What did the declassified documents reveal?

This is Project One Thousand Seventy‑Three Record Card, United States Air Force, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, August eleventh, nineteen fifty‑four. The document is notable because it records a multi‑witness sighting of an unidentified aerial phenomenon observed from the base and from nearby Army helicopters. The record was released to the public through The Black Vault archive, reference number 1954‑08‑8716018‑MaxwellAFB‑Alabama. The declassification authority is listed as the United States Air Force Historical Division, and the file was made available online on the archive’s website. PROJECT ONE THOUSAND SEVENTY‑THREE RECORD CARD. DATE: August eleventh, nineteen fifty‑four. LOCATION: Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. TYPE OF OBSERVATION: Visual, ground‑based, and radar corroborated. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION: Thirty‑five minutes. NUMBER OF OBJECTS: One. COURSE: Variable, initially stationary, then high velocity north‑north‑west, returning to original position, then descending motionless. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING: “Base tower observed a stationary object of variable brilliance located due west of the tower. After the initial sighting the object unexpectedly gained apparent high velocity and sped across the sky in a north‑north‑west heading, which was followed by its return to its original position in relation to the tower and a noticeable descent, remaining motionless.” The tower immediately notified operations and dispatched a local Army helicopter, serial number Army Two Six Seven, to observe the phenomenon. The helicopter pilot reported that the object was “definitely not a star, approximately twenty‑nine miles west at two thousand seven hundred nine feet. Fuel constraints prevented further pursuit.” Subsequent observations were recorded by airfield personnel. At 21 562 hours the airfield officer and driver observed the mystery object, proceeded to the tower for further observation, and at 22 052 hours two members of the alert crew observed the object from the tower. Columbus civil aviation authority radio also reported the object in sight. The object then became dimmer, showing a slight red glow. At 22 262 hours the object remained stationary, with several occurrences of variable brilliance becoming extremely dim. At 22 272 hours the same helicopter, returning from its mission, sighted the object and proceeded toward it. At 22 292 hours the object completely disappeared and the pilot lost visual contact. At 22 427 hours Army operations called and advised that the pilot of the helicopter wished to state that the object was of a “saucer‑like” nature, stationary at two thousand nine hundred feet, and offered to be called upon to verify any statements and act as witnesses. EYE WIT

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.

Army: Project One Thousand Seventy‑three Record Card, United States Air Force

◆ BLUF — The short version

This is Project One Thousand Seventy‑Three Record Card, United States Air Force, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, August eleventh, nineteen fifty‑four. The document is notable because it records a multi‑witness sighting of an unidentified aerial phenomenon observed from the base and from nearby Army helicopters.

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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Questions about this case

What was Army: Project One Thousand Seventy‑three Record Card, United States Air Force about?: This is Project One Thousand Seventy‑Three Record Card, United States Air Force, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, August eleventh, nineteen fifty‑four. The document is notable because it records a multi‑witness sighting of an unidentified aerial phenomenon observed from the base and from nearby Army helicopters.
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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Army: Project One Thousand Seventy‑three Record Card, United States Air Force

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