What did the declassified documents reveal?

COLD OPEN. This is a declassified record titled “1952‑08‑6997230‑LIMA‑PERU,” filed under Project One Hundred Seventy‑Three. The document originates from the United States Air Force and is dated August nineteen fifty‑two. It is notable as an early report of unidentified aerial phenomena observed over Lima, Peru. PROVENANCE. The record was released to the public through The Black Vault archive. The digital entry was uploaded on the archive’s website and is accessible via the URL https://archive.org/download/1952-08-6997230-LIMA-PERU/1952-08-6997230-LIMA-PERUdjvu.txt. The release is part of the broader effort to make historical Air Force records available under the Freedom of Information Act, though a specific FOIA case number is not listed. The declassification authority is identified as the United States Air Force Historical Division. THE DOCUMENT. Project One Hundred Seventy‑Three Record Card. Location Conclusions. Ea, Peru was Balloon Probably Saicenr = a ee ee Posstbiy Balloon 3. Date‑Time Group “Va TRE OF GaSE aVATION toca; 09/0513 257 | 05/1 4 fens v Atcintercopt Vads Wet Aurseatt > reeably Aircraft Paussible Arecedte G Ground ¥ seat 3 Craund‑Pe esr BnoTes ~FELRe 4 Nay Astrenemi col TL Prebably Astrencmcel Psasiie Astenem cat | ee Insuftherent Date Unkoow 15 - ane “UWMARY Ta A ferration of three "flyin‑ discs? 1. Source is "La Presna” a newspsser| maneuvered at high speed around a D0<3 Afe publication, at 3000 feet. Objects were © :+rved by pilot and | crew members. Civilian man had see similar object ovar Tima the previous dav. ATIC FORM 329 (REV 26 SEP $2) a a a ED Sete a. CONTEXT. The Black Vault editorial summary notes that the record is an early example of a foreign sighting report, describing a “balloon‑like” object observed by both military personnel and a civilian newspaper source in Lima. The entry highlights the fragmented nature of the transcription, reflecting the challenges of preserving original handwritten intelligence cards from the early 1950s. The archive description emphasizes that the document provides insight into the United States Air Force’s systematic collection of anomalous aerial observations during the Cold War era. OUTRO. This is what the public record looks like at its most ordinary. For the full document, visit storyflo.com and the canonical URL https://archive.org/download/1952-08-6997230-LIMA-PERU/1952-08-6997230-LIMA-PERUdjvu.txt.

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.

1952 08 6997230 Lima Peru

Q: 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.

◆ BLUF — The short version

COLD OPEN. This is a declassified record titled “1952‑08‑6997230‑LIMA‑PERU,” filed under Project One Hundred Seventy‑Three. The document originates from the United States Air Force and is dated August nineteen fifty‑two. It is notable as an early report of unidentified aerial phenomena observed over Lima, Peru.

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/1952-08-6997230-LIMA-PERU

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Episode notes

Source document: https://archive.org/details/1952-08-6997230-LIMA-PERU

Questions about this case

What was 1952 08 6997230 Lima Peru about?: COLD OPEN. This is a declassified record titled “1952‑08‑6997230‑LIMA‑PERU,” filed under Project One Hundred Seventy‑Three. The document originates from the United States Air Force and is dated August nineteen fifty‑two. It is notable as an early report of unidentified aerial phenomena observed over Lima, Peru.
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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1952 08 6997230 Lima Peru

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