The Airline UFO Sighting That Defined 1947
The E. J. Smith sighting of 1947, more commonly known as the United Airlines Flight 105 UFO sighting, was one of the earliest and most influential “flying saucer” reports of the modern UFO era. On 4 July 1947, United Air Lines Captain Emil J.
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Introduction
The incident remains significant not because it proves a particular explanation, but because it illustrates the central difficulty of historical UFO investigations: a credible witness report can establish that something unusual was observed without necessarily identifying what that thing was. The available evidence supports the reality of the observation, while the exact nature of the objects remains disputed.[Project 1947]project1947.comProject 1947PROJECT 1947: UAL Flight 105, July 4, 1947 - Capt E. J. Smith…
The Flight 105 sighting on 4 July 1947
United Airlines Flight 105 was a scheduled DC-3 passenger flight travelling from Boise, Idaho, towards Seattle, Washington. Shortly after take-off at about 9:04 p.m., First Officer Ralph Stevens noticed what he initially believed was another aircraft ahead of the plane. He flashed the aircraft’s landing lights as a possible signal. When Captain Smith examined the objects, the two pilots concluded they were not seeing a conventional aircraft because they could not identify wings or tails.[Wikipedia]WikipediaFlight 105 UFO sightingFlight 105 UFO sighting
Smith and Stevens reported seeing a group of objects in the twilight sky, with one object appearing larger than the others. Their descriptions varied slightly in later accounts, but they generally described the objects as flat underneath, rounded or irregular above, and moving in a loose formation. The pilots watched the objects for roughly 10 to 15 minutes, during which they reported that the objects appeared to change formation and eventually disappeared. A second group of objects was then reportedly seen.[Wikipedia]WikipediaFlight 105 UFO sightingFlight 105 UFO sighting
Marty Morrow, the flight attendant, was called to the cockpit to provide an independent observation. She reported seeing the objects as well. The eight passengers aboard Flight 105 did not report seeing them, which Smith later suggested was because the objects were mainly visible from the forward cockpit view rather than from the passenger cabin.[Wikipedia]WikipediaFlight 105 UFO sightingFlight 105 UFO sighting
The crew also attempted to obtain confirmation by radio. They contacted aviation authorities and other aircraft in the area, but no independent airborne confirmation of the objects was obtained.[Wikipedia]WikipediaFlight 105 UFO sightingFlight 105 UFO sighting
Why the witness testimony drew attention
The main reason the Smith sighting became a landmark case was the professional background of the witnesses. Captain Smith was an experienced airline pilot who had initially expressed scepticism about reports of “flying saucers” appearing after Kenneth Arnold’s famous sighting. Contemporary accounts emphasised that Smith had not expected to believe such reports and changed his view after his own experience.[Project 1947]project1947.comProject 1947PROJECT 1947: UAL Flight 105, July 4, 1947 - Capt E. J. Smith…
The case was also notable because it involved multiple witnesses with aviation experience:
- Emil J. Smith — United Air Lines captain and pilot in command.
- Ralph Stevens — first officer who initially detected the objects.
- Marty Morrow — stewardess who confirmed the sighting from the cockpit area.
UFO researchers have often considered these factors to increase the case’s credibility compared with many single-witness reports. The case was later discussed by researchers such as James E. McDonald, who highlighted the experience of the observers and the length of the observation.[Project 1947]project1947.comProject 1947PROJECT 1947: UAL Flight 105, July 4, 1947 - Capt E. J. Smith…
However, witness credibility does not automatically establish the identity of an object. A trained observer can accurately report an unusual visual event while still being mistaken about distance, size, speed, or the nature of what was observed.
The evidence for and against an extraordinary explanation
Supporters of the UFO interpretation point to several features of the report. The witnesses were experienced pilots, the observation lasted several minutes rather than seconds, and more than one person reported seeing the objects. The descriptions of apparent disc-like forms also matched the “flying saucer” reports that were becoming widespread in 1947.[Project 1947]project1947.comProject 1947PROJECT 1947: UAL Flight 105, July 4, 1947 - Capt E. J. Smith…
The case was also recorded among early official UFO investigations as an unidentified report. Later compilations of Project Blue Book material list the July 1947 Flight 105 incident among cases that were not assigned a conventional explanation in the available records.[Nicap]nicap.orgThe Project Bluebook "UnknownsThe Project Bluebook "Unknowns"…
Sceptical interpretations focus on the limitations of eyewitness observation. The objects were seen at a considerable distance, there were no photographs, radar records, recovered materials, or physical evidence, and no other aircraft in the area confirmed the sighting. The pilots’ estimates of distance, size, and speed depended on visual judgement under twilight conditions, which can be unreliable when judging unfamiliar objects in the sky.[Wikipedia]WikipediaFlight 105 UFO sightingFlight 105 UFO sighting
Possible conventional explanations have included misidentified aircraft, atmospheric effects, or other distant objects viewed under unusual lighting conditions. However, no single mundane explanation has become universally accepted among investigators, partly because the historical record does not contain enough precise information to reconstruct the event with certainty.
