ORM NO. 64
Office Memorandum • UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
TO : Director, FBI
FROM : SAC, Chicago
SUBJECT: ROBERT R. PETRONE, INFORMANT
FLYING DISCS
DATE: July 31, 1950
AIR MAIL
SPECIAL DELIVERY
On July 28, 1950, Mr. ROBERT R. PETRONE, Publisher, Midwest Times, 3437 West Chicago Avenue, Chicago, phone KEdzie 3-8400, brought to this office the original letter and envelope attached, postmarked July 25, 1950 at Chicago, which letter is quoted below:
"New Flying Saucer
"Since we are on the brink of a third world conflict, the world is more air conscious than ever. Aviation in some phases is yet in its pioneering days. Much talk goes on about the flying saucers or discs. The saucer we speak about, is not a military secret, and is not yet owned by any government. The flying saucer which was seen over south Chicago last April is a large fuel tank with crystal glass wings. It has two large jet engines on both sides. It is radion controlled. It resembles a saucer very much when in flight. The wings cannot be seen on a clear day. This is so it is a most difficult target for anti aircraft gunners. The reason for the large flat gas or fuel tank is to give the ship a long range for atomic bombing. The ship was designed by FRED SPAUNHOLDT, a former 'Linco' skywriter, FRANK HOOCHPAW, aircraft mechanic, and CARL TEICHMAN, German World War I ace. The ship was financed by HOWARD HUGHES, millionaire aviation enthusiast. It is now being tested by the Glen F. Martin Aircraft Co., makers of the Martin Marauder. The craft is only made for one way trips. It has a range of 4000 miles, ceiling of 25,000 feet, and a speed of 750 miles per hour. So far only a few of these craft have been made, and they usually are pitched in the lake or ocean as they cannot be landed. They are merely to carry a bomb of high destruction to enemy country. They have no wheels, but small steel rails on the bottom from which they take off. All other mechanism can be explained in detail. The man who welded the ship says it is by far the best long range bombing instrument he has ever seen. The name of the ship is the 'Danse Macabre'.
"Editor
"In a few weeks zinc cuts showing 3 views of craft will be sent to you.
Enclosure
KRS: bam
100-18999
EX. - 83
ENCL
ENCLOSURE ATTACHED
8/3/50
1cc. forwarded to
OS/ by Sanders
Effr
AUG 11 1950
RECORDED - 113
INDEXED - 113
AUG 4 1950
24
"Yours truly
"/s/ ALBERT HOLMBERG"
DEFERRED RECORD
62-83874-242
Note: Handwritten annotations and markings (e.g., "EX. - 83", "ENCL", "8/3/50", "1cc. forwarded to OS/ by Sanders Effr", "AUG 11 1950", "RECORDED - 113", "INDEXED - 113", "AUG 4 1950", "24", "62-83874-242", "DEFERRED RECORD", and various signatures/initials) are included as they appear in the image, preserving their placement and context as best as possible within the linear text flow. The redacted blacked-out regions are represented as [redacted] per instructions.