--- PAGE 1 --- Declassification authority derived from FBI Automatic Declassification Guide, issued May 24, 2007. 596 (5-31-68) FBI - CENTRAL RECORDS CENTER HQ, HEADQUARTERS Class / Case # Sub Vol. Serial # 62 83894 3 101 130 8/11/1274194 RRP003IXHO 62-HQ-83894-3* SERIALS 101-130 62- HQ-83894 SECTION 3 [illegible] of Justice (FROM OR ADDED TO THIS FILE) FOR P A R334 1 BUREAU FOR OIPA JAN 19 1979 BY [illegible] INVESTIGATION DO NOT DESTROY SECTION 3 SERIALS 101-130 COPIED FOR FOIPA #389136 F I P A MAY 13 1977 R348 PICKETT STREET DO NOT DESTROY USE CARE IN HANDLING THIS FILE O I P A MAR 1 1978 BY [illegible] FOIPA # 993087 Transfer-Call 421 --- PAGE 2 --- STANDARD FORM NO. 64 Office Memo[illegible]dum · UNITED ST[illegible] GOVERNMENT TO : Director, FBI DATE: September 4, 1947 FROM : SAC, San Francisco AIRMAIL SPECIAL DELIVERY SUBJECT: REPORTS OF FLYING DISCS Enclosed is a copy of a letter dated August 25, 1947, with attachment from Lt. Col. DONALD L. SPRINGER of A-2, Hamilton Field, California. Even though Col. SPRINGER feels that Mr. JOHNSON may have read some of his claims in a newspaper, Col. SPRINGER believes that Mr. F. M. JOHNSON should be interviewed in this matter. In accordance with Bureau Bulletin No. 42, dated July 30, 1947, Portland is requested to exhaustively interview Mr. F. M. JOHNSON, 106 N.W. First Ave., Portland, Oregon, regarding his alleged sighting of a "flying disc" on June 24, 1947. Copies of the result of this interview should be furnished the San Francisco Field Office for distribution to the 6th Army Intelligence. DWK:MR Encls. 2 62-2938 cc Portland (Encls. 4) - AMSD [handwritten margin: Hawk [illegible]] [unclear handwritten: Info to Major Cabell - mid] [illegible signature] RECORDED INDEXED 125 162-83894 F B I 31 SEP 23 1947 EX-83 [stamp: OCT 3 1947] [handwritten: R-344] [handwritten: 302] [illegible stamps and handwritten markings] --- PAGE 3 --- DECLASSIFIED Authority: NND 90986 CONFIDENTIAL HEADQUARTERS FOURTH AIR FORCE Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff, A-2 Intelligence Hamilton Field, California . 4AFDA                                                        25 August 1947 SUBJECT: Flying Disc. TO:       Special Agent in Charge, FBI, U. S. Department of Justice,           Federal Office Building, Room 422, San Francisco, Calif. 1.     The attached true copy of a letter from Mr. F. M. Johnson was received by this officer 22 August 1947. 2.     Your attention is invited to the similarity between Arnold’s early report and this gentleman’s report. A possibility exists that Mr. Johnson might have read some of this in the newspapers when Arnold was publicized re this matter. 3.     This headquarters does not intend to investigate this incident. It is requested that a result of any interview you may make be furnished this headquarters. 1 Incl. (dup) [handwritten: illegible] Ltr fr F.M.Johnson (True Cy) DONALD L. SPRINGER Lt. Colonel, GSC AC of S, A-2 [handwritten: 62-83894-101] [unclear: DISCLOSURE] [stamp: AUG 27 1947] [stamp: SAN F[illegible]] [stamp: ROUTED TO] [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] [signature: illegible] --- PAGE 4 --- PORTLAND, OREGON, August 20th 1947 Lt. Col. Donald L. Springer, Assistant Staff Sir, Saw in the portland paper a short time ago in regards to an article in regards to the so called flying disc having any basis of fact. I can say am a prospector and was in the Mt Adams district on June 24th the day Kenneth Arnold of Boise Idaho claims he saw a formation of flying disc. And i saw the same flying objects at about the same time. Having a telescope with me at the time i can assure you they are real and noting like them I ever saw before they did not pass verry high over where I was standing at the the time. plobly 1000 ft. they were Round about 30 foot in diameter tapering sharply to a point in the head end in an oval shape. with a bright top surface. I did not hear any noise as you would from a plane. But there was an object in the tail end looked like a big hand of a clock shifting from side to side like a big magenete. There speed as far as i know seemed to be greater than anything I ever saw. Last veiw I got of the objects they were standing on edge Banking in a Cloud. Yours Respectfully /s/ F. M. Johnson 106 No. West 1st Ave Portland, Oregon A TRUE COPY: [signature] DONALD L. SPRINGER, Lt. Colonel, GSC AC of S, A-2 [unclear: 62-83894-101] 2 ENCLOSURE [stamp: illegible] U. S. D AUG 27 1947 [unclear: SANI] ROUTED TO [signature] [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] --- PAGE 5 --- STANDARD FORM NO. 64 Office Memorandum • UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TO : Director, FBI DATE: September 4, [unclear: 1947?] Atten: Assistant Director D. M. LADD FROM : SAC, San Francisco SUBJECT: REPORTS OF FLYING DISCS AIRMAIL [handwritten: illegible] Enclosed for your information are copies of two letters from Lt. Col. DONALD L. SPRINGER