Project 10073 Record — Barter Island, Alaska, 8 February 1953

On 8 February 1953, at approximately 0450 local time, two USAF pilots stationed at Barter Island, Alaska, observed an unidentified aerial object. Captain Robert E. Barnes, while working on a C-47 aircraft, noticed a noise he initially attributed to nearby heaters, but soon identified as emanating from a large, round, brilliant white object descending in a 'falling leaf' pattern from the west. The object descended to approximately 2000 feet, where it hovered for about 45 seconds. During this time, it displayed brilliant white lights and small ray-like appendages on its lower side. Captain Barnes described the light as cold and brilliant, similar to white-hot metal, but without illumination of the surrounding area. The object produced a deep, heavy sound comparable to a large electric generator. After hovering, the object climbed to the east, reaching an altitude of 10,000 to 15,000 feet, at which point it was also observed by 1st Lieutenant Lewis E. Griffin. The object eventually disappeared from sight. The weather at the time was reported as 5000 feet scattered with 7 miles visibility. Intelligence reports from the Directorate, Hq, AAC, suggest that the object was likely a PIBAL (weather balloon) light, noting that the falling-leaf pattern and blinking could be attributed to the oscillation of such balloons. However, the preparing officer acknowledged discrepancies in the timing of the PIBAL release and the sighting, ultimately concluding that the incident provided insufficient data for a definitive identification, while emphasizing the possibility of misidentification by qualified observers.