What did the declassified documents reveal?

COLD OPEN. This is a declassified Air Force intelligence report titled “1953‑01‑9547108‑Corona‑California,” filed by the United States Air Force on twenty‑third January, nineteen‑fifty‑three. The document records an unidentified aerial phenomenon observed near Corona, California, and is notable for its detailed description of the objects’ illumination and maneuvering. The source of this record is the public archive at documents2.theblackvault.com. PROVENANCE. The report was released to the public through The Black Vault’s digital collection, reference number 1953‑01‑9547108‑Corona‑California. The material was declassified by the Department of Defense, with its classification downgraded after twelve years, and made available without a specific FOIA case number. The release date listed on the archive is not provided, but the document is now fully unclassified and accessible via the canonical URL https://archive.org/download/1953-01-9547108-Corona-California/1953-01-9547108-Corona-Californiadjvu.txt. THE DOCUMENT. The report begins with a form header indicating the date, time, and location of the observation. It reads: “DATE‑TIME GROUP: twenty‑six January, nineteen‑fifty‑three, twenty‑five minutes past three A.M. SOURCE: unknown.” The observation details are recorded as follows: “REPORT NO.: ZTR‑2‑53 at AIR INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION. SUBJECT: unidentified aerial objects observed over Corona, California. AREA REPORTED ON: approximately five miles southwest of Corona, California. DATE OF REPORT: twenty‑third January, nineteen‑fifty‑three. PREPARED BY: Captain Y. Covey, United States Air Force.” The narrative continues: “At fifteen hundred and five hours, twenty‑third January, nineteen‑fifty‑three, two unidentified objects were observed, ball‑shaped and entirely with a green colored illumination. The objects formed a loose formation when first sighted, then changed into an inline configuration approximately overhead. Two end objects changed to a red illumination while the formation was in a cross of changing and turned back to the green illumination when the maneuver was completed. The formation was very distinct; all objects were observed moving at approximately one hundred fifty miles per hour, traveling approximately two thousand feet above the terrain. The size of each object was estimated to be about twenty‑five feet in diameter. The observation lasted approximately twelve minutes.” The observer’s circumstances are described: “The observation was made while driving from March Air Force Base en route to Redondo Beach, California, his home, on California State Highway thirteen, approximately five miles southwest of Corona, California. The formation of objects was sighted while the observer’s automobile was traveling at forty‑five miles per hour. The observer stopped to watch the objects, getting out of his car at the time the formation passed approximately overhead, moving from south‑east to north‑west across the highway. The observer stated that…

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.

1953 01 9547108 Corona California

◆ BLUF — The short version

COLD OPEN. This is a declassified Air Force intelligence report titled “1953‑01‑9547108‑Corona‑California,” filed by the United States Air Force on twenty‑third January, nineteen‑fifty‑three. The document records an unidentified aerial phenomenon observed near Corona, California, and is notable for its detailed description of the objects’ illumination and maneuvering.

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/1953-01-9547108-Corona-California

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Episode notes

Source document: https://archive.org/details/1953-01-9547108-Corona-California

Questions about this case

What was 1953 01 9547108 Corona California about?: COLD OPEN. This is a declassified Air Force intelligence report titled “1953‑01‑9547108‑Corona‑California,” filed by the United States Air Force on twenty‑third January, nineteen‑fifty‑three. The document records an unidentified aerial phenomenon observed near Corona, California, and is notable for its detailed description of the objects’ illumination and maneuvering.
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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1953 01 9547108 Corona California

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