Maury Island 'flying disc' fragments and B-25 crash — Maury Island, Washington, July 1947 (HOAX)

Harold Dahl and Fred Crisman claimed in July 1947 to have observed six flying discs from a boat near Maury Island, Washington, with one disc disintegrating and showering the boat with fragments, killing a dog. Army Air Forces Intelligence Officers Captain Davidson and Lieutenant Brown flew from Hamilton Field to investigate and collected alleged disc fragments; their B-25 subsequently crashed near Kelso, Washington, killing both officers. Extensive FBI and Army investigation concluded the entire disc story was fabricated: the 'fragments' were rock formations from a nearby gravel pit, and Dahl and Crisman signed sworn statements to this effect. The B-25 crash was determined to be accidental (exhaust stack fire causing wing fire and structural separation). Anonymous phone calls falsely claiming the B-25 was 'shot down with 20mm cannon' were assessed as deliberate disinformation, likely originating with Crisman.

“Dahl and Crisman's signed voluntary statement: 'In the early part of June [1947] we picked up some strange rock formations from a gravel pit on Maury Island...One of us told [Palmer] the fragments could have been from a flying disc.' Dahl admitted to AP reporter Vogel the story was 'a complete hoax.'”

Well-documented FBI investigation. Both principals signed sworn voluntary statements admitting fabrication. Physical evidence (slag fragments) was identified as gravel pit material by multiple investigators, including Major Sanders who personally drove parties to a nearby smelter to demonstrate the resemblance. The associated B-25 deaths of Davidson and Brown were confirmed accidental by Army investigation. Confidence high for the hoax conclusion. This is among the most comprehensively documented incidents in the batch.