The Pre-Arnold Sightings of 1947: a CHRONOLOGY IN PROCESS

1950 hoax; many of the 1947
ones were similar in size and shape

So many writers, newspapers, documentaries and debunking sources have stated that the modern "UFO" craze of the 20th century began with the story from Kenneth Arnold. The fact this is so often repeated is an indication that few actually do any deep research before attempting to discuss the subject. The Arnold sighting was the first to achieve wide-spread national coverage, because other stories were appearing, more regional and localized across the country from January onward of 1945. In truth, reports can be traced back into 1946 but the terms are more fluid: missiles, rockets, ghost rockets, foos, globes, spheres, lights, objects, etc.

So - why a look at such early reports? The basic premise of those who deny any possible alien non-terrestrial aspects to the subject of the UFO or UAP is the assumption that all events began with Arnold and all that follows are merely responses (positive or negative) to that stimulus. In uncovering the fact that the government was aware and watching a phenomena for which no name had yet emerged in the days prior to Arnold's nationwide coverage reveals that the ideas do not change much later. Some thought it was some new threat from the German scientists and then in the hands of Russian Scientists (who now "held" some of those same brains post WW2 just as the USA held some via "Operation Paperclip"). Some pressed for a as yet unknown natural phenomena, perhaps one resulting from the atomic bomb use and subsequent tests. LaPaz was concerned in this area with his "green fireballs" research and "Project Twinkle." He was also a bit concerned they might be alien in origin.   Realizing that the military was concerned and mystified is illuminating.

Pressing for details to develop a chronology is necessary to get the big picture of what was happening in these years. To get a glimmer that perhaps a strange convergence was occurring as a new strange natural phenomenon appeared (the large number of meteors/meteorites, green fireballs, etc.) in the 1940's, the appearance of odd "disc" shaped objects (whose shapes, due to perspective, might be defined as delta, football, cigar, globes, spheres, etc.) and a super-secret set of military experiments with new high speed, high altitude balloons, and altitude aircraft and missile designs.

1943

1943 - A Lloyd Kenyon, of Oregon, reported he had seen silvery disks while in the Russel Islands. He assumed the high and fast-moving objects were some new types of aircraft.  I am working on a chronology list that will include specific dates, descriptions, explanations.

1945

April 17 , 1945 - Fisherville, Kentucky. Mr. Hendry saw 2 red glowing objects shaped like spheres that came down from the clouds, moved around and came over his house and yard, lighting the backyard up with a brilliant and pulsing light.

1947

February 1947 - Helsinki, Finland

March 1947 - 3rd or 4th (Sunday), Augusta, Maine, 3-4 round discs.

May 1947 - Oklahoma CityOK, Washington State, Richmond VA, Manitou Springs CO

June 1947 - Bakersfield, California; Delaware; Hungary; Clarion IA; Merione IA; Hamburg NY; Rainer WA; DesMoinesIA; SeattleWA; PortlandOR; MontgomeryAL; Illinois; BoiseID; Wm AFB AZ; PhoenixAZ; LosCrucesM; DouglasAZ; WhiteSandsNM; Hawaii; YukonOK; Mt AdamsOR

July 1947 - ClayCenterKS; ElemderAlaska; Maryland; JacksonOH; PhoenixAZ; WestTrentonNJ; NovaScotia; RoswellNM; WarrenOH; PortlandOR; OakRidgeTN; OakDaleCalif; ShreveportLA; ArlingtonVA; EugeneOR; East troy WIS; ChengfuChina; KingmanAZ; RutlandVT; MidlandMIC; MiltonWIS; PawhuskaOK;CoffevilleKS; MountainHomeID; LakeBuckeyeFL; San AntonioTX; BarnsdallOK; MuskogeeOK; ColumbusKS;MurocCAL; SussexENG; Japan; Holland; Brazil: TempeAZ; HollywoodCAL.

[Historic Note - July 9, FBI memo notes a meeting with agents and Brig. General George F. Schulgen where the officer expressed the suspicion that the "first stories" may have been started for political reasons or personal publicity. He had interrogated an AAF pilot who had said he had seen on of the things, along with scientists and psychologists, and the pilot was convinced as to what he saw. Schulgen offered a deal where the FBI took on the background checks and establishing the nature and motive of the first reports. The FBI wanted access to any other discs found (they indicated some had been found and not shared. Later, feedback came to Hoover that the AF was having the FBI do little more than "grunt" work chasing down reports of "ash cans and toilet seats" and withdrew cooperation. Enough documents exist to indicate that there was a block of "quality" reports and that from those a list of required elements were generated by Schulgen and his intelligence office. All the aspects included aspects mostly theoretical at the time. They had been conceptualized but very few had been developed to the level in the reports.]

[Historic Note - July - A certain percentage of these sightings will include obvious and often juvenile hoaxes. There are also some that appear to be the product of a deliberate attempt to debunk and make light of the subject and pushing forward an aggressive theory of ridicule. These are commonly 30 inches in diameter, often had a fin, were made of metal or wood painted with silver paint. Sometimes still tacky when found. In southern Texas will be some found with return to messages that urge the finder to contact an Army depot in Washington state.  Apparently calls to learn more at that facility met with stony silence. Note that on July 8-9, especially in the state of Texas, the question of legal actions taken against any who share data on 'discs' if they were learned to be part of a government atomic experiment (under current espionage and atomic energy rules and laws of the time) appears in newspapers. The confused message is these are pranks, imaginary, hoaxes, people seeing things, but remember you get the death sentence for spreading information about them.  

August 1947 - SilverSpringsOH; MilanItaly; HollaranAFBNM; TwinFallsID; BethelareaALS; DanforthIL; HackensackNJ;Placerville?; PhiladelphiaPA; PhiladelphiaPA; BostonMAS; Japan

September 1947 - OswegoOR; LoganUT; TorontaCAN; MidwayIslands to Oshu; SalmonDamID; 

[Historic Note: General Twining issued memor of Sept 23 indicating the objects are unknown but real]

October 1947 - Mexico; VeniaOH; DaytonOH; LasVegasNV; DauphinMANITOBA; DodgevilleWIS; PhoenixAZ; SanFranciscoCA

[Historic Note: Yeager breaks the sound barrier Oct.14; planes had run through June and July but details on flight paths hard to find]

November 1947 - CapeBlancoOR; BoiseID

December 1947 - Oslo Norway; LovelockNV; xx3N and 114 degrees22South {over ocean]