Report of Sighting at Ladd Field, 9 January 1948

This document is a series of official military communications regarding an unidentified aerial sighting reported at Ladd Field, Alaska, on January 9, 1948. The initial report, filed by the Yukon Sector of the Alaskan Air Command, described a sighting at 2300Z of a definite contrail that exhibited a phosphorescent glow and intermittent flashes at its point of origin. Five officers and men from the 72nd Reconnaissance Squadron observed the phenomenon, which initially appeared as a vertical contrail on the horizon before becoming horizontal and eventually disappearing into an overcast sky. Following the report, an interrogation and thorough check were conducted. The investigation determined that the flashes and glow were likely caused by the sun reflecting off the surface of an aircraft. Further inquiry with the Operations Officer at Mile 26 confirmed that a B-29 aircraft was indeed in the vicinity of Ladd Field at 2300Z, practicing instrument approaches at 16,000 feet on a heading of 91 degrees. Consequently, the official conclusion reached by the Alaskan Air Command was that the observed contrail was caused by this B-29. The documentation includes internal correspondence between the Alaskan Air Command and the Department of the Air Force in Washington, D.C. Notably, the evaluating authorities expressed dissatisfaction with the initial investigation, stating that it resulted from inadequate procedures prior to the submission of the report. Instructions were subsequently issued to ensure more thorough investigations for future incidents. The documents are marked as unclassified and include standard downgrading instructions.