What did the declassified documents reveal?

Project one zero seven three, record card number one, dated twenty December nineteen fifty‑five, filed under the title Decator, Nebraska. This is a United States Air Force questionnaire concerning an unidentified aerial phenomenon observed on that date. The document is notable because it provides a contemporaneous, unedited field report from a military‑issued survey form, illustrating the procedural language used by the Air Force in the mid‑1950s to collect eyewitness data on strange aerial sightings. The record was made publicly available through the Black Vault archive, uploaded on the Internet archive under the identifier 1955‑12‑7340100‑Decator‑Nebraska. The file appears to have been released under a Freedom of Information Act request, though the specific case number is not listed in the archive entry. The declassification authority is noted as the United States Air Force, with the release date recorded as the date of upload to the archive. Project one zero zero seven three, record card one. Date twenty December nineteen fifty‑five. Location Decator, Nebraska. Conclusions: □ Wot Ballpon; □ Possibly Botloon; □ Possibly Sotloon; □ Wot Ail croft; □ Probably Aircraft; □ Possibly Aircroft; □ Wof Astronomical; □ Probably Ailrorwinlcat; □ Possibly Astronomical. Observation time: three minutes. Type of observation: Graimc^ Vlftuol D Groiivt<l‑R0dor Q AIp^VIsuoI. Photographs: none. Source: military. Length of observation: three minutes. Number of objects: one. Course: then d ninety degree turn to east. Insufficient data for evaluation; unknown. Brief summary of sighting: one winged‑shaped object with red, blue or green lights, size of a pea at arm’s length, disappeared with great speed. Force technical information sheet (summary data). The questionnaire instructs the observer to describe the event, repeat any previously given information, and add further comments, statements, or sketches. The form includes the following items: If you saw the object during daylight, twilight, or dawn, what was the position of the sun relative to the object? Circle one: in front of you, to your left, behind you, to your right, or do not remember. Where were you when you saw the object? Nebraska, address, town, or country. Time of day: hour, minute, month, year. Time of day selection: evening, morning, mountain, Pacific, other. Condition of the sky: bright daylight, dull daylight, bright twilight, daylight saving, standard. Certainty of answer: certain, probably certain, not very sure, just a guess, just a trace of daylight, do not remember. Estimate how long you saw the object: hours, seconds. The questionnaire notes that the information will be used for research purposes and recorded as confidential material. Your name will not be used in connection with any statement, conclusion, or publication without your permission. Personal information is requested so that, if deemed necessary, the United States Air Force may contact you for further detail. If you saw the object…

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.

Project One Zero Seven Three, Record Card Number One, Dated Twenty December

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

Project one zero seven three, record card number one, dated twenty December nineteen fifty‑five, filed under the title Decator, Nebraska. This is a United States Air Force questionnaire concerning an unidentified aerial phenomenon observed on that date.

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 Project One Zero Seven Three, Record Card Number One, Dated Twenty December about?: Project one zero seven three, record card number one, dated twenty December nineteen fifty‑five, filed under the title Decator, Nebraska. This is a United States Air Force questionnaire concerning an unidentified aerial phenomenon observed on that date.
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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Project One Zero Seven Three, Record Card Number One, Dated Twenty December

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