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SF-2026-001205UnverifiedAliens & UAPs

CIA-UAP-D021, Analysis of Unconventional Aircraft Sightings, 1955

This four-page redacted document, released by the U.S. Department of War (Agency: CIA) on 10 July 2026, reproduces Sections 1–4 of a 1955 CIA memorandum analyzing reports of so-called 'flying saucers' or 'unconventional aircraft.' Section 1 references a dispatch (No. G-103, dated 19 October 1955) and observer debriefings held in the paired file CIA-UAP-D020. Section 2 summarizes the incident as two lights that initially rose vertically and then passed above the observers at high altitude; the memo notes the observer failed to determine the shape of the object and observed it at roughly 9,000 feet, and the author uses caveating language concluding the reports as described did not establish the presence of an 'unconventional aircraft.' Section 3 cites Dr. [Howard] Robertson's finding (of the 1953 Robertson Panel) that 'almost all the sightings represented no threat to the U.S.' Section 4 discusses then-current research into 'saucer-like aircraft' under Project 'Y,' a joint U.S.-Canadian aerospace development program at Avro Aircraft Ltd. in Canada, noting the program remained in early experimental stages with cited performance figures (ceilings up to ~120,000 feet, speeds up to ~1,800 mph). The document is prefaced by a Top Secret signature record and cover sheet.

Source: U.S. Department of Warwar.gov ↗Incident 1955Released Jul 10, 2026Discovered Jul 10, 2026404.8 KBdocument
sha256:e2640e79f3733d5ed3e8…

Description

A 1955 CIA Top Secret memorandum analyzing reports of 'flying saucers' or 'unconventional aircraft,' assessing an incident of two lights rising vertically and passing above observers, referencing observer debriefings in the paired file CIA-UAP-D020, and discussing the Robertson Panel finding and the U.S.-Canadian Project 'Y' saucer-craft development at Avro Aircraft Ltd.

Claims

  • Dr. Robertson's 1953 panel found that almost all sightings represented no threat to U.S. security.

    80%

  • The reported incident consisted of two lights that rose vertically and then passed above the observers at high altitude.

    75%

  • Project 'Y,' a joint U.S.-Canadian program at Avro Aircraft Ltd., was developing saucer-like aircraft, still in early experimental stages.

    75%

  • The reported sighting consisted of two lights that rose vertically and then passed above the observers at high altitude.

    75%

  • Dr. Robertson's group (1953 Robertson Panel) explained almost all investigated sightings and found the phenomena represented no threat to U.S. security.

    75%

  • The CIA author concluded the reports as described did not indicate the presence of an 'unconventional aircraft.'

    72%

  • Project 'Y' was a joint U.S.-Canadian program at Avro Aircraft Ltd. developing saucer-like unconventional aircraft, still in early stages in 1955.

    72%

  • The memo's author concluded that the reports, as described, did not indicate the presence of an 'unconventional aircraft.'

    70%

  • Cited performance projections for the saucer-like aircraft included ceilings up to ~120,000 feet and speeds up to ~1,800 mph.

    55%

Events

  1. Jul 9, 2026

    Release of document

    Public release of the redacted memorandum via the U.S. Department of War UAP records release (release 4).

  2. Dec 31, 1954

    Unconventional aircraft sighting incident

    Observers reported two lights rising vertically then passing above them at high altitude (~9,000 feet).

  3. Oct 18, 1955

    Dispatch G-103

    CIA dispatch referenced in Section 1 concerning the flying saucer / unconventional aircraft reports.

  4. Dec 31, 1952

    Robertson Panel

    Prior scientific panel finding that almost all sightings represented no threat to the U.S.

  5. Dec 31, 1954

    Sighting of two lights (unconventional aircraft report)

    Observers reported two lights that initially rose vertically then passed overhead at high altitude (~9000 feet); the CIA analysis concluded the reports did not confirm an unconventional aircraft.

  6. Oct 12, 1955

    Dispatch referenced in memo

    A dispatch (control number cited in text) dated around 13 October 1955 concerning the flying saucer / unconventional aircraft reports.

  7. Dec 31, 1952

    Robertson Panel finding

    Cited earlier finding that almost all investigated sightings represented no threat to U.S. security.

