Alton, New Hampshire, USA, on July 8, 1947:
ACUFO-07-05-ALTON-1
This case appeared in the US Press mostly on July 8 and July 9, 1947, through a 1947 United Press (UP) wire report dated "Portsmouth, N. H., July 8".
The United Press told that Thomas M. Dale, president of Yankee Airways, World War II flier,son of Governor Charles M. Dale, landed in Portsmouth on July 8, 1947, after a flight from Laconia during which he had a chance to look down on a mysterious flying object.
Dale said that while flying at 2800 feet between Laconia and Wolfeboro at 4:26 p.m., she saw a long thin metal object flying at an altitude of less than 1000 feet, at a speed he estimated at 700 miles an hour over Alton Bay, headed East towards Wolfeboro.
Dale estimated it traveled about 3.5 mile in 18 seconds.
As Dale was flying well above the object, he was able to see it clearly and to follow its eastward course, he said, adding that it was apparently motorless and pilotless.
He said this "projectile" had no wings, It appeared to be of gray metal material and was not transparent.
After landing at the Portmouth Municipal Airport, Dale had conferred with A. B. Skinner of the lake Region Flying Service at Wolfeboro, and Skinner confirmed Dale's statement that the mysterious object passed overhead in an easterly direction.
A local newspaper, The Portsmouth Herald, for July 9, 1947, also reported on the sighting, on page 1, possibly being the primary source.
Dale told the object was "About 20 feet long, 3 feet thick, not quite round, a metallic grey color with no details, such as motor or wings." Dale said it was "not an airplane":
"I would have recognized any conventional kind of airplane," Dale stated, adding that its speed was exceptional.
It also appeared that Dale was not fling alone, but with Jere Stetson, of Newfields, a veteran of the Naval Air Corps.
The newspaper reported they were closer than 2 miles to the object, viewed it head-on, dideways, and also had a taile view on it.
Dale and his companion were going South over Alton Bay, at 2,800 feet, when they viewed the object to the east, below them, going North. As the object flew over trees, when first in Dale's vision, he could see it quite well, he said.
After several seconds, it headed north over the Bay and Lake Winnipesaukee, heading towards Moultonboro. Stetson saw it take a right turn towards Fryeburg, Maine.
The fliers, who have never seen anything like this object before, believed it to be "a pursuit ship" upon first view.
| Date: | July 8, 1947 |
|---|---|
| Time: | 04:26 p.m. |
| Duration: | 18 seconds. |
| First known report date: | July 8, 1947 |
| Reporting delay: | Hour, hours. |
| Country: | USA |
|---|---|
| State/Department: | New Hampshire |
| City or place: | Alton |
| Number of alleged witnesses: | 2 |
|---|---|
| Number of known witnesses: | 2 |
| Number of named witnesses: | 2 |
| Reporting channel: | The Press. |
|---|---|
| Visibility conditions: | Day. |
| UFO observed: | Yes. |
| UFO arrival observed: | ? |
| UFO departure observed: | Yes. |
| UFO action: | Flies, veers. |
| Witnesses action: | Observed, clocked. |
| Photographs: | No. |
| Sketch(s) by witness(es): | No. |
| Sketch(es) approved by witness(es): | No. |
| Witness(es) feelings: | Puzzled. |
| Witnesses interpretation: | Not an plane. |
| Sensors: |
[X] Visual: 2.
[ ] Airborne radar: N/A. [ ] Directional ground radar: [ ] Height finder ground radar: [ ] Photo: [ ] Film/video: [ ] EM Effects: [ ] Failures: [ ] Damages: |
|---|---|
| Hynek: | DD |
| Armed / unarmed: | Unarmed. |
| Reliability 1-3: | 2 |
| Strangeness 1-3: | 3 |
| ACUFO: | Possible extraterrestrial visitors. |
[Ref. poh1:] NEWSPAPER "PORTSMOUTH HERALD":
|
Another in a series of reportd on "flying saucers" came today from a Portmouth flier.
"About 20 feet long, 3 feet thick, not quite round, a metallic grey color with no details, such as motor or wings," is the description given by Thomas M. Dale, son of Gov. Charles M. Dale, of the "something" he and a companion saw yesterday afternoon at 4:26 pm. while flying from Laconia to Portsmouth.
Date, an ATC pilot during the was, and his companion, Jere Stetson, Newfields, a veteran of the Naval Air Corps, who were closer than two miles to the object, viewed it head-on, dideways, and also had a taile view on it.
"Not an Airplane"
"I would have recongized any conventional kind of airplane," Dale stated, adding that its speed was exceptional.
Dale and his companion were going South over Alton Bay, at 2,800 feet, when they viewed the object to the east, below them, going North. As the object flew over trees, when first in Dale's vision, he could see it quite well, he reported.
After several seconds, it headed north over the Bay and Lake Winnipesaukee, heading towards Moultonboro. Stetson saw it take a right turn towards Fryeburg, Me.
