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The Two Records That Survived

The 509th history report and FBI teletype became the key surviving contemporary records in the official Roswell search.

On this page

  • The 509 th Bomb Group history report
  • The FBI teletype from July 8
  • Why contemporary wording matters
Preview for The Two Records That Survived

Introduction

When the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) searched for official records relating to the Roswell incident, the result was unexpectedly narrow. After examining military, intelligence and archival holdings, the GAO reported that only two surviving government records created in 1947 directly referred to the event: a July 1947 history report produced by the combined 509th Bomb Group and Roswell Army Air Field (RAAF), and an FBI teletype dated 8 July 1947. These documents became disproportionately important because many other Roswell-era records had been destroyed or could not be located. As a result, debates about what happened near Roswell often return to the wording of these two contemporary records and how they compare with later witness testimony and official explanations. [GAO+2Justia GAO Reports]gao.govnsiad 95 187Results of a Search for Records Concerning the 1947…GAO provided information on the 1947 weather balloon crash at Roswell Army Air…

1947 Records illustration 1

The 509th Bomb Group history report

The first document identified by the GAO was not a dramatic intelligence file or accident investigation. It was a routine monthly history report prepared by the combined 509th Bomb Group and Roswell Army Air Field. The 509th was not an ordinary unit; it was the Army Air Forces group that had carried out the atomic bomb missions during the Second World War and remained one of the most prominent military organisations in the United States. That status has often led researchers to ask whether an unusual recovery operation would have generated detailed paperwork.

The surviving history report contains a brief reference to the recovery of a “flying disc” and notes that military authorities later determined it to be a radar-tracking balloon. The significance of the report lies less in its detail than in its timing. It was written within weeks of the event rather than decades later, making it one of the few surviving records produced by personnel close to the original chain of command. [FAS Project on Government Secrecy]sgp.fas.orgFAS Project on Government SecrecyGAO Report on Roswell, NM UFO CrashOn July 8, 1947, the Roswell Army Air Field (RAAF) public information…Published: July 8, 1947

For supporters of the conventional explanation, the report is important because it records the incident as having been resolved into a balloon-related identification. For critics of the official account, the document is notable for what it does not contain. It offers only a short summary and provides none of the detailed descriptions that later became central to Roswell claims. The report therefore functions more as evidence of how the military officially characterised the event in July 1947 than as a comprehensive narrative of what was recovered. FAS Project on Government Secrecy+2Justia GAO Reports [sgp.fas.org]sgp.fas.orgFAS Project on Government SecrecyGAO Report on Roswell, NM UFO CrashOn July 8, 1947, the Roswell Army Air Field (RAAF) public information…Published: July 8, 1947

8th July 1947: First flying saucer as Roswell Army Air Base reports debris of a 'flying disc'

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Why the history report carries weight

Several factors explain why historians and investigators repeatedly cite this document:

  • It was created contemporaneously rather than reconstructed from memory decades later.
  • It originated within the military organisation most closely associated with the recovery.
  • It demonstrates that the incident was important enough to appear in an official unit history.
  • It reflects the military’s documented understanding of the event at the time the report was written. [FAS Project on Government Secrecy]sgp.fas.orgFAS Project on Government SecrecyGAO Report on Roswell, NM UFO CrashOn July 8, 1947, the Roswell Army Air Field (RAAF) public information…Published: July 8, 1947

At the same time, the report’s brevity limits the conclusions that can be drawn from it. It neither proves nor disproves later claims; it simply establishes what was officially recorded in a surviving 1947 military document.

1947 Records illustration 2

The FBI teletype from July 8

The second surviving record is arguably the most quoted document in the entire Roswell archive: an FBI teletype sent from the Dallas Field Office on 8 July 1947. The message relayed information received from military sources concerning an object recovered near Roswell. Unlike the later Air Force reports of the 1990s, this document was created on the very day that public confusion about the incident was unfolding. [FBI+2Wikimedia Commons]vault.fbi.govRoswell UFOOnRoswell UFOOn July 8, 1947, the FBI Dallas Field Office sent a teletype regarding a “flying disc” that resembled a high altitude weath…Published: July 8, 1947

