FBI file: Kenneth Arnold

forwarded herein. DAHL and CRISMAN deny, however, that they actually started the flying disc story and their actual part in the story. United Airlines pilot, EMIL J. SMITH, states that DAHL and CRISMAN on July 31, 1947, both related their original flying disc fragment story. Information gathered would indicate that the anonymous phone calls were possibly made by FRED CRISMAN in order to build up the flying disc story to the point where they could make a profitable sale of the story to RAY PALLIER, Chicago, Illinois. No facts have been developed which would definitely prove that CRISMAN made these calls. However, from all facts and information gathered, it appears he is probably the most likely to have made the anonymous calls. The detailed interviews of the persons contacted in regard to this flying disc story are being set out below.

The following investigation was conducted by Special Agent DAVID A. MacCULLOCH at Tacoma, Washington on August 6, 7, 1947:

advised that in the early part of June, 1947 he was requested by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer to check on a story which he was informed had been obtained from the Fire Chief at Harper, Washington. The story was supposed to have originated with FRED CRISMAN. Mr. VOGEL stated that the story was to the effect that DAHL, while patrolling in his boat near Maury Island, saw five or six flying discs, one of which fluttered toward the ground and finally disintegrated. Fragments of the disc were reported to have showered down on the boat of HAROLD DAHL, causing some damage and killing his dog. Mr. VOGEL stated that he went to the home of HAROLD DAHL on 3903 North Gove, Tacoma, Washington to check with him on this flying disc story. He stated that as best he could recall, this was just a few days after the first flying disc stories had appeared in the paper and was on a Sunday evening. He believed it was the early part of June. He stated that DAHL took him in the kitchen and proceeded to talk about this flying disc story in low muffled tones. He stated that DAHL acted rather suspicious and that shortly his wife came into the kitchen and was in a considerable rage, telling DAHL to admit that the entire story was a plain fantasy which he had dreamed up. He stated that after his wife told DAHL to admit the entire story was false, that DAHL then admitted that there was nothing whatever to the story and it was an entire hoax. VOGEL stated that in view of the enraged condition of DAHL's wife, he immediately left and reported to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer that the entire story was a hoax and that they should not print it in any way. He further stated that he advised the Seattle Post-Intelligencer that DAHL was a mental case and that nothing which he had reported should be carried as far as a news story. Mr. VOGEL stated that since that time he had received repeated requests from the Boise Statesman requesting information as to the flying disc stories reportedly originating with FRED CRISMAN and HAROLD DAHL. VOGEL stated that he had never, in his experience, had such pressure brought upon him to release a news story and that he repeatedly advised the Boise Statesman that the story of seeing the flying discs by DAHL and CRISMAN was a complete fabri-