Air Materiel Command Report on Unidentified Flying Objects, 1947-1948

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increasing speed; to group quickly in a tight formation, and to take evasive action. Good control of flight is indicated.

(4) Trail is absent, except in a few instances when the object apparently is operating under high performance conditions. The trail, when seen, seems to be very hot, as indicated by night observations of a glowing trail, and a daytime observation of a trail that cut a wide, clean swath in a cloud.

(5) Sound is normally not associated with the sightings, although a hum or rumbling roar was heard in two or three instances. No connection between sound and trail is indicated.

(6) Estimated level speed is normally greater than 300 knots.

(7) Formation flights of three to nine objects are reported by several observers.

(8) During one night observation, a change in glow from blue-white when approaching to a reddish glow when withdrawing was observed. This could indicate ram-jets.

b. The following are typical reports of observations of discs, and indicate the type and variety of the sources of information:

(1) On 7 July, 1947, five Portland, Oregon, police officers saw varying numbers of discs flying over different parts of Portland. All observations were made within a minute or two of 1305 hours.

(2) On 7 July, 1947, William Rhoads of Phoenix, Ariz., saw a disc in the glow of sunset and took two photographs. The resultant picture showed a round front and square tail in plan form.

(3) On 10 July, 1947, a Mr. Woodruff, PAA mechanic, observed a circular object flying at high velocity and leaving a trail. The sighting occurred near Harmon Field, Newfoundland. Two other persons also saw the trail.

(4) On 11 July, 1947, three persons at Codroy, Newfoundland, saw a disc flying at high velocity and leaving a smoke trail.

(5) On 29 July, 1947, Kenneth Arnold, while flying near Tacoma, Washington, saw a formation of flying objects. His sketch of their shape corresponds closely to that shown in the photographs made by Mr. Rhoads. On the same day, two United States Air Force pilots at Hamilton Field, Calif., saw two flying discs trailing a P-60, following it toward Oakland, Calif.

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