH. ~~:iHM.;,~~..:. ~.:!·. ~~~~::.~~l:=~~D. KENNCTH S. WHERRY, NEBR. PAT MCCARRAN, NEV. GUY CORDON, DREG, JOHN H, OVERTON, LA. HOMER FE"'3USON, MICH_.1 RICHARD B, RUSSELL. GA, LEVERETT SALTONSTALL, MASS, JO.PH C, O'MAl-tONEY, WYO. MILTON R, YOUNG, H .. OAK, TMEOOCUUi FRANCIS GREEN, R. I, WILLIAM P. KNOWLANO, CALIP', HEN.RY C. DWORSHAK, IDAHO . . COMM ITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS EVERAR.D H • .SMITH, CLERK CECIL H. TOLBERT, ASST, CL.Due March 22, 1948 Honorable J. Edgar Hoover, Director Federal Bureau of Investigation Department of Justice Washington 25, D. c. Dear Mr. Hoover: Attached you will find letter which may or may not be of interest to your office. However, I felt it should be passed on to you for whatever the infortn,3tion is worth. Kindly return my constituent' s letter although if you wish you make a copy of it. If Cordially yours, KSW:emn-3 l 'M.01~ Enc. KEOOH,DED & INDEXED I~ "4:-8-fl//-, • 31 MAR 27 1948 Itf ~ v ' .> .. 0 • • C p y Benkelman, Nebraska Ma re h 14, 1948 Mr. Kenneth Wherry United States Senate Washington , D. c. Dear Ur . Wherry: On March 13 at 2:30, M. S.T. o'clock in the afternoon I witnessed a strange si ght in the sky traveling at a very high rate of speed at a very high altitude. I was first attracted to this sight by a noise of motor or whatever i t was. It sound_ to me like that of a train r~mbling in the distance of from 10 t~ 12 miles on a still day. At first glance it looked like it might be a vapor trail left by a high flying plane. But the white streak that was in the sky never changed its shape or did it change in the di recti on of travel. It traveled much faster than any plane I have seen traveling in sky high enough to leave vapor trai 1. As near as I can describe this sight was that it might appear to be a stream lined train traveling at a very high altitude at very high rate of speed. This rocket or whatever it might have been was high enough to disappear from sight while it was yet very far above the hori2on. I am not writing this so that it might seem to be another disc, fan or whatever you might call them . I just saw this and it has been on my mind ans I thought if there was anything that I could be of help to solve this thin g I would write this to you and you can forward this to the proper Dept. if it is necessary. Thanking you kindly Yours Truly /s/ Kenneth ~Frasier &JCLOSURE P.S. This object was traveling from east to west . It looked 1i ke i t might have trave led over Denver, . ·"' • C • • 0 p y KENNETH L. FRAZIER • Colo. or a little to the south . I live almost due east about 180 mi. by air and I looked to the south a l ittle to be able to get sight of object . This object was also witnessed by my son was with me at the time . who I saw the smoke cloud left by so called meteor which exp loded ouer at Norton_Kans. This object was not~ br ight ball of fire like it was . The siluer streak in the sky traveled as if it were a long connected ~t reak. This did n~t resemble a line of smoke left by a train trave l tng along it moued altogether as a unit . If it is not against any regulation and if possible would like to have answer to this object . C 0 p y -. l!arch 241 1948 Honorable K•nneth..__B. United S:tates Senat• Waahtngton, D. c. JJy dear S11na-Oor: Tour letter o/ l!arch 221 29481 wtth encZoeurs# has Men recstved. Stnoe ths eubJ•ct aattsr menttoned tn your oon­ stttuent's lettsr ts not within the scope o/ authortty o/ thta Bursau1 I have taken the ltberty o.f .forwarding a copy o;t hta latter and yours to . tM ~ecrstary o/ the Amy, llattona1 D6/,nae Butldtng# ashlng­ ton 1 D. c . # /or hta tn/ormat1on. Your thought/ulness tn brtngtng ~hje to my attentton ta tndesd apprectat•d• I aR •noloatng a copy o/ my letter to JJr . Frasier whtch I thought you mtght like to have /or your /tles# together wtth hta lettflr. Utth ezpreaatons o/ my h1gheat esteea and beat regards, ..,, . Since rely yours 1 -• Eagar ,,~ o~ve,::'.\.i1> ~ .. .c.. I Enclo sJ_e Incomi; from Frasier and cop~, of our letter to him. VWP:jec .... ' ~ e-­ 1 '-""I II COMr.UlNICATIO 'S SES'tiO~ MAILED 3 * MAR 2iJ 1948 f,;.. , fittliA&. BllltEAU OF IN~ESTHiATIOlt , 8. DEPARTMENT Of JUSTICE 1 ~~ \)J- . - • • I Jiarch 341 1948 RECORDED L,,, ... 3gy ~lt3 Ur. Kennsth L. Fraeter Benk•lman 1 Nebraaka Your letter dated llarch l41 l948, to tho Honorable Kenneth s. Wherry, Un ited State• Senator, has been re/erred to me /or attentton. Stnc• thtt mattar you i:zeni1oned ta not wtthtn the scope oj authorttu of thta Bureau, I have taken the ltberty o/ jurntah­ tng a oopy of your communicatton to the Secratary o/ ~he Armu, National Ds/enas Eutldtng 1 Uashtngton, D. a., and in tha event you haue anu addittona2 tn/or:n.atton, j t is auggeated you aay destre to communtcats wtth h,n. B'incer•211 11ours1 i .. Ba&ar Hoover ..Tohn Edgar Hoouer Dtrector CC: Senator Wherry - ~ r1' ~ ~ ~ rr: ~ (O Name of to111n per Postal Gutde ~ (r: J r-..: ..... ..... ,_ ...0 t:' ~ ~ ":'I VWP:jec COMM * CATIONS SECTION :3 ftiAR 2r, 1948 P.M. AILED j r.. -. .. ' • STYLES BRIDGES, N, H,, CHAU\ CHAN GURt-&Y, S. OAK, KENNETH MC C. WAYLAND BROOK&, ILL. CARL HAYDDI CLYDE M, RE£0, KANS. ELMER THOM. JCifSE:PH H. BAL~ MINN. MILLARD E, T HOMER F'ERGUSON, MICH. RICHARD 8. Rl KENNETH $. WHF.RRY, NEBR. PAT MCCARRAt., NltV. GUY CORDON, OREG. JOHN H, OVERTON, LA. LEV£R£TT SALTONSTALL, MASS, JOSEPH C, O' MAHONEY, WYO, MILTON R. YOUNG, N. OAK. THEODORE FRANClS GRE£N, R. I. WILLIAM F. KNOWLAND, CALIF, HENRY C, DWORSHA.t<, ID.AHO EVERARD H. SMITH, CLERK CECIL H. TOLBERT, ASST. CL.ERK • COMM ITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS April 1, 1948 The Honorable J . Edgar Hoover Federal Bureau of Investigation United Stat es Department of Justice \'~ashington 25, D. C. Dear Mr. Hoover: 'tJ:tank you very much for forwarding Mr . Kenneth L~ asier , letter to the proper authorities. Your cooperation in this instance was aeeply anpreciated. ---::...----- • llnihb 8tate.s ilepartment of 1.fmitice Post Office Box 1850 Atlanta 1. Georgia August 10, 1948 AIRMAIL SPECIAL D!J'.,IV]J.RY Director, J'l3I Rill ' MRS. MADBLINE G ~ E R ~ ; INFOBMA.TlOB! CONC:&RNING f-.L I;11 Co }) 1 ~ c....) Dear Sir: Transmitted herewith for the ltureau 1 s information are copies of a letter, together with enclosure, froa the aboTe captioned individual.. I:aaa1111.1ch aa there is n.o record in this office concerning captioned person, no reply has been made to instant letter. with the tho~t the Bureau may desire to acknow­ le~e instant coll!llWlication or communicate further concerning the matter with the Dallaa Office. For the information ot the Bureau and the Dallas and San Antonio Officea, the clippiDgs referred to are transmitted herewith to the l3ureau, Dallas and San Antonio Office•, it being noted that Wichita ll'alla i t covered by Dallas and !'ort Sam Hous­ ton is covered by the San Antonio Office. Very truly yours, K " J Enclosures - 5 (Enc--3) AMSD J ENCL ~ cc-Da.llae cc-San Antonio (Enc-3) AMSD hI J.J'F: SL ,: Oib. ' t. 1e Nu{ l 8I ,... Elltt r 2Et11(:UU ~.- UG' C1 r • r nft it • • utl. fo 'f:S.fS'J.! • ! ti t"n!!J' Ocf) .r ;;i;o.r ""~ .t ~,:o :+ ·,ocr ~i~~a90 , I ~~nPf~A $-i\eI . OI U1~!.J.A 1r:W:tbi.ai: m1tm1-0 ~ Lxm<IAM . ~nM -Oti!ill!i;,.OliCC uCI~A~~.1I f)'!;G : .. l!OlJ--r:l·,£,(Jl:.il 3 1 .usawC: g{j -ro'.t ,dj.i. /~(1! l>ej;tl:lf!<'f!.B"!"T. "v-0d'.s &rlt no'l''i ,o-:i:ucefon8 ,rl;t hi -:redfo~o;t ,'l'.e.t.tel .a 'Io t:.s.tqoo .r;;i;!t.t .n.l. ~-xooe·r on ei e·1eJ!:t e£ sb1.1i:1M.a.I .. .f.Br1IH:-:-.1r:.a.t be.nol!cp.,o ot efirt.ai no~rl e ~d "(;!qo·t on .00:::1:x cr beno.h.to:et. ~c1rr;raoaoo o:>1:'ilo --woc&.io o:i e·dr.eb \;;Bil! .u.:.wwtt ed.t jd.,-:i.JJo{i;t o!'U :i,iHw • "it> ~.1 e.r j nBi1an l • a.i:n'.t9~J.CI0.0 •.r9'.{j•u11: e;tz;.,.:.J:ItrX:::OtJ 'tO ao,i;j :.,i.rU.Jir.Wl(I:> .ta.eJSlti cli,f)~! ..t'd:'::'-0 eD.u'.nO: &d;t .d,t.~w ·:to:t.tsu srla • bt.UJ e~II.e.(I orl.t baa us&~m.