The Saucer Dance (July 9, 1947)

July 9, 1947, as headlines were either about General Ramey 'emptying the saucer' from Roswell or news that atomic secrets stolen a year earlier had been returned (and not recently). 

In the Dallas-Ft. Worth area a local dance instructor from the Arthur Murray Dance Studio, demonstrated her newly created dance: The Saucer Dance. 

 Citing that there were just too many people seeing and talking about the odd objects she set it to music, and some dance steps. 

The events of 1947 - unidentified flying object-wise - fall into three general categories.

January though May - Thing are going on but we will ignore it and hope it goes away. Sightings are limited to isolated areas in the United States or in foreign nations where it is fairly easy to wave the hand and mutter, "loonies!"

May through September - May through June there is a uptick in reports (some from highly qualified individuals) but since they cannot be seeing the things they say - they aren't. Bluff and derogatory remarks, ridicule, flat out denials and verbalized questions about the soberness or  trustworthiness of anyone claiming to see such things that "cannot be there." July 4th holiday and there is an explosion of sightings - across the country and before massed crowds of people outside at picnics and similar celebrations - suddenly they cannot be laughed off due to the numbers, geographical spread, and quality of those reporting. At the end of July an official report is being compiled that identifies the common shape (disc, round, curved front and flat tail end), the common speed range (300- 1000 mph) and extreme maneuvers (80 degree turns, rapid moves that would have been intolerable to a pilot to the current knowledge), etc. In this time period a combination of dire hints of death sentences (in case they are atomic project products), large scale ridicule of any and all witnesses, and a series of probable hoaxing events to aid visuals to the picture - the number of reports and stories go down. 

October through December - the topic is sometimes termed "the almost forgotten flying saucers" of earlier in the year. Yet, by late December the Air Force is forming the first of several investigative or record gathering projects labeled "SIGN".  It is born from several "estimates of the situations" and "analysis of flying disc" reports generated in and for the Office of Intelligence for the Air Force. As of December 22, 1947 those documents can only state  the objects being seen are real, not all can be explained away as misidentifications or natural phenomena, and they did not have a clue where those mysterious remaining ones came from (although they had compiled the probable physicality of the objects based on dozens of high quality reports.

The government, according to those reports, did not know what the objects were in those best quality cases. Did they turn out the lights, shut the door , and go hit a dance floor trying out that "Saucer Dance?"

That remains a mystery - like so much about those early months and years.

Farmington, NM and Exploding Skyhook Balloons (1950)

 In Dr. Donald H. Menzel's work with Lyle Boyd, The World of the Flying Saucers , the reigning debunker of the day excelled.  "A burst balloon has caused many a saucer scare, but the invasion of Farmington, New Mexico, on Saint Patrick's Day 1950 was one of the most dramatic. The "saucers" began to fly about 10:15 A.M. M.S.T. and soon filled the air. In numbers estimated from 500 to thousands, for the next hour the gleaming saucer-shaped objects soared over the sown, moving erratically at incredible speed, darting in and out among each other..." The answer, he went on to explain, was more prosaic. A Skyhook balloon had been launched that morning from Holloman Air Force Base near White Sands, New Mexico. Near Farmington, in the cold atmosphere of at 60,000 feet the balloon had become brittle, burst, and disintegrated  into hundreds of tiny pieces of plastic. Light as feathers, shining in the sunlight, they floated over the town and away.

Sounds good. What the neat explanation failed, intentionally, to share was the fact that the sightings went on for three days, numerous witnesses saw the disc like objects on all three days, and years later records indicate there was no such Skyhook balloon released at White Sands. Added to that is the way this episode, like the Roswell incident, were so completely buried that most people were unaware of the episode when its half-century anniversary occurred. Tales emerged of newspapers being snatched up, people told to not say anything, etc. 

According to local news and accounts the events were March 17,18, 19, 1950, Farmington, New Mexico. 

