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

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COUNTRY REPORT NO. ALASKA IR 5004-42-53 AIR INTELLIGENCE INfORMATION REPORT Light Observed West of Gambell AREA REPORTED ON IrROM CArimcv, 5004th Air Intelligence Sv Sq Gambell, St. Lawrence Island, Alaska APO 2 co PM Seattle Wash . DAT£ OF REPORT DATE OF INFORMATION IE VALUATION PREPARED BY (O_aiur) ISOURCE JOHN V. WRIGHT Capt USAF Clifford Iknokinok REFERENCES (OnUrol number; Jirmloe, pri.foiu rtport, ac., a, appllcabk) SU MMA RY: (11}nter amcile aummarv of report. Gioe lignijicanu in fmal onHtnlenct paragraph. Lill ii1cloaum at lwer ltft. Btgln tut ofreport on A.F Form 111-Part lI.) This report contains information on a light seen by an observer at Gambell, St. Lawrence Island, Alaska (63°501N- 171°361W), OllllOZ December 1953. Light was observed on a true heading of 283° from Gambell. While no definite conclusion can be reached as to the or1g1n of the light, a possibility exists that it could have come from an unidentified ship operating in or near U. Territorial Waters . Major, USAF CINCAL, ATTN: J-2 (2 cys) Comdr, FF.AF, ATTN: A-2 Comdr, 11th Air Div, ATTN: D/1 Comdr, USARAL, ATTN: G-2 Comdr, NEAC, ATTN: D/I Comdr in Chief, USPacFlt OSI, AAC Comdr, ADC, ATTN: D/I NOTE; THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE OF THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OFTHE ESPIONAGE ACT,~ U.S. C.- 31 ANO 32, ,,s 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

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AIR INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION REPORT FROM (~me,) REPORT NO. PAGE OF PAGES I . This report contains information on a l ight seen by an observer at Gambel l , observed on a true heading of 283° from Gambell. II. SOURCE: Name - CLIWFORD IKNOKINOK Race - Eskimo Education - 8th Grade Completed Military Service - Member of Gambell Unit, Alaska National Guard for three presently Squad Leader with Gambell Guard Unit. Civilian Employment - Employed by CAA at Gambell from July 1942 thru April 1949. Present occupation -- hunter. and stationed at Gambell, have known source for +:he past eight months. They have found source to be trustworthy and honest and they have confidenc_e in his judgement. III. REPORT ON OBSERVATION: Source states that approximately lllOZ, 1 December 53 he saw a li ght on the horizon West of Gambell. Source was standing in front of the Gambell School (el ev. 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 that a circular object 5½ 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 fl ag 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 binocul ars. Source would not make an estimate as to distance of light from Gambel l . IV. WEATHER : Visibility - Approx. 20 miles The night was very dark. There was slush ice West of Gambell but no heavy ice was in the area. The ocean was calm. NOTE· THIS OCX:UMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE OF THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE ESPIONAGE ACT, 50 U. S. C.- •31 ANO 3Z, 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.

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AIR INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION REPORT FROM (dQencr) REPORT NO. V. COMMENTS OF PREPARING OFFICER : satic Compass to determine the true bearing of the light observed. He al so made a check of the village to see if other natives had observed the light but none had seen the light. Source is appar ently i n error when he says a disk 5½ inches i n diameter would cover the light. A l i ght 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, Al aska on a bearing of 283° true, thus removing the possibility of a land based light. From the information available no_gonclusion can~? re~~~~~. as to the origin of the l ight or its type. ·~ -· A possibility exists that the light came from a ship at sea identity of whi ch NOT£· 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 REVELAuTION OF ITS CONTENTS IN ANY MANNER TO AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON IS PROHIBITED BY LAW. IT MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED IN WHOLE OR IN PART, SY OTHER THAN UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AGENCIES, EXCEPT SY PERMISSION OF THE DIRECTOR OF

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AF FORM 112-PAR..T II 44~.L AIR INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION REPORT FROM (Aqme,) REPORT NO. PAGE OF PAGES ST. LAWRENCE ISLAND 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, lT 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.