of A-2, Hamilton Field, California, dated August 27, 1947, with attachments reporting the sighting of "flying discs" on Guam, and result of A-2 investigation at Tacoma and Kelso, Washington. DWK:MR 62-2938 [handwritten: illegible] [strikethrough: illegible] ENCLOSURE ATTACHED COPIES DESTROYED 270. NOV 18 1964 [stamp: ENCLOSURE BEHIND FILE] RECORDED EX-37 12 - EX-37 53 OCT 3 1947 162-83894-112 F B I 36 SEP 24 1947 [stamp: INDEXED] [handwritten: illegible] --- PAGE 6 --- SECRET HEADQUARTERS FOURTH AIR FORCE Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff, A-2 Intelligence Hamilton Field, California 4AFDA 333.5/1208-I 27 August 1947 [unclear: 62-2938*] SUBJECT: Re Flying Disc. TO: Special Agent in Charge, FBI, U. S. Department of Justice, Federal Office Building, Room 422, San Francisco, California. 1. Following is extract from the Weekly Intelligence Summary, Air Transport Command, Washington 25, D. C., dated 20 August 1947, Copy No. 120, Article 1, pg 1: "FLYING OBJECTS IN GUAM: Unidentified flying objects have been observed by three American enlisted men of the 147th Air- ways and Air Communications Service Squadron at Harmon Field, Guam. The men report that at 1040 hours on 14 August 1947 the two objects, which they describe as small, crescent shaped and travelling at a speed twice that of a fighter plane, passed over them on a zig-zag course in a westerly direction at an approxi- mate altitude of twelve hundred feet. The objects disappeared into clouds and a few seconds later a similar object possibly one of those previously observed, emerged from the clouds and proceeded west. No further details have been reported." 2. For your information. [signature: Donald L. Springer] DONALD L. SPRINGER Lt. Colonel, GSC AC of S, A-2 [illegible] SECRET --- PAGE 7 --- ENCLOSURE 62-83894-102 --- PAGE 8 --- [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] HEADQUARTERS FOURTH AIR FORCE Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff, A-2 Intelligence Hamilton Field, California 4AFDA 333.5/1208-I 27 August 1947 SUBJECT: Investigation of Flying Disc. TO: Special Agent in Charge, FBI, U. S. Department of Justice, Federal Office Building, Room 422, San Francisco, California. Attached summary forwarded for your information. 1 Incl: Summary of Information. DONALD L. SPRINGER Lt. Colonel, GSC AC of S, A-2 62-83894-102 ENCLOSURE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIG[illegible] U. S. DE[illegible] AUG 30 1947 SAN FRANCISCO ROUTED TO [illegible] [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] --- PAGE 9 --- CONFIDENTIAL HEADQUARTERS FOURTH AIR FORCE Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff, A-2 Intelligence Hamilton Field, California 4AFDA 333.5/1208-I 27 August 1947 SUBJECT: Investigation of Flying Disc. TO: Special Agent in Charge, FBI, U. S. Department of Justice, Seattle, Washington. Attached summary forwarded for your information. 1 Incl: Summary of Information. DONALD L. SPRINGER Lt. Colonel, GSC AC of S, A-2 [stamp: [illegible] [illegible] SEP 2 1947 SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA REFERRED TO [illegible]] [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] --- PAGE 10 --- [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] C O P Y AIR RESCUE SERVICE DETACHMENT 8 (62d AAF BU) McChord Field, Tacoma, Washington 4 August 1947 SUBJECT: Final Mission Report TO: Commanding Officer Air Rescue Service MacDill Field, Florida 1. MISSION NUMBER Thirty-Nine. 2. NATURE. a. At 0400 PST, 1 August 47, ARMY FLIGHT SERVICE notified this detachment that a plane had been seen to crash and burn thirteen (13) miles south of KELSO, Washington (4608'N, 122055'W). 3. ACTION TAKEN. a. 1 Aug 47. At 0430 PST, AFS received information from Mr. O. C. Clark, local sheriff of KELSO, Wash., that the scene of the crash was fifteen (15) to twenty (20) miles east of KELSO in the vicinity of GOBLE CREEK. The KELSO Chief of Police saw an aircraft fly low over the town, then crash and burn to the east. The time was about 0236 PST. A check of aircraft known to be in the vicinity revealed that B-25 #1316 had departed MCCHORD FIELD at 0212 PST for HAMILTON FIELD, California. The weather was reported as [unclear: CFR?]