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? 4 ) -- AF FORM 112 L... APPROVED 1 JUNE 1948 COUNTRY ng REPORT NO. lig age t Q Z a: - AIR INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION REPORT SUBJECT FLYOBRPT neh REPORTED ON FROM (Agency) Wing Training and erations [Canandaigua Lake, Gannett Hill, New York . acancot AeD. hg DATE OF REPORT DATE OF INFORMATION EVALUATION 6 February 1953 29 November 1952 PREPARED BY (Officer) SOURCE DONALD L. MYERS, LT., USAF Letter from Harold B. Smith 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.) 1. This report contains information of the sighting of "Flares" in the vicinity of Canandaigua Lake from the peak of Gannett Hill. 2. Harold B. Smith, 640 Melville St., Rochester 9, New York, and Carl Finsterwalder, 124 Devonshire Court, Rochester, New York visually sighted flares at 1700 hours, 23 November 1952. 3. Mr. Smith stated in letter form the observation of what appeared to be flares. Visibility was poor due to light rain, no stars were visible. An out- line of South Hill on the east side of Canandaigua Lake could be seen. Above South Hill, slightly northeast of Canandaigua Lake (directly toward Sampson AFB or north of Sampson, a distance of approximately 25 miles) four stationary extremely bright white lights were sighted. Each light would last only a few seconds then disappear and be replaced by light displaced laterally and verti- cally. There were never more than four visible at once and never less than one. 4. Mr. Smith explained that the observation may have been caused by an optical illusion due to refraction of light rays, however as each bright white light disappeared the after image was a cluster of six or seven red lights which faded immediately like a vision persistency phenomena. Observing from arms length (26 inches) each cluster appeared to be a 3/64 inch diameter circle. An actual circle of lights appearing so big at 25 miles (approximate distance from Sampson AFB) would be tremendous. From arm's length these lights were vertically displaced up to two inches, which would indicate altitude. There was no apparent diffusion of light or reflection on clouds. 5. Mr. Smith estimated to have seen over one-thousand lights appear and disappear before he and Mr. Finsterwalder departed Gannett Hill. Upon descend- ing no lights were seen. Upon ascending another hill near Canandaigua, New York, nothing unusual was seen, 6, Further details concerning above information were unknown to source, ] C > ae ea ] APPR, VED: re ; Chief, lanl i m0 DISTRIBUTION BY ORIGINATOR D/I, Hq USAF - 1 cy ATIC, AMC =~ 1 cy MERE. Memo +13// ar Py hdnndahlet! 9 hie. Date SLM Ake 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 U R R INTELLIGENCE, USAF. ie \ . et UF 4 - auatl ee 3 16—55569-2 U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE Declassification Authority: NND 57565