| STATE OF CALIFORNIA)
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.
s/s joseph c mc henry
1ST. LT. JOSEPH C. MC HENRY, AC
WITNESS:
s/s thomas a. mc millan
THOMAS A. MC MILLAN
CONFIDENTIAL
A F F I D
A V I
T
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.
s/s richard r. shoop
MAJOR, RICHARD R. SHOOP, AC
WITNESS:
s/s thomas a.
mc millan
THOMAS A. MC MILLAN
CONFIDENTIAL
A F F I D
A V I
T
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:
Mr Lenz - Civilian, Wright Field,
Dayton, Ohio
(Other names not given)
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.
s/s john paul
strapp
CAPTAIN JOHN PAUL STRAPP, AC
WITNESS:
s/s thomas a. mc
millan
THOMAS A. MC MILLAN
CONFIDENTIAL
A F F I D
A V I
T
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.
s/s j.c.wise
MAJOR J.C. WISE, AC
WITNESS:
s/s
thomas a. mc millan
THOMAS A. MCMILLAN
CONFIDENTIAL
A F F I D
A V I
T
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.
s/s Harry D.
Black
CAPT. HARRY D. BLACK, MAC
CONFIDENTIAL
A F F I D
A V I
T
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.
s/s jannette
marie scott
Jannette Marie Scott
WITNESS:
s/s thomas a.
mc millan
THOMAS A. MC MILLAN
CONFIDENTIAL
A F F I D
A V I
T
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.
s/s t.c.robinson
PFC. T.C. ROBINSON
WITNESS:
s/s thomas a. mc
millan
THOMAS A. MC MILLAN
CONFIDENTIAL
A F F I D
A V I
T
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.
s/s
joseph ruvolo
S/Sgt. JOSEPH RUVOLO
WITNESS:
s/s
thomas a. mc millan
THOMAS A. MC MILLAN
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