Check out the story in detail at Farmington NM 70th Anniversary of Mass UFO Sighting (exonews.org)

Also, see The Farmington, New Mexico UFO Armada Case - UFO Insight

Psychological Strategy Board of the U.S. And UFO's

 Under the Truman Administration in 1951 (4 April) there was the creation of the Psychological Strategy Board (see U.S. Dept of State, Office of the Historian, at Foreign Relations of the United States, 1951, National Security Affairs; Foreign Economic Policy, Volume I - Office of the Historian; see also CIA FOIA pages at PSYCHOLOGICAL STRATEGY BOARD (PSB) | CIA FOIA (foia.cia.gov)).

This group to be made up of the U.S. Secretary of State, the Deputy Secretary of Defense, the Director of Cental Intelligence or a designated representative. The purpose was primarily propaganda and essentially vague in its particulars:

"It is the purpose of this directive to authorize and provide for the more effective planning, coordination and conduct, within the framework of approved national policies, of psychological operations.  

There is hereby established a Psychological Strategy Board responsible, within the purposes and terms of this directive, for the formulation and promulgation, as guidance to the departments and agencies [Page 59] responsible for psychological operations, of over-all national psychological objectives, policies and programs, and for the coordination and evaluation of the national psychological effort."

What was precluded was "overt economic warfare" and "This directive does not authorize the Board nor the Director to perform any “psychological operations”."

The board did, apparently, have the ability to sub-contract with experts in a variety of fields.

It was finally abolished 3 September 1953 under Executive Order # 10483, due to concerns of a lack of oversight or control of what was being done in the group. This may have been merely a tug of war for control or a serious concern over rogue groups without clear cut goals, rules, and accountability. The group remained, under new name and some new guidelines, until it was again abolished by President Kennedy in 1961. 

Also of note, is that this group was thought to be a response to both the Korean Conflict (1950-1953) and to the emergence of a new "Red Fear" in the form of McCarthy censorship and accusations of infiltration of communist sympathizers or spies into the fabric of American life. From 1947 there were some who believed that the "flying discs" being reported were tales shared to generate fear for political reasons. As early as July 6, 1947, stories were in the papers of "Russian atom saucers" and by 1949 senators were sharing stories of advanced Russian weaponry made to look like saucers. This was a ruse and a cover story because documents indicate that into 1948 the government, and the Air Force, did not know what the objects were and that the operation and form of the crafts seen had a startling consistency in descriptions. 

The work of Project Blue Book was included in that larger pond of resources tapped by the PSB.  In most official and public declarations of the goals of PBB there are usually only two purposes listed. In one period, however, there are more and that involves sending data to those involved in the field of psychological warfare. From the CIA FOIA documents Dulles solicited ideas and implementations of psychological activities from all agencies and he pointed out that only "overt economic warfare had been banned by presidential order." (see PSYCHOLOGICAL STRATEGY BOARD (PSB) (cia.gov)) . Given the timing of the Robertston Panel in 1952-1953 it is clear that it dovetailed with the goals of the PSB. 

The outright ridicule, claim of balloons, experimental aircraft, reflections, endless meteors, and misidentifications of known craft would ignore the serious questions some of the most repeated and most qualified witness accounts. The question of why they were being allowed to raise a hazard to civil airways by flying so close to commercial jets, of why radar was fallible were we still using it to safeguard our nation, and why had these things suddenly begun to be seen in the skies in such high numbers?

It has been theorized, and it may be that the archives of this group may prove, that some debunkers of the time related to the UFO phenomena might have been sub-contracted to work behind the scenes or even more publicly to discredit the topic and the witnesses. 

