PROJECT BLUE BOOK

1. DATE - TIME GROUP

23 April 49

“

LOCATION

PROJECT 10073 RECORD

Vicksburg, _Mississip oi

aS 2

- =

Civilian __
id. NUMBER OF OBJECTS

One

|
P source
|

-~

10, CONCLUSION

Astro (METEOR)

LENGTH OF OBSERVATION

»
| 5-10 seconds
6& TYPE OF OBSERVATION

See |

LO A

; Ground-Visual |
17. COURSE |
Esst |
fe PHOTOS

5

i Oo Yes

| _3f) Ne be

Observer sighted a triangular-shaped object.
milky like a flourescent light,
moderate speed,

11, BRIEF SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS

It appeared to have wings.

It looked
It was heading Wemet ab a
on

Se ee ee

FILE NO,

a UNITED STATES AIR FORCE 4n8
THE INSPECTOR GENERAL a
OFFICE OF SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS REPORT MADE BY
REPORT OF INVESTIGATICMN JOHN F. FRAMPTON
rvs c. ... ee ae
| DO ; FLT s Kirt sland AYB
Alle¢g sd Sighting of Fl: yinez Discs, cRIOND A ee hr oe —_ =~
White Sands Proving Ground, New 19 Sep tember 1u49
Mexico, dates unknown, as per Qn | 3 > ree ieee
Newspaper Los Angeles Times, be 17, Airtiand ould |
dated 50 August. ep ane ee ee a
‘ PENDING
“CHARACTER: | ? aan inrean =: ates | my 0 3 :
SPEC TAL siesta ~ UNCONVENTIONAL AIRCRA?'T PMLA SSICICS
REFERENCE ee a i al ae a a a eee a |
“SYNOPSIS a va r — < — as
i
This investigation requssted by Headquarters, l7th District Osl, '
to determine the facts and circumstances surrounding the reported
observation of flying diacs, White Sands Proving Ground, as cited by
wticle Los Angeles Times, dated 50 August 1949. Investigation White |
Sandes Proving Ground disclosed article stsmmed from prass conrerence
at WSPG during Navy Viking firing 25 August 1949. Purther, it was
disclosed that article is elaboration on facts of previ asily ee
sighting/24 4°April 1949) joy | , General Mills Asronautica
Research, as raported by thig office. Records WPG reveal no sftsetes
news release made + \rmy PIO that post, nor was an official release
made by the Commandiog “aneral that post. lLivestigation ¢cisclosed that
all releases regards to article Los Angeles Times, dated 50 August 1949,
were released by Naval Unit WPGC. Records of the Post Intellizence Office,
WSPG, reflect no siehtinzs of any phenomenal object since MCURB's sighting
24 April 1949. |
DOWNGRADED AT 3 VOAR UNTER |
Ty ‘LASSIP TMi A) a oUt yi
DOD Vik Hr0dLYU
aseTON oT | ees Ten a |
loc, aM, ATT:MCIAKO=3 | :
(4 Incls) 2 | |
Hq OSI (4 Incls) 2 | |
[Director of Intelligence | |
' usar (tTywro\(4 Inels) ;
Bi. Bi 180, la) ‘as
( : : clg3) | !
4 Et ed 3 | ree
' Tnels) —
wryned Spec

ee oo — - ~_- - ~~ se ——-+ - — |
. > 2M ™~ — ier at . 3 yt aneret Steen
' { ~~

“*
‘~~e

wns

1949,
Los Angeles Times, dated

arrcitt

Liu

an

:

4 =
Ga, Te a

at

TALES ae WHITS SA

r

bY

.

‘
(ry ‘T
5

‘

nt

re

g

Q)

wo
Us

20 This tigation Sp

ind th Writer e

PROV ING

avr" er 5 ary

ak we |
wid naw

-\
~~

Ns

—

+

AT WHITS SAND GROU ND, x

-

On 19 Septemoer 1949,
General, White Sands
ally had made no press
frites of the Navy Rocket

In regards to the ~aTegaedeirt
slared he was cognizant of the ar
ained therein not released ea

leclared he had been q
representatives but had stated

regardin matter. BLACKMORE
ined to belie ; the news article
ceviously rep noteodolite sightt
reorssenh General Mills
at White oving Uround.

3

’

:
"
a +

i
—

>
-
=

"
il

. .
—~ Ba
s 2%

4
tiie

L949,

ri
’
AS My

jing

,

TL3

to Aer

j osses

‘ay >
a

he &
4 a), a?”

“

~~
Sxecutive 0
an
949,

7
-r
J

oa

ia

pe

5 _-

‘4 ~

Ti] l

YY) >
' } 44

a3

<i

i?

5

~ep
JA

MENDY. F

IVersesas

+. tn

7

Picial
(rougnda,
+

¥

2814s

he Army PIO
jomenal objecte
made in rezarcsa
SLDMAN declared tuat
national intaresst
Headquarters,
andag “his policy is
S.Army, White Sands Proving Groucc,
not released by his office. F5
article, as was Captain DETCHSMSND
had determined that the article had been a Waval
“ther disclosed that during the period 24 Auzust
aval Unit sponsored ‘w Racket

ime YD

Nhnite Proving
aving been signved at tha
so the subject article
it is an esta5lisned
vill first be channeled through
Hational Military HEstaolisament,
strictly adhered
12 is assure?

DMAN declared
Teas , and

post

~ es

i 22

~<« '
af

4 '

c .
@

Orfrice
released,

-

ro

iy

WA

‘
-
is

3

-~‘\n

Fe “=
Lue

. Tl+

; UL

“

“oo = S

\e r vr
# -*-

.
.
x

"4

ssa" =

+

= 72
ek

°*s5rs > ‘2s

44

7.
.

Cc e' ‘CR
RZ

ae oes

)

-| ters
“= 7

= Be

hte

{

Ww

Ww

qi

her NQOr

ial na

ea nepative
fPicer were
labora tion
by

?

_ 5
OC.

h ihe
wed

“ye . . ry le«-r
previ 2U3 4.5

wele

ee Bel

Limes
2 STl*- 2 FF |

v3 } items

>DLEMAN
August 1949,

_——- *~

_~— «+

> JCATLION

_-

oS

UNCLAS Sir rie ,

ser, Nad Oeen requested oy tne Naval Unit to handle all ths
ot the conference to include the preparation of t
nditions, DETCHEMENDY was present during che greater portion
onference and SELDMAN is assured that NLY 13 aware
erson or persons who made subject re
fe)
a

_
+
?

sy
So
+3
Cc
Ed
to
ba

of & p =) vne representa~
tives of the Los Angeles Times. An undeveloped lead is herein set forth
to interview Captain DSTCHEMENDY at his Leave address. Inclosed is a

list of press personnel present at the confersnce and records of two phone
calls mace to the PIO in regards to the article by MILES.

De Captain WILLIAM A. GORRY and Commander DOUGLAS C. McLAUGHLIN,
U.S. Naval Unit, White Sands Proving Ground, were interviewed at their
offices on 19 September 1549, and advised that insofar as they were con-
srrned the article contained in the Los Anceles Time .ted 50 Auruat
1949, contained no factual data whatscever. GORRY declared that MARVIN
MILES and CLETE ROBERTS wers prasent as newspaper poncents curing
the firing of the Navy Rocket “Viking” and that during the period of two
i three days in which the firing of the rocket was postponed due to
technical malfunctions, ROSERTS and MILES had questioned numerous Naval
e

™ + a » ? ; _ * . ’ } ' : i © ? . f° . ‘*, "4 = > o . ; . ’ 7 ~ "= .
farsonnei in rerards to the signting of flying discs and otner aerial
7

phanomena. GONWRY admits that the details of previous sighting, made

by ee ae a4 April 1949, had been discussed. In recardg to
the sighting, as cited in the newspaper article, which was alleged to have
been gigated on the triday preceding the writing of the article, Captain
FRRY stated cue of the visitors at White Sands Proving (round had de-
clared that ha had observed strange objects in the =H: nowever, GORRY
placed no confidence. in the tatement and further do ed the validity

of the statement. » this ciniak: GORRY declined to divulce the name of
this person. rweRt declared further that the valicity of 6 articls and
sven the existence flying discs are entire t ») his mind.

RRY stronzl Tima ced that 10 13 his belief that the article was written
by the newsmen in au atfort to justify their presence and existence at white
ands Proving sround during the delayed firing of the “Viking” Rocket, de-
cd * "After all, they have to make

rere Te

1
orated by Commender McLACGHLIN. Both GORR

- « . —_ A. = . |
s$@8s32a no further knowledte concernin

,

y
®
=)
H
ct
c
t
i)
J
ct
‘oman
Oo
iy
.

,
.

