--- PAGE 1 --- [CONFIDENTIAL] [Handwritten] 62-83894-130 [DECLASSIFIED box] DECLASSIFIED Authority: NND 90986 IN REPLY REFER TO: HEADQUARTERS AIR DEFENSE COMMAND MITCHEL FIELD, NEW YORK 12 September 1947 SUBJECT: Unidentified Flying Object (Interview - Alpheus O. Powell) SUMMARY OF INFORMATION: The following information was received 12 August 1947 from Mr. Alpheus O. Powell, 28 Redwood Road, New Hyde Park, Long Island, relative to the sighting of a possible flying disc 4 August 1947. On 4 August 1947, Mr Powell, an Airlines Captain with Pan American Airways, Inc., was the first pilot of a Constellation type aircraft on a flight from Gander, Newfoundland, to La Guardia Field, New York. Mr. Powell took over the aircraft at Gander, Newfoundland and departed at approximately 1230 P.M., Eastern Daylight Saving Time for La Guardia Field, New York. At 1600 P.M. at a position approximately midway between the Everett (Mass) Fan Marker and the Bedford Radio Beacon (Everett is 3 miles NW of Boston, Mass., and Bedford is 15 miles NW of the same city) both Mr Powell and Mr W. White, navigator on this trip, sighted unidentifiable flying objects. To the best of Mr. Powell's knowledge, the following weather conditions existed at that time: Visibility was good; cloud coverage was from 6-8/10ths, with tops at 10,000 feet; and the wind at the 8,000 foot level was estimated as being 270/25 miles per hour. The aircraft was at 8,000 feet; airspeed 255 mph; and the course was 244 degrees, magnetic. Mr White, who was sitting in the co-pilots seat (the right side of the cockpit) first called Mr. Powell's attention to a bright orange object, which was on the right side of the plane, and slightly below the level of the aircraft. Mr Powell was unable to see the object, as he had no visibility to the right and down, from his position. Mr Powell immediately glanced out his side window and noticed, at a 45° angle to the left, and unidentified flying object. It was about one mile away at an altitude of approximately 7,800 feet. Mr Powell banked to obtain a better view of the object. The object was under observation for approximately 30 seconds, and during this time was viewed by Mr Powell. Mr Powell described the object as being about the length of a P-40 fuselage, blunt at both ends, cylindrical in shape, and having a bright orange hue. Mr Powell stated that the object had a definite shape, and that there was no suggestion of gaseous dissipation as there would be if the orange color were the exhaust from a rocket, or a jet aircraft. Mr Powell estimated the course of the object to be 200° magnetic, and that the object was travelling at approximately 150 mph. Mr Powell lost sight of the object, when a cloud came between the aircraft and the object. The pursuit of the object was not continued, inasmuch as it would have necessitated a departure from the established airways. [Handwritten marginalia at bottom left:] [unclear: Juell H R?] [CONFIDENTIAL] [Handwritten signature/initial at bottom right:] [unclear: dore?] --- PAGE 2 --- [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] HEADQUARTERS AIR DEFENSE COMMAND MITCHEL FIELD, NEW YORK IN REPLY REFER TO: 15 September 1947 SUBJECT: Unidentified Flying Objects (Interview - Walter I. White) SUMMARY OF INFORMATION: The following information relative to the sighting of a possible flying disc 4 August 1947, was received 10 September 1947 from Mr. Walter I. White, 19-57 79th Street, Jackson Heights, New York. On 4 August 1947, Mr. White, Pan American Airways Inc., was the navigator of a Constellation type aircraft on a flight from Gander, New- foundland to La Guardia Field, New York. At 1600, at a position approxi- mately 10 miles NW of Boston, Mass., Mr. White sighted a flying object which he was unable to identify. At this time Mr. White was sitting in the co- pilots seat, and looking out the right side for other aircraft that might be in the vicinity. Mr. White stated that when he first sighted the object, it appeared to be about 3 miles away, and at least 1,000 feet below the level of the Constellation. Mr. White believes that he studied the object for almost 30 seconds before he called the pilot's attention to it. Mr. White described the object as being a deep gold in color, and that its' surface reflected light. It appeared to be about 15 feet in length, and from 2-3 feet in depth; elliptical in shape and blunted at the ends. Mr. White estimated the speed of the object as being 175 miles per hour, and that it was travelling in an east- erly direction, on a course of approximately 110° magnetic. Mr. White then told the aircraft commander that there was an unidentified object to the right, and again glanced out to observe the object, catching a momentary glimpse of it before the pilot banked the plane to the left. When the aircraft banked Mr White lost sight of the object. At this point, Mr Powell, the aircraft Captain, exclaimed that he was able to see a similar object on his side. Mr White was unable to see the object on Mr Powell's side. He stated that he does not believe that it was the same object that he had viewed inasmuch as the one he saw if it had remained on the same course would have been hidden from view by that time by the wings and tail section of the Constella- tion. Mr White stated that the pilot then righted the plane. The entire in- cident transpired in less than a minute and one-half. Mr White describes the weather condition at the time of sightings as follows: about 5/10th scattered cumulus, with tops at 10,000 feet; visibility 10 miles; wind at flight level, West at about 15 mph. The flight level of the aircraft at this time was 8,000 feet, TAS 270, and the magnetic course was SW. AGENTS NOTES: Mr Walter I. White has been employed by Pan American Airways for the past five years as a Navigator, and during the war worked with PAA [handwritten marginalia, left:] Jun C H I [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] [handwritten marginalia, right:] done --- PAGE 3 --- C O N F I D E N T I A L in conjunction with contract flying for the AAF. Mr White states that he has flown with Mr Powell on a number of occasions, and he considers him to be a very stable person; completely reliable, and not given to "flights of fancy". Related Report: See Summary of Information, 12 September 1947, Hq ADC, subject, "Unidentified Flying Objects" (interview - Alpheus O. Powell). Previous Distribution: - None Distribution - AAF (3 copies) - ADC (2 copies) Evaluation of source of information C 3 [unclear inverted stamp] C O N F I D E N T I A L done --- PAGE 4 --- [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] AGENTS NOTES: Mr. A. O. Powell is a graduate of the Aviation Cadet Flying Training Program, having graduated from Maxwell Field, Alabama, with the Class of 41-C. Since graduation, Mr. Powell has flown for Pan American Airways and, at this date, has over 4,000 command pilot hours to his credit. Mr. Powell appears to be a calm, intelligent individual, not given to flights of fancy, or easily swayed by what he has previously read in the newspapers as regards reports of this type. Mr. Powell has a fear of publi- city and seemed hesitant to even tell his story lest he become the object of ridicule. Mr Powell was questioned as to the possibility that what he sighted might have been a tow target, a pilot balloon, or a radiosonic device used for meteorological purposes. Mr Powell stated that he has seen numerous pilot balloons, radiosonic devices and tow targets, while on flights; the object observed on this flight definitely was not one of them. Evaluation Previous Distribution: - None of source of information C 3 Distribution - AAF (3 copies) - ADC (2 copies) 2 [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] [handwritten: done] --- PAGE 5 --- RESTRICTED BASIC: Ltr. Hq. BARTD, Birmingham AAF, Birmingham, Ala., dtd 8 July 47, subj: Report on Local "Flying Disc." 1st Ind. D 319.1/684 HEADQUARTERS, FOURTEENTH AIR FORCE, Orlando, Florida, [stamp: JUL 21 1947] TO: Commanding General, Air Defense Command, Mitchel Field, New York. 1. Forwarded for information of your Headquarters. 2. This Headquarters has made no investigation of "Flying Disc" reports because this is an isolated case. FOR THE COMMANDING GENERAL: [signature: W.L. Murphy] W. L. MURPHY Lt. Colonel, AGD Asst. Adj. Gen. 3 Incls: n/c 92715 RESTRICTED 2 24-6 [stamp: 24 JUL 1947] --- PAGE 6 --- 62- 83894 - 130 --- PAGE 7 --- RESTRICTED HEADQUARTERS BIRMINGHAM AIR RESERVE TRAINING DETACHMENT BIRMINGHAM ARMY AIR FIELD Birmingham, Alabama A/C/W/slo 8 July 1947 7795 SUBJECT: Report on Local "Flying Disc" TO: Commanding General Fourteenth Air Force, ADC Orlando, Florida Attn: A-2 1. Inclosed herewith is a photograph of the "publicized flying disc," which was reportedly witnessed over Birmingham on the night of Sunday, 6 July 1947. 2. Attention is invited to the two light spots on the print and the light trail following the two discs. The arrow at the top of the photograph indicates the direction of flight. This has been examined by professional photographers in Birmingham and their general opinion is that the two spots shown on the light trail [handwritten: were] no flaws in the negative, but instead, an actual photograph of the mysterious disc. 3. The undersigned officer did not personally witness the flight of any disc, however, in view of the numerous reports received from the citizens of Birmingham, it is the general opinion in Birmingham that "something was in the air." Attached hereto as inclosure number two is a statement made by the only military personnel of this organization who personally witnessed the flight of the mysterious disc. For addi- tional information attached as inclosure number three are clippings from one of the local newspapers giving an account of the many persons who re- ported seeing the many mysterious objects. 4. The intelligence officer of the Alabama Military District has forwarded a similar report through ground force channels to the Commanding General, Third Army, Atlanta 3, Georgia. [signature: Jack C White] JACK C. WHITE Major, Air Corps Commanding 3 Incls. 1. Photograph 2. Statement 3. Clippings RESTRICTED [Marginalia, right side:] 7/10 3/19/1679 [Page number, bottom right:] 2 --- PAGE 8 --- [handwritten marginalia, top right]: Bich ai /6 RESTRICTED Report on Local "Flying Disc" D333.5 ID (8 Jul 47) . 2nd Ind HQ., AIR DEFENSE COMMAND, Mitchel Field, New York, 25 July 1947. TO: Commanding General, Army Air Forces, Washington 25, D. C. ATTN: AC/AS-2 Forwarded for your information. FOR THE COMMANDING GENERAL: [signature] R. H. SMITH Colonel, GSC Asst Chief of Staff-Intell. 3 Incls: n/c [handwritten, bottom middle]: dow RESTRICTED 3 --- PAGE 9 --- [handwritten]: 62-93894-130 THE WEA. (Furnished by the U. S. Weather For Birmingham and Vicinity— Partly cloudy and warm today, to- night and tomorrow with a few scattered showers this afternoon. High today 86, low tonight 70, high tomorrow 90. 47 News ** PRICE: 5 CENTS 'Flying Saucers' Reported From 39 States, But Seem To Be Concentrated Here City Is Baffled By Dazzling Display Of Spooky Discs The strange things that have been in night skies since June 25, were over Birmingham last night. On one thing everyone who has seen the mysterious objects agree —they are round, saucer-like. After that, every story differs. Each of the hundreds of callers who re- ported witnessing the baffling sky demonstrations here last night had a different version of what they saw. Some said the objects were large, some small. They were mov- ing at great speed. They were sus- pended in the air. There was sound along with their movements. They moved noiselessly through the black sky. They were at great distance from the earth. They had fallen to the ground. They were in perfect formation. They were colliding with each other. But whatever the things are that have set the nation agog since first reported 12 days ago by a man in Washington State, they definitely were over the Magic City last night. It seems, in fact, that more Bir- mingham residents saw the objects than in any other place. *** REPORTS BEGAN coming into the Age-Herald city room around 8 o'clock last night. For more than an hour thereafter, the place was bedlam. The switchboard operators were swamped with calls. Report- ers, office boys, copy readers— everyone in the place was called into action. Reports came in from Edgewood, Mountain Brook, Avondale, South- side, Fairfield, Pratt City, West End, Central Park, Bessemer. There was fear, excitement, hor- ror, skepticism