WEATHER BALLOON IN GREENBURGH SOLVES 'FLYING DISC' MYSTERY
WHITE PLAINS Reports of "flying discs" or "saucers" over Westchester were explained by the finding of a burst weather balloon with tinfoil radar target attached, in Greenburgh yesterday.
The large paper kite fits descriptions of "a six-pointed star," "a washtub" and "an irregular silver object" glowing in reflected light as reported from various parts of the country.
The balloon and target kite are used by the U.S. Weather Bureau and Army to measure wind velocity and direction.
William T. Overton, eighteen, of 154 North Road and James Mahoney, twenty-seven, of 43 Mitchell Place, White Plains, were cutting grass in the cemetery about 1:10 p.m. when they noticed a silver object floating earthward.
Being a couple of sceptics and not particularly impressed with all this talk of mysterious discs and saucers, "we didn't pay any attention to it," said Overton.
About a half hour later the two men "just happened to run across" a tin-foil covered kite-like object, measuring about three by four feet, to which a burst balloon was attached with cord.
Overton, who said he thought their find was a Weather Bureau balloon, decided to take it to the Reporter Dispatch office.
A call to the U.S. Weather Bureau in New York City verified the fact that Overton and Mahoney had found a weather balloon.
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By JOHN GOLDSMITH
Yes, that wasn't a flying disc which settled in Mount Calvary Cemetery, Greensburgh, yesterday afternoon.
It was a balloon and target used by the United States Weather Bureau and Army to measure wind velocity and direction.
William T. Overton, 18, of 154 North Road, Greensburgh, said James Mahoney, 17, of 43 Mitchell Place, cutting grass in the cemetery about 1:10 P.M., noticed a silver object floating earthward.
Being a couple of skeptics and not particularly impressed with all this talk of mysterious discs and saucers, "we didn't pay any attention it it," said Mr. Overton.
Balloon Attached
About a half hour later the two men "just happened to run across" a tin-foil covered kite-like object, measuring about 2-1/2 by 3-1/2 feet, to which a burst balloon was attached with a piece of cord.
Mr. Overton, who said he thought their find was a Weather Bureau balloon, decided to take it to The Reporter Dispatch office.
Outside the newspaper building, he remarked, "Two characters in a car laughed at me. I almost took a swing at them."
A call to the United States. Weather Bureau in New York City verified that Mr. Overton and Mr. Mahoney had found a weather balloon.
"They're really remains we rigged down here," said Edward Stapowich of Marnesneck, first assistant to the meteorologist in charge of the Bureau.
Bursts at 60,000 Feet
Mr. Stapowich explained that the balloon could have been sent aloft by either the Weather Bureau of the Army. Because winds vary he could not establish from which it had come.
A "100" on the balloon indicated that it had a capacity of 100 grams, he said, and measured about four feet in diameter when inflated. With a kite suspended from it, this type of balloon, he explained, rises about 900 feet a minute and bursts at 60,000 feet.
Tinfoil on the kite enables radar to follow the balloon and measure the angle of elevation and the direction in which it is moving, according to Mr. Stapowich.
As the balloon rises, he said, outside air pressure decreases and inside pressure increases. The balloons ??????? which is attached the ?????? ??????
Attached picture same as above. Caption: NOT A FLYING DIS OR SAUCER, this weather balloon and target were found yesterday by William T. Overton (above) and James Mahoney in Mount Calvery Cemetery, Greensburgh. The tin-foil covered target pictured above is under the balloon, which Mr. Overton is holding.
White Plains (N.Y. Reporter-Dispatch, July 11, 1947, p. 1
