65_HS1-834228961_62-HQ-83894_Section_003

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C1-R1 Report

CONFIDENTIAL

DETAILS:

1. During the afternoon of 31 July 47, Mr. Arnold, Aviation Editor of the Idaho Daily Statesman, telephoned Lt Brown, CIC Sub-Detachment Commander at Headquarters Fourth Air Force, and stated in substance: That he, Arnold, and Capt Smith had arrived in Tacoma to investigate the purported flying disc explosion on a surface craft on 21 June 47. This investigation was requested and financed by a Mr. R. A. Palmer of the Venture Press, 305 Studio Bldg., 1718 Sherman Avenue, Evanston, Illinois.

AGENT'S NOTE: See Inclosure 1 and Inclosure 2. The signature to Inclosure 2, Mr. Dave Johnson, is that of the editor of the Idaho Daily Statesman. Mr. Johnson is a former Army Air Force officer and from all indications is a very patriotic American. On the receipt of Inclosure 2 at Headquarters Fourth Air Force, this officer requested the San Francisco FBI Office to check the Chicago FBI Office for R. A. Palmer and the Venture Press. The return answer, by telephonic, was to the effect that the Chicago indices of the FBI, the Chicago Police, and Credit Bureau had no record on R. A. Palmer or the Venture Press.

2. Lt Brown and Capt Davidson arrived at NeChord Field during the afternoon of 31 July 47. They changed from their uniforms to civilian clothing in the aircraft and, on being queried by Operations as to why they desired transportation to Tacoma, they replied they were to make a speech.

AGENT'S NOTE: This was in compliance with par 4, ltr fr Eg ADC, File DS55.515, 7 Jul 47, subj: Investigation of Flying Disc.

According to Major George Sander, Public Information Officer, NeChord Field, The Tacoma Times received an anonymous telephone call that Arnold and Smith were present in the Winthrop Hotel for the purpose of conducting an investigation on the flying disc. The Tacoma Times checked and found this to be true, much to Arnold's and Smith's surprise. Lt Brown and Capt Davidson did interview Mr. Harold A. Dahl, Mr. Fred L. Crisman, in a hotel room in the Winthrop Hotel, Tacoma, Wash., in the presence of Mr. Arnold and Capt Smith. If notes were taken of this conversation, they were destroyed in the aircraft accident. Mr. Arnold stated to Major Sander that Lt Brown obtained from Mr. Dahl and Mr. Crisman samples of an unidentified substance that were identical to those appearing in Inclosures 3 to 7. The samples pictured in Inclosures 3 to 7 were taken by Mr. Arnold from the same box that Dahl and Crisman offered Lt. Brown and from which he obtained his samples. T/Sgt Matthews, Crew Chief on the wrecked aircraft, upon being interrogated by this officer, stated that he placed a heavy cardboard carton in the rear compartment of the B-25 that crashed. He did not look in the box nor hear any comments from Lt Brown or Capt Davidson as to its contents.

3. The following summarizes what was related by Mr. Arnold and Capt Smith to Major Sander as to the substance of the interrogation by Lt Brown and Capt Davidson: That on 21 Jan 47 Mr. Dahl was proceeding south of Henry Island in Mr. Crisman's boat. Five flying discs came down out of the clouds and circled slowly around the bay, dropping to an estimated elevation of 500 feet. These discs appeared round and

W.D., P.M.G. Form No. 110

CONFIDENTIAL