CIA-UAP-D020, Memorandum on Unconventional Aircraft Sightings, 1955
According to the U.S. Department of War release, this Central Intelligence Agency memorandum summarizes a debriefing of a group of four individuals who reported observing a 'flying saucer' or 'unconventional aircraft' in 1955. The group included U.S. Senator Richard Russell, a U.S. military service member, and two U.S. Government officials. They reported seeing a luminescent 'greenish-yellow' phenomenon from aboard a train traveling within the Soviet Union — in present-day Azerbaijan, between Baku and Tiflis (Tbilisi, Georgia). The memorandum, authored within the CIA's Office of Scientific Intelligence and signed by H. Marshall Chadwell/Scoville, concludes the sighting 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 companion document CIA-UAP-D021 contains a contemporary analysis of the incident. The record cover sheet marks the document Top Secret, dated 1 November 1955, approved for release 2026.
Description
A Top Secret CIA memorandum, dated 31 October / 1 November 1955, summarizing the debriefing of four individuals — including U.S. Senator Richard Russell — who reported observing a luminescent 'greenish-yellow' unconventional aircraft or 'flying saucer' from a train in the Soviet Union between Baku and Tiflis. The document assesses that the observation can probably be explained as steep-climbing aircraft or missiles.
Claims
The CIA assessed the observation could probably be explained as steep-climbing aircraft or missiles.
85%The evidence did not appear sufficiently firm to conclude the Soviets had developed a radically new type of aircraft.
85%The CIA assessed the sightings could probably be explained as steep climbing aircraft or missiles.
85%The evidence was judged insufficient to conclude the Soviets had developed a radically new type of aircraft.
85%A group of four including U.S. Senator Richard Russell observed a luminescent 'greenish-yellow' unconventional aircraft from a train in the Soviet Union in 1955.
75%A group of four, including Senator Richard Russell, observed a luminescent greenish-yellow unconventional aircraft from a train in the Soviet Union in 1955.
70%
Events
Dec 31, 1954
Unconventional aircraft sighting from train in USSR
Four individuals including Senator Richard Russell reported a luminescent greenish-yellow object seen from a train between Baku and Tiflis.
Oct 30, 1955
CIA debriefing / memorandum authored
OSI memorandum drafted (31 October 1955) summarizing the debriefing; cover sheet dated 1 November 1955.
Jul 9, 2026
Document released to public
Approved for release and posted by the U.S. Department of War.
Dec 31, 1954
Sighting of unconventional aircraft between Baku and Tiflis
Four U.S. observers, including Senator Richard Russell, reported a luminescent greenish-yellow object seen from a train in the Soviet Union.
Oct 30, 1955
CIA memorandum authored
Memorandum drafted under OSI, dated 31 October 1955, with cover sheet dated 1 November 1955.
Jul 9, 2026
Public release
Document released by the U.S. Department of War as part of a UAP records release.
Dates mentioned
Keywords
Entities
Organizations
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Topics
Extracted text (OCR)
