A F FORM 112 - A PPROVE D 1 JUNE 1948 f 523 (CLASSIFICATION) ■ giFowii tv |> । rartMK nn ^ COUNTRY A LA SK A - RE PORT NQ. IR 5OOH O-53 W^3 A IR INTE LLIGE NCE INFORMA TION RE PORT SUBJE CT A RE A RE PORI Sighting of Light on Big D iomade, Island, USSR__________________________________ ^“1^15004^ A ir Intel Sv Sq A PO 942, c/o PM , Seattle, Wash,_____Big D iomede, USSR DA TE OF RE TORT 24 November 1953 PRE WIRE D BY (Office!) DA TE OF INFORMA TION 8 October 1955 E VA LUA TION 0-3 FRA NCIS M , BROWN, M ajor, USA F RE FE RE NCE S (Control numfter, dircciire. previous report, de., as applicable) SOURCE Rale!ph lyapanna SUMMARY: (E»ter concise summary of report. Give significance in final ovc-sentcnce paragraph. Lisi tnclosurei al lower left. Begin text of report on AB Form US—Part II.) A t approximately O81O15Z, Raleigh lyapanna, an Eskimo on Little D iomede (16^55’11- 65°44’N), observed a light on the southern tip of Big D iomede Island, USSR (169°03'W - 65*4 7'N). The light appeared as though it came from a large flashlight or spotlight and lasted for a period of several formation was reported by lyapanna to ROY N* FOWLER member stationed on Little D iomede Island. seconds. The in- of the 5004th A ISS The sighting is unusual because persons have not been that location and because it is believed to be a difficult tioularly at night, seen previously in place to reach, par- LOO M ajor, USA F Commander library subject& A RE A CODE S DECLASSIFIED Authority: NND 57597 A ____INCLS. Sketch of Observation DISTRIBUTION BY ORIGINATOR Comdr, A A C, A TTN: 01 CINCA L, A TTN: J-2 (2 cys) Comdr, USA RA L, A TTN: G-2 __________________ COM A LSEA FRON, A TTN Comdr. FEA F. A TTN: D /NI Comdr/10th A ir D iv, A TTNiD /: A -2 Comdr, 11th A ir D iv, A TTNsD / Comdr, NEA C, A TTN: D /l Comdr in Chief, USPacFlt Comdr, A D C, A TTN; D /I_____________________________ BOTE - THIS DOCUME NT CONTA INS INFORMA TION A FFE CTING THE NATIONA L DE FE NSE OFTHE UNITE D STA TE S WITHIN THE ME A NING OF THE E SPIONA GE A CT. 50 U. S.C.— 31 A ND 32. A S A ME NDE D. ITS TRA NSMISSION ORTHE RE VE LATION OF ITS CONTE NTS IN A NY MANNE R TO A N UNA UTHORIZE D PE RSON IS PROHIBITE D BY LA W. IT MAY NOT BE RE PRODUCE D IN WHOLE OR IN PART. BY OTHE R THAN UNITE D STA TE S A IR FORCE A GE NCIE S. E XCE PT BY PE RMISSION OF THE DIRE CTOR OF INTE LLIGE NCE . USAF. CoNriPCUPAF (CLASSIFICATION) 16—66S69-2 U- S- «V«N«HT POINTING OFFICE A F FORM 112—^PA RT II A PPROVE D 1 JUNE 1948 A IR INTE LLIGE NCE INFORMA TION RE PORT FROM (.A^encv} REPORT NO. 5004th A ir Intel Sv Sq A PO 942, c/o PM , Seattle, Wash. IR 5004-40-53 PA GE 2 OF 3 PA GE S I. D ESCRIPTION OF SOURCE: NA M E: Raleigh lyapanna A GE: 14 Years OCCUPA TION: Elementary Student and H unter PLA CE OF BIRTH : Little D iomede Island II. RELIA BILITY OF SOURCE: This report was made on 6 October 1953 by, Raleigh lyapanna, an Eskimo of Little D iomede Island. Every night during the week preceding the report he had maintained a watch on Big D iomede on his own initiative. ROY N. FOWLER states he believes the source to be fairly reliable and that the sighting of the light is possibly true. Source is in good health and has excellent eyesight. III. REPORT OF SIGH TING: A t approximately O81O25Z, the source observed a light on the southern tip of Big D iomede Island at an estimated height of 95 feet above sea level. H e had been standing in the center of Little D iomede Village looking in the general direction of Big D iomede for about fifteen minutes prior to the sighting. Source observed the light when it appeared and watched