112 new and 6 changed official records synced from war.gov/ufo.
View release tracker
Back to Explore
Department of Wardocument

DOW-UAP-D017, UAP Reported at Sandia Base, 1948-1950

This file contains 116 pages of documentation from the Armed Forces Special Weapons Program (AFSWP) – the direct, post-World War II successor to the Manhattan Project – and from the U.S. Air Force – relating to a series of sightings and investigations in Sandia, New Mexico, from 1948-1950. This file contains 209 sightings of “green orbs,” “discs,” and “fireballs” reported near the military base. Witnesses reported unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) maneuvering, flying out of sight, disappearing, or exploding. The documents also include the results of contemporary investigations into residual copper powder found in some areas where sightings were reported. A few of these investigations became the basis for Project Grudge, which collected reports of unidentified flying objects from various other military installations – also included in this collection.

csvdocumentofficialpursuerelease-02uapvirin
Agency
Department of War
Incident date
Jan 1, 1948
Release date
May 22, 2026
Location
New Mexico
Media type
Document
Coordinates
34.5199, -105.8701
Confidence
official-source
Official source
www.war.gov/ufo/

Related cases

DocumentDepartment of War

DOW-UAP-D094, Analysis of Flying Object Incidents in the United States, 1949

This file contains a U.S. Air Force (USAF) Air Intelligence Division study, “Analysis of Flying Object Incidents in the United States,” Study No. 203, dated 04/28/1949. The analysis includes an assessment of various reported unidentified flying object (UFO) incidents and theories to account for their nature and origin. Overall, the study assesses that “it appears that some object has been seen; however, the identification of that object cannot be readily accomplished.” The study offers that two “reasonable” origins might account for the phenomena: technologies of a domestic or foreign origin. It also suggests that, if foreign, it is prudent for the United States to assume that UFO observations are attributable to scientific, military, or intelligence activities of the Soviet Union, and, in that case, to take seriously the threat such objects may pose. The file also contains selected contemporary UFO reports and examples of experimental “flying wing” type aircraft planforms that might account for certain commonly reported UFO characteristics. AARO Comment: This file appears to be a later revision of the file contained in DOW-UAP-D093, whose content is substantively similar.

Incident: Apr 28, 1949
Released: Jul 10, 2026
Virginia
csvdocumentofficialpursue
DocumentDepartment of War

DOW-UAP-D097, Project Sign Progress Report, 1948

This file contains an initial report from the Air Materiel Command regarding Project Sign. Project Sign was a 1948-1949 U.S. Air Force program to investigate the nature and origin of unidentified flying objects (UFO). The report details 100 UFO sightings from 1947-1948. The file also contains an article excerpted from “The Aeroplane,” an aviation-focused periodical magazine published between 1911 and 1968, titled “The Biology of the Flying Saucer.”

Incident: Jan 1, 1948
Released: Jul 10, 2026
Various
csvdocumentofficialpursue
DocumentDepartment of War

DOW-UAP-D089, Range Fouler Debrief, Eastern United States, 2020

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. This report accompanies the video titled “DOW-UAP-PR106.” A U.S. military operator reported observing an object, describing it as “quite small” and as “continu[ing] in a constant direction.” The report characterizes the shape of the phenomenon as “indistinguishable,” with a metallic appearance and reflective underside. 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.

Incident: Jan 1, 2020
Released: Jul 10, 2026
Eastern United States
csvdocumentofficialpursue
DOW-UAP-D017, UAP Reported at Sandia Base, 1948-1950 | UFO Files Archive