NARA RG38: Navy UAP Incident Summaries 1-100 (1947-1948)
Date
July 1947 - early 1948
Document Type
Gov. Investigation Report
Authentication
VerifiedRedaction Status
▐ Partially RedactedIssuing Authority
Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV) / Naval Intelligence
Summary
A collection of 100 standardized "CHECK-LIST - UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS" forms compiled by Naval Intelligence, spanning incidents from July 1947 through early 1948. Each form documents a single sighting using a multi-field checklist covering date, time, location, observer identity and occupation, object description (size, shape, color, construction), flight characteristics, sound, and disappearance method. Filed under NARA Record Group 38 (Records of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations), Box 7 of Entry 143685, with declassification authority NND 917033. Released via PURSUE Release 1, February 25, 2026.
Significance
Establishes that the U.S. Navy developed and deployed a standardized flying disc incident reporting system starting in July 1947 - immediately following Kenneth Arnold's June 24, 1947 sighting - running parallel to the Air Force's Project Sign investigation. Documents a systematic military-grade data collection effort with observers including military officers, police, and commercial aviation personnel. Provides baseline evidence that early UAP investigation was a multi-service effort involving Naval Intelligence as a primary collection node, not solely an Air Force project.