CIA memo: Senator Russell’s train UFO sighting, 1955

[PAGE 1] TOP SECRET (struck through) Approved for Release 2026 1 NOV 1955 [handwritten, top right, faint]: ASD-178, with small pencil annotations "A-4" and "A-9" (or similar) next to the Registry fields below SIGNATURE RECORD AND COVER SHEET DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION SOURCE: AD/SI [handwritten] DOC. NO.: [blank] DOC. DATE: [blank] COPY NO.: 6 of 10 [handwritten] NUMBER OF PAGES: 2 NUMBER OF ATTACHMENTS: none [handwritten] REGISTRY CIA CONTROL NO.: 115485 DATE DOCUMENT RECEIVED: 1 NOV 1955 LOGGED BY: [blank] 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 Top Secret document will sign and indicate the date of handling in the right-hand columns. REFERRED TO / RECEIVED / RELEASED / SEEN BY table: OFFICE: OSI. RECEIVED SIGNATURE: [illegible cursive signature]. DATE: [illegible]. TIME: 1030. RELEASED DATE/TIME: [blank]. SEEN BY (four handwritten rows, signatures illegible): row 1 [illegible signature], DATE: 1 Nov 55; row 2 [illegible signature], DATE: 1/11/55; row 3 [illegible signature, office abbreviation "DSD" or "DSO"], DATE: stamped 30 OCT 1961; row 4 [illegible signature], DATE: 30 Oct [year illegible]. 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. DOWNGRADED TO: [blank]. BY (Signature): [blank]. DATE: [blank]. DESTROYED BY (Signature): [blank]. WITNESSED BY (Signature): [blank]. DATE: [blank]. DISPATCHED (OUTSIDE CIA) TO: [blank]. BY (Signature): [blank]. OFFICE: [blank]. DATE: [blank]. FORM NO. 26 (USE PREVIOUS EDITIONS) 1 APR 55 (40) TOP SECRET (struck through) [PAGE 2] [marginalia, top right corner, pencil, faint]: appears to read approximately "178", a crossed mark, "A-4", and "A-9" or similar reference/filing numbers MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence SUBJECT: Sightings of Flying Saucers or Unconventional Aircraft 1. All four participants in the observation of the flying saucers or unconventional aircraft have now been debriefed and the following is a summary of their observations. 2. The party was travelling by train from Baku to Tiflis at the specific request of Senator Russell who tried to use rail transportation whenever it was at all possible. The sightings were noted about ten minutes beyond Alyaty at 1910 hours when it was already dark. Senator Russell was resting alone in his compartment with the lights out when he noted a small greenish-yellow glowing ball rising quite rapidly. He informed the other members of the party who were occupying the other compartment and a few minutes later they too observed another object. 3. Senator Russell never saw the form of the object only the luminescent ball. Mr. Efron saw only two lights resembling eyes. Colonel Hathaway saw a shadowy object with a single light in the middle at the top and a rotating light or lights similar to exhausts at the base. Senator Russell had the impression that the object could have been as small as a rocket although there were no objects available to produce a satisfactory scale and no trail was left by the rising ball. Mr. Gros and Colonel Hathaway considered the size of the object to be comparable to that of a U.S. jet fighter. However, Colonel Hathaway believes that the object did not resemble any aircraft, rocket or missile that he had ever seen. All observers agree on the impression that the object was rotating or whirling during its rise along its initial steep trajectory. Neither Senator Russell nor Mr. Gros noted any change in this trajectory, but Colonel Hathaway and Mr. Efron stated that the object altered its pattern to horizontal flight quite sharply. Neither Senator Russell, Colonel Hathaway nor Mr. Efron saw any objects on the ground with the exception of the search light, but Mr. Gros reported the presence of a triangular object with three lights which appeared to be ejected from a launching site. 4. Based on the interviews so far, the only testimony which would support the existence of flying saucers or radically unconventional aircraft is that of Colonel Hathaway. All other T.S. 115485 Copy 6 of 10 [PAGE 3] SUBJECT: Sightings of Flying Saucers or Unconventional Aircraft observations can probably be explained as steep climbing aircraft or missiles. Further discussions will probably be required before the matter can be completely resolved. In the meantime, however, the evidence does not appear sufficiently firm to warrant the conclusion that the Soviets have developed and have in operation a radically new type of aircraft. HERBERT SCOVILLE, JR. Assistant Director Scientific Intelligence OSI:HScoville:gs (31 October 1955) Distribution Orig & 1 - fwd 1 - DD/I 1 - OCI 1 - ASD/SI 1 - GM/SI 2 - AD/SI T.S. 115485 Copy [illegible] of [illegible] -2-