DOW-UAP-D162, Air Intelligence Information Report, Alaska, 1953

[PAGE 1] 7 -¢ AF FORM 112 Vachs ff APPROVED 1 JUNE 1948 A alan "ALASKA a "TR 5004=h2=53 “AEGOG 265" AIR INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION REPORT Light Observed West of Gambell ere From (Agency) SOO,th Air Intelligence Sv Sq Gambell, St. Lawrence Island, Alaska APO 942, c/o PM, Seattle, Wash, DATE OF REPORT DATE OF INFORMATION EVALUATION 8 Dec 1953 1 Dee 1953 C-3 PREPARED BY (Gficer) SOURCE JOHN V, WRIGHT, Capt, USAF Clifford Iknokinok REFERENCES ( Control number, directive, previous report, etc., ag applicable) SUMMARY: (enter concite summary of report, Give significance in final one-sentence paragraph. List inclosures at lnwer left. Begin tert of report on AP Form 112—Part [I.) This report contains information on a light seen by an observer at Gambell, St. Lawrence Island, Alaska (63°50'N - 171°36'W), 0111102 December 1953. Light was observed on a true heading of 283° from Gambell, While no definite conclusion can be reached as to the origin of the light, a possibility exists that it could have come from an unidentified ship operating in or near U, S, Territorial Waters, DECLASSIFIED Authority: NND 57597 APPROVED: WILLIAM H, GREENHALQY, JR Major, USAF Commander : LIBRARY SUBJECT & AREA CODES incis. / Maby showing Observation WV. i} a e ~~ # Comdr, AAC, ATTN: OI COMALSEAFRON, ATTN: D/NI Comdr, 10th Ady Div, ATTN: : A= i ATTN: CINCAL, ATTN: J-~2 (2 cys) Comdr, FEAF, ATTN: A-2 Comdr, llth Air Div, Comdr, USARAL, ATTN: Ge2 Comdr, NEAC, ATTN: D/I Comdr in Chief, USPacF1t OSI, AAC Comdr, ADC, ATIN: D/I 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. (CLASSIFICATYAN) 16—56560-2 U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE [PAGE 2] “AF FORM 112—PART II Onehasat fied APPROVED 1 JUNE 1948 | 2 AIR INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION REPORT FROM (Agency) REPORT NO, 5004th Air Intel Sv Sq APO 942, c/o PM, Seattle, Wash | IR 5004-42-53 aii 2 oF 3 pati I, This report contains information on a light seen by an observer at Gambell, St. Lawrence Island, Alaske (63°50'N - 171°36'W), 011110Z December 1953. Light was observed on a true heading of 283° from Ganbell, II, SOURCE: Name = CLIFFORD IKNOKINOK Age = 26 Race = Eskimo Education = 8th Grade Completed Militery Service - Member of Gambell Unit, Alaska National Guard for three eee es, (3) years, 9 months, promoted to Sgt 1 Jan 1953, Source presently Squad Leader with Gambell Guard Unit. Civilian Employment - Employed by CAA at Gambell from July 1942 thru April 1949, Present occupation ~- hunter, WILLIAM W, CALDWELL and RODERICK M. MOORE, members of Flight 'A', 5004th AISS, and stationed at Gambell, have known source for the past eight months, They have found source to be trustworthy and honest and they have confidence in his judgement. III, REPORT ON OBSERVATION: Source states that approximately 1110Z, 1 December 53 he saw a light on the horizon West of Gambell. Source was standing in front of the Gambell School (elev. approx. 25 ft. above sea level) when he observed the light. Source said he thought the light was about 10 inches in diameter, Later he said thet a circular object 5% inches in diameter, held at arms length, would cover the light. Source stated that the light did not move and determined this by sighting along the flag pole at the school, Source saw no reflection or beam of light and the color of the Light was similar to a flashlight. Source stated the light was not bright, nor was it very dim, At 1115Z the light disappeared as though someone had turned it off. Source observed the light without the aid of binoculars. Source would not make an estimate as to distance of light from Gambell,. IV, WEATHER: Wind = NE at approx. 20 MPH Visibility = Approx. 20 miles Ceiling ~ Approx. 2000 ft. The night was very dark. There was slush ice West of Gambell but no heavy ice was in the area. The ocean was calm : THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE OF THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE ESPIONAGE ACT, 50 U.S. C.— si 3 AND 32, ASAMENDED. 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. Hence 16—655570-1 3X U. S, GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFice [PAGE 3] e e AF FORM 112—PART II Unckuarspie? ae AIR INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION REPORT FROM (Agency) REPORT NO. 5004th Air. Intel ‘Sv Sq APO 942, c/o PM, Seattle, Wash | IR 5004<4,2-53 Ve. COMMENTS OF PREPARING OFFICER: WILLIAM W. CALDWELL, member of Flight A, 5004th AISS, at Gambell, used a Len- satie Compass to determine the true bearing of the light observed. He also made a check of the village to see if other natives had observed the light but none had seen the light. Source is apparently in error when he says a disk 54 inches in diameter would cover the light. A light measured in this manner would appear much larger than his first estimate of the light size, No land exists within a considerable distance of Gambell, St. Lawrence Island, Alaska on a bearing of 283° true, thus removing the possibility of a land based light. From the information available no conclusion can be reached.as to the origin of the light or its*type. i eat A possibility exists that the light came from a ship at sea, identity of which is unknown, ben ZZ a, iN. V. /fasstesn, USAF Preparing Officer NING OF THE ESPIONAGE ACT, 50 U.S, C_— : MENT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE OF THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEA\ ssi eae 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. » * ICATION, 16—55570-1 YX «U.S, GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE [PAGE 4] AF FORM 112—PART II AIR INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION REPORT FROM (Agency) 5004th Air Intel Sv Sq APO 942, c/o PM, Seattle, Wash REPORT NO. IR 5004-42-53 INCL #1 [Diagram: hand-drawn sketch map of St. Lawrence Island and the Siberian coast, with an arrow from Gambell showing the heading on which the light was observed.] Labels on the sketch: U.S.S.R., CAPE CHAPLINA, N (north arrow), GAMBELL, ST. LAWRENCE ISLAND, OBSERVATION ON HEADING 283° TRUE, INTERNATIONAL DATE LINE, SCALE: 1"=13.7 NM. 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. (CLASSIFICATION) 16—55570-1 U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE