The Kenneth Arnold UFO sighting (June 24, 1947) is credited with being the first of the modern era of UFO sightings. It garnered nationwide news coverage in the US and was followed by numerous sightings over the next 3 weeks. Journalists coined the term ‘flying saucer’ during coverage of the sighting. Arnold, a private pilot, reported that he saw 9 shiny unidentified flying objects flying past Mount Rainier at speeds estimating 1,200 miles per hour.

[image: 1947 June 26 edition of Chicago Sun from Chicago Sun microfilm at Chicago Public Library – from wikipedia]

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