65_HS1-834228961_62-HQ-83894_Section_003

ae - : Office Memo, Aum + UNITED $1 OVERNMEN TO ys a FROM SUBJECT: aN Director, FBI (yy DATE: September 4, 1947 SAC, San Francisco ATRMAIL SPECIAL DELIVERY REPORTS Of FLYING DISCS ice Session Enclosed is a copy of a letter dated August 25, 1947, with attachment fran 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. Mx 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 ce Portland (Mncls. 4) = AMSD ufo BT DECLASSIFIED Authority: NND 90986 Hamilton F 4AFDA SUBJECT: Flying Disc. Special Agent in Charge, FBI, U. S. Department of dustice, Federal Office Suilding, Room 422, San Francisco, Calif. le The attached true copy of a letter from Mr. F. Ms Johnson was received by this officer 22 August 1947, Ze Your attention is invited to the similarity between Arnold's early report and this gentleman's report. A possibility exists that Mr. Johnsom might have read some of this in the newspapers when Arnold was publicized re this matters Se This headquarters does not intend to investigate this incident. it is requested that a result of any interview you may make be furnished this hoadquarterss DONALD L. SPR INGER (dup )i Lt. Solonel, GS¥ FM. Johnson AC of 8, Aw? s True Cy) 2TLAND, OREGON, August 20th Col. Donald L. Springs Saw in the portlan 6 in reserds to the ; can say am a prospector and was in Idaho claims he saw a I SN | on Juns igor the day KonnetxAruo formetion flying disce thoy were Round about a | ep ANjw ew ove noise as vou would tail end looked like a meagens . « on e otea 5 ges LEALLG re on LEE ee "ha heal as Segeres naa AG of By Vv paper a short as i mow see ; 1947 Assistant Staff time ago in regards to disc having any basis the Mt Adams district flying objects at about ure you ou pass >lo 1000 sharply to a point in surfaces J there Was an shifting from fot 5 iy STANDARD FORM NO, 64 ‘TO _ yrto SUBJECT: + Office: Men dum ¢ UNITED ¢ GOVERNMENT Director, FBI DATE: September 4, 1937 Atten: Assistant Director D. M. LADD SAC, San Francisco REPORTS OF FLYING DISCS AIRMAIL 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 be e Heb Sere ly. | a ‘ HEADQUARTERS FOURTH AIR FORCE Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff, A=2 Intelligence Hamilton Field, California 4APDA 27 Aucust 1947 335.5/1208-1 ~aagt ( #) od {> ine SUBJECT: Re Flying Disc. TOs Special Agent in Charge, FSI, U. 5. Department of Justice, Federal Office Building, Room 422, San Francisco, California. t % t le Following is extract from the Weekly Intelligence Sumary, Air Transport Command, Washington 25, D. Cs, dated 20 August 1947, Copy Noe 120, Article I, pg 1s "PLYING OBJECTS IN GUAM: Unidentified flying objects have been observe ee American enlisted men of the 147th Air- ways end Air Communications Service Squadron at Harmon Pield, Guam, The men report that at 1040 hours on 14 August 1947 the two objects, which they describe as small, crescent shaped and traveling at a speed twice that of a fichter plane, passed over them on a sig-sag course in a westerly direction at an approxi- _ mate altitude of twelve hundred feet. The objects disappeared “Imto 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." ee &+ For your information. Le SPRIN Lt. Colonel, GSC =F AG of S, Aw? HEADQUARTERS FOURTH AIR FORCE Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff, A«2 Intellizence Hamilton Field, California 4APDA 27 August 1947 333 5/1 208-1 SUBJECT: Investigation of Flying Dise. TOs Special Agent in Charge, FBI, U. S. Department of Justice, Federal Office Building, I Room 422, San Francisco, California. Attached summary forwarded for your information. DONALD L» SPRINGER 1 Inel: Lte Colonel, O8¢ Summary of Information. AC of S, A-2 AUG 30 1947 SAN N FRANCISCC PRU MUTED T i Sal wae j = a HEADQUARTERS big RTH AIR FORCK of the Assistant Chief of Staff, A-2 Intelligence 4AFDA 27 August. 1947 $35 65/1208~1 SUBJECT: Investigation of Flying Dise. TO Special Agent in Charge, FBI, U. S, Department of Justice, Seattle, Washington. Attached summary forwarded for your information, DONALD L. SPRINGER y of Information. Lt. Colonel, GSC AC of S, An? AIR RESCUE SERVICE ETACIMENT 8 (62d AAP BY) WeChord Pigld, Tacoma, Saehington 4 August 1947 SUBJECTs Pinal ‘Sseion Repert TOs vormending Officer Air Reeoue Service WaeDill Field, Wlorida le MISGION HUMSER Thirtyetine. Se ATURE. fe Ab C400 PST, 1 August 47, ARMY FLIGHT SERVICK netified this éetachment that a plene had been seen to crash and burn thirteen (15) miles south of KELIO, feshineton (46°O'N, 122965"). Ss ACTION TAKEN fe l Aug 47. At 06250 PET, APS received information from Mr. Oo. Ce Clark, leoonl sheriff cf KELSO, Wash., that the scene of the crash was © fifteen (15) to twenty (20) miles east of KELSO in the vicinity ef 00BLE CREEK. The KELSO Chief of Police sew an aireraft fly low over the tow, then crash and ‘burn to the esate The time was about O256 PST, <A check of airoraft kmown to te in the vicinity revealed that 5-25 71516 had departed BCCEORD FIELD at O212 PST fer HAMILTON PIELD, California. The weather was reported as CFR, A full moon made visibility exceptionally poods The pilot's name was CAPT, &. ©. DAVIDSON; the plane carried three ($8) additional personas, fhe Base Operations Officer and Base PIO were notified. This detachment began organizing 4 ground party of base personnel to supplement that being formed by the KELSO Chief of Polies. At 9500 PST information wae reeslved from K8LS0 by APS that greund fog in the valleys eat the seene of the crash was preventing a ground party frem locating the plane. Since no communication had been received from 8-25 $1516, it wae aesumed thet it wes the plane reported as crashed. ARS C-47 was pre-flichted to transport the Army ground party to ESLSO but a check of the field conditions there deemed it advisable te wee a emailer aireraft. Of the two Ceéfis available, one belonging te AFS wes unserviced after a night flights the other, belong- ing to AAGG, was readied even thoush a responsible officer of thant orzane ization wie not present to euthorige the flight. Por at KELSO prevented take-off until 0700 PST. The ground party, led by CAPT. We Le LITTRELL and CAPT se Te He FOREBSRG, consisted of six men ineluding a medical technician end « photegraphere At OGO0 PST, the EPLSO Chief of Police notified Ars that a paeeenger of the orashed airplane was in his office and had confirmed wi Subjects Final ‘“ission Reports” 4 Auguet 1947 Thw belief that the crash was thet of the unreported 5-25, The Passenger, Sgte He Ge TAPF, of FT. LAWTON, SEATTLE, was uninjured, but reported that the orew chief, T/Sgt. W. DU. MATHEWS, was at @ farm house near the séene of the erash and was injured. Sgte TAFF then led an ambulance to Sgt. KATHEWS who was subsequently teken to @ local hospital. At 0610 PST an attempt was made to telephone Sq, 3 at HAMILTON FIELD but no anewer was received, however, it was known that HAMILTON APS was aware of the ineident and would notify Sq. 8. At O700 PST Capt. LITTRELL departed in a C45 for KELSO, At O746 PST