The CIA was prominent in the board's leadership. It should be noted that the CIA was not organized until 1947 but it had functioned under another name since about 1946.  Truman established the National Intelligence Authority in January 1946. Its operational extension was known as the Central Intelligence Group (CIG), which was the direct predecessor of the CIA. Numerous teletype communications in the files of Project Blue Book include notations for the "CIG." IN its creation the CIA was give carte blanche regarding federal funds use and could withhold all information on its own workings, staffing, and spending. Under the guise of National Security a group was being normalized that would, in truth, function outside the lines of normal authority to the representative of the people of the United States. As a management plan it was a disastrous move and out of step with founding national ideals. The move to create such an agency was ill-conceived and poorly planned. As an intelligence agency they lacked the ability to gather information and for a decade their performance was poor. As a central intelligence agency there was a distinct lack of cohesion to what they did. The military continued to collect its own intelligence and share only what it wanted. Politicians did the same. Although a dream of a central "intelligence" clearing house and analysis center might have been the nebulous idea it was implemented with out clear design, organization and guides. 

The first directors of the CIA is an intriguing list:

Rear Adm. Sidney W. Souers, U.S. Naval Reserve (January 23, 1946–June 10, 1946), Since this is before the creation of the CIA in 1947, he would have been head of the CIG

Lieut. Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg, U.S. Army (June 10, 1946–May 1, 1947). Since this is before the creation of the CIA in 1947, he would have been head of the CIG. Of note is the fact that early in the post- Arnold and Roswell Incident period, Vandenberg repeatedly makes statements 

Rear Adm. Roscoe H. Hillenkoetter, U.S. Navy (May 1, 1947–October 7, 1950). The leader during the transition from CIG to CIA. Strangely, he would become one of the first board members and active participant in the creation of the first major civilian organization designed to research the topic of "flying saucers" or, as they were called "Unidentified Flying Objects" and "Unidentified Aerial Objects."  Evidence is present that states the military - spurred on by several possible government groups and agencies - post the Roswell Incident implemented an intentional debunking program to clamp the lid on the sightings and their reporting in newspapers. It was one using ridicule as part of the arsenal (see militarydebunk (roswellproof.com)). By late July and through September air bases across the country were inviting the public for tours of the local installations with demonstrations of the "weather balloon." In later years he joined NICAP in 1956 and remained as a special board member until 1960.  (see United Press International (February 28, 1960). "AIR FORGE ORDER ON 'SAUCERS' CITED; Pamphlet by the Inspector General Called Objects a 'Serious Business'" (Fee). The New York Times. p. 30. WASHINGTON, February 27 (UPI) – The Air Force has sent its commands a warning to treat sightings of unidentified flying objects as "serious business" directly related to the nation's defense, it was learned today."). His most well known quote, from an address to congress, was that while government was urging its people to view the subject seriously they were using ridicule t silence the public.  

Gen. Walter Bedell Smith, U.S. Army (October 7, 1950–February 9, 1953). The leader who would have been active participant in the original Psychological Strategy Board group from 1951 until 1953.  

Allen W. Dulles (February 26, 1953–November 29, 1961). The leader under the 

PROMOTING A PLANE: THE FLYING FLAPJACK

 In January 1947 the cover of a model makers periodical showed the "Flying Flapjack". Vought XF5U "Flying Flapjack" as seen on the cover of Model Airplane News Cover Art for January, 1947, by Jo Kotula (Model Airplane News Cover for January, 1947 (jitterbuzz.com)

Watching the video it is clear the object photographed in Phoenix in 1947 did not move or maneuver in any similar ways to the Vaught aircraft.

The Phoenix Photo of 1947

 July, 7, Phoenix, AZ:  Photo taken July 7 about 5 p.m.; Internal comments in the Project Blue Book indicate that other photos may have been taken that day as well but no corresponding report has been found. It is significant that the summary sheet note two things that internal information seems to contradict. (1) Handwritten , faint, but readable label of “Prob Hoax.” And the information that the sighting was accompanied by “the sound of a jet”. 

