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This US Air Force Project Blue Book case file on Kenneth Arnold's sighting of nine objects near Mount Rainier, Washington, on 24 June 1947 was released through The Black Vault. It contains the Project 10073 record card, which concludes the objects were a mirage, plus Arnold's telegram, questionnaire data and interview notes. It also includes J. Allen Hynek's analysis arguing the objects were closer and slower than Arnold estimated. Other items are David Johnson's sworn statement on a Boise sighting, a Tacoma investigation telegram and news clippings.
“disc”9 pages
Incident No. 17 24 June 1947, afternoon, Mt. Rainier, Washington. One witness viewed nine "saucer-like discs" from the air calculated to be 20 to 25 miles distant, and 45-90 feet in length, (about 20 times as long as wide) which traveled 47 miles in 102 seconds (1700 MPH). Dr. Hynek calculated mathematically (see Appendix B) that assuming the estimate of distance to be accurate, in order to see such detail, the objects would need to have been at least 100 feet thick, therefore, 2000 feet long. If the estimated size is more nearly correct, then to have been seen as described, the objects would have been roughly six miles distant. At this distance they would have traveled only 11 miles in 102 seconds, or approximately 400 MPH. The entire report of this incident is replete with inconsistencies. It is to be noted that the observer has profited from this story by selling it to Fate magazine. AVC Opinion: The report cannot bear even superficial examination, there fore, must be disregarded. There are strong indications that this report and its attendant publicity is largely responsible for subsequent reports.
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