Dates mentioned

19551955-10-1919532026-07-101955-10-13

Keywords

UAPUFOflying saucersunconventional aircraftCIAProject YAvro AircraftRobertson Panel1955Top Secretsaucer-like aircraftU.S.-Canadian aerospacevertical take-offU.S.-Canadian program

Entities

Programs

Project Y
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ATTENTION: This form will be placed on top of and attached to each Top Secret document received by the Central In telligence Agency or classified Top Secret within the CIA and will remain attached to the doc um en t until s1cch time as it
Access to Top Secret matter is limited to Top Secret Control.
is downgraded, destroyed, or transmitted outside of CIA.
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.

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1. A diapatch fJra fnaUlt, c..103, . . _ lJ octobe:r 195,,
~ tke ~ e l l • ~ sa.ucen w tUac-J..ue
wcoa,•tioUl. IW"Cl"llft. a ~ vitb • • m-cn,
one ot ta tom- ~ it .._ ~ , t&tlel. to
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lit)lta 'lthieb iaitialq GON ...-.tka.tb al tlMm ~
tbe tra.1D am. JUl14 l1ftl' lllad. &t a bJ.ab alt,1ttlllt. Be
taile4 to obH.,,_ the bofl' f/l ta obJect Ml W m, teelhg
• to -.ther it _. real,. tJae-1.U. or .,_ .._... 11a
only lW(lll fW .......1bine • . .....i1ona1 . . . . t.o the
obJect .,. that lt roae WA1-ti-U, an.I ~ w gl.ia ta
a 1NDDt11r Ullli.la _,. eJ.nnft be ~ .... loww.-,
1n nev or* tact t.lJiat tr..,...._•_...._ be ~ t the
~ quite 1l1gll (9000 teet) ana - - hi& obac'vaticd
wn \Bldoubte411' CODIUtiODIA b) ~tor lWlell 'a remrlla
tllat he w. -- • flJilat ....-, too - - ~ w t
be giwa to his ~ - 9111 tact tho .IO 8D1ae ...
blU'd ~ &tao haw 1..~ 1 • Ilia opinion • •

mcammt1cmal ~111U.e ot U. obJect,. II a1ao tnJ.lAl4
to OOl1f1:na the eseitaaeet. or 'tJII ln:la ottieial. tollow1ng tbe
in(:ident. It Sa 1111 belt.et t.bi&t - - • • teat.1.o::in::, alone cou.14
not contira t.bll aistace ot an:, VDI J ,_tioa&l a.1rantt.
IIJwwer, be . . not. iA a ,oei'Uon to bmt u pl. a lOClt •
WN the othar -t'ber• ot 'bbl pa:tt7. A __,. c:aNtul
~ \ i o l l ot the otlllr . . . . . ia 1a o.-..

3• 'fll0 ,.... IIF, · • AAa1.IOII h11 Ill a gl'Oq) llbieh
!ha gl"OUI
,.. able to IIIIPl,a:ln &laoat ell taie t'lptiDIJI al Naebl4
imut,:1&1fl.ted IJ.I. •i&t,lt.;inglt . , ~ tll!l,UoeN,.

tbe ccn.clua1oll tlat . _ . phe1Kin11• ftlP1'8NlltA4 no tlaNat
to the eecurt.t.y ot tllllt U-.8. hen U '1ae pUHllt 111.afltinp

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'6.. b WAP 1a ~ - a ~ ,.- at- Avro
A1J"anft Ltd. la 0Jllllle tf# U., ~ of \iMIC,GNAt1oal
.........,._like &.1lWtft. llM••# tba ~ ill still 1n
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l8oo au. .,_ bow, a ftllll1P ~ TOO au. .a -- .r cliw'tt
ot 120,000 M' & .m.\.mtte.. A ...Ueal taJlll•oft ~te."1at.1C
~ at __.., lie ~ _........ ~ l u 1:1111.ng
41.ree'tel b., ~ ~ - Mr. , . _ la ~ to _ . gc't.tm
lUe Ql"Sg:lal . . . tor Ult t'l.Ylnl wbJ• ,,_ • lfO\IIJl "'

O.-..J-'a.na,Worl4Willl"ll. !hl---ll!l'Jal.loMN
~ ~ - 1 = f.NII .... ~ . . . . . (B. 18
that ~ - . General 3amts:,rd to 1epc:,r\ GIii 'illl ....,_ of
tbe Air 1'woe proJ4tet. at. tlll !AC aeat1ag.)

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