Richard F. Haines

Richard F. Haines was a research scientist who began working for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in 1967. His work included projects related to the Gemini, Apollo, Skylab and Space Station Freedom missions. In 1986 he was appointed the Chief of the Space Human Factors Office at NASA’s Ames research center. In that role he directed research and development efforts on space suits and spacecraft window design. Separately from his work at NASA, Haines developed a passionate interest in UFOs and military and commercial aircraft sightings of UFOs. Much of his research effort was concentrated on documenting and studying UFO sightings around the world. His papers include an interview of Mexican pilot Carlos de los Santos who reported a 1975 experience flying next to three unidentified gray saucer shaped craft. 

 

J. E. Morgan January 31, 1916, Bert Acosta January, 1926, and Colin Murphy September, 1926 UFO Sightings

Flying over Essex, England Royal Flying Corps pilot Lt. Morgan saw a row of lights, that he described as the windows on a railway carriage with the blinds drawn. Lt. Morgan then shot his pistol at the lights, which rose into "the heavens" and disappeared. Bert Acosta, a stunt flier with a "bad boy persona" for his risk taking behaviors in the air, saw six shiny manhole covers during a flight between Wichita and Colorado Springs. Over Salt Lake City in September of 1926, Colin Murphy, an Airmail pilot, was 'buzzed' by a cylinder without any wings or propeller that was quite large.

Resource Identifier
1916_1926_ah12722
Citation
Richard F. Haines papers, Collection No. 12722, Box 1, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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Sir Francis Chichester June 10, 1931, Members of the Royal Danish Air Force, 1932, Members of the Royal Air Force July 5, 1933, and a China Clipper 1938, UFO sightings

There were UFO sightings internationally, in places like Australia, Denmark, the United Kingdom, and China. UFOs were claimed to suddenly vanish from direct view, seemingly becoming transparent. Looking as though the flying machines were from a different time period, being hexagonal and flat. Lt. Colonel Peter Grunnet of the Royal Danish Air Force described feeling the presence of whatever was inside the flying machine and that feeling being hostile.

Resource Identifier
1930s_ah12722
Citation
Richard F. Haines papers, Collection No. 12722, Box 1, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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"A Formation of 150 Roaring UFOs in the Pacific in 1942", August 12, 1942

Descriptions of UFOs vary greatly, some claiming they are large and bright, some are translucent, some travel fast, others travel slow, some make noise, while some are silent. Since there are different descriptors associated with UFOs, some people had a hard time determining if what they had seen was something of this world or if it was extraterrestrial. UFO sightings could be described by their highly unusual formations, sounds, and large amounts of objects.

Resource Identifier
1942_Brickner_ah12722
Citation
Richard F. Haines papers, Collection No. 12722, Box 1, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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Roman (Ray) Sobinski UFO sighting on March 26, 1942

Roman (Ray) Sobinski, sighted a UFO while flying over Europe, after a bombing mission in 1942. Sobinski's plane fired shots at the "dull, shining copper" flying objects, and the bullets seemed to have no effect on the flying object.

Resource Identifier
1942_Sobinski_ah12722
Citation
Richard F. Haines papers, Collection No. 12722, Box 1, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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Audio Recording of an audio interview of pilot Sobinski's UFO sighting

Roman Sobinski was potentially one of the first pilots who fired on the unidentified flying object that he had witnessed in June of 1942. Sobinski's personal statement regarding this interaction was recorded for a program called "UFOs Anonymous"

Resource Identifier
1942_Sobinski_ahcav_12722
Citation
Richard F. Haines papers, Collection No. 12722, Box 1, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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UFO sightings in 1943 by the Royal Air Force, the Royal Canadian Air Force, the MS Sea Witch, and the U.S Army Air Force

During WWII, a United States Maritime cargo vessel, a cruiser, and a floatplane hit an invisible UFO. The cargo vessel was the MS Sea Witch, 26 witnesses on the Sea Witch witnessed an event that could not be explained. The only attempt to explain the incident was that aircraft appeared to fly into an invisible object, stopping and then falling into the ocean, near the Fiji Islands, as a ball of destroyed metal.

