What did the declassified documents reveal?

1955-01-6965176-30milesEast-Cochise-N-M, a UFO sighting report from the FBI's Aerial Phenomena Research Project, January 1955. The document is notable for detailing a military pilot's encounter with an unidentified flying object. This document was released through The Black Vault, a website that provides access to declassified government records. The canonical PDF is available on the Internet Archive. We quote from the document: "UFOB INDEX CARD 1. DATE 2 LOCATION 57 Lee 'ort, Cochise, N.M. 4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION 1D Ground Visual 1 Ground-Surface Observation. MEASURED DATA 12 | 7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION — (a. NUMBER OF OBJECTS 9. COLOR(S) | i 1. Shape(s) see (1) | 382 40 4 | is cee ne eee: a Sheers '10. A military pilot reported seeing nine objects in the air, which he described as 'folding' in shape. The objects were seen to change position, facing the observer's aircraft with both sides forward, and with their flat surface visible. The objects paralleled the aircraft and disappeared after approximately 7 seconds. The document continues: "GRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING 111. COMMENTS | Military pilot, flying in a 23-type aircraft. Great aerial instructor, turned to admire and | | Pires' seven objects, which he described as 'folding' in shape. CONCLUSIONS 493 Sailsen Seabebly Balloon Possibly Soiloon Vos Aircraty Penbooly Arrerote Possibly Aircroty Was Astronomical Probably Astronomical Possibly Astronomical Other. Inautticienr 2 an | for 7 Evoluar Ucknown larga, (120e130! aoress) mtallis, dise shapa, 2979 Fora 144 sent ta - eon leexed like tam pie tins plnced be eco | bat no further inmrestize | | cheir rima, During the time of sighting, the | ebdjest changed its position to both face the | | soserver'ns zairerat$ with both 1t9 edes fare) | ward, and with its silvery surface cessed | te view, Cheist paralleled airaraft and Adeppearet after appreximtaly 7 ziztea, é AiSOP Form $ 415 Ocr 54) directed by this heads aechacy." The FBI's Aerial Phenomena Research Project was established to investigate reports of unidentified flying objects. This document provides a firsthand account of a military pilot's encounter with an unidentified object. This is what the public record looks like at its most ordinary. The document is available on The Black Vault's website and the Internet Archive. storyflo.com, 1955-01-6965176-30milesEast-Cochise-N-Mdjvu.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.

Declassified FBI File

◆ BLUF — The short version

1955-01-6965176-30milesEast-Cochise-N-M, a UFO sighting report from the FBI's Aerial Phenomena Research Project, January 1955. The document is notable for detailing a military pilot's encounter with an unidentified flying object. This document was released through The Black Vault, a website that provides access to declassified government records.

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 FBI File about?: 1955-01-6965176-30milesEast-Cochise-N-M, a UFO sighting report from the FBI's Aerial Phenomena Research Project, January 1955. The document is notable for detailing a military pilot's encounter with an unidentified flying object. This document was released through The Black Vault, a website that provides access to declassified government records.
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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