. A full moon made visibility exceptionally good. The pilot's name was CAPT. W. C. DAVIDSON; the plane carried three (3) additional persons. The Base Operations Officer and Base PIO were notified. This detachment began organizing a ground party of base personnel to supplement that being formed by the KELSO Chief of Police. At 0600 PST information was received from KELSO by AFS that ground fog in the valleys at the scene of the crash was preventing a ground party from locating the plane. Since no communication had been received from B-25 #1316, it was assumed that it was the plane reported as crashed. ARS C-47 was pre-flighted to transport the Army ground party to KELSO but a check of the field conditions there deemed it advisable to use a smaller aircraft. Of the two C-45s available, one belonging to AFS was unserviced after a night flight; the other, belong- ing to AACS, was readied even though a responsible officer of that organ- ization was not present to authorize the flight. Fog at KELSO prevented take-off until 0700 PST. The ground party, led by CAPT. W. L. LUTTRELL and CAPT. T. H. FORSBERG, consisted of six men including a medical technician and a photographer. At 0800 PST, the KELSO Chief of Police notified AFS that a passenger of the crashed airplane was in his office and had confirmed 62-8394-102 ENCLOSURE [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] [unclear: Incl #8?] --- PAGE 11 --- [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] Subject: Final Mission Report 4 August 1947 The belief that the crash was that of the unreported B-25. The Passenger, Sgt. E. L. TAFF, of FT. LAWTON, SEATTLE, was uninjured, but reported that the crew chief, T/Sgt. W. D. MATHEWS, was at a farm house near the scene of the crash and was injured. Sgt. TAFF then led an ambulance to Sgt. MATHEWS who was subsequently taken to a local hospital. At 0810 PST an attempt was made to telephone Sq. B at HAMILTON FIELD but no answer was received; however, it was known that HAMILTON AFB was aware of the incident and would notify Sq. B. At 0700 PST Capt. LITTRELL departed in a C-46 for KELSO. At 0745 PST Sq B was contacted by phone and given a flash report. At 0905 PST CAPT LITTRELL phoned and informed that he had placed CAPTAIN FORSBERG in charge of Army personnel proceeding to the scene of the crash. No serial search was necessary as civilians in the area knew the exact location of the crash and had reported finding one (1) body in the wreckage. CAPT. LITTRELL prepared to fly Sgt’s TAFF and MATHEWS to MCCHORD FIELD for medical attention, arriving at 0945 PST. The survivors stated that they believed neither the pilot nor co-pilot has parachuted from the plane. The cause of the incident was at this time determined to be a fire in the left engine. CAPT LITTRELL was informed by Sgt. TAFF that he believed classified documents had been aboard the plane; CAPT FORSBERG was instructed to take necessary precautions. An ambulance met the plane at MCCHORD FIELD carrying the two survivors and took them to the hospital. Interrogation revealed that the left engine had caught fire in the power section and flames and smoke had spread to the flight deck almost immed- iately. The crew chief, MATHEWS, assisted TAFF in attaching his chest pack and TAFF abandoned the plane at an estimated altitude of 10,000 ft (this fact is doubted but is not considered necessarily relevant). MATHEWS helped the pilot and co-pilot attach their chest packs (all per- sonnel had been wearing the harness) and as he left the plane was aware that the co-pilot was preparing to follow. The pilot had started to leave and, to the best recollection of MATHEWS, was partially standing and holding the control wheel with his left hand. MATHEWS statements indicate that proper emergency procedures had been performed but that the flames had en- veloped the entire left side almost immediately. TAFF stated that, because of the full moon and good visibility, he saw MATHEWS leave the plane and was able to follow the plane to the ground and that he saw no one else bail out. The ship was enveloped in flames and was beginning to fall apart before hitting the ground where it exploded and burned about one (1) mile from where he, TAFF, landed. He lit in a tree, and not knowing how to release his parachute of the quick-detachable kind, cut himself loose from the harness with his pocket knife. He kicked and struggled and eventually jumped to the ground, receiving a jolt on impact but was unable to guess how far he had fallen. He then followed a cow path for an estimated two (2) miles to a farm house, arriving after MATHEWS. Meanwhile, as MATHEWS cleared the plane he turned and saw the plane strike the ground, explode and burn. Just before or just at the time of impact he saw an object afire thrown clear of the plane but did not know whether it was a person or part of the plane. MATHEWS also lit in a tree, and after freeing himself from his harness, fell to the ground where he injured his back. He lost consciousness and on recovering went to the burning plane, about fifty 2 [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] --- PAGE 12 --- [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] Subject: Final Mission Report 4 August 1947 (50) yards away. Flares were going off and he thought best to leave the scene. He heard a stream nearby and followed it until he came to a house and aroused the occupants. Soon TAFT arrived at the same house and, being un- injured, was driven into town. Then he led an ambulance to effect transporta- tion of MATHERS to a hospital. Meanwhile, civilians reached the scene of the crash where