6. ist Lt. ALSAAYDER cA, 0-1690907, Photovraphic Officer,
White Sands Proving Ground, was interviewed on 19 September 1949 and Gee
clared that to the best of his knowledge no photographs of flying discs
had Seen taken by eith of the photographic units at WSPG, nor had any

9hotezravh been taken aia showed objects other than a missile or a rocket.
cme best of SZABO's knowledze, no photographs had been obtain |

: _-” + . -> se - . . * — >
30 and ultimataly mained 3 r5a) “2 artiste
'
sre nrer ae _ 2° = A Or 134
2 } | _

Plies
ngs of any phenomenal objacts has been ad

isc

CN on 24 Apri
t=

Z

+

official reports of signs
at White Sands Proving Groun

poy
w
' ae
|
©)
o
ct
sy
ie)
"
w
rgd
oO
-
ct
a
te

1949. Statement by Sax $3 herein inclossd. DAVIDSON daclared thai
his capacity as Tachnical Advisor to the Public Information Oifice, suoject
article wags not cleared through him prior to publication by MILES . On this

~e

i
basis, DAVIDSON had submitted a report for record to General BLACKMORE

$n which he disclosad that the article in the Los Angeles Times had not
been an official WSPG release and that the information containe n the
article had been disclosed to newsmen by members of the Naval Uni

i

3 <

QO ecto

re @ ch cr Rp

fs)

DAVIDSON further declared that the Naval Unit is fully cognizan why the
~ . n *. " P: at 2 wo in . 4

Army's Unconventional Aircraft Project is classified as Restri © d™ an

is therefore not elicible for free and full dissemination vo civilian

oreanizations.

;

- . " , 1] . . se s +. % a) Pte me — r4 -_ .
8, N55 Pot her $nf?rorm +4 Qn bsins sotainadle 8a Wizcte oandcs rrovring
® - + ve _ ~~ = = — ~ 3 =
: } L ae +* at | ‘ ae | a | ” * ye r he srw ” - bh
sound. wndeveloped leads are set forta 1an efrort to cetermins t he
Lk j

5 i ; ins
" ’ | + lee - = 5 = et } . - san > 4a ea ri —— ie
identity of persons daclared to have sighted the objects, as stated in tas
| =

.

, 7 } = ; —
ayrticis ot tne Las AnNl7ea.es .lmMese

_*

>»

- - A o. a " ry) en < “ ) 4
i WF * ' r | wit { > ' ' ; “ ' | A =.)
- -

tL. List of press personnel present at conference of "Viking" firing NSPG.

2 Record of phone conversation, PIO and INS representative, dtd oJ we.49.

3° Record ot howe sonversation, PIO and hir. COWEN, H srald Post, Rl 139,
Texas, dated 31 August 1949.

4, Statemens +, U.D,MOORE, dated 27 April 1949.

Same 3s above

3 STS ey ry rig? eyy rear ; iy i ry ATT TT. 7
pf (i TOR Vit | py We Se bet LS wy WV wlke
———- <2 eee ee Oe ere ee ee eee

Same as above

7 - “ " '
5 ? ii 8 . eL Pp 15 Js  soboled
A, i ALLL LL LLL LLL LLL LLL LA BLE AOE,

TOR DO #12, SCOTT AFB

Same as above.

OR DO #18, MAYNOOD SPEC. DEFOT «.)

. | 2 = Vv - =
same as aoove i

“a UNCLASSIFIED

29 Aug 49
Visitors Badges Viking Project - 24 August 1945 (signed for by Capt
Detchemendy )

Badge No. ISSUED TO

300 Miles, Marvin - L A Times

301 Bath, Philip = L A Times

304 Hart, Julian - L A Examiner

306 Grant, Gordon = Hollywood Citizen News
307 Boones, Andrew - Popular Science

308 Eastourn, Glen = Aviation Progress

309 Stimson, Tom - Popular Mechanics

310 Roberts, Clete = Radio Station Kry3
311 Ray, William = Radio Station KRWB

312 Douglas, Doug - Radio Station FRED

O15 Douglas, Michael - Radio Station KRKD

ol4 Martin, Geo. Jr. = }utual Broadcasting System

O17 Prinzal, Nelson = O53

321 Bosworth, Bllis = AP

524 Maroney, Ray - Acme Nows

529 Koverman, Irvy - News of the Day

o26 Gremmld, Samuel - Paramount News

O27 Johnson, Joseph = Universal News

628 Vandiveer, Willard - Pathe News

329 Brick, Al?red - Fox Movietone News

330 Beice, Lt Cdr H E = USNR Bscorting PIO
1 kins, Floyd = Inter News Prove.
2 } .chwyn - ,

500 ,onover, Lywood “7.78 Yews

Sairiev

—

F nel Ole. v
|

UNCLA?"
HSADQUARTERS
VHITS SANDS PROVING GROUND
PUBLIC INFORMATION SECTION
Las Cruces, New Mexico
Tel. WSPG, Ext. 215
(Night Ext. 261)

IMPORTANT INCOMING AtNib CUTGOING TELEPHONE MESSAGES

TO Captain E 8B Detchemeady

Time 3200 Date 539 Aug 49
PROM International News Service Xespresentatives-<Denver, loe

oI Ga rr

Lind 2 ~wlr, od

In Captain Detchemendy's absence, representative asked to talk to

INS Rep: What is this story on the radio about some flyin: saucers at
White Sands Proving Ground? It is put out by a lir.Clede Roberts
fron Los Angeles-<-I believe.

»

oifice, nowever if. Roberts was a nage of the Navy last we
? he has made a ralease, they will be able to give you tne informatio

are. Shall I switcn you to the Navy headsuarters where you may confirm his
urce of information, if any?

Mes. D. We have not released any information o* such 4 naturs from this
@!

7 " -~ ‘ o | . . ™ == = .
INS. Rep: Then you do not know anything about such a story?

Urs. Ds We have no such information, nor have we mace any releases, in

this office. However, I will switch you to Captain Gorry, ana

he will be able to answer your questions--since lr. Roberts visited
their headquarters recently.

-p< _ a) % . ~ = . % Sel - - 7
rn+ched call to -anptain Gorry's 2xtension.

~

h

o

‘wa te
TINCLASS! rie

t a To ¢
HEADQUARTERS

WEITE SANDS PROVING Gaout

Www
PUBLIC INFORMATION SSCTION

Las Cruces, New Mexico
WSPG, Ext. 215

3 >
(Nizht Ext. 261)

IMPORTANT INCOMING AND CUTGOING TELEPHONE MESSAGES

TO; Captain E B Detchemendy
Time 9:05 Date Sl Aug 49
A —~ ee
sROL! ur. Cowan = Herald Post, Bl Paso, Texas
ISSA hy

Mr. Cowan; What is this the radios are putting out about you people at

the White Sands seeinz fiyine saucers -=- or flyins discs

up there?
Caoct Ds T just heard about it from some people who came out from

El Pasgoew is it a story put out by a bir. Roberts?

Wir. Cowans Yeseea Mir. Roberts anda if. Miles, fron Los Anzgsles, I believe.

Capt D; These inen were here last week as guests of the Jiavy, and if
they have aay information of this type, [ imagine they got it
from the Navyee shall I switch you to the Navy and let you talk

with theal

Mr. Cowan: Do you have a avy PIO?

Cant Ds I'll switch you to Cdr McLaughlin, who will be anls to
clear you up on where the stories cams from. ie have had no
such information here, and have made no releases at all on such

x

Noter I believe Mr. Roberts received this information on which he 6
his release-- from the Navy. Cdr. McLaughlin released verbal
information of a similar nature, to lr. Scholin, Public r

TaParma +344
ea SS orm oP Sore

espresentatite
National Military Establishment, Washington, D.C. when ha ws tere at shis vost

7™e@ Wwaet3 azoee in ny presence

7 =

f nati SANDS VING GRC wr Ace

‘ VHLTS SANLS PR LOVING GROUT UNCL a1 i at
Las Cruces, New Mexic

vn
L

On 24 April 1949, three miles north of Arrey, New Mexico, four Navy en-=

listed men from White Sands Proving Ground (Chief PE Sor eee eee:
epg) and I saw a rapidly moving object while making a pidai wind run.

We released a 350 gram balloon at about 1020 UST and were following it with a

iv sv

,

standard ML-47 David White Theodolite. After the 1050 reading, ARPES took

over the theodolite and @@@MMB and I looked up to findt he balloon with naked
eye, ve thought we had the balloon when ws picked up a whitish spherical
object right along the direction the theodolite was pointing (45° elevation
and 210° azimuth). The object was drifting east rapidly (5° second as esti-

mated by stopwatsh and width of fingers), but we had thought to encounter

similar winds on the balloon. When the distance between the theodolite and
supposed balloon becaine apparent, I took over the cheodolite and found th
2nd vicked uo tre object

true balloon still “hers, whereupon [I abanconed it

aPter it came out of toe sun (this gives another good bearing if you wisa to
work out a sum shot a° } MST at Arrey). The obj

crank the theodolite around; therefore, one of the en pointed the theodolite

and I looked. The object was an ellipsoid about 23:1 Sekaeet y reba’ length

=

about .02° W subtended angle. White in color except for a light yellow of one

side as though it were in shadow. I could not get a hard focus on the object

tail

{5
ib
wd
7
t+
Ua
mY
—
a
Oo
UG
©
@)
er
ch
wv

due to the speed at which the angles ch Therefore,

-
2 32
,
mutch anzis Minueda to 2creag2 a > >
eae r row? y ,lar sn 17a ad “7 » bhe °A3 +” 5 Fr
3 -~ Lnz - a FS he ~~ oe = x 4 » - s : .
> 11> » -
Aco > ootect narenac L20e45c? 4 “a
‘ —s ST OU es com ee
‘ 7 — = -_ oat
, | *
ROPE eas ay 2 LIV LA malt fhe
_ ‘ta :
OL Se aioe . vf
4 : > “6

= laut ma fy

- - | t >
’ , *, 5 a . eee x
SEN iy
7 ~

wy
alts

total time of observation of about 60 saconds

The object was not a balloon and was some distance away. Assuming

escape velocity, a track is enclosed which figures elevation above the sta-

tion of about 300,000 feet over the observed period. i* this is true, the

=ht would have probably gone over the White Sands Proving Ground,

and Los Alamose

ER EE”

General Mills Research

ser .

