The Birth of “Flying Saucers” (1947)
Pilot Kenneth Arnold flew near Mount Rainier when he spotted nine crescent-shaped objects moving at incredible speeds. He told reporters they moved “like saucers skipping on water.” The press ran with it. His description launched the term “flying saucer” into popular culture. Arnold estimated their speed at 1,200 mph, far beyond aircraft capabilities of that time. The sighting marked the beginning of America’s modern UFO fascination.