they found one body. At 0930 PST, a message from SQ 3 informed that top secret material was in the navigator's kit and to request Commanding Officer MCCHORD FIELD to expedite all available information to Commanding Officer HAMILTON FIELD. Meanwhile, CAPT FORSBERG and four (4) enlisted men departed KELSO at 0830 PST for scene of the crash. They were transported by the WASHINGTON STATE POLICE who knew the exact location of the plane (46°09'N - 122°45'W). The ground party determined upon arrival at the scene, the two (2) bodies were in the wreckage. Indications led to the belief that the co-pilot was afire when he left the plane an instant before impact. The pilot's remains were found in the wreckage. Pre- liminary investigation by CAPT FORSBERG disclosed the planes left wing about one hundred twenty-five (125) yards from the widely scattered por- tions of the plane. The left wing was intact and had apparently torn off just outboard of the left engine before impact. The forward portion of the wing stub was melted but the rear two thirds indicated that it had ripped loose from the inboard section of the wing. The wing leading edge was undamaged. The navigation and landing lights were unbroken. The aileron was undamaged but the flap section was crushed, leading to the belief that the wing struck the tail section. From these indications it is believed the wing ripped from the airplane just after MATHERS abandoned the plane. The resulting spin thus prevented the remaining crew members from bailing out although the co-pilot may have been in the hatch. A few civilians were in the area when CAPT FORSBERG arrived and he took precautions to prevent them from disturbing the wreckage. At 1157 PST CAPT LITTRELL flew CAPT RICE, M. C., to KELSO. An ambulance dispatched from MCCHORD FIELD, met them at KELSO, and was led to the scene of the crash by the STATE POLICE. The bodies were recovered and trans- ported in the ambulance to MCCHORD FIELD. CAPT LITTRELL returned to MCCHORD FIELD where camping equipment was prepared to be dropped to the ground party. CAPT LITTRELL made a successful drop at dusk by sighting on a signal fire. The ground party set up camp at the wreckage scene to act as guard and to investigate further the following day. They were relieved of responsibility of all recovered documents by a CIC agent who had arrived about 1800 PST. b. 2 Aug 47. The ground party remained at the scene of the crash pending official securing of the incident. No aerial activity. c. 3 Aug 47. MCCHORD FIELD Operations Officer departed at 1000 PST to investigate the accident and to relieve CAPT FORSBERG, who returned at 1600 PST. Incident closed. 3 [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] --- PAGE 13 --- [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] COPY Subject: Final Mission Report 4 August 1947 5. STATISTICAL SUMMARY a. GROUND ACTIVITY (1) Total man hours by ARS Personnel in field 72 (2) Total man hours by other Army Personnel (estimate) 500 (3) Total man hours by civilian personnel (est) 150 (4) No. of miles driven by Army Vehicles 500 b. AERIAL ACTIVITY (1) Total No. of sorties flown 5 (2) Total hours flown by Army aircraft 6 c. LOCAL PURCHASES (1) None 6. COMMENTS a. Cooperation received from all civilian agencies concerned was complete and excellent. 7. RECOMMENDATIONS a. None. ROBERT H. MASONHEIMER Captain, Air Corps Commanding Officer 1 Incl: 1-Photographs 4 [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] --- PAGE 14 --- [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] HEADQUARTERS FOURTH AIR FORCE Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff, A-2 Intelligence Hamilton Field, California TITLE Investigation of Flying Disc INVESTIGATION MADE AT Tacoma and Kelso, Washington FILE No. 4AF 8-1208-1 DATE 12 August 1947 CONTROLLING OFFICE Air Defense Command, Mitchel Field PERIOD COVERED 31 July through 7 August 1947 CASE CLASSIFICATION Incident STATUS OF CASE Pending REASON FOR INVESTIGATION: Investigation initiated at the request of Air Defense Command, reference ltr Hq ADC, dtd 7 Jul 47, file D333.5IP, subj: Investigation of Flying Disc. SYNOPSIS: On 31 July 47, Mr. Arnold, Aviation Editor of the Idaho Daily Statesman, tele- phoned Lt. Brown requesting he return to Tacoma because Arnold believed he had some very vital information on the flying disc. Lt. Brown and Capt. Davidson interviewed a Mr. Fred L. Crisman and a Mr. Harold A. Dahl, along with Capt. Smith of the United Air Lines, and Mr. Arnold, at the Win- throp Hotel in Tacoma, Washington, on the night of 31 July 1947. The summary of their interrogation and findings was related to Major Sander, Public Information Officer, McChord Field, by Mr. Arnold and Capt. Smith. Major Sander retold the results of the investigation to this officer from his notes. Mr. Dahl and Mr. Crisman were not available for interview while this officer was in that area, although every effort was made