Flying discs

Experts Reach Deep Into Bag To Explain 'Flying Discs'

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Saturday – Reprinted from the June 28, 1947 EO
By Bill Bequette

Several "explanations" were advanced today for the so-called "flying discs" reported seen in several widespread western areas.

Lt. Col. Harold R. Turner, commandant of the White Sands proving ground in New Mexico, was quoted as saying the heated circular exhaust pipes of jet airplanes, when hot, might give an illusion of the discs. Kenneth Arnold, Boise, Ida., businessman pilot who first reported to the East Oregonian on seeing the strange objects whizzing over the Cascade mountains in southwestern Washington at an estimated 1200 miles an hour could only guess at what he had seen.

He suggested the high speed mirror-bright "planes" might have been guided missiles being tested by the army.

But if the army knew anything about such activities it wasn't admitting it. Official spokesman continued to pooh-pooh the idea, disclaiming any knowledge of such activities in that area.

Meanwhile, reports of similar objects were received fromWashington, Idaho, Oklahoma, and New Mexico.

Another "explanation" was advanced by Howard W. Blakeslee, Associated Press science editor. He said the mysterious objects flashing across the sky roughly agreed with the way light occasionally was reflected from a distant airplane.

He couldn't account for the speed, however. He said in a clear air the flash of sunlight from a plane could easily be seen 50 miles. This flash would be round, the shape of the sun, he said adding that any other reflection at a great distance likely would be round since it came only from a small area on the plane.

Blakeslee said reports of unusual objects in the sky had been numerous since the war. Atomic bombs and rocket rumors have accounted for most of them, he said, and concluded that for this reason any unusual sights in the sky likely would appear to be exaggerated.

There were other attempts to explain the mystery. They ranged from "illusions" and mirages to whisperings of secret Russian weapons. But while none were wholly satisfactory, one thing at least, was certain: Mr. Arnold – and perhaps others – saw something strange and almost unbelievable. What it was perhaps only time will tell.