»
3 QONeVAap pes 3

-_

: ° 2. wd
DETATLS : pa So
Lists . —*

lL, This investization predicated upon undeveloped lead Jopcaeg set forth
in the report of Special Agent JOHN F. PRAMPTON, of the 17th OSI Districs (IG),
Kirtland AVB, New Mexico, dated 21 Septesber 19h9, file number 2hed,

AT ST, LOULS, 25S 0URL

2. Captain EDWASD D. DETCHEMENDY, 0-j5117, Ordnance, U. 5S, Army, Former
Public [ntormation Officer, White Sands Yroving Ground, Jew lexico, enroute irom
White Sands, New Mexico, to Bremerhaven, Uermany, was interviewed 12 October 19)9,
and stated he had been the Public Information -fficer from August 1943 to 12 Sevten-
per LILI

baptain WILLIAM A. GORY, U. S. Navy, white Sands “roving Ground, in
prevaration to testefiring bane "Wicing* rocket during the period 22——26 4ngust 139,
requested the presence of DETCHEMSNDY from the Commander of ‘Jhite Sands Proving
Uround to assist the Nev; in the accommodation of press reporters being sent to
cover the ficing of the avy rocket. He was to assist Naval Public Lnaformation
Officers of the 12th Naval Jistrict, San Jiezgo, “alifornia, who were in charge oz

the party of press representatives. JESTCHSWENDI assisted in the billeting, trans=
portation and orientation of the press representatives on tae rocket firing racili-

ties of Yhite Sands Proving Ground. USTCHEMENDY stated he wag wita the nembers of
the oress from the time they descended from their plane at about 1700 hours, 2)
August 1749, at Conron *tald, until their departure, 25 August 1L7JW.

DETCHSMENDY reealled being ocresent at two press contarences at which
all members of the prevs were assembled. The first conference »ecurred at the Navy
Officers! Mess and last ii5 mwimtes. GORY made a short introductory talk and Dr.
NEWELL of the Navy Research Laboratory, gav3 a short talk on the "Viking" rocket,
4 second conference took »lace in the Lounge of the Army Urficers' -lub and movias
of tha “Viking™® rocket «ao the German "Y-2" rocket were shown. (at conferences
reporters were advised “wt certain ohases of the "V/Jixing" rocket were classified
and any information they uight haoven to run across was not to de printed and that
the Jdavy following the firing would hold a conference for all press reoresentatives
at which conterence ali the pnases or the friring would be covered and the press ziven
data they could use for publication). DETCHEMENDY stated he was with one or more
members of the press at ali times during the period of their visit and neither at
the conrerences or elsewhere heard, either directly or indirectly, any mention or

discussion of flying discs.

DETCHEMENDY asserted that he found certain of the photorcravhers and
reporters were interested in various phases of the Proving Ground itsel?. de re-
called that when he escorted the reporters to the Ballistic Measurement Section,
certain revorters and nhotoerapners were interested in »hotovraonhing a sracking

Salescove and 3immlating “he ‘sracking of a rocket in flicnas. 1@ cTaccing tele
scoves irs located five so cord) five miles from che ‘nite “ands “-roevine Ground
Seadanarters. The reoorters and vhotercrachers erecore because of 2 ghort
lensth of their visit and ie distance involved decided to 00] mY covTerace oz
sne tracicingss T » according to DSTCHEMENDY, revortars and “hotovravhers 4d
ampis onrorsunity out 3° tre haarine of both himeel? ind “sral L.formasion -
“9 © 40 technicians and otners a ; ’ :

et ee Be ee eae aie |
UNCLASSIFieD

Ballistic Measurement Section and at the tracking telescope sites. Anyone of ths
afore-mentioned areas who knew of the reported incident of last Spring may nave
revealed information concerning that incident to the reporters,

| FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

in order to refresh his memory DSTCHSMENDY was shown a list of thi

reporters who were present for the Waval firing. DETCHSMENDY was able to recollecs
CLETS ROBERTS and IHVY KOVERMAN. DEYTCHEMENDY stated he spent’ considerable time
with reporter CLETES XOBEATS, mainly becasue ROBERTS had returned from Germany in
June 1949 and DETCHEMENDY had just received orders assigning him to Germany and
therefore DETCHEMENDY was interested in obtaining all the first-hand information
he could from ROBERTS regarding life in Germany. Ur. ROBERTS, he related, was a
free=iance radio commentator who seils anything of news value he can pick up.
R°0BSRTS would only publish that which he nad proof of. ROBERTS carried with him
at all times, both in the field and at press conterences, a portable handecarried el
tronics recorder and therefore may have an actual recording of the conversation with

stated it was not unusual conduct for reporters like RUBERTS to carry recoming

sigeet RUBEATS, according to DsfCHawsyuDy, always turned on 413 mixes for sounds
and firings on the shite Sands Prov rele Ground range which are directed by a firines
officer on gublis address system. UD SPC Mohali 1) alerted iCBERTS when to turn on his
radio during the rockst launching preparation a da the Launsiting Lite. DSTCHEAE DY
related that at the launching site he was with twelve (12) ohotographers and ree

oorters of the oress and radio and at this Hae also he heard no mention of flying

guULscge

JSTUREMSNUDY did not see NOBEXTS converse with or interview any of the
senior Army Utficers of hite Sands Proving “rounds. Urizg. veneral SLACKMORS was
ibsent from White Sands and Li. Colonel ZIYLLR appeared on the scene only briefly

(9 welcome the reporters to @hite Sands. OSTCHEMENDY did see AOBERTS in the presence

2f two Maval taformation Officers, one of whom was a Lieutenant and the other a
Commander. DETCHEMBNDY did not see JBERTS talk to any ‘Shite Sands Naval Officers;
however, KOUBERTS coula have done 390 without his knowledge when he, DNICHEMENDY,

"a3 otherwise engazed. USTOREMENDY was unable to recall UiLeS for he had no indi-
iB.dual contact with iia shat enadled nim to remember and distinguish MILES from the
J5ASTS

IRVY KCVERMAN, according to DETCHEME? DY, wags one of the individuals who
vent to one of the tracking telescope stations the afternoon preceeding the schedule
tiring. He was accompanied by cersonnel from the Ballistic Laboratory and went to
whe station closest to the Uampe KOVERMAN would have been with the personnel at the
tracking telescope from about 1500 hours to 1700 hours. DiTCHEMENDY did not know
‘he personnel who manned that particular telescope on that date because he remained
with the main group of the press at the Block House,

DETCHEMENDY asserted that as part of his duties as Public Information
Officer he maintained clipping files on information of all kind referring to Whit
"ands Proving Ground that appeared in various news media, DEICHEMENDY first Learned

2 She cublisation of information regarding “Lying discs 25 ‘hite ‘ands upon reading
> roisle miplisned sy she SL 2-330, -exas newsoaper on or 2o0nt 30 August 1919s

“unde. took the article to soriz, seneral SLACKMORE tozetner with what he con
appropriate remarecs; the iapropriety for making such a release without ramineg
ibvidual giving the intormation; that the release was quastionaole; that it was

iL the*Aray treaved a3 classified. wenaral sLACKMORS advised JSTCHEMENDY *o

-
~

vo

the person from whom he obtained the information revardinz flying discs. DETCIEMENDY

r NCLASSir- a ae

see Cactain GORRY since the release nad been wale A news oa pers Covering vae Navy
rocket firing. DETCHSMENDY recalling the content of the article stated that it did
not mention any specific branca of the Armed Yorces az having been the source of
information but stated it mentioned that two high ranking officers had discussed
the information. The Sunday after the appearance of the story, DETCHGWEDY met
Cant. GORRY and asked him about the release of the story regarding flying disc

at white Sands Proving Ground. GORY told DETCHEMENDY, "it was that same old thing
of the Navy tracking of discs in the Spring and that they cot this story from us*
(the Hayy). DETCHEMENDY judged from Captain GORRZ'S manner and attitude that he did
not consider the release of tne story to the news as anything very serious. It is
DETCHSEMENDZ'S opinion that GORRY does not believe the cracking or so-called rlyin
discs as anything unusual.

