What did the declassified documents reveal?

COLD OPEN. This is a declassified Federal Bureau of Investigation memorandum dated September sixth, nineteen sixty‑six, identified as file sixty‑five underscore H‑S‑one‑eight‑three‑four‑two‑two‑eight‑nine‑six‑one underscore six‑two‑H‑Q‑eight‑three‑eight‑nine‑four underscore Section ten. It is notable because it records the Bureau’s direct response to a private citizen’s inquiry about unidentified flying objects, and it includes a full copy of a promotional flyer for the Amalgamated Flying Saucer Clubs of America’s third national convention. PROVENANCE. The document was released to the public through The Black Vault, the online archive that publishes government records obtained via Freedom of Information Act requests. The entry is catalogued under the title “65HS1‑83422896162‑HQ‑83894Section10” and is available at archive dot org download expedient‑ovni‑65‑hs1‑834228961‑62‑hq‑83894‑section‑10‑4eefb3 slash 65hs1‑83422896162‑hq‑83894section10djvu.txt. No specific FOIA case number is listed; the release date is recorded as the date of upload to the archive. THE DOCUMENT. September sixth, nineteen sixty‑six. Dear Mrs. Levi J. Dow, Goffstown, New Hampshire, three‑zero‑four‑five. Your letter of August thirty‑first, with enclosures, has been received and I appreciate the interest which prompted you to write. In response to your inquiry, this Bureau is strictly an investigative agency of the Federal Government and, as such, neither makes evaluations nor draws conclusions as to the character or integrity of any organization, publication or individual. I am sorry I cannot be of assistance to you; however, you may be sure your communication will be made a matter of record. Sincerely yours, John Edgar Hoover, Director. [four lines redacted under exemption B1]. NOTE: Files contain no record of correspondent or Amalgamated Flying Saucer Clubs of America, Inc. TRUE COPY. August thirty‑first, nineteen sixty‑six. J. E. Hoover, F‑B‑I Director, Washington D. C. Dear Sir: I am a member of “Nicap” and am very much interested in U‑F‑O—Flying Saucers. Several weeks ago a fellow employee received a letter (business) from Arizona with a stamp on the back (see enclosed). Being interested in U‑F‑O’s I asked for the stamp and sent three dollars for the twelve issues of AFSCA. Having received and read my first issue I feel it isn’t just what it appears on the surface. I can’t say just why, but with my limited idea of how communists operate it strikes me it is backed by them. My reason for writing this is that I consider myself a true American… I would like to know if there is any way I can get things straightened out. I will be sixty‑three years old in a few days. My husband passed away April thirtieth, nineteen sixty‑five. I have worked as a member of the Reins Department for the New Hampshire Insurance Company in Manchester, New Hampshire, forty‑four years this month. Very truly yours, Florence C. Dow. [The following is the enclosed flyer for the Amalgamated…

Why was this case declassified?

This material entered the public record 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

COLD OPEN. This is a declassified Federal Bureau of Investigation memorandum dated September sixth, nineteen sixty‑six, identified as file sixty‑five underscore H‑S‑one‑eight‑three‑four‑two‑two‑eight‑nine‑six‑one underscore six‑two‑H‑Q‑eight‑three‑eight‑nine‑four underscore Section ten.

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?: COLD OPEN. This is a declassified Federal Bureau of Investigation memorandum dated September sixth, nineteen sixty‑six, identified as file sixty‑five underscore H‑S‑one‑eight‑three‑four‑two‑two‑eight‑nine‑six‑one underscore six‑two‑H‑Q‑eight‑three‑eight‑nine‑four underscore Section ten.
Why was this case declassified?: This material entered the public record through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. Storyflo narrates it directly from the public release.

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