Arlington, 1952: um anel de 18 pés aparece no gramado e a Força Aérea recolhe amostras

[RESTRICTED - Security Information] (Unclassified) Investigation of Incident of 1/2 Sep 52 Arlington Va. having possible relation to Project Blue Book. Chief, Air Technical Intelligence Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. Dept of the Air Force, Hq USAF - AFOIN-2A2, Maj Fournet. [stamp: 11 SEP 52] 1. The inclosures relate to the investigation of an incident which allegedly occurred during the night of 1/2 September 1952, and which has a possible relation to Project Blue Book. The investigation was conducted by this office on 3 and 4 September 1952. 2. Inclosures 1 and 2 give details of the investigation. A list of samples obtained during the investigation and pertinent data on each are included in Inclosure 3. These samples have been forwarded to OSI with a request that they be submitted to the FBI for lab analysis. The results of the analysis will be forwarded as soon as they become available. 3. Inclosure 4 contains 5 photographic negatives taken of the area in question at 1430 hours on 4 September 1952. All shots except the one showing the cap on the ground were taken of the ring in its original state. The color of the deposit was approximately the same as on the preceding evening when samples were taken, but the amount of the deposit appeared to have diminished somewhat. The shot in which the cap appears on the ground was taken after limestone had been spread over the original ring in order to provide better definition. Care was taken to duplicate the original configuration, both as to shape and density. BY COMMAND OF THE CHIEF OF STAFF: William A. Adams, Colonel, USAF, Chief, Topical Division, Deputy Director for Estimates, Directorate of Intelligence. 4 Incls (w/orig only): 1. Summary of investig. 2. Sketch of area 3. List of samples obtained 4. Photographic negs (5) to ATIC only. No M/R necessary.

[CONFIDENTIAL - Security Information] [handwritten: 6 Sept 52] (Restricted) Request for Lab Analysis of Samples Having Possible Relation to Unidentified Flying Objects. Counter Intelligence Division, Directorate of Special Investigation, The IG. Topical Intelligence Division, Deputy Director for Estimates, Directorate of Intelligence, DCS/O. AFOIN-2A2/Maj Fournet. 1. It is requested that the samples submitted herewith as Exhibits A thru I be forwarded to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for lab analysis since they may have a possible relation to unidentified flying objects. These samples were removed from the yard of Mr. Charles Walter Storm residing at [home address omitted], Arlington, Va. 2. The circumstances surrounding the incident to which these samples pertain are outlined in Inclosures 1 and 2. 3. Inclosure 3 gives significant data about each sample. Exhibits G, H and I are submitted for comparison with A thru F because of the possibility that this incident represents a prank of some sort involving the use of one or more of these materials. William A. Adams, Colonel, USAF, Chief, Topical Intelligence Division. 3 Incls: 1. Summary of circumstances 2. Sketch of Area relating to 1 3. List of Exhibits 4. Exhibits A thru I (samples). [handwritten: Hand carried by Maj Fournet 6 Sept 52]

Summary of Circumstances: Investigation of Possible Unidentified Flying Object - Arlington, Virginia, 1-2 September 1952. 1. At 1600 hours on 3 Sep 52, the Directorate of Intelligence, Hq., USAF received a telephone call from Mr. Walter Storm, [address and phone omitted], that an unusual circle was found marked on the lawn of his father, Mr. Charles Walter Storm, on the morning of 2 Sep 52 and that he believed it might bear some relation to the USAF investigation of unidentified flying objects. 2. Major Fournet, of the D/I, called on the elder Mr. Storm at his residence ([address and phone omitted]) during the evening of 3 Sep 52. 3. The following was found on Mr. Storm's rear lawn (refer to sketch in Incl 2): a. A circle 18 feet in diameter and nearly perfectly formed was marked on the lawn by a deposit of some unknown gray substance which was adhering to the grass in clusters of fine globules. b. The band of the circle (around the periphery) was an average of approximately 6 inches wide. c. The deposits in the band were less pronounced and sometimes absent for short distances where depressions or uneveness in the ground surface occurred. d. A small evergreen bush was located at a point about 40 inches inside the circle and did not appear to have been disturbed in any way nor were any deposits present on or around it. e. A clothes line frame located on a central pole overhung the circle somewhat and had been in place (approximately as shown in Incl 2) on the night in question. f. An antenna wire about 40 feet above the ground overhung the circle, exact amount undetermined. g. No other vegetation in the area contained any deposits or marks (small trees were present, as close as 6 or 8 feet from the circle). h. Three types of fertilizer were stored in covered drums near the garage about 15 feet away from the circle.