~ ent ~o aolfr~~~o":Lai arlt ~Q~ ,n9;tjlf!IS£1ll'lj ~'Ie o.t bane':t9'l e~.h'qi.!o eM t880:t'fi0 o!.nc):tuA .nsc:. ·'.!tieo H. ,s 0 ~J:'l:':t0 cko.tri.A .a,1i;: !l!m "'!l!.!.GCI • .:men.Rt of.J oit ~1:w!l't• 1i ~".u,-,U f!J3o .t-xo'! .61!~ as.U..:tt ~cf b9'Ievo') Bi a!.~r.r oit'.t.d.oU! ~£:.ti:t !.aacu . s:>i'i:10 oi:.C1c:;t11A ua2 etl..'. 'ltd" bs·t3vo~ a.:. noJ- aeMA ( f....•,nd cs.r.racr-:..:> (t~oo~) olnojr.J~ n:.a~~o 3J'1Sf\r j U !. d3 U ~ ' 1 I 8 :J .. ~ uuto:ns 1'N'631-., JV, ~ij uE 6 ll oov QjAl.iJJI HE~DQUARTERS AIR MATERIEL COMMAND IN REPLY ADDRESS 10TH COMMUNICATION AND EN• VELOPE TO COMMANDING GENERAL, • 100M Authority: NND90986 MCIAXD-3/FWA/aw Wright-Patterson AF Base ,,. l«IIJIJ(ll9 ••••••;,.-., A IR MATIERIEl A TT S N T I O N COMMAND, FOLLOWING OFFICE SYMBOL: 9 September 1948 MCUX0..3 Director Federal Dlresu of Investigation Department of Justice Washington. D. C. FBI Laborator,y A!l'l!N: &IBJ'RCT: Projeet "SIGN" Gentlemen: Accompanying this letter is a small sample of soil. This eoilr ~s taken from a depression reputed to have been caused by a'-.Bflying S81l.cer11 described as being approximately two feet in diameterand. one foot thick which. supposedly settled gently to the ground, rebounded to a height of abou.t twenty feet and then contimed. on its journey. Al.though. the declivity was immedi­ ately covered by a large washtub a heavy rain fP.1bsequently filled ~ the depression about one/third full of water before any sample of dirt could be taken. In an effort to approach this incident objectively to deteI"'­ mine every possible clue, it bas been deemed advisable to have this soil sample analyzed and tested. Upon inquiry, your ~ n representative stated that the FBI Laboratoey would accomplish the required. tests. Dt.O. / ., /! / £CO~ h ,,, / ' It is the desf re of this Head.~1.arte»s-48--&seep-t,ein, in par 1cu.lar, if there are traces of unusual Reme~ or &.loys adhering to the surface of the particles, o~lf 91V :reJSnb!MaJ i ty in structure exista aho~ that the soil ms s u ~ ; • ~ intense beat, ll"-""" or radio-active subst?.DCes. etc. Unfor • y, in this regard, no one thought to forward a. sample ~unding the depression 80 no comparison of soils can be made at this time. ~ d the subsequent test show qthing unusual some arrangement could be made to procure some ,of the surrounding soil 80 that a comparative analysis could be ma.de. The aceomp~ing sample bas not been test­ ed by any other agency, nor will it be. ~ } 'J!v~ {J.t_p,,,v q f' ·~ J COPIES DESTPC''{;fl 27 0 NOV 1 81964 ~ 'I • • .- 9 Sept 1948 Project "SIGN" Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation I n the event the tests show nothing warranting further investige,.­ tion you~ dispose of the sample. The report should be addressed to this Command marked for the attention of MCI.AX0-3. This Division will appreciate your cooperation in this matter. Very truly yours, ,~~W~ fi f ~ a~;fF Incl W. R. •GEE!MAN Colon USAF Chief, Technical Intelligence Division Intelligence Department 2 REPORT of the /_ \==f}2J t l }=7\ ~ 1..A.BORA.TORT 2-s,__ FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION WASHINGTON D. C. OOt.obc- ?, 1948 To: Ca::m.Ttdi~ Oeaeral Air U..t«riel Como.lid Wright-Patterson AF Bue ~ , Obio At.tentiont 1JClllO.i.3 There tollcinl "1M Npc,.n ot the WI Labcrator., «i tho ~ t . i o n ~ Re: ot e'f"idenoe r-eceiTed .trc:im YOU' otf'iee on s~~ ~ ---· ·- \ ) John Edgor Hoover, Director YOUR FILE NO. FBI FILE NO. LAB. NO. Exot'Nj. . . .e~ Elracl.naUon of Soil Re fere n,e: -146 RECORDED - ~ ~ PC-231J.2CO S pecim• ns: Addreu• IAtter dated Septm'ber 9, 1948 lt1craeoopia ,, (M.rogrepbto-Geol.ogi.c) ... L-.40 • FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGA. N UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ........OORDED Laboratory Work Sheet 9/22/48 kag Be: File# Lab. II Project "SIGN" Examination of Soil. Examination requested by: Result of Examination: ~l, Sample of soil. PC-23142 CO v Commanding General, Air Materiel Command, Wright- Patterson ll:f AF Base, Dayton, Ohio Attention: ~CIAX0-3 Date of reference communication: letter 9/9 Examination requested: 9j3£ 62- 83894-146 9/17 Evid . 9/14 Reg.1171535 Date received: Micro (Petrographic- Geologic) Examination by: JEVOJJS e .. ~ERALBUREAU OF INVESTIG _.,.LTED S'l"ATES DEPABTMENT OF :i Laboratory Work Sheet RE'-0-:"ttJ'F.D 9/22/4$ Kai Be: File II Pro.,.ct "5 G 11 Enid.nat.ion ot Soil. Examination requested by: Lab. Ii PC•2Jli.a CO Comand111 General, Air Materiel Coca:,.and, flri.cnWatt.eracn ID Ar Dan , Dayton, cJno Date of reference communication: letter 919 Examination requested: till 62-33894-146 Oll.I0-3 Date received: 9/l? ~Yid . 9/ 14 Reg.1171,)S At.tent,t en, icro (Pet.ro .r apbic-0.oloslc) Result of Examination: Examination by: JGftlS Specimens submitted for examination Ql, SUlple ot ao1l. . \ ' ' . .,... ~ '} ' .. ~ k • • .-. . RECORDED· 51 \ __: _ _ _/ F B I ~ ~ 23 OCT 22 ,948 ~ B1 I ; ni:p· , ~ 'I JqlCt ...,... . - .; . • .,,, . - I ... • .. ' j •• - '; , • October :1.9. 1948 J 1 ta Xour 1.ett. r d!l't 4d UclObcr 15. 1948. bna be cived end J db veut to tbsnk you for the patriOUc cot1v s tiJltch proi.,pt~ ycu to t.lritce aYa1loble 70V r ~ ~ t s conce~ tho cubJect YoU tte:it1one4. Sincerely vours, ftOERAL BUREAU OF IHVt:SllGATIOII U S. OEPARTr.lEIIT OF JUSIICE • J.,. I , -, cit ,, ei 0 1T, 'JI ,~t· 'ii iJ I Zi ,---.3..lIC\M \ $ ll lJO,, _9 a"°i o~ roo l 'I)/ -& ~ ------ - ~ ' .'ti! u~ . '6i'. = "' - -- -~- ice of Contents from BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION .•ottINGTON, D. C . ' Date~-----------October '7, 1948 Consigned to· • ""Co-nwn-.._,d:tlln......,'!W'"""'tl""e"""t1eral A:tr Materiel Cormland WrigJit-fatteraon M tmse n,.yton. Ohio List of tJiJFe~tins lfCIAXO-.) f:co:':MM::':U~N~IC~AT".'""10-NS--SE_C_TI_ONMA( Leo ro,..23142 CO 1 * OCT '!18 1940 P.M. Mr. Barbo, '1641 Mr. Conrad, 7142 t __ Mr. Downing, 6228 B _ Mr. Sizoo, '1601 Mr. Baughman, '11 1 ~ 'L I-/ f'El>£RAL Bcaou Of IN\'[8Tf6ATIOH U, 8. OEl'ARTIIEHT Of JUSTICE RIDISTERrotAIL 79 , _ 7 c; 9' "I .(?-_ v ;./ ~~~ I o/itj,../r r/1-{ A~••__;. SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: Mai ~ J-1om, place date of shipment and registry number; Shipping Room , show 1 ate of shipmrp't awjt,i t.~a.l tf~invoi ce; then return it to person whose name is checked in column at ight. After this ''Ji?H~ect"name has been initialled, invoice should be placed in adminis trative fil e. .. ,, • moAl IURCAU OF tNVtSTtQATION U. S. OEPMTMOCT Of JUSTICE COMMUNICATIONS SECTION I\ ANGELES 12- 28 - 48 ·bo URGENT AND SACS HOUSTON, CINCINNATI Mr. fllollr I 1,lr. p,-,, A ENTION I NSPECTOR HOWARD FLETCHER FLY Mr Q ,., G ~ , LONN IE EDWARD"-NOACK COMPLAINT . OEC . TWENTY EIGHT . MR . 'i,--t ' m <a_ 1/ RE HOUSTON TELE~Yii, R. C. PERSONS, VASCO .l!bemc ELECTRIC MMTIJVlfAcfll/NG COMPANY, LA, PRESENTLY I N ARIZONA, EXACT WHEREABOUTS UNKNOWN TO HIS OFFICE, EXPECTED TO CALL MORNING OF DEC . TWENTY NINE . MR . NATHAN SMITH, SMITH MANUFACTURING COMPANY, SOUTH PASADENA, CALIF . ADVISED HE - . AND PERSONS PURCHASED AIRPORT IN MOJAVE DESERT NEAR HELENDALE, CALIF . STATED THAT IN EARLY PART OF DEC. EXACT DATE UNKNO_#i', PERSONS ADVISED HIM H~ HAD FOUND A FLYING DISK ON THEIR AIRPORT . MR . AND MRS . SMITH, PERSONS, AND LONNIE~OACK PROCEEDED TO AIRPORT WHERE THEY LOCATED DISK, TOOK PICTURES OF IT AND REMOVED . . PORTIONS OF DISK, NOACK RETAINING SOME PARTS AND SMITH KiEPING SOME PORTIONS WHICH ARE STILL IN HIS POSSESSION . SMITH ADvISED THAT DAY AFTER LOCATINGfrHE DISK AN EMPLOYEE CBSERVED PARTS RETAINED BY SMITH, AND STATED HE BELIEVED THE OB~ECT HAD BEEN MANUFACTURED BY OLSEN AND RICE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, TOY MANUFACTURERS LA . SMITH STATED HE THEN CONTACTED OLSEN AND RICE WHO STATED THEY WERE FIN­ ANCING CLAUDE LERO~OLFERT LA IN DEVELOPING A KITE FOR •1 tlllf SALE ON OPEN hARKET AS A TOY . SMITH STATED HE HAD PREVIOUSLY GIVEN OLSEN AND RICE PERSMISSION TO USE HIS PRIVATE AIRPORT AT ANY TIME . OLSEN AND RICE TOLD SMITH THEY HAD TAi~ XPERIMENTAL KITES TO SMITHS/ END PAGE ONE (t 5 1~~ RECORDfl};; t ~ 1NOEXEtJ - 08 gz~'O •-s ~ } --Jf:..1 :LI:: - ~ / ~G OEC 30'Q 48 J • • ' ., ,.,,__, .., ..t> m , n, < F'l 0 .r t ' 'O ..,.. !. .. ..., r-. rl'l -, ', t:: !Tl .0 . • • , PAGE TWO AIRPORT AND UPON DETERMING KITES NOT PRACTICAL HAD ABANDONED THE PROJECT. SMITH STATED HE HAD TAKEN SIXTEEN MM PICTURES WHICH ARE PRESENTLY BEING DEVELOPED . STATED WOULD MAKE PICTURES AND PARTS FROM OBJECT AVAILABLE TO THIS OFFICE . SMITH DESCRIBED OBJECT AS APPROXIMATELY SIX FEET IN DIA­ METER, CONSISTING OF DISK MOUNTED ON AXEL WITH BEARINGS, WINGS ON EITHER SIDE, TAIL SURFACE SUPPORTED ON BOOMS, CUP MOUNTED ON EACH WING TIP RESEMBLING ROCKET POWER CONTAINERS . SMITH STATED DID NOT OBSERVE ANY CHEMICAL OR OTHER MATTERIAL IN CONTAINERS WHICH COULD BE USED AS SELF PROPELLING FORCE . MR . HENRY T. RICE OF OLSEN AND RICE MAN­ UFACTURING COMPANY ADVISED CLAUDE LEROY WOLFERT FINANCED BY THEIR COMPANY IN DEVELOPING TOY KITE, THAT WOLFERT HAD PROACHED IDEA OF MAKING LARGE MODEL TO BE USED AS TOW TARGET FOR AIRPLANES BUT RICE DECIDED THAT HE MAKE . ONLY KITE SUITABLE FOR SALE AS TOYS . JIU Ill( HOWEVER, WOLFERT MADE LARGE MODEL APPROXIMATELY SIX FEET IN DIAMETER, WEIGHING FIFTY POUNDS, WHICH TOGETHER WITH OTHER MODEL HAD BEEN FLOWN IN DC THREE OWNED BY OLSEN AND RICE TO PRIVATE AIRPORT OF ..MU:llllli PERSONS AND SMITH . RICE COULD NOT RECALL EXACT DATE, BUT_, STATED MWllf IT WAS IN EARLY PART OF DEC . RICE STATED DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED IN FLIGHT OF KITE, AND THAT IN VIEW OF SIZE OF LARGE MODEL IT WAS NECESSARY TO TOW IT BEHIND PLANE TO OBSERVE FLIGHT . STATED MODEL CRASHED AND OLSEN AND RICE ABANDONED EXPERIMENT LEAVING AIRPORT WITH WOLFERT REMAINING BE­ HIND TO CONDUCT FURTHER EXPERIMENTS . RICE STATED DID NOT KNOW THAT WOL­ FERT HAD LEFT THE LARGE MODEL AT THIS AIRPORT UNTIL ADVISED BY SMITH END PAGE TWO • • ~ .xi r-...> rn i-., ('"') .::0 n ~ < m r--(.) r IJJ -,;, 0 l "'1'J r rr -c: -, ,, c:. -x:, ".Cl .. ,:; n • • .., PAGE THREE THAT THEY HAD FOUND THE OBJECT . CONTACT WILL BE MADE WITH SMITH, RICE, AND WOLFERT, TO SECURE PHOTOGRAPHS AND SAMPLES . HOOD END A IN ORDER PLS A 7- 45 PM OK FBI WASH DC WJR HKBllUMilVHBH ~SMR OK FBI HO UICF CI CISC OK FBI CI J W BUREAU WILL BE ADVISED. RE'CEIVEO TELETYPE UNIT ... • .... Dre 29 7 a.1 PH •~8 F.8.1. DEPT. OF JUSTICE ..._, !"Tl C"") -..J ..:0 ,..t1 n , m < ..,, 11 (• .., :::'\:I ;;::) I -,TJ .. .., ""= _ c; STAN0...~0 ~OR,-, "° 6A • Office M emor! ndum • uNtrno sTATEs GovERNMENT December 28, 1948 '¼..ITO , MR. D. M. LA: _& ~ DATE , FROM : H. B. F I . E T C ~ Jlf SUBJBCT: O FLYING DISCS IC'". Tolson_ _ llr. ~legg wr. Glavin_ _ ::: ~~~:~1~·=== Yr. Rosen_ _ Mr. Tr&CY_ _ ::: =:= ..=---=---_Mr. Harl>o_ _ Mr. ll<>hr.~......--­ J..0':bo wr. Pennlngtori_ Mr. QU!llll tam_ Tele . R o o • ­ llr. Nease_ _ At a .m. today, SAC Willis, Houston, called in and stated WISS llolJIIJO_ _ Go.nc!y_ _ that Full~ackwell, a busin?ss man~ Housto~, Texas, had furnished certain pictures taken by a friend of his, Lo~ack of the Humboldt Oil Company, Houston, Texas, and had related that Noack had been flying with a friend in a private plane from California to Houston and that at a point about 30 miles east of Lone Pine, California, some object lying on the ground made a very strong reflection and they made a check to determine what would cause this bright reflection. They finally landed the plane and found an object which could be described as being 8 1 in diameter with wings about 4' long. The object is about 1 1 in thickness and in the center there appears to be some type of gyroscope. The wings apparently are fitted with some type of jet propulsion. An examination was made by Noack and his friend and they could find no identi.f.'ying marks and took photographs of the object they observed. WleO SAC Willis stated he had informed Lieutenant Robert Fleming of the ill', Ellington Field, and Captain Bush, the Army representative in Houston, of this object and that Noack would be interviewed that morning in the Houston Office with Lieutenant Fleming being present. Lieutenant Fleming wanted the statements of Noack taken down by a stenographer and he will furnish the stenographer for that purpose. I instructed SAC Willis to funti.sh complete details of this matter by idr mail special delivery, including a copy of the photograph. I further instructed that he furnish the same details to the proper field office because unquestionably the Bureau would want to run this thing out. After talking with you, I phoned SAC Willis back and told him to insure the presence of a Bureau Agent at the time this object was examined by the Army Air Forces and that he should make proper arrangements with the office in California to see that an Agent was present. I also told him to adVise me /I _ of the developments. f~ HBF:cmw • • J • c:::::, :-rt C") , ~')\~., \ i \.\ ,1,, \ \ ,. "'~ ' \ ~ " .~ ~ .., '; CD w \ft ~ Y'.\ ~ ; i~"" i CD ~)~'O \)~"' • ~ "1 "' ~..,,~ m "' ~, ~- ~~~) \ ~ .# != !'~ c::, . C") < c,(DrTl ""Tl 0 ~ t--➔ I C :V> .. . ,4: n m > :._- :, -· • fEDEIIAl tU"lAU OF IIW(STIQATION U. S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE • COMNUNICA~:N~ ,HIN DEC ~ 0 o Mr. Tolson. ..... . 1\lr Cle;' 12-28-48 . ENTION ------­ , ·-·-· ··--• r 1- 12 PM CST £rRECTOR , SACS CINCINNATI AND LOS ANGELES ~ ··_ "1r. G",ivl , ✓ {r. t 1 .... .. • TELETYPE FB_y1IOUSTON .• / - URGENT IN.SPECTOR HOWARD FLETCHER s-<vrNGl?rsK. LONNIE EDWA~ OACK, COMPLAINANT . COMPLAINANT RESIDING TWO NINE TWO ONE CHICAGO STREET, HOUSTON, CONTACTED THI OFFICE DECEMBER TWENTY SEVENTH ON CAPTIONED MATTER AND IN SIGNED STATEMENT TODAY SUBMITTED THE FOLLOWING. \ NOACK , EMPLOYED#AS A MACHINIST BY HUMBLE OIL COMPANY, HOUSTON, LEFT HOUSTON BY COMMERCIAL AIRLINE DECEMBER FIFTH LAST ON BUSINESS FOR HOLLYWOOD , CALIF . ON MONDAY, DECEMBER SIXTH, CONTACTED R. C. PERSON , FOUR ONE ONE SIX AVALON BLVD . , LA., AN ACQUAINTANCE, WHO REMARKED OF HAVING SEEN ON THAT DATE, SOME DISTANCE FROM HOLLYWOOD IN A DESERT AREA , WHAT APPEARED TO BE A FLYING DISK. PERSON OPERATES VASCO ELECTRICAL MANUFACTURING CO . , LA., ADAMS FIVE TWO EIGHT ONE . ON DECEMBER SEVENTH , NOACK , PERSOM, AND MR. AND MRS . NATHAN SMITH, ONE NAUGHT FIVE SOUTH PASADENA AVE ., SOUTH PASADENA, CALIF . , DEPARTED BY PRIVATELY OWNED AUTOMOB I LE IN SEARCH OF DISK . SAME LOCATED APPROXIMATELY ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY MILES NORTHEAST OF PASADENA AND ABOUT TWENTY MILES NORTHEAST OF LONE P~, CALIF . PERSON , SMITH, AND NOACK TOOK PHOTOGRAPHS OF D l t ~ ~ • MOV ~ SPEEDGRAPHIC CAMERAS . NJ)t fJC/lf_ ,.. 5'tJ THE NOACK FILM WAS EIGHT~1Ik~METERS IN SIZE.J AND CAMERA MADE BY REVERE . ~ '- IM 4 1949 DISK LOC.ATED DESERT~ EA NEAR NINE HUNDRE ~ ACRES OF LAND OWNED BY PERSON AS PRIVATE AIRFIELD . • NOACK HAD HIS FIL :<.' DEVELOPED BY EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY AT UNKNOWN ADDRESS LOS PALMAS ST . ,LA . END PAGE ONE ~'V \'It, , ,~1 l.\i ~ RECEIVE0-1..MHl FBI · u. 5. DEPT. OF JUSC!CE RE'rEtVED Or.c 28 3 ss PM 'if8 JAN 6 2 ss PM '~( ~ i c k Nh, -~ n~cE1vEn--01REC, F} 8I tt 1 . •N - r.: B I U.S. of.:ri'T. Uf':,:u:"/tff.€ I ~ •'l t;TfCF -~ • , • # Dre 28 ~ 52 PM '~8 ,... 