The sighting’s place in the 1947 UFO wave
The Smith incident occurred during a defining period in UFO history. Kenneth Arnold’s June 1947 report of unusual objects near Mount Rainier received widespread media attention and helped popularise the phrase “flying saucer”. Within weeks, reports appeared across the United States, creating what became known as the 1947 flying saucer wave.[WIRED]wired.comHow UFO Sightings Became an American ObsessionThe period following his sighting saw a surge in UFO sightings across the U.S. This surge, or "flap," is linked to societal fears of inva…
Because Flight 105 involved airline personnel, it quickly became one of the most discussed reports of that period. Newspapers highlighted the contrast between ordinary public sightings and a report from professional pilots responsible for passenger safety. The case helped shift some public discussion from simple curiosity towards questions about aviation, national security, and whether unidentified objects represented unknown technology.[Project 1947]project1947.comProject 1947PROJECT 1947: UAL Flight 105, July 4, 1947 - Capt E. J. Smith…
The sighting also became connected to the wider network of 1947 UFO stories, including the later involvement of Smith and Arnold in investigations surrounding the Maury Island incident. These connections contributed to the case’s lasting place in UFO literature, although they do not provide additional physical evidence for the Flight 105 observation itself.[Wikipedia]WikipediaMaury Island incidentMaury Island incident
How the case is assessed today
The E. J. Smith sighting is best understood as a well-documented historical UFO report with strong witness credentials but limited physical evidence. The available record supports the conclusion that Smith, Stevens, and Morrow sincerely reported seeing unusual objects during Flight 105. It does not, by itself, establish whether those objects were experimental aircraft, natural phenomena, misidentified conventional objects, or something more unusual.[Project 1947]project1947.comProject 1947PROJECT 1947: UAL Flight 105, July 4, 1947 - Capt E. J. Smith…
Its enduring importance comes from the combination of factors that made it unusual for the period: a commercial aircraft crew, multiple observers, a sustained observation, and immediate public attention. The case remains a classic example of the difference between an unexplained sighting and proof of a specific explanation.
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Endnotes
1.
Source: project1947.com
Link:https://project1947.com/fig/1947d.htm
Source snippet
Project 1947PROJECT 1947 - UFO REPORTS: 1947July 5, 1947...
Published: July 5, 1947
2.
Source: Wikipedia
Title: Flight 105 UFO sighting
Link:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_105_UFO_sighting
3.
Source: project1947.com
Link:https://www.project1947.com/fig/ual105.htm
Source snippet
Project 1947PROJECT 1947: UAL Flight 105, July 4, 1947 - Capt E. J. Smith...
Published: July 4, 1947
4.
Source: nicap.org
Title: The Project Bluebook “Unknowns”
Link:https://www.nicap.org/bluebook/unknowns.htm
Source snippet
The Project Bluebook "Unknowns"...
5.
Source: wired.com
Title: How UFO Sightings Became an American Obsession
Link:https://www.wired.com/story/how-ufo-sightings-became-an-american-obsession
Source snippet
The period following his sighting saw a surge in UFO sightings across the U.S. This surge, or "flap," is linked to societal fears of inva...
6.
Source: Wikipedia
Title: Maury Island incident
Link:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maury_Island_incident
7.
Source: nicap.org
Link:https://www.nicap.org/chronos/1947fullrep.htm
9.
Source: project1947.com
Link:https://www.project1947.com/articles/flying750.htm
10.
Source: nicap.org
Title: ReportUFOWave1947 SectionIII
Link:https://nicap.org/waves/Wave47Rpt/ReportUFOWave1947_SectionIII.htm
11.
Source: nicap.org
Title: 470704emmett e
Link:https://www.nicap.org/reports/470704emmett_e.htm
12.
Source: nicap.org
Title: UF O Report
Link:https://www.nicap.org/Good_Cases/470704emmett_dir.htm
Additional References
13.
Source: thedebrief.org
Title: Smith, took off from Boise, Idaho, at just after 9:00 pm
Link:https://thedebrief.org/summer-of-the-saucers/
Source snippet
Summer of the Saucers - The DebriefJune 21, 2022 — UNITED AIRLINES FLIGHT 105 On July 4th, just eleven days after Kenneth Arnold’s sighti...
Published: June 21, 2022
14.
Source: uforeleases.com
Title: Unidentified Incidents — The First 100 U.S
Link:https://uforeleases.com/topics/navy/38_143685_box7_incident_summaries
Source snippet
Navy Incident Summaries: A Foundational Record, 1947–1948 | UFO ReleasesMay 8, 2026 — UNIDENTIFIED INCIDENTS — THE FIRST 100 U.S. NAVY IN...
Published: May 8, 2026
15.
Source: youtube.com
Title: The Flight 105 UFO Sighting | Marks Unexplained World Podcast (Ep. 164)
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOibDFiPJhQ
Source snippet
Captain EJ Smith UFO 1947 The 1947 United Airlines Flight UFO Sighting Street of Silence...
16.
Source: alienresearch.cn
Title: TO P 100 UFO CASEs
Link:https://alienresearch.cn/top-100-ufo-cases/
Source snippet
TOP 100 UFO CASEs - ALIENRESEARCHJuly 14, 2022 — TOP 100 UFO CASES 由 Alienresearch · 发布日期 14 7 月, 2022 · 已更新 26 5 月, 2026 Image: TOP 100...
Published: July 14, 2022
17.
Source: youtube.com
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYmvf-KknTQ
Source snippet
The Flight 105 UFO Sighting | Marks Unexplained World Podcast (Ep. 164)...
18.
Source: fbi.gov
Link:https://www.fbi.gov/history/cases-and-criminals/jack-gilbert-graham
19.
Source: fbi.gov
Link:https://www.fbi.gov/history/cases-and-criminals/richard-floyd-mccoy-jr
20.
Source: fbi.gov
Link:https://www.fbi.gov/history/cases-and-criminals/unabomber
21.
Source: wikidata.org
Title: Edward Smith
Link:https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q215786
Source snippet
June 25, 2026 — EDWARD SMITH (Q215786) * Item * Discussion [Input] English * Read * View history [Input] Tools Tools [Button: mov...
Published: June 25, 2026
22.
Source: youtube.com
Title: Days Before Roswell: The Flight 105 UFO Sighting
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bone4IcFKAI
Source snippet
United Airlines Crew Encounters MYSTERIOUS UFO on July 4th 1947...