What did the declassified documents reveal?

Cold Open: This is a declassified document from the archives of The Black Vault, a collection of UFO-related records from the United States Air Force. The document, dated November 5, 1958, is a report of an unidentified flying object sighting in Watertown, New York. The document is part of the Project Blue Book collection, a comprehensive study of UFO sightings conducted by the US Air Force from 1952 to 1969. Provenance: The document was released through The Black Vault, a non-profit organization dedicated to declassifying and publishing UFO-related records. The document is available in its entirety on The Black Vault's website, and its canonical PDF can be found on the Internet Archive. The Document: Project 10073 Record Card 2. Location of Observation: Ground-Radar ET, Ground-Visual O, Air-Visual QO, Air-Intercept Radar ~. Source: Local A.M. On Sh. Photos of Objects: 9. Course: Coco ooe so0 ooo. Comments: Se, eB ee ee eee. Conclusions: Was Balloon Probably Balloon Possibly Balloon Was Aircraft Probably Aircraft Possibly Aircraft Was Astronomical Probably Astronomical Possibly Astronomical Other. Insufficient Data for Evaluation Unknown. Project 10073 Record Card 2. Location of Observation: Camp Drum Area, Watertown, N.Y. Date: November 5, 1958. Time: 01252. Observer: State Trooper Manning, N.Y. State Police. Wind Aloft: CLN 1%,0¢@ CMM 259743 CMM 16,990 CMM. D857 3 CMM 39,299 CMM OSU 4a C. Project 10073 Record Card 2. Location of Observation: Camp Drum Area, Watertown, N.Y. Date: November 5, 1958. Time: 01252. Observer: State Trooper Manning, N.Y. State Police. Wind Aloft: CLN 12,499 CHM 'O59/7483 CHM. Project 10073 Record Card 2. Location of Observation: Camp Drum Area, Watertown, N.Y. Date: November 5, 1958. Time: 01252. Observer: State Trooper Manning, N.Y. State Police. Context: The document is a standard form used by the US Air Force to record and analyze UFO sightings. The form includes information about the location and time of the sighting, as well as the observer's report and any relevant data collected. The conclusions section of the form indicates that the sighting was likely a balloon, but the data is insufficient to make a definitive evaluation. Outro: This is what the public record looks like at its most ordinary. A standard form, filled out by a state trooper, detailing a UFO sighting in Watertown, New York. The document is a reminder that even in the most mundane of records, there can be a hint of the unknown. storyflo.com. https://archive.org/download/1958-11-7202170-Watertown-NewYork/1958-11-7202170-Watertown-NewYorkdjvu.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.

Document From The Archives

◆ BLUF — The short version

Cold Open: This is a declassified document from the archives of The Black Vault, a collection of UFO-related records from the United States Air Force. The document, dated November 5, 1958, is a report of an unidentified flying object sighting in Watertown, New York.

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 Document From The Archives about?: Cold Open: This is a declassified document from the archives of The Black Vault, a collection of UFO-related records from the United States Air Force. The document, dated November 5, 1958, is a report of an unidentified flying object sighting in Watertown, New York.
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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Document From The Archives

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