The image was taken about 5 p.m. on July 7, 1947 at the home of William Rhoades of Phoenix. Apparently, the FBI had been asked to acquire the negative by a Fugate with AAF Office of Intelligence, and that was done Aug. 30, 1947. Rhoades turned them over, with the understanding the negatives would go to Fugate and the Army and that it was unlikely he would ever get them back. Initial investigations pointed out that the images were similar to the report (Incident # 17) of Kenneth Arnold in June. It would be remarked on in a list in December of 1947 an USAA reporting on the ‘flying discs’ and admitting there was a common planform in use. One that matched

the Arnold and the Rhodes sightings. In June 1952 there is an interview with Rhodes about how he had taken photos, turned them over to the military and they had never been returned. This triggered, in that edging era, an entire re investigation of the man. They utilized the FBI, the local police, the Better Business Bureau, the Credit Bureau, and the local Chamber of Commerce (as well as others not specified). They sought to discern the professional and social status of the “SUBJECT.” In 1952, the United States was deep into the first years of what became the “McCarthy Era” with the congressional passage of the Subversive Activities Control Act of 1950, which made up Title 1 of the Internal Security Act of 1950 (also called the McCarran Act). So despite the fact the man was a Navy veteran, an upstanding citizen in 1947 and still in 1952, he was deeply investigated.  

The fact that his mother was a Russian who married an American Citizen was no doubt a trigger but also the fact that 1952 saw a return of high numbers of very public sighting of those things in the skies. So, in an about face of 1947, in 1952 the conclusions are “hoax.” Forget the 1947 briefing report noting the similarities between sightings just two weeks apart and separated by several states and the recognition then that a strange unidentified craft was playing in the skies overhead, in 1952 it would be labeled a hoax. First, though, they had to find them. Initially denying they had the negatives and the photos, they finally found copies of the original photographs in a confidential file of “Unidentified Missiles” labeled as “A-34921AC” and “34921AC.”  

That being the case, when the photographic examination takes place in 1952 one question is very vague: were they examining the original photographs or the copies made of the originals? 

Early after the 1947 sighting a “Dr. Irving Langmuir” examined the photos and he “discounted the photographed objects as being merely paper swept up by winds.” The attendant AMC Conclusion at that time was “In view of the apparent character of the witness, the evaluation of Dr. Langmuir seems entirely probable.” Yet, in 1952 it being summarily labeled a “hoax," and evidence is present4ed on the summary sheet that followed a long standing tool of PBB, one right out of a magicians handbook, give the information but not all of the information.

Distraction and mis-direction in stating the "sound of jets" were heard on the space asking about sound and the sighting of the object. Inside, the report it is clear before he saw the object he heard what sounded like a jet engine but while the object was overhead he heard nothing.  Given this was Phoenix with airports and air fields the sound of jets may have been heard but may have had nothing to do with the object seen, especially since it was soundless while overhead. 

The witness in describing the object said it reminded him of the craft on the cover of the 1947 Mechanics Illustrated of May. (shown here) . On that cover was a "Flying Flapjack" but the witness seem to indicate from his sighting that this one was flying backwards.

Who Were the Scientific Advisors of the Air Force Before 1948?

 When the odd objects began to ramp up their sightings in early 1947, most of the investigations were all in-house but occasionally an outside consultant would be used. 

Newspaper articles of June and July 1947 were filled with the suggestions and theories of scientists in several fields. 

In a late 1947 report on the "investigation" into the objects being reported there was mention of "scientists" consulted. Who were they?

Harvard, M.I.T., C.I.T. were all institutions deeply involved with a variety of research from the 1920's onward in the fields of aeronautics, astronomy, physics, electricity, and more. 

Most sources suggest Dr. J. Allen Hynek was not contracted as a consultant until 1948, as Project Sign swung into action.

Language, handwriting, and other factors in files related to Project Blue Book seems to indicate there were at least two consultants (perhaps more) who were utilized at one point or another. At some point, J. Allen Hynek began to sign his comments with "JAH."  I suspect it was because of the motives of the individuals making the comments were driven by opposing goals. 

Identifying who and when various consultants worked with the program would go a long way to illuminating the process, attitudes, and shifting sands of the entire project from 1947 to 1969 and, maybe, even bring light to today's approach to the topic. 