4 ·-~ .... . ) • • .,. PAGE TWO THESE FILMS RECEIVED NOACK, HOUSTON, BY MAIL DECEMBER TWENTY THIRD LAST . f!!:: SHOWS DISK TO BE APPROXIMATELY SEVEN FEET IN DIAMETER AND APPROXIMATELY TWO FEET THICK IN MIDDLE WITH FEATHER EDGE ON RIM . ABUTTING SAUCER IN MIDDLE AND ON BOTH SIDES ARE FOUR FOOT WINGS RESEMBLING CONVENTIONAL AIRPLANE TYPE . NO MARKINGS, NO RADIO, AND APPEARED TO HAVE LANDED AT GREAT SPEED . DISK IN COMPARATIVELY GOOD CONDITION . THE ENDS OF BOTH WINGS HAD ATTACHED A SMALL ALUMINUM CYLINDER APPARENTLY FOR JET PROPULSION . ONE OF THESE CYLINDERS OBTAINED BY NOACK AS SOUVENIR AND CURRENTLY IN POSSESION OF r_::: OH~cg FILM SIMILARLY MAINTAINED . SA ROBERT FLEMING 1 OSI REPRESENTATIVE , .E,l.LINGTON FlELD~ TEXAS, NOTIFIED DECEMBER TWENT¥ SEV.E.N.IH . NOACK FILM EXHIBITED THIS OFFICE INSTANT DATE AND SHOWS DISK IN ALL POS ITI ONS AND ARE AUTHENTIC . MR . FLEMING, OSI , ON DECEMBER TWENTY EIGHTH NOTIFIED DISTRICT COMMANDER , FIFTH OSI DISTRICT, WRIGHT FIELD , DAYTON , OHIO . - SAC R. B. HOOD , LA., NOTIFIED TELEPHONICALLY OF ABOVE INFORMATION WITH REQUEST THAT HE MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH R. C. PERSON IN ORDER THAT ----- BUREAU AGENTS MAY ASSIST OR ACCOMPANY OSI REPRESENTATIVES IN ACTUALLY OBSERVING AND RETR I EV I NG FLYING DISK . - INSTRUCTIONS . .. THIS ACTION TAKEN PER BUREAU NO FACILITIES AVAILABLE HOUSTON FOR REPRODUC I NG MOVIE FILM OF NOACK, HOWEVER, STILL SHOTS CAN BE DEVELOPED BY COMPETENT END PAGE TWO RECEIVEO-l. /l nfl F BI U. S. DEPT. OF JU ST!CF. RFrEtVED Or.c 28 3 ss PM '118 JAN 6 2 55 PM'iJI N r .:kNA , , r, . ' ' ~ N F B·I 1! , flFP' ... ·, • • 1;: •• 1 .C: TI Cf • .. PAGE THREE COMMERC I AL REPRESENTATI VES . ACTI ON TO BE TAKEN BY OS I, DAYTON, OHIO , NOT KNOWN AT TH I S MOMENT AND I T I S POSS I BLE THEY MAY DESIRE FILM FOR REPRODUCTION THEIR FACILI TIES THERE . I F BUREAU DES I RES LA OFFICE TO OBTAI N FROM PERSON AND SM I TH THE IR FI LM AND NEGAT IVES , THIS MIGHT BE CONS I DERED . PICTURES TAKEN BY PERSON WI TH FOUR BY FI VE SPEEDGRAPH IC CAMERA AND THZSE PI CTURES SHOULD BE READ I LY AVAILABLE . NOACK FI LM AND PART OF JET PROPULS I ON WI NG TIP BE I NG MA I NTAI NED HOUSTON AWA I TI NG SUGGESTED DI SPOS I TI ON AND HANDL I NG BY EI THER BUREAU OR OS I . CI NC I NNAT I OFFI CE BEI NG MADE COGN I ZANT TO COVER POSS IBILITY THAT BUREAU MAY DI RECT LI AI SON WITH OSL, DAYTON . AMSD LETTER FOLLOWS TO BUREAU AND INTERESTED OFFI CES ENCLOS I NG SIGNED STATEMENT OF NOACK . WILLIS END A I N O PLS WA 225PM OK FB I WA LS CI OK FBI CI JCL LA OK FBI LA EDS DI SCM ~ 1-~ r~ \JJl;t;Jl RECEIVED TELETYPE UNIT Dre 28 2 29 PH l~8 f .8.1. DEPT. OF JUSTICE 3JHSOf :lO 'ld30 ·s ·o • I 8 :J · 03"13J3 l:i u~Jv~·-Ql31\t 3 J 3~ ' • .... IUllEAU Of t1CVE.STIGATIO~ ~otPAATMEMT OF )USTICE ;:MUMICATlOMS $ECTIOII • .. . O£C 291948 -~ ~ Mr. ToJaon. . ...... ............ Mr, Gtartu ......... . Mr. Ce Mr. Ladd....... . ... Mr. Nichol,......... . Mr. Rosou ......•••• ER Mr. 'I'rAOJ,' • •• . ...•••• • lib-, E llD .••.••.• •••• .I Mr. PenuiDJton ..... Mr. Qiunn Tiurun ••• lfr, Neue. .. . ... .. . . , ff/; ~H 10 FROM LOS ANGELES /DIRECTOR 9-07 PM 29 ROUTINE r1,t · W /1J{;_~/ / FLYING DISK, LONNIE EDWAR✓NOACK , COMPLAINANT . !3/J-~~j,.<,( TELETYPES FROM HOUSTON AND LA TWENTYEI GHTH INSTANT , ~ ( 1!F7W THREE PARTS OF SUBJECT DESCRIBED BY r:,cK SECURED FROM NATHAN ;&ITH, LA AND EXHIBITED TO HENRY 0 rcE, OHLSON AND RICE MANUFACTURING COMPANY , THREE THREE FOUR ZERO LA . EMERY STREETi,~ , RICE POSITIVELY IDENTIFIED THESE PARTS AS COMI NG FROM A\. MODEL TOW TARGET CONSTRUCTED BY CLAUDE L. WOLFORD, FIVE FOUR FIVE FOUR CHESLEY AVE . , LA. ONE PART BEING STAMPED WOLFORD & WW PLASTICS MOLDING CO. j LA. TOW TARGET WAS TESTED BY RICE AND WOLFORD USING RI CE, s AIRPLANE OVER NATHAN SMITH,s AIRFIELD NEAR HELENDALE , CALIF. THE TEST WAS A FAILURE, THE TARGET CRASHED AND WAS ABANDONED AT THE AIRFIELD. NO FURTHER INVESTIGATION BEING CONDUCTED AND THE THREE ITEMS SECURED FROM I"\ SMITH WILL BE RETURNED TO HIM UNLESS BUREAU ADVISES TO ...W CONTRARY , ff:IJ,.-----' REPORT WI LL BE SUB!.ITTED , J§_,9I~ -/,. ~ HOOD RECORDED. 42 I t.d.=: ',( IN D. 4" F" CINCINNATI !_,_AND HOUSTON AJ)V • 1.. • JAN 3 1949 ~~ - ~_J.t} ACK PLSI~~ ✓tJJl'-~ / ~- ~VsS,'-' ~ i~~ ~ \'v w. • j • RECEIVED TELETYPE UNIT ll£c' 29 If 1a PM '~8 F.8.1. DEPT. OF JUSTICE • Office Memorandum ~ rn TO MR. D. M. FROM H. B. FIETC~ SUBJ ECT: • • .. ~ lJN lTED STATES GOVERNMENT December 28, 1948 /J • ::: ~t! :·-­ (1'FLYING DISCS : : ~~1n_ _ 11r. N1cnols_ _ IC". Rosen_ _ .IC'. Traer_ _ :::=·=·..=== llr- tte.rbo_ _ Reference is made to the teletype of December 28, 1948, from the Houston Office. llr. llOllr__ Mr. Peph{ngw.Q_ llr. Quinn Tua_ Tele. Roo■_ _ Mr. se.aae_ _ MU• Kolmiio_ _ 1uee At J:JO p .m., I called SAC Hood of the Los Angeles Office and i~cted that he attempt to locate Mr. Person and Mr. and Mrs . Nat~th, secure photographs and film in their possession and also secure from them the location of the described flying disc. I als o instructed that Mr. Hood send out sufficient Agents to find the disc~ / and guard it until it could be properly handled by the appropriate Government -'<...._/_ authority. I also telephoned the Houston Office and told them to send in the photographs or film in their possession, t ogether with the part which had been recovered from the machine by the Informant Noack. At 5 :00 p .m., SAC Hood called back and stated that all work on this matter should be innnediately discontinued . They had managed to reach Mr. Nathan Smith and he stated that he knew al l about this matter; that it was not a f lying disc, but an object which had been identified as a tow Idte, 'Which has a disc center and wings. This Idte is actually made in Los Ange les by the Olson and Rice Manufacturing Company. A call was made to Olson and Rice, who admitted making a kite along the lines described by Mr. Smith and they explained that they had tried to fly it and it had failed and they had abandoned it . Mr. Hood stated he did not have full details at the time of his call, but he did have this report from the Agents. Therefore, I instructed that he call Mr. Willis of the Houston Office immediately in order that the film and the part available to the Houston ·Office will not be forwarded for Laboratory examination. HBF:esb RECORDED - 42 INDEXED - 42 a~rs " • • t I 8 :J 8& HV fJl 6 62 1J() 33JH;or :10 ·1030 ·s ·n I 8~ Oiltl3 J3ll lwv·1-03hl 333H -~ ...·oj;;MMemorfffltaum· .. STAT:rs- GOVE NMtENT. : ~ DIRPL"l'OR FBI Bt;ECT! ~ "FLlING SAUO~" OESl!RVED O'Vm OAK RIDGE AREA ~ INrEmlAL SlOOURITY - X x --(;r I. ( I • u J .fA 1 ~~£la-~ I/ , I /\ I ,. -- ....I L ...... ·t· · '7:/) ""'"1 ~ --··· ~ : ; · ~ D - · ... "'ns There are beine submitted herm.th two photographs of ropu ''.fl " saucers"which were seen at Oak Ridee, Tennessee, sometime during J u l , y ' f e(' . • All of the 1.nf'ormation contained in this letter was received from Mt-. a; RNmMAlf, Chief Investigator, Security Division, Atanio En«rS7 Ccmnias •••• a Colonel c. D. GASSm1 Resident Jlnsineer, Air Material Carnrnarn1_., United States ~ 1 _who ie tho principal army "technioian at the Nuclear ~ ..far__tb.e Propulsion of Aircraft Research Center at Oak Ridee_, Tennessee. / Mr. RATHMAN advised that the attached photogr:e.phs were taken by w. R. / PRl!SLEY in July of 1947. He stated that interview with PRE3LEY revealed that he had been snappine photographs of bis f'amil.y in front of hie residence at 218 Il11no1s Avenue, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, late in the e.f'ternoon, when he l.ooked into the sky and obs erved the vapor trail as emibited by the photograph numbered "l." PRESLEY stated that he took a snap of this trail, was winding the film to the next number, when he looked into the sky and" observed the ball of fire as shown in photograph 2. Upon observine the unusual phenomena, he used his last l film in tald.ng photograph #2. P.RllSLEY made these photographs available to re­ ,iportere of the Knoxville News-Sentinel and a story concerning them was run 1n that paper; however, as shown by the photostatic copy of the newspaper clippine, whioh is also being submitted herewith to the Bureau, the print was very indis­ tinot; the news story did not contain an:r .fa ctual information; and 1t was regarded generally by the public at the time as a ' ,◊se ~L~le tt-ick. ") 1, Later, it w.a learned by Mr. RA~llDL.