DOW-UAP-D160, Air Intelligence Information Report, Morocco, 1953

Department of War · 12/16/53 · Morocco · Document

DOW-UAP-D160, Air Intelligence Information Report, Morocco, 1953 is indexed as a Department of War record with incident date 12/16/53 and location Morocco. This document is an Air Intelligence Information Report (AIIR), a standardized U.S. Air Force reporting form used to record raw information of potential intelligence value for later analysis. The form served as a primary vehicle for U.S. Air Force field intelligence collection throughout the early Cold War, until defense-wide reporting standards were established in the early 1960s. This AIIR records a December 16, 1953, incident in northern French Morocco and the Mediterranean Sea area in which personnel of Detachment 2, 737th AC&W Squadron reported an unidentified radar return. The report states that the return varied in shape between V, W, and M configurations and faded after several minutes of observation. It further states that electronics personnel in the 316th Air Division believed the return might have been caused by anomalous propagation, ship-borne radar jamming, or geese or storks in flight, and concludes that one of those possibilities was the most likely explanation for the return. All descriptive and estimative language contained in this report reflects the reporter s subjective interpretation at the time of the event. Such characterizations should not be interpreted as a conclusive indication of the presence or absence of any intrinsic object features or performance characteristics. AARO Comment: The 737th AC&W Squadron was a U.S. Air Force radar unit stationed in Saidia, Morocco, where it supported airborne early warning and air defense surveillance in coordination with French military forces.

Notable / anomalous element

• Anv other unusual activitv or condition, meterological, astronom:fcal or othe-rwise, vhich might account for the sighting. (native PDF text, page 3)
• Altho11gh r Pder maint Anance personnel the Site of obs Arv.<iti0n Rt havP off Pr Pd no possible cease for the sighting, it is the ooinion of s Pveral a11al ified e1ectronfos p Pl:'sonmil at this division that thi::i return Tll""V' hi:ivP b Pen c Ause bv one of the f'ollo'Wing:. (native PDF text, page 3)

Details

• French morocco di-1air intelligence information report subject ufob area reported on ifrom (a,,,.<1) nortr. (native PDF text, page 1)
• It faded after several minutes of observation. (native PDF text, page 1)
• It is the opinion of electronics personni-1 in this Division th1t such a return ght hav be--n caused by:. (native PDF text, page 1)
• Logical deduction is that on of above mentiohed possibilities is the cause for his radar return. (native PDF text, page 1)
• Operations dislribution by originator 1 info copy atic uncu\ss\f\eo note: this document contains information affecting the national defense of the united states within the meani 31 and 32. (native PDF text, page 1)
• By other than united states air force agencies, except by permission of the director of intelligence, usaf. (native PDF text, page 1)
• PAGE OF PAGES 'Ihe folloving report is rendered in compliance with AFR 200-2. "'ulf PrP.ncP parai:rr Rph six (6) of this regulation for formats. (native PDF text, page 2)
• Each ob,1ect was moredistinct at times. (native PDF text, page 2)

Tags: War Department, Morocco, Air Force, Radar contact, AARO, Radar, Anomalous object, USAF