to contact them. Further investigation of this particular incident was left with Mr. Brady, Resident Agent, FBI, Tacoma, Washington. It was apparent from newspaper clippings, telephone calls to this officer, and conversations with Major Sander, that a United Press correspondent, of the Tacoma Times, was instrumental in keeping this case alive. This officer and Major Sander, although quoted many times in the press, did not discuss this matter with the press during the period of this report. The anonymous mystery caller in Tacoma could possibly be Mr. Crisman. DISTRIBUTION COPIES APPROVED: AAF 2 [signature] ADC 1 DONALD L. SPRINGER, Lt. Colonel, GSC G-2 6th Army 1 AC of S, A-2 FBI, Seattle 1 FBI, San Francisco 1 4AF Files 1 [unclear: 62-83894-102] ENCLOSURE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION U.S. DEP’T OF JUSTICE AUG 30 1947 SAN FRANCISCO [illegible] ROUTED TO [illegible] W.D., P.M.G. Form No. 110 1 April 1944 (This form supersedes W. D., O. C. S. Form No. 19, which will not be used upon receipt of this revision) [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] --- PAGE 15 --- C1-R1 Report [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] DETAILS: 1. During the afternoon of 31 July 47, Mr. Arnold, Aviation Editor of the Idaho Daily Statesman, telephoned Lt Brown, CIC Sub-Detachment Commander at head- quarters Fourth Air Force, and stated in substance: That he, Arnold, and Capt Smith had arrived in Tacoma to investigate the purported flying disc explosion on a sur- face craft on 21 June 47. This investigation was requested and financed by a Mr. R. A. Palmer of the Venture Press, 305 Studio Bldg., 1718 Sherman Avenue, Evanston, Illinois. AGENT’S NOTE: See Inclosure 1 and Inclosure 2. The signature to Inclosure 2, Mr. Dave Johnson, is that of the editor of the Idaho Daily Statesman. Mr. Johnson is a former Army Air Force officer and from all indications is a very patriotic American. On the receipt of Inclosure 2 at Headquarters Fourth Air Force, this officer requested the San Francisco FBI Office to check the Chicago FBI Office for R. A. Palmer and the Venture Press. The return answer, by telephone, was to the effect that the Chicago indices of the FBI, the Chicago Police, and Credit Bureau had no record on R. A. Palmer or the Venture Press. 2. Lt Brown and Capt Davidson arrived at McChord Field during the afternoon of 31 July 47. They changed from their uniforms to civilian clothing in the aircraft and, on being queried by Operations as to why they desired transportation to Tacoma, they replied they were to make a speech. AGENT’S NOTE: This was in compliance with par 4, ltr fr Hq ADC, File MMS5-613, 7 Jul 47, subj: Investigation of Flying Discs. According to Major George Sander, Public Information Officer, McChord Field, The Tacoma Times received an anonymous telephone call that Arnold and Smith were present in the Winthrop Hotel for the purpose of conducting an investigation on the flying discs. The Tacoma Times checked and found this to be true, much to Arnold’s and Smith’s surprise. Lt Brown and Capt Davidson did interview Mr. Harold A. Dahl, Mrs. Fred L. Crisman, in a hotel room in the Winthrop Hotel, Tacoma, Wash., in the presence of Mr. Arnold and Capt Smith. If notes were taken of this conversation, they were de- stroyed in the aircraft accident. Mr. Arnold stated to Major Sander that Lt Brown obtained from Mr. Dahl and Mr. Crisman samples of an unidentified substance that were identical to those appearing in Inclosures 3 to 7. The samples pictured in Inclosures 5 to 7 were taken by Mr. Arnold from the same box that Dahl and Crisman offered Lt. Brown and from which he obtained his samples. M/Sgt Mathews, Crew Chief on the wrecked aircraft, upon being interrogated by this officer, stated that he placed a heavy cardboard carton in the rear compartment of the B-25 that crashed. He did not look in the box nor hear any comments from Lt Brown or Capt Davidson as to its con- tents. [handwritten check mark] 3. The following summarizes what was related by Mr. Arnold and Capt Smith to Major Sander as to the substance of the interviews by Lt Brown and Capt Davidson: That on 21 Jun 47 Mr. Dahl was proceeding south of Maury Island in Mr. Crisman’s boat. Five flying discs came down out of the clouds and circled slowly around the bay, dropping to an estimated elevation of 500 feet. These discs appeared round and [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] W.D., P.M.G. Form No. 110 --- PAGE 16 --- CI-R1 Report [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] flattened similar to a deflated automobile innertube. They were judged by Dahl to be approximately 100 feet across with a 25 foot opening in the center. The outer edge of the object had round portholes and the inner ring had square windows or portholes. The discs were silent and from his viewpoint he could see no means of propulsion. One of these discs