Hamilton Field, 1947: instrutor e aluno veem dois objetos brancos passarem por cima de um P-80

CONFIDENTIAL. Incident 4AF 1208-I. 5 August 1947. MEMORANDUM FOR THE OFFICER IN CHARGE: On 5 August 1947, this agent interviewed Captain William H. Ryherd, ASN O-66356, the assistant operations officer in the 415th AAF BU, Building 95, Hamilton Field, California, regarding flying objects in the air. Captain Ryherd stated in substance: He is an instructor pilot in the 415th Training Unit. On 29 July at 1450, Captain Ryherd and a student, 1st Lt. Ward L. Stewart, 1242 Milvia Street, Berkeley, California, landed and parked an AT-6 near the hangar, building 59 of the 415th AAF BU. Walking from the aircraft toward reserve operations, and looking westward just over the hangar, Captain Ryherd saw a P-80 flying southward toward Oakland. Above this P-80, at approximately 8,000 to 10,000 feet in altitude, Captain Ryherd saw two flying objects traveling the same direction as the P-80. He, Ryherd, judged the solid, white, somewhat shiny objects were approximately 15 to 25 feet in diameter. Ryherd stated that he didn't call them discs due to the publicity these objects have been given, but in shape they were circular, like a ball on the bottom, but not completely round; and Ryherd specifically stated that these objects were not airplanes. The first flying object was traveling straight and level; whereas the second was close behind the first, same altitude, only it seemed to be going from left to right and right to left, more or less like a guard in an aircraft formation. Captain Ryherd further stated that the speed of these two objects made a P-80 look as if it was motionless in the air. The sky was clear, consequently Captain Ryherd and Lt. Stewart watched the two objects until they disappeared in flight, supposedly over Oakland, headed toward the ocean. Due to the noise of the P-80, no sound of any kind could be heard from these flying objects. These objects did not leave any vapor, smoke, or any visible trails along their flight path. Captain Ryherd informed this agent he had never told anyone about these flying objects, fearing that people would think he was crazy. AGENT'S NOTES: Captain Ryherd showed extreme sincerity throughout the interview, answering all questions with caution and assurance. JAMES A. NELSON, Spec. Agt., CIC 4AF. CONFIDENTIAL.

CONFIDENTIAL. 4AF-1208-I. Incident. 9 September 1947. MEMORANDUM FOR THE OFFICER IN CHARGE: Mr. Ward L. Stewart, 1242 Milvia Street, Berkeley, California, was interviewed 8 September 1947 at his place of employment, the Hearst Mining Building, University of California, concerning flying objects he reported to have seen on 29 July 1947 while with Captain William H. Ryherd of the 415th AAF BU (RT). Mr. Stewart stated in substance that he was a 1st Lt in the Reserve and that on the 29th of July 1947 shortly after 12 noon he and Captain Ryherd had just landed from a routine training flight when Captain Ryherd called Mr. Stewart's attention to an unidentified flying object that was following a P-80 aircraft at a terrific rate of speed. Mr. Stewart estimated the P-80 to be flying at approximately 250 miles per hour on a preliminary approach to landing at Hamilton Field. In Mr. Stewart's estimation the object he saw following the P-80 maintained a speed of three to four times that of the aircraft. A moment later a second object appeared and flew a course described as something similar to a fighter aircraft's maneuvers when accompanying heavier ships, or a left to right movement, over the object first sighted. Mr. Stewart stated that this maneuvering continued until the objects were out of sight. He estimated the time to be approximately 15 seconds, the course approximately 120 degrees. Mr. Stewart could not estimate the size of the objects nor actual altitude, though he did not believe them to be beyond six thousand feet. Mr. Stewart described the objects as being milky white in color, and unlike any conventional type aircraft he had ever seen. When questioned whether he was familiar with the Navy "Flapjack", Mr. Stewart stated that he was, and that he was certain the objects he reported seeing were not of this nature. AGENT'S NOTES: Mr. Stewart is a former officer of the U.S. AAF and a B-29 pilot of considerable experience. Mr. Stewart does not convey the impression of being the kind of person who would "imagine" that he was seeing objects, nor has he any apparent desire for publicity. Mr. Stewart is in charge of machine shops at the University of California, Berkeley, California. LESLIE S. HUBBARD, S/A, CIC ADC 4AF.

CONFIDENTIAL. HEADQUARTERS FOURTH AIR FORCE, Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff, A-2, Intelligence, Hamilton Field, California. 4AFDA 333.5/1208-I. 10 September 1947. SUBJECT: Investigation of Flying Disc. TO: Special Agent in Charge, FBI, U. S. Department of Justice, Room 422, Federal Office Building, San Francisco, California. Attached MOIC for your information. FOR THE AC OF S, A-2: Donald L. Springer, Lt. Colonel, Air Corps, Deputy AC of S, A-2. 1 Incl: MOIC, Hubbard, dtd 9 Sep 47.

TO: Director, FBI. FROM: SAC, San Francisco. DATE: August 27, 1947. SUBJECT: REPORTS OF FLYING DISCS. Attention: Assistant Director D. M. LADD. Reference is made to my letter of August 8, 1947, with which there were transmitted photostatic copies of three letters dated August 4, 1947, entitled, "Investigation of Flying Discs". In order to keep the Bureau fully informed concerning this matter, I am enclosing a letter dated July 28, 1947, entitled, "Unidentifiable Objects" furnished to me by Lt. Colonel DONALD L. SPRINGER, GSC, A C of S A-2. Enclosed with this letter was a memorandum for the officer in charge written by LAWRENCE R. KING, JR., Special Agent CIC AdC dated July 15, 1947. Lt. Colonel DONALD L. SPRINGER furnished me in person with a memorandum entitled, "Incident for AF 1208-I" dated August 5, 1947, and prepared by JAMES A. NELSON, Special Agent CIC 4AF. The Bureau will be kept currently advised of any future information obtained in this matter. DMK:VL 62-2938. Enclosures.