- For 22 years, starting officially in 1948,
the United States Air Force was responsible
for investigating reports of unidentified flying objects.
The United States Air Force was responsible
That investigation began with a serious high-priority status
to search for answers.
About a year later, those involved created
to search for answers.
An estimate of the situation.
That was an intelligence analysis
of the events that had taken place.
The conclusion was that the flying saucers
were interplanetary craft.
The Air Force Chief of Staff, General Hoyt S. Vandenberg,
were interplanetary craft.
Rejected the analysis and nearly everyone involved
in its creation found themselves reassigned.
Rejected the analysis and nearly everyone involved
The UFO project, then known as Sign, fell into disarray.
After a series of officers had been put in charge
and the name changed first to Grudge, then Blue Book,
investigations became a priority.
They didn't last very long
and eventually Blue Book became little more
than a public relations operation
designed to convince the public
that the Air Force was doing its job,
that there was no threat to national security,
and that there was nothing to the tales of flying saucers.
That there was no threat to national security,
During the Second World War, they were called foo fighters,
and in 1946 as they flew over Scandinavia,
they were known as ghost rockets.
It wasn't until Boise, Idaho businessman Kenneth Arnold
saw them near Mount Rainier, Washington,
that they became flying saucers.
Saw them near Mount Rainier, Washington,
Although the official investigation
wouldn't be launched for another six months,
the Arnold sighting was the first one
to receive major coverage in the United States.
Army Air Forces investigations working
out of the Fourth Air Force Headquarters
became deeply involved in the Arnold sighting.
Out of the Fourth Air Force Headquarters
Arnold made his sighting of these strange objects
flying one behind the other at about 9,500 feet
at a speed he estimated to be more than 1,500 miles an hour.
Flying one behind the other at about 9,500 feet
This was something that clearly wasn't made
in secret projects hidden in the mountains of New Mexico
This was something that clearly wasn't made
and it wasn't something that was made by the Soviet Union
as they began to press for world domination.
This was something strange that had no ready explanation
other than it was strange and almost impossible to believe.
This was something strange that had no ready explanation
When Arnold landed later in the afternoon
on June 24th in Yakima, Washington,
When Arnold landed later in the afternoon
he told the assembled reporters what he had seen.
In the course of describing the objects,
he said they moved with a motion
like that of saucers skipping across the water.
He said they moved with a motion
The shape, however, according to drawings
that Arnold completed for the Army,
showed objects that were keel-shaped with a blunt nose.
In later drawings, Arnold had elaborated,
showing objects that were crescent-shaped
In later drawings, Arnold had elaborated,
with a scalloped trailing edge
and even a clear canopy over the cockpit.
With a scalloped trailing edge
Later, Arnold would provide the military
with a written description of the events
in a document that was originally classified
but that has long since been released.
Arnold wrote...
But that has long since been released.
- On June 24th, I'd finished my work.
At about two o'clock,
I took off for Chehalis Washington Airport
with the intention of going to Yakima, Washington.
I flew directly toward Mount Rainier
after reaching an altitude of about 9,500 feet
I flew directly toward Mount Rainier
which is the approximate elevation
of the high plateau from which Mount Rainier rises.
Which is the approximate elevation
There was a DC-4 to the left and to the rear of me
approximately 15 miles' distance,
and I should judge a 14,000 foot elevation.
Approximately 15 miles' distance,
I hadn't flown more than two or three minutes
on my course when a bright flash reflected on my airplane.
It startled me as I thought I was too close
on my course when a bright flash reflected on my airplane.
To some other aircraft.
I looked every place in the sky
and couldn't find where the reflection had come from
I looked every place in the sky
until I looked to the left and the north of Mount Rainier
where I observed a chain of nine peculiar-looking aircraft
flying from north to the south
at approximately 9,500 foot elevation
and going seemingly in a definite direction
of about 170 degrees.
And going seemingly in a definite direction
They, the objects,
were approaching Mount Rainier very rapidly
They, the objects,
and I merely assumed they were jet planes.
Anyhow, I discovered that this
was where the reflection had come from
as two or three of them every few seconds would dip
or change their course slightly just enough
for the sun to strike them at an angle
that reflected brightly on my plane.
For the sun to strike them at an angle
I thought it was very peculiar that I couldn't their tails
but assumed they were some type of jet plane.
I thought it was very peculiar that I couldn't their tails
I was determined to clock their speed
as I had two definite points I could clock them by.
I was determined to clock their speed
I watched these objects with great interest
as I had never before observed airplanes
flying so close to the mountaintops.
I would estimate their elevation could've varied 1,000 feet
one way or another, up or down.
I would estimate their elevation could've varied 1,000 feet
They flew like many times I have observed geese to fly
in a rather diagonal chain-like line
as if they were linked together.
Their speed at the time did not impress me particularly
as if they were linked together.
Because I knew that our Army and Air Forces had planes
that went very fast.
Because I knew that our Army and Air Forces had planes
A number of newsmen and experts suggested
that I might've been seeing reflections
or even a mirage.
This I know to be absolutely false
as I observed these objects not only through the glass
This I know to be absolutely false
of my airplane, but turned my airplane sideways
where I could open my window and observe them
with a completely unobstructed view.
Where I could open my window and observe them
When these objects were flying approximately straight
and level, they were just a black thin line,
and when they flipped was the only time
I could get a judgment as to their size.
And when they flipped was the only time
- Arnold's sightings didn't gain
front-page status immediately.
Stories about it appeared in newspapers a day or two later,
usually on page eight or nine, and then with a comment
about strange objects in fast flight.
It was, at that time, the story of an oddity.
Arnold claimed later that he thought he had seen
It was, at that time, the story of an oddity.
Some sort of new jet aircraft and he was a little concerned
about breaking the security around it.
Some sort of new jet aircraft and he was a little concerned
In the Project Blue Book files is a note
about the Arnold case
which labeled it as incident number 37.
About the Arnold case
The Air Force officers who reviewed the case wrote,
"The report cannot bear even superficial examination,
"therefore, must be disregarded.
"There are strong indications that this report
"and its attendant publicity is largely responsible
"There are strong indications that this report
"for subsequent reports."
Note content with a negative note in the file.
The unidentified officer also wrote,
"It is to be noted that the observer has profited
"from his story by selling it to 'FATE Magazine'."
