CIA-UAP-D020, Memorandum on Unconventional Aircraft Sightings, 1955
Official description
This memorandum summarizes a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) debriefing of a group of four individuals who reported observing a “flying saucer” or “unconventional aircraft” in 1955. The group, which included U.S. Senator Richard Russell, a U.S. military service member, and two U.S. Government officials, reported observing a luminescent “greenish-yellow” phenomenon, as seen from aboard a train while traveling within the Soviet Union, in present-day Azerbaijan, between Baku and Tiflis (Tbilisi, Georgia). The document concludes by stating that the observation can “probably be explained as steep climbing aircraft or missiles,” and that “the evidence does not appear sufficiently firm to warrant the conclusion that the Soviets have developed […] a radically new type of aircraft.” The document “CIA-UAP-D021” contains a contemporary analysis of the incident.
✦ AI summary
A 3-page Top Secret CIA memorandum dated 31 October 1955, signed by H.P. Scoville, Jr., Scientific Advisor of the Office of Scientific Intelligence (OSI). Per the official description, it summarizes a CIA debriefing of four individuals — including U.S. Senator Richard Russell, a U.S. military service member and two U.S. Government officials — who reported observing a luminescent "greenish-yellow" phenomenon from aboard a train while traveling in the Soviet Union. Page 1 is the standard Top Secret custody cover sheet; page 2 is not legible in the available scan. The legible portion of page 3 concludes that the sighting "would probably be" explained as aircraft or missiles, while noting the evidence does not conclusively establish a radically new type of aircraft.
Generated with AI from the official file — may contain errors.
▸Transcript(3 of 3 pages legible)
[PAGE 1] TOP SECRET Approved for Release 2026. 1 NOV 1955 SIGNATURE RECORD AND COVER SHEET DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: SOURCE [illegible] DOC. NO. [illegible] DOC. DATE [illegible] COPY NO. [illegible] NUMBER OF PAGES: 2 NUMBER OF ATTACHMENTS: [illegible] CIA CONTROL NO. [illegible] DATE DOCUMENT RECEIVED [illegible] LOGGED BY [illegible] ATTENTION: This form will be placed on top of and attached to each Top Secret document received by the Central Intelligence Agency or classified Top Secret within the CIA and will remain attached to the document until such time as it is downgraded, destroyed, or transmitted outside of CIA. Access to Top Secret matter is limited to Top Secret Control personnel and those individuals whose official duties relate to the matter. Top Secret Control Officers who receive and/or release the attached Top Secret material will sign this form and indicate period of custody in the left-hand columns provided. Each individual who sees the document will sign and indicate the date of handling in the right-hand columns. REFERRED TO OFFICE / RECEIVED SIGNATURE / DATE / TIME / RELEASED DATE / TIME / SEEN BY SIGNATURE AND OFFICE / DATE [signature block, illegible handwritten entries] NOTICE OF DETACHMENT: When this form is detached from Top Secret material it shall be completed in the appropriate spaces below and transmitted to Central Top Secret Control for record. DESTROYED / DOWNGRADED TO / BY (Signature) / DATE / WITNESSED BY (Signature) / DATE / DISPATCHED (OUTSIDE CIA) TO / BY (Signature) / OFFICE / DATE FORM NO. 26 (USE PREVIOUS EDITIONS) APR 55 TOP SECRET [PAGE 2] [Page 2 is not legible: the OCR of this typewritten page is too degraded to transcribe reliably. Refer to the official PDF for the original content.] [Most of page 2 is illegible] [PAGE 3] [Continuation, also heavily degraded] ...would probably be [illegible] aircraft or missiles. Further discussion of whether the sighting could be technically explained. The document states that the evidence does not conclusively permit the conclusion that the object observed was in fact a radically new type of aircraft. H.P. SCOVILLE, JR. Scientific Advisor OSI:HScoville:ga (31 October 1955) Distribution: Orig & 1 - fwd; 1 - DD/I; 1 - OCI; 1 - ABD/SI; 2 - AD/SI
Generated with AI from the official file — may contain errors.
Source: U.S. Department of War / AARO — public domain · war.gov/ufo
