By Howard W. Blakeslee
Associated Press Science Editor
NEW YORK, June 27 [1947]. - The reports from several areas west of the Mississippi about mysterious disk-like objects flashing across the sky agree roughly with the way light occasionally is reflected from distant airplanes.
In clear air the flash of sunlight from a plane can easily be seen 50 miles. This flash is round, the shape of the sun. Any other reflection at a great distance is also likely to be round.
Not accounted for are the speeds reported by some observers. A distant plane does not appear to be moving fast. If any jet planes were sighted, their speeds probably would be noticeable and could fit into the estimates.
Reports of unusual objects in the sky have been numerous since the war. Atomic bomb rocket rumors have accounted for most of them. Speculative stories about what may be seen in the future spread all over the world. With those in mind, any unusual sight in the sky is likely to appear exaggerated.
- Seattle Post-Intelligencer, June 27, 1947
MAY BE JET PLANES ARMY OFFICER SAYS
WHITE SANDS, Ν. Μ.-(P) - Lt. Col. Harold R. Turner says "flying discs" reported seen in several western areas Wednesday night may have been jet airplanes.
The White Sands proving ground commandant said in an interview that jet planes have circular exhaust pipes and that these when heated might give an illusion of discs.
- Tampa Bay Times June 28, 1947
