Project 10073 Record and Report of Investigation: Flying Discs Hoax

This document compiles reports and investigations conducted by the Office of Special Investigations (OSI) regarding alleged sightings of 'flying discs' in 1949. The file primarily addresses two distinct matters: a reported sighting in Alaska and the discovery of physical objects in Parma, Michigan. Regarding the Alaska incident, an investigation revealed that actor Mikel Conrad had fabricated a story about observing and filming flying saucers to generate publicity for his motion picture, 'The Flying Saucer.' Conrad admitted to the OSI that the story was a hoax and that the 'saucer' footage was a product of his imagination. The OSI concluded that no further investigation was warranted as no actual unconventional objects had been sighted. Separately, the document details the recovery of two metal discs found in a cornfield in Parma, Michigan. A local farmer discovered the objects, which were approximately nine inches in diameter and featured purple plastic components. Upon investigation, it was determined that these items were not of an extraterrestrial or unconventional nature, but were instead discarded radio transcription discs from a local radio station. These discs were commonly used for recordings and subsequently discarded, where they were found by local residents. The report includes various administrative records, including correspondence between OSI districts and the Air Materiel Command, confirming the closure of these cases. The document also contains a list of reported sightings from June 1949, categorizing them by location and evaluation, with many attributed to balloons, meteors, or aircraft. The overall tone of the documentation is administrative and investigative, focusing on verifying the authenticity of claims and dismissing those found to be hoaxes or misidentifications of mundane objects.