"It is to be noted that the observer has profited
Here for the first time were two accusations
that would be made about many UFO cases,
that is, the witnesses were in it for the money
and a suggestion that UFO reports were the result
that is, the witnesses were in it for the money
of the snowball effect.
It seems to suggest that Arnold invented his tale
with an eye to writing a story about it for "FATE".
There is no evidence to support this
and Arnold had not written any articles
There is no evidence to support this
for any magazines prior to this sighting.
The editors of "FATE", and Ray Palmer specifically,
who would become one of the first
and most vocal proponents of the flying saucers,
induced Arnold into writing about what he had seen.
The point then becomes irrelevant.
The article doesn't seem to have been a motive for Arnold
but more of a serendipitous reward
for seeing and reporting the objects in the first place.
But more of a serendipitous reward
It seems that those investigating the flying saucers
didn't see a link between his sighting and photographs taken
on July 7th, 1947, in Phoenix, Arizona.
Didn't see a link between his sighting and photographs taken
William A. Rhodes, a self-employed scientist
living in Phoenix, claimed he had taken
what might be considered the first good photographs
living in Phoenix, claimed he had taken
of one of the flying saucers.
Initially puzzled by the case,
the military did take the report seriously.
Initially puzzled by the case,
The investigation that included the FBI,
whose agent asked not to be identified as an FBI agent,
accompanied the Army Air Force's officer
whose agent asked not to be identified as an FBI agent,
to interview Rhodes.
Rhodes would first tell reporters
and then various government investigators,
Rhodes would first tell reporters
including those from the FBI
and the Army's Counter Intelligence Corps
that he had been on his way to his workshop
at the rear of his house when he heard a distinctive whoosh
that he had been on his way to his workshop
that he believed to be from a P-80 Shooting Star fighter jet
which was the fastest airplane at that particular moment.
That he believed to be from a P-80 Shooting Star fighter jet
Overhead he saw something that didn't have the shape
of a conventional aircraft.
He hurried to his lab, grabbed his camera from his workbench
and hurried outside to a small mound in his backyard.
He hurried to his lab, grabbed his camera from his workbench
Rhodes sighted along the side of his camera
and it took the first photograph.
He estimated that the object was circling in the east.
He advanced the film and then hesitated,
He estimated that the object was circling in the east.
Thinking that he would wait for the object to get closer.
Worried that it would disappear without coming closer,
he snapped the second picture, finished the film roll,
and his ability to record the event further.
He snapped the second picture, finished the film roll,
Rhodes' story, along with the pictures, appeared
in the Phoenix newspaper "The Arizona Republic" on July 9th.
Rhodes' story, along with the pictures, appeared
In that article, men long experienced
in aircraft recognition studied both the print
and the negative from which they were made
and declined to make a guess
on what the flying object might be.
And declined to make a guess
Rhodes said that the object appeared to be elliptical
in shape and to have a diameter of 20 to 30 feet.
Rhodes said that the object appeared to be elliptical
It appeared to be at 5,000 feet when first seen
and was traveling according to Rhodes
at 400 to 600 miles per hour.
And was traveling according to Rhodes
It was gray, which tended to blend
with the gray overcast background of the sky.
It was gray, which tended to blend
The object had, according to Rhodes
and a confidential report from the Project Blue Book files,
what appeared to be a cockpit canopy in the center
which extended toward the back and beneath the object.
The cockpit did not protrude from the surface
but was clearly visible with the naked eye.
The cockpit did not protrude from the surface
Then on August 29th, according to a memorandum
from the office in charge, George Fugate, Jr,
Then on August 29th, according to a memorandum
a special agent of the CIC and stationed
at Fourth Air Force Headquarters,
interviewed Rhodes in person.
Fugate was accompanied by Special Agent Brower
of the Phoenix FBI Office.
This interview is important because of some of the confusion
about location of the negatives and prints
of the photograph that would develop later.
About location of the negatives and prints
During the interview, Rhodes again told the story,
suggesting that he thought at first
it might have been the Navy's Flying Flapjack
suggesting that he thought at first
which had been featured on the May 1947 cover
of "Mechanix Illustrated".
Which had been featured on the May 1947 cover
He rejected the idea because he saw no propellors
or landing gear, though the overall shape
He rejected the idea because he saw no propellors
of the craft matched that of the Flapjack.
Later, research by various investigators,
both military and civilian, showed that the Navy built
Later, research by various investigators,
two Flapjacks but neither had flown
outside the Bridgeport, Connecticut area.
The project was canceled in 1947
as the Navy moved to jet-powered aircraft.
The project was canceled in 1947
While Rhodes was being interviewed in his home in Phoenix,
Arnold, because he lived in the Northwest,
Lieutenant Frank Brown with Captain William Davidson
took a B-25 and flew up to Tacoma, Washington,
where Arnold was investigating Maury Island.
Took a B-25 and flew up to Tacoma, Washington,
They all got together in Arnold's hotel room
late in the evening where Arnold showed them the debris
that had been recovered on Maury Island
that Dahl and Crisman had given him.
That had been recovered on Maury Island
Both Army officers, Brown and Davidson, believed
that the material was nothing more than smelter slag.
They were unimpressed but both man respected Arnold.
They didn't tell him they believed
They were unimpressed but both man respected Arnold.
The Maury Island tale to be a hoax.
All of this takes us back to Rhodes.
According to Early, Arnold asked the two officers
what Army intelligence had learned
about UFOs in the days after his sighting.
Davidson sat down and then drew a picture of an object.
He told Arnold, "This is a drawing of one
"of several photographs we consider to be authentic."
He told Arnold, "This is a drawing of one
Brown then added the information
that tied it to the Rhodes photograph.
He said, "It came from Phoenix, Arizona, the other day.
"We have prints of it at Hamilton Field
"but the original negatives were flown to Washington, D.C."
"We have prints of it at Hamilton Field
It is clear that those pictures were the ones
that Rhodes had taken
since there were no other UFO photographs taken
in July, 1947, in Phoenix, Arizona.
Since there were no other UFO photographs taken
It's interesting that Brown mentioned Hamilton Field
because Rhodes does the same thing,
and Hamilton Field was part of the Fourth Air Force
because Rhodes does the same thing,
in 1947, and Rhodes had communications with officers
at Fourth Air Force about his photograph as well.
