PROJECT 1947

COUNTY OF KERN)

     The following is a statement given by 1st. Lt. Joseph C. McHenry, Billeting Officer, Muroc Army Air Field, Muroc, California, statement given on 11 July 1947, to Mr. Thomas A. McMillan, CIC S/A. this station.

     The following statement concerning the actual observance of what has been termed as a "flying Disc" or a "flying saucer" is true and correct and it will be noted that the above mentioned observance was made by me personally while enjoying complete health in mind and body.

     On Tuesday 8 July 1947, at approximately nine-thirty A.M. (09:30) was in conversation with personnel in the Post Exchange Office. My part of this conversation was as follows:

     "Someone will have to show me one of these Disc (sic) before I will believe it."

     Upon leaving the Post Exchange, I went directly to my Office and before entering heard one of our local aircraft in the traffic pattern. Looking up, as I always do I observed the aircraft, and looked slightly to the left, whereupon I observed two (2) silver objects of either a spherical or disc-like shape, moving about three hundred (300) miles an hour, or perhaps less, as approximately eight thousand (8000) feet, heading at about three hundred twenty degrees (320) due north.

     When I first observed these objects I called S/Sgt. Gerald E. Nauman, T/Sgt. Joseph Ruvolo and Miss Jannette Marie Scotte who immediately came to where I was standing. I pointed in the direction of the objects, and asked them the question "Tell me what you see up there." Whereupon, all the three (3) with sundry comments stated, "They are flying Disc". To further verify my observance I asked them to tell me in what direction the objects were traveling, without indicating their direction myself, and again, all three (3) in a consistant nature stated that the objects were moving toward Mojave, California.

     I had time to look away several times and renew my vision of the objects to make sure that they were not any results of eye strain, or in any nature an optical illusion. The objects in question were not repeat, were not aircraft, the objects could not have been weather balloons released from this station, since they were traveling against the prevailing wind, and since the speed in which they were traveling, disqualified the fact that they were weather balloons.

     After the observance of these phenomenon and hoping that I might have time to enlist further witnesses, I immediately ran into the dispensary to get personnel who are Medical Officers to verify, for my own curiosity, the actual observance of these objects, but by the time I reached the back porch seven (7) other personnel were with me, the objects had by that time, disappeared, due to the speed with which they were traveling. Upon further investigation, two (2) of us at the same time sighted another object of a silver spherical or disc-like nature at approximately eight thousand (8000) feet, traveling in circles over the North-end. I called the objects to the attention of Mrs. Naum and pointed it out to the other personnel standing near by. All of us saw the object, with the exception of two (2) out of seven (7) personnel. All of us looked away from the object to make sure there was no eye strain or from permitting the object to become an optical illusion.

     From my actual observance the object circled in too tight a circle and too severe a plane to be any aircraft that I know of. It could not have been any type of bird because of the reflection that was created when the object reached certain altitudes. The object could not have been a local weather balloon for it is very impossible that a weather balloon would stay at the same altitude as long and circle in such a consistant nature as did the above mentioned object.

     I am familiar with the results of too constant vision of the sun or any bright object and am aware that optical illusions are possible and probable. I wish to make this statement that the above mentioned observance was that of actual subject matter.

     This statement has been given freely and voluntarily without any threats or promises under duress. This statement consists of two (2) pages, and is the truth to the best of my knowledge and belief. I have initialed all corrections deemed necessary.

STATE OF CALIFORNIA)

COUNTY OF KERN)

     The following is a statement given by Major Richard R. Shoop, Office of Chief of Tech. Engineering Division, Muroc Army Air Field, Muroc, California, statement given on 11 July 1947

      At approximately noon on 8 July 1947, my attention was called to an object in the air by Colonel Gilkey. I observed between five (5) and eight (8) miles to the North what appeared to be a thin metallic object. It appeared to be metallic because the method in which it was flying caused the sun to reflect like an apparently aluminum colored surface. The object moved from an intermediate altitude in an oscillating fashion, almost to the surface of the ground and then started climbing again. It climbed to a fairly high altitude and moved off slowly into the distance. The object appeared to be the size of a pursuit airplane but did not have the shape of a conventional plane. The time that the object was in view was approximately eight (8) minutes. This same object was seen by my wife at the same time.

     This statement was given freely and voluntarily without any threats or promises under duress. This statement consists of one (1) page, and is the truth to the best of my knowledge and belief. I have initialed all corrections deemed necessary.

