The Kenneth Arnold Sighting

Kenneth Arnold sights nine objects. While flying his CallAir A-2 near Mount Rainier, Washington, at about 9,200 feet altitude, Arnold sees nine shiny objects flying in formation. He times their passage from Mount Rainier to Mount Adams (approximately 47-50 miles) in 1 minute 42 seconds, calculating a speed of 1,200-1,700 mph — far faster than any known aircraft.

Arnold lands at Yakima. Arnold lands at Yakima, Washington and describes what he saw to pilot friends, who suggest he may have seen guided missiles or secret military aircraft. He refuels and continues to Pendleton, Oregon for an air show.

First newspaper interview. Arnold is interviewed by reporters Nolan Skiff and Bill Bequette of the East Oregonian in Pendleton, Oregon. Bequette's article — the first on the sighting — is published the same day, quoting Arnold on 'nine saucer-like aircraft flying in formation.'

Story goes nationwide; 'flying saucer' term appears. The story is picked up by the Associated Press and United Press wire services. The Chicago Sun runs the headline 'Supersonic Flying Saucers Sighted by Idaho Pilot' — possibly the first use of 'flying saucer' in a headline. Ted Smith records a radio interview with Arnold for KWRC in Pendleton. The story appears in numerous U.S. and Canadian papers.

Military offers first explanation. Officials at McChord Army Air Field theorize that the only planes matching Arnold's description are P-80 Shooting Star jets, though they note March Field, California is the nearest base with P-80s — about 600 miles away.

Bequette uses 'flying disc' term. Bill Bequette publishes a more detailed article using the term 'flying disc' for the first time. Arnold describes the objects as 'flat like a pie-pan and somewhat bat-shaped' with motion 'like fish flipping in the sun.'

United Airlines crew sighting and nationwide wave begins. A United Airlines crew over Idaho reports five to nine disk-like objects pacing their plane for 10-15 minutes. Police officers and others in Portland, Oregon report 'flying disks.' The saucer wave of summer 1947 accelerates with hundreds of reports nationwide.

Arnold discusses possible extraterrestrial origins. In interviews with the Associated Press and Chicago Times, Arnold raises the possibility that the objects may be from another planet, noting that their abrupt turns would be impossible for human pilots to survive. He also mentions receiving fan mail suggesting extraterrestrial visitation.

Roswell incident — just 9 days after Arnold. The Roswell Daily Record reports that the RAAF (Roswell Army Air Field) has captured a 'flying saucer' on a ranch in the Roswell region. The Army quickly retracts, saying it was a weather balloon. This occurs just 9 days after Arnold's sighting.

AAF intelligence begins secret investigation. Army Air Forces intelligence, with help from the FBI, secretly begins investigating the best UFO sightings, mostly from pilots and military personnel. Arnold's sighting and the United Airlines crew sighting are included in the list of best cases.

Arnold submits written report to AAF intelligence. Lt. Frank Brown and Capt. William Davidson of Hamilton Field interview Arnold. Arnold submits his written report with hand-drawn sketches of the objects. The officers conclude Arnold is a credible witness who 'actually saw what he stated he saw.'

FBI compiles flying saucer reports. The FBI produces a report listing places where flying saucers have been observed across the United States, documenting the nationwide wave triggered by Arnold's sighting.

Arnold reports second sighting. Arnold later reported seeing a similar object again on July 31, 1947. By 1950, he told Edward R. Murrow he had had three additional sightings of nine spacecraft since June 1947.

AAF concludes saucers are real. Three weeks after beginning their investigation, AAF intelligence concludes that 'the saucer reports were not imaginary or adequately explained by natural phenomena; something real was flying around.'

General Twining's landmark memo. General Nathan F. Twining, commanding officer of the Air Materiel Command, sends a classified memorandum concluding that 'the phenomenon reported is something real and not visionary or fictitious' and urges a formal investigation by multiple government agencies.

Project Sign established. Project Sign is created at the end of 1947 — the first publicly acknowledged U.S. Air Force UFO investigation — directly resulting from Arnold's sighting and the 1947 saucer wave. Project Sign later evolves into Project Grudge (1949) and then Project Blue Book (1952-1969).

Edward R. Murrow interviews Arnold. Arnold is interviewed on CBS radio by Edward R. Murrow. He clarifies that the 'saucer' description referred to the objects' movement ('they flew in a saucer-like fashion'), not their shape. He also states he has had three additional sightings since June 1947.

Ruppelt publishes Report on Unidentified Flying Objects. Edward J. Ruppelt, first head of Project Blue Book, publishes his book analyzing the Arnold sighting, including the debate among Project Sign personnel over whether Arnold saw jets or something genuinely unknown.

Bloecher publishes Report on the UFO Wave of 1947. Ted Bloecher publishes his definitive study of the 1947 UFO wave for NICAP, documenting hundreds of sightings from the summer Arnold's report triggered the saucer wave.

Project Blue Book closes. The U.S. Air Force closes Project Blue Book, the final successor to Project Sign, which was created in response to Arnold's sighting 22 years earlier.

Kenneth Arnold dies. Kenneth Arnold passes away at age 76, having spent 37 years defending his account of what he saw near Mount Rainier on June 24, 1947.