in the voices. One [illegible] CAMERA HERE CATCHES "FLYING SAUCER"—Robert Cross- land, Age-Herald copy reader, has camera proof that the much-dis- cussed flying discs were over Birmingham last night. The picture above was made by Mr. Crossland at 8:37 p.m. last night at his home at 29th Street and Highland Avenue. He said he gave the film a 15-second exposure. [handwritten]: 2ce 130 [handwritten]: 2ce 130 --- PAGE 10 --- 5—THE BIRMINGHAM NEWS Mysterious Flying Saucers Reported In Birmingham Skies Continued From Page 1 Although the reports to The Age- Herald last night dwindled off at about 9 p.m., there was a final call from a man at 10, saying he had seen the objects over the south- eastern section. This morning, there were more reports, more queries coming into The News. Maj. White issued a message to Birmingham residents: "We'll do everything the Army Air Forces is empowered to do to run down the mystery of the discs. This thing seems to have gotten beyond the point of speculation. Birmingham can rest assured the air base will keep on the alert until the mys- tery is settled." man admitted having seen ob- jects several weeks ago "but was ashamed to tell my wife." Whatever it is going on in the night skies, it has the entire nation in a dither. The flying discs have eclipsed every other national and international event in the minds of the American people. Broadcasts from England last night said the Britishers were scoffing at the story. But when persons in 30-odd states have reported seeing the ob- jects, there must be something to the story. Birmingham police headquarters was flooded with calls, too, last night. So was the Weather Bureau, the control tower at the airport, air- line officers. At the Birmingham Army Air- field, Maj. Jack C. White, com- mandant, ordered an alert and dis- patched a plane to fly around the city. The plane, with Lt. L. S. Rob- inson at the controls, circled the city for an hour and 15 minutes at from 4,000 to 5,000 feet. He was un- able to report any unnatural ob- jects. Scientists indicate that the ob- jects are merely tricks of the eyes. In fact, Howard Blakeslee, Associ- ated Press scientific writer, has stated he has seen similar objects from his home on Long Island for many years and associated no mys- tery with them. They are a combi- nation of eye and light tricks, is his answer. Turn to Page 5, Column 1 --- PAGE 11 --- MONDAY, JULY 7, 1942 RADIO-GUIDED, SAYS LAD "I'd like to give my opinion about what the flying saucers really are," Michael Eisman, 10, told The News this morn- ing. The grammar school youth, "in the fifth grade and going on to the sixth" at Crestline Heights School, eagerly gave his theory. "They are new radio-guided rocket discs from another country that is planning war on the United States," he said. "They are equipped with cameras. They will be radio guided back to their home country. They go fast to keep anyone from seeing them. Then they hover and stand still to get their pictures. "They have a reason for be- ing over Birmingham," opined young Eisman. "It has one of the biggest steel mills, and the biggest cotton gin." Eisman said the "saucer cameras" were clicking the fruit industry on the West Coast. As to what country is send- ing the saucers, Eisman didn't guess. Nor has he seen any saucers, he said, over his home at 4 Clarendon Road. --- PAGE 12 --- Charles F. Bradley, Birmingham weather man, said he did not believe the spectacle was a weather phe- nomena. "I have instructed my staff to be on the alert for any in- formation they might gather on the matter," he said. *** GREATEST EXCITEMENT of the evening came when a man re- ported some of the discs had fallen in a ravine near Avonwood. A re- porter and photographer went to the scenes—and found nothing. Residents of the district said the discs had passed low and appeared to have fallen in the trees. Robert Crossland, Age-Herald copy reader, rushed for his camera when the objects passed over his residence on 28th Street and High- land Avenue. His developed film revealed two round, white spots on the black, close together, one larg- er than the other. He said he gave the picture a 15-second exposure. Five other persons were with him when the picture was made. But witnesses aren't needed any longer to bear out reports of the strange demonstration. Too many persons—good, solid citizens—have seen the things. In fact, they're thinking of calling the show out at Munger Bowl tonight, "The Disc- light Opera." Scores Of People Report Seeing Mysterious Discs Residents of East Lake, South- side, West End, Woodlawn and Bes- semer reported seeing the flying discs or saucers last night. One disc was reported seen yesterday after- noon over the Warrior River. The number seen at one time varied. *** Nine of the discs were seen by Connie Murdoch, 512 South 10th Court. "They were gobs of light moving around the sky," she re- ported. *** H. E. Reagor, 1318 45th Street, said he and neighbors saw "40 or 50" light spots in the sky, apparent- ly over the Central Park Airport area. *** One resident of East Lake, hear- ing of the flying saucers, rushed into his front yard. "I saw the land- ing lights of a DC-3 and 17 light- ning bugs," he reported. *** Mrs. James Bain, 1225 South 29th Street, saw three discs traveling from east to west. Two more were spotted later, followed by a single disc, as neighbors gathered. *** J. L. Kardus, 2100 Clanton Street, Bessemer, reported seeing "strange lights" moving through the sky be- tween Bessemer and Red Mountain. "They were going very fast," he said. *** "Whirling saucers" were reported seen by Dan Smirl, 14, 1429 10th Place, South, and Marvin Pharo, 15, 626 10th Avenue, South. "We weren't looking for them," the boys reported. "We were standing in the yard when we saw round silver flashes circling around. They came one at a time at first, then the num- ber increased. They seemed to go over the mountain." *** At police headquarters, Officer E. E. McNeal said reports of the discs began at 8:10 p.m. and ceased about 20 minutes later. *** "Streaks of light flying very slow" were reported seen by Mrs. H. M. Sockwell, 1360 Meadow Lane, Green Acres. She said she rushed into her yard as soon as she heard the flying the report on the radio. She and her