4. Mr. and Mrs. Storm were interviewed and offered the following information: a. Mr. Storm cut the grass in the area in question around 1800-1900 hours on 1 Sep 52. The clippings were left where they fell. b. At 2300 hours on 1 Sep 52, Mr. Storm put his dog in the basement for the night. (Note: the dog barks at anyone who comes into the yard, and, until that time had not sounded off). c. (As related to Mr. Storm later by Mrs. Whitehurst, a neighbor immediately in the rear of the Storm residence and adjacent to the lawn in question.) Mrs. Whitehurst was awakened at about 0400 hours on 2 Sep 52 by barking of dog "which seemed to be in distress". She looked out of a window in the rear of her house but failed to see anything (it was a rather dark night). d. Upon going out to his car at 0730 hours 2 Sep 52, Mr. Storm noticed the circle and walked over to examine it. He describes it as having at that time a brown, oily-sandy appearance with what seemed to be a very fine granular structure (as though a fine sand mixed with light oil had been spread to form this ring). He rubbed some of the substance between his fingers and found it faintly gritty and definitely oily. Mrs. Storm corroborates this description. e. During mid-afternoon of 2 Sep 52 Mrs. Storm reexamined the ring and found that the color had changed to grayish-blue, and it no longer appeared to be oily. However it still felt oily but no longer felt gritty. She detected no odor upon smelling it. f. Upon returning from work at 1700 hours 2 Sep 52, Mr. Storm again examined it with his wife. He describes the color as purplish-gray; Mrs. Storm describes the color as bluish-gray. Both agree that the substance had begun to form small, closely-packed globules on the blades of grass and that it had begun to "crystallize". Mr. Storm states that it then felt slick (like graphite) when rubbed between the fingers; Mrs. Storm describes it as a powdery feel. (NOTE: There had been no rain since before the evening of 1 Sep 52, and there was a hot sun all day on 2 Sep 52. However, there was a heavy rainfall during the night of 2/3 Sep 52). g. During the morning of 3 Sep 52, Mr. Storm reexamined it and "was surprised to find it there after so much rain". He describes its appearance as darker (a slate gray) and still formed in globules on the grass blades. It still felt about like graphite, perhaps a bit "thinner" than the preceding evening. (Mrs. Storm removed Sample E that morning).

5. Mr. and Mrs. Whitehurst were not at home and, therefore, were not interviewed. 6. Samples of grass, leaves and soil, and of three types of fertilizer stored nearby were removed for analysis (see Incls 3 and 4). 7. Mr. and Mrs. Storm were very cooperative and appeared to be completely sincere. They stated that they have not recently evinced much interest in the subject of unidentified flying objects nor had they discussed the subject with anyone, thereby eliminating any obvious motive for a practical joke.

Sketch of Area: Investigation of Possible Unidentified Flying Object - Arlington, Virginia - 1-2 Sept. 1952. [Labels:] Wav = 6" [band width]; 18' [diameter]; A; B; 56"; 50"; 40"; Clothes lines on square frame & central pole; Antenna wire about 40' above ground; (1) Small evergreen bush 53" high & max diam 18". [Incl 2]

List of Exhibits: Investigation of Possible Unidentified Flying Object - Arlington, Virginia 1/2 Sep 52. A - Soil and grass sample from circle (at A on Incl 1) B - Soil and grass sample from circle diametrically opposite A (at B on Incl 1) C - Soil & grass samples from center of area within circle D - Samples of grass from various points around circle E - Samples of grass from various points around circle F - Leaves removed from circle near B. G - Sample of Vigoro fertilizer H - Sample of other commercial fertilizer I - Sample of limestone fertilizer (6 years old) NOTE: A,B,C,D and F were obtained at 1930 on 3 Sep 52. E was obtained on the morning of 3 Sep 52. G, H and I were stored in covered drums about 15' from outer edge of circle.

[CONFIDENTIAL - Security Information] AFOIN-2A2, Maj Fournet, Wrtn 2 Oct 52. (Restricted) Lab Analysis of Soil Samples Having Possible Relation to Unidentified Flying Objects. Counter Intelligence Division, Directorate of Special Investigations, The IG. Topical Division, Deputy Director for Estimates, D/I, DCS/O. [stamp: OCT 3 1952] 1. Reference our R&R dated 5 September 1952, same subject as above. Recent developments have prompted the attachment of increased importance to these samples. Specifically, a deposit seeming to have the same general characteristics and also related to a flying object incident has been reported from Flat Woods, West Virginia. 2. In view of this possible relationship and the necessity for a prompt analysis of these two incidents, it is requested that utmost priority be given to the lab analysis of subject samples. William A. Adams, Colonel, USAF, Chief, Topical Division. No M/R necessary.

[CONFIDENTIAL - Security Information] (Unclassified) Material for Project Blue Book. Chief, Air Technical Intelligence Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. Dept of the Air Force, Hqs USAF - AFOIN, Maj Fournet. [stamp: OCT 27 1952] 1. Reference our DF dated 11 Sep 52, subject: "Investigation of Incident of 1/2 Sep 52 Arlington Va., having possible relation to Project Blue Book", the inclosed report was received from OSI and is for your information and retention. 2. It will be noted that the report explains this incident completely. 1 Incl: Rpt fr OSI dtd 6 Oct 52. William A. Adams, Colonel, USAF, Chief, Topical Intelligence Division.