Light Phenomena East of Tashkent

This intelligence report, issued by the Central Intelligence Agency on February 11, 1952, details recurring light phenomena observed in the vicinity of Tashkent, Uzbek S.S.R., between May and September 1950. The observations were made from a location identified as the F7 camp in Pakhta, situated approximately 50 kilometers southwest of Tashkent at coordinates 41°18'N/69°15'E. According to the report, three distinct light phenomena were observed at intervals of roughly 15 minutes, typically occurring around 10 p.m. local time. Witnesses described the objects as balls of fire that followed a trajectory from the southwest to the northeast. Each object reportedly reached the apex of its trajectory after approximately six seconds. The visual characteristics of the objects included a bright red color at the apex, which transitioned from pale green to white. The objects were estimated to be at an altitude between 5,000 and 12,000 meters, with a size perceived as one-fifth the diameter of the full moon. The total distance of the trajectory from the point of observation was estimated to be between 60 and 80 kilometers. The report explicitly notes that no noise or detonations were heard during these events. An annex included with the report provides a sketch illustrating the trajectory, the point of extinction, and the culmination point. A field comment appended to the report advises that the trajectory measurements should be treated with caution and notes that the lack of audible discharge or noise associated with the projectiles is a factor to be considered in further analysis. The document is based on a second interrogation of an informant and is marked as unevaluated information.