husband and five neighbors saw six of the discs flying "fairly low." The She said they were the size of a "BIG AS TABLES" "I called to find out if I'm crazy," said Mrs. Gordon Mize, of the Bessemer Super-High- way, who telephoned The News this morning to report seeing mysterious flying discs. Mrs. Mize said she and her husband and their hosts saw the "balls of fire" as they pre- pared to get into their car after a visit with Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Bush at Brighton be- tween 9:30 and 10 last night. She said the flash lights, which appeared as beacon lights coming over a hill, came from the direction of Besse- mer. The lights would come at lightning speed and then stop dead still and hang in the sky, they said. Then they would dart off again, some returning in the direction of Bessemer and some going on. Some would circle. Others would pass each other and scarcely avoid collision. "They were about as large as my dining room table," she said. baseball and traveled in a "big curve from southwest to southeast. The saucers came at intervals of about five seconds. *** --- PAGE 13 --- A citizen of Fairfield Highlands said the flying discs came over his residence at a speed of about 1,500 miles an hour. "They would go in opposite directions, stop, and bump into each other," he reported. *** Gene Plumstead, program man- ager of WSGN, reported the flying discs over Edgewood Lake. *** J. A. Hafner, 3301 Avenue I, Ens- ley, said the lights appeared like a spot thrown by a huge searchlight. He said, however, he could see no beam such as would come from a searchlight. *** A number of "white round things" were seen in the skies over West End by Mrs. Alfred Hack- barth, 1760 McMillan Avenue. *** L. M. Cadenhead, 2000 48th Street, Central Park, saw the lights over Powderly, *** "They looked like saucers," said Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Martin and Mr. and Mrs. Frank Arnold, 732 47th Way, South. "Some of them went as fast as bullets, while others floated around. They were the size of an automobile tire." *** Mr. and Mrs. William Howell, 1004 East Court, South, reported seeing 11 discs about 8:30 a.m. *** "About 15 of them passed over our house shortly before 8," said Mrs. Helen Mallory, 1404 North 12th Court. Mrs. Mallory said the objects were first sighted by her son, Milo, who called the rest of the family. "They looked like a flash of light that went by in such a hurry you couldn't describe it," she said. *** Frank S. Lovelace, policeman for the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Rail- road Company, reported seeing eight or 10 of the objects. "They looked about the size of a dishpan," he said. "They came out of the southeast and whirled around sev- eral minutes." *** S-Sgt. I. L. Livingston, of the Bir- mingham Army Airfield, observed the discs from his Green Acres residence. "They were going zig- zag from East to West," he said. *** R. H. VAUGHN, III, who served as an anti-aircraft gunner in Eu- rope, saw the "flying saucer" dis- play with his father from their home in Ensley Highlands. "I never shot at anything moving as rapidly as they were," he said. Vaughn be- lieves the "discs" are some sort of natural phenomena, like the Aurora Borealis. *** Jimmy Dewberry, 11, of 1030 16th Avenue, South, said he saw a "fly- ing saucer" while visiting at his grandmother's on 14th Avenue, South. "It looked like a shooting star," Jimmy said, "but it was too low for that. It had a long red tail." Searchlight Reflection Theory Is Advanced The mysterious "flying discs" ob- served in Birmingham last night may be a carnival beacon light at Siluria, about 20 miles south of Bir- mingham. That was a solution offered this morning by William B. Hayes, of the Reconstruction Finance Corpo- ration in the Comer Building here. Mr. Hayes, who served in the Army in the Pacific, said he and others there had seen similar sights throughout the South Pacific is- lands caused by searchlights. He based his theory on high over- cast skies last night and said the beacon at the Siluria carnival prob- ably struck the high clouds and gave the indication of being "flying saucers." Mr. Hayes is a pilot. --- PAGE 14 --- RESTRICTED S-T-A-T-M-E-N-T I, Staff Sergeant Ira L. Livingston, RA 14 153 972, Air Corps, have approximately 250 hours flying time as pilot and Armorer Gunner have the following statement to make concerning the appearence of "Flying Discs" in the vicinity of Birmingham, Alabama. At 2045 hours, 6 July 1947, while I was eating supper at my residence at 1354 Meadow Lane, Green Acres, Birmingham, Alabama, my next door neighbor, Mr. Herman M. Sookwell, called for me to come to the front door that there were some "Flying Discs" outside. Immediately I went out in the front yard to observe the objects. The objects appeared to the West of Birmingham traveling in a South Eastern direction. They appeared to be approximately 2000 feet above the horizon at a 45 degree angle from where I was standing at an un- estimated distance away. The objects appeared to be approximately two (2) feet in diameter, round in shape, producing a dim glow of light and traveling at an estimated speed of five (5) to six (6) hundred miles per hour. The objects or object appeared to be traveling in a definite arc rather than straight and as soon as one was out of sight another would appear behind it, but not always in the same path. I saw one that seemed to come straight up. The view of where it came from was obstructed by a nearby house; and when it reached the altitude of approximately 2000feet, it started off in the same direction as the others. I did not at any time see any more than one at the time and even though there could have been only one, my personal belief is that there were seven (7) to ten (10). The Discs were silent and appeared to be composed of a single light. [signature: Ira L. Livingston] Ira L. Livingston Staff Sergeant, RA 14 153 972 Subscribed and sworn to before me this 7th day of July 1947. [signature: James L. Macfarlane] JAMES L. MACFARLANE 1st Lt. AC Asst Adj. RESTRICTED [handwritten: 9-July-47] 1 --- PAGE 15 --- [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] NBF-T-101 3133 /gdb Classification [strikethrough: cancelled or] Changed to Restricted by authority of CC, AD-ATC [unclear: DNS Capt] 30 July 1947 (Name) . (Rank) HEADQUARTERS, NEWFOUNDLAND BASE COMMAND ATLANTIC DIVISION, AIR TRANSPORT COMMAND FORT PEPPERRELL, NEWFOUNDLAND APO 862,% POSTMASTER, NEW YORK, N. Y. [stamp: RESTRICTED] IN REPLY REFER NBC_________ SUBJECT: Letter of Transmittal. TO : Commanding General, Atlantic Division, ATC, Fort Totten, Long Island, N. Y. (ATTENTION: AC/S, Intelligence) Reference Letter of Transmittal, this office, dated 28 July 1947, with four (4) enclosures (Inclosures 1, 2 and 3, Final Reports of Sightings of "flying saucers"; and Inclosure 4, Signed Statement - Con- stable KEARSEY), transmitted herewith is Final Report of Sighting of "flying saucers" in Newfoundland, which occurred at Harmon Field, Stephen- ville, Newfoundland at 0345Z, 23 July 1947. FOR THE COMMANDING GENERAL: Marion C. Miller MARION C. MILLER, Captain, Air Corps, AC/S, Intelligence. 