Here are some of the names who were consulted circa 1947- 

Dr. Irving Langmuir - Nobel winning scientist in the field of chemistry. He also worked in other fields, was the father of the incandescent light bulb, and early work in the field of plasma (both electrical and the biological type, in fact he gave plasma to the discovery of blood platelets).  He was called in to examine the photographs of William Rhoads in Phoenix, Arizona taken on 7 July 1947. Just two weeks after the sighting by Kenneth Arnold the similarity to his original sketch and the photos taken by Rhoads will be remarked on in a special analysis report of 18 Dec 1947 among the AMC and the Directorate of Intelligence for the Air Force. They will note the similar appearance of the two sightings and the "fact" that the sightings to date had a common look to them: a rounded front end and a straight back edge. It gave a slight shoe heel shape. The only suggested craft made by human industry, even the ones on the drawing board, all looked more delta or like variations on the Flying Pancake. Rhoades noted that he thought the object looked similar to the Flying Flapjack depicted on the May 1947 cover of Mechanics Illustrated "but the thing he saw was flying backwards."  The flapjack shaped aircraft was rounded at the back and the front had two sharp jut outs which held propellers. It looked more like a half circle with two prongs out in front.  Yet, Rhodes indicated the rounded part was in front and the image looks more like a rubber heel in shape.  Models were being advertised for the Flying Flapjack in hobby magazines in January of 1947 and Rhoades liked modeling and radio as well as remote control were interests of the ex- Navy man. Yet, as deeply as the FBI and OSI looked into his story at the beginning in 1947 , surely they would have uncovered all that and been able to labeled it a prank of remote control model at that time. No, instead the copies of his pictures show up in a classified file of  "unknonw missiles" in the files of the USAF. "Missile" was one of the terms used in the early days of the period for the unknowns: flying discs, flying objects, flying saucers, flying missiles.

1947: A "Secret" Memo and an "Analysis of "Flying Disc" Reports.

 On 26 September 1947 a memorandum for the Assistant Chef of Air Staff went out on the subject "Radar Pick-ups of High-Speed Targets in the Far East." The "SECRET" memo covered events from July 1 to September 16 in the Far East.

July 1, 1947, Chitose AAB, Hokkaido, Japan, an object tracked on radar traveling in excess of 500 mph (or 435 knots) at an altitude of 9000 or more ft.

August 28, 1947, Radar Station, Fukuoka, Japan. A target picked up in orbit at a range of 26-30 nautical miles, 390-415 knots, and an altitude of 1500 ft.

September 16, 1947, Radar Station, Fukuoka, Japan. Radar picked up at 89 miles at a speed of 840 - 900 mph (730-380 knots) and an altitude between 10,000 to 20,000 feet.

The first two fell within the range of potential Soviet jet aircraft but the last one was not known. No aircraft were reported in the areas where the targets were picked up.

The "Preliminary conclusions" stated, "Great stress was given by the reporting agency to the high degree of proficiency of the radar operators and controllers in each case. An operator of even moderate proficiency would have no trouble differentiating between a target and a weather phenomena.  Frontal activity as seen on a radar screen would show depth while the reflection from a meteor exists for such a short period of time that it would probably not be distinguishable from static interference. Therefore, it appears that the incidents were not due to natural phenomena.

Further, it was concluded the July 1 "pickup" was of more than one object. The size comparable to responses received from four F-51 type aircraft. "When this target initially reversed course at point A, it broke up into two responses and then again merged into one marge response on its outbound course. The track of this target, if an aircraft, could " indicate a photographic mission." 

The second sighting of August 28 was "probably a jet-propelled aircraft. Soviet jet aircraft are believed to have performance sufficient for such a mission (speed of about 390 knots).

