Kenneth Arnold and the Flying Saucers

On June 24, 1947, businessman and pilot Kenneth Arnold observed nine unusual objects flying near Mount Rainier, Washington. His report to newspapers, and the resulting term “flying saucers,” launched the modern UFO phenomenon.

The Witness

Kenneth Arnold:

• 32 years old
• Businessman
• Private pilot
• Fire equipment salesman
• Respected community member

The Flight

June 24, 1947:

• Around 3:00 PM
• Flying his CallAir A-2
• Near Mount Rainier
• Searching for crashed plane
• Clear visibility

The Sighting

He observed:

• Nine objects
• Flying in formation
• Near the mountain
• Moving very fast
• Unlike any aircraft

The Objects

Arnold described:

• Flat shaped
• Crescent or pie-plate
• Highly reflective
• Sun glinting off them
• In chain formation

The Movement

The objects:

• Dipped and weaved
• “Like saucers skipping on water”
• He told reporter
• Distinctive motion
• Not normal flight

His Calculations

Arnold estimated:

• Speed of 1,200 mph
• Timed between peaks
• Mt. Rainier to Mt. Adams
• 47 miles in 102 seconds
• Far beyond 1947 aircraft

The Landing

Upon landing:

• Told airport staff
• Then reported to FBI
• Talked to reporter
• Bill Bequette
• Story spread

The Term “Flying Saucer”

Misunderstood phrase:

• Arnold described motion
• “Like saucers skipping”
• Headlines said “flying saucers”
• Shape, not motion
• Term stuck

The Actual Shape

Arnold later clarified:

• More crescent shaped
• Not disc-like
• But “flying saucer” stuck
• Cultural impact
• Shaped expectations

Media Explosion

The story:

• Went national
• Then international
• Headlines everywhere
• Public fascination
• UFO era began

Government Interest

Military noticed:

• Investigated Arnold
• Found credible
• Began tracking reports
• Eventually Project Sign
• Then Blue Book

The Wave Begins

After Arnold’s report:

• Hundreds of sightings
• Across country
• Summer 1947
• Mass phenomenon
• Flying saucer flap

Roswell Connection

Two weeks later:

• Roswell incident
• July 1947
• Related or coincidence?
• UFO summer
• Pattern established

Arnold’s Credibility

Investigation found:

• Excellent reputation
• No prior interest
• Not seeking fame
• Troubled by attention
• Honest reporter

Later Sightings

Arnold had:

• More sightings
• In subsequent years
• Remained convinced
• Something real
• Lifelong interest

Skeptical Explanations

Some suggested:

• Pelicans
• Mirages
• Meteors
• Military aircraft
• None satisfying

His Position

Arnold maintained:

• Saw something real
• Not aircraft
• Not natural
• Advanced technology
• Until his death (1984)

Cultural Impact

The sighting:

• Created UFO phenomenon
• “Flying saucer” term
• Public awareness
• Government interest
• Still referenced

Significance

Arnold case significant for:

• Starting modern UFO era
• “Flying saucer” term
• Credible witness
• Government attention
• Cultural watershed

Legacy

Kenneth Arnold’s June 1947 sighting marks the birth of the modern UFO era. Whether he saw secret military craft, unknown phenomena, or something else entirely, his report changed how we look at the skies.