Navy range fouler report on a UFO, Atlantic Ocean, 2020
Official file: DOW-UAP-D091, Range Fouler Debrief, Atlantic Ocean, 2020
Published · Updated
Key facts
- Official file ID
- DOW-UAP-D91 (cited as DOW-UAP-D091 in this file)
- Document type
- Document
- Agency
- Department of War
- Released in
- R04 · 2026-07-10
- Incident date
- 2020
- Incident location
- Atlantic Ocean
- Coordinates
- 25, -45
- Pages legible
- 2/2
- VIRIN
- 260710-D-D0360-1076
Official description
This report accompanies the video titled “DOW-UAP-PR116.” A U.S. military operator reported observing an object, describing the phenomenon as “darker, maroonish color, approximately 12-15 feet in height.” The report describes the phenomenon “travel[ing] with the wind” and noted that it did not “maneuver or change direction.” It also describes the phenomenon as appearing as a “large, somewhat deformed balloon.” 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.
About this type of document
This document is a Range Fouler Debrief, 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.
See the glossary →✦ AI summary
This 2-page document is a completed U.S. Navy "Range Fouler Debrief Form" catalogued as an Atlantic Ocean 2020 encounter, filled in by a naval aviator (rank O-3, crew position WSO). Page 1 is the form itself: the date, location, altitude and wind fields are redacted, the time of day is given as dusk, the contact was moving, and the group consisted of one contact. The boxes checked for the object are Round, Square, Balloon-shaped, Other Shape, Metallic, Opaque and Reflective; Wings/Airframe, Apparent Propulsion, Moving Parts, Markings and Translucent are unchecked. Page 2 holds the narrative: the object traveled with the wind, generally in a southern direction, with no maneuvers or change of direction noted. It was a darker, maroonish color, approximately 12-15 ft in height, and appeared to be a large, somewhat deformed balloon, although the crew could not verify this as they passed at the merge. They then returned to the ship and landed uneventfully.
Generated with AI from the official file — may contain errors.
▸Transcript(2 of 2 pages legible)
[PAGE 1] [Banner: SECRET//NOFORN, struck through in red] Range Fouler Debrief Form. Please do not use the purple "submit" button. Save and email the complete file manually (see below). 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. Fields: Last Name, First Name [redacted] / Rank: O-3 / Squadron [blank] / SIPR Email Address [redacted] / Crew Position: WSO. This information is for contact only. [redacted] sanitizes all reports of identifying information. Absolutely no identifying information for aircrew or squadron will be recorded for analysis. Date (mm/dd/yy) [redacted] / Time of detection (hh:mm:ss Z) / Day/Night: Dusk / Side No. / Buno / Mission Description (CAS, BFM, etc) [redacted]. Contact Working Area (Ex: W-72 1A) / Contact Latitude (DD:MM:SS) N/S / Contact Longitude (DD:MM:SS) E/W / Contact Altitude (Ex: 22000) / Altitude Constant? / Wind Dir at Contact Alt (From) / Wind Speed [values redacted]. Please attempt to determine a Lat / Long for the contact at initial detection. We recommend using [redacted] 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) [redacted]. # of Contacts in "Group": 1. Please check all that apply: Round [checked]; Square [checked]; Balloon-shaped [checked]; Wings/Airframe [unchecked]; Other Shape [checked]; Apparent Propulsion [unchecked]; Moving Parts [unchecked]; Metallic [checked]; Markings [unchecked]; Translucent [unchecked]; Opaque [checked]; Reflective [checked]. Please use the field below to describe the contact and any interaction in your own words with as much detail as possible. Please be sure to include any detail not included in questions above. [Comment field: redacted]. Don't use the purple "submit" button! Save this form with filename "Date_Squadron_RF.pdf" and email it to [redacted] (Also in the global). For troubleshooting, call [redacted]. Thank you for your time. Please ensure all display tapes are ripped for the entire time of interaction and saved as a .wmv (Example: [redacted]). Squadron intel personnel shall upload those files to the repository located at [redacted]. [Banner: SECRET//NOFORN, struck through in red] [PAGE 2] [Banner: SECRET//NOFORN, struck through in red] [redacted] we were operating in the [redacted] airspace, when [redacted] it traveled with the wind, the closer we came to it. It was hard to assess the true direction of travel, but it was generally in a southern direction. [redacted] We noted no maneuvers or change in direction from the object [redacted] The object itself was a darker, maroonish color, approximately 12-15ft in height. Structurally, it appeared as a large, somewhat deformed balloon, but we were unable to verify that as we passed at the merge. [redacted] We then proceeded back to the ship, landing uneventfully.
Generated with AI from the official file — may contain errors.
Source: U.S. Department of War / AARO — public domain · war.gov/ufo