The teletype describes an object that was being represented as a flying disc but then records a more specific description. According to the message, the object was hexagonal in shape, suspended beneath a balloon by a cable, and associated with what appeared to be a high-altitude weather balloon and radar reflector. The document also notes that the recovered material was being transported for examination. [JASON COLAVITO+2FBI]jasoncolavito.comJASON COLAVITOThe Roswell TeletypeTHE DISC IS HEXAGONAL IN SHAPE AND WAS SUSPENDED FROM A BALLON BY CABLE, WHICH BALLON WAS APPROXIMATELY…

This wording has become central to Roswell research because it is one of the earliest surviving written descriptions of the recovered object. Later investigators pointed out that radar reflectors attached to balloons were indeed used in military and meteorological operations. Decades afterward, Air Force investigations linked the Roswell debris to the highly classified Project Mogul balloon programme, which employed balloon trains and radar targets intended to detect Soviet nuclear tests. [JASON COLAVITO+2FBI]jasoncolavito.comJASON COLAVITOThe Roswell TeletypeTHE DISC IS HEXAGONAL IN SHAPE AND WAS SUSPENDED FROM A BALLON BY CABLE, WHICH BALLON WAS APPROXIMATELY…

Declassified The 1947 FBI Flying Disc Files Part 1

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Why the teletype remains controversial

The FBI message is often cited by both sceptics and believers because it contains language that can be interpreted in different ways.

Supporters of a balloon explanation emphasise that the document itself records a balloon-and-radar-reflector interpretation only hours after the incident entered public view. The description of a suspended object and attached balloon is broadly consistent with balloon-borne equipment. [JASON COLAVITO+2FBI]jasoncolavito.comJASON COLAVITOThe Roswell TeletypeTHE DISC IS HEXAGONAL IN SHAPE AND WAS SUSPENDED FROM A BALLON BY CABLE, WHICH BALLON WAS APPROXIMATELY…

Those who question the official explanation point to another sentence in the teletype stating that conversations with personnel at Wright Field had not fully confirmed the initial identification. They argue that the message reflects uncertainty rather than a settled conclusion. Because the document was transmitted during a rapidly evolving situation, they view it as evidence that military authorities were still trying to determine what had been recovered. [JASON COLAVITO]jasoncolavito.comJASON COLAVITOThe Roswell TeletypeTHE DISC IS HEXAGONAL IN SHAPE AND WAS SUSPENDED FROM A BALLON BY CABLE, WHICH BALLON WAS APPROXIMATELY…

The document therefore serves as evidence of both an early explanation and an early uncertainty, which is why it continues to occupy a central place in Roswell debates.

1947 Records illustration 3

Why contemporary wording matters

The importance of these two records stems from a basic historical problem: most Roswell narratives were developed years or decades after 1947, while the surviving documentary record from the time is extremely limited. The GAO concluded that many relevant Roswell Army Air Field administrative records and outgoing message files had been destroyed, leaving researchers with only a handful of contemporary references. U.S. Department of War+2Justia GAO Reports [media. defense.gov]media.defense.govGENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE S SCHIFFU.S. Department of WarGovernment Records13 Jul 2021 — We re\iewed the FBI's FOIA material and identified the July 8, 1947, FBI teletype m…Published: July 8, 1947

Because of that gap, historians place particular value on language recorded before memories could change, stories could spread, or later theories could influence recollections. The 509th history report shows how the military formally summarised the event within its own records. The FBI teletype captures how information was being communicated between agencies on the day the story broke. Together they provide a snapshot of the official understanding that existed in July 1947. FAS Project on Government Secrecy+2Justia GAO Reports [sgp.fas.org]sgp.fas.orgFAS Project on Government SecrecyGAO Report on Roswell, NM UFO CrashOn July 8, 1947, the Roswell Army Air Field (RAAF) public information…Published: July 8, 1947

Neither document offers a complete reconstruction of the incident. Both are brief, administrative records rather than investigative reports. Yet their survival has made them foundational evidence. In the absence of a larger archive, these two pieces of paperwork became the core documentary trail against which later Roswell claims are measured. Justia GAO Reports+2U.S. Department of War [gao.justia.com]gao.justia.comGAO Reports NSIAD-95-187Justia GAO ReportsNSIAD-95-187 - Government Records28 Jul 1995 — GAO found that some government records covering activities of the Roswel…