Resource Identifier
1943_ah12722
Citation
Richard F. Haines papers, Collection No. 12722, Box 1, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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UFO sightings in 1944. Letters and stories told by William J. Martin, Alvah M. Reida, Stuart Burdick, Robert Walton, J.B. Douglas, William D. Leet, P. Kendall Bruce, W.F. "Tom" Smith, Joe Thompson Jr., and William J. Roberts

During the later portion of WWII UFO sightings were still occuring in numbers. Lights of bright orange, red, and green were spotted following along Bombers. On a particular overcast night on August 10, 1944, a spherical object with board wings was pacing the 50 planes on a strike. Some planes on strikes were known to disappear in a strange unexplained manner. Many sighting were done pilots during the WWII era, the sightings were all around the world, all times of the day, and by pilots and personnel from all around different countries.

Resource Identifier
1944_ah12722
Citation
Richard F. Haines papers, Collection No. 12722, Box 1, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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UFO sightings around the end of WWI (1944-1945), stories told by Richard B. Martin, James A. Reese, William S. Gryzik, and Albert J. Rosenthal

The unidentified objects were described as properties of nature and therefore needed a scientific investigation. During WWII it was important to know what was in the air with the pilots and aircrafts. If there were unidentified flying objects, this led to concern as it was unknown there was the possibility it was an enemy vessel.

Resource Identifier
1944-45_ah12722
Citation
Richard F. Haines papers, Collection No. 12722, Box 1, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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UFO sightings in 1945, accounts from Don Driscoll, Ralph Bayer, John G. Norris, Robert Crawford, Vance R. Stewart, Kit F. Williams, and W. R. Krupa

Richard Hall was the secretary for the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena. Having such a title he received many correspondents about individual's experiences with UFOs. Hall had replied to many of the letters that he received asking for more information, or asking for more information from a specific incident.

Resource Identifier
1945_ah12722_1
Citation

Richard F. Haines papers, Collection No. 12722, Box 1, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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More UFO sightings in 1945, accounts from Villy A. Rasmussen, Richard J. Eberly, Gerry Dumphy, Lynn R. Momo, Daniel MacDougald Jr., G. Rodney Crowther III, and Elmer L. Mayfield

The National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena (NICAP) got many reports on Unidentified Flying Object(s) in 1945. The intake form included questions asked by the United States Air Force and other agencies, also other questions needed for a full evaluation by NICAP.

Resource Identifier
1945_ah12722_2
Citation
Richard F. Haines papers, Collection No. 12722, Box 1, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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Various news articles were published between 1944 and 1945, regarding "The Foo Fighters" and the mystery of the weapons in the sky

Air warfare was a major component in World War II. Germany and Japan depended on air warfare that was closely integrated with land and naval forces. Britain and the U.S. were able to build bombers that could give the ability to win air superiority over battlefields, aiding the ground troops. Since air warfare was such a large aspect, new developments in the assembly and manufacturing led to confusion and the idea of 'secret weapons'.

Resource Identifier
1944-1995_news_ah12722
Citation
Richard F. Haines papers, Collection No. 12722, Box 1, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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"The Foofighters Files (1)- Catalogue of Unconventional Aerial Phenomena Reported by Allied pilots during WWIII (1943-1945)" by Dominique F. Weinstein, 2009

The term Foo Fighter was used by Allied aircrafts pilots during WWII to describe mysterious aerial phenomena, like UFOs, that were seen over European and Pacific areas of operations. As of November 1944 and forward, foo fighters were thought to be secret weapons employed by the Axis powers.

Resource Identifier
Foo Fighter Files_ah12722
Citation
Richard F. Haines papers, Collection No. 12722, Box 1, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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Letter addressed to Dr. Lincoln LaPaz, at the University of New Mexico, regarding a falling meteorite

Lincoln Lapaz was an American astronomer from the University of New Mexico. He is best known for being a pioneer in the study of meteors. His interest in meteorites came from his work as a Technical Director, Operations Analysis Section, Second Air Force. During this time he investigated Japanese Fu-Go balloon bombs. During the late 1940s and early 1950s Lapaz, on behalf of the military, investigated UFO incidents, including the Roswell UFO incident and the N.M. green fireballs.

Resource Identifier
1946_ah12722
Citation
Richard F. Haines papers, Collection No. 12722, Box 1, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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Project 10073 Record, Witness Kenneth Arnold, June 24, 1947

Copies of Project Blue Book documentation from microfilm at the National Archives (publication number T1206). These are copies are primarily from roll 1.

