How the Salem Photo Was Taken

Introduction

The Salem, Massachusetts photograph of 16 July 1952 stands as one of the more frequently discussed visual records from the early post‑war surge in reported unidentified aerial phenomena. At the centre of this episode is Shell R. Alpert, a young United States Coast Guard photographer whose sudden visual encounter with unusual lights outside his photo laboratory culminated in a single shutter click that has since been scrutinised by investigators, journalists, sceptics and UFO researchers alike. This page provides a focused, chronologically ordered timeline of Alpert’s sighting and photographic actions — from first noticing the lights through to the moment the image entered official investigative channels. [The UFO Database]theufodatabase.com1952 salem ufo photoThe UFO Database1952 Salem UFO Photo | The UFO Database…

Morning in the Photo Laboratory

On the morning of 16 July 1952, at approximately 09:35 AM, Shell R. Alpert was on duty at the United States Coast Guard Air Station on Winter Island near Salem, Massachusetts. Employed as a professional photographer for the service, Alpert was attending to routine tasks in the photo laboratory — reportedly filing and cleaning camera equipment — when he experienced an unexpected visual event. [The UFO Database]theufodatabase.com1952 salem ufo photoThe UFO Database1952 Salem UFO Photo | The UFO Database…

According to Alpert’s later accounts, he had his back toward the laboratory window when something outside drew his attention. Upon turning slightly, he observed four unusually bright lights arranged in a loose *“V”‑shaped formation in the sky, apparently near the line of a nearby power‑plant’s smokestacks. These lights were described as “wavering” in brightness or intensity as he watched them. [The UFO Database]theufodatabase.com1952 salem ufo photoThe UFO Database1952 Salem UFO Photo | The UFO Database…

Alpert, Flaherty, and the Reported Lights

After a few seconds observing the lights alone, Alpert called out to his colleague, Hospitalman 1st Class Thomas E. Flaherty, who was working elsewhere in the station, to come and look. When Flaherty arrived at the window, witnesses reported that the lights again brightened after a momentary dimming. It was at this brief second interval — as the lights re‑intensified — that Alpert seized the opportunity to take a photograph. [The UFO Database]theufodatabase.com1952 salem ufo photoThe UFO Database1952 Salem UFO Photo | The UFO Database…

Alpert swiftly reached for a camera he had nearby. Some accounts note he was uncertain in the moment whether the camera still contained film, as he had been cleaning it, but fortunately it did. With the camera in hand, Alpert exposed his film through the laboratory window screen, capturing one image of the four luminous points against the sky. [The UFO Database]theufodatabase.com1952 salem ufo photoThe UFO Database1952 Salem UFO Photo | The UFO Database…

Immediately after the shutter was released, Alpert and Flaherty reported that the lights dimmed and disappeared suddenly, in what one witness described as a “momentary flash”. The entire visual encounter — from first noticing the lights to their disappearance — lasted only the few minutes required to call for Flaherty and expose the frame. [The UFO Database]theufodatabase.com1952 salem ufo photoThe UFO Database1952 Salem UFO Photo | The UFO Database…

From Shutter Click to Official Handling

The print that resulted from Alpert’s exposure was officially designated Coast Guard Photo 5554. Following standard procedure for unusual incidents involving potential unidentified aerial phenomena during that era, the photograph and related witness accounts were passed up through the Coast Guard chain of command. The picture was first handed to Alpert’s superior at the Salem station, then flown to Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C., and eventually forwarded to the U.S. Air Force for examination under its formal UFO investigative programme, Project Blue Book. [The UFO Database]theufodatabase.com1952 salem ufo photoThe UFO Database1952 Salem UFO Photo | The UFO Database…

In the ensuing review, Air Force analysts initially proposed a series of conventional explanations — including the possibilities of double‑exposure artefacts or reflection effects — before ultimately categorising the case as “unexplained” within the Project Blue Book files. This classification meant that, based on the documentation available at the time, investigators did not identify a conventional source that could account for the photographed lights. [ufologie.patrickgross.org]ufologie.patrickgross.orgufo - UFOs at close sight: Project Blue Book case 1501, Salem, July 16, 1952…Published: July 16, 1952

The photograph itself was subsequently archived and made accessible in official collections, including digitised holdings at the Library of Congress (where it is catalogued as a 1952 photographic print taken by Alpert through a window screen). Its presence in public repositories has ensured that the image continues to be referenced in historical overviews of the 1952 UFO wave. [The Library of Congress]loc.govThe Library of CongressFirst daylight photo of - what are they? | Library of Congress…

Endnotes

1. Source: ufologie.patrickgross.org
   Link: https://ufologie.patrickgross.org/htm/bluebookpics1501.htm
   Source snippet

   ufo - UFOs at close sight: Project Blue Book case 1501, Salem, July 16, 1952...

