DOS-UAP-D002, Diplomatic Cable, Brazil, November 20, 1963
This file is a U.S. Department of State diplomatic cable transmitted from the U.S. Embassy in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to the Office of the Secretary of State in Washington, D.C. on November 20, 1963, titled 'Negative Report on UFO (Unidentified Flying Object) Reportedly Sighted Near Salvador, Bahia.' According to the cable, the scientific attaché and the American Consulate in Salvador, Bahia assessed that a widely reported incident involving a crashed unidentified object near Conde, Bahia was unsubstantiated and characterized the reports as a fabrication originating in Rio de Janeiro. The Consul in Salvador, Harold Midkiff, replied by telegram No. 157 that the 'story of strange object descending in region of Conde Bahia apparently fabricated in Rio,' with no such objects seen by anyone in the area. The cable cites a lack of contemporary local reporting and contradictory newspaper coverage — including the Diario de Noticias of November 9 and the Jornal da Bahia of November 11 (the latter titled 'The Airship that wasn't there') — plus a statement from the Brazilian Ministry of Aeronautics categorically denying any 'strange object' in Conde. Information copies were passed to Defense (for the Air Force) and NASA. The correspondence follows an earlier exchange filed as DOS-UAP-D001. The document was declassified (NND 939551) and released by the U.S. Department of War on August 7, 2026.
Description
A declassified U.S. Department of State diplomatic cable from the American Embassy in Rio de Janeiro to the Secretary of State in Washington, D.C., dated November 20, 1963, reporting that an alleged crashed unidentified object near Conde, Bahia was unsubstantiated and likely a fabrication.
Claims
The Brazilian Ministry of Aeronautics categorically denied there was any 'strange object' in Conde.
90%Information copies of the cable were passed to Defense (for the Air Force) and NASA.
75%The reported crashed unidentified object near Conde, Bahia was unsubstantiated and apparently fabricated in Rio de Janeiro.
70%No such objects were seen by anyone in the area according to newspaper reporters who rushed to the scene.
65%A widely reported incident involving a crashed unidentified object near Conde, Bahia was unsubstantiated and a fabrication originating in Rio de Janeiro.
60%No 'strange object' was seen by anyone in the Conde area according to newspaper reporters and others who rushed there.
60%The Secretary of Public Security speculated the object might have been a weather balloon, but no such sighting was verified.
60%The Secretary of Public Security speculated the object might be a weather balloon, but no such sighting was verified.
55%
Events
Nov 7, 1963
Alleged crashed unidentified object near Conde, Bahia
A reported sighting of a 'strange object' descending in the region of Conde, Bahia, later assessed as unsubstantiated and likely fabricated.
Nov 19, 1963
Cable dispatched from Rio de Janeiro
Diplomatic cable relaying the negative report to the Secretary of State.
Nov 13, 1963
Consul Midkiff reply telegram No. 157
Salvador Consul reported the story appeared fabricated in Rio with no objects seen by anyone.
Aug 6, 2026
Public release by U.S. Department of War
File released as part of the UAP records collection (Release 5).
Nov 19, 1963
Diplomatic cable transmitted
Embassy Rio de Janeiro sends negative UFO report to Secretary of State.
Oct 31, 1963
Alleged crashed-object incident near Conde, Bahia
Reported sighting of a 'strange object' descending near Conde, Bahia, characterized as fabricated in Rio.
Nov 13, 1963
Referenced Embtel 94
Prior embassy telegram to Amconsul Salvador on the matter.
Declassification
Document declassified under NND 939551 and released in war.gov UAP collection.
Dates mentioned
Keywords
Entities
Organizations
People
Phenomena
Events
Extracted text (OCR)
‘omaIn/AcTiON DEPARTMENT OF STATE INFO: Ameonsul SALVADOR $2), AURG RAM fe a i stl DEPARTMENT OF STATE jade Mor Li Ne 5/7 | ma Department: Reed 8 copies Defense}! NASR’ 9 He Me From ; Amembassy RIO DE JANEIRO pate, November 20, A363 sugsect - Negative Report on UFO (Unidentified Flying Object) Reportedly Sighted Near Salvador, Bahia on November 8, 1964. REF Embtel 94 to Amconsul Salvador (to SecState 1054) of November 14, 1963. ' Information copies of the above Embtel were sent to the | Department with the request that they be passed to Defense (for the Air Force) and NASA. Mr. Harold Midkiff, the Consul in Salvador, replied by felegvan Wo. 157 of November 14 to the above cited Embtel; as ‘ollows: "story of strange object descending in region of Conde Bahia apparently fabricated in Rio no such objects seen by anyone in the area according to newspaper reporters and others who rushed there before investigation reports were received Secretary Public Security speculated object might be weather balloon but no such sighting verified." In addition, he forwarded by pouch also on November 14 two newspaper clippings from Salvadoran Journalswhich substan- tiate the above message, respectively Diario de Noticias of November 9, and the Jornal da Bahia of November II. The first of these states that the Ministry of Aeronautics categorically denies that there was any "strange object" in Conde. The other is entitled "The Airship that wasn't there". According to the Jornal da Bahia reporter, the only news- worthy aspect of the episode is that it produced an astounding by-product: he sent a telegram to his paper from the federal telegraphic office in Conde - by an old morse code transmitter - A ie ey UNCLASSIFIED 36 ORDEPT. USE ONLY os. a23 SSS -e TNTW SA; ACSimonpietri/vmd 11-20-63 |" “Sano Mean Win 5,6 ‘Canes AA?RDKalb (in substance) POL:CCCarson@ap — i DECLASSIFIED NND 939551
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