appeared to falter and waver in the air, another of these aforementioned five discs dropped down close to the disc that appeared to waver and bumped it, dumping "tons" of the stuff as pictured in inclosures 3 to 7 on his boat, knocking off the handrail, horn, and generally damaging the boat to the extent of $200.00, and killing Dahl's dog. AGENT'S NOTE: This officer, in the company of Major Sander, boarded the aforementioned boat where it was docked in the Tacoma harbor on 6 Aug 47. A hand rail was missing, but the area where the hand rail was previously fastened had been painted over with several coats of paint and was crusted by the weather. The deck and roof of the cabin was of a very thin construction and the cabin further had glass on the front and sides. It is this officer's opinion that if any of the objects presented by Dahl as samples of the material dropped by the flying disc had hit this boat, it would have certainly been necessary to replace the foredeck and the cabin roof. These two areas were very heavily coated with several coats of paint and had deep weather-cracks that would take several seasons to acquire. Mr. Crisman, who owns the boat and operates a shoreline water patrol for various business firms, evidently visited the area at Maury Island to check Dahl's story. He is supposed to have stated that he found the material that he presented to Lt Brown and Capt Davidson in a sand pit near where the incident was supposed to have occurred. While he, Crisman, was at the scene of the incident, a flying disc came out of the clouds and behaved in a similar manner as the ones previously described. AGENT'S NOTE: The witnessing on two occasions, in broad daylight, of an object so large and clearly visible within several miles of the city of Tacoma certainly should have been seen and reported on by other than Dahl and Crisman. A check was made of the newspapers on and after 21 June and no mention could be found of a mysterious object appearing over the Tacoma harbor. Mr. Crisman is supposed to have sent samples of the objects that he picked up in the Maury Island sand pit to a friend of his at the University of Chicago for an analysis report. He is reported to have not received the analysis report. AGENT'S NOTE: It is possible that the Mr. H. A. Palmer, reference Inclosures 1 and 2, might have some access this incident through the University of Chicago. The interrogation of Dahl and Crisman by Lt Brown was completed about midnight on 31 July/1 August. Lt Brown and Capt Davidson returned to McChord Field and prepared for a night flight to Hamilton Field. The weather was clear with a bright moon shining. They departed approximately 0200 hours and crashed at approximately 0230 hours on 1 August 1947. (See Inclosure 8). [handwritten: ✓] 4. On 6 August 47, this officer, in the company of Major Sander, McChord Field, and Mr. Brady, resident agent, Tacoma Federal Bureau of Investigation, attempted to W.D.,P.M.G. Form No. 110 [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] --- PAGE 17 --- CI-R1 Report [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] contact either Mr. Dahl or Mr. Grisman, without success. Capt Smith and Mr. Arnold departed the Tacoma area on 3 August 47, therefore, this officer did not have the opportunity of conversing with them directly. AGENT’S NOTE: A record check was made by telephone by Mr. Brady with the Seattle Field Office, FBI, for records on Mr. Grisman and Mr. Dahl. The check on Mr. Grisman was negative. The Seattle FBI indices indicated that a Harold Dahl had been charged with two incidents of illegal wearing of the uniform and one with theft of national property. It could not be determined at the time whether Harold A. Dahl, the subject in question, and Harold Dahl of the FBI indices, was one and the same. 5. Mr. Grisman had indicated to Capt Smith, Arnold, et al, that he was a former fighter pilot and held commission as Captain in the Air Reserve. AGENT’S NOTE: On 6 August 47, this officer checked the records of the 406th AAF BU(RT) and determined that Fred L. Crisman was registered with that Reserve Unit as Captain, Serial Number O-7209951, with residence at 125 Scotland, Tacoma, Washington, Primary MOS 1054 and MOS’s 1031. He was with the Ordnance Investigation Division, State of Washington, and previously had been an oil technician with the Union Pacific Railway. Crisman entered the service in 1942 as an enlisted man and served as such for seventeen months. In 1943 he was commissioned on graduation from flying school and served a total of twenty-nine months. A check of the Tacoma city directory was made on Harold A. Dahl, which indicated his home was at 5908 N. 66th St., telephone: Proctor 7117. Business address was listed as 235 Middle Waterway; telephone: Broad- way 7733. RECOMMENDATION: 1. That no further investigation be undertaken on this specific incident by Army Air Force personnel. 