1 Incl: Final Rpt of Sighting, 23 Jul 47 1st Ind. HQ, ATLANTIC DIVISION, ATC, FORT TOTTEN, L.I., NEW YORK 6 Aug 47 TO: Commanding General, Air Transport Command, Washington 25, D.C. ATTN: Chief of Staff Forwarded in accordance with instructions outlined in TWX CM-95, your Headquarters. James H. Brewster, Jr. JAMES H. BREWSTER, JR. Lt Col, GSC AC/S, Intelligence Incl: n/c RESTRICTED [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] 7. --- PAGE 16 --- [handwritten: 4] CONFIDENTIAL Classification cancelled or Changed to [handwritten: Restricted] [handwritten signature: DLS] [handwritten: 8/27/47] RESTRICTED FINAL REPORT OF SIGHTING 1. Organization: 1388th AAF Base Unit APO 864, c/o Postmaster, New York, N.Y. 2. Sighting : Strange intermittent flashes that may tie in with "Flying Discs". 3. Place : Harmon Field, Stephenville, Newfoundland. 4. Time : 0345Z, 23 July 1947. 5. Altitude : Approximately 10,000 feet high. 6. Weather : High scattered condition; visibility better than fifteen (15) miles. 7. Heading : From South, heading NNE (approximately 30°) 8. Speed : High velocity; stated to be faster than a conventional airplane. 9. Description : The observers saw a light which at first appeared to be a shooting star or airplane. It appeared again, and a number of intermittant flashes were seen for a period of approximately three (3) minutes. The flashes were reddish in color. Observers said it was not a falling star because it did not appear as such; nor was it an airplane, because manoeuvers were too abrupt and there was no noise of a motor. 10. Reported by: Miss Patricia Abbott, (Newfoundland National) Government Employee and Lt. Hammaker, Navigator and Public Relat- ions Officer. 11. General : The informants (noted in Par.10) were walking when they noticed a peculiar reddish light. Both Miss Abbott and Lt. Hammaker stated that at first, they thought it was a falling star, but if left no streak. It appeared again; they thought it might be a plane flying at a very high altitude. After observing its manoeuvers, they concluded, because of the silence (no hum of motor) and abrupt darts of the light, it was definately not an airplane. Neither Miss Abbott nor Lt. Hammaker had seen anything like it before. [handwritten signature] WILLIAM H. SMITH Captain, Air Corps, Intelligence Officer. [handwritten: Level 1] RESTRICTED [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] [handwritten: 8] --- PAGE 17 --- RESTRICTED CONFIDENTIAL Classification [illegible] Changed to Restricted authority of CC. AD-ATC [unclear: EWS-AGPC?] - 6 Aug 47 HEADQUARTERS (Name) (Rank) [illegible] /gdbDate) Newfoundland Base Command, ATLD-ATC Fort Pepperrell, Newfoundland APO 862, c/o Postmaster, New York, N. Y. 28 July 1947 SUBJECT: Letter of Transmittal. TO Commanding General, Atlantic Division, ATC, Fort Totten, Long Island, N. Y. (ATTENTION: AC/S, Intelligence) 1. Transmitted herewith, as inclosures 1, 2 and 3, are Final Reports of Sightings of "flying saucers" in Newfoundland and vicinity listed as follows: Final Report of Sighting - 2000Z, 10 July 1947 " " " " - 0030Z, 11 July 1947 " " " " - 0015Z, 20 July 1947 2. Reference TWX - EN 18469, this headquarters, dated 121730Z July 1947, regarding sightings of "flying saucers" by Constable ERIC KEARSEY, Newfoundland Constabulary, at Grand Falls, Newfoundland, on the night of 9 July 1947, attached herewith, as inclosure 4, is signed statement of this sighting by Constable KEARSEY. FOR THE COMMANDING GENERAL: [handwritten signature: Marion C. Miller] MARION C. MILLER, Captain, Air Corps, AC/S, Intelligence. 4 Incls: 1. Final Rpt of Sighting, 10 Jul 47 2. " " " ", 11 Jul 47 3. " " " ", 20 Jul 47 4. Signed Statement - Const KEARSEY RESTRICTED CONFIDENTIAL 9 --- PAGE 18 --- CONFIDENTIAL Classification [strikethrough: cancelled] changed to [handwritten: Restricted] FINAL REPORT OF SIGHTING authority [handwritten: of CC, AD-ATC] [handwritten: DWS Eng. 222 (5) 47] (Name) (Rank) (Date) [handwritten: 4.] RESTRICTED 1. Org. : 1388th AAF BU, NBC, ATLD, ATC. Harmon Field, Newfoundland. 2. Sighting : Flying Disc or other airborne object. 3. Place : Approx six (6) miles SSW of Harmon Field. 4. Time : 2000Z/?, 10 July 1947 5. Altitude : 8- 10,000 ft. 6. Weather : Clear, Scattered Cumulus 8 - 10, 000 ft. 7. Heading : NNE on horizontal course. 8. Speed : Very high velocity. 9. Shape & Size: Circular like a wheel, estimated to be same size as a C-54 as seen from 10, 000 ft. 10. Color : Translucent or Silvery, left a Bluish Black trail approx 15 miles long. 11. Photographs: Mr. Robert W. Leidy reported that he took two (2) Kodachrome snap shots of the trail. 