◆ SpookStack

Approved For Release 2001/04/02 : CIA-RDP81R00560R000100010001-0 thorough news coverage. If so, this would tend to give a false picture of total UFO activity. . News coverage and publicity have been spotty and erratic over the years, largely reflecting the degree of official atten- tion to UFOs. In this connection, it is interesting to note that during the past six years the Air Force has constantly de- punked UFOs; during that period no real ‘flap’ has occurred in the United States. In the same period, concentrations have occurred. ‘The following chart probably gives a more accurate picture of real increases and decreases of UFO activity. June-July 1947 The first major wave of UFO sightings in the United States began in June 1947. Kenneth Arnold, a private pilot flying near Mt. Ranier, Washington, first reported a sighting to the press. On June 24 he observed 9 flat, shiny objects which fluttered and skipped along as if in a chain, In describing the sighting to newsmen, he said the strange objects flew ‘‘like a saucer skipped across water.’ Newsmen promptly dubbed the objects “flying saucers,’’ and the name stuck. rs In the next three weeks, similar objects were spotted all 2 over the country, but reports were concentrated in the north- Zl oo west. Later research in library files, by a NICAP member 3/6 g traveling around the country, uncovered 125 separate UFO re- ge 6 g ports for June and July. These covered 25 states, with 30% 43 é a coming from Washington. Be 8 S| 4 a 8 Washington 38 a) 9] 8 3 Colorado 16 g 6|a a g Idaho 11 e|o| A Utah 8 —— Oregon 6 x 1947 | June-July Western United States California 5 New Mexico 3 x |1950 | First Half Midwest, West, & SW U.S. Wyoming 2 Arizona 2 x 1952 | July-August Eastern United States — [ x [1952 | Sept.-October | Europe 91 x | 1954 | April-December | World-Wide Ninety-one (72% of total) came from states west of the 100 degrees W longitude line. East of that line, Oklahoma had 9 X_| 1954 | October France reports, other states had only one or two. x | 1955 | August Midw ited weus idwest United States ‘The Air Force Project Blue Book Report, released in 1955, x 1957 | November Midwest, Southwest U.S., lists for the same period: South America xX | 1959 | June-August Pacific Ocean, Australia, June — 13 sightings, 4 unknown L New Guinea, New Zealand r July —-40 sightings, 8 unknown x | 1960 | August Northern California i x | 1962 | May, July- Argentina 53 Total August x | 1962 temb September New Jersey ‘The following chart lists the main sightings of this period. DATE LOCATION TIME NUMBER SHAPE COLOR ‘OBSERVERS ‘ACTIONS SECTION 1947 June 23 Iowa-Cedar Rapids - 10 Discs Shiny Railroad Engineer Fast, fluttered "24 Wash.-Mt. Ranier 1400 9 ‘Flat Bright Pilot (private) Flattered, skipped "24 Ore.-Cascade Mtns. = --- 5-6 Discs > Shiny Prospector, Banked Contractor "25 N.Y.-Glens Falls --- 1 Disc Red, blue County Deputy Unspecified Treasurer "96 Ariz.-Grand Canyon --- 1 Ball Silver M.D. High speed "28 Nev.-Lake Meade 1515 5-6 Circular Unspec. Pilot (USAF) Formation off wing IIL. "28 Ala.-Montgomery 2120 1 Light Bright 4 USAF Officers Zig-zag, 90° turn m. "29 N.Mex.-Rocket test site - 1 Disc Silver _ Rocket expert Flew straight Iv. July 1 N.Mex.-Albuquerque —--- 1 Disc Bluish Chamber of Com- Zig-zag merce Executive "4 Ore.-Redmond 1100 4 Dises Unspec. Car full High speed "4 Ore,-Portland 1305 3-30 Discs Shiny Police, Pilots (private) Oscillated a "4 Wash,-Seattle 1745 1__Circular White USCG Yeoman Across wind vm. "4 Idaho-Hauser Lake 1900 1 Disc Unspec. Over 200 persons Circled, shot up Approved For Release 2001/04/02 “CIA-RDP81R00560R000100010001