DOW-UAP-D042, Range Fouler Debrief, Japan, 2023
Official description
This document is a Range Fouler Debrief Form, a standardized reporting form the U.S. Navy uses to record the circumstances surrounding an unauthorized intrusion into controlled airspace during active military operations or training. These reports contain a narrative description of the observer’s experiences. A U.S. military operator reported observing an “object fly through the screen.” The observer described a second object surpassing the first, at a higher speed. The report describes a total of three UAP “moving amongst each other.” All descriptive and estimative language contained in this report reflects the reporter’s subjective interpretation at the time of the event. Such characterizations should not be interpreted as a conclusive indication of the presence or absence of any intrinsic object features or performance characteristics.
✦ AI summary
Declassified single-page 'Range Fouler Debrief Form,' a standardized SPEAR UAP reporting questionnaire, submitted by a pilot (rank O-2) of the 482nd Attack Squadron (482 ATKS). Per the document's own fields the encounter date is 31 August 2020 at dusk (the filename/case label references Japan 2023, but the form's Date field reads 08/31/20); the working area coordinates are largely redacted, contact altitude was 18,000 ft, and the object was moving on a 150/230 heading. The reporting aircrew observed an object fly through their sensor screen and began tracking it; the initial object was then overtaken by a second object of the same size and shape but moving at a much higher speed. At one point during tracking, three such objects appeared on screen simultaneously, moving amongst one another. On the form, shape was marked 'Other' (not round/square/balloon/wings) and 'Apparent Propulsion' was checked, with metallic, markings, moving-parts, translucent, opaque, and reflective all left unchecked. Declassified by MG Richard A. Harrison, USCENTCOM Chief of Staff, released under USCENTCOM MDR 26-0028, 03/16/26, FOUO/PA applies, approved for release to AARO.
Generated with AI from the official file — may contain errors.
▸Transcript(1 of 1 pages legible)
[PAGE 1] Declassified by MG Richard A. Harrison, USCENTCOM Chief of Staff. [Header instructions, largely OCR-garbled]: 'Do not use the ... submit button above ... Save and email ...' Range Fouler Debrief Form. 'Please complete this form to the best of your ability. If you do not have the requested information, please leave the field blank. If there was more than one "group" please report each on a separate form for data collection purposes. You should receive a response within 5 business days.' Form fields (contact-only, sanitized per SPEAR policy): Last Name, First Name: [redacted]. Rank: O-2. Squadron: 482 ATKS. SIPR Email Address: [redacted]. Crew Position: Pilot. 'This information is for contact only. SPEAR sanitizes all reports of identifying information. Absolutely no identifying information for aircrew or squadron will be recorded for analysis.' Date (mm/dd/yy): 08/31/20. Day/Night: Dusk. Time of detection (hh:mm:ss Z): [blank/illegible]. Contact Working Area (Ex: W-72 1A): [FOIA Exemption (b)(1)/1.4a]. Mission Description (GAS, BFM, etc): ISR. Side No./Buno: [blank]. Contact Latitude (DD:MM:SS): [blank/redacted]. Contact Longitude: N/S [unclear, likely redacted]. Contact Altitude (Ex: 22000): 18000. EMI (DD:MM:SS): [blank]. Altitude Constant?: Yes. Wind Dir at Contact Alt (From): [blank]. LFE?: No. Wind Speed: [blank]. 'Please attempt to determine a Lat/Long for the contact at initial detection. We recommend using JMPS to reference the sensor-derived bearing and range relative to the bullseye you had in use. If that method is not available, any reasonable derivation of location will work, but please be as specific as possible and make a note in the comments section. These locations may be used to cue other means of tracking.' Was the contact moving?: Yes. Direction/Speed (Ex. 090/15): 150/230. Radar Equipped: Other. Stable Trackfile?: [blank]. # of Contacts in "Group": [blank, but narrative describes up to 3]. EA Indications (Check all that apply): ECM [unchecked], False/Ambiguous [unchecked], Other/Letter Identifier [unchecked]. AIM-9X Self-Track: [unchecked]. ATFLIR Autotrack: [unchecked]. Tally Achieved: [checked, implied]. Shape (Please check all that apply): Round: [unchecked]. Square: [unchecked]. Balloon-shaped: [unchecked]. Wings/Airframe: [unchecked]. Other Shape: [checked]. Apparent Propulsion: [checked]. Moving Parts: [unchecked]. Metallic: [unchecked]. Markings: [unchecked]. Translucent: [unchecked]. Opaque: [unchecked]. Reflective: [unchecked]. MGRS Grid of initial contact: 39RWL2[redacted] Narrative (free-text description): 'Saw the initial object fly through the screen and started tracking it. Initial object was surpassed by another object of same size and shape but much higher speed. At one point during tracking the objects, there were three on the screen at the same time moving amongst each other.' Footer instructions: 'Don't use the purple "submit" button! Save this form with filename "Date_Squadron_RF.pdf" and email it to [FOIA Exemption 3.5c, (b)(6)] (Also in the global). For troubleshooting, call [FOIA Exemption 3.5c, (b)(6)]. Thank you for your time. Please ensure all display tapes are ripped for the entire time of interaction and saved as a .wmv (Example: 4 May VFA-106 HUD.wmv). Squadron intel personnel shall upload those files to the repository located at this link. [FOIA Exemption 3.5c, (b)(6)]' USCENTCOM MDR 26-0028. Approved for Release to AARO. FOUO / PA applies. 03/16/26 000001
Generated with AI from the official file — may contain errors.
Source: U.S. Department of War / AARO — public domain · war.gov/ufo
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