12. Reported By: Mr. John N. Merhman, TWA mechanic; Mr. John W. Woodruff, PAA mechanic; and Mr. Robert E. Leidy, PAA mechanic reported the above facts to the Intelligence Officer on 15 July 1947. A Flash Report was TWX ed to : Action copy Commanding General, Hq. ATC, Attn. Asst. Chief of Staff, Intelligence. Info copies: Commanding Generals Hq. ATLD and Hq. NBC 13. General : Mister's Merhman, Woodruff, and Leidy were enroute from Stephenville Crossing to Harmon Field at the time of the sighting. Mr. Woodruff was the first to see the Disc, it appeared to rent or split the clouds thru which it passed and left a Bluish Black trail approx. fifteen (15) miles long behind it. The trail was similar to the afterglow of a powerful landing light or search light beam after it is suddenly switched off. The object maintained a straight and horizontal course according to Mr. Merhman and Mr. Woodruff. Mr. Leidy stated it appeared to be on a great curved course on a horizontal plane. The object disappeared into the North Northeast. Mr. Leidy says he took two (2) Kodachrome Photographs of the trail. The film has been transmitted to the Asst. Chief of Staff, Intelligence, Newfoundland Base Command for processing. [Signature: WILLIAM H. SMITH] WILLIAM H. SMITH CAPT. A.C. Intelligence Officer [handwritten: sud 1] RESTRICTED [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] [handwritten: jo] --- PAGE 19 --- [stamp: RESTRICTED] [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] classification [strikethrough: cancelled or] FINAL REPORT OF SIGHTING changed to [handwritten: Restricted] authority of CC. AD-ATC [illegible handwritten signature] (Name) (Rank) [illegible handwritten date/signature] 1. Organization: 1388th AAF Base Unit APO 864, c/o Postmaster, New York, N.Y. 2. Sighting : Flying Disc or other airborne object. 3. Place : Codroy, Newfoundland, 59º03' W Long.; 47º50' N Lat. 4. Time : 0030Z hours, 11 July 1947. 5. Altitude : Approximately 6,000 feet. 6. Weather : Clear; at dusk. 7. Heading : From northwest heading eastward. 8. Speed : Very high velocity. 9. Shape & Size: Disc shaped; was reported as being the size of a barrel-head, dinner-plate and size of a plane that is flying high. The trail gave the whole object the appearance of a cone. 10. Color : Flame colored with a trail of a lighter flame color. 11. Reported by : Mr. John Legge, Mr. Wm. Evans and Albert Samms of Codroy, Newfoundland. 12. General : Mr. Legge and Mr. Evans were standing outside Mr. Legge's store when they both sighted the object. Both men stated that the disc was very bright with an after-glow which made the object look like a cone. It was a very clear night. In spite of the high velocity of the flying object, they said they could not possibly have mistaken it for a plane or a falling star. Besides the two men, the object was sighted by Albert Samms; he reported what he had seen to his mother. Mrs. Samms stated that Albert was in no way alarmed about it, he was alone and on his way home when he sighted it, and watched it while it was in sight. Albert was quite convinced from the color and behaviour of the object that it was not a plane, but definitely some flying object. The informant, Mr. Legge, is believed to be reliable. He is a man of approximately forty; has had considerable experience as foreman of Buchans Mine, Newfoundland, where he was in charge of three hundred men. During the war, Mr. Legge was a mamber of a civilian volunteer Air Detection Corps. With that ɔkground, Mr. Legge stated that he felt sure that the object he had seen was some- thing new which he had never seen before. [handwritten: ✓] [handwritten: level 2] [stamp: RESTRICTED] [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] [handwritten: 11] --- PAGE 20 --- [stamp: RESTRICTED] [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] Final Report of Sighting General cont'd: Albert Samms is a twelve year old boy. He was alone when he saw the flying object, he was very definite that he had never seen anything like it before. His mother, Mrs. Samms, is the Post Mistress of the town, and after hearing Albert's description, felt that it answered to the description of a "Flying Disc". Mr. Legge reported his sighting shortly afterwards to Mrs. Samms because he was sure it should be made known to her in order that the incident might be reported by telegram immediately. There was one other sighting reported from a River Warden at South Branch. The man could not be con- tacted at time of interviews with other parties. However, a second-hand description of his sighting was obtained, and it agreed with the sightings at Codroy. [Signature: illegible, appears to be W. H. Smith] WILLIAM H. SMITH Captain, Air Corps, Intelligence Officer. 12 --- PAGE 21 --- [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] [stamp: RESTRICTED] Classification [strikethrough: cancelled] as RESTRICTED Authority of CO. AD-ATC Pvd Cpt. C. [illegible] 6-20-47 (Name) (Rank) (Date) FINAL REPORT OF SIGHTING 1. Organization: 1388th AAF Base Unit APO 864, c/o Postmaster, New York, N.Y. 2. Sighting : Flying Disc or other Airborne Object. 3. Place : On board Steamship "BURGEO" enroute from Sydney, Nova Scotia to Port aux Basques, Newfoundland, about one hour out from Sydney. 4. Time : 0015Z 20 July 1947. 5. Altitude : 30° off the horizon at an estimated quarter mile range. 6. Weather : Clear and dark. 7. Heading : NNE (30° East of True North) on horizontal plane. 8. Speed : High velocity, stated to be faster than a tracer bullet. 9. Description : Observers did not see the object, they saw its flashes and all four observers agreed there were four (4) or five (5) flashes approximately one (1) second apart and equidistant. The flashes were said to be silvery to reddish in color, and were described by two observ- ers to be like those of a Fire Fly only larger and at equal intervals, and did not look like a shooting star or airplane. 10. Reported by: Messrs Maitland, Larkin, Douglas and Hamilton of Hamilton, Metcalfe and Kansas City Bridge Companies which concern is doing the construction at Harmon Field. 