In 1947, and Rhodes had communications with officers
In the end, the Air Force decided
that Arnold had been fooled by mirages created
as the wind whipped up the snow
at the highest levels of the mountain.
Rhodes had created a hoax, no real evidence of that,
but when they had no other explanation,
Rhodes had created a hoax, no real evidence of that,
they claimed the sighting was a hoax.
What they couldn't explain, and didn't try,
was how Rhodes could photograph an object
that looked like that reported by Arnold
was how Rhodes could photograph an object
without having seen the Arnold illustrations.
The belief at the beginning of the official investigation
was that trained military personnel
and law enforcement officers made the best,
was that trained military personnel
most credible witnesses.
Using this criteria, they selected a number of reports
that seemed inexplicable to them
Using this criteria, they selected a number of reports
and that seemed to suggest that the observed craft
were beyond the technical capability
of any nation on Earth.
Of any nation on Earth.
On July 4th, 1947, there were a series of sightings
over several Northwest states
that Air Force officers labeled as either insufficient data
over several Northwest states
for a scientific analysis or as unidentified.
These involved police officers and airline flight crews
as well as local civilians.
Many of the reports were independent of one another
but can be linked by location,
time of day, and other factors.
Combined rather than separated,
time of day, and other factors.
They make a powerful statement
about the nature of the flying saucers.
They make a powerful statement
Although the first reports were made by civilians,
it was just a few minutes after one p.m.
that police officer Kenneth A. McDowell,
who was near the Portland Police Station,
noticed that the pigeons began fluttering as if frightened.
Overhead he saw five large disks east of the city.
According to the report he gave to military officers,
three disks were flying east
and two were headed to the south.
All were flying at high speed
and two were headed to the south.
And all appeared to be oscillating.
McDowell alerted other police officers in an all-car alert
and they immediately broadcast the information
McDowell alerted other police officers in an all-car alert
over the police radio.
Two other police officers, Walter A. Lissy
and Robert Ellis, after hearing the broadcast,
stopped near a park.
Overhead they saw three disks moving at high speed.
Stopped near a park.
Neither heard any sound,
but both did see flashes of brightness
Neither heard any sound,
that could've been sunlight reflecting
from a metallic surface.
According to them, the objects moved erratically
from a metallic surface.
And changed their direction of flight.
They were in sight for about 30 seconds.
Both men were veterans of the Second World War
They were in sight for about 30 seconds.
And both were civilian pilots,
which suggested they had some experience
around aviation and aviation assets.
Which suggested they had some experience
Patrolman Earl Patterson, after hearing the broadcast,
stopped to search for any of the disks.
The broadcast had suggested that the saucers
were coming out of the sun
which meant they were coming from the direction of the sun.
At first, Patterson noticed nothing,
but a few seconds later,
At first, Patterson noticed nothing,
he saw one object coming out the west
and heading towards the southwest.
He saw one object coming out the west
He said that the craft seemed to be either aluminum
or eggshell white and didn't flash or reflect the sun.
He said that the craft seemed to be either aluminum
He also said that he didn't think they were airplanes
like so many of the others.
Their flight path was erratic, wobbling and weaving.
Patterson thought they were radio-controlled
Their flight path was erratic, wobbling and weaving.
Rather than having a living pilot onboard.
On the far side of the Columbia River
in nearby Vancouver, Washington,
On the far side of the Columbia River
sheriff's deputies Sergeant John Sullivan, Clarence McKay,
and Fred Krives also heard the alert broadcast
and ran outside to look for themselves.
And Fred Krives also heard the alert broadcast
Over Portland three to five miles away,
they saw 20 to 30 disks that looked to them
like a flight of geese.
They heard a low humming sound
which might or might not have been related to the objects.
They heard a low humming sound
Not long after that, three Harvard patrolmen
who had also been monitoring the police radio band
stepped outside, Captain K.A. Prehn, A.T. Austad,
who had also been monitoring the police radio band
and Patrolman K.C. Hoff,
saw three to six disks traveling at high speed.
They couldn't get a good count on the number
saw three to six disks traveling at high speed.
Because of the bright flashes surrounding them.
According to witnesses,
the objects looked like huge chrome hubcaps
According to witnesses,
and oscillated as they flew.
Sometimes the witnesses could see a full disk,
then a half-moon, and then nothing at all.
They did see a plane overhead as well,
then a half-moon, and then nothing at all.
But all the witnesses said
that what they were watching was not aircraft.
But all the witnesses said
This would cause Air Force investigations to wonder
if aircraft might be a plausible explanation
for the sightings, despite the suggestion by the witness.
If aircraft might be a plausible explanation
They thought that something the plane's pilot did,
such as tossing shiny disks from the cockpit,
might have caused the confusion.
And later in the day, there was another report
might have caused the confusion.
With a similar claim.
The Air Force files contained a report
that a former Air Corps veteran said the object he saw
was unlike any plane he had ever seen.
He thought it appeared radio-controlled
because the disk could change direction
at a 90-degree angle without difficulty.
Because the disk could change direction
Another witness suggested that he had seen three objects
fly east across the Willamette River.
The objects did not appear to be very high
but they were traveling very fast.
He said that they looked like a metallic disk
but they were traveling very fast.
Glinting in the sun.
He also said that he and a neighbor
saw a single disk later that afternoon.
He also said that he and a neighbor
About four p.m., more civilians reported more disks.
A woman called the police telling them
she had watched a single object
A woman called the police telling them
as shiny as a new dime flipping around.
An unidentified man called to say
as shiny as a new dime flipping around.
That he had seen three disks,
one flying to the east and the two heading north.
They were shining, shaped like flattened saucers,
and were traveling at high speed.
They were shining, shaped like flattened saucers,
About an hour later, a man said
that he spotted two white or silver objects
About an hour later, a man said
flying southeast over Portland.
Half an hour later, he sighted a single disk
headed to the northeast.
Half an hour later, he sighted a single disk
In Milwaukee, Oregon, not far from Portland,
Sergeant Claude Cross reported three objects
In Milwaukee, Oregon, not far from Portland,
flying to the north.
All were disk-shaped, all were moving at high speed.
But disks overhead weren't the only things being reported.
There were objects falling from the sky as well.
Near Eugene, Oregon, a railroad cashier said
he saw silver disks being dropped
out of a white plane flying over the city.