The fliers, who have never seen anything like this object before, believed it to be a pursuit ship upon firt view.
[Ref. prs1:] UNIDENTIFIED NEWSPAPER:
|
PORTMOUTH, N. H.. July 8 -- Thomas M. Dale, president of Yankee Airways, World War II flier and son of Governor Charles M. Dale, landed here today after a flight from Laconia during which he had a chance to look down, he said, on a mysterious flying object.
While flying between Laconia and Wolfeboro at 4:26 p.m., he said, a long thin metal object flying at a speed he estimated at 700 miles an hour over Alton Bay, headed east towards Wolfeboro. The projectile, which he said had no wings, was flying at an altitude of less than 1000 feet. It appeared to be of gray metal material and was not transparent. He was flying at 2800 feet and estimated it traveled about three and one half mile in 18 seconds.
Flying well above the object he was able to see it clearly and to follow its eastward course, he said, adding that it was apparently motorless and pilotless.
Since landing here at the Portmouth Municipal Airport Pilot Dale had conferred with A. B. Skinner of the lake Region Flying Service at Wolfeboro, who confirmed Dale's statement that the mysterious object passed overhead in an easterly direction.
[Ref. tbr1:] TED BLOECHER:
Ted Bloecher indicated that Thomas Dale, 26, son of Governor Charles M. Dale, and a veteran of more than eight years of flying, was piloting a private plane from Laconia to Portsmouth during the afternoon of July 5, 1947, with a friend, Jere Stetson, of Newfields.
At 4:26 p.m. EDT, they flew southwestward over Alton at an altitude of 2,800 feet, and they saw a strange object about two miles away to the east and some 1,500 feet below their plane.
The object was approaching them at an "excessive speed," and in 15 to 18 seconds it had veered to the north, out over Alton Bay and Lake Winnipesaukee, toward Moultenboro, where it was lost to view.
Dale later told newspapermen: "I'm not saying it was a 'flying saucer,' or 'disc', but whatever it was, it wasn't a conventional airplane."
He said that it did not "in any way, shape or manner" resemble any type of known aircraft.
The two observers described the object as "definitely of metal construction," about 20 feet long, and "not exactly round in shape." When it was first seen, the object was observed in profile against the trees on the ground below and to the left of the witnesses. Both Dale and Stetson said they "had never seen anything like it" in the air before, and added that its appearance left them both "flabbergasted."
Bloecher notes that Dale had been an ATC pilot during World War II and was thoroughly familiar with all types of conventional aircraft.
[Ref. jtr1:] JOSEPH TRAINOR - "UFO ROUNDUP":
From the UFO Files...
1947: EX-FIGHTER PILOT SPOTS UFO OVER NEW HAMPSHIRE
(Here's another actual UP news story from the big UFO Flap of 1947. Enjoy!)
Portsmouth, N.H. (UP) -- Thomas M. Dale, son of Gov. Charles M. Dale of New Hampshire and president of Yankee Airways today (July 8, 1947) was among the saucer-spotters.
The former World War II flier said he saw a "mysterious flying object--a long, thin metal thing going about 700 miles an hour--" as he was making an air trip from Laconia to Wolfeboro early last night (July 7, 1947).
Dale said he saw the object when he looked down over Alton Bay. It was flying east towards Wolfeboro, he said, apparently motorless and pilotless. He said it looked like a gray solid metal material flying at 1,000 feet. His plane was flying at 2,800 feet when he spotted the projectile, he said.
Corroborating his statement was A.B. Skinner of the Lakes Region Flying Service at Wolfeboro, who said he saw the object pass overhead in an easterly direction at about the same time Dale reported seeing the object." (See the Keene, N.H. Sentinel for July 9, 1947, page 1.)
[Ref. mhc1:] MICHAEL D. HALL AND WENDY CONNORS:
One of the most credible accounts of the early sightings came out of an incident over Alton, New Hampshire, at 4:26 P.M. EST. The report was made by private pilot Thomas Dale, the son of noted Governor Charles M. Dale and a highly respected pilot during WWII. For that reason the press took great interest in his story and undoubtedly accounts of the incident were monitored by Loedding and others in Dayton as well as the Pentagon. Furthermore, Dale was not alone at the time. His friend Jere Stetson was in the aircraft with him and both told an identical account. They stated that while flying southwest over Alton at an altitude of 2,800 feet, a strange object appeared two miles to the east and some 1,500 feet below their plane. It then approached them at "excessive speed" in a matter of 15 to 18 seconds as it veered north over Alton Bay and Lake Winnipesaukee, toward Moultenboro. Both men were careful not to assume anything. Dale, in fact, stated that "I'm not saying it was a 'flying saucer,' or disc." But the men did agree that it did not "in any way, shape or manner" resemble any type of known aircraft. They then went on to stress that it was definitely of metal construction, about 20 feet long, and "not exactly round in shape." When they first spotted the object it was observed in profile against the trees below. They said the sight left them "flabbergasted." 150
The sources "150" are described as: "Manchester, New Hampshire, Morning Union, 9 July 1947; and Boston, Massachusetts, Globe, 9 July 1947."