Sq B was contacted by phone and civen a flash reporte AS OOS PST CAPT LITTRELL phoned and informed that he had placed CAPTAIN PORSBER@ in charge of Army personnel preceeding te the seeone of the erash. Ro aerial search wae necessary es civiliens in the area lmew tho exact location of the crash and had reported finding one (1) body in the wreekkee. CAPT.» LITTRELL prepared to fly Set’s TAPP and MATHEWS te MCCHORD FIRLD * for medical attention, arriving at 0945 PS. The survivors steted that they believed neither the pilot nor eo-pilot hae parachuted Prom the plone. ‘The osuse of the incident was at this time determined to be a fire in the left engine, CAPT LITTRELL was informed by Set. TAPF that he boliewed classified documents had been aboard the plane; G4PT FORSRERO wes instructed te take necessary precautions, An arbulance met the plane && MCCHORD FitLb oarrying the two survivors and took them t¢ the hospital. inverrocetion revasied that the left engine had esught fire in the power section and flames ond smoke hed spread to the flight deck alncat inmed- iatelys the orew chief, WATHEWS, aseiested TAFFY in attaching Ala schiet peok and TArP abandoned the plane at an estimated altitude of 10,000 rt (thie fact te doubted tut is not considered necessarily rolevant). BAIRERS heiped the pilot and cespiiet attach their chest packs (211 per« sonnel had beer wearing the harness) and as he left the plene t¢6 aware that the es=pilot was preparing te follow. The pilot had started to leave and, to the best recoilection of MATHNNS, was partially stending and helding the control wheel with his left hend. MATHEWS etatements indicate that Proper emergency procedures had been performed bat that the flames had en- veloped the entire left sides almost iemediately, TAFY stated that, because of the full woon end goed visibility, he sew WATPERS leave the ylane and was able to follow the plane te the ground and that he suw no one elae tail oute The ship was enveloped in flames end was becinning to fell apart before hitting the eround waere it exploded and burned about one (1) mile from where he, TAFF, landed. te lit ina tree, end not knewing how to release his parachute of the qulckedetechable kind, out himself loose frou the herness with hie pecket Imife. Se kicked cud struggled and eventually jumped to the ground, receiving e jolt cm impact but wae unable te ruess how far he hed fallens He thon followed a cow path for an estimated two (2%) miles te a farm house, arriving efter MATHEWS, Meanwhile, as MATHEWS cleared the plane he turned and sew the plane strike the ground, explede and Surme Just before or juat at the time of impact he sar an object afire throw clear of the plane but did net know whether 1% wea & person or part of the planee MATHEWS aleo Lit in a tree, und after freeing himself from hie harsess, fell to the ground where he injured his back. ¢ lest sonseiougnese and on recovering went to the burning plane, about fifty GeGNFID ENTIAL ¢ Subject: Finnl Mission Repgrs ” 4 August 1947 - (60) yards away, Flares were going off and he thought best to leave the acene, He heard a stream nearby end feliowed it until he same tc a house and aroused the oceupante, Seon TAY arrived et the same house and, being un~ Gnujured, wag driven into town. Then he led an axbulance to effect transporta- tion of “ATHENS to a hospital. Mennshile, civilians reached the scene of the ¢rash where they found one bodye At 0930 PST, a message from Sq 3 informed that top seeret material wee in the navigatore kit and to request Commanding Offleer MCCHORD FIELD to expedite all avoilable informetion to Commanding Officer BAMILTON FITID, Weernwhile, CAPT PORSSERG and four (4) enlisted wen departed ZEISS at 0830 PST for seene of the erash, ‘Thoy wore transported by the MASHIRGTON STATE POLICE whe knew the exact losetion ef the plane (46°O9!Y + 122°43'W), ‘The ground varty determined upon arrival at the soene, thet two (2) hedies were in the wreckage. Inditeations led to the belief thet the ge=-pllot wae afire when he left the plane an instant ‘ before impact, Th. pilot's reenins were found in the wreckage, Pree liminary investigation by CAPT FPORBBERG diselosed the planes left wing abeut one hundred twenty-five (125) yerds from the widely scattered port- tions of the plenes The lett wing was intact. and hed apparently torn off Just.cutbeard of the left engine before impact. The forward portion of the wing stub was melted but che redr two thirds indicated thet it hed: ripped loose frem the inbourd seetion of the wing. The wing leading edge was undemaged, The naWigation end landing lickts were unbroken. The aileron was undameged but the flap section was crushed, leading te the belief that the wing struck the teil sections. From these indivations it is believed the wing ripped from the airplane just after MATHENS abandoned the planes The resulting spin thus prevented the remmining crew members from bailing out although the co-pilot may heve been in the hateh, A few civilians were in the area when CAPT FORSBERG arrived enc he tesk pressutions ta prevent them from disturbing the wreekagze. At JLS7 POT CAPT LITTRELL Flew CAPT RICK, Me. Ce, to KELSO, An ambulance dispatched from MOCKORD PIELD, met them at KELSO, and was led te the soene of the erash by the STATE POLICE. The bodies were recovered and trana- ported In the ambulenes te HCCHORD PIELD. CAPT LITTRELL returned te MCCHORD PIELD where samping equipment was prepared to be drepred to the eround party. CAPT LITTRELL, made a suecessful drop at dusk by sighting om @ sigmel fire. the ground perty set up camp at the wreckage scene to set @e euerd and te investigate further the following dey. They were relieved of responsibility of 211 reocvered documents by a CIC agent who hed arrived mbout 1600 PST. bs 2 Aug 47e The ground varty resained at the scene of the crash pending offieial securing of the incident. No serial aetivitys Ge SZ Aug 47—e MCCHORD FIELD Operations Officer departed at 1000 PST to inveatigate the aeoident and to relieve CAPT FPOKSBARG, whe returned #t 21600 PSY, Incident closed, jubjeots Final “Missio sorties flown ol hours Tlewn by Army eireralt ae Cooperation reesived from “11 ocivilien seengies Geneermed was oommplete and excellent. Te RECOM HVATIONS aah eee Be One, Captain, 2Opmn rie in ¢ toRraphs _ eRe YOURTH AIR PORCE ' aa Hawklton Meld, Californie ASON FOR INVESTIGATION: #veetigation initiated at the request of Air Defense Conant reference ltr fq ADC, dtd 7 Jul 47, file DSS3,.8Ib, subjs Investigation of Flying Diees SY¥ROPSISs On Gl duly 47, Ure Arnold, Aviation “diter of the Idahe veily Steteanan, tele- phoned Lts Grown requesting he retarn te Tacoma because Arnold believed he had some very vitel information on the flying discs Lie Srown end Capt, Devidson interviewed a Ur. Fred Le Crigaan and @ Ys. laroeld Ae Dahl, slong with Capt. Smith of the United Air Lines, end Ure Arnold, at the Win= throp Hotel in facom, Washington, on the night of 31 July 1947. The guamery ef their interrogation and findings