Department of State AIRGRAM - Subject: Flying Saucers Are a Myth

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"FLYING SAUCERS"? THEY'RE A MYTH! Villen Lyustiberg, APH Science Commentator

In the last 20 years publication of literature on "unidentified flying objects" has advanced to one of the first places in the world. This problem is dealt with by numerous associations and clubs.

Are these "flying saucers" just imagination or reality? Thousands of recorded statements by eye-witnesses seem to show that "there must be something in it". But let us try to look at all these materials from a different stand. So, as the continued importance of the "saucer" theory say almost every time, you can draw your own conclusions, while we give you.

## "Facts Only"

Kenneth Arnold, an American pilot, is the "godfather" of flying saucers. It was he who notioed in 1947 nine shining discs flying in formation at the speed of about 3,000 km an hour.

The next encounter with saucers had a tragio outoome. In January 1948, an immense flying saucer appeared over the Nox US Air Base. Pursuing it Captain Thomas Hanthell perished. The last thing he reported from an altitude of 9,000 metres was that he saw an object and was going to approach it.

This story found extensive response. Many considered it to be a stern warning of unknown envoys from other planets to leave them alone. There was a great deal of a talk about the mysterious death of the pilot. It was received as undoubted proof of the existence of mighty forces still unknown to us.

But the results of a thorough investigation by US authorities received much less publicity. The mysterious "saucer" proved to be nothing but a thin-walled plastic balloon made by US Naval Forces under the secret "Skyhawk Operation" project.

Suoh balloons could rise to an altitude of 30,000 metres. Meanwhile, Thomas Manthell pursuing it, forgot that he had no oxygen apparatus on board his craft.