In an intriguing move that bridges the realms of classified mysteries and family heritage, the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) has opened its vaults to a collection of government records centred around Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) and Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs).
NARA, known for safeguarding an array of significant documents, has embarked on a mission to make these intriguing records accessible to the public. These records, often veiled in secrecy, span decades of UFO and UAP sightings, investigations, and government inquiries. The endeavour is an opportunity for historians, researchers, and those delving into family history to connect with a realm of uncharted narratives.
In an age where technological advancements are propelling society into the future, the NARA’s decision to digitize historical UFO and UAP records stands as a bridge between the past and the present. The ongoing process of digitization, which is being conducted in partnership with the Department of Defense, signifies a significant stride towards modernizing archival accessibility. As records are transformed into digital formats, they find a new lease of life on the National Archives Catalog and NARA’s website.
For genealogy researchers and family history enthusiasts, the NARA’s decision to make UFO and UAP records accessible is a revelation with far-reaching implications. Delving into these records could unveil intriguing connections between ancestral narratives and sightings that might have transpired during their lifetimes. Imagine the resonance that discovering a distant relative’s account of a UFO sighting could evoke—an anecdote that might have been passed down through generations, now bolstered by official documentation!
The allure of UFO records lies not only in their potential to enrich personal histories but also in their capacity to weave a broader societal tapestry. Beyond individual accounts, these records hold the potential to illuminate larger patterns and trends in UFO and UAP sightings, shedding light on how perceptions of such phenomena have evolved over time. This could provide invaluable insights into the collective consciousness of societies across different eras—a prospect that researchers, historians, and cultural analysts can all eagerly anticipate.
In an ever-evolving world, where the pursuit of knowledge is both a personal and collective endeavor, the NARA’s initiative presents an exciting gateway to explore uncharted territories. Begin exploring below:
Blog posts and articles
- Project BLUE BOOK – Unidentified Flying Objects (Updated 2020)
- National Archives News: Public Interest in UFOs Persists 50 Years After Project Blue Book Termination (2019)
- Featured Document Display: 50 Years Ago: Government Stops Investigating UFOs (2019)
- Pieces of History: Saucers Over Washington: the History of Project Blue Book (2019)
- Pieces of History: INVASION! (of privacy) (2018)
- Pieces of History: UFOs: Natural Explanations (2018)
- Pieces of History: UFOs: Man-Made, Made Up, and Unknown (2018)
- National Archives News: Do Records Show Proof of UFOs? (2018)
- The Unwritten Record: The Roswell Reports: What crashed in the desert? (2014)
- The Unwritten Record: Avrocar: The U.S. Military’s Flying Saucer (2014)
- The NDC Blog: What on Earth Is It? (2014)
- Pieces of History: Flying Saucers, Popular Mechanics, and the National Archives (2013)
- The Unwritten Record: Project Blue Book: Home Movies in UFO Reports (2013)
- The Unwritten Record: Project Blue Book: Spotting UFOs in the Film Record (2013)
- [VIDEO]: UFO Project Blue Book at National Archives Museum
From the National Archives Catalog
- Project Blue Book Artifacts, 1952–69
- Sanitized Version of Project Blue Book Case Files on Sightings of Unidentified Flying Objects, 1947–69
- Information Releases Relating to Unidentified Flying Object, 1986 (FAA—Japan Airlines Flight 1628)
- Project Blue Book Photographs (Partial Series Digitized and available)
Selected Motion Picture Films
- Maj. Gen. John A. Samford’s statement on “Flying Saucers,” Pentagon, Washington, DC
- Universal Newsreel Volume 22, Release 276
- Universal Newsreel Volume 25, Release 586
- Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) Sighting
- UFO Interview concerning Project Blue Book
- Disc Flight Development, Avrocar I Progress Report
- DFD Avrocar I Progress Report
- Avrocar Continuation Test Program and Terrain Test Program
- USAF UFO sightings, California
Image Source:
- Photo by Michael Herren: Instant images