was related te Major Sender, Publie Information Officer, WeThord Field, by Mire Arnold and Sapte Smithe Major Sander reteld the results ef the investigetion to thie efficer from his notes. Mire Unhl and Hrs Criaam were nebovailable for interview while this officer whe in that area, althoush every effort was mede to contact theme Further investigation of thie particular incident was left with Mre Brady, Sosident Agent, PBI, Tacoma, Washington. i@ was epperent from newspaper clippings, telephone ealls to this officer, and convergations with Sejor Sander, that a United Press correspondent, of the Tacoma Times, was instrumental in keeping this cause alive. ‘This officer and Major Sander, eithough quoted «any times in the prese, did not discuss this matter with the press during the period of this report. The anonymous mystery caller in Tacoma could possibly be ir, Crigmane DisTRIBUTION AUG 30 1947 SAN FRASMENSCc W-DoP. M.G. Form No. 110 inks) en (This form supersedes W. D., O. C. S. Form No. 19, which will not be used upon receipt of this revision) ‘ Ci-R1 Rgport * a : i DE PAILS: le ‘Suring the afterncen ef 31 duly 47, Mrs Apneld, Aviation Séiter of the idahe Daily Statesman, telephoned L¢ Srown, CIC Sub=letachment Commander at Sead querters "ourth Air Pores, end stated iu eubstence: That he, Agnolé, and Capt Smith had arrived in Tascam to investigate the surported flying cise explosion on a sure feee craft on 21 dune 47, ‘This investigation was requested acd finaneed by @ tr. po Falmer of the Vonture Frees, 305 Studie Bldgs, 1719 Shernen ‘veme, ivanston, Rilinsie. AGERT*S BOTEs: See Enclosure 1 and fuclesure 2. Fhe signuatare to Inelesure 2, Ur. Cave Johnson, is that of the editor of the Idehe Daily Statessene “re Johnsen ie a former Aruy Sir feroe officer ond from e11 indivetions te a very patriotic Averican. On the reesipt of Inelosure 2 et Seadquarters Fourth Air Yoree, this offieer requested the Sen Praneises FGl Offies te chesk the Chicago FET Offices for Be A. Palmer and the Venture Preat. the reture enewar, by telephons, was te the effeet thet the Chi eags iméieos of the PGi, the Shieage Police, and Credit Sureau hed ne record on Re As Pelser or the Yentere Frees, Se it Srown and Capt Lavidson arrived eat MeChera Field during the afternoon of $1 daly 47— They chengsd from their unifores te civilian elothing in the airoraft and, on being queried by Operations as te why they desired tranuportation te Tacoma, they replied they were to sake a epeechs AGERE*S HOPLe Thies was in compliance wish par 4, itr fr hq APG, Pile DESS.E10, ¥ dal 47, wubjs Investigation of Fhring Sises Avoording to Wajor George Sander, Publie infermetion Officer, Secherd Field, the Tacom: Times reeeived an enenymeus telephone call that Arnold end Geith were present in the Sinthroep Setel for the purpose of cendueting an inveetigetion on the fiying diets The Tecone Times sheehed and found this te be true, meh to Arnold's end Saith"s eurpriees Lt row: end Gapt Devidson did interview @. Sareld 4, Heni, Mrs Fred Le Crlemam, in ® hotel room in the Winthrop Hotel, Tacomm, Yashe, in the presence of ire drnokd ong Cnpt Gelthe If notes were teken of this conversation, they were de« streyed in the Girereft aveldent. re Arnold stated te “ejer Jander thet Lt Brows obtained from Mr. Gehl end Mr. Crignan semples of an unidentified substencs thet were identical te those sypearing in Inclesures 3 to 7. the samples pictured in Inclesures & to 7 wore taken by Sr. Arneld from the seme box thet Dahl end Criseen offered bt. Srewn and fran whieh he obtained his samples, %/lgh Matthews, Grew Chief on the wreeked sireraft, upon being interrogated by this officer, stated that he placed « heavy cardboard carten in the rear compartment of the 8625 thet erashedse Ge did not leek in the box nor heer any conmente from 14 Srewn or Capt Yevidson es to ts eon} LENCE» a, Se The following sameerises what was related by Mre Srneld end Gept Feith to Major Sander as to the substance of the intverregetion by Lt Srew and Cent Dewideens That on 22 dan 47 Mire Sahl was preseeding acuth of Maury Ielend in Hire Cricwen’s beste Five flying diees seme down out of the clouds ani cireled slowly around the ay, dropping te an estimated elevation ef 500 feet. Theas dives appeared rownd and “CONFIDENTIAL W.D.,P.M.G. Form No. 110 Gi-Ri Report i 3 = * : Flattened similer 0o ® deSlated subomebile iumertube. They were Judged by leh] to be Spproxinately 100 feet serces with e 25 foot epening in the eenbere The outer eag0 of the object had round portheles end the immer ring bed square windawa or poerthoies., The dises were silent and from hie viewpoint he enuld see ao womne of prépalsions ne ef thease diges eppearsd to falter end wewer in the aie, another of these eforenenticund five Giese drepped Germ clese te the Gise thet appeered to werer end bumped it, dumping “tens” of the staff as pietured in inslesare 3 te 7 on his dont, knocking eff the handrail, hora, end generally desaging the boat te the extent of $200.00, end killing and te dase SUESS5S HOTS: Thie officer, in the ooapiny ef Mejor Sender, searded the «foremen= tioned boat where i% wea decked in the Sacosm barvor on G Jug 7%» & Rand rail was migaing, Bat the aren where the hend vail wee previously faetened had been painted ever with several conte of paint and was orasied by the weethers, The deek and reef ef the cebin wos of & very thin eendteructies and the eabia furtiver bead glass om the from auc glided. 1% io thie affieer’s opimian thet if any of the objerta presented by Sehl as gaxplee of the material dropped by the Piyius Giese hed bit thie beat, 4% weald heve gaytaiuly been neoseumry to rwplewe Ghe Poredeck and the eablu roof, These tes arene ewre Worry heavily eoated with several esuts of sainé and hed deep weather aradies thet would take eevern] senmcons te aequires hire Urlsmen, who owns the bunt end apereates « shereling exber patrol for various Suwinese Meme, evidently visited the exon at Geurp Isiend te check Dehl’*s stery. Se te supposed te heave eteted thet he foam’ the material that he presssted to Le Grown and “apt Lewideon in a semi pit near where the incident was supposed te have eomurreds “hile he, Criemn, wae ai the eeene of the ineldent, a Piyine dies cane oats of the donde end behaved in a similiar watmer ss the ones previously described. AGEST*S Botis The witnessing on tro vecaslons, in broad daylight, of en cdjeet #o large and clearly vieiblie within several miles of the efty ef Income eortetaly should heve been seem end reported on by other then Cah] and Crisnene A cheek whe sede of the méwapapers of end after 21 dare end ne mention ceald be Pound of « aysterious object apaearine ever the Tecorm harbors Seo Criguan ie supposed to hewe sont sexples cf the objects that hw oleked up im the Reury Inked sand pit te a friend of bie at the Sniversite ef Shieage for an analysis reporie fe ia reported to have net reesived the enalyels reporte £GENT*S WSPEe TS Le poesthle that the fire oe Ae Palmer, referance Enclosure 1 sad &, sicht bere come eeroes thie Ineiden: trough the Univerelity ef Chisago. The inteprocetion of eh ené Criacan by LS Oreon wae soapleted ahent widnicht on Si daly/i Auguste (4 Brown end Cupt Sevideon returned to Sedherd Mield and prepared for & wight fRigat te Sambiten Fields the weather was qicer with a bright meen shining. They departed soproxivately C200 hours and crashed at agpromimeately 0230 heures om 2 Auguet lee7y (Sse inclesure &)s / és Gn 6 August 47, tiie officer, tz the company of Wejor Sender, Setherd Field, ang “rs Grady, resident’ eget, laense Feieral Soren of Invoatigntiion, sitenpied te CONFIDENTIAL W.D.,P.M.G. Form No. 110 CI-R1 Report ad j ¢ \ Pies ih contee> either Hre imbi or “re Grisman, without suvcese, Cept Gaith end Ur, Arnold departed the Saeome aren on 3 August 47, therefore, this officer did not here the gpertunity of cemversing with them directly. AGESE*S SOTGe A reeurd eherk wae onde by Seiephone by Urs Brady with the Seattle Field office, FRI, for records en re Grisman and Gre Uehie ‘The shook on Mrs Grisema wae negetive. the Seattle FSI indless indicated thet e Gereld ahi had been charged with twe iuolgente of thieged wearing of the uniform and ome with theft of setioned preperivs 74 gould not be determined ot the time whether Sereld A, “thi, the eubdject km question, end “eres Sehi of the FOl iadiews, wae eno and the sands Se “ee Crieemn bed indicated te Capt Saith, Arnold, et al, that he wae a forser Pigchter pilet end held scamlesien se Captein in the Air eserves AIEST*S BOTSe On 8 August 47, thie effiecer sheeked the reeerda of the 400th AAP GO(2T) and determined thet Fred 4 Ceiawen ene regiebered with thet Recerve Unit as Captain, Serinl Hamber OvFSS961, with residenes at 125 feedlend, tacomm, Sachingtony, Prissy UOS 1Ob4 end 3062. im 1262 bo wee with the Criminal Inewetieation bivielen, vteto of Heshineton, anc creviousiy head been £m of] teaknieian with the Unten PaolPie ipitway,. “lesen ecterad the sepyies in 1942 aa an enlisted wan and served aa such for sevevteen aeathn, Iu i243 he wan comiesioned om graduation from fiying seheol eee ¢erved a tebei of tuentyenine menthe., © cheek of the tasemm ality diredtery was made en Geveld #4 Oohl, whieh indented his heme was at E905 8. “obe S44, telephones Freetor TLI?. Susiness address wea listed ae 235 Widdle “aterwayy telephone: Broade wey ?P79Ss RESOWMENDATLON: : i» That mo farther investigntion be undertaken on this epecifie inelident by Apey Airy Feree poraomel. fu Tnet in View of the reperied etatenente by “re triaran, thet consideration bo given Ge revere bie Aly Seeerve comeiseions anc figing statue as an undesirable and sireliable officers § ineles le Photostet, ltr fr KedaPuloors Ze Photestat, telegram fr Save Johnsons Se to Te “hoteographs, Unidentifies Dabatences G6» Final Miesion Regert, Air Keasue Serviees W.D.,FP.M.G. Form No. 110 cena % we ars VENTURE PRESS 305 STUDIO BUILDING 171B SHERMAN AVENUE EVANSTON, ILLINOIS July 22, 1947 ) 6 Mr. Kenneth Arnold, , Boise, Idaho (aE ; Dear Mr. Arnold: Quite obviously you have been ribbed so much you'd like to forget the flying saucers--but I'd sure like tc have your personal story, your photo, pie 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 rewspapers and the *experts* have Bade of it. Besides the article, I have another propesition, You seem to get around quite a bit, and if you can maka a trip to Tacome Washington at @]1 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 Ae Debt, P. 0. Box 154, Fern Hill Station, Tacoma, and Mr. Fred Le Crisman, owner of the Tacoma Harbor Patrol, Inc. Dehli, and two other seamen, on a patrol near Murry Island, off Tacoma, saw six discos, one in trouble, witnessed an explosion, saw falling stuff which smashed their wheelhouse end searchlight sand lended on the beach. They sect me samples whioh Chieaso 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 trath, to find out if these boys are on the up and upe You could do that. I hope youwill. If agreeable, please write and perhaps we ean telk business. I think you'd like to prove this thing too§ Anyway, I still want that article! Sincerely yours, Laue Re A Palmer ae ana al = rere A a ee A. ee er ih ia sc 2 SS ee Ae = anonennd z Tih The WESTERN UNION > WESTERN UNION WESTERN UNION q rv, WUA41 PD 6 CoE eo -* BOISE IDA JULY 29 1947 255P “s LT FRANK M BROWN, A=2 (RPT Aq=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 | SUGGESTED ON YOUR VISIT HERE VENTURE PRESS SHOULD BE CHECKED DAVE JOHNSON 305 1718 $200 308P Office Memo -vithl * UNITED Sla... +OVERNMENT TO FROM : SAC, Boston \ yy 4 a ,' Director; FB ’ DATE: SUBJECT: METAL FRAGMENTS 0 SERVED AT WEST RINDGE, N&W HAMPSHIRE, JULY 7, 1947 COPIES 260 SECURITY MATTER (X Reference is made to Boston teletype to the Bureau dated July 18, 1947, Dean John M. Punker, 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 solentist examining the particles conoluded 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 end 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 Yean Bunker did not identify by name, recalled that cast iron oylinders of similar measurements had been used in New Mexico on research work on a guided missile project. However, this unidentified scientist if not so conclude to the exclusion of all other possibilities, I ey 8 ntere bing to note that the examination at MIT was actually conducted (b) (7)(D) Who furnished the Boston Office with an informal report similar in all major details to that supplied by Yean bunker above, The men at MIT ot are gathering through friends all additional pieces of the original cylinde#” / available, These will be turned over to the Yoston Office, No further,” a examination is being conducted by MIT and no effort is being made + reconstruct the original cylinder, al TAN DPR) B 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, . - NOV 13 164 (b) (7)(D) It is noted that the original “oston teletype refleoted that this inquiry was being treated as “seoret" matter at MIT. (b)(7)(D) 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 Sureau's interest is not known to the scientists at MIT. ‘There has been ho speculation that a guided missile originating in a foreign land landed in New Henpshire, As indicated above, unless the Bureau requests specifically further investigative action, this case is being closed in the Boston Office, BSG:md 100-206 98 FBI BUTTE B-15-47 5-45 PM RECTOR, FBI URGENT hy, FLYING DISCS. ON INSTANT DATE A. Ce(URIE OF TWIN FALLS, IDAHQ) INFORMED LOCAL NEWSPAPER THAT COMMUNITY THAT AT ONE PM ON WEDNESDAY LAST, AUGUST THIRTEEN, HE AND TWO SONS BILLIE, AGE TEN, KEITH, @mmmx AGE EIGHT, SAW AN OBJECT NINE MILES NORTHWEST OF TWIN FALLS, RE- SEMBLING FLYING DISC. URIE STATED THIS OBJECT WAS PROCEEDING SMX 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 tse PROMPTLY | AND FULLY INFORMED OF ALL PERTINENT DEVELoPMENTs. / ,//_ BANISTER END PLS ACK AND HOLD E7 7-48 PM OK FBI WA BW | - - : rp iW wnogs WNUALN . Z ; 4£2¢ bic ‘ae e a ae bd i < ‘ ‘ STANDARDSEORM NO. 64 Ofgce Men ® dum * UNITED a GOVERNMENT + - . TO “ers The Director DATE: August ed 19k? FROM : Mr. D. Me. Ladd SUBJECT: ~ FLYING DISCS ast a In connection with your request to be advised as to the facts 3:3 concerning newspaper reports of flying discs as the Portland area and the x: Tele. Room reported conference of army officials in Portland concerning flying ALSCS y #r. fiease the Portland Office has advised that tourer ts G. Richards, aviation Miss Gandy editor of the. "Oregonian," has stated that Captain William L Bevi den and Lieutenant Frank ie own of the Fourth AAF Headquarters, San Francisco, were in Portland on July 27, 19:7. While in Portland they interviewed Dick “\Rankin, an experienced vilot, who had reported that he observed, on June 1h, a formation of ten flying discs over Bakersfield, California. Richards added that Davidson and Brown had also interviewed the following four experienced ‘pilots who were among the first,to report seeing discs, KennethXirnold, businessman from Boise, Idaho; Captain E. J NSmith, a co-pilot; RalpbyStevens, United Airlines and DaveXJohnson, aviation editor, Idaho"Statesman." In order to determine the purpose ‘of these interviews Richards contacted Major General Twining of Wright Field, Ohio, and from him gained the impression that the AAF instituted this investigation_ to wash out the disc reports since they are definitely not of AAF origin. On Friday, August 1, the plane in which AAF investigators, Captain Davidson and Lieutenant Brown, were flying, crashed at Kelso, Washington and both were killed. The wreckage was screened by AAF Intelligence from McChord Field. The "Tacoma News Tribune" and through them the United Press put out a story that the plane was carrying parts of a dise which had struck a boat owned by Harold Dahl and Fred Chrisman. It has also been inferred that this plane was sabotaged to prevent these disc parts from being examined. STATUS. Investigation by the Bureau has reflected that this plane was definitely not carrying parts of a disc and there appears to be no substantiation of a sabotage charge. For your further information there is attached a blind memorandum setting forth in more detail the results of the investigation surrounding the above plane crash. No further inguiry is being made in this matter. ACTION Air Force Intelligence has been advised of the results of our investi- gation. re / 645 RECORDED P : tf (a) wf & INDEX®) RGF :smjp COPIES DESTROYED 270 NOV18 i904 dh, Hd 02 p h] ony ma . iit . $ . VUSAP 40 ‘La2g $'n Igy Fiby VL~Q3A199 34 August 1h, 197 FLYING DISCS The "Tacoma News Tribune" and through them the United Press put out a story that an army plane which was allegedly carrying parts of a disc which had struck a boat owned by Harold Dahl and Fred Chrisman had crashed on August 1, 1917, killing two Air Force Intelligence officers who were interviewing persons who were alleged to have seen flying discs. Harold A. Dahl and Fred Chrisman, when interviewed by Bureau Agents, advised in a signed statement on August 7, 197, that in the early part of June, 197, they picked up some strange rock formations from a gravel pit on Mauri Island, Washington. They sent a cigar box of these formations to one Ray Palmer, editor of the Venture magazine in Evanston, Illinois and also editor of the Fantasy magazine in Chicago, Illinois. According to them they requested Palmer to make only a chemical analysis of the rock formations. Palmer then wrote asking for additional samples stating he had been unable to analyze the material. Dahl and Chrisman remarked that a few days after the flying disc stories appeared during the latter part of June, Palmer contacted them by telephone saying he would pay for an exclusive story if the materials they had sent him were fragments of a flying disc. Dahl said he wrote Palmer a letter in which he represented the material as being a part of a flying disc, and both Dahl and Chrisman admitted that this statement was entirely false. Dahl and Chrisman then received a call from one Kenneth Arnold of Boise, Idaho who requested them to meet him at the Winthrop Hotel in Tacoma on July 31, 1947. According to them Arnold called in army intelligence officers from Hamilton Field, California and one Captain Emil H. Smith of United Airlines of Seattle, Washington to attend this meeting. Dahl and Chrisman maintained they told the intelligence officers Captain Davidson, Lieutenant Brown, Kenneth Arnold and Emil H. Smith exactly how they got the rock formations and that they had no connection with any flying discs. Dahl and Chrisman stated that they then furnished some of the rock formation to the intelligence officers as samples. Captain Davidson and Lieutenant Brown left Tacoma, Washington in a B-25 to return to Hamilton Field, California about 2:30 A.M. August 1, 19,7, and were killed when their plane crashed at Kelso, Washington, after the left engine burned out an exhaust stack which in turn caught the left wing on fire which caused it to break off. The crew chief and each officer parachuted to safety. Ernie Vogel, an Associated Press wireman at Tacoma advised that two or three days after the flying disc story started he contacted Dahl to check the story COPIES DESTROYED 2.70 NOV 18 1364 that the Seattle Post-Intelligencer had received from the Fire Chief at Harbor, Washington, to the effect that Dahl had some flying disc fragments. At this time Dahl admitted to Vogel that the entire story was false. Relative to Arnold, Dahl and Chrisman stated that he was paid by Ray Palmer of the Fantasy magazine and possibl# the Boise "Statesman to come to Tacoma and obtain a story from them regarding the flying disc fragments. On July 31 and August 1, a total of five anonymous calls were received by a Tacoma Times reporter and the United Press Wireman at Tacoma giving information regarding the meeting at the Winthrop Hotel over the disc fragments and stating that the B-25 had been shot down or sabotaged which killed Captain Davidson and Lieutenant Brown, inferring that this was done +} because the intelligence officers were carrying disc fragments in their plane. Dahl and Chrisman stated that these calls could only have come from themselves, Arnold or Smith, who, they stated, had a friend on the Chicago Times and was possibly selling the story to the Chicago Times through this friend. Dahl and Chrisman denied aking these calls. Smith, upon interview, stated that reporter Lantz of the Tacoma Times and Morello of the United Press office in Tacoma had informed him that Arnold had several anonymous calls and from the accuracy of the information transmitted Smith believes they were made by either Dahl or Chrisman. #ederval Pireau of tnvuestivath United States Department of Justice LOF ’ o npt Unnes LV } ) IPL Mouse j —_ e 4, Washington 18, 1947 Pr uy ny op PENCE RAPS eS ADT CALA « a a SAT UNLoOMAN 8nd TMARULD A, ST T TRI INALT t SSR IVES 9 whole eee VTL LN nar wv a ence 2 OA sabota ons «hk - abo story, story as related ( rn DAHL's story. Aba ‘ contract for to come to Tacoma and. check the story, as related by. FRED CRISMAN and HAROLD DAHL. APTACHT i came to Taco: Washington July 30, 1947 and following day, July with FRED CRISMAN and HAROLD Tacomé oa ak ae TulTTt-T *% 2 ate Veo seeing August 19, 1947 this meeting. KENNETH ARNOLD, Captain: EMIL J. METH FRED.