• ....nd Colonel G.ASS:HE that PRllSLEY had made several copies of this photograph and had distributed them 8lllOJl8 his acquaintances at Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Upon Colonel GASSl!R 'e finding tba t the pho"toei:apha had received some distribution, he requested Mr. RA'IBMAN as Head of the Can:pllance and Investigations DiVision, to recover as many as possible of the photographs, advise the persons in whose possession they were found to say nothing to aeyone concernins them, and to retm-n the said photographs to him f'or traDSmission to the United States Air Foroe Yii'teD..fgence 'Servica. Mr. RAmMAN advises tnat7fe- sucoee'a.ed in rounding up twenty-four copies of these photographs, and that, ac~ordins to the statements of P.RFSLEY, no more copies were made or distributed. RATHMAN further stated that GASSm had appeared extremely concerned over the matter and seemed to be quite emphatic that the mtter should be given no more publloity than was absolutely necessary. RA'lEMAN also advised that he studied the negatives from which the reproductions were mde, and th y appee.red A to be authentic in that trick photography should have been apparent, ut from the ~ e__ RECORDED • }4 i(a F~ NOEXED.- 121 /. 3~ ·JA'149 (v ) '1'1~ . l1 .B r;) .iJ.J..w_ ][ / ~~~ / ~ ., r I '- j \T • r r i • .. , ') .( . ... J. J •i • -r t • • T C ,:; I, ,T ., .. . 3~\1.S M ~O ·1.cf~O·s·n. ·\ 'l\' '= . ~\1, 'ft~ <3S \1 ~ \ t\'3\' NO\l~3S " QS\°1 \'\ >.~'d3~3 ~\\;Ol~ Q-:\~,1~1'r\ ' . • t \ .. negatives certainly did not appear to be the case. It was Mr. RATEMAN'e observation that had the negative been "doped" with some s ort o'f' chemical, it would have removed the emulsion from the 'f'ace o'f' the ril.m in such a way that the ne~tive would have been thin at the point which is supposedly a ball of fire, v'hereas, in fact, both the vapor trail and the corona of fire are dark on the'negative, indicati118 that it was an actual exposure. It was the opinion of Mr•. RATHMAN that the photographs were, withn.ut doubt, authentic. In accordance with Bureau instructions, no active investigation of this ma.tter was made, but it was deemed advisable to interview Colonel GASSER prior to submitting the photographs to the Bureau. Colonel GASSER~ redicp.ted his remarks concerning the "flyi118 saucers" or "mystery missiles" b; fstat~ that he lmew nothi118 of an official nature concerning them, other than the 'f'act that they were believed by air force intelligence officials to be man-made missiles, rather than some natural phenomena. It was his :rurther belief that a great deal of inf'ormation had been compiled concerning these missiles by air force intelligence, and that research on the matter was being extensively done at Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio . He also expressed. the opinion that information at the disposal of the United States Army Air Force Intelligence had, in all probability, been made available to the Bureau at Washington, D. C. (Eolonel GASSER then. continued with hie own ideas as to what might be the nature of these discs, which ideas he had formulated through review of those known facts and theoretical conjectures of himself and other scientists concerning the nature of flying discs and method.a o'f' propulsion for such type of aerial mechanism. According to him, flying discs have long been a theoretical possibility and, in fact, a possibility which would ind.i cate one of the beet - means by which to break through the barriers of the supersonic area. Scientists have, for many yeaxs, been attempting to develop this type of aircraft. Some experimentation has been done even in the United States, but insofar as is known in the United States at the present time, there have never been any practical developments. As a second '!'actor of consideration, Colonel GASSER stated that insofar as is known to U.S . scientists at this time, there is no known chemical fuel which would make possible tremendous range of flight such as is ascribed to the reported "flyi118 saucers. " There is only one possible fuel which could be utilized. which is in accord with present theory, and that is the utilization of atomic energy;\ As further evidence of this possible means of propulsion, Colonel GASSER calledattention to the vapor trail and gaseous corona described as a ball of fire, which he states might give some evidence to the fact that a radio-active field is present. He explained that th~ corona, or exhaust, has what appears to be layers of intensity which are circular rather than elongated and have no tendency to trail at the extremities, as would be the case if a normal type of exhaust from a oombustion engine was being utilized in the propulsion of these aircraft. He continued that the vapor trail left by the missile appears to be one single line of uni.form intensity which is extremely slow in dissipating. It was pointed out by him that in the case of a normal - 2 - .' vapor trail being left by an aircraft moving at extreme~ high speeds or extremely high altitudes, the vapor trail usually will be from the wing tips and/or the exhau~t of the engines, thus presenting several lines. But, in any event, even ~ouslj onJJ, one line were visible, it would be ~ther quick to dissipate. This indif1ted to him that the vapor trail represents some atmospheric change along t he :path or the missile, which voul.d not be the case were it any presently known type of aircraft. "'1.1> 1.L ;e:e continued that 1nf'armat on shed b him should be the. u;gp.oe ,gon:£'1 enia. in t he was not !E_eald.~ off c a but as a ere l j \ \ Datter of C~EGJ;t1gR. Re s¥atea that the mtter wasoeing g ven absolutely no •aieeem!nation by t he air force or other JD.ilita:cy persOID1el, and that they had not deemed it advisable to advise him of all information pertaining to the missile. He continued, however, that in his conversation w1th representatives at Wright Field and in re&d.ing reports returned to this country by f'ore1gn agents, he had gathered together certain information which might be of assistance in determining whether or not these so-called missiles were authen:tf.o, usable and of claxJser to the United Statee. First, he pointed out that knowledge o£ such a possible aircraft is not by aey meaDS new, it having been known as early as four years ago that same type of flying disc was be1ns experimented with by the Russians. In addition thereto, he stated that more recent reports have been received from representatives of the Central Intell.igence Agency in Southern Europe and Southern Asia to the effect that the Russians were experimenting with some type of radical aircraft or guided missile which could be dispatched for great dis­ tances out over the sea, mde to turn in flight and return to the base from which it was launched. Thie fact was extremely worthy of notice as experiments in this country have so far only developed to the point where we are concerned with deliverine a missile to the required point of impact, and no consideration has been given to imparting to that missile the ability to return. Seconcll.y, he stated that it is a known fact that the Russians are attempting to develop some type of nuclear energy, that they received a wealth of information concern­ ing nuclear energy at the time of their occupation in Ge.rmany, and that they too have at their dispoeal the limited supply of the necessary fissionable materials. He stated that insofar as aey opinion as j;o hether or not they have the ability and scientific lmowledge to create such • u - o elled missile is etrictl.J' a matter o£ conjecture, and that he wou esitate o nite statement. He pointed out, however, that the Russians have acme very capable scientists in the field of atomic energy and that, in addition thereto, they took into their custoc:'cy sane of the most advanced and capable scientists of the Ge:r,mn Nation. Re also etated that a peculiar fact concerning the missiles exists from reports he has received which is worthy of notice, and that is that from all appearances, they usually approach the United States from a northerly direc­ tion and have been reported as returning in a norther.cy direction. None have ever been lmown to crash, coll.ide or disintegrate over American soil, but it woul.d appear that they come to the United States, cruise around, and go back over the North Pole. He states that insofar as is known to him, there has never -3- / been any piece of one recovered from any source whatever in order that ~tical study of its