it until it disappeared. The duration of the observation was estimated as lasting for several seconds. The light was described as being the size of a nickel coin held at arms length and about the same color as a burning match or dim flashlight. It was the sources opinion that the light came from a large flashlight or spotlight. Immediately after the light disappeared, the source ran to his house, about 25 yards away, and checked the time which was 1030Z. A fter checking the time he went back to his original position and continued to watch the area the light came from, however, the light did not reappear. For location of the light see Incl #1. IV. WEA TH ER: The night was dark but with no overcast, stars were clearly visible. Big D iomede Island was plainly outlined against the sky. Wind was from the north and estimated at about 5 M PH , COM M ENTS OF TH E PREPA RING OFFICER: The location of the light is considered somewhat unusual because people have never been observed on that part of Big D iomede Island and because of the difficulty in reaching the location, particularly at night. If persons on Big D iomede wanted to signal to the A laskan mainland, it could best be done from the southern tip of the island. From that point, the A laskan coast from Wales NOTE : THIS DOCUME NT CONTA INS INFORMA TION A FFE CTING THE NA TIONA L DE FE NSE OF THE UNITE D STATE S WITHIN THE ME A NING OF THE E SPIONAGE A CT. 50 U S. C - 31 A ND 32. A S A ME NDE D. ITS TRA NSMISSION OR THE RE VE LATION OF ITS CONTE NTS IN A NY MANNE R TO A N UNA UTHORIZE D PE RSON IS PROHIBITE D BY LA W. IT MAY NOT BE RE PRODUCE D IN WHOLE OR IN PART. BY OTHE R THAN UNITE D STATE S A IR FORCE A GE NCIE S. E XCE PT BY PE RMISSION OF THE DIRE CTOR OF INTE LLIGE NCE , USA F. CeA 'r/JL^W (CLA SSIFICA TION) 16—M67Q-1 A «■•■ «ovw»s« MtHFTIMCOTFlCK A F FORM 112—PA RT II A PPROVE D 1 JUNE 1948 G & & & & & & & *-, (CLASSIFICATION) jjec^tn' fairi& M W ^ A IR INTE LLIGE NCE INFORMA TION RE PORT FROM (pencil) REPORT NO. 5004th A ir Intel Sv Sq A PO 942, o/o PM , Seattle, Wash. IB 5 00^0-5 3 PAGE 3 of 3 PA GE S (168°05*W — 65°37'N) to approximately Tin City (167°58,W - 65 33’K ) could be seen when visibility was good. This stated only to mention the possibility however slight it may be. There is no evidence to support a conclusion that this was the purpose of the light. M ajor, USA F Preparing Officer MOTE : THIS DOCUME NT CONTA INS INFORMATION A FFE CTING THE NATIONAL DE FE NSE OF THE UNITE D STA TE S WITHIN THE ME A NING OF THE E SPIONA GE A CT. 50 U. S. C — 31 A ND32. A S A ME NDE D. ITS TRA NSMISSION OR THE RE VE LATION OF ITS CONTE NTS IN A NY MANNE R TO A N UNA UTHORIZE D PE RSON IS PROHIBITE D BY LA W. IT MAY NOT BE RE PRODUCE D IN WHOLE OR IN PART. BY OTHE R THA N UNITE D STATE S A IR FORCE A GE NCIE S. E XCE PT BY PE RMISSION OF THE DIRE CTOR OF INTE LLIGE NCE . USA F. (CLASSiFiCA TiCM) 16—66570-1 "ft ®»•. tOTiiiiwiirr wmiieem A F FORM 112-PA RT II A PPROVE D 1 JUNE UM t (CLA SSIFICA TION) A IR INTE LLIGE NCE INFORMA TION RE PORT NOTE : THIS DOCUME NT CONTA INS INFORMATION A FFE CTING THE NA TIONA L DE FE NSE OF THE UNITE D STA TE S WITHIN THE ME A NING OF THE E SPIONA GE A CT. SO U.S.C.- 31 A ND 32. A S A ME NDE D. ITS TRA NSMISSION OR THE RE VE LA TION OF ITS CONTE NTS IN A NY MANNE R TO A N UNA UTHORIZE D PE RSON IS PROHIBITE D BY LA W. IT MA Y NOT BE RE PRODUCE D IN WHOLE OR IN PART. BY OTHE R THA N UNITE D STATE S A IR FORCE A GE NCIE S, E XCE PT BY PE RMISSION OF THE DIRE CTOR OF INTE LLIGE NCE . USA F. (CLA SSIFICA TION) 10 6M7O1 A o. ». w»tR««tRr hiwtiw wnci