-CRI SMAN, HAROLD YT CRT DAHL, Captain DAVIDSON and Lieutenant BROWN of Army A-2 Intelligence from Hamilton Field, California, all met in ARNOLD's: room vas various times during the afternoon and evening of July 31, 1947.and discussed the flying disc story as. related by CRISMAN and DAHL. The Army Intelligence Officers, Captain DAVIDSON and Lieutenant BROWN, left about 2:00 A.M. the morning of August 1, 1947 to. return to Hamilton Field, California for Air Force Day in a B=-25-and were carrying some of the reported disc fragments. The left engine on the B=25 burned an exhaust stack which in turn caught the left wing afire, the wing subsequently breaking off and tearing off the tail. The B-25 crashed, killing Captain DAVIDSON and Lieutenant BROWN. However, the Crew Chief and a hitch-hiker. parachuted to safety. Intelligence Officers at McChord Field, Washington advised there was no AFL ORL OR of any sabotage. The plane crashed at Kelso, Washington approximately 2:50 A. M. August 1, 1947. Five anonymous calls were received by a reporter, Tacoma imes, and the United Press Wireman, Tacoma, between 11:30:-A. hes July 31, 1947 and ee P, Me, August’ 2, 1947. The first call was to a Tacoma Times reporter approximately. 11:30 A. M., July 31, in which the caller stated that there was a meeting taking place at that time in room. 502 of the Winthrop Hotel: concerning the dise fragments found on’Maury Island. The second call was. received between 11:00 A. M. and 12:00 noon, August 1, 1947:by the Tacoma Times reporter in aie the caller advised that at that moment. a big meeting was taking place ARNOLD's .room number 502, ‘Winthrop Havel: that. the B=25 which crashed was Sosy ling disc. fragments and that McChord Field officials had stated it was shot down or: sabotaged. .The third call was received Friday, August 1, 1947 at. 53:30: Py M. by the United Press Beaty ors Tacoma, in which the. caller. stated that the B-25 which crashed at Kelso, Washington was. carrying flying disc fragments and that the dead officers were Captain DAVIDSON and Lieutenant BROWN, A=2 Intelligence Officers at Hamilton Field, California. This call was prior to the release of the dead officers’ names by Army authorities and the caller indicated that when the names wer'é peleased, it- would ehh the information he was furnishing: was correct.’: The fourth phone call was received at approximately 624.5 Ps M., a August 1 by the United Press Wireman in which call the caller stated the B-25 was definitdyshot down and. that if he contacted Army Intelligence officers, they would not deny it. The fifth phone call’ was received by the United Press "ii reman, Tacoma; at-5:30-P. M. August 2 1947 at. which me the caller: stated: the B+25 was shot down from the air with & 20 m.m..canno nat. the Marine plane found’ recently on Mt. Rainier had also been sack down a) at gs j ee bse be taken to Wright. Field Tuesday morning. ~yhen. the m; aséd the names of the dead Intelligence officers which ifi he information as cesweG by the anonymous caller, the Tacoma Times.-printed a L§ story on August 2, 1947. and carried several articles thereafter inferring t a the B-25 had been shot’ down or sabotaged because of the fact that it was carrying disc fragmerits, DAHL and CRISMAN have admitted that the material which they sent to RAY PALMER had no connection. with any flying discs and have given a signed statement to that effect which are. being 3 e * August 19, 1927 forwarded herein, DAHL and CRISMAN deny, however, that they actually started the flying disc’ story and their actual part in the story... United Airlines pilot, EMIL J, SMITH, states that DAHL and CRIGMAN ‘on July: 31, 1947, both related their original flying dise: fragment’:story.- Information gathered would indicate that the anonymous phone calls were possibly made by. FRED CRISMAN in order to build up the flying disc story to the point. where they could: make a profitable sale f the story to RAY PALMER, Chicago, Illinois: No facts have been developed which would definitely prove.that CRISMAN made these calls. However, ‘from all facts and rigagitecnonea gathered, it appéars he is probably the most likely to have made the anonymous calls... The detailed interviews of the persons contac- ted in regard to this flying disc ‘story’ are being set out’ below, The following investigation was conducted by Special Agent DAVID A. MacCULLOCH: at Taconia, Washington on August 6, 7,-1947: ERNIEA VOGEL, Associated Press “ireman,; Tacoma, Washington, advised that: in the early part of June, 1947 he was: requested by the Seattle Pact Intelligencer to check on a story which he was. informed had been obtained from the Fire Chief at Harper, Washington. The story was supposed to have originated with FRED CRISMAN. Mr. VOGEL stated that the story was to the effect that DAHL, while patrolling in his boat near Maury Island, saw five or six flying dises, one of which. fiuttered toward’ the ground and finally ree eee s Fragments of the disc were reported to have showered down on the boat of HAR DAHL, ‘causing some lamage and Killing his dog. Mr. VOGEL stated that: he soa to the home of HAROLD SAHL on 3903 North Gove, Tacoma, Washington to check with him on this flying disc story. He stated that as best he could recall, this was just a few days after the first flying disc stories had appeared in the paper and was on a Sunday evening. He believed it was the early part of June. He stated that DAHL took him in the kitchen and proceeded to’ talk about this flying disc story in low muffled tones. He stated that DAHL acted rather suspicious and that shortly his wife came into the kitchen and 'was-in.a considerable rage, telling DAHL to.admit that the entire story was a plain fantasy which he had dreamed up. He stated that after his wife told DAHL to admit the entire story was false, that’ DAHL then admitted that there was netiing whatever to the story and it was an entire hoax. » VOGEL stated’ that in view of the enraged condition of DAHL's..wife, he immediately Left and reported to theKgeatt le Post Intelligencer that. the. entire story was a hoax and that they. should not print it in any way, He further ‘stated. that he advised the Seattle Post Intelligencer that DAHL was a mental case and that nothing which he had reported should be carried as far as a-news. story. Mr. VOGEL hated that. since’ that time he had received repeated requests from the Boise Statesman requesting information as to the flying disc stories reportedly originating with FRED CRISMAN: and HAROED DAHL. VOGEL stated that he had never, in his experience, had such pressure brought pon hin to z release. a news story and that: he repeatedly advised the Boise Statesman that the story of seeing the flying discs by DAHL and CRISMAN was a complete fabri- 3 August’.19, 1947 cation and should be in no way, carried as a news story and refused to furnish any information regarding ag reports. He further. stated-that he advised the Boise Statesman shortly before, or at the time KENNETH ARNOLD left Boise to come. to ae to check on the flying disc stories with DAHL and, CRISMAN, that ARNOLD should not come as the entire story was a hoax. following information was obtained from P pauptarre, 4513 South. 