342 HS1-416511228 319.1 Flying Discs 1949

Read from the scan by GLM-OCR; expect the odd misread word.

CONFIDENTIAL

DIO=17ND, Serial 13=49

23 April 1949

Subject: US/ALASKA = Meteorological Phenomena = Luminous Energy

called the Naval Air Base and learned there were no aircraft of any description in the air in the vicinity of the Naval Air Station.

2. Lieutenant Commander D. SHEPARD, USN, Operations Officer, U.S. Naval Operating Base, Kodiak, Alaska, reported that while standing near the NOB Post Office he had observed "a strange object streaking across the sky, near Old Woman Mountain", on 8 April 1949 at approximately 2040 hours. Lieutenant Commander SHEPARD described the object as a reddish ball of fire approximately two (2) feet in diameter traveling from West to East at an estimated 2,500 feet altitude. "The object was a brilliant color, without a tail, traveling with a flat trajectory of decline between 21 and 20 degrees. It seemed to disintegrate over Chiniak Bay" was Lieutenant Commander SHEPARD's report of his observation. No opinion as to the nature of the object was advanced by Lieutenant Commander SHEPARD.

3. Lawrence B. SHAW, taxiab driver, Arrow Cab, Kodiak, Alaska, stated that he was enroute from the Enlisted Mens Club to the Administration Building on 8 April 1949, when he saw a strange bright blue object streak across the sky at approximately 2035 hours. To SHAW, the object appeared to be about 1-1/2 feet in diameter trailed by a three (3) foot streamer which was "pinkish in shading". This object, stated SHAW, appeared in the sky over Old Woman Mountain traveling on a West to East course at an estimated altitude of 2,500 feet. It was losing altitude at an estimated 25 degrees and, if it continued on it's course, it would have struck Chiniak Bay off Nyman Peninsula. To SHAW, the object appeared to disintegrate as bright particles flow from the object as it passed beyond Nyman Peninsula. SHAW was of the firm opinion that the object he saw was not a meteor or shooting star which he has seen on numerous occasions.

4. Paul KREUGER, Bus Driver, U.S. Naval Operating Base, Kodiak, Alaska, reported that he was driving his bus on 8 April 1949, when at 2045 hours, he observed a strange greenish-blue object flash across the sky from the vicinity of Old Woman Lbuntain to Nyman Peninsula (West to East direction). KREUGER described the object as being 1-1/2 feet in diameter and approximately 10 feet long. He stated the object was approximately 500 feet high as it passed over hangar of the Air Station and it would have landed in Chiniak Bay off Nyman Peninsula but it faded from his view when it passed over the Peninsula. "It had the appearance of a large greenish tracer shell", stated KREUGER.

5. U.S. Navy Weather Central, U.S. Naval Operating Base, Kodiak, Alaska, reported the weather for 8 April 1949 at 2000 hours as follows:

Ceiling: 3,000 feet, scattered clouds, 3/10 coverage.

Visibility: 15 miles.

Wind: North-Northwest, 15 knots.

Temperature: 27 degrees.

6. No emission of noiso by the object was reported by the observers.

## CONTENTS

As the above statements are approximately the same in position, altitude, course and time of the luminous manifestation, it's existence has been evaluated as probable. However, as the shape, size and color of the object have been variously described and as unsuccessful efforts have been made to determine the nature of the phenomena with no further information available, no valuation of the nature of the atmospheric disturbance has been made.