WITNESS:

s/s   thomas a. mc millan 
THOMAS A. MC MILLAN  

STATE OF CALIFORNIA)

COUNTY OF KERN)

     The following is a statement given by Captain John Paul Strapp, Flight Test, Muroc Army Air Field, Muroc, California, statement given to Mr. Thomas A. McMillan, CIC Agent, this Station, on 12 August 1947.

     At 11:50 hours, 8 July 1947, while the undersigned was sitting in an observation truck located in Area # 3, Rogers Dry Lake, for the purpose of observing a P-82 ejection seat experiment, the following unfamiliarity was observed.

      The undersigned was gazing upward toward a formation of two (2) P-82's and an A-26 aircraft flying at 20,000 feet, preparing to carry out a seat ejection experiment, when I observed a rounded object, white aluminum in color, which at first resembled a parachute canopy. The first impression was that a premature ejection of the seat and dummy had occurred. This body was ejected at a determined height lower than 20,000 feet, and was falling at three (3) times the rate observed for the parachute which ejected thirty minutes later. As it fell it drifted slowly north of due west against the prevailing wind, toward Mount Wilson. The speed, horizontal motion could not be determined, but appeared slower than the maximum velocity 50-80 aircraft.

     As this object descended through a low enough level to permit observation of its lateral silhouette, it presented a distinct ovular outline, with two (2) projections on the upper surface which might have been thick fins or nobs. These crossed each other at intervals, suggesting either rotation or oscillation of slow type.

     No smoke flames, propellar arks, engine noise, or other clasuable or visible means of propulsion were noted. The color was silvery, resembling aluminum painted fabric, and did not appear as dense as a parachute canopy.

     When the object dropped to a level such that comes into line of vision of the mountain tops, it was lost to the vision of the observer.

     It is estimated that the object was in line of vision for about 90 seconds. Of the five (5) people sitting in the observation truck, four (4) observed this object and made remarks about it. These people include:

     The following is my own personal opinions about this subject:

     1.  I think it was a man-made object, as evidenced distinctly by the the outline and functional appearance.

     2.   It's size was not far from 25 feet with a parachute canopy.

     3.   The path followed by this object appeared as though it might have been dropped from a great height.

     Seeing this was not a hallucination or other fancies of a sense.

     This statement was given freely and voluntarily without any threats or promises under duress. This statement consists of two (2) pages, and is the truth to the best of my knowledge and belief. I have initialed all corrections deemed necessary.

WITNESS:

s/s    thomas a. mc millan   
THOMAS A. MC MILLAN  

STATE OF CALIFORNIA)

COUNTY OF KERN)

     The following is a statement given by Major J. C. Wise, Test Pilot, Muroc Army Air Field, Muroc, California, statement given to Mr. Thomas A. McMillan, CIC Agent, This Station, on 13 August 1947.

     On 7 July 1947, at approximately 10:10, while running up the XP-84 on the ground I noticed everyone was looking up into the air. Off to the north about 10,000 feet altitude, was an object that I assumed at first to be a weather balloon, but after looking at it for a while I noticed that it was oscillating in a forward whirling movement without losing altitude. It was traveling about 200 to 225 MPH, and heading from west to east.

     The object was yellowish white in color and I would estimate that it was a sphere about 5 to 10 feet in diameter.

     I did not have time to chase it in a P-80.

     This statement was given freely and voluntarily without any threats or promises under duress. This statement consists of one (1) page, and is the truth to the best of my knowledge and belief.

WITNESS:

s/s      thomas a. mc millan   
THOMAS A. MCMILLAN

STATE OF CALIFORNIA)

COUNTY OF KERN)

     The following is a statement given orally by Colonel Gilkey, Commanding Officer, Muroc Army Air Field, Muroc, California, given to Captain Harry D. Black, Intelligence Officer, on 11 August 1947.

     Colonel Gilkey, stated that the object he saw, he believed at the time to be paper and of no significance or the objects not important enough to be reported. There was nothing clearly enough seen by the Colonel to make any further reports justifiable.

     This oral statement was given freely and voluntarily without any threats or promises under duress. This statement consists of one (1) page, and is the truth to the best of my knowledge and belief.

STATE OF CALIFORNIA)

COUNTY OF KERN)

     The following is a statement given on 14 July 1947, by Jannette Marie Scott, Secretary to 1st Lt. J. C. McHenry, Billeting Officer, Muroc Army Air Field, Muroc, California.

     I am fully aware of my Civil and Constitutional Rights, and understand prior to making this statement.

