Farewell, AlaskaJanuary 1959

Insufficient Data

Summary

On January 14, 1959, an Air National Guard aircrew and a ground observer reported a bright light near Farewell, Alaska. The sighting was at night and lasted about one hour. The aircrew was aboard an Alaska Air National Guard C-47 on an official flight along an airway between McGrath and Sweetna.

The observers saw one bright light, with a possible second light later. It varied in color from reddish to bright white. The movement was erratic and rapid, including vertical and horizontal motions, lazy eights, and circles. The object finally disappeared ahead, possibly into or behind clouds. The aircrew was emphatic it was not a reflection and used the aircraft structure and stars as reference points.

The Air Force concluded the sighting was astronomical. The record card said a check showed the planet Mars was in the location given, and that movement of the aircraft and clouds would account for the apparent motion. The conclusion was that Mars was observed.

Reported location

Farewell, Alaska

Date of incident

January 1959

State / country

AK / US

Page count

4 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unknown

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 35

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 4

View transcribed text

| ‘ 5 - PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD |
1. DATE 2. LOCATION 12. CONCLUSIONS
0 Was Balloon
an Q arewe A laska o Probably Balloon
3. DATE-TIME GROUP 4 TYPE OF OBSERVATION WU W— |
0 Was Aircraft
LOOT cn —— RGround- Visual O Ground-Radar Q Probably Airer oft
GMT 2/031 Air Vi svol 8 Aiintorost Rade [0 Possilly Neash
S. PHOTOS DUR OX Wes Astronomicel [21'S
O Yes QO Probably Astronomical :
xR Ne | Military & Civilian 0 Possibly Astronomical
7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION 8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS | 9. COURSE 0 Othe eee
0 Insufficient Date for Evaluation | .
0 Unknown
ona hou one stationa
10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING 11. COMMENTS
A bright light varying in color fron A check indicates the planet Mars
1 reddish to bright white with novenent., was in the location given by observer.
1 Movement was erratic and rapid. Obj disappeafed Movement of the aircraft and céouds
| possibly into or behind clouds. would account for the apparent move-
mant of the obj. There is no doubt
the planet Mars was observed.
| ATIC FORM 329 (REV 26 SEP $2)
k :
/
| [
3
i [TL CE Re dol ‘ Vin ; 3

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28981711