Kenneth Arnold's Sighting
A private pilot saw nine shining objects racing past Mount Rainier, and the newspapers called them 'flying saucers'.
What was reported
On 24 June 1947, Kenneth Arnold, a businessman and experienced private pilot, was flying near Mount Rainier when he saw a flash of light, then nine bright objects flying in a line at great speed. He estimated them at well over 1,000 miles an hour.
He told reporters they moved 'like a saucer if you skip it across the water'. Newspapers turned that into 'flying saucers', and within weeks hundreds of similar sightings were reported across the United States.
Explanations offered
The US Air Force listed it as a mirage. Other suggestions include a formation of pelicans or other birds, reflections, and fragments of a meteor. Arnold, an experienced flier, rejected these explanations and maintained he saw solid craft.
- When
- 24 June 1947
- Where
- Near Mount Rainier, Washington, USA
- Witnesses
- Private pilot Kenneth Arnold
- Status
- Disputed
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.