74 years of secrets: classified Pentagon UFO files leaked online

The Pentagon has released a new batch of declassified documents on UFOs, including a rare audio recording of a 1952 briefing by U.S. Air Force Captain Edward Ruppelt. The recording reveals details of military cooperation with the Battelle Institute and LIFE magazine, and confirms that about 20% of sightings remained unexplained.

The Pentagon has released a new batch of declassified documents on unidentified flying objects, including a rare audio recording of a 1952 military officer briefing. In the recording, U.S. Air Force Captain Edward Ruppelt tells colleagues about secret work under the "Project Blue Book" program. The recording confirms that the military enlisted the Battelle Memorial Institute as a contractor for investigations, and also reveals details of Air Force cooperation with LIFE magazine. Ruppelt noted that about 20% of sightings came from trustworthy individuals and could not be explained. He also highlighted spikes in reports near military sites—U.S. ports, the White Sands Proving Ground, Los Alamos, and Camp Hood. Congressman Eric Burleson of Missouri had long sought the release of the recording.