65_HS1-834228961_62-HQ-83894_Section_002

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SUBJECT: 4
BUREAU
DATE: 8-23•47
c, PORTLAND
I.,YINQ DISCS
SECURrrY MATI'ER - X
The following investigation was conducted at Canyonville and
Myrtle Creek, Oregon on August 12, 1947.
RAY VIRG~TFIELD, Route 1, Box 195, Roseburg, Oregon, operator
of the Tri City Airport, Myrtle Creek, Oregon, advised that on 8-6-47 at
approximately 6115 PM while instructing a student in a take off at the airport,
he noticed an object east of Myrtle Creek which appeared to be from 5,000 to
8,000 feet in the air. The sky was completely clear and visibility was
excellent. He stated that the object glistened and appeared to be of aluminium
sheeting. Upon noti cing it he had immediately taken over the controls of the
plane which at that time was at 400 feet, and proceeded East in an attempt to
further observe the object. He advised that the object appeared to be
climbing and traveling East at a high rate of speed which he estimated on a
computer in his plane as 1,000 miles per hour. He believed the object to be
spherical in shape and recalled noticing a darker object to the right the first
time he saw it. He observed no vapor trails nor did he hear any noise from the
object. After s~arching the area for approximately 10 minutes HATFIEID and
his student NOBLEl'ELLISON returned to the airport and made another landing and
take off. In practically the same position at 400 feet altitude, both ELLISON
and HATFIELD saw the object in approximately the same position as seen before.
He estimated the sphere to be 30 feet in diameter and stated when they first
observed it it appeared to be so near he could fly right to it. However, the
object sighted the second time disappeared in the same manner as the first had.
It is noted that HATFIELD served as a Lieutenant JG in the U. S. Naval
Air Corps for about 3½ years, flying constantly on the Atlantic submarine patrol.
He is a reputable citizen in Douglas County and is reported to be a quali fied
pilot.
Mr. NOBLE ELLISON, Myrtle Creek, Oregon, verified the above information
as furnished by HATFIELD, stating that the first object sighted had been
called to his attention when HATFIELD took over the controls of the plane at
about 400 feet following his take off, but that they had both sighted the
object on the second take off at the same time. ELLISON described the object
as a "silver ball or balloon" which he believed to be 8 miles east of Myrtle
Creek, traveling East, and climbing very fast until it disappeared in approximately
45 seconds. ELLISON estimated the sphere as being 50 feet in diameter and
stated in his opinion the second obj ect appeared to climb straight up.
3SEP
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270
NOV 181964