DETCHEMBNDY revealed that from 7 April 1949 to 30 Way 19h9, he was in
avtendance at tie Aadiolosical Vefense School at “gear diss :

L38ippi.e Unon iis
return to white Sands Proving Ground ne resumed his duties a3 PuJlic Information
mace sr and while revicwing tne RECS YA SAS of shite sands durinz his absence, Sgt,
PLLOMAN verbaily inrtormed DETCHSMENDY tnat ae had heard of the actual tracking by
telescope at white Sands Yroving “round of what wa3 believed to be a flying disc.
JEICGsdsnDY stated he followed this information up and interviewed ir. CLIDE PfOMBAUGH,
ene Zallistic #easursment Section, white wands froving Ground, who informed hi
ee 18 ob ject in question had been resortedly tracked Sy Naval Fersonnel.
MNT 3ald no official report had oeen mts oY this to the Public infornation
roof the white Sands Proving YVround and he saw nothing ia the newspapers con=

Jn or adout 39 wuly L949, Mr. SCHOLIN, Public information Officer,

National Military istaolivsnment, Washington, D. °., made a one jay visit to ‘nite
Sanas rroving Grounda on 4 Jeneral orientation tour of “white sands and to gether
information on possibia jvads for future releases. “%CHOLIN and DseTCAEMENDY visited
che Haval Operations Urtice and there met Vommander McLAUGHLIN,who, during “the
visit revealed to 3°OHOLLU and in his (DETUHEMENDY) ocresence, information regarding
the tracking of the ‘lying dises in the Spring by Aaval dhite 2ands Proving Ground
-ersonnel. JETCHEMENUT a id he interruoted McLaVGHLIN and advised him the Army
Publis Information Uffiser at Shite -anus considered the inrormation classified,
DETUREMENDY did this to protect the classification or the material and to call the
attention of SCHOLIN to the position of the Army in the matter. McLAUGHLIN replied
to JETCEAMENDY that tois was all lmown information. DSTCHEMENDY stated that he

id not ow what McLAUGHLi intended to imply by that statement. cAevertheless
Me LaUGHLIN proceeded to <9 inte the details for SCHOLIN of the tracking accomplish
by his versonnele DETCHEMENDY again took occasion to interrupt McLAUGHLIN and
reiterated to him the position of the-Army and the manner it treated the subject,
after leaving MCLAUGHLIN'S office, DETCHEMENDY told SCHOLIN that the White Sands
Yroving Ground'S Public Information Officer considered all information eather
on Ilying discs classified and amy release regarding them would stem from orficial

information channels in Yashington.

|
=
;
‘
a
‘7
pot of
‘1
~
~
/
an.
u\
a’

- a — Se es —_ —-

~ 19 MT : 12 Pawns
Du -18, Maywood, California.

HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES AIR FORCE FILE NO. | DATE
THE INSPECTOR GENERAL uals’ = 20 October 1949
OFFICE OF SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS REPORT MADE BY
| Tat ren = ort ’
. __REPORT OF INVESTIGATION _ | JAvBS B. SHIESY «ss oe
TITLE REPORT MADE AT

Alleged Sighting of Flying Dises, PERIOD

dnite Sands Proving Ground, lew 14, 17, 18 October 1949
ilexico, dates unknown, as per OFFICE OF ORIGIN

wewspaper Los: Angeles Times, yf

dated 30 August. STATUS

wWwryy

—

CHARACTER

Commander McLAUGHLIN weutioned, according to aCcunts, the fa
had been sighted in the sky r ecently and that the photographs ther

turn out.” ROBERTS said that he believed that MiLES' source for ta

L Wz 4
’ a

Signting of an ob ject lit thea sky was a haval Commander, oeilevsd to

> —->*- .

S . - ‘ a . 2
abttnn. AUSTIN CONCVER, Reoworter, Hollywood CUitizeneiiews, Hoilywood, ULali-
. ‘ . 2 2 ed, itl . ee ay ee oO 19ST ert ; -1'
fornia. aiso published an arbicle concerning the sixnting oi ae yf LIZ disks

~ ow ae e+ ee 3 “mat ’ , on oe -;
or "lying saucers" at “SPG, and stated sources were USiv Mop pipenreg Vificer

vw m**s5

t “SPG (believed to be Captain CORRY

=

of "didn!
fe recent

-
‘ \orng? rt rD

yOiInme naer ROBERT McLAUGHLIDV and 4QMER 3. stole . Vairwe
wpa IGRADE : ro

Le ST a ct et eat
A

SreCLaAlL INGULRY = UNCONVENTIONAL ALROCRAFT . -

REFERENCE

SYNOPSIS —
LARVIN sibs, Aviation kditor, Los Angeles Times, Los Snyeles, California,
refused to reveal source for nas story appearing in 30 August JY49 issue of
the Times wherein it was stated that an object was sighted in the sky at
qhite Sands rroving Ground as late as Friday (20 August 1y4/). Ulises did
State, nowever, that he was in tae Captain's office of the USIi when he
overheard part of the verbal report on the sighting of the object. LLYS
said the Uaptain (believed to be Caot. GORRY) knew origin of the report
since it was made to hin, [LuS would not elaborate other tian to state
that the suource was also an officer at the USN, “SPG, and was not en official
Visitor nor an enlisted Navy man. CLOTS NOsonTS, Vewscaster, Station KIB,
Hollywood, California, s'ated that much of the information contained in his
newscast was obtained from remarks made by Commander “McLAUMLIN, USN, WoPt

\BERTS st that an object
-

t

pe naned

—_—_

| » aie td ‘3 ide « dn 48
HCLASS [ie Liha? . rah 12 X ARS;
; DAR Din 5290.10
> = a P ~~
, DISTRIBUTION ACTION COPY FORWARDED TO FILE STAMP 2
}
| Ha OSI 2
‘7 ~ 5 oe
CG, AgC, Att aiC Lik 2
| DO #12 (Info) 1 .
| 20 rl? (3 Incl.) 2
| Fils ? |
: dP =eOVED
: |
| | y
» y —_— or"
“2ICT IO MMANDER

UNCLASSIFIED

1. ‘this investigation was conducted in order to determine who had
furnished information at white sands rroving Ground regarding the signting
of flying disks to wANVIN MILES, xeporter, Los Angeles rimes, and ULirs
iuseRrtS, Newscaster, xadio Station nls.

Ar LUS ANGsias , CALTFORUTA ——,
! eam
2. rior to interview with-@inss, a cdpyof his article released in

the Los Angeles r£imes on iuesday, 30 August 1949, was secured and is being
forwarded to DO #717 with copies .of this re » rhe article reads as follows:

HO. Ss OFFICERS Sitit FLYLNG SAUL
BY WAKVIN MILES

“WHAT SANUS PROVING Giwuav, Nell, Aug. 29——rlying saucers--or at
least mysterious flying "objects"--have been sighted by service personnel
st this vital center of America's upper air ressarca,

‘| talked with three men, two senior officers and an enlisted tech-
nician, who reported seaing strange objects in the sky, one as recently
as last Friday during preparation for a high-altitudas missile Plight.

“tn all fairness, it must ba pointed ont that other officers and
engineers at white oands scoff at the reports and put them down to
imagination, weather balloons, dual images in high-powered optical equip-
ment, or possioly distant planes reflecting sunlight.

“oxperienced Coservers

"yet the wan who gave these reports presumably are familiar with sucha
cossibilities ana well acquainted with the appearance of balloons and
clanes and tha quixotic results of staring at a fixed point in the sky for

Long moments.

“me officer believes, sincerely, that the objects seen are Space
snips and declared that a ballistic formula agplied to one observation
“nrough a photo theodolite showed the ‘ship’ was 35 to 40 miles hign-~-an
‘egg-shaped! craft of fantastic size and traveling at incredible speeds

5° three to four miles a second}

“he observer in this case, he said, was tracking a balloon into the

air when tne obiect sweot across tne sallcon's oata and cayortea

— ‘--*

: Ty ° -  «s -—- ~~ =e .) : - I "2S el | Vales || sey a5 7 F,
some LU S@conus—-—"ea4lZz -u--- Ib VO sa mes tne iorce 91 2ravisey=—
. nol > . ’
” . - . -— ad . ’ % a | | _— ri SoS Z r ’ a ey 1 ~ a”
"3 16 aisacosared, it had no visiole means Of Pl IOUAS AN
*) ._ _° : : ~~ , _“a ry a oh — = . ry ° 5; T , i el
» is 2 hb deke ot 22 4 ~) =] "ont Cia PpoQues ,2@a 2 >>. <-> aL & j ind eed ses 2 Powe 9 ~~
} : - re : cr ~ ~ —. » = ~ . > *
=} i as 13 {325 re ef Bees “ ~ 3 course f ™ <, s4cau J Sl ash awd wd Se

ong ed oR Day

UNC ADS ait ind

elevation telescope, an instrument that can follow a missile to altitudes
of 100 miles or mors.

"ti don't know what it was, but £ had never seen anything like it
before,' he told me. ‘lt seemed to be metallic, but 1 couldn't tell its
size, its speed or its altitude. it would be impossible unless you knew
one of the three factors,!

"ne added he had informed his superiors of the incident and was told

the next morning he had seen a ‘disk.'

‘

“eather salloony

'} rie ‘ 7 « ‘* 7 » " eT M4 2 = > r% * ® . - . “| *

a check OL one ollicer eLicited the response; it was prooaoly a
¢ » b } 17 ~— hea a he Ve os Pp ) a g ss t aot ot’ ot ae * 7 > . eT ee ial
?watner DbaLLoon, ' Dur one gecsarsa vas enlisted VEeciIvuU CLiail LS consigeresd

‘a reliaoie man,*

"Uast rriday's object was seen oy a senior officer shortly arter 11
ail, aNd reported to the unlit commander. whe observer was preparing ior
amissile firing and scanning the skiss through binoculars.