[Ref. dwn1:] DOMINIQUE WEINSTEIN:
French ufologist Dominique Weinstein compiled a catalog of the cases of UFOs observed from aircraft. The case appears as:
| DATE | 47.07.08 |
|---|---|
| TIME | 16:26 |
| COUNTRY | USA |
| PLACE | North of Alton, New Hampshire |
| P | |
| TYPE OF PLANE AND WITNESSES | pilot + passenger |
| UFO DESCRIPTION | a disc-shaped object, 20 ft long, approached the plane then veered to the north |
| Radar | |
| G | |
| X | |
| E | |
| SOURCES | 365 400 |
The sources "365 400" are referenced at the end of the catalog as:
report on the UFO wave of 1947, Ted Bloecher
*U* UFO Data base and research tool, Larry Hatch, 142 Jeter street, Redwood City, CA 94062-1957, USA
[Ref. gvo1:] GODELIEVE VAN OVERMEIRE:
1947, July 8
USA, north of Alton (New Hampshire)
At 4:26 p.m., the pilot and his passenger reported seeing a disc-shaped object 20 feet long approach the aircraft before veering to the north. (Project ACUFOE, catalogue 1999, Dominique Weinstein)
[Ref. get1:] GEORGE M. EBERHART:
July 8 - 4:26 p.m. Thomas Dale is flying a small plane at 2,800 feet over Alton, New Hampshire, with passenger Jere Stetson. They see a metallic object some 2 miles away to the east and some 1,500 feet below their aircraft. It approaches them at great speed before veering to the north. They estimate it is 20 feet long and "not exactly round." (Bloecher, p. III-12)
[Ref. wia1:] "WIKIPEDIA" (EN):
| Report publish date | Location | Date of claimed sighting | Name | Notes | Bloecher # [A] |
| Jul 9 [No; 8.] | Alton, New Hampshire | Jul 8 | Thomas F Dale (470) | #733 |
The source "470" is described as: "Boston Globe (Portsmouth, July 8, 1947), July 9, 1947".
[Ref. nhs1:] N. H. SPACE GRANTS CONSORTIUM:
14. Laconia – Included Just For Fun
On July 8, 1947, the Roswell Record carried the story of a recovered UFO. On that same day, a UFO report was also made in New Hampshire, one that made the front page of a NH newspaper: “Portsmouth, N.H. (UP) – Thomas M. Dale, son of Gov. Charles M. Dale of New Hampshire and president of Yankee Airways today (July 8, 1947) was among the saucer-spotters." The former World War II flier said he saw a “mysterious flying object – a long, thin metal thing going about 700 miles an hour " as he was making an air trip from Laconia to Wolfeboro early on the night of July 7, 1947. Dale reported seeing the object when he looked down over Alton Bay. It was flying east towards Wolfeboro, apparently motorless and pilotless. He said it looked like a gray solid metal material flying at 1,000 feet. His plane was flying at 2,800 feet when he spotted the projectile. Corroborating his statement was A.B. Skinner of the Lakes Region Flying Service in Wolfeboro, who claims he "saw the object pass overhead in an easterly direction" at about the same time as Dale's report.
No aircraft information was provided in the sources. I failed to find any information about the planes operated by Yankee Airways at the time.
It is possible that the plane was a Piper Cub, or a Stinson 108, it is likely it was a small plane.
|
I was able to verify that Thomas F. Dale was indeed the President of the air transportation company Yankee Airways, based at the Municipal Airport of Postmouth, New Hampshire.
Pilot of the "ATC" means that he served in the US Army Air Force's Air Transport Command.
These are the only pieces of information I was able to find about him. Furthermore, I found nothing concerning "Jere Statson."
A crucial element of this sighting report, in my opinion, is the mention [poh1] that the two men had been able to observe the object from the front, from the side, and also from the rear. This reinforces Mr. Dale's opinion that the object was not an airplane. Dale further added that it apparently had neither engine nor pilot, and that it had no wings.
Possible extraterrestrial craft.
* = Source is available to me.
? = Source I am told about but could not get so far. Help needed.
| Main author: | Patrick Gross |
|---|---|
| Contributors: | None |
| Reviewers: | None |
| Editor: | Patrick Gross |
| Version: | Create/changed by: | Date: | Description: |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | Patrick Gross | May 29, 2026 | Creation, [poh1], [prs1], [tbr1], [jtr1], [mhc1], [dwn1], [gvo1], [get1], [wia1], [nhs1]. |
| 1.0 | Patrick Gross | May 29, 2026 | First published. |