2. That in view of the reported statements by Mr. Crisman, that consideration be given to revoke his Air Reserve commission and flying status as an undesirable and unreliable officer. 9 Incl: 1. Photostats, ltr fr R.A. Palmer. 2. Photostats telegrams fr Dave Johnson. 3. to 7. Photographs, Unidentified Substance. 8. Final Mission Report, Air Rescue Service. W.D., P.M.G. Form No. 110 [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] --- PAGE 18 --- CONFIDENTIAL VENTURE PRESS 305 STUDIO BUILDING 1718 SHERMAN AVENUE EVANSTON, ILLINOIS July 22, 1947 [handwritten: 10] [handwritten: unclear: Preston 7116?] Mr. Kenneth Arnold, Boise, Idaho Dear Mr. Arnold: Quite obviously you have been ribbed so much you'd like to forget the flying saucers--but I'd sure like to have your personal story, your photo, pic of your plane, etc. as I asked before. And you won't be made to look silly, because there's more to this than the newspapers and the "experts" have made of it. Besides the article, I have another proposition, You seem to get around quite a bit, and if you can make a trip to Tacoma, Washington at all feasible, I'd be willing to pay expenses plus a nice amount to make it worth your while. - I'd want you to see Mr. Harold A. Dahl, P. O. Box 154, Fern Hill Station, Tacoma, and Mr. Fred L. Crisman, owner of the Tacoma Harbor Patrol, Inc. Dahl, and two other seamen, on a patrol near Murry Island, off Tacoma, saw six discs, one in trouble, witnessed an explosion, saw falling stuff which smashed their wheelhouse and searchlight and landed on the beach. They sent me samples which Chicago U has failed to analyze. I want a picture of the beach and the stuff that landed there (about twenty tons, they said). And I want somebody who'll get the truth, to find out if these boys are on the up and up. You could do that. I hope you will. If agreeable, please write and perhaps we can talk business. I think you'd like to prove this thing too: Anyway, I still want that article! Sincerely yours, [signature] R. A Palmer CONFIDENTIAL --- PAGE 19 --- [vertical text: WESTERN UNION] WUA 41 PD [stamp: CONFIDENTIAL] BOISE IDA JULY 29 1947 255P LT FRANK M BROWN, A-2 (RPT A-2) OFFICE 4TH AIRFORCE HAMILTON FIELD CALIF. VENTURE PRESS 305 STUDIO BLDG 1718 SHERMAN AVE EVANSTON ILL. RA PALMER. SENT ARNOLD $200 TO GO TO TACOMA TO INVESTIGATE FLYING DISC REPORT THERE. SUGGEST THIS OUT OF LINE FOR PRESENT PUBLIC INTEREST IN STORY AND BELIEVE AS I SUGGESTED ON YOUR VISIT HERE VENTURE PRESS SHOULD BE CHECKED DAVE JOHNSON [vertical text: WESTERN UNION] 305 1718 $200 308P [vertical text: WESTERN UNION] [stamp: CONFIDENTIAL] --- PAGE 20 --- [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] ✓ Incl # 3 [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] --- PAGE 21 --- 62-83894-102 [illegible] OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPH U.S. ARMY AIR FORCE 401 BASE UNIT PHOTO LABORATORY HAMILTON FIELD, CALIFORNIA FILE --- PAGE 22 --- CONFIDENTIAL [check mark] [unclear: Ind #4?] CONFIDENTIAL --- PAGE 23 --- [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] [unclear: Gmd #5?] [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] --- PAGE 24 --- [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] Local #6 [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] --- PAGE 25 --- [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] ✓ [unclear: Inc #9] [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] --- PAGE 26 --- STANDARD [illegible] NO. 64 Office Memo[illegible]dum • UNITED STA[illegible] GOVERNMENT TO : Director, FBI DATE: 7-29-47 [handwritten: [illegible]] [handwritten: Fletcher] FROM : SAC, Boston SUBJECT: METAL FRAGMENTS OBSERVED AT WEST RINDGE, NEW HAMPSHIRE, JULY 7, 1947 SECURITY MATTER (X) [handwritten marginalia: [illegible]] Reference is made to Boston teletype to the Bureau dated July 18, 1947. Dean John M. Bunker, the original informant, has advised that a spectographic examination has been completed of the metal particles referred to. They were determined to be of ordinary cast iron which had been subjected to a very high degree of heat. The heat caused scales to be formed on the cast iron which were originally thought to be of some metallic alloy. The scientist examining the particles concluded that if they had come through the air from any great altitude in as small pieces as they were found then most of the heat would have been taken from them by the time they reached the ground and fires would not have resulted. It is noted they landed approximately 700 feet from a railroad track and inquiries were conducted by MIT to determine whether or not the particles could have been originally a part of a liner in a smoke stack or some other part of the steam engine. These inquiries resulted in positive information that the particles did not come from a train or locomotive. Measurements of the four pieces examined revealed that they had most likely been originally all part