"iy don't know what it was, but it came out of tie north in a shallow
live and turnad west. so. i wouldn't guess at speed or size.
"He hastened to explain he is a 'sxeptic.'

. — 9 , fv . Cc] - . *
Zroof for Skeptic

"i'Tsn't seeing such a thing the best prool for @ skeptic,’ he was

asked,
"tT should say it was,' he smiled. ‘sut I just saw something and
reported it,'

"In all, some five reports have been made in the iast six montas,
ora officer said, with only one last year.

"On one occasion, he told me, three of four officers saw a ilying
ob ject with the naked eye, and at another time two smalier objects were

observed to 'chase' a test rocket. These may have been cual images on .
| the telescopes, he said, although they were seen from several widely
separated stations.
\2se YTepoerts tend * i<3 Lae Lyinz saucer’ 3$T1090N 1% of the
im of housewives! stories and the tales of air transport pillows. ane
3 ave tuail roved notuing—-merely adcea to 3 nystery
| i = je TVSa bmawy 4 ~ U Lube J 4 rticle L \ v it reisrer >

- ere,

ct

nat photographs of the object had been ruined. The aforequoted article was
secured from the pictorial issue of the Times and +t re may have been

hanged somewhat from the other issues.

*

G

©

~

. MARVIN LOLS, Aviation Liditor, Lous Angeles Times, liaes Building,
2Jz2 First Street, Los Angeles, was questioned concerning his article and his
first remark was, "Do you think I made it up?" MILES was definitely reluctant
to talk as to the source of the information for his article but finally gave

the following account.

A>

5o MILES stated that he was in the Navy Office at “hite Sands Proving
round when someone came in the office to talk with the Captain. WILUS claimed
ne could not recall the Captain's name and when the name “GUinl" was suggested

at 4’ fF whem
to him he said he guessed that was tne name. At any rate, tas "someone" was
4 man who made a report to the Captain concerning the sighting of an object in

tns sky on Friday (Zo August 1949). <sULes claimed that he overheard part of

the story but claimed he could not recall exactly wnat he had overnsard. How

weet iv

year. ha further claimed that he did not talk to the man at the time but later

‘vu

nm

27Y4 ‘Sa 5

sought nla out and questioned him further. wilLus said the man reiused to give

his naas but he later learned the man's name and that the man was not a civilian
i ee ie | = - ~~

f

visitor, not a member of the press who were abt S0G during tnat period, bub wa
a navel officer, WiLiss would not give thea rank of the officer nor wense ne

—-

Ww

give the writer the mame cf the officer, but added that Captain GUARY could
supply that informat.iw if OSI needed it, WILDS then wanted to know if osl
was “trying to get somweune in trouble" and he was advised that tne purpose of

the incuiry was to jete:mine his source for his story in order tanat that person

coulda be interviewed tor further details.

. MILES called attention of the writer to the second paragrapn of ais
article whersin he ted that three men, two senior officers and an enlisted

tachnician, had reported seeing strange objects in the sky, one as recently as
last Friday (26 August 1949) during preparation for a high-altitude missile
fliznt. MILES said that this was true, He stated that one of these officers,
whose name he would act furnish, hed told him about other occurrences which had

been noted at WSPG. 10LUS strongly suggested that the officer in question was /
Commander DOUGLAS ©. scLAUGHLIN, U.S.N., wSPG, but claimed he did not recall
the officer's mame. "he second officer mentioned in his articles was apparently
also oificially stationed at ASPG from the way LILES talxed, but he wuld not

elaborate on this.

7.  QMLES disclaimed any knowledge about an allegation or rumor of any

conotographs being spoiled wnen the object reported to have oesn spotted on 20
Auzust 1949 was seen.

~ —
> “TT 2» >) abe hey seus . ~* nd - i. r - » bw -4 Tv 4+ i
ei ney oe" tS sh oa oe ; Newscas Uc, > eetepts — ~~ — 9 4 - ~~ A» ac ]
etre ‘ : — - - . Ve ) > ei Bie cat ye ™
; . pit —h & IGive ‘) iF" ihe ~ilte inter vis 7 ; be ah 4 A —_ = a Ff aS |
‘* " pa .- >
. ee +h ale ‘ar 12 T / mn >i ~
- > -, ut i. io ight tnat Une ‘= — L0T av) + > + i * ~~ -
. 4 4. > ’
as ~~ 3 ~ _— ~ > ) —— - 3,
_ -*+ a3 Siy a 2 eo Wanusi - joi! . ~ > ’ . , - —_——_ =)
, eh! ._ - 2. " -
ae LALS a on 4 Tha = ~ 4 4 a >
~

9. ROSERTS advised that he did not intend to break any

1949, he noticed MILES!

article in

the Times,

re ¥ Oh A

bye UBER au

(GLADWYN HILL of New York Times who also attended the

to break a story and he “wanted to beat him to the punch."
that he communicated with HILL and HILL denied that he was going to release

any such story.

10. ROBERTS further stated that since MULES! story had already broken
sew no harm in broadcasting a little news item on his redio
neviscasting program since his ssonsor mignt "wonder where h
also had been to the same te
As @ result RUbERTS said t
on 30 August 1949 that objects had been sighted in the sky at
few remarks about the type of objects, tie

he, ROBERT ts,

had a story and he
Siuilar to MILEZS',

of the objects in the sky.

Commander WMcLAUGHLIN

Commander McLAUGHLIN said,

ll. ROBERTS went on

a. JSPG had an obsarvation point located about 4
located on a hilltop where observations had been made of

Since 1947.

b, Objects other than rockets havs been sixnted
ec, On o6e occasion two disks, or objects, were

and were flying alongside of

"Oh,

LO
on the subject from Commander ..cLAu

n=
viitGc

state that !
LIN,

+St
x,
ila

vs
—
=

Speed or
ROBERTS further said taat
and apologized to the
t's all right.

Commander

act

ed

~

JR
NUE ++

gas"

story about
the objects sighted in the sky at (SPG but that on Tuesday morning, 30 August
S further advised that
he called LILES and said in effect that he thought that there was to be no
puolicity on the matter, to which sfLES replied to the eff

that GLAD
worG test) was going
TS stated

BILL

since JULES

at 4.SPC but had no news
ne mentioned over the redio
WS?G and made a
the objects and the neigh
subsequently ne saw
for tie newscast and
i don't care."

received quite

among which were

J~2 test rocket,

One of the objects arocped behing the rocket
uo again to the formar position at the side of the rocket,

shot anead.

d. In all probability some men from somewhere or objects Irom other
lanets were checking on the tests—based on the fact that such occurrences

one wn

in

a

“
ee

in the sky.

eacn

side

seemed to take place only during the rocket and other types of tests.

e, Planet MARS will be closer to the earth in a snort time than it

was three years ago.

f. Objects have been sigated at

bl -
——- JCieebas ~ S24 su ~+.aw
.7rr 4 “\)?

C > a dee ate yeQd
= > ~~

a= > _s a pPmeey tte aie si

- } ee = ™“™ ;

- ate ~ — SP ---= ee) —

‘ ,

least six times.

sighted in the sk
of the mexet,

i the vapor trail and then pulled |
and then both objects ’

ailes from VSPG
objects in the sky

bit of information

ry

ne referred to DOUG DCUGLAS and iiTCHASL DOUGLAS, both of whom were allegedly
vepresenting Radio Station KNKD, (Los Angeles). The orientation lecture was

_
Q TOMA

given by Captain GORRY, according to ROBERTS.

13. ROBERTS was questioned further as any knowledge of a recent
Sishting of an object as indicated in | ' article heretofore quoted and
he stated that he "was not in on this" but put "two and two together" and
related the following incident. ROBERTS stated that he was recording for a
future broadcast and was under and past the restraining ropes; where the rest
of the visiting newsmen were, in order that he misht get tne oxygen "swoosn"
as it was being pumped into the rocket. As he stepped back under the re= \
straining ropes he overheard Commander iicLAUGILIN s say something to saneone— \
identity net known--about objects being sigated in the Sky HOBEATS said that |

sr LicLAUGHLIN about him "ho leing out on him’ |

he tosn made a remark to Command
and the Joumander mentioned something about a recent sighting and some photo-
tioned the Commander about the last remark
C
tt

he cues
noarrassed, eouails remarked that the Coumande
grap ns "didn't turn out," or words

fe)
Ograpns were taken but that through

~s © Lit, tf ne <c , -
Pm % Pers (tOnRBRA Lo e aA LU Louat
ana the Comnander sesned 2
’ 7 4 = me ~~ | e a

i @ ede Rs " 378 GOLS point aiid Saica 118 phot
r

¥)

v
de - *_ © ¢ 4 ’
vO Vie 3i r ICo, ind: be oth Ling that the ‘
some error the results of the photography were useless.

li. ROBERTS concluded by stating that if a "direct quote” was necessary
east some of the coumentators and
Tiss CONOVER of the Hollywood Vitizen-

as to who was supplyiug information to at 1
>
isted as a visitor at the test.