For the last event in September, "the speed indicated in the last report seems unreasonable for piloted aircraft since it was well into the supersonic range. The target, if an aircraft, would require an extremely large fuel supply for this speed. If rocket propelled, it is hard to visualize operation for a long enough period of time to enable it to return to its base. The cable report of this last sighting indicated that further details, including weather, would follow. Upon receipt of this information a better evaluation may be possible."  James F. Olive, Jr. Col. G.S.C. Chief, Air Intelligence Division AC/S2 concluded the report with one last point. "Present information does not permit a definite evaluation that all objects reported were either aircraft or airborne missiles but does support the conclusion that they were not natural phenomena."

A document of  titled, "ANALYSIS OF 'FLYING DISC' REPORTS " (AFOAI-CA; 18 December 1947) was sent to the attention of the Director of Research and Development and the Director of Intelligence. Stamped on the file is :" George C. McDonald, Major General, USAF, Director of Intelligence."  It was stamped "22 Dec. 1947". The five (5) page document was unclassified per executive order 12356, Section 3.3. NND 863511 by G. Lewis, NARA, on 3/13/1986.

The introductory page has 5 pointed enumerated points. 

1, Contents are two papers (a) one summarizing "Analysis of Flying Disc Reports" prepared by the Directorate of Intelligence, USAF and (b) one prepared by the AIR MATERIAL COMMAND, subject: "AMC Opinion Concerning "Flying Objects"."

2. The Directorate of Intelligence report presents a summary of information and observations of the "flying discs", and the line of investigation pursued, since the first sightings.

3.AMC was asked to conduct an independent study, and the attached reply indicates that "it is possible within the present U.S. knowledge -provided extensive detailed development is undertaken - to construct a piloted aircraft which as the general description...(of the flying discs)...which would be capable of an approximate range of 7,000 miles at subsonic speeds."

4. THE AMC report recommends the issuance of "a directive assigning a priority, security classification and code name for a detailed study of this matter to include the preparation of complete sets of all available and pertinent data" which would be available to all interested agencies."

5. IN view of the conclusions reached as a result of the study of the problem made in this office, the Director of Intelligence concurs in the AMC recommendation and forwards it for your consideration [a different look to the font for this line] "and reply to the CG< AMC. Request reply be coordinated with this Directorate."

Enclosures were: 1. Subj: "Analysis of 'Flying Discs=' Reports." and 2. Subj: "AMC Opinion Concerning 'Flying Discs", dtd Sept 23 1947.

Quick Summary of the contents of the "SECRET" stamped "Analysis of 'Flying Disc' Reports" (18 Dec 1947). With notes.

The summary (1) stated "the past months" reports had been coming in from around the world concerning "unidentified flying objects", variously identified as "flying discs", lights, trails, etc. have been by "separate and unrelated" sources. [Note: This, it should noted dovetails with other sources saying the sightings had first begun around May and supports the presence of other reports from much earlier in the year. The reliability and quality of most witnesses was noted and many witness in different locations reported the same phenomena at the same time. [Note: It should be noted that at this time the official stance was that such reports were bogus and people making them were suffering from mass hysteria, mistaken identifications, or were hoaxers].

Beyond the boundaries of the U.S. "an object and its trail" have been seen over Newfoundland, a light that had the appearance of a twin jet plane was observed over Hooker Island from an aircraft going from Midway to Alaska sighted a disc larger than a DC-3. In the Far East, three incidents of rapidly moving, unidentified objects made by U.S. radar operators.

There had been no connections found between the "ghost rockets" sightings in Sweden which might have been the result of guided missile operations, and the unidentified flying objects sighted in the U,S and  Pacific areas.

The Discussion (2) showed that study of the various reports had established that "certain features were common."  The shape of the mystery objects was consistently a thin disc, rounded at the top and flat on the bottom, perhaps approximating a "C-5h" in size. The front half of the disc is often circular, sweeping back to a square tail across the full width. [Note: this appears to be precisely the plan form drawn by Kenneth Arnold and many others, including the photo from Arizona labeled a "hoax."]. Repeatedly the surface was described as "metallic" or "mirror-like". Another marker of these objects was "extreme maneuverability, coupled with high lateral stability" as well as "high speed" making sudden or lateral " moves. A few reported indicated an ability to "hover" to appear suddenly as if from a five and to "disintegrate" or "disappear", perhaps by increasing speed. There was also the ability to group quickly in a tight formation and to take sharp evasive action.  Trails and sound reported in only a very few reports. Estimated level speed is approximated at greater than 380 knots. 