Resource Identifier
NARA_Arnold_ah12722
Citation
Richard F. Haines papers, Collection No. 12722, Box 1, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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News excerpts regarding Kenneth Arnold's saucer-sighting

Kenneth Arnold was a well known and discussed "saucer-sighter". During June and July of 1947, Arnold stated seeing shiny, flat objects during one of his flights. His incident is commonly considered the 'first' sighting of a UFO, and he was the first to claim that these objects may not be from earth. Arnold did press series and as a response the Air Force released a statement stating "we have no idea what the objects are, if they actually exist". Being skeptic of the reports made by the "saucer-sighters" was not uncommon and many questions were raised regarding the incidences.

Resource Identifier
1947-66_news_Arnold_ah12722
Citation
Richard F. Haines papers, Collection No. 12722, Box 1, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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"The Flying Saucer as I saw it... "by Kenneth Arnold

In 1950, Arnold self-published a 16-page booklet titled "The Flying Saucer As I Saw It."

Resource Identifier
1950_Arnold_ah12722
Citation
Richard F. Haines papers, Collection No. 12722, Box 1, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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J.A. Hynek analysis of K Arnold Sighting- "Final Report - Preview of Motion Picture "Unidentified Flying Objects"

From the Office of the Scientific Advisor, J.A. Hynek wrote an analysis of K. Arnold UFO sighting in 1947. Hynek was an American astronomer, professor, and ufologist. He is best known for his participation in three projects by the U.S. Air Force; Project Sign, Project Grudge, and Project Blue Book. He was among the first to conduct scientific analysis of reports and of trace evidence purportedly left by UFOs

Resource Identifier
1956_Arnold_ah12722
Citation
Richard F. Haines papers, Collection No. 12722, Box 1, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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"First European Congress on Anomalous Aerial Phenomena: Physical and Psychosocial Aspects" November 11 1988.

Author of the article, Pierre Lagrange, was a French sociologist with a long-standing interest in the early history of UFO phenomenon.

Resource Identifier
1988_Arnold_ah12722
Citation
Richard F. Haines papers, Collection No. 12722, Box 1, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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Arnold's UFO Research List, formulated by James Easton on June 2, 1999

James Easton was a Scottish UFO skeptic that operated the "UFO Research List" ("UFORL") between 2001 to 2004 , which was basically for informed UFO sceptics to discuss various issues/cases.

Resource Identifier
1999_Arnold_ah12722
Citation
Richard F. Haines papers, Collection No. 12722, Box 1, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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Time Table from Kenneth Arnold and Related Events from June- August 1947. Written by Kenneth Arnold and Ray Palmer in 1952

Using Arnold's publications and a 1948 Fate magazine article, a UFO researcher traces events related to Arnold's UFO sighting.

Resource Identifier
Timetable_Arnold_ah12722
Citation
Richard F. Haines papers, Collection No. 12722, Box 1, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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"The Singular Adventure of Mr Kenneth Arnold" by Martin Shough, June 2010

Martin Shough is a Research Associate for National Aviation Reporting Center on Anomalous Phenomena. He has authored or co-authored various books, many on UFOs, and other mysteries of the skies. One of his main works besides his photography is Aerial Phenomena Studies, nature is full of wonders, and the hunt for explanations is fascinating.

Resource Identifier
2010_Arnold_ah12722
Citation
Richard F. Haines papers, Collection No. 12722, Box 1, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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CoastZone- UFOs & Kenneth Arnold, regarding a new book about sighting from 1947.

During an episode of Nightwatch Kim Arnold, Kenneth Arnold's daughter, was a guest and discussed her father's interactions and sightings of UFOs. The interview included the reveal of information that had not been shared before, like how Kenneth had actually had seven UFO sightings.

Resource Identifier
2012_Arnold_ah12722
Citation
Richard F. Haines papers, Collection No. 12722, Box 1, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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Air Intelligence Information Report of Unidentified Flying Object in Alabama, Georgia, and Virginia in July 1948

Copies of Project Blue Book documentation from microfilm at the National Archives (publication number T1206). These are copies from roll 2.