ewsinen that the writer snould talk to AUS
News. it is noted tnat CONOVE#X was also l

15. ‘The writer checked the library files of the Hollywood Citizen-—News
at their offices at 1545 North Wilcox avenues, Hollywood, jalifornia, and locatea

Vila iw som

2 story datelined ‘uesday, 30 August 1949, dy AUSTIN ULHOVLR, This article is
being rorwarded to iv #17 with copies of this reoort and the article read as

follows:

Mea! LNG _¥ AROUND
fiith Austin Conover

"FLYING DISKS ASAL, SAY ROCKET EXPERTS

~~ A

"“iysterious flying objects that are called 'flying saucers' or 'fly
ing disks' have been sighted by rocket experts at shite Sands Proving

Ground, New liexico,

~

‘During a visit there last week, I was told by a top Navy officer
} coserving high-altitude missiles:

.
+ ” a“ © ero - ar sa
} 323 32¢ - @ ~ " C< De rs. 2nce
” "
' " - - = - ’ - 7 . arr ayo tf - , > “+ ‘= ~ Xo ry et
s gh ek 3 abe is sniilz Jose —aun if reCeliv.iYy a Saw S . ee a” 4, ew AS /, 1cu - ~- ~
~ a] yj - >
> ~ ~- - — -
-
,
- . _e = . - ~ wm 35 a = _~ - a
' ; ; L - let iJ} > - ~ w L ; = FS Se! > - “iw— Ww i /- + we
- -
27 7) -

=
— ee

ya
, : tk Shaw
ad ‘

‘ A hah

UNCLASSIFIED

They insisted tnat I make the

*

times I was skeptical.

a en
resort.’

oe

"Homer i. Newell Jr., a top civilian scientist with the waval Re-
search Laboratory at ‘jhite Sands, commented: 'i have never seen a
flying saucer, I discount all of the reports about them

except a few.
Some just can't be dispelled as pure myth, hallucination, weather
balloons, or shadows of rockets on clouds,!

"thlying disks,' said Candr., Robert licLaughlin, wno since 1939 has

peen engaged in rocket research, ‘have nothing to do with any experiments

carried on by American scientists or for that matter by anyone on earth.
"iit these thing

real,

they come from another planst, where
iar a us in science.
'T neard it said that they are space ships from ars which have
been attracted to the earth by our abomic bomb explosions anc, ,rascinated
oy wnat they saw, have continued to keep an eye on us,!

"A rocket to
Sands scientists,

the moon is ‘a long way off,' according to tne ihite
25U miles .

wio this year sent a rocket to the record Aelght of

"'e need better metals to withstand the powerful tarusts nesded to
send a rocket bayond the earth's gravitational puil,'
expert.

reinarked a

TO CKSt
"'tWe need more powerful propellants,! said another, who suggested
that atomic snerzy way be the solution.

"The Anerivan Rocket

test site near Roswell,
lew Mexico, was meitioned f z in rocket research during the
1920s and 1930s.
"The late Dr. Robert Goddard, its founder, 4nd nis assistant at one
time, Charles Lindbergh, were singled out for special praise.

"hg Germans who developed the V-2 rocket were saia to have learned
uch from the research of those two men,

"tThere will never again be mass bomber Flights over enemy instal-
lations,' coumented Comdr. McLaughlin.

~~ a“ - = - -* - : be . > - _** 7
ic¢lea Sam nas cev2eloreqg roccets 2O Gas DO1ny at ay — mot
- - > - ’ 7 > *' ~ = » : a ~ Ba ~ _ ~
Olly se2ex Out Sargets 1A one air ouv Cnrow snraonss (3r las area
bas Sxy, wnen cney explode.
= + o — fo = - ~ “a Ys 7 ~~
ic Navs Lounid JLG3snuce LaAsaL 219 IS 4 the iD was 7... 24 Gy 4 sucn
2¢ > 3 war ds

UNCLASSIFIED

"' Such is rocket research today that only a few fast, high flying
planes in the next war will be able to get olltegrs to their tarzget.!
"No German scientists are today doing rocket research at ‘hit

senas Froving Ground.

"Ye were told that they are working on a secret project at an Air
Force Base near al Paso.

"White Sands Proving Ground base is 50 miles north of Zi Faso, T
testing 18 done in a 30-by-200-mile area betwesn the Urgan wiountains
and the Sacramento liountains,.

rad - ya a ,> . ns . . +.* = . o— &, , ~~ a)
"ne Navy nas requestvea LUnabw’ we newsmen who visited ne vasse last

week not release the story of wnat we saw there until Sept. o,"

Lo. AUSTIN COMUYIN, teporter, Hollywood Citizen=-iews, was questioned

-

at the newspaper offices and he, lixe MiLzS, tried to be evasive and caysy.

However, he did admit that the information in the first four paragraphs of
his article indicating that "flying disks" or "flying saucers" haa been
sighted by rocket experts at SPC; that an opject had been recently seen;
and that two reports had previously o2en turned in oy the saue party, nad

_

been furnished to nia py the Commanding Officer of the Navy Oifrice at iSPc.
OOUOVER claimed ha did uot recall the officer's name and wnen the name Ghat
was suggested to hiu 4e said that he believed that that was tne name of the
Commanding Officer. it is ebserved that the source of other quotes in the
article are named therein,

iis

ee ss’ Ab
and appeared in the llollywood Citizen-iiews on iionday, 5 Saptember 1949. This
editorial is being forwarded to DO #17 with copies of this report and tha
pertinent part of the eiitorial is quoted below:

An editorial was also located which was written by AUSTIN QNOVER
“

"EDITORIALS eI TZE NAN aWS
“Monday, Seotember 5 HULL? OD

‘HOW GOBS THE WORLD BY AUSTIN CONOVaE
"TMAGINATION OR MARTIANS

hen scientists and military observers report that they, too, have
seen flying saucers in the sky, it's thought-provoking.

IT expected the reoly, ‘Bunk, there are no such things as flying

' —_ - -*s =
- wh Wels >. 2 orn n=,'s > ¢€38beTeat
ice2rs, wmenh .sa3Q0 aD0ut ving avVLD wune SV srPHiaeny ~. .~vVCKSY i -t- Bop eee sf
- + ~~ _ ~~ ' _* 5 rs _ on “>
1,3 av mice 2B y = oto» = ~ ee w one 4 i
' , | -y . ~ - - ~ = __ . ,_ = : _ ss sy, z ~ 3 sarn tor
’ wdU8r to ~~ — i= he gm Lo 3 5 udsa wnos — = 2) 8" Si! P= ~) ~ ~ am | +~ ~~ oo oo - ——_ & al —_ ‘= “se * — =
= ;
2 s - > > a =. - ~~‘, s = . << uF [errs ss od i> 34 -2rse.
- Iori 9- LH—Nanid . 239005 Se tt sald wesce J.s—7 sic Vo se arb’ at Sy =) a

UNCLASSIFIED
were SO convincesd t eat they saw them that he had to make a report to

washington on t

"ly fellow newspapermen, working on their own, found a similar
response among the officials whom they contacted.

"ALL of the sci

ientists and military observers, whether or not
they had seen any, were

agreed on this point: the saucers are not man-

nade,
"David Lilienthal, chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, dis-
misses as ‘foolish' the suggestion that they may be something related

to atomic CUS Bae eves seene”
18. Since the avove editorial
tions were asked CUNUVSR as to his

out he volunteered that he "sort o

leals in ssneralities, no §s
ce ior the information set ou
¢ dreamed it up."

; a5 tind ,
& therein

Ly, It is noted that reference report indicates Cownmnder MCLAUGHLIN S|

name 13 DUUGLAS C, “icLAUCHLIN, and that COMUVSR'S article -sives his name as

5

Commander ROBERT licLAUGHLIN. Since CONOVER could not remember tne USN Con} \
ee Ufficer's name it is possible ne erred in recalling the correct first ;
name lb might also be mentioned nere that none interviewed seemed to indi- |

cate ‘that the name @M@RMMR (of the General Wills Aeronautical Laboratory) had
been revealed to then, although it appeared from their releases that the /
contents of the report — a had been discussed with them, /

2). One copy of tiuis report is being forwarded to District Office No, 12,
Scott AFB, for thair 2essible information in the event that Castain EDVARD D.
DETCH MENDY has as set not been interviewed.

2l. In connection wibh any further investigation wnicn is conducted by
District Office No. |” it is requested that extreme care be used in See sho
ing any Naval persoune. on information furnisned in tuis report o7 Clu
(JBSRTS, Newscaster, AF, Hollywood, since he was very cocpsrative ieine
this investigation ind attempted to be very helpful.

Inclosures:

1. Article oy LIARVIN LILES, Los sangeles Times, 30 Angust 1949.

2 Article by AUSTIN CONCVER, Hollywood Citizen-News, 30 august 1949.

~e

: . a dod tes bean tb ie ao are”) * > <A - ook. 2 > ye _ . . :
wes ; ~ i ; ; ‘ | }F Pa pat
Bai. Sor = Be 4 7 sw > aa? diac / Lee 10 | tm >9 = of an . =, +e
on | ad . ae
} ‘ *) lige! |e + ~ ~

FE MUTING AND REC .D SHEETWOE QO - ATERIEL CoMMa..5

Vee this form for inter-oflice correspondence Use authorized otfiee symbols to designate Place initials of dictator and typist, telephone
vithin headquarters. addressee and addressee. number and location to right of signature.
Namber all comments consecutively. — Note warning signal at lower left of form.