The Roswell UFO Crash (Overview) - Jimmy Akin's Mysterious World

Channel: Jimmy Akin · Views: 9.8K · Uploaded: July 2019 · Length: 1 hour 7 minutes

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Endnotes

  1. Source: gao.gov
    Title: nsiad 95 187
    Link: https://www.gao.gov/products/nsiad-95-187
    Source snippet

    Results of a Search for Records Concerning the 1947...GAO provided information on the 1947 weather balloon crash at Roswell Army Air...

  2. Source: gao.justia.com
    Title: GAO Reports NSIAD-95-187
    Link: https://gao.justia.com/department-of-defense/1995/7/government-records-nsiad-95-187/
    Source snippet

    Justia GAO ReportsNSIAD-95-187 - Government Records28 Jul 1995 — GAO found that some government records covering activities of the Roswel...

  3. Source: sgp.fas.org
    Link: https://sgp.fas.org/othergov/roswell.html
    Source snippet

    FAS Project on Government SecrecyGAO Report on Roswell, NM UFO CrashOn July 8, 1947, the Roswell Army Air Field (RAAF) public information...

    Published: July 8, 1947

  4. Source: vault.fbi.gov
    Title: Roswell UFOOn
    Link: https://vault.fbi.gov/Roswell%20UFO
    Source snippet

    Roswell UFOOn July 8, 1947, the FBI Dallas Field Office sent a teletype regarding a “flying disc” that resembled a high altitude weath...

    Published: July 8, 1947

  5. Source: commons.wikimedia.org
    Title: File:Roswell UFO Part 1 of 1
    Link: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ARoswell_UFO_Part_1_of_1.pdf
    Source snippet

    Wikimedia CommonsFile:Roswell UFO Part 1 of 1.pdf - Wikimedia CommonsThis single page is a serial from the larger UFO release found at ht...

  6. Source: vault.fbi.gov
    Link: https://vault.fbi.gov/search?SearchableText=ufo
    Source snippet

    results — 23 items matching your search termsOn July 8, 1947, the FBI Dallas Field Office sent a teletype regarding a “flying disc” that...

    Published: July 8, 1947

  7. Source: jasoncolavito.com
    Link: https://www.jasoncolavito.com/the-roswell-teletype.html
    Source snippet

    JASON COLAVITOThe Roswell TeletypeTHE DISC IS HEXAGONAL IN SHAPE AND WAS SUSPENDED FROM A BALLON BY CABLE, WHICH BALLON WAS APPROXIMATELY...

  8. Source: fbi.gov
    Link: https://www.fbi.gov/video-repository/inside-the-fbi-ufos-102921.mp4/view
    Source snippet

    but that telephonic conversation between...

  9. Source: fbi.gov
    Title: ufos and the guy hottel memo
    Link: https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/ufos-and-the-guy-hottel-memo
    Source snippet

    25 Mar 2013 —... FBI had posted proof of a UFO crash at Roswell, New Mexico and the recovery of wreckage and alien corpses. The resultin...

  10. Source: ia601607.us.archive.org
    Title: DTIC ADA326148
    Link: https://ia601607.us.archive.org/20/items/DTIC_ADA326148/DTIC_ADA326148.pdf
    Source snippet

    Secretary of the Air Force and to the General Accounting Office (GAO). It was written as a result...Read more...

  11. Source: [media]({{ ‘media/’ | relative_url }}). defense.gov
    Title: GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE S SCHIFF
    Link: https://media.defense.gov/2021/Jul/13/2002761373/-1/-1/0/GENERAL_ACCOUNTING_OFFICE_S_SCHIFF.PDF
    Source snippet

    U.S. Department of WarGovernment Records13 Jul 2021 — We re\iewed the FBI's FOIA material and identified the July 8, 1947, FBI teletype m...

    Published: July 8, 1947

  12. Source: Wikipedia
    Title: Roswell incident
    Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roswell_incident
    Source snippet

    Roswell incidentAfter metallic and rubber debris was recovered by Roswell Army Air Field personnel, the United States Army Air Forces...

