Cape Thompson, AlaskaJuly 1961

Insufficient Data

Summary

On July 26, 1961, near Cape Thompson, Alaska, a civilian weather observer saw a red flash in the sky. It happened around 1225 (about 12:25 p.m.) at dusk. The observer was taking a weather balloon reading at the time. The flash appeared about 10 degrees above the horizon and then dropped into the sea. It lasted about ten seconds. No sound was heard. The sky was overcast with about 15 miles of visibility. The Air Force noted that a Coast and Geodetic Survey ship was working in the area. Its activity, such as a flare, was listed as the probable cause. The unit could not make a firm identification because the sighting was only a flash through clouds.

Reported location

Cape Thompson, Alaska

Date of incident

July 1961

State / country

AK / US

Page count

4 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unknown

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 43

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 4

View transcribed text

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| : 2 PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD
: : elias ibd asthe |
1. DATE 2. LOCATION 12. CONCLUSIONS
| PR Tata “ 0 : 0 Wos Balloon \ :
| fede SY Rh UA GE o Lape rnompson, Alaska 1 Probably Balloon
2. DATE-TIME GROUP [& TYPE OF OBSERVATION Fal i) Btls
Pa HRCA % O Was Aircrof?
ede es a 0 Ground- Visual O Ground-Redar O Probably Aircraft |
: GMT 2610257 O Air Visual 0 Air-Intercept Radar DO Possibly Aircraft
5. "PHOTOS | 4. 3QURCE 0D Was Astronomical
0 Yeas O Probably Astronomical ‘
Ns | Civilian D Possibly Astronomical
7. LENGTH OF. C35ZRVATION | 8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS | 9. COURSE Bs CT ALR a HEAR ET
a er em Data for Evaluction
be EE i 8]
TO sec | 2h Descending Unknown
3 10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING Red [lash through clouds)l. COMMENTS S, coast and geodetic opera-
ddisappearad into sea. Observed at 10° elev. tions in area activiiies probable cause
] such as flare ete.
ATIC PORM 320 (REV 26 SEP 52)
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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28993652