1947: Metal Found in ‘Disc’ Probe Reported On Plane – Article

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Which Carried Army Intelligence Men To Death

Idaho Daily Statesmen
August 3, 1947
By Dave Johnson

Note – Dave Johnson, the author of the foregoing article was the “aviation editor” for the Statesman, as well as one of the first people to see a UFO shortly after Kenneth Arnold’s sighting. In fact, due to his association with Arnold and having “covered” that “news breaking event,” he was on assignment to find a flying disc when after 3 days of an aerial search paid off. He witnessed for 45 seconds a circular object dart about in front of a cloud bank.

Six pieces of metal or lava obtained for investigation in connection with the flying disc mystery were being carried back to Hamilton Field, Calif., from Tacoma, Wash., in a B-25 bomber which crashed and burned near Kelso shortly after takeoff from McChord Field, it was learned tonight.

The pilot and co-pilot of the twin-engine bomber were members of army intelligence, stationed at Hamilton Field, and had been assigned to the investigation of the flying disc mystery.

They were Captain William L. Davidson and Lt. Frank M. Brown, both of whom were instantly killed when their bomber plummeted to earth after the left engine burst into flames.

Disclosed by a UAL pilot

That they were carrying with them six pieces of metal or lava substances was made by Capt. E. J. Smith of United Airlines, who was in Tacoma with Kenneth Arnold of Boise.

Davidson and Brown had gone to Tacoma in response to a message from Arnold, who had told them he “might have something interesting to show them,” according to Brig-Gen. Ned Schramm of the Fourth Air Force at Hamilton Field. Smith who on July 4 reported seeing nine flying discs while his airliner was roaring over southern Idaho said that he and Arnold had given the six pieces of metal or lava to Davidson and Brown shortly before they took off from McChord Field about 10 a.m. Friday for Hamilton Field.

“Extremely Heavy” Substance

Smith said the pieces of metal or lava were “extremely heavy” and when he and Arnold obtained them, showed evidence of having been subjected to extreme heat.

Arnold had gone to Tacoma earlier this week to investigate a story told by Harold Dahl and Fred L. Crisman of Tacoma who operate a concern known as Harbor Patrol, according to Arnold.

Boat Hit By “Disc in Trouble”

Dahl and Crisman, according to Arnold, said that their boat was struck by portions of what had appeared to be a flying disc “in trouble” and they had recovered portions of the metal.

Smith told his story to the Idaho Statesman by Telephone from Tacoma, had gone to Tacoma to join Arnold in the latter’s check of the Dahl-Crisman story. Smith would say nothing for publication beyond the fact that he and Arnold had talked at length with Brown and Davidson and had given them pieces of metal or lava. Smith says he does not know what happened to the objects after the B-25 crashed and burned.

Lt. Brown and Capt. Davidson had been in Boise several weeks ago where they interviewed Smith during a stopover at Boise air terminal and spent most of the day talking to Arnold about what he and Smith had seen of flying discs.

It was Arnold who first started the nation with his story of flying discs weaving and irregular flight path between Mt. Rainier and Mt. Adams in Washington state. In San Francisco, Gen. Schramm, chief of staff of the Fourth Air Force, told The Statesman by telephone that Brown and Davidson had been engaged in gathering material on flying discs and that this material was being passed on to “higher headquarters.”

Doubtful of Sabotage

Schramm said he did not know what had caused the airplane accident. Informed that there were stories circulating to the effect the plane had been sabotaged to prevent the six objects from reaching Hamilton Field, he said he doubted if that could be true.

He said that no special emphasis should be placed on the fact Brown and Davidson’s reports were being passed on to higher headquarters, as that was normal procedure.

Schramm said he did not know of his own knowledge if there were anything aboard the plane or any information on discs in the plane “except what Brown and Davidson were carrying in their heads.”

Two Chute To Safety

He said from information he could gather concerning the wreck of the B-25, it burst into flames in flight. Two members of the crew, both enlisted men, escaped death by bailing out apparently on the command of the pilot.

Gen. Schramm said that Brown and Davidson wanted to continue their mission in the investigation of the disc stories that have swept the nation since the day Arnold made his report of the objects near Mt. Rainier.

Schramm said the two intelligence men were experts on “questioning people” and had not been sent to Tacoma to “get anything” but to talk to Arnold in response to his “suggestion of interest” for them.

They thought, said Schramm they would “learn something new” and therefore went to Tacoma in pursuance of their efforts to “leave no stone unturned” in unraveling the disc mystery.

Not Original Object

That they received from Smith and Arnold six pieces of some metal or lava apparently was not the original cause of their going to Tacoma, as far as it could be learned.

Schramm said he “couldn’t visualize the boys’ having picked up something” but added that he was not in the position to say if they were carrying anything when they crashed.

Schramm’s telephone interview was made before Smith revealed in Tacoma in response to a direct question that he and Arnold had given the intelligence operatives the objects.

Since arriving in Tacoma, Smith, and Arnold have been extremely reticent to say anything for publication. Smith indicated that whatever had been published in Tacoma concerning their visit had not come directly from them.

They virtually had gone into seclusion Saturday and Smith was contacted only after United Airlines in Seattle, which refused to reveal his whereabouts, sent him a telegram asking him to telephone The Statesman.