Releases / 7 / DOW-UAP-D160

Air Intelligence Information Report, Morocco, 1953

File

DOW-UAP-D160

Type

Document, 3 pages

Agency

Department of War

Date

12/16/53

Place

Morocco

Released

Release 7, October 23, 2026

Open the original on war.gov

The government's description

This document is an Air Intelligence Information Report (AIIR), a standardized U.S. Air Force reporting form used to record raw information of potential intelligence value for later analysis. The form served as a primary vehicle for U.S. Air Force field intelligence collection throughout the early Cold War, until defense-wide reporting standards were established in the early 1960s.

This AIIR records a December 16, 1953, incident in northern French Morocco and the Mediterranean Sea area in which personnel of Detachment 2, 737th AC&W Squadron reported an unidentified radar return. The report states that the return varied in shape between “V,” “W,” and “M” configurations and faded after several minutes of observation. It further states that electronics personnel in the 316th Air Division believed the return might have been caused by anomalous propagation, ship-borne radar jamming, or geese or storks in flight, and concludes that one of those possibilities was the most likely explanation for the return.

All descriptive and estimative language contained in this report reflects the reporter’s subjective interpretation at the time of the event. Such characterizations should not be interpreted as a conclusive indication of the presence or absence of any intrinsic object features or performance characteristics.

AARO Comment: The 737th AC&W Squadron was a U.S. Air Force radar unit stationed in Saidia, Morocco, where it supported airborne early warning and air defense surveillance in coordination with French military forces.

AF FORM 11%
APPROVED I JUNE 1!48
COUNTRY
REPORT HO.
French Morocco
DI-1-
AIR INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION REPORT
SUBJECT
UFOB
AREA REPORTED ON
FROM (A,,,.<1)
I
Nortr. Fr Morocco and Mediterranean SPa
DATE OF REPORT
DATE OF INFORMATION
23 December 1953
I 316th Air Division Defense
EVALUATION
16 Dec~mber 1953
PR£PAREO 8Y (O~t'I)
A- 1
SOURCE
Edward o. Wittmer
Major
USAF
REFERENCES (O>nlrol ftttmbn, dirtctltt, 1)rnlou1 rtp;,n, tit., 01 appllca~I•)
Primary Report:
I Detachllim1t 2
th AC&W S adron
TwX 12-177
SUMMARY: (.lillller conclle ,ummarv of report,
Glut lfgnl)kana 111 flnlll one-.0\ltence parograp/1, Luc 11tcl0.!Urtl at lo!Dn kft. &gm ttzt ofr,port on 11.F F<lrm Ill-Part IL)
1. Unidentj fied flyfr1g objects w~re observed on radar by personnel of Detachment 11 2 11
37th AC&W Squadron. The return variPd in shape from a V shape to \<J $hape to M shape.
It faded after several minutes of observation.
2. It is the opinion of electronics personni-1 in this Division th1t such a return
·ght hav~ be--n caused by:
a . Anomalous Propagation
b.
Sbip-Bornt- rad~r janm:iing Detachment 11 2 11 radar
c.
Geese or Storks
in f1 igbt.
3. Logical deduction is that on~ of above mentiohed possibilities is the cause for
his radar return.
Authority
NND57597
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DISlRIBUTION BY ORIGINATOR
Lt Col, USAF
Director o! Operations
1 Info copy ATIC
UNCU\SS\F\EO
NOTE: THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE OF THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANI
31 AND 32. AS AMENDED. ITS TRANSMISSION OR THE REVELATION OF ITS CONTENTS IN ANY MANNER TO AN UNAUTHOR
D PERSON IS PROHIBITED BY LAW.
IT MAY NOT BE R£PROOUCED IN WHOLE OR IN PART. BY OTHER THAN UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AGENCIES, EXCEPT BY PERMISSION OF THE DIRECTOR OF
INTELLIGENCE, USAF.
18-651SOG -2
U, I. GOYlltNNIWT NINTINQ OfflCS

