PROJECT BLUE BOOK

PROJECT 10073 RECORD
8/D45·TIME GROUP 2. LOCATION
0/05 3 BARTER ISLAND, ALASKA
3. SOURCE 0. CONCLUSION
2 AF Pilots BALOON
4. NUMBER OF OBJECTS
ONE
5. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION
M TEN MINS Round brilliant obj appeared to be a falling leaf.
6. TYPE OF OBSERVATION Obj hovered a few seconds and began to climb with zig
zag maneuvers disappearing at a high altitude.
GROUND VISUAL
7. COURSE
BAST
8. PHOTOS 8. PHOTOS
Yes
No
9. PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
Y.s Yes
No
FORM
FTD SEP 63 0-329 (TDE) FTD SEP 63 0-329 (TDE) Previous editions of this form may be used.

THIS STA
FIRST SIGHTE SIGH SCENDING
FALLING 22 FEET OVER THIS THIS STA
AND HOVERD ITE LIGHTS WHICH LIGHTS WHICH WAS FLASHED
SEVERAL TIMES. TIMES. AT THIS HIS OBJ BY
SOUND SIMILAR WAS NOT LOUD NOT LOUD AND WAS AND WAS
TH CLIMED DOING
SAME PATTERN AS SDESCE IDTN ALF MILE
OF FWD LIMBED TO THE HE FWIDND EWDND CLIMBING
SPEED INCREASE CLIMBED TC LIMsED EAST AT 0814587 081458Z THE
UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
WAS OUT SIZE WAS ESTD AT ESTD A APRX PRX C-47 ACFT
DIMENSIONS, TIME WAS SCATTERED SURF
VISIBILITY VTSI THIS OBJ THT ATED PILOTSM. DPILOTSM.
WRITTE PORT FOLLOWSO ADED
DECL SSIFIED AFTER 12 YEARS.
DOD DIR 5200.10
1
3

pilots reoort observing an
unidentified flying object at Barter Islani, Alaska (70?
object, a round white light, was seen by one
minutes. This s si dting may have been the,light on a
PI3AL upper soundint, which was reporte released OS 1515Z..
1
. 4
FRANCIS H. MACDIF? ff
APPROVED: APPROVED:
Colonel, USAF
Director
I
1
a
3
O N
CSIFIED AFTER 12
DOD DIR 5200.10
DISTRIBUTION BY ORIGINATOR
ATIC CINCAL CO 1OTH AIR DIV (DEP) CO 7TH AIR WEA GP()
ATYC ISARAT. CO 5010TE NG

at the end of each side to side movement as in a true falling leaf descent. Captain
Barnes estimated distance covered by the side to side moveme it 200 feet.
Within approximately 45 seconds, the object had reached an estimated 2000 faet
area where it hovered for apcroximately 45 seconds. At
of a
second. The object was described as round in shape and brilliant white in color.
Small ray-like appendages appeared on either lower side (see sketchwhich Captain
Barnes could not accurately describe as light beams or solid r material. They were
definite in shape, as he noted in the sketch. He could make out these appendages
only while the object was below 4ooo feet.
The color of the light was similar to that of white hot metal except that it
did not appear to i illuminate the ares and left absolutely no afterglow when it
the lateral movement. As it ascended
and moved
7 course. During the ascent, the object blinked regularly at about minute in-
tervals. When g, the would seconds.
During its climbout, lst Lieutenant Lewis E. Oriffin was driving a weasel from
the building area down to the aircraft. When he arrived, Captain Barnes pointed out
the object for Lieutenant Griffin. At this time, the object directly overhead
at an estimated lo,ooo to 15,000 feet, and the time e was O458 local by Lieutenant
Griffin'sw atch. (NOTE: Tieutenant Criffin otatao hi- wntok

minutes. He felt it impossible for himself to estimate the size, altitude and speed
of the object, since he had no ilea of what the ohject was. He did state that t it
appeared lar er than a larze star. The Lieutenant
CAVU.
Lieutenant Griffin is a pilot with aporoximately lloo hours flving time. He
has a total of lo years service, 5 duty. He has
been stationed in Alaska since December l95l.
The following at the times
indicated:
08/1430Z
Following are alo
50001 170 8 Knots
10000' 230 37 Knots
17000' 220 40 Knots
The following information regardinz the O815ooz balloon release was
supplied by the Barter Island Wr Detachment:
a. Exact time of release balo 1515 Zuli plus mimis
aimites.
Jeunding was PIaAL, vith 190 rm red ballson.
.. Balloon was
d. The ascent was umusual only in that, with light variable surface winds, the
wind surface and 7ooo feet level.
e. The complete code of data of winis aloft for this observation is as follows:

may was completed instead of the time that
the soun g started.
In regards to the sound reported, Captain that,
due to his initial surprise at seeing a strange conclu-
sions in asscciating the sound with the light.
Captain Barnes feels sure that the object was descending when he first noticed
it.I it. I However, the possibility exists that an illusion of possibility exists that an illusion of descent may have been descent t may have been
created by the light variable surface winds and the resultant surface winds and the resultant changes in direction changes in direction
of travel of the ballon.
The falling-leaf The falling-leaf pattern and blinking of the blinking of the light could have have been caused been caused by
the oscil normally associated with PIsAL releases. associated with PI3AL releases.
Considering all factors, it is the opinion officer that the
object sighted was probably the light from the O81500Z PIBAL sounding. The obser-
very and the preparing officer will witness a PIsAL release Merrill Field in
order to determine if any sinilarity exists.
Itais felt that the importance report lies in the fact that a qualified
aerial observer mist an umeonventional flying
object.
Wmeton E. Bon tell
WINSTON E. BOUTELLE
Captain, USAF
Chief, Plans, Policy Collection Div.
"
T
1/1

AF FORM 112-PART ! UNCLACCIFIED
AFPROVED 1 JUNE 1343
AIR INTELLIGENCE INFORM TION REPORT
PIDM 1gecy) HIUAT NO
Directors ,AAC IR-2-53
FOCS 5 OF 5 PASES
BEAUFORT SEA
PROFILE
12,000'
10,000'
8,000
2 HARBOR
5,000' BERNARD
5,000 0450 AST
4,000
061 M 5
TRACK OBJECT
241u MADE OVER GROUND
LOCATION SERVER
MAST 104
-00 200 GRBN o 00 2 2
G
0 o
BARTER
ISLAND
SCALE:1"= 2,650'
SKETCH
3
OF
OBJECT
DOWNGRADED AT R VPAD

UNCLASSIFIED
)
Barter Island, Alaska 8 February 1953
I. Description of Incident
tified aerial object coming in their base in a falling leaf pattern from the
west. Time of the observation was 0450 1oca1. It hovored, consisted of brilliant
orange white lights see eight
climbed sastward and hroughout it off a noise similar to a
helicopter's and was estimate approximat ize of a
C-47 aircraft.
1. Discussion of Incident
1
This report is on the brief side and gives no information on air traffic at
the time of sighting. It is possible, however, that the -average sources may
have observed a helicopter and becane confused. Any evaluation will have to be
based on additional informatior helicopter traffic which A has requested.
III. Conclusion III. Conclusion
Insufficient data. Insufficient data.
C
DOWNGRADED AT 3 YEAR INTERVALS; DECLASSIFIED AFTER 12
DOD DIR 5200.10 YEARS.
UNCLASSIFIED
-
T53-3695 62