Remaining space is sufficient only for

tse entire width of sheet, both sidea. oreper spaeme of trvewy tten signature. Separate comments by horizontal lines across page.
| sumect = Project Grudge 306-392
| To MC LAXS rrom MCRWOA pars27 July YQ comment No.2

1, This Office can give no bint of identification or possible origin of these
objects as described,

2. No develomment work known to this Office could be even remotely connected with

these incidents.
ig wn F f |
J mA cif / f ‘ VA
/ y oe / f
| Ly / L OG; ay hy HUW » ,
Incls GaORGY F, SMITH “@ @ES/mi
| n/e Cylonel, USAF “2 23122
| / Chief, Aircraft Projects Section Bldg 14
ie, . Engineering Division Ro 101
COORDINATION \ ]
/ |
2
i
'
|
—aaE
: |
| Fy
| : |
| o/ |
INTERY Als: | :

> ee + SS Oe oe

aime |

—-———-—-- _—

PeLelS FEB 49 «34 Mil 250m \CONTINUE ON OTHER SIDE)

This form repiaces AMC Form Neo. 10-3, which will

\4C Form Ne. 5 (Rev 29 Jui 47) be used until stocks on hand are exhausted,

UNCLASSIFIED

MCIAKS MOREOA 27 Jaly ug 2

1, This Office can give no hint of identification or possible origin of these
objects asa described,

2, Mo development work known to this Office could be even remotely connected with
these incidents.

incls GECRGS F. SMITH 373/ m1
n/c Colonel, USA? 223122
Chief, Aircraft Projects Section Bldg 14
Mngineering Division Rn 101

GOORDINATION

rr Bet we : *y vr oy v INTCRY Alon:
Ww? GRaAt! tD AT 3S Xm Le s&s Cia :
ae ECLASS TED APTER 12 YRARS
5OQ DE 3200.10

nOUTING AND RELURD?*

Use this form for Inter-olfice currespondence
within hendqvuarters:

Number sll comments consecutively.

Une entire width of sheet, both sides,

RIEL COMMAND

Place initials of dictator and typist, telephone
humber and ‘location to right of signature.

l'se authorized office symbels to designate
addressor and addreases,

Note varning signal at lower left of farm.
Remaining speee in sufficient only for

proper «peeing of typewritten signatare. Separate comments by horizontal lines across page.

SUBJECT sToject Grudge 300-392
: Ls ‘rem 4 FA = T Ps
10 UI a FROM CC LAS cave 2] Jul Lc COMMENT NO. = >
2 REXD
| pity tt
1. This office is currently engaged in the investigation and siudy of all reoor ted
unladentified aerial phenomena. Under authori: y contained in paragraoh iloe lt of
' ? 4 41 ‘ ie 7 ia, 0 ood a le . ‘ ASATA ° ‘ > = > _ . ** .
sschnical instruction 2155 Addendum 3, this Command, dated ll & abruary 19445 the assistancé¢
| and cooperation of your office is requested.
¢. The inclosed information recarding the sichti of un ‘ied aer! 2 bs
64 “ Pw ee 7 ole “a 4 Go als ob. yes > s+ Ne nbe Oo 25 opt Anm «~ w bis dk. oe Wid iSa 1al so
in Ge Vicinitiess of arrsy licw texico and Souggern Urezon is i arded for your review
| 2nd Comment. as to possiole origin and/or iuentification of theses objects.
Qe in view of the source of these reports Headguarters Usa: ‘3S Tequested accion
on this watter be expedited and that both incidents be -iven special attention in an
eifort to obtain a logical explanation.
!
le it is desired this offices be advised by telseshone of pie estimated date your
| comments can be ex ected.
*
| SA
j e v\—
) Ay
2 incls f Xe CLINGERMAN GWT/ mr
1 - Cy of S oa tement f\/ l snel U jaL = IS J
ee Guide to Investization vhisf, analysis Division ost eloc
D+ incident sumaary ose injelligvence Uepartnent Blade <ssé
— ~ =]
we or -~ - ~ —_ —- —/?> =e -_ — cone —_ —— — eel — —_—_— — —_—= —_—-_ —_— —— ss SS SS ee ee —_—_-— —_—
'
;
i
'
' ‘ws ** ie J 4 . . |
| nm & YZAr >. YE be
- 4 ' as at ‘s
DED =* * 1 to
: DOWNGRALS oy <P TER &
DEC “Dok ply - :
-—— a) ae
- 24 A ed, ad _ =T}
io nt i _ aie

3-30 APR 14 2 OO a

a

act Grudge 306-392

iG REXD 25 Aug i)

fhe attached information regarding unidentified aerial objects has been
reviewed.

This Laboratory does not fsel justified in saying definitely what the naturs
of this unidentified odjsect may be.

it is believed that significance should bs attached to the fact that
e@ object and therarore onpviocusly did
One of the points emphasized by
findings was that observers

ooseryer could not get a hard focus on
aaxe@ an exact determination of
Dre Paul

ta distance,
Pitts in his recent review of similar
rere unabla to determine the distance of the object.
all estimates of the si.e of the object and of its linear speed ars unrsliable. It is
believed possibis that, had the observer been able to bring the object into clear focus
in his theodolita, he mizht have been able to iden

a=
A a CR OO eee Se

Unless distance is determined,

2. ot iD <r ee

—— =.

GA GGE

Colonel, MSC (USAP)

Acting Chief, Aero Medical Laboratory
Engineering Division

— el el ee

COORDINATION

— — rz. ar aca, aa “A, ig, ls, gy i, i a, agg, Ala “aay ii, “Al, “il, a ay ia A i i i Te

ee

hO

the
not

usually

Pur/bdes
2-222
Bldg. 2&

AMC Forn No, 10-3) (Rew 29 Jul 47)

(ROUTING AND RECUR

Alu WATERIEL COMMAND

a 1
Use this form for inter-oifice correspondence Use authorized office symbol to designate Place initials of dictator and typist, telephone
within headquarters. atdresser and addressee. number and location to right of signature.
Number all comments consecutively. Note warning signal at lower left of form.
Remaining space is sufficient only fer
Coe entire width of sheet, both sides. proper svacing of typewritten signature. Separate comments by horizontal lines across page.

7] atTayvs FROM ‘ebeine 6 DATS Stet Axe 7.6 COMMENT NO. 5

side thos tad wtdtn —) Ag —

1. whe attached information regarding unidentified aerial objects has been
reviewed.

2. This Laboratory does not feel justified in saying definitely what the nature
of this unidentified object may be. |
3a it is balieved that sisnificance should be attached to the fact that th
oserver could not get a hard fosus on the object and therefore obviously did not
make an exact determination of its distance. One of tha points emphasized by
Dre Paul Vi. Fitts in his racent review of similar findings was that observers usually
ere unable to determine the distance of the object. Unless distance is determined,
all estimates of the si,e af the object and of its linear spesT ara tmrsiiadle. 1t is
believed possible that, had the observer bsen able to bring the oh joct into,elear focus
in his thecdolite, he might hares been able to identify it.
es
(aed —
LX +f. mt
A. P. GAGGS
Lt. Colonel, LS0 (USAF) piP/bgs
35 Incls Asting Chief, Aero Medical Laboratory 222208
a/c Sngineesring Divisicn Blic, 29
ORDINATION |
PA Fr lis MOR BAD- 9

a .
/é@ ’ aV

-~se®
*? STs EY) rr > > — |
= s* tase Pie 2 a 4 = ih Se
AIT a Te
i431) Oia Fuse i

DOWNGRADED AT 3 YRAR INT TT Vy

‘F-L-TS MAa A> all OAs CONTINUE OM OTHER SIDE)

tog’ . Won *
is aanemenl

fe cede eee s
SAS “Oir 1. 5

Lote ie -

DETATLS ;

l. This investigation was initisted by the District somna nder, 95h
OST District, upon receipt of information that an unidentified aevie.

phenomena was sighted over Vicksburg, Mississippi on Friday, 22 Apri. 19's,
which was described 3s a "flying triangle”
JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI:
ipps

2. the following newspaper item taken from the Jackson, Mississ
Daily Hews, dated 23 April 1949, is quoted ver batim

"FLYING TRIANGLE! REPORTED OVFR VISKSRURG FRIDAY

&{ "flying triangle" was reported seen in the sky over Vicksburg

last night,
AMES E. PARK=R said he saw the ovject "like a lighted triangle"

t
vu

rtly after midnight.
fe said he could not estimate the height or sveed of the object,

no noise to indicate it might have been 2 high fly~

ho

a)

He
PARKER said there was
ing airplane.