He saw silver disks being dropped
A man in Portland recovered a large piece of paper
he had seen fall from a great height.
A man in Portland recovered a large piece of paper
According to reports, the time that the paper fell coincided
with some of the flying saucer sightings
which might explain some of them.
With some of the flying saucer sightings
The best of the sightings, and the one that was labeled
as unidentified, occurred about dusk
as a United Airlines flight crew saw a single disk.
As unidentified, occurred about dusk
Minutes later, they spotted several others.
Captain E.J. Smith, the captain of the flight,
explained it this way.
- As our flight number 105 took off
from Boise, Idaho at four p.m. Pacific time,
the tower joshingly warned us
to be on the lookout for flying saucers.
My co-pilot, Ralph Stevens, was in control
shortly after we got into the air.
Suddenly, he switched on the landing lights.
Shortly after we got into the air.
He said he thought he saw an aircraft
approaching us head-on.
I noticed the objects then for the first time.
We saw four or five somethings.
I noticed the objects then for the first time.
One was larger than the rest, and for the most part,
kept off the right of the other three or four similar
One was larger than the rest, and for the most part,
but smaller objects.
Since we were flying northwest, roughly into the sunset,
we saw whatever they were in at least partial light.
We saw them clearly.
We saw whatever they were in at least partial light.
We followed them in a northwesterly direction
for about 45 miles.
We followed them in a northwesterly direction
Then I called the attendant
at the Ontario, Oregon radio tower,
giving an approximate location and course for the objects.
The attendant acknowledged our call, went outside to look,
giving an approximate location and course for the objects.
But was unable to see anything like what we'd described.
Finally the object disappeared in a burst of speed.
We were unable to tell
whether they outsped us or disintegrated.
We were unable to tell
We were never able to catch them in our DC-3.
Our airspeed at the time was 185 miles per hour.
Through the Boise air tower, we radioed another United plane
to see if it had seen anything.
That plane flying eastbound into the night
had not sighted them.
Because we were following the objects
at roughly the same altitude,
we can't say anything about their shape
at roughly the same altitude,
except they were thin and were smooth on the bottom
and rough-appearing on the top.
Except they were thin and were smooth on the bottom
- Smith called the flight attendant,
Marty Morrow, to the cockpit to, in Smith's words,
verify they were actually seeing the disks.
He saw four or more disks, three clustered together
and a fourth flying off in the distance by itself.
He saw four or more disks, three clustered together
The objects were in sight for 10 to 15 minutes
which means that she was able to get a good look at them.
The objects were in sight for 10 to 15 minutes
Not everyone was convinced
that the sightings were of unconventional aircraft.
Colonel G.R. Dodson,
a commander in the Oregon National Guard,
told reporters that he had made an inspection of the area
from the air but that he had found nothing suspicious.
Told reporters that he had made an inspection of the area
Solutions were offered by some of the local residents.
One thought that the sightings were the result
of cottonwood blossoms drifting on the wind.
Another complained about the news coverage,
believing it all to be a hoax.
Another complained about the news coverage,
He said that he had seen an airplane fly over
and about a minute later he saw what he believed
He said that he had seen an airplane fly over
to be bits of aluminum foil
that might have been cigarette wrappers.
To be bits of aluminum foil
Air Force officers mentioned that radar chaff had been seen
in the area but offered no evidence to back up the claim.
The idea that a private plane pilot
was dropping small silver disks took on greater importance.
In the only news story that might have been of importance,
the Oregon Journal noted that the only known airplanes
In the only news story that might have been of importance,
in the area at the time of the reports
were 23 B-29 bombers near Astoria.
In the area at the time of the reports
A formation of that size would've been difficult
to misidentify, not to mention that the roar
A formation of that size would've been difficult
that the engines would've caused.
Dr. James McDonald, an atmospheric scientist,
interviewed Smith, the United Airlines captain,
about his sighting.
In a prepared statement to United States
House of Representatives Committee
on Science and Astronomics' Symposium
of the Unidentified Flying Objects
in July, 1968, McDonald reported...
- Smith emphasized to me
that there were no cloud phenomena to confuse them here
- Smith emphasized to me
and that they observed these objects long enough
to be quite certain that they were no conventional aircraft.
They appeared flat on the bottom, rounded on the top,
to be quite certain that they were no conventional aircraft.
He told me, and he added that there seems to be
a perceptible roughness of some sort on top,
though he could not refine the description.
Almost immediately after they lost sight of the first five,
though he could not refine the description.
A second formation of four,
three in a line and a fourth off to the side,
moved in ahead of their position,
again traveling westward but at a somewhat higher altitude
than the DC-3's 8,000 feet.
These passed quickly out of sight to the west at speeds
which they felt were far beyond then known speeds.
Smith emphasized that they were never certain of sizes
which they felt were far beyond then known speeds.
And distances but that they had the general impression
that these disk-like craft were appreciably larger
and distances but that they had the general impression
than ordinary aircraft.
Smith emphasized that he had not taken seriously
the previous week's news accounts
Smith emphasized that he had not taken seriously
that coined the since persistent term flying saucer
but after seeing this total
of nine unconventional high-speed wingless craft
but after seeing this total
on the evening of July 4th, 1947,
he became much more interested in the matter.
Nevertheless, in talking with me,
he stressed that he would not speculate
on their real nature or origin.
He stressed that he would not speculate
- These reports were investigated
by Army officers at the time,
though the reports seemed to be fairly superficial.
That is, there were objects seen high in the sky
though the reports seemed to be fairly superficial.
For seconds or a minute or two.
As part of the Project Grudge final report
for seconds or a minute or two.
Written in 1949, one of the officers wrote,
"This investigation can offer no definitive hypothesis
"but in passing, would like to note the incidents occurred
"on the 4th of July and that if relatively small pieces
"of aluminum foil had been dropped
"on the 4th of July and that if relatively small pieces
"from a plane over the area,
"then any one object would be visible
"from a plane over the area,
"at a relatively short distance.
"Even moderate wind velocities would give the illusion
"that fluttering gyrating disks had gone by
"at great velocities.
"Various observers would not, of course,
"in this case, have seen the same objects."
"Various observers would not, of course,
The officer also noted that the above is not to be regarded
as a very likely explanation, but only as a possibility.