Resource Identifier
CW_NARA T1206-2_ah12722
Citation
Richard F. Haines papers, Collection No. 12722, Box 1, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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Reports from Newspapers from a UFO Sighting on July 24

During the height of UFO sightings news articles were one of the main sources that people learned about the incidents. Stories were told in papers like Massachusetts paper, Atlanta Journal, Columbus Dispatch, Herald-Tribune, and many more.

Resource Identifier
CW_news articles_ah12722
Citation
Richard F. Haines papers, Collection No. 12722, Box 1, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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Comments on Project Sign Case 144, Chiles-Whitted case on July 24, 1948

Josef Hynek worked with Project Sign from 1947-1949. During this time he focused on various UFO sightings like Chiles-Whitted, which occurred near Montgomery, Alabama and Blackstone, Virginia on July 24, 1948.

Resource Identifier
CW_Hynek_ah12722
Citation
Richard F. Haines papers, Collection No. 12722, Box 1, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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Sighting of Unidentified Flying Object on 21 August 1948 at Montgomery, Alabama

Copies of Project Blue Book documentation that is available on microfilm (publication number T1206) at the National Archives. These are copies from roll 90.

Resource Identifier
CW_NARA T1206-90_ah12722
Citation
Richard F. Haines papers, Collection No. 12722, Box 1, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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"Flying Saucers from Outer Space" by Donald E. Keyhoe

David Keyhoe was an American Marine Corps naval aviator. In the 1950's he became well known as a UFO researcher, he thought that the U.S. government should do a more serious research into UFO matters, and release information to the public. He is commonly thought of as the leader in the field of ufology. There is a collection of Keyhoe's videos in the collections of the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas at Austin.

Resource Identifier
1954_CW_Keyhoe_ah12722
Citation
Richard F. Haines papers, Collection No. 12722, Box 1, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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UFO sighting account by Ruppelt

Edward Ruppelt was an United States Air Force officer, who was involved in Project Blue Book. He is generally credited with coining the term "unidentified flying object", replacing the previous terminology used, "flying saucer". Ruppelt had earned a Bachelor of Science in aeronautical engineering, which he used during his work with projects like Project Grudge and Project Blue Book

Resource Identifier
1956_CW_Ruppelt_ah12722
Citation
Richard F. Haines papers, Collection No. 12722, Box 1, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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J. M. McDonald- U.S. House Committee Hearing, July 24, 1948

James McDonald was an American physicist, at the Institute for Atmospheric Physics and he was a professor of meteorology at the University of Arizona in Tucson. He supported the expansion of UFO studies and thought that UFOs represented an important unsolved mystery that needed more research.

Resource Identifier
1968_CW_McDonald_ah12722
Citation
Richard F. Haines papers, Collection No. 12722, Box 1, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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"The UFO Enigma- the Definitive Explanation of the UFO Phenomenon" by Donald H. Menzel and Ernest H. Taves

Donald Menzel was on of the first theoretical astronomers and astrophysicists in the U.S. At the age of 16, Menzel enrolled in the University of Denver to study chemistry. He got a bachelor's degree in chemistry and a master's degree in chemistry and mathematics, later getting second master's in astronomy from Princeton University. Menzel was commissioned as a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy during WWII. Menzel was skeptic of UFOs and wrote three books to debunk UFOs.

Resource Identifier
1977_CW_Menzel_Taves_ah12722
Citation
Richard F. Haines papers, Collection No. 12722, Box 1, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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[Current Encounters] Chiles-Whitted time and Meteor Trajectory and [Current Encounters] Important docs vscomilations/ Chiles-Whitted

The Chiles-Whitted UFO encounter occurred around 2:45 AM on July 24, 1948 near Montgomery Alabama. Two pilots Chiles and Whitted observed a glowing object pass by their plane before it appeared to go into the cloud and leave their sight. This incident is considered one of the three "classic" UFO incidents, that was convincing to the personnel of Project Sign that UFOs were real. In 1959 Project Blue Book formally stated that a meteor was the cause of the incident.

Resource Identifier
2011_CW_email_ah12722
Citation
Richard F. Haines papers, Collection No. 12722, Box 1, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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Larry Lemke email to Richard Haines regarding the Chiles-Whitted case of 1948

All of the email correspondents are involved in NARCAP and contributed to Project Sphere, which NARCAP published in 2010. The report comments on and provides recommendations to address the dangers to aviation posed by UAP.