7th, Tacoma, Washington, Proctor 8416,.a rpporter for the Tacoma Times: It was the Tacoma Times pap ak first issued a story on August.2°and- subsequent Svorses intima ing that -the ] > which crashed at Kelso, Washington on the once “at been sabotaged or shot down because. of the fact: that it> carried ying c: fragments.:: LANTZ: stated that. on Thursday, July 31, at approximately 11:30 Ke Me he SEeSI Ge an anonymous phone call in which the-caller: stated that KENNETH “ARN } Army Intelligence officers were meeting in room 502 of the Winthrop Hotel 1 Be check on the flying disc story from which fragments were obtained on Maury Island. .LANTZ stated he turned around to. speak to his‘ editor and when’ he picked ip-the phone again the line was dead, He stated that the caller asked for B BURR Ie eMURTIE,~ a reporter on the Tacoma Times who was out at the time of the call, ‘He stated that BURT McMURTIE called ARNOLD at. room 502 inthe Winthrop Hotel and-was advised by ARNOLD: that he could furnish no information as he was there on a Government mission. LANTZ stated that on Friday,. August: 1, between 11:00 A. M. and noon, he received another phone call for BURT MeMURTIE in which the anonymous caller stated that he might. have some information for him. LANTZ asked the caller if he was not the same party that had called the previous date and he. said yes. The caller then related that at that moment there was a big meeting in progress in’ ARNOLD's. room, mes in the Winthrop Hotel; that the. B-25 which crashed that morning in Kelso was carrying flying disc fragments from California and that McChord Field officials had stated the plane was sabotaged or shot down. The caller then hung up after making some statement’ to the effect that he was a switchboard operator. . LANTZ stated that. he went to the Winthrop Hotel on Friday about noon and found that there was no male operator on duty. He stated he then went. to. room 502 and ARNOLD answered the door and that Captain EMIL J. SMiTH, United Airlines pilot, was-on the phone, LANTZ stated that he heard SMITH make a statement to the effect that the information must be very strictly confidential, He stated that there were one or. two others in.the room besides SMITH and ARNOLD, but. that he could not identify them. He.stated that’ ARNOLD told him he could mae no statement and that he had attenpted to check the story with various people on Maury Island with negative results. He stated that about 3:30 P. M., Friday, he wrote a story regarding the mysterious informant and called ARNOLD at his hotel room, stating that he had written thigsstory and that. ARNOLD had better check it. He stated that he talked to TEDAMORRELLO, the United Press Wireman, Tacoma, who advised that the story sounde fantastic. LANTZ stated that. about ony 53:30 P. M., Friday, August 1, an anofiymous caller called TED MORRELLO, the eh a August. 19, 1947 United Press Wireman, stating that Captain DAVIDSON and Lieutenant BROWN were the Intelligence officers that were killed in the crash of the B-25 and that civilians and the sheriff had beén kept away from the wreckage with the Army guarding it. He stated the anonymous caller then said that the names had not been released yet by the Army and that this would verify his statements, PAUL LANTZ stated that the following morning, Saturday, August 2, the Army verified that the officers killed were Captain DAVIDSON and Lieutenant BROWN and two days later verified that they were Army Intelligence officers, - LANTZ stated thatthe anonymous caller again later contacted TED MORRELLO, calling him by that name, and at this time stated he did not call the Tacoma News Tribune or the Associated Press and denied calling PAUL LANTZ or BURT McHURTIR. In this call the anonymous caller stated that, "Don't think I'm doing this for you." He then asked if the story had been put .on-the wire and when MORRELLO said yes, the caller stated, "We want this to get back to: New Jersey." The caller further stated that the B=-25 was shot down by a 20 m.m..cannon and that the marine plane which was recently found wrecked on the side of Mt, Rainier, having been missing for several months, had ‘also been Shot down. ~The caller stated to MORRELLO that he should get in touch with a flyer named MORGAN’ with United Airlines who, he stated, was with Captain SMITH when they were shot. at over Montana, The caller then stated, "I'll see you . Tuesday... I'm going to San. Francisco." LANCE stated that. he had checked with Captain EMIL SMITH of United Airlines who denied knowing any pilot by the name of MORGAN; denied ever having’ flown over Montana, LANTZ:.stated that MORREILO received another anonymous call in which the caller stated that SMITH would be sent to. Wright Field on Tuesday and that Saturday one of the men who fotind fragments of the flying disc was to be flown to Alaska. “LANTZ stated that in view of the fact that the information as to the Intelligence: officers onthe B-25 had been as furnished by the anonymous caller, had subsequently. been verified by ‘the Army, the story was released that the B-25 was carrying disc fragments: returning to Hamilton Field, Californie and furnishing the inference that the plane had.been sabotaged or shot down. -LANIZ stated that. about 8:00 P.M. on Sunday, August 3, he contacted Captain EMIL SMITH at his home, 3027 West Laurelhurst Drive, Seattle at which time SMITH stated he had not. given any: story out to the Post ntelligencer at Seattle; stated that he had gotten a telegram to call a number n Boise and when he called and found out it-was the Boise Statesman, he had hung up. He stated that the Boise Statesman then contacted him, at which time he admitted he had.seen the disc fragments, but that he did: not take any of theme. This time SMITH informed’ LANTZ that he had been with Major GEORGE SANDERS, Public Relations Officer from McChord Field, all afternoon until about 3:45 Pe Me. SMITH informed LANTZ that he had told ‘the. Army authorities every- thing that he and ARNOLD knew about. the flying disc fragments story fromthe time that KENNETH ARNOLD left Boise, Idaho and he had left Seattle, Washington, This time SMITH admitted that there were some of the. supposed: disc fragments in ARNOLD's room at the Winthrop Hotel and that CRISMAN and DAHL had been in the room Thursday afternoon. On Monday PAUL LANTZ stated that he called HAROLD DAHL who advised thet if this were not used in the paper, he and FRED oo ibe August..19, ©1947 CRISMAN would see him after lunch. LANTZ stated that about noon DAHL and CRISMAN contacted him at which time DAHL. stated that he and his son had been exploring a gravel pit on Maury Island and found some strange rock formations. 