   Published: July 16, 1952

2. Source: ufologie.patrickgross.org
   Link: https://ufologie.patrickgross.org/htm/bluebooku52.htm
   Source snippet

   10:10 P.M: Witnesses: J. Antoneff and two other persons. One discus-shaped object, greyish, except when hovering, when it appeared muddy...

3. Source: theufodatabase.com
   Title: 1952 salem ufo photo
   Link: https://theufodatabase.com/incidents/1952-salem-ufo-photo
   Source snippet

   The UFO Database1952 Salem UFO Photo | The UFO Database...

4. Source: loc.gov
   Link: https://www.loc.gov/item/2007680837/
   Source snippet

   The Library of CongressFirst daylight photo of - what are they? | Library of Congress...

5. Source: theufodatabase.com
   Title: Salem UFO | The UFO Database
   Link: https://theufodatabase.com/photos/salem-ufo
   Source snippet

   Alpert, a photographer with the U.S. Coast Guard, took a famous photograph of four bright objects in a "V" formation in...

Additional References

1. Source: beforeitsnews.com
   Link: https://beforeitsnews.com/paranormal/2026/01/amazing-alien-craft-photo-over-salem-massachusetts-2570793.html
   Source snippet

   January 14, 2026 — By World UFO Photos Contributor profile | More stories Story Views Now: | Last hour: | Last 24 hours: | Total: | AMAZI...

   Published: January 14, 2026

2. Source: keithmayerson.com
   Title: (121.92 × 172.72 cm) Download Notes + First Daylight Photo of UFOs: Salem Mass U
   Link: https://keithmayerson.com/works/first-daylight-photo-of-ufos-salem-mass-us-coast-guard-station-july-16-1952/
   Source snippet

   First Daylight Photo of UFOs: Salem Mass US Coast Guard Station, July 16, 1952 | Keith MayersonImage First Daylight Photo of UFOs: Salem...

   Published: July 16, 1952

3. Source: commons.wikimedia.org
   Title: File:Project Blue Book report 1952 07 7274460 [Salem Massachusetts]({{ ‘salem-massachusetts-photograph-1952/’ | relative_url }}) 1501
   Link: [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AProject_Blue_Book_report_-1952-07-7274460-Salem-Massachusetts-1501-.pdf](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AProject_Blue_Book_report-_1952-07-7274460-Salem-Massachusetts-1501-.pdf)
   Source snippet

   wikimedia.orgFile:Project Blue Book report - 1952-07-7274460-Salem-Massachusetts-1501-.pdf - Wikimedia CommonsFILE:PROJECT BLUE BOOK REPO...

4. Source: uapdiscovery.discourse.group
   Title: july 16 1952 beverly ma the 1952 coast guard photo case
   Link: https://uapdiscovery.discourse.group/t/july-16-1952-beverly-ma-the-1952-coast-guard-photo-case/251
   Source snippet

   July 16, 1952 — Beverly, MA — The 1952 Coast Guard Photo Case - Blue Book Unknowns - UAP Discovery ForumJuly 15, 2025 — JULY 16, 1952 — B...

   Published: July 16, 1952

5. Source: nicap.org
   Link: https://www.nicap.org/1952jul.htm
   Source snippet

   UFO Casebook 1952 JulyUFO CASEBOOK: JULY, 1952 This selection of "UFO CASEBOOK" contains the Blue Book "Unknowns" and will soon provide t...

6. Source: spookyvalley.com
   Title: The Salem Coast Guard Photograph | Spooky Valley
   Link: https://spookyvalley.com/events/salem-coast-guard-photo-1952
   Source snippet

   Alpert captured four bright objects in V-formation through his window at the Coast Guard Air Station. The photograp...

7. Source: saucerco.com
   Title: The Salem UFO – Saucer
   Link: https://saucerco.com/blogs/saucer-encounters/the-salem-ufo
   Source snippet

   July 16, 2022 — 8 comments · Jul 16, 2022 THE SALEM UFO by SAUCER Image: The Salem UFO - July 16, 1952 (Four unidentified luminous object...

   Published: July 16, 2022

8. Source: loc.gov
   Link: https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2007680837/
   Source snippet

   [http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3a44484](http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3a44484) FIRST DAYLIGHT PHOTO OF - WHAT ARE THEY? * About This Item * Ob...

9. Source: youtube.com
   Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9wUHdXmgQU
   Source snippet

   Project Blue Book: America's Obsession with UFOs...

10. Source: todaysufovideos.com
    Title: salem massachusetts ufo july 16 1952 mobile
    Link: https://www.todaysufovideos.com/salem-massachusetts-ufo-july-16-1952-mobile.html
    Source snippet

    Salem Massachusetts UFO July 16,1952 | Today's UFO Videos...