What did the declassified documents reveal?

COLD OPEN. This is a declassified record titled “1949 07 6311258 Southwest United States,” originating from the United States Air Force. The document is dated July thirty, nineteen forty‑nine and records multiple unidentified aerial phenomena observations in the southwestern United States. It is hosted on the Black Vault archive. PROVENANCE. The file was released through the Black Vault, reference number not listed, with a release date of twenty‑second of August, twenty‑twenty‑three. The declassification authority is the United States Air Force Historical Division. The canonical URL for the PDF is https://archive.org/download/1949-07-6311258-SouthwestUnitedStates/1949-07-6311258-SouthwestUnitedStatesdjvu.txt. THE DOCUMENT. I PROJECT ONE ZERO ZERO SEVENTY‑THREE RECORD DATS • TUc CAOUP July‑July‑September forty‑nine. 2. LOCATION Southwest United States. 2. SOURCE ; ysiiti.ry ten. CONCLUSION Astro (FXBBBAIL). 4. NUMBER OF OBJECTS – See CASE EIIEI SIX. TYPE OF OBSERVATION. 11. BRIEF SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS E5 CASE F1I£ G. PHOTOS. Guide to Investigation, Incident One. Trail (color, length, width, persistence, etc.) Blue‑green – sane degree of latency and luminous body. Luminosity – visible by reflection, incandescent, other – degree of brilliance, brighter than evening star. Projections – none. Maneuvers – fairly level flight, gaining some altitude. Manner of disappearance – faded out. Effect on clouds – none. Additional information concerning object – none. Weather conditions and light at time of sighting – very clear with an abundance of stars. Name and address of observer – Corporal Oocupation and Soldier Semte photography, Killeen Base, Killeen, Texas. Comments of Interrogator relative to intelligence and character of observer – fair observer of average intelligence. Did observer wear glasses – none. Guide to Investigation, Incident Two. Date of Observation – thirty July, nineteen forty‑nine. Date of Interview – one August, nineteen forty‑nine. Exact time of observation – one five three local. Place of Observation – Camp Hood, map coordinates one five zero zero zero fifty, estimated altitude fifteen hundred to two thousand feet over ninety fifteen point zero three to eight fifty seven point eight. Position of observer – in a truck (open) located at nine twelve point five – eight fifty five point five five. What attracted attention – bright light appearing in sky. Number of objects – one. Apparent size – appeared to be a rocket unknown to observer, length including tail about one foot thumbs. Color of object – porous blue tall with nose round in shape and exceedingly brilliant like a magnesium flare, considerably more intense. Shape – shaped like rocket but larger than ordinary, appeared to have a ball‑like nucleus emitting a blue‑white tail. Altitude – estimated thirty‑five degrees. Direction from observer – forty degrees magnetic azimuth, taken by compass. Distance from observer – estimated three thousand five hundred yards. Direction of flight –…

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.

Declassified Army File

◆ BLUF — The short version

COLD OPEN. This is a declassified record titled “1949 07 6311258 Southwest United States,” originating from the United States Air Force. The document is dated July thirty, nineteen forty‑nine and records multiple unidentified aerial phenomena observations in the southwestern United States.

Agency: Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
Date: JUL 18 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

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What was Declassified Army File about?: COLD OPEN. This is a declassified record titled “1949 07 6311258 Southwest United States,” originating from the United States Air Force. The document is dated July thirty, nineteen forty‑nine and records multiple unidentified aerial phenomena observations in the southwestern United States.
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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