  13. Source: jhmovie.fandom.com
    Title: Roswell incident
    Link: https://jhmovie.fandom.com/wiki/Roswell_incident
    Source snippet

    incident | JH Wiki Collection Wiki - FandomDespite the lack of evidence, many UFO proponents claim that the Roswell debris was derived fr...

  14. Source: muller.lbl.gov
    Title: Roswell Incident
    Link: https://muller.lbl.gov/teaching/physics10/Roswell/RoswellIncident.html
    Source snippet

    INCIDENT REPORTThe "Roswell Incident" refers to an event that supposedly happened in July, 1947, wherein the Army Air Forces (AAF) allege...

Additional References

  1. Source: abcnews.com
    Link: https://abcnews.com/Technology/fbi-vault-reveals-ufo-roswell-files/story?id=13347754
    Source snippet

    FBI Vault Reveals UFO, Roswell Files"The disc is hexagonal in shape and was suspended from a balloon by cable," the document said. "The o...

  2. Source: restaurantgao.cz
    Link: https://restaurantgao.cz/
    Source snippet

    GAO PLZEŇVydejte se na kulinářskou cestu do srdce Thajska a Vietnamu. Naše restaurace nabízí autentické chutě Jihovýchodní Asii. Ochutnej...

  3. Source: en.firmy.cz
    Link: https://en.firmy.cz/company/13298845-restaurant-gao-plzen-plzen-vnitrni-mesto.html
    Source snippet

    GAO Plzen (Plzeň, Vnitřní Město)Up-to-date verified information: address, phone, e-mail, operating hours and reviews Restaurant GAO Plzen...

  4. Source: open.icm.edu.pl
    Link: https://open.icm.edu.pl/bitstreams/c583b6b2-3bec-4669-9ee9-5083f1273b01/download
    Source snippet

    Roswell Myth in the FBI Files: Aliens, UFOs, and the...“The investigation of Unidentified Flying Objects is not and never has been a mat...

  5. Source: smithsonianmag.com
    Title: in 1947 high altitude balloon crash landed roswell aliens never left 180963917
    Link: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/in-1947-high-altitude-balloon-crash-landed-roswell-aliens-never-left-180963917/
    Source snippet

    5 Jul 2017 — In Roswell, New Mexico, exactly seven decades ago this month, the first little green men arrived. But we're getting ahead of...

  6. Source: latimes.com
    Title: la xpm 2012 jul 08 la na nn 65 years aliens roswell 20120708 story
    Link: https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-xpm-2012-jul-08-la-na-nn-65-years-aliens-roswell-20120708-story.html
    Source snippet

    Los Angeles Times65 years ago today, aliens probably didn't land in Roswell...8 Jul 2012 — The disc is hexagonal in shape and was suspe...

  7. Source: deseret.com
    Title: ufo documents destroyed unjustifiably lawmaker says
    Link: https://www.deseret.com/1995/7/30/19185015/ufo-documents-destroyed-unjustifiably-lawmaker-says/
    Source snippet

    `UFO' DOCUMENTS DESTROYED UNJUSTIFIABLY...30 Jul 1995 — The GAO report includes an FBI teletype and a reference to a "radar tracking de...

  8. Source: reddit.com
    Title: declassified description of the ufo from the 1947
    Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/UFOs/comments/118rjyp/declassified_description_of_the_ufo_from_the_1947/
    Source snippet

    Declassified description of the "UFO...Declassified description of the "UFO" from the 1947 Roswell Incident as a hexagonal disk suspende...

  9. Source: facebook.com
    Link: https://www.facebook.com/deepuniversee/posts/recently-resurfaced-fbi-documents-from-the-mid-20th-century-describe-reports-of-/958280243636531/
    Source snippet

    identified flying objects and alleged encounters with strange...Read more...

  10. Source: edn.com
    Title: roswell incident is first reported july 8 1947
    Link: https://www.edn.com/roswell-incident-is-first-reported-july-8-1947/
    Source snippet

    Roswell Incident is first reported, July 8, 1947It was reported on July 8, 1947 that the Roswell Army Air Field issued a press release sa...

    Published: July 8, 1947

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