What did the declassified documents reveal?

COLD OPEN This is a reading of Project One Zero Zero Seven Three Record Card I, dated twenty‑nine February nineteen fifty‑six, filed by the United States Air Force. The card records an unidentified aerial observation near South Newton, Iowa, and is notable for its early Cold War documentation of a “round, pea‑sized” object that was observed by civilian witnesses. The source is the Black Vault archive entry at archive.org. PROVENANCE The record was released to the public through a Freedom of Information Act request. The declassification authority listed the document as “Information Only” and it was made available on the Black Vault website on the date of upload. No specific FOIA case number is cited in the archive entry, but the release complies with standard U.S. government declassification procedures. THE DOCUMENT PROJECT ONE ZERO ZERO SEVEN THREE RECORD CARD I. DATE: TWENTY‑NINE FEBRUARY NINETEEN FIFTY‑SIX. TIME: LOCAL GMT FIVE. PHOTOS: ZERO ONE ZERO TWO THREE ZERO ZULU MARCH ONE. BRIEF SUMMARY OF OBSERVATION: Round, size of a pea, moving to various colors. LOCATION: SOUTH NEWTON, IOWA. TYPE OF OBSERVATION: JDXF TOMND – Visual. SOURCE: Civilian. NUMBER OF OBJECTS: ONE – Ground Rodcr O Aif lnt rc pf Rodof. COURSE: Unknown. CONCLUSIONS: □ Balloon – Probable. □ Balloon – Possibly. □ Balloon – Probable. □ Air‑craft – Probably Air‑craft. □ Air‑craft – Possibly Air‑craft. □ Astronomical – Probable. □ Astronomical – Possibly. OTHER: Insufficient data for evaluation. COMMENTS: Color white, shape unspecified. Positional data not included. No evaluation due to insufficient data. [Four lines redacted under exemption B1] CASE: Information Only. Date: Six February Nineteen fifty‑six. Location: Salmon River, California. CASE: Information Only. Date: Six February Nineteen fifty‑six. Location: Somers Point, New Jersey. A COUPLE DRIFTING SHORE‑BOUND OBSERVERS reported that on the night of February six they watched a saucer descend over their car for nearly half an hour while driving near Somers Point, New Jersey. The witnesses said that at one time the object was so close above them that a good rifle could hit it. They described the shape as round, though at an angle it appeared “bean‑shaped.” The object stood still, then slowly rose, accelerated, and at one point moved “faster than a jet.” The witnesses believed it was made of metal, and at times a glow surrounded it. CASE: Information Only. Date: Twelve February Nineteen fifty‑six. Location: Noel, Missouri. CASE: Information Only. Date: Thirteen February Nineteen fifty‑six. Location: Clearwater, Florida. CASE: Information Only. Date: Fifteen February Nineteen fifty‑6. Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. CASE: Information Only. Date: Sixteen February Nineteen fifty‑six. Location: Santa Barbara, California. CASE: Information Only. Date: Twenty February Nineteen fifty‑six. Location: Fairfax, Oklahoma. CASE: Information Only. Date: Twenty‑five February Nineteen fifty‑six. Location: Chula Vista…

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.

NSA: Reading Of Project One Zero Zero Seven

◆ BLUF — The short version

COLD OPEN This is a reading of Project One Zero Zero Seven Three Record Card I, dated twenty‑nine February nineteen fifty‑six, filed by the United States Air Force. The card records an unidentified aerial observation near South Newton, Iowa, and is notable for its early Cold War documentation of a “round, pea‑sized” object that was observed by civilian witnesses.

Agency: Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
Date: JUL 18 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

↯ Dispatch — press play3:04

0:003:04

↯ Share

X in r/

Episode notes

View the primary source document

Questions about this case

What was NSA: Reading Of Project One Zero Zero Seven about?: COLD OPEN This is a reading of Project One Zero Zero Seven Three Record Card I, dated twenty‑nine February nineteen fifty‑six, filed by the United States Air Force. The card records an unidentified aerial observation near South Newton, Iowa, and is notable for its early Cold War documentation of a “round, pea‑sized” object that was observed by civilian witnesses.
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.

intelligence-vault

Related cases

CIA

More from CIA

✉ Dispatches

A short dispatch when a new file is released — narrated, answer-first, and linked straight to the primary source. No spam; unsubscribe anytime.

↯ Subscribe to the feed

RSS feed Browse all cases

NSA: Reading Of Project One Zero Zero Seven

Questions about this case

Related cases

CIA Report On Alleged Republic Of China Maritime Incursion In Fukien

Memorandum From The Joint Chiefs Of Staff, Dated February 17, 1968

Central Intelligence Agency Memorandum Of Conversation Between United States

Central Intelligence Agency Intelligence Note On Kuomintang Forces Operating

CIA Air Warning Radar Facilities, Southwest China – A Declassified Central

More from CIA

Declassified CIA File

CIA Document: Islipterrace Newyork, Undated, Circa 1950s.

CIA Project One Zero Zero Seventy‑three Record Card, Midland Texas.

Declassified Case File

War.gov: Cold Open: We're Examining A Declassified Document From 1943, Retrieved From The

Questions about this case

Related cases

CIA Report On Alleged Republic Of China Maritime Incursion In Fukien

Memorandum From The Joint Chiefs Of Staff, Dated February 17, 1968

Central Intelligence Agency Memorandum Of Conversation Between United States

Central Intelligence Agency Intelligence Note On Kuomintang Forces Operating

CIA Air Warning Radar Facilities, Southwest China – A Declassified Central

More from CIA

Declassified CIA File

CIA Document: Islipterrace Newyork, Undated, Circa 1950s.

CIA Project One Zero Zero Seventy‑three Record Card, Midland Texas.

Declassified Case File

War.gov: Cold Open: We're Examining A Declassified Document From 1943, Retrieved From The

Get the next declassified case in your inbox