nature could be nade. Insofar as was known to him, the o~ actual 1fA~er1f,l which would be of~ value in determining its nature ere telephoto :f.ho!!phs which are now in the possession of engineers at Wright Field, Dayton, Ohi How detailed and how clear these photographs are, he was unable to state. Hes ted that one report has been reoeived concerning a collision o:f these missiles with another type of aircraft. This report, according to him, took place a ehort time prior to the report of numerous discs overr the United States, and the report 8l1Bllated from Czeohoslovalda. This report was th.at a Czecho­ slovakian transport had collided with some unidentified missile while in mid-air over the ocean, and that said missile and said transport bad been complete~ disintegrated vith.out recovery of parts or eurvivors tram eith.er. It was the belief of Colonel GASSER that this undescribed missile was perhaps the same tY'Pe of thing as the f~ng saucer~ Another :factor of' notice, accord.ins to Colonel GASSm, and as is portrayed by the photographs, it would appear that the missiles oan be maintained at a certain altitude above the contour of the ground. This could be done by, means of acme t1"P9 of radio altimeter or radio control. Natu­ rally, the path of the missile is not in emct parallel to the contour, as its purported great speed would create considerable lag in its flight. Another factor which is wor~ of note, according to Colonel GASSER, is that it is normally reported as beins seen at tremendouelJ' hish altitudes and al.ways travel­ ing in a straight line. He stated that he himself observed, on one occasion, a single vapor trail coming fran sane type of aircraft at unbelievabl.7 high altitudes, vhioh vapor trail extended tran horizon to horizon in a perfectly straight line. He observed the vapor trail while it was in the process of :formation and states that it vae ccmplete~ unlike ~ vapor trail he had ever observed before 1n all of his experienoe vi th the air foroe. It was his judgment that whatever creat ed the vapor trail vas traveliDS at an unbelievably tremendous speed. This, together with reports that when close to the ground,the missile travels at speeds which make possible visual observation of its actions, would refl.ect that there is sane ability to control the speed of these missiles as well as the altitude. ( colonel GASSER concl.uded that this matter, whil.e still purely a matter of gueeevork, is nevertheless a source of great concern to the military establ.ish­ :ment of this country. Great efforts have been expended by the service to determine Just what the nature of these missil.es might be and, upon so determinins, deci d.e whether or not an adequate defense can be establ.ished. He also stated that it has given impetus to the research being done by the air farce in their own program of nuclear mert53 for the propulsion of aircraft to devel.op guided missil.es ) He also advised that insofar as was known to him, there was absolutely no con­ nection betwem these missiles and the fact that they vere observed close to Oak Ridge, Tennessee. He stated that this vas perhaps, and probably, a mtter of coincidence and they were seen in this area merely as they vere seen in forty­ six of the forty-eight states of the United States during the Month of July when s o ~ reports were being received. Thie inforr.ration is being submitted to the Bureau for whatever val.ue it may be, and no further action 1n the nntter is beina contemplated by this office, unless advised to the contrary. CCM:bk 65-11 Enclosures - 3 -4-- . • . . ... sfA.NDAAdtr0AM NO. C~ , f ,.. ~ .Office Memorandum • 12/28/48 D ATE : { \ Ac, Houston syBJ: ~ l_; UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT ~ ~rector, FBI To FR~ • • • L, YING PISCt;: LONNIE EDWo/OACK, Complainant Attention: Assistant Director D. M. Ladd Remytel 12/28/48 in the above captioned matter. F9,P-"'the BU7eau's information, on 12/27/48 Mr. FULLER "1:fLACKWELL, an attorney with offices 410 Kress BuiLding, Houston, Texas, telepho~ically contacted the~oton Office to advise that he had a friend, LONNI OACK, who had some information on an object which ight be a flying disc. Mr . BLACKWELL stated he was calling in response to Mr. NOACK's suggestion and as a means of determining what authorities would have an interest in this matter . He said Mr . NOACK was a machinist employed by the Humble 011 and Refining Company, Houston. Mr . BLACKWELL, in calling, advised that the disc, or object , was approximately eight feet i n diameter, had a tail and wings, and apparently was equipped for jet propulsion. He stated NOACK had observed this.object at a desert location near Las Vegas, Nevada; further, that Mr. NOACK had taken some movie film of the disc and that this film was currently in his possession. Immediately upon receipt of the above information, Mr. Robert B. Fleming, Special Agent, o.s.r., Ellington Field, Texas, was notified as was true of Captain Harold Bush, MID representative, also Houston. As a result of these referrals, arrangements were effected with Mr. NO~ to bring his film to the Houston Office for a showi ~~ P.M., 12/27/48. This was done with Messrs . Bush, ~~~leming, Noack, and Special Agent Graham W. Kitchel and ~~Cj\,)~C).,, the writer observing. Arrangements were then made for ~ ~ - Mr. NOACK to again a~pear at the Houston Office on the i \\ morning of 12/28/48 in order that his information might be &:duced to writing. Mr . NOACK in making his initial w>pearance at the office surrendered his movie film which ~ ~ consisted of one 50 foot roll of 8 nim mov1e •f11m. Approximately ~)(_,~ <<J-fifteen feet of this roll relates e~ciusively to the pictures { ~~~ of the flying disc . (\f\ ~ ' \ , c oP ~s DESTROYED 2 7 U NOV 18 l~b4 ~ · S)) , .. .1l "lliY . C\) 4J ~ ;R.., ~ q~, / 1 > i;,,.od i l •F ~tCO~U'- - n \"\)°'t\, • - ~ JAN 141949 I ~ V • t . • C r v .. r \ I \ t. .' ~ ' l,_ ' f !) ~ !) C'. ' l ' (' ( ,. ::> ,..t C C ~ C • C' r. 'l C l .( • ~ l • (" C C r r \ J C" ' (' C C :) .r ( l r Q. I C. C C . C ( 33!1S0f JO 'J.d30 ·s ·n I 8 :J IJOV1-03Al3J3N ., . • . .. . . , • • Director Re: Flying Disc HO 12/28/48 While observing the object, Mr. NOACK noted an aluminum cyJ1nder which had become detached from one of the wing tips and he brought this back with him as a souvenir. This cylinder conceivably could act as a rudder, a rocket housing, or fuel tank attachment. Mr. NOACK initialled the cylinder and surrendered it also. There are attached hereto for the Bureau two copies of a signed statement taken from Mr. NOACK dated Houston, Texas, 12/28/48. Two copies of the statement are attached for the Los Angeles Office, and one informational copy is being designated for the Cincinnati Division. The original is being retained in the Houston file. One copy of the statement is attached to the copy of this letter for the FBI Laboratory. During the interview with Mr. NOACK, Mrs. ROSE C. ROTSEL, a stenographer for O.S.I., Ellington Field, recorded the statement for O.S.I . use . Initial information obtained concerning this flying disc was furnished telephonically to Inspector Howard Fletcher at the Bureau, 9 A.M., 12/28/48. Mr . Fletcher requested the Bureau be given a summary of the information by teletype, with interested offices being similarly notified, and that the signed statement of NOACK be submitted AMSD. He further instructed that he did not want the Bureau "side tracked" in the handling of this matter, but that FBI representatives should assume an active interest in the investigation throughout, cooperating, of course, with O.S.I. representatives. Mr . Fleming's headquarters are the District Commander, 5th o.s. r . District, Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio. On the morning of 12/28/48 Mr. Fleming sent a telegram to his District Commander giving a general summary of the original complaint. Mr. Fleming was unable to advise how the 5th o.s.r. District would handle their inquiry in this matter. He stated this could either be handled by Wright Field dispatching a special plane to California or by having their District Commander, 18D, O. S.I . , San Bernardino, California handle it. He stated 1n any event it would be necessary for O.S.I. representatives to first confer with Mr . R. C. PERSON, named in this statement, as being the individual who initially discovered the flying disc and would lmow also its present whereabouts. -2- . • . • Director Re: Fl7ing Disc HO 12/28/48 Mr. PERSON, as indicated, maintains a business at 4116 Avalon Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, telephone Adams 5281. To insure the Bureau's participation in this matter, SAC R.B. Hood, of the Los Angeles Office, was contacted telephonically at approximately 11:30 A.M. (CST) 12/28/48 with the suggestion he maintain contact with Mr. PERSON. Also in keeping with Bureau instructions, the roll of film received from Mr. NOACK, together with the aluminum portion of the fuselage, is being forwarded separately to the Bureau, attention FBI Laboratory. 