     On Tuesday morning 8 July 1947, at approximately 10:00m while typing some cards, and taking care of my routine work, Lieutenant McHenry called me, along with T/Sgt. Joseph Ruvolo and S/Sgt. Gerald E. Nauman, to the front of B.O.Q. "A" Bldg. Pointing up in a direction directly above me he asked us to explain what we saw. There were two, silver colored disc like objects flying toward Mojave, California, one directly back of the other, at a speed of about 300 to 400 miles per hour, having an altitude of approximately 8000 feet. I listened carefully for a few minutes, and heard no drone, such as should be heard from any aircraft. I also cast my eyes to another direction and looking back to the same spot, I was able to distinguish the same objects again. Having assured myself that there was no eye-strain, I was convinced these objects were not weather balloons due to the horizontal position in which they were flying. Nor could they have been birds of any nature, due to the definite reflection from the sun rays.

     I have been on this Base, considering an absence of six months, approximately eighteen months, and am familiar with all type aircraft.

     About three or four minutes, after these flying objects had nearly disappeared, I glanced around and sighted another flying object, similar to the above mentioned objects. This flying object was silver colored and was in the shape of a disc. Unlike the first two this object was flying in a tight circle, neither losing nor gaining altitude, at approximately eight thousand feet, therefore I was convinced it could not have been a weather balloon, and because of the tight circle it could not have been any type aircraft.

     This statement was given freely and voluntarily without any threats or promises under duress. This statement consists of one (1) page, and is the truth to the best of my knowledge and belife.(sic) I have initialed all corrections deemed necessary.

     I am of sound mind and body, and swear that this statement is true and correct.

WITNESS:

s/s     thomas a. mc millan   
THOMAS A. MC MILLAN

STATE OF CALIFORNIA)

COUNTY OF KERN)

     The following is a statement given by S/Sgt. Gerald E Nauman, 4144th, AAFBU, Muroc Army Air Field, Muroc, California, statement given on 14 July 1947, to 1st. J. C. McHenry, Billeting Officer.

     On the eight of July 1947 at ten o'clock (10:00) in the morning I observed personally two (2) flying disc, flying in a north east direction at an estimated altitude of seven or eight thousand feet, traveling at approximately three or four hundred miles per hour.

     Just a few minutes before this I was in the Billeting Office and First Lieutenant Joseph C. McHenry, called me and two (2) others outside. He then asked us what we saw. I saw two (2) objects with my own eyes, and I am now and was then in perfect physical condition. I have 20-20 vision and I am positive these two (2) objects could not have been aircraft, weather balloon or birds. Due to the altitude in which they were flying, they gave off a definite reflection from the rays of the sun.

     In addition to these two (2) disc I saw another object a few minutes later at the same altitude doing certain maneuvers such as flying in a tight circle. The two disc had already disappeared. This object to my knowledge of aircraft could not have been a airplane because of the very tight maneuver it was undergoing. I have been flying in and have been around all type of aircraft since 1943 and never in my life have I seen anything such as this. If necessary I can and will swear to this statement.

     This statement has been given freely and voluntarily without any threats or promises under duress. This statement consists of one (1) page, and is the truth to the best of my knowledge and belief. I have initialed all corrections deemed necessary.

WITNESS:

s/s   thomas a. mc millan   
THOMAS A. MC MILLAN

STATE OF CALIFORNIA)

COUNTY OF KERN)

     The following is a statement given by T/Sgt. Joseph Ruvolo, 4144th, AAFBU, Muroc Army Air Field, Muroc, California, statement given on 14th July 1947, to 1st Lt. J. C. McHenry, Billeting Officer.

     This is my own written statement of what I saw on July 8, 1947.

     I am NCO in charge of the Billeting Office, this field, and First Lieutenant Joseph C. McHenry, is Billeting Officer in Charge.

     About 09:45 he was returning from the Post exchange when he called to me to come outside and asked me to look up to where he was pointing and to my surprise I saw two (2) flying objects which appeared to me like two (2) flying disc or saucer shaped silver colored objects, flying in a northwestern direction at speed approximately 350 or 400 miles per hour and at an altitude of about 7500 or 8000 feet. I could not hear a motor roar like one of our planes and it could not have been a balloon.

     I am of good health and sound mind and this was no halucination.(sic)

     This statement has been given freely and voluntarily without any threats or promises under duress. This statement consists of one (1) page, and is the truth to the best of my knowledge and belief. I have initialed all corrections deemed necessary.

WITNESS:

s/s      thomas a. mc millan   
THOMAS A. MC MILLAN