AF FORM 112-PART II
U\iC~~S\filD~
APPROVED 1 JUNE.1948
AIR INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION REPORT
FROM (Al/<ll<V)
REPORT NO.
PAGE
OF
PAGES
'Ihe folloving report is rendered in compliance with AFR 200-2.
"'ulfPrP.ncP parai:rrRph six (6) of this regulation for formats.
1.
Discription or thP. ObjActs
(a)
T/aring shapes, sAries of V' s, W's, and M's.
(b)
Size- N/A as rP.ferren to in this regulation.
two(?) or three (1) degrees wide .
(c)
Color- "t.T/ A
Approximatelv
(d) ~umber- 17arjed with sweep from one (1) to twelve (12) .
2.
(e)
Formation- Straight ljne on azimnth of 250 from 20 to 40
miles out (ApproximatP.lV Geo- ref MJPF 1535) .
(f)
'N/A
(g)
N/A
(h)
N/A
(i)
Frea,1ent cbangP in shape .
at times .
Each ob,1ect was more- distinct
!>iscription ,.,f coursP of obj cts:
0
(a ) ScoPP. pr ~P.ntat1on .
0
3.
(b)
25 degrePs azimuth. Height findPr was out so information
concerning angle of elevation \.TBS not available .
(c)
Last observed on azimuth of~~ degrees .
(d)
Comparativelv stationar<r.
(e )
Faded out.
(f)
SPverP.1 minutes.
?¾inner of observations:
(a)
ObsArvqd bv radar TPS- lD
(b)
Optical aids N/A
(c) N/A
4.
Time an--1 date of sighting:
(a )
16/1754Z/Dec 5'3
(b) Night
5.
Location of Obse r-vRtions :
{►,o-r~f
MJNF 4105
UNCU\SS\f\ED.
NOTE: THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING T HE NATIONAL DEFENSE OF THE UNITED STATCS WITH IN THE MEANING OF T HE 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 I N WHOLE OR IN PART, BY OTHER THAN UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AGENCIES, EXCEPT BY PERMISSION OF THE DIRECTOR OF
INTELLIGENCE. USAF.
J ff-65-570-t
*
U. I . COWH Ma t;NT r'Al lfTIIIIG IWrlCI

AF FORM 112-PART 11
APPROVED I JUNlif. !943
••
AIR INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION REPORT
FROM (Agencu)
REPORT HO.
OF
PAGE
6.
7.
PAGES
Identifving infol'Tlletion of all observers :
(a)
N/A
(b)
A/?,C V. A. Kay, .AF 12 4",7 411, Atr Surveillance Operator,
Detachment 2 , 737th AC&W Squadron .
Capt T. S. White, Detachment Colir"lender.
Lt V. Paker, Controller.
TtJeethAr conditions:
(a)
Overcast "With limitea visibilitv but no rain.
(b)
't-Teg8tivA.
fc)
Ceiling- 00O0 1 (estimated)
(d)
Five (5) milPS visjbilitv
(e)
Al'!'lount tlf clo,,d cover 9/10
(r)
ThnndPrc;tot"ms :
negative
8. Anv other unusual activitv or condition, meterological,
astronom:fcal or othe-rwise, vhich might account for the sighting.
NAgRtive.
9. ExistAnce nf phvsicAl evicfoncA of s-igbting, such is photogrApbv .
Neg~tive .
11 .
NPg1:1tive .
12.
ChiPf o+- Intelligence, 116th Air Division (03fense) .
Altho11gh rPder maintAnance personnel Rt the Site of obsArv.<iti0n
havP offPrPd no possible cease for the sighting, it is the ooinion of
sPveral a11al ified e1ectronfos pPl:'sonmil at this division that thi::i return
Tll""V' hi:ivP bPen cAuse bv one of the f'ollo'Wing:
a.
Anomelo,is propagat1on.
b.
Ship-home rad8r jamming ~tacbmP.nt 2 radar.
c.
Geese or storks in flight .
This Division rPcommends distribution to :
D/I - USAFE
D/T - Sev~nteanth Air Fot"ce
~()~p
EDIIA!!D 0, W J ' M m ! ! ~
Major , USAF
Director of TntelligencP
NOTE: THIS DOCUMENf 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 I N WHOLE OR IN PART. BY OTHER THAN UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AGENCIES, EXCEPT BY PERMISSION OF THE DIRECTOR OF
INTELLIGENCE. USAF.
1$-&5570-1
*
U. • • liOVilfUOI I.NT "1'0 HIPiUJ Of'rttc