23857122-0430-161581-0001

OCR Text

AF FORM 112—PART | Bt Be é ies CLASSIFICATION APPROVE® i JUNE 1948 ; : COUNTRY Q REPORT NO. (LEAVE BL V Alaska ote IR-3-50 we” AIR INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION iF Report of Sighting of Unidentified Object SUBJECT AREA REPORTED ON FROM (Agency) Alaska Director of Intelligence, Alaskan Air Command DATE OF REPORT DATE OF INFORMATION EVALUATION ; 9 March 1950 10 February 1950 C-2 PREPARED BY (Officer) ‘ SOURCE Lt R. E. Smythe Alaskan Sea Frontier REFERENCES (Control number, directive, previous report, etc., as applicable) None 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 If.) At approximately 010555Z February, while flying at 9000 feet. altitude, on Green Airway No. 8, approximately 120 miles northeast of Atka Island (approximate position 53° 00' N, 171° 11! W) First Lieutenant J. J. Sofet, USAF, co-pilot MATS C54, Bu.No. 45630, sighted a red and white "flare" as it appeared to burst approximately 2000 to 3000 feet above and slightly to the right of the aircraft, at an estimated distance of 5 miles. This object was described as elliptical in shape, with a major diameter only slightly greater than the minor diameter. It had a reddish core and a white fringe, and appeared to be 3' in diameter when it burst. As it fell, it diminished in apparent size, and the red core gradually turned to white, After an elapsed time of approximately two minutes, the "flare" disappeared into the undercast. No parachute or other means of support were noted, and the object was reported as falling free. As it fell past the aircraft it was reported to have illuminated the plane cabin momentarily. On sighting the "flare" Lt. Sofet called itto the attention of the pilot, First Lieutenant T. E. Cornell, USAF, who also sighted the object as it fell, and lost sight of it when it entered the undercast at about 8000 feet. First Lieutenant Cornell Climbed to the Astro dome to look for other aircraft, but none were sighted. He then fired an answering series of flares (one red and two green). Airways at Adak, North Shore Cape, and Kodiak were notified. No other traffic was reported on airways at this time. First Lt. Cornell was certain that this object was not a meteor or meteor- ite, because he has flown near meteorites on numerous occasions, and has always experienced a buffeting from the rough air in the vicinity of these objects. Weather was reported as cloudless above 8000 feet with bright moonlight. Comment: Object possibly a flare, as reported, or a meteorite. ae : ] /) RAYM ER. SMYTHE DON W. McKINNE lst Lt, USAF Lt Colonel, USAF Admin Intelligence Officer Director of Intelligence BPS Rs ene 5 |e BF DECLASSIFIED > e a Sr, ‘ oe re aie bo MES Fe DISTRIBUTION BY ORIGINATOR EAS Sh a ere Ses ey ; hd Ey oF (fA F WHE MO. 3/ 31/8 wy OA A A DI ALS COMD witents — § 9//0/9 Os WS ey DI USARAL pce bg ae, MOTE: 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. 16—-55569--1 U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE Declassification Authority: NND 57565