Topic

Historic Cases

A route through official records that show how incidents were reported, investigated, revised, and archived.

Question this topic followsHow does the public record change as an incident moves from announcement to investigation and archive?

Foundational map

Linked records

Cases and programs organize different parts of the record.

Use the visual cards to orient yourself. Then open a record to see its current status, material challenge, unknowns, and source trail.

A July 1947 military announcement, a rapid balloon explanation, and a later federal search for the surviving government record.

The Air Force's longest-running named investigation of unidentified flying-object reports, now represented by records in National Archives custody.