What did the declassified documents reveal?

Cold Open. This is a declassified Air Force Office of Special Investigations report titled “xxxx 03 7471789 Bolt Montana,” dated March twenty-four, nineteen sixty‑seven. The document records the military’s response to a reported unidentified flying object landing near Belt, Montana, and was released through the Black Vault archive. Provenance. The file was made public under Freedom of Information Act case number unknown, released on the Black Vault website on an unspecified date. The declassification authority is listed as the United States Air Force, and the record is available in both text and PDF formats at the Black Vault archive. The Document. The report opens with a heading indicating its classification as unclassified, with a notation of four lines redacted under exemption B‑1. It then proceeds: “COURSE On GroiJind h. TMOTOS n Ypi 51 Mo 9. PHYSICAL EVIDENCE …” (the opening lines contain heavily garbled text and are omitted for brevity). The substantive portion begins: “SUBJ: PREUMIN FTO FOR TDETR, CSAF FCR. AFROC, OS BETWEEN THE HOURS 2100 AND 0400 MST. REPORTS WERE RECEIVED BY MALMSTRCM AFB AGENCIES OF UFO SIGHTINGS IN THE GREAT FALLS, MONTANA AREA, REPORTS OF A UFO LANDING NEAR BELT, MONTANA WERE RECEIVED FROM STATE AND LOCAL SOURCES INCLUDING DEPUTIES OF CASCADE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE. INVESTIGATION IS BEING CONDUCTED BY PAGE 1 OF (19) AFHO 0‑309C UNCLASSIFIED …” The report details the chain of communication: “LT CO. LEWIS CHASE, PHCNE DUTY EXT 2215, HOME 452‑1135, AEROSPACE OPERATIONS OFFICER. THE ALLEGED LANDING SITE IS UNDER SURVEILLANCE, HOWEVER DAYLIGHT IS REQUIRED FOR FURTHER SEARCH.” It records that the Sheriff’s Office would conduct a ground search and that a helicopter from Malmstrom AFB would conduct an aerial search, with a follow‑up report to be submitted as details become available. The narrative continues with a chronological log: “2215 – Check made with Base Operations regarding aircraft in the area. An outbound transient aircraft departed Great Falls en route to Glasgow, Montana, at 2109. All other aircraft accounted for. 2230 – Discussion with the Sheriff of Cascade County; additional deputies dispatched to the area. Requested notification of any significant findings. 2330 – Contact with Sheriff of Cascade County for status report. Deputy on the line reported interviewing the truck driver and highway patrolman. Sheriff Martin of Belt, Montana, called in from the scene, discussing possible manpower assistance from Malmstrom and helicopter support. Daylight identified as the earliest possible helicopter support. 0030 – Discussion with Colonel Klibbe to evaluate the situation. 0100 – Arrival at the scene. Sheriff Martin reiterated previous reports. Terrain assessment indicated ground search would be hopeless at night. Tentative plan: ground search by sheriff’s office on March twenty‑five, concurrent helicopter survey by Malmstrom AFB. 0215 – Message drafted to Wing Command Post, Air Force Regulation 80‑17, to notify…

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.

Xxxx 03 7471789 Bolt Montana

◆ BLUF — The short version

Cold Open. This is a declassified Air Force Office of Special Investigations report titled “xxxx 03 7471789 Bolt Montana,” dated March twenty-four, nineteen sixty‑seven. The document records the military’s response to a reported unidentified flying object landing near Belt, Montana, and was released through the Black Vault archive.

Agency: Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
Date: JUL 18 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source documenthttps://archive.org/details/xxxx-03-7471789-Bolt-Montana

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Episode notes

Source document: https://archive.org/details/xxxx-03-7471789-Bolt-Montana

Questions about this case

What was Xxxx 03 7471789 Bolt Montana about?: Cold Open. This is a declassified Air Force Office of Special Investigations report titled “xxxx 03 7471789 Bolt Montana,” dated March twenty-four, nineteen sixty‑seven. The document records the military’s response to a reported unidentified flying object landing near Belt, Montana, and was released through the Black Vault archive.
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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Xxxx 03 7471789 Bolt Montana

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