11. General : The four gentlemen (noted in Par.10) and Captain Gullage, Master of the "Burgeo", were standing on the starboard deck, and as the Captain was trying to describe a previous sighting, he saw the flashes; the other four gentlemen also saw them as described herein, and believed that it was not a meteorite or airplane because of its speed, color, and evenly spaced discharges or flashes. Captain Gullage told the four gentlemen that he had seen the same thing at approximately the same time and location (ship's position) on the evening of 15 July 1947, except at that time, the object or flashes were traveling faster and frequently changing course (he said it changed course abruptly several times) and was headed generally to the [stamp: RESTRICTED] dncl 3 [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] 13 --- PAGE 22 --- [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] [stamp: RESTRICTED] 4 Final Report of Sighting: General cont'd : SSW. The Captain also told the four gentlemen that he was willing to make a complete report if the information is desired for official purposes. [Signature: William H. Smith] WILLIAM H. SMITH Captain, Air Corps Intelligence Officer. - 2 - [unclear: stamp: RESTRICTED] [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] 14 --- PAGE 23 --- [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] Classification cancelled or [unclear: voided] [handwritten: changed to Restricted] INTELLIGENCE OFFICE authority of CO, AD-ATC HEADQUARTERS 138th AAF BASE UNIT Ind NEWFOUNDLAND BASE COMMAND, ATL-AGC APO 864, c/o Postmaster, New York, N. Y. (Rank) (Date) [handwritten signature: Wm H. Smith] [handwritten: 7-16-47] 16 July 1947 INTERROGATION of JOHN E. WOODRUFF, Chief Mechanic, Pan American Airways, Harmon Field, Newfoundland, taken at 1415 HMT, 16 July 1947, by Captain William H. Smith, AC, Intelligence Officer. Q. Did you see one of the so called "Flying Disks" or other object on the 10th July? A. Yes, I did. Q. Can you give the approximate time? A. Approximately 1700. Q. Tell me the circumstances under which you saw this object. A. We were coming back from a fishing trip, and coming over the hill between here and Stephenville Crossing you can see the cloud for- mation ahead, I saw the object break out where the clouds opened and it left its trail behind it. Q. Had you been drinking? A. No. Q. You were riding in a car at the time you saw it? A. Yes, in the front seat of the Pan American car. Q. What was the weather like that day? A. It was very clear and the clouds were very scattered. Q. What was the approximate altitude of the clouds? A. I'd say from 8000 feet to 10,000 feet. Q. Did you see the Disk itself? A. Yes, what it appeared to be was a translucent disk like a wheel travelling at a terrific rate of speed and opened the clouds as it went through the air. Q. How was this Disk travelling, horizontal, descending or ascending? A. It was horizontal. Q. About how big did it appear to you? A. From the height of it, I'd say it was about the size of a C54 or a Constellation. Q. About how far apart did it break the cloud? A. It spread the clouds out about half mile. RESTRICTED [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] [handwritten signature: Jid] 15 --- PAGE 24 --- RESTRICTED [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] Interrogation of John E. Woodruff (Cont'd) Q. What kind of a break did it make in the clouds? A. It cut a straight path right through the cloud. Q. Did it leave a trail? A. Yes, it left a trail dark bluish in color similar to a high power light. The trail was from approximately fifteen (15) to twenty (20) miles long. Q. Have you ever seen a meteor? A. Yes. Q. Do you think this was a meteor? A. No, I don't think so, it was cut too clean. This was as straight as an arrow. Q. What was the course of the object? A. Well, looking at the map I'd say North North East. Q. Have you been working around airplanes long enough to know the size of an aircraft and the height from a distance? A. Yes. Q. How long have you been working around aircraft? A. Seven (7) years. Q. Were you in the Army during the time of the War? A. No. Q. Did you take any pictures? A. No, I did not, but one of the boys took some. Q. Do you think the pictures will show up? A. Yes, it was an ideal day for pictures. [Signature: John E. Woodruff] JOHN E. WOODRUFF Chief Mechanic Pan American Airways Sworn and subscribed to before me this [handwritten: 17] day of July 1947. [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] [Signature: S. W. HINSON, JR] RESTRICTED [faint handwritten mark, possibly '2'] S. W. HINSON, JR Captain, Air Corps Adjutant 16 --- PAGE 25 --- RESTRICTED [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] Classification [strikethrough: changed to] [handwritten: Restricted] authority of CC, AD-ATC [handwritten: C4 / 22 July 47] (Rank) (Date) INTELLIGENCE OFFICE HEADQUARTERS 1355TH AAF BASE UNIT NEWFOUNDLAND BASE COMMAND, ATLD-ATC) APO 864, c/o Postmaster, New York, N. Y. 16 July 1947 INTERROGATION of JOHN H. MEERMAN, JR., Supervisor and Mechanic, Trans World Airways, Harmon Field, Newfoundland, taken at 1430 NFT, 16 July 1947, by Captain William H. Smith, AC, Intelligence Officer. Q. How long have you been associated with aircraft and aviation? A. Since approximately 1935. Q. Were you in the Army during the War? A. Yes. Q. What did you do in the Army? A. Aerial Gunner. Q. Did your job during the war entail you to be able to judge distances and sizes of objects and ranges? A. Yes. Q. On the evening of 10 July 1947, did you see one of the so called "Flying Disks" or an object in the sky? A. Yes, we were coming up over the mountain between here and Stephen- ville Crossing. The car was going up hill and we could see the sky through the windshield. Mr. Woodruff said "look at the cut in the sky". I looked up and saw a bluish black vapor trail. Q. Did you see the object? A. No, I just saw the trail as it was left behind. Q. Can you describe the effect the object had on the cloud formation? A. The clouds were very scattered and were about from 8000 feet to 10,000 feet, the object passed through and out the cloud leaving a gap where you could see the blue sky, like a knife had cut it. The edges were feathered similar to a weld, as if you cut a weld in half. Q. Did the object appear to be descending, ascending, or horizontal? A. It was horizontal and seemed to remain on a true course. Q. What was your estimate of the course? A. Approximately North North East. Q. Can you give any estimate as to the size of the object? A. I did not see the object. RESTRICTED [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] [signature: Jm] 17 --- PAGE 26 --- [handwritten: 4] [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] RESTRICTED Interrogation of John W. Mehrman, Jr. Q. Can you describe the trail? A. It was bluish black in color, very easily distinguished from the blue sky. A diesel exhaust would be similar to it. Q. Was the trail fan shaped? A. No it was more or less a band across the sky in a straight path. Q. Did it make a noise? A. No noise. Q. What went on in the car when you sighted the object? A. We stopped the car and got out and looked