He was in the station photo lab preparing to clean a camera when he noticed several brilliant lights in the sky. He watched them for 5 or 6 seconds, then called another Coast Guardsman in the nearby sick bay to come and see the strange sight. In these few seconds, the brilliant white of the lights had dimmed somewhat, but when it suddenly brightened again, he grabbed the camera, clicked the shutter, and this photograph is the result. Shell R. Alpert, seaman, was the photographer, and his companion was Thomas E. Flaherty, hospitalman first class. The USNI Photo Library contains additional photographs in black and white on this subject.
All thumbnails are approximate in color balance and density.
Values for photographic prints may be different.