Dick Rankin — ten disc-shaped objects in formation over Bakersfield, California — June 1947

Richard (Dick) Rankin, brother of the late Tex Rankin and a pilot with over 7,000 hours of flight experience, reported observing ten silver disc-shaped objects in V formation over Bakersfield, California at approximately noon on June 23, 1947 (the same date as the Kenneth Arnold sighting). The objects flew north at approximately 350-400 mph at an estimated 8,000-9,000 feet. At approximately 2:15 PM the objects returned heading south, but only seven were in formation. Rankin initially believed them to be the Navy's experimental XF5U-1 'flying flapjack,' but noted that only one prototype was ever built and it never left Connecticut. His account was published in The Oregonian newspaper and the interview is reproduced in FBI files.

“"They were not weaving or bobbing in formation. I couldn't make out the number or location of their propellers and couldn't distinguish any wings or tail. They appeared almost round. They looked like pictures of the navy's flying flapjack"; confirmed in Portland Oregonian article, 3 July 1947.”

Highly credible witness: experienced aviator with 7,000+ hours, accustomed to identifying aircraft. Sighting occurred independently of and on the same date as the Kenneth Arnold sighting. Rankin's initial prosaic explanation (Navy XF5U-1) was disproven by official Navy statements that only one was built and it never left Connecticut. OCR quality is good for both the FBI field report and the newspaper clipping.