at it. One of the boys had a camera and took a photograph of the trail that the object left. Q. What was the name of the man who took the photograph? A. Robert Leidy. Q. Do you know what type of film Mr Leidy was using? A. Kodachrome, I believe. Q. Do you know whether Mr. Leidy saw the Disk or object? A. I don't believe so. Sworn and subscribed to before me this [handwritten: 7] day of July 1947. [Signature: JOHN H. MEHRMAN, JR] Supervisor and Mechanic Trans World Airways [Signature: S. E. HINKSON, JR] Captain, Air Corps Adjutant [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] RESTRICTED -2- [handwritten: jr] --- PAGE 27 --- RESTRICTED CONFIDENTIAL Classification cancelled or changed to Restricted INTELLIGENCE OFFICE by CG AAF ATC HEADQUARTERS 1385th AAF BASE UNIT (illegible signature) NEWFOUNDLAND BASE COMMAND, ATL-ATS APO 864, c/o Postmaster, New York, N. Y. (Rank) (Date) Col. [illegible date] 26 July 1947 Interrogation of ROBERT W. LEIDT, Station Mechanic, Pan American Airways, Harmon Field, Newfoundland, taken at 1450 HFT, 16 July 1947. by Captain William H. Smith, AC, Intelligence Officer. Q. Were you with Mr. Woodruff and Mr. Nehrman on the evening when they saw an object or flying disk passing over the sky on 10 July 1947? A. Yes, I was. Q. Were you or any members of the party drinking? A. No, I had one can of beer, that was about half hour before that. Q. Can you tell me the circumstances under which you saw the object or its trail? A. Well, Mr. Woodruff saw it first and said he saw the thing travelling through the sky. We did not believe him at first but when he was so concerned about it we stopped the car and got out. I had my camera so took a picture of it. There was a bluish streak left in the sky which could not have been a cloud formation. It was a definite trail and caused the clouds to break open as it went through. Q. Did it cut a path through the cloud? A. Yes, it was very clear, and you could see the trail right through the cloud. It looked to be travelling in a big circle and it left sharp edges to the clouds. Q. What was the trail like? A. I would not say it was exhaust, it looked as if an object passed through similar to that of a pebble leaving a ring in the pond. Q. Was there any difference in the color? A. No, it looked as if the object broke the cloud and left this opening. Q. Was the trail horizontal, going up, or coming down? A. It looked horizontal. Q. What was the altitude of the clouds? A. I don't know, sir, they were pretty high though. Q. What time was this? A. I don't know exactly sir, but it was between three and five o'clock in the afternoon, we were coming back from fishing. [strikethrough: RESTRICTED] [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] R W L 19 --- PAGE 28 --- RESTRICTED [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] Interrogation of Robert W. Leidy (Cont'd) Q. Did you see the object? A. No. Q. How long do you think the trail was? A. I don't know, sir, but the trail was very long, that is why I think something went through the sky because of the trail and blank space it left, you could easily see it. Q. Was the trail on a straight course? A. Well, as I said before, it looked to me from the ground, that it was travelling at a terrific rate of speed in a circle because of the ares in the path. Q. Have you ever seen a meteor? A. No. Q. Can you estimate the size of the cut in the clouds? A. No. Q. How long have you been working around planes, etc? A. Six (6) years. Q. Were you in the Army during the war? A. No. Q. How many pictures did you take? A. Two. Q. What type camera did you have? A. An Argus, P-2. Q. Was the film black and white or kodachrome? A. It was kodachrome. Q. Where are the film now? A. Well, I took three or four rolls and I am not sure which one the pictures are on. Q. I understood from Mr. Woodruff that they are being developed. A. I think it is out of the camera sir, but I have not sent them out yet. Q. Will you give us the four rolls of film so we can have them processed officially? A. Yes, sir. RESTRICTED [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] [stamped diagonally: RESTRICTED] - 2 - [handwritten: R M L] 20 --- PAGE 29 --- [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] RESTRICTED Interrogation of Robert W. Leidy (Con'd) Q. Are you willing to give the Army a copy of the pictures of the trail? A. Yes. Robert W. Leidy ROBERT W. LEIDY Station Mechanic Pan American Airways Sworn and subscribed to before me this 17 day of July 1947. S.L. Hinson, Jr. S. L. HINSON, JR Captain, Air Corps Adjutant [faint watermark: RESTRICTED] [strikethrough: CONFIDENTIAL] - 3 - 2V --- PAGE 30 --- RESTRICTED 4 STATEMENT OF MR. JOHN P. LEGGE, CORDROY, NEWFOUNDLAND. TAKEN BY MERCEDES BURKE OF THE INTELIGENCE OFFICE, HARMON FIELD, NEWFOUND- LAND. 17 July 1947. At approximately 10 o'clock in the evening of 10 July 1947 I was standing by my store door; I happened to look up and saw what appeared to be a "FLYING SAUCER". It definately was not a shooting star; I'd seen several stars shoot before, but never like this! nor was it an airplane, it was too "lit up" and traveling at too great a speed. It wasn't an airplane on fire because it would have fallen in the water. It was a nice clear night, no clouds, it was just getting dark. I would say it was traveling at the rate of a shooting star but much closer. I'd say roughly at 6,000 feet. It was visible for about fifteen (15) seconds. It came from the North West heading Eastward. The circle looked to be about the size of a barrel head, and the trail behind looked to be about fifteen (15) feet long. The trail behind the disc made the whole object look like a cone. Another thing that makes me feel sure it wasn't a shooting star is; a shooting star usually leaves a temporary streak, this object I saw left no streak only the one that appeared to travel behind the circle which looked like an after-glow. The circle was a bright red, nearest I could des- cribe it would be the color of a flame, the after-glow(cone-shaped) was a fainter shade. What I saw last Thursday night resembled a shooting star in no way whatsoever. There was only one. [signature] JOHN P. LEGGE Witness: [signature] [unclear: F.W. Tompkins] Witness: [signature] Mercedes Burke RESTRICTED 23