The officer also noted that the above is not to be regarded
The occurrence on these incidents on July 4th
may have been more than coincidence.
Some prankster might have tossed such objects
may have been more than coincidence.
Out of an airplane as part
of an Independence Day celebration.
Out of an airplane as part
The thing that the Air Force did here
was link the case by date and location
but didn't think of them as a continuation of one sighting.
Once a police officer had alerted his fellow officers
to the object, they, in different locations
and at different times, went outside or looked up
and were able to spot them.
The descriptions are of a similar type,
dish-shaped object flying alone or in formations.
That they were seeing the same thing
from different locations suggested something
That they were seeing the same thing
that was very high or that there was more
than one formation.
That was very high or that there was more
The thing to be remembered that even if the police officers
in the one location were fooled by something,
those officers observing it from a different perspective
might have been able to identify it
if there was a terrestrial explanation.
Since that didn't happen, it would seem
that there was something very strange going on here.
Add to this the sighting by Smith and his airline crew
which we can do because they observed the craft
on the same day and in the same general location.
We have a new dimension to the case.
Smith's report was labeled unidentified,
meaning that he and his crew were able
to give a detailed description of what they had seen.
Meaning that he and his crew were able
We have to wonder if that was because they were met
by reporters when he landed.
We have to wonder if that was because they were met
Had his report not received the attention it did
and had he not provided the detail he did,
might it have ended up with only a little information
and had he not provided the detail he did,
and a label of insufficient data for scientific analysis?
Army Air Force's investigation
which took the report seriously in the summer of 1947
failed to find a satisfactory explanation
for these sightings.
Failed to find a satisfactory explanation
It should be remembered that in this case,
there was nothing other than witness testimony,
It should be remembered that in this case,
witnesses who were separated by distance
but who, in some cases, had been warned
about the flying saucers by the police radio
and who had claimed to have seen basically the same thing.
About the flying saucers by the police radio
These sightings are interesting
and we have to wonder what more might have been learned
had a little more effort been made
in the investigation of them.
Had a little more effort been made
Although it has been said there is a single case
in the Blue Book files in which alien creatures
Although it has been said there is a single case
were reported that wasn't labeled
as some sort of psychological program,
there are several good cases hidden in there.
Skeptics, disbelievers, and debunkers like to say
that there is no evidence
that alien creatures have visited the planet.
They ignore, reject, or are unaware
that the Blue Book files do contain examples
of physical evidence that has been recovered.
The best of those cases came from Socorro, New Mexico,
on April 24th, 1964.
The best of those cases came from Socorro, New Mexico,
Lonnie Zamora, then a police officer in Socorro,
saw a landed object
and two small humanoids standing near it.
Saw a landed object
According to Project Blue Book, Zamora was chasing a speeder
when he heard a loud roar and saw a flash of light
in the southwestern sky.
Fearing that a dynamite shed on the edge of town
might have exploded, Zamora broke off the chase
and headed in that direction.
Might have exploded, Zamora broke off the chase
Captain Hector Quintanilla added more detail to the story
as it was told by Zamora during the official investigation.
Quintanilla later wrote...
- It was off the road to the left in the arroyo,
Quintanilla later wrote...
And at first glance it looked like a car turned over,
but when he drove closer it appeared to be aluminum clay,
not chrome, and oval-shaped like a football.
Zamora drove about 50 feet along the hill crest,
radioing back to the sheriff's office,
"10-44," meaning accident, "I'll be 10-6,"
meaning busy, out of the car,
"Checking a wreck down in the arroyo," Zamora said.
From this point, seated in the car,
he could not see the object over the edge of the hill.
As he stopped the car, he was still talking on the radio,
and while he was getting out he dropped his mic.
He picked it up and put it back
and started down towards the object.
He picked it up and put it back
Zamora then said, "As soon as I saw flames and heard roar,
"ran away from object but did turn, head towards object.
"Object was in shape.
"It was smooth, no windows or doors.
"As roar started, it was still on the ground.
"It was smooth, no windows or doors.
- Quintanilla said, "I was determined
"to solve the case, and come hell or high water,
- Quintanilla said, "I was determined
"I was going to find the vehicle or the stimulus.
"I decided that it was imperative for me to talk
"to the base commander at Holloman Air Force Base.
"I wanted to interview the base commander at length
"to the base commander at Holloman Air Force Base.
"about special activities from his base.
"I needed help to pull this off
"so I called Lieutenant Colonel Maston Jacks at SAFOI.
"I needed help to pull this off
"I told him what I wanted to do and he asks,
"'Do you think it will do any good?'
"I replied, 'Goddammit Maston, if there is an answer
"'to this case, it has to be in some hanger at Holloman.'"
He went to work with his position at the Pentagon
and the approval for his visit came through.
Colonel Garman was the base commander during his visit.
And the approval for his visit came through.
"He was most cooperative and told me
"that I could go anywhere and visit any activity
"He was most cooperative and told me
"which interested me.
"I went from one end of the base to the other.
"I spent four days talking to everybody I could
"and spent almost a whole day
"with the down-range controllers
"at the White Sands Missile Range.
"I left Holloman dejected and convinced that the answer
"to Zamora's experience did not originate
"and terminate at this base.
"to Zamora's experience did not originate
"On my way back to Wright-Patterson, I hit upon an idea.
"Why not a lunar landing vehicle?
"I knew that some research had been done at Wright-Patterson
"so as soon as I got back I asked for some briefings.
"The briefings were extremely informative,
"but the Lunar Landers were not operational
"in April of 1964.
"but the Lunar Landers were not operational
"I got the names of the companies that were doing research
"in this field and I started writing letters.
"I got the names of the companies that were doing research
"The companies were most cooperative,
"but their answers were all negative.
"I labeled the case unidentified and the UFO buffs
"and hobby clubs had themselves a field day.
"According to them, there was proof
"that our beloved planet had been visited
"by an extraterrestrial vehicle.
"Although I labeled the case unidentified,
"I've never been satisfied with that classification."
"Although I labeled the case unidentified,
It has been claimed that the only case
involving occupants, creatures associated
with a landed UFO that was labeled as unidentified,
was that from Socorro, New Mexico.
With a landed UFO that was labeled as unidentified,
Although somewhat hidden in the Project Blue Book files,
there is another that took place almost two years later.
