Records Related to Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs) at the National Archives

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) has established an ‘‘Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Records Collection," per sections 1841–1843 of the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (Public Law 118-31). Unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) records received by NARA from federal agencies in accordance with the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) will be accessioned into Record Group 615, Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Records Collection. All publicly releasable records within Record Group 615 will be made available online through the National Archives Catalog within 180 days of transmission to NARA from federal agencies. NARA has issued guidance to federal agencies regarding identification, preparation, and transfer of UAP records, but has not yet accessioned records into Record Group 615. For more information about the Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Records Collection, please see our frequently asked questions.

The National Archives has in its custody records across multiple record groups and collections related to unidentified flying object (UFO) and UAP investigations, sightings, and reporting. Record groups and collections are the highest level of archival description. Record group numbers are assigned by NARA to large organizations, such as federal departments or agencies. For example, NARA has assigned Record Group 255 to the records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

National Archives Identifiers (NAID) are unique numbers assigned to all descriptions in the National Archives Catalog. NAIDs can be assigned at all levels of description, from record groups down to individual items.

Please explore the links below to find out more about records related to UAPs/UFOs in NARA’s holdings. Links to items in the National Archives Catalog are downloadable and can be republished with attribution to the National Archives and Records Administration.

RG 255: Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Photographs Relating to Agency Activities, Facilities and Personnel, 1960–1991 (NAID: 5956182)

RG 341: Records of Headquarters U.S. Air Force (Air Staff)

Project “Blue Book”, 1954-1966 (NAID: 542184)

RG 342: Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations, 1900–2003

Black and White and Color Photographs of U.S. Air Force Activities, Facilities, and Personnel, Domestic and Foreign, 1954-1980 (NAID: 542326)

Records of the National Security Council (Clinton Administration), 1993–2001

Emails, 1993–2001 (NAID: 24194021)

Related to Flying Saucers or UFOs LPWJC 2006-0474-F
Related to Area 51 LPWJC-2006-0527-F

Cables, 1993–2001 (NAID: 24194018)

Related to Flying Saucers or UFOs LPWJC 2006-0474-F
Related to Area 51 LPWJC-2006-0527-F
- [11/22/1994]

Some of these materials are not available online due to donor, copyright or other potential intellectual property rights. In these instances, the link provided is only for the catalog description of the materials. Researchers must make arrangements to view these records onsite in the Moving Image and Sound Research Room at the National Archives at College Park, Maryland.

RG 111: Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer

MAJ. GEN. JOHN A. SAMFORD'S STATEMENT ON "FLYING SAUCERS", PENTAGON, WASHINGTON, D.C. (Motion Picture 111-LC-30875); Motion Picture Films from the Army Library Copy Collection, 1964–1980 (NAID: 25061)

RG 255: Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Walter Cronkite and Gordon Cooper on UFOs (Sound Recording 255-PAOa-807-AAE); Sound Recordings Relating to Mission Activities, 1961–1993 (NAID: 75815065)

An Executive Summary of the Greatest Secret of the 20th Century (Moving Image 255-GOLDIN-233); Video Recordings Documenting the Administration of Daniel Goldin, 1985–2001 (NAID: 5730762)

RG 263: Records of the Central Intelligence Agency

Moving Images Relating to Intelligence and International Relations, 1947–1984 (NAID: 592764)

RG 306: Records of the U.S. Information Agency

Production Library Audio Recordings, 1999–2005 (NAID: 118159)

Video Recordings from the ‘Foreign Press’ Program Series, 1983–1988 (NAID: 56087)

Foreign Press Center Briefing with B. Maccabee, L. Koss, J. Shandera, and B. Hopkins (Moving Image 306-FP-17)

RG 330: Records of the Office of the Secretary of Defense

The Case of the Flying Saucer (Sound Recording 330.85); Audio Recordings, 1945–1965 (NAID: 109386)

Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) Sighting (Moving Image 330-DVIC-653); Motion Picture Films and Video Recordings on Five Decades of U.S. Military Activities Around the World, ca. 1950–ca. 2000 (NAID: 561934)

RG 341: Records of Headquarters U.S. Air Force (Air Staff)

Project Blue Book Motion Picture Films, 1950-1966 (NAID: 61934)

Sound Recordings Relating to Project Blue Book Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) Investigations, 1953-1967 (NAID: 1142703)

Moving Images Relating to “The Roswell Reports” Source Data Research Files, 1946-1996 (NAID: 566658)

Sound Recordings Relating to “The Roswell Reports”, 1991-1996 (NAID: 566843)

RG 342: Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations

Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities, 1947–1984 (NAID: 64437)

UFO DOCUMENTS

This collection catalogues CIA information on this subject from the 1940s through the early 1990s. Most of the documents concern CIA cables reporting unsubstantiated UFO sightings in the foreign press and intra-Agency memos about how the Agency handled public inquiries about UFO sightings. For the most recent CIA information on UFOs, see the article "CIA's Role in the Study of UFOs, 1947-90" at the Center for the Study of Intelligence website (https://www.cia.gov/resources/csi/studies-in-intelligence/studies-in-intelligence-1997/cias-role-in-the-study-of-ufos-1947-1990/). The article is located in On-line Publications under the "Studies in Intelligence" section, specifically semi-annual Edition #1, 1997.