A sergeant serving in Alaska's local military force, residing on St. Lawrence Island, observed a low light on the horizon opposite the settlement of Gambell. The light remained in the same spot, then vanished as if it had been turned off.
The report stated that the light's color resembled that of a flashlight. However, no identifiable object was described around it. An officer who prepared the report suggested that an unidentified ship might have been the source of the light. He did not explain why he thought so, nor did he definitively conclude that it was a ship.
Light Opposite Gambell
The incident occurred on December 1, 1953, west of Gambell. The sergeant reported seeing the light on the horizon for approximately five minutes. He did not describe it moving from place to place, nor did he report seeing any vessel or aircraft.
The details recorded in the report are simple: a light that appeared stationary, a color similar to a flashlight, and a sudden disappearance. There is no description of flickering, moving away, or changing shape. The report only describes what the sergeant saw at that moment.
The Possibility Raised in the Report
After those minutes, the light vanished as if extinguished. The report does not describe what happened around it at that moment, or if anything else was seen on the horizon. It also offers no explanation for why the light remained stationary before disappearing.
The officer who prepared the report noted that an unidentified ship might have been the source. This was a suggestion, not a conclusion: the report does not detail why this possibility was raised, nor does it describe a ship seen in the area. Therefore, it does not solve the mystery, but it is the only possibility the record offers.
What Remains Unknown
It is unknown what created the light, or if a ship was present. The report could not determine its source, nor does it explain why a ship seemed possible.
A point of light remained on the horizon opposite the island, then went out. Beyond the horizon, nothing identifiable remained in the report.
