DISCLOSURE / FILE

Two Rising Lights Dismissed by CIA, 1955

CIA-UAP-D021, Analysis of Unconventional Aircraft Sightings, 1955

A 1955 CIA Top Secret memorandum analyzing reports of 'flying saucers' or unconventional aircraft, tied to observer debriefings in CIA-UAP-D020, that concludes the sighting did not evidence an unconventional aircraft.

Brief

The memorandum, dated 1955 and stamped Top Secret, examines a sighting of two lights that rose vertically and passed above observers, referenced from a dispatch dated 13 October 1955. Its analysis casts doubt on the reports, noting the observer failed to see the body of the object and was at high altitude (around 9000 feet), so his observation could not confirm the existence of an unconventional aircraft. Section 3 cites Dr. Robertson's group finding that the reported phenomena represented no threat to the security of the U.S. Section 4 discusses then-current research into saucer-like aircraft at Avro Aircraft Ltd. under Project 'Y,' a joint U.S.-Canadian development effort still in early experimental stages.

Metadata

Agency: CIA
Release: 7/10/26
Incident: 1955
Type: PDF • .pdf
Length: 4 pages
Classification: TOP SECRET
Programs: Project Y, Robertson Panel
Tags: two lights, vertical ascent, flying saucer, unconventional aircraft, 1955, Project Y, Avro Aircraft Ltd., Robertson Panel

Key points

The document is a Top Secret CIA cover sheet and memorandum approved for release in 2026, from 1955.p.1
A dispatch dated 13 October 1955 reported flying saucers or unconventional aircraft, and the memo assesses whether the described incident supports that interpretation.p.3
The sighting consisted of two lights that initially rose vertically and passed over the observers; the observer failed to observe the body of the object.p.3
The observer's position at high altitude (about 9000 feet) undermined the reliability of his observation, and the memo concludes his testimony alone could not confirm the existence of an unconventional aircraft.p.3
Section 3 references Dr. Robertson's group, which explained almost all the sightings and concluded the phenomena represented no threat to U.S. security.p.3
Section 4 describes research into unconventional saucer-like aircraft underway at Avro Aircraft Ltd. under Project 'Y,' still in early experimental stages years from completion.p.4
The design under study is described with a very high ceiling (roughly 100,000 feet), speed up to about 1800 miles per hour, and vertical take-off capability.p.4

Verbatim

SIGNATURE RECORD AND COVER SHEET
p.1
Access to Top Secret matter is limited to Top Secret Control. personnel and those individuals whose official duties relate to the matter.
p.1
NOTICE OF DETACHMENT: When this form is detached from Top Secret material it shall be completed in the appropriate spaces below and transmitted to Central Top Secret Control for record.
p.1

Most interesting

The memo pairs a specific UAP sighting analysis with a candid caveat that the observer's high altitude, around 9000 feet, made his account unreliable, an early example of institutional skepticism applied to a witness report.
It links the 1955 assessment to the 1953 Robertson Panel finding that reported phenomena posed no threat to U.S. security.
Section 4 treats saucer-like craft as a conventional aerospace engineering effort, Project 'Y' at Avro Aircraft Ltd. in Canada, with claimed design targets of roughly 100,000 feet ceiling and up to 1800 mph.
The document carried the full Top Secret Control handling regime, with a signature cover sheet tracking every individual who saw it, and was approved for release in 2026.

Cross-references

Cited in

FINDINGTwo lights rose vertically. CIA analysts found no unconventional aircraft.War.gov July 10, 2026
TAKEAWAYThe Prosaic Answer That Never Quite Closesp.1War.gov July 10, 2026

Common questions

What is Two Rising Lights Dismissed by CIA, 1955?: A 1955 CIA Top Secret memorandum analyzing reports of 'flying saucers' or unconventional aircraft, tied to observer debriefings in CIA-UAP-D020, that concludes the sighting did not evidence an unconventional aircraft.
What does Two Rising Lights Dismissed by CIA, 1955 reveal?: The document is a Top Secret CIA cover sheet and memorandum approved for release in 2026, from 1955. A dispatch dated 13 October 1955 reported flying saucers or unconventional aircraft, and the memo assesses whether the described incident supports that interpretation. The sighting consisted of two lights that initially rose vertically and passed over the…
Which agency produced Two Rising Lights Dismissed by CIA, 1955?: Two Rising Lights Dismissed by CIA, 1955 is a primary-source record from CIA. Its original classification was TOP SECRET.
When is Two Rising Lights Dismissed by CIA, 1955 dated?: Two Rising Lights Dismissed by CIA, 1955 is dated 1955. It was disclosed 2026-07-10.
What programs and topics appear in Two Rising Lights Dismissed by CIA, 1955?: Two Rising Lights Dismissed by CIA, 1955 references Project Y, Robertson Panel, two lights, vertical ascent, flying saucer and unconventional aircraft.
What does Two Rising Lights Dismissed by CIA, 1955 say, in its own words?: "SIGNATURE RECORD AND COVER SHEET" (source p. 1).

