The article below was published in the newspaper The Gallup Independent, Gallup, New Mexico, USA, page 1, on July 2, 1947.
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ALBUQUERQUE, July 2 (AP) -- Max Hood, chamber of commerce executive, added his story to the growing list of those who have seen "flying saucers" over the years.
Hood told of seeing "a disc-like bluish object following a zig-zag path in the northwestern sky" only last night. It disappeared in about half a minute, he said.
Four states away in Portland. Ore., the report of a long-time west coast pilot added still another account.
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RICHARD RANKIN, veteran of more than 7000 hours in the air, said he saw the much-debated mystery discs high over Bakersfield, Calif., and going "maybe 300 or 400 miles an hour."
There were ten in formation flying north, he told a reporter, but when "they returned on the reverse course, headed south, there were only seven."
Rankin said he saw them June 23, but hesitated to describe what he saw until he noted others were reporting the same thing.
At first, he continued, he assumed he had seen the XF5U-1, the experimental navy "Flying Flapjack." the navy since has announced it has only one XF5U-1, and it has not left Connecticut.
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NEW REPORTS meanwhile came in from Oregon cities, Astoria, Madras and Portland. The Portlanders making the report, Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Balliet, said they disbelieved stories about the "saucers" until they saw at least ten of them winging noiselessly high over the Columbia river yesterday.
There have been similar reports the past several days from other points in New Mexico, west Texas and Oklahoma.