AT VISKSRURG, MISSISSTPPT:

yy 6 n il May L949, the writer in* rviewed  egScagammepoce

-_ ss

/ Vio kebure, “Binetent _ppi, sae iextal in substance that he sighted a fly-
/ ing triangle at anproximately C022 hours, central standard time, 23 April
i9u9, cver the city of Vicksburg, “hen this object was sighted, it was

\ within the city limits and approximately one and one-half (1-1/2) miles

\ from the center of the city of Vicksburg, es, further stated that he
when he first sighted this object,

\ was me in front gE:

} ’ “

stated that he could not locate the latitude on the mop, Pe
\only saw one object and when this object was sighted, it was 2t about a

forty-five se) degree angle, going east, and was at 4 seemingly high alti-
LUC Ge urther steted that he observed this odject from a period of
from five (5) to ten (10) seconds,

. ROMMMME described the color of the object as ing milky looking,
.like a flourescent light, but not quite as ype ee oe Sa described the

> ject, as being in the shape of a triangie, each side of-the triangle being

| approximately four \h) feet in length and one 2nd one-half (1-1/2) feet
in widtn, Running down the outside edge of each side of the triangle was

BR row of lights,

MMMM further stated that this chjcct was headed due erst in level
/ flight and thet there was no evidence of exhaust, nor was there any effec
saused on the clouds by this objert. All licht appeared luminous; but

Slightly milky. This object anneared to be survorted by wines, but there
79S 7-9 wridence of @nv ‘ind of | ida | 57 [sy type of
tabilizers or antenn2 on this

_ . — *

THE INSPECTOR GENERAL
OFFICE OF SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS

REPORT OF INVESTIGATION

ee | __b6 May_19

REPORT MADE BY

UNITED STATES AIR FORCE | FILE NO. | DATE

f OFFICE OF ORIGIN

__DO #9, Barksdale AFB, La, = Ss

STATUS

_ OLOSED_

——— — ee — —s ae me oe = ee eee

- ——- a --- = - ee

Ci IARACTERe,

Subversive » Aetivity

— -— 2=-- — ee . - _ ~_— -— ———E —— eee

“OTH OSI District Bulletin # 55-16, Gated 22 November Los,

Investigation at Vicksburg, Mississippi regarding an w
Aerial phenomena described as being a flying triangle, fsile
efinitely just what type of object was sightad,

& 3
cr

o >
<<

4

|

hs
~~

¢
Se ee, em CMON COPY FORWARDED TOO0t—~—~—~*s | FILE STAMP sO
cc, AMC, Wright- _ Commanding General :
Patterson AFB , Air Materiel Command
(Action Copy) ~3/| Wright-Patterson AF Base
Hq, OST ~2 | Dayton, Ohio |
DO #10, Kelly AFB-2 | |
a J3AF he)
4)
: —
Y nme FC, fo
DWARD :.. FCRD
a ae htt ie. te eR eR) Apr egeteet
-- Se es 4 ob ay oa

__ Special A gent RERNARD A, PRISE
riTuE | REPORT MADE AT ‘
PROJ CT SIGN __Sackson Det, DG: #9, Jackson, Miss,
PERIOD
25 Forti. = 12 Mew 196

| Q@RMMMER stated that this ob

Information relative

as a rule, but at present is
"Nosser's Smoke House”, wes does not have any hobbies, but likes to
watch airplanes in an effort to determine their type, SES has do scme
riding in airplanes and enjoys this experience, MMR cppears to have tho
bility ts determine ¢olor, and the ability to determine th: spesd of auto-
mobiles, but is not too familiar with the speed of J. - Mh
to have the ability to determine the size of an ol istance, Aco
to informants in Vicksburg, MMB is seemingly reliebl ; an observer,
The local police department has no record of has what could
be termed as 4 “fairly good" eyesieht and ac his attention
was not drawn to this cb ject in any particular manner happened

to glance up into the sky and saw the object, en M was inter=
viewed, the writer was accompanied by Major PRANKLIN i, RICHARDSON, Base
Intelligence Officer and Base Inspector, Hawkins Air Force Base, Jackson,

who is a rated pilot and both the writer snd RICHARDSON ngree

Mississippi,
that @@RMMR seemed very reliable
and it
jee something,

Information relative to radar sightings in Vicksburg, Mississippi is
negative,

Weather information 22 April 1949 is as follows: Visibility one
half.(1/2) mile, ground ak estimated seiling, 25,008 feet; light broken
clouds; barometric pressure, 1001.&5; temperature, 55 degrees; winds, south-
east, two miles per hovr sitimeter, Vicksburg w ‘eather at O030Z, 23 April
199 was garbled am coula not oe oSrine Prevelline winds aloft in the local
irea were from the pig pe. or west and ranged from six (45) miles per
hour at 10,00@ feet to pote Brande (57) miles per hour at 20,000 feet,

There was no commercial aircraft in the vicinity of Vicksburg,
Mississippi after 2330 hours, 22 April 1949, and there was no record of
military aircraft in Vicksburg at the time the object was sighted, I+ is
not known in this vicinity whether or not any test device had been relessed
by any military organization or any research organization.

nere Was no radio antenna r ny provyection of xTens i t_sn Pom mao
St Which mignt Se construed 2s suweh,
rollowing siened statement which is oted rbotimn ; Sed

ject °
planes, or National Guard pian
This object did not make any sound,
| obf
out of signt,

=

is the opinion o! Major RICH’ RDSON and

> Oe ey

MM wie DIF LES

we

vas traveling at a speed faster than mail
es, but slower than a jet type aircraft,

The manner of disappearance of this

+o the obe@eerver is that wim lives at 1226

West Street, Vicksburg, Mississippi, and follows the occupation of carpenter
employed in a pool hall under the name of

+
Hels)
Web GS

writer that ye ci

TGNFIBEN TTA th

ect was that it "just diaanveared" in a clear sky as though it traveled

is very elua@ive in his description,

Tea 2 ts eA ®

"On April 22, 1949, 2s well as I can remember, about 12325, I
got out of a cab at Slay and West Streets, end I looked up and saw a
flying object shaped like a angle and it was dimmed lighted, traveling
eta fast rate of speed, traveling faster than the average plane,
Tt looked like to be lh ft long and it was high in the sir, It was
traveling east, See drawing at bottom of this page, I couldn't esti-
mate the height of speed.

aga Raaaipapate.

/\
yon
/ \
\
\
/ \ \
/ \ ie ’
<a hee
LS ia
» 4) f oe
kk ‘4 L; ts
f >
My) / \ \ Sh
/ \ \
i / \ \
Wise Fae
. Aa ,
Ar \ . a
iq \ "

es a Tr AtAaAwt 322
age Soe & o ‘ede ad be ~
7 j 5 2 = . f . Tht»!
j “ ; 1 | ~) °c “
[ane and addrass of observe +, éll_ m~pungmiee wR, ckesturg, lisse
Occupation and hobbics ;

~ a Tt L - i. . a > . ‘
Com Interrogator ative to intelligence and character of observer(s);

oe ,

(i 12 Lay Lobg, the mara intervri awed ee ay Vicksburz, liisss
GM viaced in substwwe that he sijhted a flying triangle at aoprox, 0022 } OSs
central ois time, “6 April 1949, over the city of Vickstus 3e ihen this object

Biintods it was wi wind n the city limits and aporexcimately one and cnehalf (l -1/2)

| \ . 3 o~"* i °s = fe - . — «| > —
miles Loom Lane center Le ¢ cit; r gw et eee BALE = _~* > _ : at boy f' — Lum” , ‘avLea was “le . £ TS
‘ SS » : a " Sao = °2 s¢ . . 7 -: 3
3 ar‘ ne Tront Os "% men ww 3. Lo ww pe — eed * » {), 'OCte oe chs
> 4

vd ae
Sen eel ee a sins

Wab lw could not locate “he latitude on the sap. Yarkor only saw cre object and wh
Linke object was sighted, 1% was at abous a fortyefive (45) demree ansle, going a.
wid vase 2L a Seuming yy . altitude. Bager further ctated ‘iwi he observed this
object from a pericd ov ioom five (5) to ten (19) seconis. .

FREE os jw color of the object as being miliy looking, lum a
flourescent iigst, but sot quite as bright. Gia doscribed the coject as being in
the shape of a trinyzle, auch sida of the triangla being apzrox, fow (ly) 2 =
length ami one and one-iwlf (1-1/2) 2% in widthe Running down the outside edge of
each side of the trianczle wus a row of lichts.

GEM further stated that this haan was |eaded due east in lewl Migs and
that there was mo evidence af exhaust, nor ms there any effect caused on the clouds
by this objects All light acpeared lumincus, but slightly milcy. This object apveared
GO 03 supported by winzs, but there -ms no evidence of any ‘kind of provuision, nor did
he aight any type of stabilisers or antemma on this object. @iMM stated that chis
object “AS sraveling at a speed caster ‘than mail plenes, or Mational Cuard olanes,

- ’ ~ ee | 4 ) ; - , + oo he Bei ww. _ -“
“% clower “han a 70t “me airecrart. nis coject did 2ct 2am any sown. Des ane
" > i= “” —_ — * - 7 - oe. | Sle Mie] = ee eT : ~— ._ 7
wf disacrearanee of %h:3 IJece® WAS chat it "jus disapreared” in a claar ak7 as

‘ - . = . . ; - > 7 ed :
hom i5 traveled cut of sichte