Editor’s Note: This article is part of our “Hidden Washington” series, where we highlight the fascinating places, forgotten history, and little-known stories hiding in plain sight across the Evergreen State.
Long before the infamous Roswell incident made New Mexico synonymous with flying saucers, a bizarre story involving mysterious aircraft, falling debris, government investigators and a deadly plane crash was unfolding right here in Washington.
And it all started near a small island in Puget Sound.
The 1947 Maury Island incident remains one of the strangest chapters in America’s UFO history. Although the story has long been regarded as a likely hoax, its connection to a real military tragedy makes it particularly fascinating.
The tale began on June 21, 1947, when Tacoma resident Harold Dahl claimed he was operating a boat near Maury Island, off the coast of Vashon Island.
According to Dahl’s account, six unidentified doughnut-shaped objects appeared overhead. One allegedly began releasing a strange metallic substance that rained down onto his boat.
Dahl claimed the falling material injured his son, damaged the vessel and killed the family’s dog.
It was the kind of story that seemed tailor-made for a science fiction movie.
But things were about to get even stranger.
Dahl reportedly shared his experience with Fred Crisman, another Tacoma resident who became involved in the investigation. Crisman claimed to have examined debris connected to the sighting.
The incident occurred during a remarkable period in American history.
Just three days later, on June 24, pilot Kenneth Arnold reported seeing nine unusual objects flying near Mount Rainier. His account helped launch the modern flying saucer craze.
Then, in July, reports of a crashed object near Roswell, New Mexico, captured national attention.
Washington had found itself at the center of America’s earliest UFO fascination.
A Mysterious Visitor and a Deadly Plane Crash
Dahl’s story included another detail that would become a familiar part of UFO folklore.
He claimed a mysterious man dressed in black approached him after the sighting and warned him against discussing what he had witnessed.
The encounter is frequently cited in accounts of the origins of the so-called “Men in Black” legend.
The case eventually attracted the attention of military investigators.
Two Army Air Forces officers, Capt. William L. Davidson and Lt. Frank M. Brown, traveled to Tacoma to examine the claims.
On Aug. 1, 1947, the officers were killed when the B-25 bomber carrying them crashed near Kelso, Washington, while returning to California.
The aircraft was reportedly carrying material associated with the investigation.
The crash was real, but investigators attributed it to an engine fire. Claims that the tragedy was connected to extraterrestrial activity or a government cover-up have never been substantiated.
Historical accounts, including those documented by HistoryLink, describe the Maury Island affair as an early flying saucer controversy whose extraordinary claims were never verified.
“Federal investigators concluded the story was a hoax, with historical records indicating Dahl and Crisman acknowledged fabricating the account. The alleged debris was identified as ordinary terrestrial material.
Washington’s Own UFO Legend
Today, Maury Island remains a real place with a decidedly unusual claim to fame.
The incident has inspired books, documentaries and local celebrations, including the annual Maury Island Incident festivities in Des Moines.
And while the waters around Maury Island have never been scientifically established as anything resembling the Bermuda Triangle, the story contains many of the same ingredients: unexplained sightings, mysterious warnings, alleged physical evidence and an aviation tragedy.
Perhaps the most surprising detail is that Washington’s bizarre UFO tale unfolded before Roswell became a household name.
For a brief moment in 1947, the center of America’s flying saucer mystery wasn’t in the desert Southwest.
It was right here in Puget Sound.
