Sighting of Unidentified Aerial Objects — Ladd AFB, Alaska, 22 July 1950

This document is an Air Intelligence Information Report (IR-17-50) detailing the sighting of an unidentified aerial object on 22 July 1950, in the vicinity of Ladd Air Force Base, Fairbanks, Alaska. The report, prepared by the Alaskan Air Command and signed by Lt. Colonel Don W. McKinney, describes an incident involving a single object observed by military personnel from the 867th AAA battery. The observers, who were considered reliable and possessed aerial observation training, reported seeing a round, red object approximately three feet in diameter, with two white dots underneath that appeared to revolve around the main body. The object was viewed laterally from gun positions at an angle of 50 to 70 degrees. It moved from East to West at an unknown speed, maintaining a direct line of flight without evasive action, and slowly descended. The observers noted that the object emitted no exhaust, had no visible means of support or propulsion, and produced no audible sound. After remaining nearly stationary for approximately 20 minutes, a stream of smoke was observed, followed by the object exploding and disappearing from view. Weather conditions at the time were reported as CAVU (Ceiling and Visibility Unlimited). All local weather stations and aircraft units were contacted, and none reported any testing devices or aircraft in the vicinity. The Alaskan Air Command's evaluation, included in the report, states that while the witnesses were considered reliable, the incident could not be evaluated with dependable objectivity. The command concluded that the object was possibly a meteorological balloon that had drifted into the area from another station in the Territory of Alaska, or potentially some other kind of terrestrial body. The report was forwarded to the Director of Intelligence, USAF, in Washington, D.C., on 13 September 1950.