Kenneth Arnold's sighting

Reports Support 'Flying Saucer' Story, But Skeptics Have Plenty of Explanations

By the Associated Press

Conjectures multiplied yesterday as widely separated areas reported incredibly fast disc-like objects flashing through the sky - but skeptics remained.

Following Wednesday's report at Pendleton, Ore., by Kenneth Arnold of Boise, Idaho, that he has seen nine saucer-shaped, shiny objects dipping and skimming through the sky between Mt. Rainer and Mt. Adams in Washington state at an estimated speed of 1,200 miles an hour, came these observations yesterday:

Byron Savage, Oklahoma city businessman pilot, said that five or six weeks ago he observed a flat disc-like object hurtling through the sky at tremendous speed.

At Kansas City, W. I. Davenport, a carpenter, said that yesterday he, too, saw nine speeding objects, moving west high in the sky. They were going fast and he could not make out their shape.

However he reported engine sound and vapor trails.

A Bremerton, Wash, housewife - west across the Cascade mountains from where Arnold saw the objects - said that twice in the past two days she had seen "platter-like" light-reflecting objects.

"I though surely nothing could travel so fast," Mrs. Elma Shingler said.

At Eugene, Ore., E. H. Sprinkler said he nearly got a picture of them. A week ago Wednesday, he said, he took his $3.50 camera to a local butte to test it. He spotted objects in the southwest, racing toward the northeast, but before he could click his shutter they were nearly out of sight. He said he had not told of seeing the objects - which he said were similar to those Arnold reported - because he thought no one would believe him. Enlargement prints from his film showed nothing but clear sky.

Against these supporting observations, skeptics sought explanations. Capt. Al Smith, United Air Lines pilot on the Seattle run, said he thought Arnold had saw reffections on his instrument panel. Dr. J. Hugh Pruett, University of Oregon meteorologist, said that "persistent vision," often noted after looking at bright objects such as the sun, could have kept such reflections before him after they had passed.

Elmer Fisher, first assistant meteorologist to the Portland weather bureau, suggested a slight touch of snow blindness.

'Out of This Planet', Experts Say.

WASHINGTON -- (UP) -- Conversation has not marked all the claims made about high speed aircraft by army and navy aviation spokesmen.

But they conceded yesterday that they have nothing in their aeronautical bag of tricks to equal the flying saucers an amateur pilot "saw" scooting across Southwestern Washington state at 1,200 miles an hour.

These "saucer-shaped" planes are strictly out of this planet, military experts agreed.

Aeronautical experts of the army, navy and national advisory committee for aeronautics had these reactions:

1. According to Arnold's figures, the saucers would have been flying 1,480 miles an hour. He underestimated them.

2. On the other hand, Arnold said he used a stop watch and so could have misjudged slightly.

3. The fastest man has ever flown is 647 miles an hour.

4. Sound travels about 760 miles an hour, a considerable bit under the estimated speed of the flying saucers - and engineers thus far have not built a plane that has got even near sonic speed.

5. If Arnold saw what he thought he saw - he said "I must believe my eyes" - the planes were not American.