Resource Identifier
2013_CW_email_ah12722
Citation
Richard F. Haines papers, Collection No. 12722, Box 1, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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UFO sighting by George F. Gorman on October 1, 1948.

Gorman dogfight was a widely publicized UFO incident which occured on October 1, 1948 near Fargo, North Dakota. George F. Gorman was a veteran fighter pilot of WWII. After the war he served as a second lieutenant in the North Dakota National Guard. During the time of the incident Gorman was participating in a cross-country flight with other National Guard pilots. Gorman pursued the object that he had spotted in the sky to determine what it was.

Resource Identifier
1948_Gorman_ah12722
Citation
Richard F. Haines papers, Collection No. 12722, Box 1, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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UFO sighting in Fargo, North Dakota on October 1, 1948

Records from U.S. Air Force's "Project Sign" relating to Gorman sighting. The copies can be difficult to read due to poor duplication.

Resource Identifier
Gorman_NARA microfilm_ah12722
Citation
Richard F. Haines papers, Collection No. 12722, Box 1, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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Aircraft sighting on March 20, 1950 by Jack Adams and Geo W. Anderson

Flying between Memphis and Little Rock Pilots Jack Adams and G.W. Anderson witnessed a UFO. They said that they knew it was a UFO due to the arrangement of lights, the lights followed the circular shape of the object and were bright. In a YouTube video, the two pilots draw what they had seen and give a brief description of the incident.

Resource Identifier
1950_Adams_Anderson_ah12722
Citation
Richard F. Haines papers, Collection No. 12722, Box 2, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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Flying (Magazine)- July, 1950. "The Flying Saucers - - Fact or Fiction?" by Curtis Fuller

Flying is an aviation magazine published since 1927. This article from 1950 discusses UFO sighting by airline crews from 1947 to 1950. The article mentions Project Saucer which was renamed "Project Sign."

Resource Identifier
1950_Flying magazine_ah12722
Citation
Richard F. Haines papers, Collection No. 12722, Box 1, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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Records on UFOs collected by the United States Air Force.

Under Executive Order 12356, passed in 1982, these Air Force records pertaining to UFO sightings were declassified. A Massachusetts member of the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) brings them to the attention of Richard Haines. The MUFON is a U.S. based non-profit organization of civilian volunteers who study reported UFO sightings. It claims to have more than 4,000 members world wide, being established in Quincy, Illinois on May 31, 1969.

Resource Identifier
1950-52_Air Force_ah12722
Citation
Richard F. Haines papers, Collection No. 12722, Box 1, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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UFO sighting by Carlos Antonio de la Santos Montiel on May 3, 1975

Dramatized version of the Montiel case by QuestTV, an American channel that specializes in travel, historical, science, and adventure-focused documentary and reality series.

Resource Identifier
1975_Montiel_ah12722
Citation
Richard F. Haines papers, Collection No. 12722, Box 11, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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Captain Mario Rossi's UFO Sighting Summary Form in Cape Talamone, Italy and email with other accounts of sightings in Italy

The first UFO sighting in Italy was in June of 1907 and the reported sightings continued through WWII. An account of the sightings from 1907 and 1944 in Italy are included in an email sent on March 14, 2002 from Alfredo Lissoni.

Resource Identifier
Italy_ah12722
Citation
Richard F. Haines papers, Collection No. 12722, Box 1, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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Sighting Report of February 1980 in Nalchik, Russian

In February 1980, there was a UFO sighting over Nalchik Russia. Released from USSR: Media Report Multitude of UFO Sightings. Also included are newspaper articles regarding UFO sightings, all released in 1989.

Resource Identifier
Soviet Union_ah12722
Citation
Richard F. Haines papers, Collection No. 12722, Box 1, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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"UFO Sighting From an Aircraft" Kenneth Arnold

On June 24th, 1947, Kenneth Arnold reported seeing a UFO near Mount Rainier, Washington. He was originally flying between Chehalis Washington and Yakima Washington. He claimed to see 9 UFOs, that were vivid blue-white flashes, very bright flashes. Included is an image depicted the scene as Arnold had witnessed it. 

Resource Identifier
Report form_Arnold_ah12722
Citation
Richard F. Haines papers, Collection No. 12722, Box 1, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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