of one hollow cylinder, eight inches in diameter and three sixteenths of an inch in thickness. It was felt that one piece falling from a great height would have still retained a good part of its heat and probably would have smashed when it hit the ground. A scientist, whom Dean Bunker did not identify by name, recalled that cast iron cylinders of similar measurements had been used in New Mexico on research work on a guided missile project. However, this unidentified scientist did not so conclude to the exclusion of all other possibilities. [stamp: CONF. INFT.] It is interesting to note that the examination at MIT was actually conducted by (b)(7)(D), who furnished the Boston Office with an informal report similar in all major details to that supplied by Dean Bunker above. The men at MIT are gathering through friends all additional pieces of the original cylinder available. These will be turned over to the Boston Office. No further examination is being conducted by MIT and no effort is being made to reconstruct the original cylinder. Unless advised to the contrary by August 15, 1947 the Boston Office will destroy these specimens. In the interim they will be transmitted to the Bureau on specific Bureau instructions. COPIES DESTROYED 270 NOV 18 1964 EX-64 [stamp: RECORDED & INDEXED] 55 OCT 1 1947 62-83894-103 F B I 31 SEP 28 1947 [stamp: CANCELED [illegible]] [handwritten: [illegible]] --- PAGE 27 --- Office Memorandum • UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TO: Director, FBI DATE: [illegible] FROM: [unclear: SAC, San Diego?] SUBJECT: FRANK B. [illegible], [illegible], NEW HAMPSHIRE, JULY 7, 1947 [illegible] ESPIONAGE (R) Reference is made to Bureau teletype to San Diego dated July 10, 1947. [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] (b) (7)(D) RECEIVED [illegible] 27 2 36 PM INTERNAL SECURITY F.B.I. RECEIVED AUG 6 10 09 AM ’47 INTERNAL SECURITY F.B.I. U.S. DEP’T. OF JUST. RECEIVED JUL 31 12 42 PM ’47 INTERNAL SECURITY F.B.I. U.S. DEP’T. OF JUST. [handwritten: illegible] --- PAGE 28 --- It is noted that the original Boston teletype reflected that this inquiry was being treated as "secret" matter at MIT. (b)(7)(D) [illegible] has advised that the comparatively small number of research scientists at MIT during the summer are all cognizant of the incident and the results of the research. However, no publicity has been given and it is not anticipated that any will result. The Bureau's interest is not known to the scientists at MIT. There has been no speculation that a guided missile originating in a foreign land landed in New Hampshire. As indicated above, unless the Bureau requests specifically further investigative action, this case is being closed in the Boston Office. BSG:md 100-20698 --- PAGE 29 --- [handwritten marginalia: illegible] [stamp:] FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION U. S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE COMMUNICATIONS SECTION AUG 15 1947 TELETYPE [handwritten marginalia: illegible] [stamp/routing list:] Mr. Tolson ............ Mr. E. A. Tamm ........ Mr. Clegg ............. Mr. Glavin ............ Mr. Ladd .............. Mr. Nichols ........... Mr. Rosen ............. Mr. Tracy ............. Mr. Egan .............. Mr. Gurnea ............ Mr. Harbo ............. Mr. Mohr .............. Mr. Pennington ........ Mr. Quinn Tamm ........ Mr. Nease ............. FBI BUTTE 8-15-47 5-45 PM VGW DIRECTOR, FBI URGENT FLYING DISCS. ON INSTANT DATE A. C. URIE OF TWIN FALLS, IDAHO, INFORMED LOCAL NEWSPAPER THAT COMMUNITY THAT AT ONE PM ON WEDNESDAY LAST, AUGUST THIRTEEN, HE AND TWO SONS BILLIE, AGE TEN, KEITH, AFXXX AGE EIGHT, SAW AN OBJECT NINE MILES NORTHWEST OF TWIN FALLS, RE- SEMBLING FLYING DISC. URIE STATED THIS OBJECT WAS PROCEEDING FXXX DOWN SALMON RIVER AT TERRIFIC SPEED ESTIMATED BY HIM AT ONE THOUSAND MILES PER HOUR. URIE AND SONS DESCRIBED OBJECT TO NEWSPAPERS AS TWENTY FEET LONG, TEN FEET WIDE AND TEN FEET THICK, LIGHT SKY BLUE IN COLOR AND ALSO OBSERVED FLAMES EMANATING FROM SIDES OF OBJECT. AT TIME URIE AND SONS SAW OBJECT THEY ALL HEARD LOUD SWISH WHEN OBJECT DISAPPEARED FRIM SIGHT. CURRENT EFFORTS BEING MADE TO INTER- VIEW URIE AND SONS PURSUANT TO BUREAU BULLETIN FORTY TWO, SUB DIVISION B, DATED JULY THIRTY NINETEEN FORTY SEVEN. BUREAU WILL BE PROMPTLY AND FULLY INFORMED OF ALL PERTINENT DEVELOPMENTS. BANISTER END PLS ACK AND HOLD [stamp: 62 OCT 2 1947] 7-48 PM OK FBI WA BW [stamp: RECORDED] [stamp: INDEXED] [stamp: SEP 24 1947] [handwritten marginalia: Ex-46] [handwritten marginalia: illegible] [handwritten marginalia: 104] [handwritten marginalia: unclear: 5-R?] --- PAGE 30 --- RECEIVED TELETYPE UNIT AUG 15 7 50 PM '47 F.B.I. DEPT. OF JUSTICE [illegible] RECEIVED AUG 15 8 38 PM '47 RECEIVED-[illegible] F. B. I. AUG 30 11 17 AM '47 INTERNAL SECURITY RECEIVED AUG 23 2 23 PM '47 INTERNAL SECURITY RECEIVED AUG 16 10 36 AM '47 INTERNAL SECURITY F. B. I. DEPT. OF JUSTICE