Releases / 7 / DOW-UAP-D162

Air Intelligence Information Report, Alaska, 1953

File

DOW-UAP-D162

Type

Document, 4 pages

Agency

Department of War

Date

12/1/53

Place

Alaska

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 1, 1953, incident near St. Lawrence Island, Alaska, in which an Alaska National Guard sergeant residing on the island reported observing a stationary light on the horizon west of Gambell for approximately five minutes. The report states that the light was observed at a true heading of 283 degrees, appeared similar in color to a flashlight, and disappeared as though it had been turned off. The preparing officer further noted that an unidentified ship may have been the source of the light, though no definite conclusion could be reached as to its nature or origin.

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.

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., AF FORM 112
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(a.ASSIFIION)
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APPROVED 1 JUNE 1940
COUNTRY
REPORT NO.
ALASKA
IR 5004-42-53
AIR INTELLIGENCE INfORMATION REPORT
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SUBJECT
Light Observed West of Gambell
AREA REPORTED ON
5004th Air Intelligence Sv Sq
2 co PM Seattle Wash .
rROM CArimcv,
Gambell, St. Lawrence Island, Alaska
I DATE OF INFORMATION
DAT£ OF REPORT
8 Dec 1953
1 Dec 1953
PREPARED BY ( O_aiur)
IAPO
EVALUATION
I C-3
SOURCE
I Clifford Iknokinok
JOHN V. WRIGHT Capt USAF
REFERENCES ( OnUrol number;Jirmloe, pri.foiu rtport, ac., a, appllcabk)
SU MMARY: (11}nter amcile aummarv of report. Gioe lignijicanu in fmal onHtnlenct paragraph. Lill ii1cloaum at lwer ltft. Btgln tut of report 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°50 1 N- 171°36 1W) , 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. s. Territorial Waters .
APPROVED:
Authority:
NND57597
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1
R~d.
WILLIAM H: G ~ 1
Major, USAF
Commander
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J.,IBRARY SUBJECT & AREA CODES
;1/otl e y:,
Obse'rvation
2
DISTRIB 10 11 BY ORIGINATOR
COM'.ALSF.AFRON, ATTN: D/NI Comdr, 10th Air Div, ATTN: D/1
Comdr, AAC, ATTN: OI
Comdr, 11th Air Div, ATTN: D/1
CINCAL, ATTN: J - 2 (2 cys) Comdr, FF.AF, ATTN: A-2
Comdr in Chief, USPacFlt
Comdr, USARAL, ATTN: G-2 Comdr, NEAC, ATTN: D/I
Comdr, ADC, ATTN: D/I
OSI, AAC
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
JN'J'al.1GENCE, USAF.
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(CLASSIFIC, 4N)
16-56589-2
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AF FORM 112-PART II
APPROVED 1 JUNE 1948
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(CLASSIFICATl7
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AIR INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION REPORT
FROM (~me,)
5004th Air Intel Sv Sq
APO 942 , c/o Pl , Seattle , Wash
REPORT NO.
IR 5004- 42- 53
PAGE
2
OF
3
PAGES
I . This report contains information on a l ight seen by an observer at Gambe l l ,
St. Lawrence Isl~nd , Alaska (63°50'N - 171°36'W) , Ol lllOZ December 1953 . Light was
obser ved on a true heading of 283° from Gambell .
II.
SOURCE :
Name - CLIWFORD IKNOKINOK
Age - 26
Race - Eskimo
Education - 8th Grade Completed
Military Service - Member of Gambe l l Unit, Alaska National Guard for three
• • -- •
- (3) years , 9 months , pr omoted to Sgt 1 Jan 1953 . Source
presently Squad Leader with Gambell Guard Unit.
'
Civ ilian Employment - Employed by CAA at Gambell from July 1942 thru April
1949. Present occupation -- hunter.
WILLIAM W. CALDWELL and RODERICK M. MOORE , members of Flight I A 1 , 6004th AISS •
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 approximate l y lllOZ , 1 December 53 he saw a l i 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 circul ar 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 f l 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 .
make an estimate as to distance of light from Gambe l l .
IV.
Source would not
WEATHER :
Wind - NE at approx. 20 MPH
Visibility - Approx . 20 miles
Ceiling - Approx. 2000 ft .
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 CONTAI NS 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.
l &-66610-1
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v/b~~(CLASSIFlCAT)
AF FOl!M 11.2--::f>ART II
APPROVED I JUNE 1948 -
AIR INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION REPORT
FROM (dQencr)
REPORT NO.
5004th Air Inte l Sv Sq
APO 942 11 c/o Pl:, Seattle II Wash
V.
IR 5004- 42- 53
COMMENTS OF PREPARING OFFICER :
PAGE
3
3
OF
PAGES
..
WII.J.,I.AM W. CALDWELL, ioomber of Flight A, 5004th AISS , at Gambell 11 used a Len­
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 l arger than his
first estimate of the light s i ze.
No land exists withi n a considerabl e distance of Gambell, St. Lawrence Isl and ,
Al aska on a beari ng of 283° true , thus removing the possibility of a land based
light. From the information availabl e 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 11 identity of whi ch
i s unknown.
f!f.WR;;411
f ~eparing Officer
'
. ' . .....
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 REVELATION OF ITS CONTENTS IN ANY MANNER TO AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON IS PROHIBITED BY LAW.
IT MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED IN WHOLE OR I N PART, SY OTHER THAN UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AGENCIES, EXCEPT SY PERMISSION OF THE DIRECTOR OF
INTEl.LIGENCE. USAF.
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AF FORM 112-PART II
APPROVE?l I JUNE lt'-48
..
{a.ASSIFI
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AIR INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION REPORT
FROM (Aqme,)
5004th Air Intel Sv Sq
APO 942, c/o PM, Seattle, Wash
REPORT NO.
IR 5004-42-53
CAPE
CHAPLINA
/
INCL #1
PAGE
OF
PAGES
/
N
/
ST. LAWRENCE
ISLAND
/
SCALE: 1"•13.7 NM
NOTE: THIS DOCUMENT CONTAI NS 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 I N WHOLE OR IN PART, BY OTHER THAN UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AGENCIES, EXCEPT BY PERMISSION OF THE DIRECTOR OF
INTELLIGENCE, USAF.
18- 66670- 1
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