FBI file 62-HQ-83894 Flying Discs, section 3

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August 19, 1947
forwarded herein. DAHL and CRI~AN deny, however, that they actually started
the flying disc story and their actual part in the story. United Airlines pilot,
EMIL J . S,':TH, states that DAHL and CP.ISHAN on July 31, 1947, both related their
original flying disc fragment story. Infonnation gathered would indicate that
the anonymous phone calls were possibly made by FRED CRI$WI in order to build
up the flying disc story to the point where they could make a profitable sale
of the story to RAY PAI1:ER, Chicago, Illinois . No facts have been developed
which would definitely prove that CRIS!.!AN made these calls. However, from all
facts and infonnation gathered, it appears he is probably the most likely to
have made the anonymous calls . The detailed interviews of the persons contac
ted 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, T:ashington on August 6, 7, 1947:
ER.~EL, Associated Press 1ireman, Tacoma, .ashington,
advised that in the early part of June, 1947 he was requested by the Seattle
,-~---w.ot::Lcci±c:....,..Jiu:nu:t..e.elJ.i.e.encer to check on a story which he was informed had been obtained
from the Fire Chief at Harper, 71ashington. The story was supposed to have
originated with FRED CRLS1AN. 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. 'fr. VOGEL stated that he went
to the home of HAROI.D "f}AffL on 3903 North Gove, Tacoma, ,:ashington 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{ieattle 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. VOGSL 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 C1llSMAN and HAROID 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 3tatesman that
the story of seeing the flying discs by DAHL and CRist,AN was a complete fabri-
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