DOW-UAP-D161

Air Intelligence Information Report, Alaska, 1953

Agency: Department of War
Format: Document, 4 pages
Incident date: 10/6/53
Place: Alaska
Released: Release 07, October 23, 2026
Source: war.gov
Topics: Intelligence reports

Description from war.gov

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 an October 6, 1953, incident on Little Diomede, Alaska, in which a resident of the island reported observing a light on the southern tip of Big Diomede, U.S.S.R. The report states that the light lasted for several seconds and appeared as though it came from a large flashlight or spotlight. It further describes the light as about the size of a nickel coin held at arm’s length and about the same color as a burning match or dim flashlight. 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 Diomede Islands are situated in the Bering Strait between Alaska and Siberia and constitute the nearest point of territorial proximity between the United States and the former Soviet Union.

Page 1

AF FORM 112 APPROVED 1 JUNE 1948 COUTIDENTIAL eRe 11e4 AF605523 ALASKA- REPORT NO. IR 5004-40-53 AIR INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION REPORT 005523 AREA REORghting Of Light on Big Diomedo, Island, USERS FROM (Agency) 5004th Air Intel St Sq Big Dionede, USSR APO 942, o/0 PM, Seattle, Wash. DATE OF REPORT 24 November 1953 PREPARED BY (Officer) DATE OF INFORMATION 8 October 1953 SOURCE EVALUATION 0-3 FRANCIS M. BROWN, Major, USAF Raleigh Iyapanna REFERENCES (Control number, directite, previous report, ett., a applicable) SUMMARY: (Enter concise summary of report. Give significance in fnal one-sentence paragraph. List inclosures at lower left. Begin tezt of report on AF Form 112-Part II.) 3 At approximately 081015Z, Raleigh Iyapanna, an Eskimo on Little Diomede 168 55W- 65 441N), observed a light on the southern tip of Big Diomede Island, USSR (169°03*W - 65°47 N). The light appeared as though it came from a large flashlight or spotlight and lasted for a period of several seconds. The in- formation was reported by Iyapanna to ROY N. FOWLER member of the 5004th AISS stationed on Little Diomede Island. The sighting is unusual because persons have not been seen previously in that location and because it is believed to be a difficult place to reach, par- ticularly at night. 20 Looills Major, USAF Commender 53 2653 LIBRARY SUBJECT & AREA CODES DECLASSIFIED Authority. NND 57597 Lodex Sketch of Observation DISTRIBUTION BY ORIGINATOR Comdr, AAC, ATTN: 01 COMAISEAFRON, ATTN: D/NI CINCAL, ATTN: J-2 (2 cys) Comdr, FEAF, ATTN: A-2 Comdr, USARAL, ATTN: G-2 Comdr, NEAC, ATTN: D/I -3-2 6V*3 Condr, 10th Air Div, ATTN: D/] Comdr, 11th Air Div, ATTN: D/1 Condr in Chief, USPacFlt OSI, AAC Comdr, ADC, ATTN: D/I 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 UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AGENCIES, EXCEPT BY PERMISSION OF THE DIRECTOR OF INTELLIGENCE, USAF. CONTIDENTIA (CLASSIFICATION) 16-56569-2 U.S. GOVERNRENT PRINTING OFFICE

Page 2

AF FORM 112-PART I APPROVED 1 JUNE 1948 IN FORMATION AIR INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION REPORT FROM (Agency) REPORT NO. 5004th Air Intel Sv Sq APO 942, c/o PM, Seattle, Wash. IR 5004-40-53 PAGE 2 I. DESCRIPTION OF SOURCE: OF 3 PAGES NAME: Raleigh Iyapanna AGE: 14 Years OCCUPATION: Elementary Student and Hunter PLACE OF BIRTH: Little Diomede Island II. RELIABILITY OF SOURCE: This report was made on 6 October 1953 by, Raleigh Iyapanna, an Eskimo of Little Dionede Island. Every night during the week preceding the report he had maintained a watch on Big Diomede 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 SIGHTING: At approximately 081025Z, the source observed a light on the southern tip of Big Diomede Island at an estimated height of 95 feet above sea level. He had been standing in the center of Little Diomede Village looking in the general direction of Big Diomede 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. After 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. WEATHER: The night was dark but with no overcast, stars were clearly visible. Big Diomede Island was plainly outlined against the sky. Wind was from the north and estimated at about 5 MPH. COMMENTS OF THE PREPARING OFFICER: The location of the light is considered somewhat unusual because people 4 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 UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AGENCIES, EXCEPT BY PERMISSION OF THE DIRECTOR OF INTELLIGENCE, USAF. CONFIDENTIM (CLASSIFICATION) 16 58070-1 * U. S. EOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

Page 3

AF FORM 112—PART II APPROVED 1 JUNE 1948 FROM (Agencu) AIR INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION REPORT REPORT NO. 5004th Air Intel Su Sq APO 942, c/o PM, Seattle, Wash. IR 5004-40-53 PAGE 3 OF 3 PAGES (163°05*W - 65°37'Y) to approximately Tin City (167°58*W - 65°33*N) 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. Тансіт. FRANCIS M. BROWN Major, USAF Preparing Officer 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 UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AGENCIES, EXCEPT BY PERMISSION OF THE DIRECTOR OF INTELLIGENCE, USAF. CONTDENTINE (CLASSIFICATION 16-56570-1 # U. B. GOVERAMENT PRINTING OFFICE

Page 4

AF FORM 112—PART II APPROVED 1 JUNE 1948 FROM (Agency) 5004th Air Intel Sv Sq APO 942, c/o PM, Seattle, Wash. (CLASSIFICATION) ORMIAT YOR AIR INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION REPORT REPORT NO. IR 5004-40-53 Incl #1 PAGE OBSERVED LIGHT WAS POINT WHERE OF PAGES LITTLE DIOMEDE S37I4 •gEN BETR LITTLE DIOMEDE VILLAGE 25' ELEV. *- APPROX. 95' ELEV. SEEN WITH THE NAKED EYE -Z- BIG DIOMEDE 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 UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AGENCIES, EXCEPT BY PERMISSION OF THE DIRECTOR OF INTELLIGENCE, USAF. UNITOE (CLASSIFICATION 10-56670-1 # U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

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Machine summary

Written by Claude Sonnet 5.5 (Anthropic) on October 23, 2026, from the record's text and war.gov's description. It is not part of the record and can contain errors; check it against the document.

DOW-UAP-D161 is an Air Intelligence Information Report (AF Form 112, report IR 5004-40-53) prepared by Major Francis M. Brown, USAF, of the 5004th Air Intelligence Service Squadron and dated 24 November 1953. It was marked Confidential and later declassified. The source was Raleigh Iyapanna, a 14-year-old student and hunter on Little Diomede Island, Alaska. He reported a light on the southern tip of Big Diomede, USSR, at about 95 feet elevation. It lasted several seconds, was the size of a nickel at arm's length, and was the color of a burning match or dim flashlight. He thought it came from a large flashlight or spotlight. Roy N. Fowler, a squadron member on the island, relayed the report. The night was clear and dark, with a light north wind.

The record is a Cold War border-watch report, not a conventional UAP case, and it describes no aerial object. The unit flagged it because people had not been seen at that spot, which is hard to reach at night. The report's date fields are inconsistent: the information date is 8 October, the text says the report was made on 6 October, and the catalog lists 6 October. The officer's comment about visibility toward Tin City is partly garbled in the OCR, and he states there is no evidence the light served that purpose. The sketch of the observation is included but only partly legible.

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