2 stated they picked up some of these samples and that. FRED CRISMAN later y them and they went back over to Maury tsland at which time additional Sauslos were obtained and that CRISMAN sent these to a friend of his at the University of Chicago to have analyzed, . They stated that they received a report and that apperently this friend had asked a newpaperman to find out where the rock formations were obtained. - CRISMAN and DAHL told LANTZ that sometime after the first flying dise story had appeared, they received a tele- gram from Trans—Ocean Press from Chicago wanting infomnation:on the flying dise fragments. FRED CRIGMAN stated that they had at no time indicated-the rock formations were a part of a flying disc and that Captain EM entre and IETH ARNOLD were not. interested in the rock formations and they denied giving them to SMITH and ARNOLD, TED MORRELLO, a: United Press Wireman, Tacoma, Washington furnished substantially the same information that was obtained from PAUL LANTZ, the Tacoma Times: reporter, regarding the anonymous phone calls which he had received, He stated further that the first call he received was. on Friday, August 1, at around 5:30 P, M.. At this time the caller stated. that the B-25 which crashed at Kelso, Washington was carrying disc fragments and that the two officers killed were Captain DAVIDSON and Lieutenant BROWN, officers with Army A#2. Intelligence at Hamilton Field and that the fragments were top secret material. He stated the caller indicated that when the Army released the names of the dead officers it would verify that the information he was furnishing was correct. MORRELLO stated that: the second call he received at* approximately 6:45 P. Me Friday, August. 1 at which time the caller stated ‘that the B=-25 was definitely shot down and that if he contacted Army Intelligence A=2, the man in charge would not deny it. » MORRELLO stated: he thought the man said to con- tact Colonel GUYS, but it was found out it was.Colonel GREGG who was in charge of Army Intelligence A=-2.. The caller further stated that the Sheriff's Office had been kept away from the crash and that no civilians had been allowed near the plane. MORRELLO stated the third call he received at 5:30 P. M., August 2, and that this time the caller stated that one of the men who'had been conferring with Captain SMITH and KENNETH “ARNOLD was taken to Alaska that ‘day. The caller further. stated that the B-25 was shot down from the air with a.20 mm. cannon; that the Marine plane found recently on Mt. Sree had also been shot down; that Captain SMITH would be teéken to Wright Field Tuesday morning De that a United. Airliries pilot by the name of MORGAN. flew with Caotain SMITH when they were shot at over Montana, The caller stated he was leaving. for Sar Srasetecs and would. be back Tuesday. PAUL LANTZ and TED MORRELLO both stated that..they had made very little effort to question the anonymous caller to obtein his identity as they felt re was useless and that if they started questioning him he, would August 19, 1947 nformations fe) Secale 5, 1947 Special Agent DAVID A,-MacCULLOCH was contactéd in the resident agency. office, Tacoma, Washington by ‘PRED CRISMAN. At this tine GRISMAN asked if the Seattle Of fice was investigation the crash of the B-25 and he was informed digs no. investigation was being conducted by the Seattle Office. CRISMAN at. this time related in a rambling story that he had. picked up some strange rock savnabione which he ‘had: forwarded to a friend of his in the University of. Chicago to have ahalyzed and that later, in *some manner unknown to. him, these-rock formations had been reported as being frag ments of a flying disc, On August 7, 1947. FRED CRISMAN “and HAROLD DAHL wer viewed at the Tacoma. resident agency office. Both DAHL and CRIGMAN a denied any knowledge of how: the rock formations which they had picked as to have alalyzed became corinected with the flying dise stories. Both denied making any statement to anyone that’ these rock formations were portions of dise fragment. It was apparent. from the start of the interview that DAHL and CRISMAN were not telling their complete ‘and true connection with the flying disc. story. They refused to give any definite information as to what they said or ‘had done which caused them:to become involved in a flying disc story, but gave ererare: answers’ and repeatedly stated that they had nothing to do with, it and: were at a loss to understand how they became connected with the flying disc story. After considerable questioning, they ‘stated that in the early part of Jun hey sent to Ray PALMER of the(ZiffDavi.s Publishing Company which published AFantasy magazine in Chicago and the Venture magazine in Evanston, Illinois, some rock formations which they had found on Maury Island, They stated they sent these formations, asking. PAIMER to have them analyzed. They stated that later PAIMER wrote and asked for more samples, advising he had failed to analyze thesamples, CRISMAN arid DAHL stated they’ have never sent any additional. samples and that the next they heard regarding the rock:formations which they had sent PAIMER was when he called HAROID DAHL and asked if the rock formations could have come from a flying disc... DAHL stated he made some remark that they possibly could have come from a flying dise and that he immediately sat down ‘and wrote a letter to PALMER, which was in the latter part of, June in.which he stated the material could have been portions of 4 flying disc. “DAHL claimed that he thought he told PAIMER over the. phone something about being in his boat when he obtained these rock formations, but .stated he could not recall what he had written to PALMER and claimed that she passed the whole thing off as a joke. CRISMAN “and. DAHL were questioned at Length in an attempt to obtain specific information as to exactly what each one had done with regard to the rock oe tions. -However, éach stated that the only thing they had done was tell RAY PAIMER the formations could have come from a ‘flying disc in view of the fact it Sopearne tthat's what he wanted them to say", No definite information: could be obtained from either DAHL or CRISMAN as to what each specifically had done to start the flying dise ‘story. The. signed statement which was obtained from CRISMAN and we Aas August 19, 1947 ih, sis being forwarded to the Bureau herewith, - The statement fo) DAHL and in:which they admitted the rock formations had no connection with Ss nformation-of value and. therefore is‘not being set forth herein. any flying di no in e f contains Regarding the meeting which pag bese in the Winthrop Hotel on Thursday, July 31, CRISMAN and DAHL stated that they both met KENNETH ARNOLD there about 1:00 P. M. ‘They stated that they all ery ARNOLD! s: room: about 3:00°P. M. and that CRISMAN took ARNOLD