Formations of 3 to 9 objects have been reported. [Note: the official stance was one-off objects and to dismiss claims of multiples. Some Project Blue Book reports will condense down multiple reports and hide them in one single object report that can be written off].

One night time sighting saw a change in glow of the object from blue-white  , when approaching, changing to a "reddish glow" as it went away. This "could indicate ram-jets."

Some typical reports included. five police officers in Portland, OR on 7 July 1947. On the same day by WIlliam Rhoads of Phoenix and snapped a photo [Note: This is the photo they label a hoax and the story discredited, yet here they are mentioning the planform consistent with the round front and square tail of the consistent reports].  On July 10, a Mr. Woodruff, FAA mechanic, saw a circular object a high speed  and leaving a trail. Haram Field, Newfoundland.  On 11 July, three people in Cowdrey, Newfoundland. saw a disc flying high velocity and leaving a smoke trail. Here the list makes an error when it says "29 July, Kenneth Arnold....saw a formation of flying objects." It does note "his sketch of their shape corresponds clearly to that shown in the photographs made by Mr. Rhoads.  [Note: previous comments on the this case].

On the same day, two USAF pilots at Hamilton Field, Calif., saw two flying discs trailing an F-89, following it toward Oakland, Calif.

The object mentioned in this report that the sketch made by Kenneth Arnold, "corresponds closely to that shown in the photographs made by Mr. Rhoads" (Arizona). Here is one of the Rhoads photos. 

Arnold Sketch

Rhoads (AZ) photo

Continued....

Aug. 4, Bethel, Alaska, a DC-3 crew saw a disc larger than a DC-3. The aircraft was flying at 190 mph and the disc flew out of sight in about 4 minutes.

Nov. 12, the crew on the bridge of the ship on Ticonderoga on the river in Oregon, saw two discs flying an estimated 700-900 mph going north and then into a curving turn to the west in a long and low arc.

Other forms of reports involved "lights" and "radar" sightings.

Some of the lights cases mentioned were -

June 28 - Marshall Field, AL

6 July - Brimingham, AL

Sept. 12 - Midway to Honolulu flight ; observed a blue-white light approaching that changed into a red glow at an estimated 1,000 knots.

The radar cases were the ones mentioned at the beginning of this article from Japan.

The Investigations Made for the Report:

• Requested AMC conduct individual study of phenomena. Their report in document of 23 September 1947.
• Scientists asked if discs might be natural phenomena; some were, they said, but not all could be explained as natural phenomena.

• Request the FBI to check possible subversive motive behind early cases reported; FBI reported a negative on uncovering any subversive activities related to any of the cases named.
• Weather Service was to have meteorologists check possible balloons and related activities but were  unable to find links relation to times, dates and locations.
• Foreign aircraft check resulted in the names of two German designers/designs that could potentially be exploited by U.S.S.R. (a) The Horton Brothers (see previous Schulgen memo). Their "parabola" flying wing was crescent shaped. (b) EF-130 long range bomber originally designed and built in Germany and then transferred to the Soviet Union where it was shut down in June 1948. [Note: the EF-130, while innovative and more in the delta wing arena did not conform to the rounded front and straight line back mentioned earlier in this document. See the photos). 

CONCLUSIONS

1. Discs are "real and tangible."
2. "Possibly: human controlled via pilot or remote controls.
3. If they exist, based on available information, they are foreign in origin. As such, it is important to locate country and origin of objects.
4. Directorate of Intelligence of USAF will continue to collect and analyze all reports of sightings, lights, trails, etc.