Releases / 4 / CIA-UAP-D020

Memorandum on Unconventional Aircraft Sightings, 1955

File

CIA-UAP-D020

Type

Document, 3 pages

Agency

CIA

Date

1955

Place

Azerbaijan

Released

Release 4, July 10, 2026

Open the original on war.gov

The government's description

This memorandum summarizes a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) debriefing of a group of four individuals who reported observing a “flying saucer” or “unconventional aircraft” in 1955. The group, which included U.S. Senator Richard Russell, a U.S. military service member, and two U.S. Government officials, reported observing a luminescent “greenish-yellow” phenomenon, as seen from aboard a train while traveling within the Soviet Union, in present-day Azerbaijan, between Baku and Tiflis (Tbilisi, Georgia). The document concludes by stating that the observation can “probably be explained as steep climbing aircraft or missiles,” and that “the evidence does not appear sufficiently firm to warrant the conclusion that the Soviets have developed […] a radically new type of aircraft.” The document “CIA-UAP-D021” contains a contemporary analysis of the incident.

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SIGNATURE RECORD AND COVER SHEET ,,. \t,\.
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DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
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CIA CONTROL NO.
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DATE DOCUMENT RECEIVED
DOC. NO.
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NUMBER OF PiCGES
2
NUMBER OF ATTACHMENTS
LOGGED BY
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ATTENTION:
This form will be placed on top of and attached to each Top Secret document received by the Central Intel•
ligence Agency or classified Top Secret within the CIA and will remain attached to the document until ShCh time as j t
is downgraded, destroyed, or transmitted outside of CIA. Access to Top Secret matter is limited to Top Secret Control,
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 1eft•hand
Each individual who sees the Top Secret document will sign and indicate the, date of handling in the
columns provided.
right•hand columns.
REFERRED TO
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DISPATCHED (OUTSIDE CIA)
DESTROYED
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DATE
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FORM NO.
I APR 55
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USE PREVIOUS EDITIONS,
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2 • AD/SI