Hamilton Field: Army Intelligence denies Maury Island
Lt. Col. Donald L. Springer from Fourth Air Force intelligence stated there was inadequate proof for flying disk reports near Tacoma, explicitly denying the Maury Island incident occurred.
Background
Lt. Col. Donald L. Springer, assistant chief of staff for army intelligence at the Fourth Air Force, announced on August 8, 1947, a lack of evidence to substantiate flying disk claims, specifically rejecting the Maury Island crash. This dismissal at Hamilton Army Airfield marked early military skepticism amid 1947 UFO reports.
Background Lt. Col. Donald L. Springer returned to Hamilton Army Airfield in Novato, California, from Tacoma, Washington.
His statement came amid widespread 1947 UFO reports, including the Maury Island hoax involving debris claims by Harold Dahl and Fred Crisman.
Official Statement On August 8, 1947, Springer announced a lack of sufficient evidence or witness accounts at headquarters to confirm flying disks in the Tacoma region or elsewhere.
He specifically rejected the alleged Maury Island crash as nonexistent.
The statement was covered in the San Francisco Examiner on August 9.
Investigation Outcome This led to the Fourth Air Force abandoning futile inquiries into disk sightings.
The Maury Island incident was later debunked by FBI and military probes as a fabrication using beach scrap.