-- "'--..;: feP SE6RE=t= Approved for Release 2026 ··~ .ti SIGNATURE RECORD AND COVER SHEET ,,. \t,\. #' ,_/ . l ,' ' A ,"1 1 NOV 1955 \ ASTJ11~ '-~j REGISTRyt DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION SOURCE / j ~-i CIA CONTROL NO. ~St) /:s-_£ / / .s-YrrS' JISS!'. No R/l DATE DOCUMENT RECEIVED DOC. NO. ooc. DATE COPY NO. ~ ( # / ~ NUMBER OF PiCGES 2 NUMBER OF ATTACHMENTS LOGGED BY 7~ 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 RECEIVED OFFICE Y·~ DATE . ·\ \v,'" A ££.J.iil ~5l SEEN BY RELEASED TIME DA TE SIGNATURE l/~..>e) ?- TIME SIGNATURE OFFICE AND ,··/ ,.-< .~,( - ~ ~ tiC:11~~ DA TE v·)uv );i I lt1 /J/ I .tL!Wu/1t___~ ~ 30lfif 0-~~aSJ,. "3 ~ <J.1.\.\j v-- . -~, - ~--\~NOTICE OF DETACHMENT: ll'hen this form is detached from Top Secret material it shall be completed in the appropriet• spaces below and transmitted to Central Top Secret Control for record. • • DISPATCHED (OUTSIDE CIA) DESTROYED DOWNGRADED TO BY (Signature) TO BY ( Signature) WITNESSED BY (Signature) BY ( Signature) DATE DATE OFFICE FORM NO. I APR 55 26 USE PREVIOUS EDITIONS, TOP SECRET DATE (40) • * 1. W. to.- ...-u.c..-. la Ult ~ t/1 fl'1iog - - · ~ l • u . . J afnNtt...... - .........:\efttll . . . . tbllnwJIC 1- a NII 't"1 ot ~ 1IINN 'tllltiom. QI' 1 t. U.. perlf' . . U9"? Ung 'b¥ ..sa fNI. .._ ifl fltlie at tM ...,u'1e Ml It d ....... 1:JIHU • lf'UII. to _. rail tr• 11...Wton du nuv 1\ ,.. n all ,., 1a.. lllt •Sp\1- ,_. ...... _ . ta ffl1 I ... WJ\11/d tu::,aty at, J.tlO . . . . . 1-t ._. ~ · 41:rk. na111ltar "111111 WI rvnJac ai.. ill ~ 4"lflttaaea\ • • t.b!t llah• • 1lllllll lit aote1 • ..u ••••11• ,-l.>ev a••-11 mhlg t'l,1.W ""11117• a ldmald, the . . . . t l I•• of tlll Pllri1• . . . ~ - ~ ~ - • ' l w w J ~ , •• laW..,. . . . . ., . . . . . . . . ~ - J. ___, A:•f:ll . . . , av tlla hnl .~ . . obJ,eet ~ tlll 1• • • • • ~ •• rtrm _. -11 we, lipt.l lNI hl'UIII _,... r ~ ......_..,..,. 11l1t-,ol'IJeft•t.ll•....,...U&I$ ia.., •"'>• ldMle -t.1. . . _ , . . a • ~ . lit)II or 1~1111.• to 1II ..-t.1 at. Ge - - • • • • i'l11 . .11 W tlllt WMl!a tal • oltJeet tlOtl.'W haw - - M ..U • a l'Olll9i &lWioilllt . _ . WN • ~ awaU8le to ,rt18• a at:1--....._, . - l e • u tnU w left bJ t.111 r1aug lNIU. ... G,'08 . . . Qalaael lldll 1 1111' lkllllt.lni tbe a1le ot'tbeol)Ject'6W~totllll&ola.l.L J ( l t . ~• ....._, Coh:nl ....... ~ tat tM . , _ . tU4 D()t. 111.1114,le 8"Y' atrentt, ,..... • ldaile t.-t he W .,_. - - . AU ob.lllt'ftft ...- oa tbe 111r111ta that. V. 0DJtMt . . n,lt•HIII or Vbirl.iag clm1.Da lte r1M allllla 111e Ud.t.W. . . . . ~ • lettW fllb&t.or -..11 AC&'-· - - . , . . . , eh:... ill thia ~ , ~ t-1.-..1. latb1-, al Mr. ltzQD ...._ . _ 1M ..,._ -.1:tawed · 1ta ~ t o ~ tlJ.glrtt - - ....,.,. _ __,_ --.or ..J.l, Colnnel llltlllll. . _. . . . . . . . . . . - , ..,... 0A U. ~ 1'1th tM •11111tS. ot t1II HIHh lJ.IM., · • Ql-gg ~ CM pllll_,e or a W.,-.,.)C' dCIJiNt . . . . . . l i. . . 'lllit.b ~ to bl eJN'Mi .tfta a l ■18MUtC tll-. 'h■ 4. lu!ld. m ~ 10 t'a:r, the - , . ~ llli1eb "°'114 ~ '1!le ~ of ca,tr,g ...... tilt . , . , )3 ~ i w l ~ 1e tllat fJf C.olc:atl Data· lltl• AU otbiR' f. s. ll5't85 OcW'( oi's;;·r: ~i.ui.,i, ~ probablJ' be -,J&Snet • .... e1•:1mc &in::l'at"t or IIUlllilen. Fm-tt.e.r 41"'"81"ftl8 Y.U'.l ~ M ~ Were U. _.t« cw1 'tie ~ MtttOlWII. la 1111MI•., - - • • • ta ~ <1oes ao1, • • • ~ 1 • t . l T ftN te arrct t.m ecael\llion i:.tw.t ·the ~ . , . . .....,~ d 1111N i n ~ * a t"lfdioaU.r t'.l(!'W t,:pe of . .att. 111 I ltf1' SCOYIL:LI, JR. ~~ 3c1et.it'1e?aleU1..-,. OSI:HScoville:ga (31 October 19") Distribution Orig & l - fwd l • DD/I l • OCI l - ABD/SI l • car/SI 2 • AD/SI
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