First Report
On 24 June 1947, Kenneth Arnold spotted nine crescent-shaped objects weaving past Mount Rainier while flying his CallAir A-2.1 He timed their speed at over 1,200 mph and described a skipping motion like "saucers" on water.2
Media Frenzy
Arnold told reporters in Pendleton, Oregon, the next day, and the story moved nationwide within hours.3 Headlines coined "flying saucers" and thousands of similar sightings followed that summer.4
Air Force intelligence opened Project Sign to analyze the surge of reports.5