Hynek mentioned it in his book, "The Hynek UFO Report",
but he doesn't give a location
and he dates it with a newspaper clipping
from the "Dallas Times Herald".
And he dates it with a newspaper clipping
Although Hynek suggests the case
is from the Wichita Falls, Texas, area
and the witness, W.E. Laxson, was a civilian employee
is from the Wichita Falls, Texas, area
at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls,
the government files list the case as Temple, Oklahoma.
At Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls,
The newspaper clipping cited by Hynek
is dated March 27th, 1966,
but the sighting occurred on March 23rd, 1966.
With the misdirection from Hynek probably as a result
but the sighting occurred on March 23rd, 1966.
Of the classified nature of the case when he wrote his book,
it took a while to deduce the facts.
Of the classified nature of the case when he wrote his book,
Hynek, using the newspaper account,
said there was nothing in it that varied
from what was in the government file.
That file said, "Observer W.E. Eddie Laxson
"was driving his car along the highway
"at approximately 5:05 a.m. on the 23rd of March, 1966,
"was driving his car along the highway
"when he noticed an object parked
"on the road in front of him.
"He stopped the car and got out
"so to get a better view of the object.
"The object was so parked that it blocked out a portion
"of the road curb sign.
"There were no sharp edges noticed by the observer.
"of the road curb sign.
"The object had the appearance of a conventional aircraft,
"a C-124, without wings or motors.
"There was a Plexiglas bubble on top
"similar to a B-26 canopy.
"There was a Plexiglas bubble on top
"As the observer approached,
"he noticed a man wearing a baseball cap enter the object
"by steps from the bottom.
"After the man entered the object,
"it began to rise from the pavement
"and headed on a southeasterly direction
"at approximately 720 miles per hour.
"The object had forward and aft lights
"that were very bright.
"The object had forward and aft lights
"As the object rose from the ground,
"a high-speed drill type of sound was heard
"plus a sound like that of a welding rod
"when an arc is struck.
"plus a sound like that of a welding rod
"The object was 75 feet long,
"about eight feet from the top to the bottom,
"and about 12 feet wide.
"There was some type of supports
"on the bottom of the object.
"After the object disappeared,
"the witness got back into his car
"and drove approximately 15 miles down the highway.
"At this time, the original witness stopped
"and drove approximately 15 miles down the highway.
"and talked with another individual
"who had also stopped along the roadway
"and talked with another individual
"to watch some lights over Red River
"which is approximately five or six miles to the southeast.
"to watch some lights over Red River
"Various organizations were contacted
"around the Temple, Oklahoma area
"for a possible experimental or conventional aircraft.
"The observer stated that he thought the object
"for a possible experimental or conventional aircraft.
"was some type of Army or Air Force research aircraft.
"All attempts at such an explanation proved fruitless
"since there were no aircraft in the area
"at the time of the sightings.
"Although there are numerous helicopter
"and other experimentals in the area,
"Although there are numerous helicopter
"none could be put in the area of Temple
"at approximately five o'clock on the 23rd of March, 1966.
"none could be put in the area of Temple
"Because of this factor, the case is listed
"as unidentified by the Air Force."
"Because of this factor, the case is listed
The second witness who was not interviewed by the Air Force
and who, according to the government file, did not fill out
their long and involved form, was C.W. Anderson.
Anderson confirmed for the newspaper
their long and involved form, was C.W. Anderson.
That he had seen the craft as well.
He told the reporter, "I know that people will say
"that Laxson is durned crazy, but that's what I say."
He told the reporter, "I know that people will say
Anderson said that he thought
the object had been following him down the road.
He had watched it in his rear view mirror for several miles.
The problem for the Air Force
was that Anderson did not complete their form.
He didn't see the pilot or crewmen either.
Was that Anderson did not complete their form.
The drawing of the object made by Laxson resembled that
which Lonnie Zamora had made of the craft he had saw,
which means it was sort of egg-shaped.
It was certainly longer and was lying on its side.
Which means it was sort of egg-shaped.
Like Zamora, Laxson said that he saw symbols on the object,
but unlike Zamora, he recognized them.
Like Zamora, Laxson said that he saw symbols on the object,
He told the reporter that, "On the side,
"I made out T-L-A, with the last two figures 38."
He told the reporter that, "On the side,
In what might be described as a fit of honesty,
the Air Force admitted they had no solution for the case.
In what might be described as a fit of honesty,
The description of the alien was more human than humanoid
and he seemed to be dressed in conventional clothing,
The description of the alien was more human than humanoid
right to the mechanic's hat.
Investigations revealed a second witness
and that might have influenced the Air Force,
especially since the men had never met
prior to the sighting.
Especially since the men had never met
In the end, they labeled the case as unidentified.
In a review of government records,
another case, also labeled as unidentified, was found.
In a review of government records,
This one took place in Pittsburg, Kansas.
The case is a single witness and has gone nearly unreported
for more than 60 years.
The case is a single witness and has gone nearly unreported
William Squires was on his way to work
along Highway 160 about eight miles from Pittsburg
when he sighted an unknown object hovering over a field.
It was about 27 feet in length at about 12 feet high.
When he sighted an unknown object hovering over a field.
Squires thought it had the appearance of an airfoil.
He said that he saw small propellors around the perimeter.
Squires thought it had the appearance of an airfoil.
They were about a foot in diameter.
There were also a number of windows in the craft
and through one of them, Squires could see a man
who seemed to be controlling the object.
He was facing forward to the edge of the object.
The windows were described as blue,
becoming darker as time passed.
The windows were described as blue,
This seems to be the type of sighting
the Air Force would dismiss as psychological,
which would be a nice way of saying that it was a hoax
the Air Force would dismiss as psychological,
and there was something wrong with the witness.
However, there was some physical evidence left behind
according to the government file.
However, there was some physical evidence left behind
The object reported as hovering over an open field
used for cattle grazing,
general area under the exact location was pressed down
used for cattle grazing,
and formed a round 60-foot-diameter impression
with the grass in a recognizable concentric pattern.
Loose grass lay on top of the impression
as if drawn in by suction
when the object ascended vertically at a high speed.
Vegetation and grass approximately three
to four inches high.
Vegetation and grass approximately three
Area was extremely dry at present.
Grass showed where Squires had walked in
to a fence and stopped.
