Washington State ‘UFO’ Investigation, 1952-1960

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100-18945

1015 Second Avenue
Seattle 4, Washington

June 12, 1956

Colonel Spencer W. Raynor, USAF
District Commander
20th District, OSI
McChord Air Force Base, Washington

Re: Unidentified Flying Objects

Dear Sir:

The following information was furnished to Special Agent Clement W. Parkhurst, resident agent, Richland, Washington, on June 1, 1956:

Sergeant Gordon Richardson, Kennewick, Washington Police Department, advised that for several years he has been very interested in flying saucers and has read everything available concerning this topic. Gordon advised that he has some information which he considers to be of utmost importance to the defense of the United States concerning a flying space ship which he observed over Kennewick, Washington about a year ago. Richardson stated that he had never told anyone about this matter and had not discussed it with other officers of the police department because they "never pay any attention to what he says". Gordon prefaced his remarks by stating that he realizes his information sounds like a "nut complaint" but assures the writer that this is not so.

Richardson stated that the thing he saw has been weighing very heavily on his mind and he believes the information should be passed on to the Air Force or other interested Defense Agency.

Richardson stated that about a year ago he was on night shift and was in the vicinity of 1st and Washington, Kennewick, at about 10 PM when he observed a large, shining, metal ball about 30' in diameter swoosh in from the West at rather low altitude--only 200 or 300 feet in the air or less. The ball was traveling at a high rate of speed and when it got about three blocks east of Washington Street it came to a complete stop. Richardson stated that the ball had left a trail of fire until it stopped and then emitted no fire or smoke. Richardson described the ball as perfectly spherical and made of shiny metal. He stated that apparently the ball had at least two different kinds of motors to propel it, because when it was standing still he could hear the "chug chug" of the engine sounding like a tractor engine and apparently an internal combustion engine. The

2 - OSI

1 - Seattle (100-18945)

LAD/pjf

(3)

NW 90291

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