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Two Rising Lights Dismissed by CIA, 1955

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,-. f6P S E eR E=t= ~ I A - • Approved for Release 2026 ... 1 ,.~ :·· ·:··· 1955 .. .... ~ ..' .. , SIGNATURE RECORD AND COVER SHEET ASJJ - -~-, .,. I) /41 • • ? • · A4 ~ _tCUMENT DESCRIPTION REGISTRY SOURC CIA CONTROL NO. ,,_ //.5'1,··J5 DOC. NO. DATE DOCUMENT RECEIVED DOC. DATE - ' .(: .,;::; ; .. COPY NO. -- LOGGED BY NUMBER OF PAGES NUMBER OF ATTACHMENTS "~ ATTENTION: This form will be placed on top of and attached to each Top Secret document received by the Central In tel- ligence Agency or classified Top Secret within the CIA and will remain attached to the doc um en t until s1cch time as it 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 left•hand columns provided. Each individual who sees the Top Secret document will sign and indicate the date of handling in the right-hand columns. REFERRED TO RECEIVED RELEASED SEEN BY OFFICE SIGNATURE DA TE TIME DA TE TIME I SIGNATURE AND OFFICE DATE , OS) ,"{ft!J£C ,rn.l JS 1/Jst) lf!,d. 09.//~-:,l //.;,·.::, .. /~INJ V1ts. II\ .J., o-<..-t- ,Q-"' I ;t tRJ $"..l~ iPt/ I" , ' 11',,;.r$-s fS,:T , . )- ~ \, • ••"'~- ~J..s:r S'J,;// .- ;A ·adil. l~Uv- ::in\.\ ' ro NOTICE OF DETACHMENT: When this form is detached from Top Secret material it shall be completed in the appropriate spaces below and transmitted to Central Top Secret Control for record. DOWNGRADED TO BY (Signature) DATE DESTROYED BY (Signature) WITNESSED BY (Signature) DATE DISPATCHED (OUTSIDE CIA) TO BY (Signature) OFF I CE DATE FORM NO, 26 USE PREVIOUS EDITIONS. (40) TOP SECRET I APR 55

Full transcript4 pages · 876 words›

Concatenated page-by-page transcript. Born-digital pages came through pdf.js; scanned pages were transcribed by Claude vision OCR. Pages marked unreadable failed multiple OCR retries (heavy redaction, microfilm artifacts, or blank separators) and are kept in place for audit.

Page 1born-digital extraction

,-. f6P S E eR E=t= ~ I A - • Approved for Release 2026 ... 1 ,.~ :·· ·:··· 1955 .. .... ~ ..' .. , SIGNATURE RECORD AND COVER SHEET ASJJ - -~-, .,. I) /41 • • ? • · A4 ~ _tCUMENT DESCRIPTION REGISTRY SOURC CIA CONTROL NO. ,,_ //.5'1,··J5 DOC. NO. DATE DOCUMENT RECEIVED DOC. DATE - ' .(: .,;::; ; .. COPY NO. -- LOGGED BY NUMBER OF PAGES NUMBER OF ATTACHMENTS "~ ATTENTION: This form will be placed on top of and attached to each Top Secret document received by the Central In tel- ligence Agency or classified Top Secret within the CIA and will remain attached to the doc um en t until s1cch time as it 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 left•hand columns provided. Each individual who sees the Top Secret document will sign and indicate the date of handling in the right-hand columns. REFERRED TO RECEIVED RELEASED SEEN BY OFFICE SIGNATURE DA TE TIME DA TE TIME I SIGNATURE AND OFFICE DATE , OS) ,"{ft!J£C ,rn.l JS 1/Jst) lf!,d. 09.//~-:,l //.;,·.::, .. /~INJ V1ts. II\ .J., o-<..-t- ,Q-"' I ;t tRJ $"..l~ iPt/ I" , ' 11',,;.r$-s fS,:T , . )- ~ \, • ••"'~- ~J..s:r S'J,;// .- ;A ·adil. l~Uv- ::in\.\ ' ro NOTICE OF DETACHMENT: When this form is detached from Top Secret material it shall be completed in the appropriate spaces below and transmitted to Central Top Secret Control for record. DOWNGRADED TO BY (Signature) DATE DESTROYED BY (Signature) WITNESSED BY (Signature) DATE DISPATCHED (OUTSIDE CIA) TO BY (Signature) OFF I CE DATE FORM NO, 26 USE PREVIOUS EDITIONS. (40) TOP SECRET I APR 55

DISCLOSURE / FILE

Two Rising Lights Dismissed by CIA, 1955

Brief

Key points

The document is a Top Secret CIA cover sheet and memorandum approved for release in 2026, from 1955.p.1

A dispatch dated 13 October 1955 reported flying saucers or unconventional aircraft, and the memo assesses whether the described incident supports that interpretation.p.3

The sighting consisted of two lights that initially rose vertically and passed over the observers; the observer failed to observe the body of the object.p.3

The observer's position at high altitude (about 9000 feet) undermined the reliability of his observation, and the memo concludes his testimony alone could not confirm the existence of an unconventional aircraft.p.3

Section 3 references Dr. Robertson's group, which explained almost all the sightings and concluded the phenomena represented no threat to U.S. security.p.3