71O _ +t1 ,,,JI., ., / 1t"",jr ti~ ~ GNW:NK Encl.(2) ~ iJiqt1 AIR MAIL SPECIAL DELIVERY CC: tli-' Los Angeles (Encl.) AMSD Cincinnati (Encl.) AMSD FBI, Laboratory (Encl.) Package - 3- , . • • • I Houoton, Texas Dec • ?.8, 1948 ,I, LOiffiIE EDWARD )WACK, residing 2921 Cl'.1cago Street, Houeton 17, TexaE, make the following statement to Special Agent Robert D. Plemine and Chr1etopher R. Dradley, reDreeentatlvcc of the Of.t'1ce ot E-pecia'l Investigat ton, Ellington OSI Detachment, Ellington Field, Texoa, and Special J\gents Orahain . &itohel ana Galen N. I1llia who I know to be Special !agents of the Pederal Bureau or InYest1pt1on. On Monday afternoon December 6, 1948, at about 6 P.N., Mr. a.c. PERSON, Mr. YfATHAlf SJII'l'H,. )Ir. C.A. TOCK, Mr. R01SER'J.' BROUSSARD and another man, n&Jl8 not recalled, and I had dinner at the Old Virginia Inn, Loa Angeles, California. After dinner we went back to Mr.. Ssnitn•a electrical manutactur1ng company which he own.a and operates 1l1 Loa Angeles, CA11torn1a. Mr. PERSON told us about aeeing a tlytng diac and we made an appointment to leave early the next mom!~ by car• with our oueraa, to go to the location or the d11c. Mr. PERSON waa detained at some private air f.ield so we did not leave until about 2 P.M. ml. December 7. 1948. We arrived at the acene ot the tlyin.g diso and ~ook pictures of the d1ac which vaa still 171.ng around. Mr. SIIIITB took about 10 1'eet of 16 mm tilm and Mr. PERSOX took five or six ahota wlth a Speed Graphic Camera. He noticed that the t1r•t three shots were taken when the adapter on his lens was closed too much and I don•t icnow 1r they turned out all :right. Jllr. SMIT!I •uggested I hold the t1ying diac up and rotate it around and he would teke llY' p1ctu •1th 1ror came~. Atti!r taking the picture•, we patched the fence o~ Mr. PERSOK '• property where people had been cutting the wire to get to a road. f left and then d~ove baok and had dinner at Eaton •a Inn and they took me back home to Hollywood, ca11tom1a. I would like to recite that I loft Houston, Texan 11:30 A.M. on Sunday; December 5. 1948, tor Cal~fornia by plane and tlew to Hollywood, California on o commercial plane on buoinese matters. On arriving 1n Hollywood, I mot Mr. PERSON in Holly,rood on Monday, December 6, 1948,. and at that time he told :me about the tlylng disc he had located. 'He stated he bad gone to Laa Vegaa by h1a personal plane and saw the disc from the a1~ on hie way back. .. On December 7, 1948 •• went out J.n Mr. tfA'l'HAlf SNITH'• car and ploked up h1a wife and left hia hoae in South Pasadena about 11 A. M. We drove out to an airport where hia plane was about rorty a1lea trom Pasadena DN he was having the plane repaired. He wanted to be aure the plane was on a truck betore we left for the destination where the di•c •••. Iri aaking thia trip, we proceeded out by a race track and ~•••done ot the Kaiser ateel works and the Virginia Dare Wine Orchard. I would say we went directly north or northeast tr,om Pasadena, ca11rom.1a. We droTe through a town called Matonia (phonetic) and tollowed a roaa through •o•e mountaina and through. a ••11 de1ert. I would eatiute the di•tance trom Pasadena to where the d1ac ••• tound to be about 150 mllea. The terrain 1n wh1oh the diac waa tound could be described •• tlat,deaert. and de■ olate. t would like to •~lain that Jlr. PERSON haa private ~pert,- (an airport which he purcba••d rrom the govemaent) right by the location or the d1ac. Mr. PER.SOR thought the di•c might have been launched tro11 hie ail'J)ort. but whether that ••• it or not - •• don• t know. Nr. PERSON 1a1d he usually tlew at an altitude or about 8,000 te•t and, or course, he tlew lower 1n ao• apaced. He did not mention hia altitude at the t1M he tlrat eaw the diac . 'lbe disc waa located preot1ca117 Juat outa1de his pros:,erty and •• were going north, •o it would be eaat or hia property. He has about 900 acres. When •• arr1ved at Mr. ,PERSON' • propert7, •• aaw the d1ac, or .flying wing, and it n■ on th• ground 1n a aeJll1-vert1cal poe1t1on, approxiJnately a 45 de~• arigle, With the le:t"t wing babedltd in the gr9und. In loold.J:tg at the ground, it appeared that the obJect had hit the earth with cona1derable force and had slid 300 to 400 feet. It wa• dent•d but was generally intact. I th1illc the picture, I took with a Revere 8 - camera quite well ahow th• tom, shape and size or the "wing." I am 5 ' 7" tall and 1n atand1ng next to the object when it was in an upright poaition, 1t wae alightl7 higher than my height. I would ••7 it waa rollgbly seven feet in diameter, b•f ore crashing. On each e1de or the obJect there were w1rma approxillately t~ur feet b7 twent7 inches and three 1nohes thick with an axle that protruded through the dlac and 1.J\to the wing■• It waa aounted on ball bear1nge which the diac rotated on. 2 1be disc .1iielf wae approx1111ately two reet thick in the center, tapering to a reather edge at tll• rim. On the outalde or the disc, near the rill, there were tunnel shaped cupa bradded on and these were apace4 all around on both aides, each cup ti-.C approxiMtel,- twenty tnehea apart. The openings of these cups were to the rear. The d1ac 1teelr was natural al'UD'linum with no paint on it except ot the type or aluminum which waa 24 S.T. and 1t bore th1a stamp. 'l'he ·wings were painted a yellow.green cuaoutlage color. The wing has a leading edge similar to that ot an airplane and tapera to the rear to a teather edge. ll'he wing••• ribbed throughout with altiJDinum r1ba ror substantial atrength. Each wing had a s1.m1lar rocket cartridge on each tip tutened by two bolts. I bad one ot the winga in my po■ aeea1on and have turned it over to the proper authorities. 'l'he cartridge on the one I had waa apparently knocked orr 1n the craeh. • There were two strut bars attached approxi•tel7 twenty 1nchea h-011 the disc leading to the rear with an elevator. Alao, the two struts protruded toward ·the front with something attached, a weight or aome tow a)'Btem, which waa during the oraeh anchored into the ground and bent and we could not exactly determine how 1t waa weighted or controlled. I would say the elevator wu approximately twenty-two inches long and about 5/8 inch thick with a alight taper to the rear and probably ten 1nchea wide. 