| 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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