Section 4 describes research into unconventional saucer-like aircraft underway at Avro Aircraft Ltd. under Project 'Y,' still in early experimental stages years from completion.p.4

The design under study is described with a very high ceiling (roughly 100,000 feet), speed up to about 1800 miles per hour, and vertical take-off capability.p.4

Verbatim

SIGNATURE RECORD AND COVER SHEET

p.1

Access to Top Secret matter is limited to Top Secret Control. personnel and those individuals whose official duties relate to the matter.

p.1

NOTICE OF DETACHMENT: When this form is detached from Top Secret material it shall be completed in the appropriate spaces below and transmitted to Central Top Secret Control for record.

p.1

Most interesting

The memo pairs a specific UAP sighting analysis with a candid caveat that the observer's high altitude, around 9000 feet, made his account unreliable, an early example of institutional skepticism applied to a witness report.

It links the 1955 assessment to the 1953 Robertson Panel finding that reported phenomena posed no threat to U.S. security.

Section 4 treats saucer-like craft as a conventional aerospace engineering effort, Project 'Y' at Avro Aircraft Ltd. in Canada, with claimed design targets of roughly 100,000 feet ceiling and up to 1800 mph.

The document carried the full Top Secret Control handling regime, with a signature cover sheet tracking every individual who saw it, and was approved for release in 2026.

Common questions

What is Two Rising Lights Dismissed by CIA, 1955?

What does Two Rising Lights Dismissed by CIA, 1955 reveal?

The document is a Top Secret CIA cover sheet and memorandum approved for release in 2026, from 1955. A dispatch dated 13 October 1955 reported flying saucers or unconventional aircraft, and the memo assesses whether the described incident supports that interpretation. The sighting consisted of two lights that initially rose vertically and passed over the…

Which agency produced Two Rising Lights Dismissed by CIA, 1955?

Two Rising Lights Dismissed by CIA, 1955 is a primary-source record from CIA. Its original classification was TOP SECRET.

When is Two Rising Lights Dismissed by CIA, 1955 dated?

Two Rising Lights Dismissed by CIA, 1955 is dated 1955. It was disclosed 2026-07-10.

What programs and topics appear in Two Rising Lights Dismissed by CIA, 1955?

Two Rising Lights Dismissed by CIA, 1955 references Project Y, Robertson Panel, two lights, vertical ascent, flying saucer and unconventional aircraft.

What does Two Rising Lights Dismissed by CIA, 1955 say, in its own words?

"SIGNATURE RECORD AND COVER SHEET" (source p. 1).

,-. f6P S E eR E=t= ~ I A - • Approved for Release 2026 ... 1 ,.~ :·· ·:··· 1955 .. .... ~ ..' .. , SIGNATURE RECORD AND COVER SHEET ASJJ - -~-, .,. I) /41 • • ? • · A4 ~ _tCUMENT DESCRIPTION REGISTRY SOURC CIA CONTROL NO. ,,_ //.5'1,··J5 DOC. NO. DATE DOCUMENT RECEIVED DOC. DATE - ' .(: .,;::; ; .. COPY NO. -- LOGGED BY NUMBER OF PAGES NUMBER OF ATTACHMENTS "~ ATTENTION: This form will be placed on top of and attached to each Top Secret document received by the Central In tel- ligence Agency or classified Top Secret within the CIA and will remain attached to the doc um en t until s1cch time as it 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 left•hand columns provided. Each individual who sees the Top Secret document will sign and indicate the date of handling in the right-hand columns. REFERRED TO RECEIVED RELEASED SEEN BY OFFICE SIGNATURE DA TE TIME DA TE TIME I SIGNATURE AND OFFICE DATE , OS) ,"{ft!J£C ,rn.l JS 1/Jst) lf!,d. 09.//~-:,l //.;,·.::, .. /~INJ V1ts. II\ .J., o-<..-t- ,Q-"' I ;t tRJ $"..l~ iPt/ I" , ' 11',,;.r$-s fS,:T , . )- ~ \, • ••"'~- ~J..s:r S'J,;// .- ;A ·adil. l~Uv- ::in\.\ ' ro NOTICE OF DETACHMENT: When this form is detached from Top Secret material it shall be completed in the appropriate spaces below and transmitted to Central Top Secret Control for record. DOWNGRADED TO BY (Signature) DATE DESTROYED BY (Signature) WITNESSED BY (Signature) DATE DISPATCHED (OUTSIDE CIA) TO BY (Signature) OFF I CE DATE FORM NO, 26 USE PREVIOUS EDITIONS. (40) TOP SECRET I APR 55

Two Rising Lights Dismissed by CIA, 1955

Brief

Metadata

Key points

Verbatim

Most interesting

Cross-references

Cited in

Related topics

Common questions

Two Rising Lights Dismissed by CIA, 1955

Two Rising Lights Dismissed by CIA, 1955

Two Rising Lights Dismissed by CIA, 1955

Brief

Metadata

Key points

Verbatim

Most interesting

Cross-references

Cited in

Related topics

Common questions

Two Rising Lights Dismissed by CIA, 1955