'nle at"'• extending trom the trailing edge or th• wing to the •levator were •d• ot 5/8 inch steel tubing. The di■ c, in being lifted, would J~dge to weigh rro~ 80 to 100 pounds. With respect to the picture• taken, I took approximately 15 reet ot colored 8 mm film. . Tbe diec was built where they had the proper equipment to do ttie neceeaaey work because the7 had to have a epot welder and bu1ldµig equipment to male• the d1t'ferent angles. I ll1ght add that I ua an in■ tru■ent Ulcer tor the BUlllble 011 and Ret1n1ng. ColllJ)any and haYe a generally good knowledg• of machine and metal work. There was nothing on the object to 1nd1oate ita origin, whether .American or foreign •ke. It would appear, however, from the alum1nwa,worlalianah1p, etc . that it probably waa American 11&.de. -3- Arter we r1ntshed taking our pictures and d1scuaet.ng the object among ourselves, Mr. PER.SOK expreaaed an 1ntent1on or obtaining a truck and hauling the object to his ehop. I cannot say at th1• tiJJle whether he did th1a or not or where the object uy be at this particular ·date. Ve r1n1ehed ' our observation and picture taking at approx1.Jllatel7 5i30 or 6 P.M. on December 7. In reaponae to Mr. Fleming'• inquiry, there waa np"> radio equipment noted on the obJect 1n any: tashion or rorm. We returned to Pasadena, California, that evening arriving 1n Hollywood about 9 or 9,30 P.JII. I took some more pictures that night along BollJW00d Boule•ard on the unt1n1ahed roll or t1lm and then wetn over the Chinese 'l'heatre an4 took a picture or the a1anature or George "Hart and r1ntahed the 1"011. I bought another roll or tilm, and took them to the Eastman Xodak Company the following JIOnday which would be December 13, 1948. A• I Noall, thia la•tman shop waa ,on Loa Palmaa Street 1n Loa Angeles, Cal1tomia. !hey 1nfo1"1114td me they- would deYelop the tilm and that it would be ready on Thur1da,t.. I lett Cal1torn1a on Wednesday so they uiled the t11a to me at IQ' buaineaa addreaa, Bumble 011 Building, Rooa 159, Houston, Texas. I received th••• tilma on Deoeaber 23, 1948. After J.AY return from California I mentioned to several and •oetii.l acQuaintancea that I bad aecn t>.1• object, a. dise or saucer or whatever 7ou Jil.1.ght call it, and tolcl the• that I had taken pictures and would be glad to ahow them when the picture• arriYed. Aa atatedi I Nce1Yed the 111m on December 23 and at 1:30 P.N. on the same date I •bowed the t1lm ~n the projection room at 11\mble 011 to the tol1ow1ng1 D.W. BLAIR; J. HA.'l'TAWAY; d.A. PETERS0JIJ JAMES 8. OLIVI!R; VILLIAN JtIED, JR.; A.E. MBLETON; WAYRE CRAVPOJU>s D.A. BATTLE ~ rq bua.ineaa and two other snen whose names I do not recall. All or theae men work 1n the tnatrwnent ahop with• at HUllble 011 Is Refining Company. I also showed the fil.JI to ay lbrother-1n-law# E. JtULAK, or Pasaaena, Texa■, at home on the tollowlng night. On: Chriatmaa Day I met •o• friends and one ot the girle wu with a young bo7 who waa intereated 1n photography. l do not know tiia naJM but he work• at Southern Pacitic. I told him I had aome pictures or the fly~ d1•c but I did not show him the pictures but explained the di■ c. I think thia boy 18 the peNon who had hie friend at the 11ewepaper contact me. I got ho• about 10,30 A.N. and PltllUC REED, o~ the C1t7 Deak at the •11ouaton P0at" called• and wanted to know about the d1ac. I told him I oould not g1Te hi■ any 1nt"ol'll&t1on on it. Be begged• tor the atory, but I told him iI would let hill lmow and that I had trienda I had to contact betore I could give hill any 1nfol"lllll.t1on. ! then got 1n touch •1th MP. Blackwood, '1/fT la-,er, the tollow1ng ■orninl and aaked hia 1r he kn­ &n7one in the PBI. He stated all th• PSI per1onnel he Jmew were no longer station.cl here. I then contacted the J'BI and turned the material over to them. Althougt\ I can't deaor1be where thia obJect 1a located, I believe I could go back to it and I am aure Mr. PEJtSOlf and and Nr. SNITH could go back to it. Nr. MA'fflAK SNITH'• buaineaa addreaa ls Nathan Sll1th Electrical Coapany., 105 South Pasadena Avenue, South Paaadena, Cal1fom1a. Mr. R. c, PDS0K 1a pre■ ident or the Vaaoo m.eotr1cal llllnutaoturing Co111P&ft7, -116 ATalon Boulen.rd, Lo• qelea, Cal1torn1a. Por record p~o•••• 1n takiria the picture• above reteJ:'Nd to., I did ao uatng exJ)o1ure or 16 !'ram.a per aecond at a d i . a ~ openiq or t6.3. I ua•d••-Xodak l'.odachrome t1lm. All'e"r,0·N The above atate-nt., -de YOlunta-.117 abd ~or 1.he 1 a,111,t• of proper author1t1••, 1• •d• to -;;.y b••t knowledge and bel1e1'. fiepreaentatives OSI, liiiriiton Pleld., Texas PBI, Houaton. Texae -5- ENCLOSURE TO THE BUREAU RE: FLYING DISC; LONNIE EDWARD NOACK, Complainant • • r-Ac, Houston Janu&l"T 25, 1949 Director, FBI Reterenc. is made to Los Angeles teletype dated 12/29/IJl cid to Houst.oa t.elet.ype dated 12/28/t.S, 61cd the subsequent trans;i.1ttal or an 8ma\ movie film taken by Ur. LOttiIE NOACK, along With aewral parts or the aupposed flying diao to tle l nborato~y for examination. Sineo prior to rooeipt of tte above 1 t.eJU b7 the labora tor, the inforir.ation •a:t cbtoined which identitied the supposed t:cy:lng disc as a tow tare;et and later a to7 kite, no examinat.ion was conduct.eel here. Accord1ngl7, these 1t4ima are be1ni returned to 700. via reg;l.atered .:as a3694 cc, • SAO, Lo• An&elea H!conoF/\ 60 4-U .. • INDfXFD ~j • 60 Zl r 31 19' EX-59 • '\ ~­ ~ (\il1r-: i\ e~-Xl ~·)u.snr· 10 .i.cr30 -~ 8 T .1 d0!Vij08~' 1 1NlN;, oP, l·lV ss 6 l 83 I • " , Office Memml rldUm • uNtTED sTf r:s GovERNMENT ., TO : The Director FROM : SUBJECT: f{fu DATE: January 241 1949 \tr. Tolson~ 11.-. Clegs,_ _ D. M. Ladd tJFLYING DISCS K' :::o ~ avl llr. 111 !Ir. Ro s __ :.: Egan,.::-.:::== I thought you might be interested in the following information :: ~~~ concerning "Flying D1,:,c..s" which has ~en fl.l,rnished to the Bureau on a ::: ~::;; 1,=confidential basis by Colonel- C ~Gasser, Re~id~- Erlgin~er, Air Material Comnand, U. S.Arrey, who is the pr incipal anny technician at the ~:: Nuclear Ehem::!csr:::t1'iErPropulsion of Aircraft ~E1ai:ch Cent.er. ~-Oak..Ridge,- - - ­ Tennes see. :~•==~ =~ . Colonel Gasser stated that he knew nothing of an C2flliial._ nature__£f>,Ecerning ''Flfi~g Discs" other than ~he fact that they are believed by Air ,toz:E!, ,El~lljgence officials to be man-made m.issil~s, }"at.Jler_than so~ natural phenomena. It was his further bel ief that a great deal of information has been C.Q!!miled concern~ng these missiles by air force intelligence.., and that r.!_search on the matter was being extensively done at Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio . Colonel Gasser then continued with his own ideas as to what .might be the nature of these discs which ideas he had formulated through review of those known facts and theoretical conjectures of himself and other scientists concen1ing the nature of flying discs and .oethods of propulsion for such type of aerial mechanisn. According to him, flying discs have long been a theoretical possibility, and, in fact, a possibility- wmcb wou!_d _indicate one of the best means by which to break through the barriers of the supersonic area. He stated that sc;.ientistLhave, tor- many years, been attempting to develop this type of aircraft. Some e~ri­ mentation has been done_ even in the U~ited Sta~es, bit i nsofar as is .lmown in the United States at the present time, there have never been any practical developments . As a second- factor or consideration, Colonel Gasser stated that _insofar as is known to U. S. scien_!;ists at this time, there is no known chemical fuel v.hich_would .make possible tremendous range of flight aich as is ascribed to the reported 11flying discs." According to Gasser, there is onlY ooe possible fuel;_ which could be uti:(°ized _which is in.. ac~ord with present theory, and that is the utilization of atomic energy. He stated that tru,s subject matter was being given absolutely no disseminc1:tion by the ~JQT-<;e .9r .Qt.her .milit..acy_ personnel and tha.!:,_J,.!!_ey had not deen:ed it adyisable to advise_ him of all information pertainigg to t h i ~ e .missile. He / continued, however, that in his conversation wit_~entatU,es at Wr~_E~ld _,/ and in reading r~_p,orts returned _to this country by foreign agents, he had gathered together certain information which might be of assistance in determining whether or n~these so- call8i .missiles were authentic, usable and of aanger to the United States . EHM:hhr ~ FEB 8 19 9~p / • ' I. • .. He pointed out that knC71'1ledge of such a ~ ssi.ble aircraft is not by aey_means new and t hat i t was known as early as four years ago that some type of flying discwas being experisnent