What did the declassified documents reveal?

COLD OPEN This is a declassified Project One Zero Seven Three record card, filed by the United States Air Force on January nineteenth, nineteen fifty‑eight. The observation took place over Mecca, Indiana, and the document was made publicly available through the Black Vault archive, documents2.theblackvault.com. It is notable as a contemporaneous report of an unidentified flying object that exhibited unusual visual characteristics. PROVENANCE The record was released as part of the Black Vault’s digital collection of declassified Air Force files. The entry, uploaded to archive.org, bears the identifier 1958‑01‑6958867‑Mecca‑Indiana and can be accessed at the URL https://archive.org/download/1958-01-6958867-Mecca-Indiana/1958-01-6958867-Mecca-Indianadjvu.txt. The document is reproduced verbatim from the original Air Force record card, with no editorial alteration. THE DOCUMENT Project One Zero Seven Three Record Card. Date: January nineteenth, nineteen fifty‑eight. Location: Mecca, Indiana. Conclusions – Observation type: Ground Visual, Ground Radar. Source: Possibly astronomical, civilian. Brief summary of sighting: Small round object, flashing red. Observer probably saw only the sound; object was moving south, then flashing red portion turned sharply north and disappeared. Navigation light observed. Report details: “ATC Form Three Two Nine (Revision twenty‑six September nineteen fifty‑two). Unidentified Flying Object Report. Subject: Unidentified Flying Object. In accordance with Air Force Regulation Two‑nine‑eight dash two, dated August second, nineteen fifty‑four. Observation notes: A. Looked up and saw red, plasma. B. Approximately one point eight eight percent foot, six degrees, disappeared. C. Object moved north until out of sight, approximately two minutes. Coordinates: Thirty‑nine degrees thirty‑six minutes north, eighty‑seven degrees thirty‑six minutes west – Mecca, Indiana. Altitude readings: - One thousand eighty feet, three hundred sixty degrees from bearing, one mile north of Mecca, Indiana. - Six thousand twenty feet. - Nineteen thousand nine hundred ninety‑nine feet. - Sixteen thousand nine hundred ninety‑nine feet. - Twenty‑five thousand eighty‑two feet. Surface winds: South‑south‑east, ten knots. Weather: Scattered ninety percent overcast. Additional remarks: - Object was moving south, then turned sharply north and disappeared. - No audible noise reported. - No radar return confirmed. End of record.” CONTEXT The Black Vault’s archival description states: “This document is a Project One Zero Seven Three record card documenting a sighting of a small, red‑flashing object over Mecca, Indiana, on January nineteenth, nineteen fifty‑eight. The report includes visual, radar, and meteorological data as recorded by the Air Defense Command.” The description is reproduced verbatim from the Black Vault entry. OUTRO This is what the public record looks like at its most ordinary. For the full document, visit storyflo.com and the canonical URL…

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

◆ BLUF — The short version

COLD OPEN This is a declassified Project One Zero Seven Three record card, filed by the United States Air Force on January nineteenth, nineteen fifty‑eight. com. It is notable as a contemporaneous report of an unidentified flying object that exhibited unusual visual characteristics.

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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Episode notes

COLD OPEN This is a declassified Project One Zero Seven Three record card, filed by the United States Air Force on January nineteenth, nineteen fifty‑eight. The observation took place over Mecca, Indiana, and the document was made publicly available through the Black Vault archive…

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Questions about this case

What was Project One Zero Seven Three Record about?: COLD OPEN This is a declassified Project One Zero Seven Three record card, filed by the United States Air Force on January nineteenth, nineteen fifty‑eight. com. It is notable as a contemporaneous report of an unidentified flying object that exhibited unusual visual characteristics.
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

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