← Declassified UAP case filesDOW-UAP-D159DECLASSIFIED · R07

DOW-UAP-D159, Air Intelligence Information Report, Germany, 1953

Incident date

8/10/53

Incident location

Germany

Agency

Department of War

Released in

R07 · 2026-10-23

File type

Document

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Key facts

Official file ID: DOW-UAP-D159
Document type: Document
Agency: Department of War
Released in: R07 · 2026-10-23
Incident date: 8/10/53
Incident location: Germany
Coordinates: 51.1638175, 10.4478313
Pages legible: 2/2
VIRIN: 260508-D-D0360-1151

Official description

This AIIR records a series of entries extracted from Tempelhof Airport air traffic control logs dated 10–11 August 1953 concerning aerial reports in the Soviet-occupied zone of Germany. The report states that a British European Airways DC-3 aircraft reported observing what the pilot described as red-colored rockets being fired approximately one mile in front of the aircraft while inbound to Tempelhof via the Center Corridor. It further states that the pilot of a second British European Airways DC-3 later reported a stationary, red-colored light approximately 20 nautical miles west of Genthin at an altitude of approximately 5,000 feet. The report also notes that British Berlin Air Safety Center stated that Soviet authorities had investigated the reported red light and could not account for it. A later Pan American pilot reported no corresponding light or activity when passing through the same area. All descriptive and estimative language contained in this report reflects the reporter’s subjective interpretation at the time of the event. Such characterizations should not be interpreted as a conclusive indication of the presence or absence of any intrinsic object features or performance characteristics.

About this type of document

This document is an Air Intelligence Information Report (AIIR), a standardized U.S. Air Force reporting form used to record raw information of potential intelligence value for later analysis. The form served as a primary vehicle for U.S. Air Force field intelligence collection throughout the early Cold War, until defense-wide reporting standards were established in the early 1960s.

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✦ AI summary

This is a two-page U.S. Air Force Air Intelligence Information Report (AF Form 112) dated 11 August 1953, prepared by Capt. Fred L. Allen, Air Intelligence Officer of the 7350th Base Complement Squadron at Tempelhof, Berlin, with extracts from Tempelhof air traffic control logs (source: air traffic controller) about the Soviet Zone of Germany. It records that on 10 August 1953 the pilot of a British European Airways DC-3 flying into Tempelhof through the Center Corridor reported what looked like red rockets fired about a mile in front of him, and that another BEA DC-3 pilot reported a stationary red light about 20 nautical miles west of Genthin at roughly 5,000 to 5,500 feet. According to the British Berlin Air Safety Center, the Soviets checked on the red light and could not account for it. A Pan American pilot who flew over the same area saw nothing, but said that on the night of 7 August 1953 he had seen ground-to-air firing there, which stopped as his aircraft approached; he could not tell what kind of projectile was fired. The report adds that the office had been unable to contact that pilot again, and gives no evaluation or conclusion.

Generated with AI from the official file — may contain errors.

▸Transcript(2 of 2 pages legible)

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[PAGE 1] AF FORM 112—PART I APPROVED 1 JUNE 1948 [illegible handwritten number] CONFIDENTIAL (CLASSIFICATION) [illegible] Hq Tempelhof AB LogNo AB15C-4 2 COUNTRY GERMANY REPORT NO. 260-53 (LEAVE BLANK) [illegible] AF603026 BRANCH 1 AIR INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION REPORT SUBJECT EXTRACTS FROM AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL LOGS AREA REPORTED ON SOVIET ZONE GERMANY FROM (Agency) 7350TH BASE COMPLEMENT SQUADRON DATE OF REPORT 11 AUGUST 1953 DATE OF INFORMATION 11 AUGUST 1953 EVALUATION NONE PREPARED BY (Officer) FRED L. ALLEN CAPT. USAF SOURCE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER REFERENCES (Control number, directive, previous report, etc., as applicable) SUMMARY: (Enter concise summary of report. Give significance in final one-sentence paragraph. List inclosures at lower left. Begin text of report on AF Form 112—Part II.) The following information was extracted from Air Traffic Control Logs, TEMPELHOF, 11 August 1953. 10 August 1953: 1936Z hours: British European Airways DC-3 type Aircraft, GALXK, flying inbound for TEMPELHOF via Center Corridor reported observing what appeared to be red colored rockets, being fired approximately one (1) mile in front of him. 2245Z hours: Bad Eisen Air Traffic Control reported the following information to TEMPELHOF Air Traffic Control: The pilot of British European Airways DC-3 type Aircraft, GAGIP, reported sighting a stationary red colored light twenty (20) nautical miles West of Genthin (5224N/1209E). Light appeared to be at approximately 5,000 feet but not above 5,500 feet. 2315Z hours: British Berlin Air Safety Center reported that the Soviets checked on this reported red light and could not account for it. 11 August 1953: 0235Z hours: Pilot Lesser, Pan American Clipper C-193A enroute to Hanover via the Center Corridor reported to TEMPELHOF Air Traffic Control when over the area twenty (20) nautical miles West of Genthin. Pilot Lesser observed no light or activity of any description, but stated that on Friday night (7 August 1953) in this same area, he observed ground to air firing. Pilot Lesser stated that as his Aircraft approached this area (7 August 1953) the ground to air firing stopped. Pilot stated he was unable to determine what type projectile was being fired. INCLS. [illegible handwritten list] SEE LAST PAGE FOR SUBJECT & AREA CODES DECLASSIFIED Authority: NND 57597 DISTRIBUTION BY ORIGINATOR AC/S, A-2, Hqs USAFE (Orig) AC/S, A-2, Hqs Twelfth AF - 1 cy OSI DO # 3 - 1 cy File - 1 cy SECURITY INFORMATION NOTE: THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE OF THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE ESPIONAGE ACT, 50 U. S. C.— 31 AND 32, AS AMENDED. ITS TRANSMISSION OR THE REVELATION OF ITS CONTENTS IN ANY MANNER TO AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON IS PROHIBITED BY LAW. IT MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED IN WHOLE OR IN PART, BY OTHER THAN UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AGENCIES, EXCEPT BY PERMISSION OF THE DIRECTOR OF INTELLIGENCE, USAF. CONFIDENTIAL (CLASSIFICATION) 16-55560-1 U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE [PAGE 2] AF FORM 112—PART II APPROVED 1 JUNE 1948 CONFIDENTIAL (CLASSIFICATION) 3 AIR INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION REPORT FROM (Agency) 7350 BASE COMPLEMENT SQ. REPORT NO. 260-53 PAGE 2 OF 2 PAGES NOTE: As of this report, this office has been unable to contact Pan American Airlines Pilot Lesser to gain any further information. Fred L. Allen FRED L. ALLEN Capt. USAF Air Intelligence Officer LIBRARY SUBJECT & AREA CODES [illegible handwritten annotation in red] NOTE: THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE OF THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE ESPIONAGE ACT, 50 U. S. C.— 31 AND 32, AS AMENDED. ITS TRANSMISSION OR THE REVELATION OF ITS CONTENTS IN ANY MANNER TO AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON IS PROHIBITED BY LAW. IT MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED IN WHOLE OR IN PART, BY OTHER THAN UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AGENCIES, EXCEPT BY PERMISSION OF THE DIRECTOR OF INTELLIGENCE, USAF. CONFIDENTIAL (CLASSIFICATION) 16-55570-1 U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

Generated with AI from the official file — may contain errors.

Source: U.S. Department of War / AARO — public domain · war.gov/ufo