What did the declassified documents reveal?

COLD OPEN This is a memorandum dated twenty-two July, nineteen hundred and forty‑seven, from Headquarters Air Defense Command at Mitchel Field, New York. It was addressed to the Commanding General of the Army Air Forces concerning a reported “Flying Disc” observed by the Second Air Force. The document is notable because it represents an early official dismissal of the flying‑disc reports that later became known as the UFO phenomenon. The source is archived at the Black Vault, https://archive.org/download/1947-07-9669350-BlackRiverFalls-Wisconsin-ILLEGIBLE-/1947-07-9669350-BlackRiverFalls-Wisconsin-[ILLEGIBLE]-djvu.txt. PROVENANCE The record was released to the public through the Black Vault’s digital collection. The entry lists the document as “1947 07 9669350 Black River Falls Wisconsin [ILLEGIBLE]” and provides both a text transcription and a PDF download. No FOIA case number is attached; the declassification authority is indicated as the United States Air Force, with the release date noted as the date of upload to the Black Vault archive. The canonical URL for the PDF is https://archive.org/download/1947-07-9669350-BlackRiverFalls-Wisconsin-ILLEGIBLE-/1947-07-9669350-BlackRiverFalls-Wisconsin-[ILLEGIBLE]-djvu.txt. THE DOCUMENT PROJECT ONE‑ZERO‑SEVENTY‑THREE, RECORD, I‑ME GROUP TWO. CATION NUMBER OF OBJECTIVE = SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS OBSERVATION. A form may be used, HEADQUARTERS AIR DEFENSE COMMAND MITCHEL FIELD, NEW YORK. IN REPLY, twenty‑third July, nineteen hundred and forty‑seven, REFER TO: zero three three three zero five, SUBJECT: Flying Disc. TO: Commanding General, Army Air Forces, Washington, D. C., ATTN: A‑C/ A‑S‑2. 1. Enclosed herewith are the photographs of the reputed “flying saucer” referred to in a letter from Second Air Force, five‑one‑three point five, subject “Flying Disc,” fourteen July, nineteen hundred and forty‑seven, with list indication, from this headquarters, twenty‑second July, nineteen hundred and forty‑seven. 2. This contrivance is patently a hoax and should not be dignified by any further consideration from any intelligence agency, nor should any further government funds be spent in its transportation. 3. In the event you desire the original contrivances forwarded to you, please indicate to this office your desires; otherwise it will be held for a reasonable length of time and then disposed of in the nearest ash receptacle. FOR THE COMMANDING GENERAL: A‑S‑L‑2. Enclosed: R. H. Smith, Colonel, GSC. --- D‑333E5 1D (sixteenth July, nineteen hundred and forty‑seven) HQ AIR DEFENSE COMMAND, Mitchel Field, New York, twenty‑second July, nineteen hundred and forty‑seven. TO: Commanding General, Army Air Forces, Washington, ATTN: A‑C/ A‑S‑2. 1. Forwarded for your information and utilization. 2. Subject disc is being forwarded under separate cover. FOR THE COMMANDING GENERAL: Information – R. B. H. Smith, AMC, Wright Field; Colonel, GSC Field, Dayton, Ohio, Asst Chief of Staff‑Intelligence. --- REPLY TO: COMMANDING GENERAL…

Why was this case declassified?

This material was released by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. The originating source document is linked on this page so the citation chain is auditable.

1947 07 9669350 Blackriverfalls Wisconsin [illegible]

◆ BLUF — The short version

COLD OPEN This is a memorandum dated twenty-two July, nineteen hundred and forty‑seven, from Headquarters Air Defense Command at Mitchel Field, New York. It was addressed to the Commanding General of the Army Air Forces concerning a reported “Flying Disc” observed by the Second Air Force.

Agency: Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
Date: JUL 18 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source documenthttps://archive.org/details/1947-07-9669350-BlackRiverFalls-Wisconsin-ILLEGIBLE-

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Episode notes

Source document: https://archive.org/details/1947-07-9669350-BlackRiverFalls-Wisconsin-ILLEGIBLE-

Questions about this case

What was 1947 07 9669350 Blackriverfalls Wisconsin [illegible] about?: COLD OPEN This is a memorandum dated twenty-two July, nineteen hundred and forty‑seven, from Headquarters Air Defense Command at Mitchel Field, New York. It was addressed to the Commanding General of the Army Air Forces concerning a reported “Flying Disc” observed by the Second Air Force.
Why was this case declassified?: This material was released by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. The originating source document is linked in the case notes above so the citation chain is fully auditable.

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1947 07 9669350 Blackriverfalls Wisconsin [illegible]

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