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HEADQUARTERS '5021ST AIR BASE SQUADRON SHEMYA AIR FORCE BASE APO 729, U S Army 4 Apri 1949 STATEMENT "On the night of 29 March 1949 I took off from Shemya at 2140 hours BST on a routine Loon Able weather reconnaissance mission. Since an engine was feathered shortly after takeoff, I decided to remain aloft over Shemya approximately three hours to lighten the weight of the aircraft before landing. At approximately 2205 hours while approaching Shemya range from the southwest at an altitude of 2400 feet, the co-pilot and left scanner reported that we had passed a lighted object approximately 100 feet below us. This I reported to Semichi tower and asked if there were any other air- craft in the vicinity. The only reported aircraft was a Northwest Airlines aircraft which had taken off a few moments previously and reported to be on course. I alerted the entire crew to be on the lookout for any aircraft in the vicinity. At approximately 2235 hours while in a proceedure turn at 5000 feet just south of the island a light was sighted approach- ing from our left. This was clearly seen to pass directly over- head and on to our right to vanish among scattered clouds in the distance. Since we were in a turn and on a westward heading at the time, the light was in a northerly heading. At the time I judged it to be 1000 feet above us and traveling 300 - 400 miles per hour. The possibility of this light being a metepe confront- ed me, but it was traveling in what seemed a definite horizontal altitude and the light seemed steady in intensity, which diminish- ed the possibility of this being a meteor. The light itself seemed to be a blue-white color and had the appearance of an exhaust in shape. This was reported to Semichi tower. There were no further observations." / Z JAMES S. GIST a A ist Lt USAF ec. 3{ a (D) or (E) aie 10720 a4 Meany AO 77650 : ny Sse )2) be deal m= e Pilot - B29 #44-62202 — 1 Whews. NARS, Date... Ys [2e. 375th Ren Sq (VLR) Wea — DEMESSIFIED Declassification Authority: NND 57565