L.V. Baxter and D. Whitener, local employees of KOMA,
to a fence and stopped.
Went to the place of the sighting, 11:35 CST,
with Squires and confirmed his path to the fence
and the 60-foot-diameter impression in the tall grass.
With Squires and confirmed his path to the fence
Robert E. Greens visited the site at 1600
on the 25th of August of 1952,
with source and reports that the vegetation was laid down
on the 25th of August of 1952,
in concentric circles but with the impression less distinct
than reported by Whitener and Baxter.
In concentric circles but with the impression less distinct
Green obtained grass and soil samples
at the immediate area where the impression was made
and also gathered control samples
200 yards removed from the site.
He is sending some to the Air Technical Intelligence Center,
airmail, special delivery.
He is sending some to the Air Technical Intelligence Center,
What is strange about this case is the fact
that there seemed to be little interest
in the pilot of the craft.
Although there is another point where he was discussed,
there's no real addition to the information.
Clearly, based on these descriptions, that alien was human,
or human enough to be indistinguishable from a human.
Squires did suggest that the occupant seemed to be frenzied
or human enough to be indistinguishable from a human.
In his activities inside the craft.
Although this case is essentially single-witness,
there was the physical evidence left by the craft.
Others, Baxter, Whitener, and Green, did see the impressions
there was the physical evidence left by the craft.
In the ground left by the craft.
Eventually this sort of evidence would become known
as a saucer nest, meaning simply
that the crushed vegetation left by a UFO on the ground
had somewhat similar features to other parts of the country
that the crushed vegetation left by a UFO on the ground
and other parts of the world.
The ultimate description would be of a crop circle.
And other parts of the world.
Here, rather than an elaborate design,
it was a simple circle of crushed or flattened grass.
Here, rather than an elaborate design,
The soil samples taken by Green
were analyzed by the Air Force.
The soil samples taken by Green
In a short report of a single paragraph,
the technician said they had found no radiation,
burning, or stress of any kind.
In other words, there was nothing to the sample
to distinguish those taken from the landing area
or from those taken 200 yards away.
To distinguish those taken from the landing area
There's one final aspect to the case
that is mildly interesting.
In a couple of the letters from the government files,
there is a notation that reminds all of paragraph seven
In a couple of the letters from the government files,
which is a paragraph in the regulations
that requires unidentified cases be classified.
Which is a paragraph in the regulations
Those who have information about the case
are not allowed to discuss it with those
Those who have information about the case
who do not have the proper clearances.
J. Allen Hynek, writing in "The Hynek UFO Report",
provides a glimpse into the thinking
at Blue Book at the time of this sighting.
He wrote, "My skepticism was so great at that time
"that I was quite willing to dismiss it as a hallucination."
He wrote, "My skepticism was so great at that time
Even with that admitted bias against the case
which never received wide exposure,
there's another which the witness said
that he had seen the pilot of an unidentified craft
there's another which the witness said
and that was left as unidentified by the Air Force.
In their zeal to label cases,
and that was left as unidentified by the Air Force.
This seems to be another that they missed.
They could've easily labeled it as psychological,
if not for the darned landing traces.
They could've easily labeled it as psychological,
Keeping with their tradition of labeling cases
but not solving them, the Air Force officers decided
that witnesses had psychological problems
if they claimed to have seen the beings
outside of their craft.
There's no need to investigate if the witness is unreliable
or under the influence of some kind of mental problem.
There's no need to investigate if the witness is unreliable
In the Pittsburg, Kansas case, there is the same problem.
Here was a case in which the object interacted
with the environment.
True, it was a single witness,
with the environment.
But it left marks on the ground.
Rather than send in someone to review it carefully,
the Air Force allowed samples to be gathered by a civilian.
They may have provided some guidance,
but it would seem that an expert with the proper training
should have been sent if the Air Force was serious
about investigating UFOs.
Should have been sent if the Air Force was serious
There is another aspect to this case
and that is that a military officer
did gather some of the data.
Green was apparently a second lieutenant
in the Army Reserve.
He is the man who collected the samples.
In the Army Reserve.
But this is not to suggest
that his military training had covered that,
but his membership in the Reserve caused one problem.
The report he filed with his chain of command
made its way eventually to the Air Force,
but they delayed it.
Made its way eventually to the Air Force,
Zamora seemed to be a single witness
but there was physical evidence left behind.
Here, the Air Force responded quickly,
gathering evidence, and analyzed the situation.
They found no answer that satisfied them.
Gathering evidence, and analyzed the situation.
There is the possibility that there were two witnesses.
They appeared after the fact
but are not from the Socorro area,
and their stories seem to have been embellished
with facts from news reports.
In fact, in all the cases,
there was some physical evidence to be examined.
The cases did not rest solely
on the testimony of the witnesses.
The cases did not rest solely
If there wasn't some kind of physical evidence,
there was another witness to corroborate the sightings.
If there wasn't some kind of physical evidence,
The Cisco Grove occupant report is just one more example
of an opportunity that was missed,
The Cisco Grove occupant report is just one more example
or rather, one that seems to have been missed.
There was some corroborative testimony
from the other hunters.
There was some corroborative testimony
There was the damage to the arrows
and then there was the report
that the area had been cleaned.
And then there was the report
What we don't know is who had been out
in the forest cleaning the areas
in which the witness claimed to have seen the alien beings.
Just who could have done that?
In which the witness claimed to have seen the alien beings.
There is evidence that not all sightings
made it to Project Blue Book
There is evidence that not all sightings
even though the regulations seemed to require that.
Dr. J. Allen Hynek, who was a scientific consultant
even though the regulations seemed to require that.
To Project Blue Book for many years,
often said that the really good cases didn't make it
into the Blue Book files.
He suspected another reporting system
but he couldn't prove that there was one.
He suspected another reporting system
Hints about this other investigation
came from Brigadier General Arthur Exon
Hints about this other investigation
who was the base commander
at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in the mid 1960s.
Exon said that while he was base commander,
he would periodically receive telephone calls
which ordered him to prepare an aircraft
for a mission outside the local Wright-Patterson area.
Which ordered him to prepare an aircraft
Exon himself described this in May 19 of 1991
in a recorded interview.
He said, "I know that while I was there,
"I had charge of all the administrative airplanes
"and had to sign priority airplanes to the members
"who would go out and investigate reported sightings.
"I remember several out in Wyoming and Montana
"and that area in the '60s, '64 and '65.
"I knew there were certain teams of people,
"they're representing headquarters United States Air Force
"as well as the organizations there
"at Wright-pat, and so on.
"When a crew came back, it was their own business.
"Nobody asked any questions."
"When a crew came back, it was their own business.
He expanded on this, saying,
"The way this happened to me is that I would get a call
"and say that the crew or team was leaving.
"There was such and such a time and they wanted an airplane
"and say that the crew or team was leaving.
"and pilots to take X number of people to wherever.
"They might be gone two or three days
"or might be gone a week.
"They would come back and that would be the end of it."
"or might be gone a week.
Asked about the overall control of the teams, Exon said,
"I always thought they were part of that unholy crew
"in Washington that started keeping the lid on this thing."
"I always thought they were part of that unholy crew
Everything said to this point suggests
that the operation was run from FTD,
the parent organization to Blue Book at Wright-Patterson,
that the operation was run from FTD,
but in an interview conducted about a month later
on June the 18th of 1991, Exon clarified what he had meant.
But in an interview conducted about a month later
Asked if these teams of eight to 15 people were stationed
at Wright-Patterson, he said, "They were."
"They would come from Washington, D.C.
"They'd ask for an airplane tomorrow morning
"They would come from Washington, D.C.
"and that would give the guys a chance to get there,
"Wright-Patterson, by commercial airline.
"Sometimes they'd be gone for three days
"Wright-Patterson, by commercial airline.
"and sometimes they'd be gone for a week.
"I know they went to Montana and Wyoming
"and the northwest states a number of times
"in a year and a half.
"They went to Arizona once or twice."
He also said, "Our contact was a man, a telephone number.
"He'd call, he'd set the airplane up.
"I just knew there was an investigative team."
"He'd call, he'd set the airplane up.
What all this boils down to is an attempt
to cover the activity.
The team, whoever they were, would fly into Dayton, Ohio,
on commercial air and then drive out to the base.
If a reporter attempted to trace the movements
on commercial air and then drive out to the base.
Of the team after it had been deployed,
the trail led back to Wright-Patterson.
After that, it just disappeared.
The trail led back to Wright-Patterson.
This team, or those teams, was made up
of eight to 15 individuals at a time
when Project Blue Book was composed
of two Air Force officers, an NCO, and a secretary.
They were stationed at Wright-Patterson
but these other teams were assigned somewhere else
and there is no reason to assume
that all members of a team were assigned at the same base.
They would come together as needed.
That all members of a team were assigned at the same base.
On October 20th, 1969,
Brigadier General C.H. Bolender provided the documentation
to prove that there was another investigation.
Brigadier General C.H. Bolender provided the documentation
In paragraph four of his memo, Bolender wrote,
"As early as 1953, the Robertson Panel concluded
In paragraph four of his memo, Bolender wrote,
"that the evidence presented on unidentified flying objects
"shows no indication that these phenomena
"constitute a direct physical threat to national security.
"shows no indication that these phenomena
"In spite of this finding, the Air Force continued
"to maintain a special reporting system.
"There is still, however, no evidence
"that Project Blue Book reports
"have served any intelligence function.
"that Project Blue Book reports
"Moreover, reports of unidentified flying objects
"which could affect national security are made
"in accordance with JANAP 146,
"the Joint Army, Navy, Air Force Publication,
"or Air Force Manual 55-11,
"and are not part of the Blue Book system."
"or Air Force Manual 55-11,
In other words, the suspicions of Hynek and Exon
were confirmed by this document from the government files.
This organization dealt with matters of national security
and the sightings at Malmstrom
because of the missile shutdown
and it was a matter of national security.
Because of the missile shutdown
Those sightings and the information collected about them
would not be part of the Blue Book system
and therefore would not be in the files.
That they are missing is the significant point.
And therefore would not be in the files.
In the beginning, in the summer of 1947,
the military was concerned about the sightings
of flying saucers.
They didn't know what they were.
But the reports from military pilots,
They didn't know what they were.
Civilian pilots, and police officers concerned them.
They believed the reports to be accurate
and thought they represented an advancement
in technology by our competitors in the world.
And thought they represented an advancement
Alien visitation, though discussed,
was not the top explanation.
Alien visitation, though discussed,
When the official investigation,
known officially as Project Sign,
the officers assigned were motivated to find an explanation.
Known officially as Project Sign,
In July, 1948, they produced a document
known as the estimate of the situation.
According to Ed Ruppelt,
one-time chief of Project Blue Book,
that situation was flying saucers
one-time chief of Project Blue Book,
and the conclusion was that they were from another world.
The Air Force chief of staff, General Hoyt S. Vandenberg,
rejected the estimate and those who had been responsible
found themselves with new jobs.
The fire went out of the investigation.
No longer did they worry about the explanation.
They just worried about providing solutions for the cases.
No longer did they worry about the explanation.
Sign eventually evolved into Grudge
and then Project Blue Book.
Sign eventually evolved into Grudge
For a brief period, Blue Book was more interested
in the truth than in explaining cases
For a brief period, Blue Book was more interested
regardless of the facts.
An explanation of the Blue Book files,
a reinvestigation of many of the cases,
An explanation of the Blue Book files,
reveals the flaws in them.
There are radar cases, physical evidence cases,
photographic cases, landing cases,
There are radar cases, physical evidence cases,
and reports of humanoid creatures
that have no solid terrestrial explanations.
And reports of humanoid creatures
The truth is that for most of its existence,
Blue Book was a public relations operation
designed to convince people
that there were no flying saucers, no alien visitation,
designed to convince people
and finally, no reason for continued research.
Blue Book ended in 1969
after the University of Colorado accepted more
than a half million dollars to investigate UFOs.
After the University of Colorado accepted more
They must say something positive
about the Air Force investigation,
They must say something positive
they must conclude their investigation
the way the Air Force wanted, and then must show
that there was no national security threat.
The way the Air Force wanted, and then must show
With these three goals accomplished, the Air Force said
they were through investigating flying saucers.
Like so much else, that statement was also untrue.
They were through investigating flying saucers.
- 10, nine, ignition sequence start,
six, five, four, three,
two, one, zero.
Subtitles Diego Moraes(oakislandtk) www.opensubtitles.org