Pentagon Releases Over 160 UFO Files Including Apollo Mission Reports

The Pentagon on Friday began releasing a trove of more than 160 previously classified files related to unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP), commonly known as UFOs, fulfilling a directive from former President Donald Trump to increase government transparency on the subject. The documents, which include eyewitness accounts, photos, videos, and reports from the FBI, Department of Defense, NASA, and State Department, span incidents dating back to the 1940s and continue through recent years.

The files are accessible on a dedicated government website, https://www.war.gov/UFO/, with additional documents to be posted on a rolling basis. The Pentagon emphasized that the release allows the American public to review the information without clearance or restrictions. “The American people can now access the federal government’s declassified UAP files instantly,” a Pentagon press release stated.

Among the newly disclosed materials are reports from NASA astronauts during the Apollo missions. Buzz Aldrin, during Apollo 11 in 1969, described seeing “little flashes inside the cabin” and a “fairly bright light source” possibly caused by a laser. Apollo 12 astronaut Alan Bean reported “flashes of light sailing off into space,” while Apollo 17 crew members observed “very bright particles” tumbling and rotating in the distance, with astronaut Harrison Schmitt likening the sight to “the Fourth of July.”

The release also includes 120 PDFs, 28 videos, and 14 image files, featuring grainy infrared military footage and photos of points of light or unusual shapes. Some videos show objects making rapid maneuvers, such as a 2023 sighting in Greece where an object reportedly made multiple 90-degree turns at about 80 miles per hour. Other images include an FBI composite sketch of a large, ellipsoid bronze metallic object materializing from bright light.

Historical documents include FBI case files from 1947 to 1968 detailing reports of “flying discs,” including a memo about the 1947 Roswell incident describing a hexagonal disc suspended from a balloon. Correspondence between FBI offices reveals concerns that unexplained sightings could cause public hysteria.

Recent files describe encounters by federal law enforcement agents in 2023 who observed orange orbs emitting smaller red orbs over a two-day period. Diplomatic cables from the State Department recount UAP sightings in countries such as Papua New Guinea, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan, including a 1994 report from a commercial aircrew describing a bright light performing complex maneuvers at high altitude, which the crew believed to be extraterrestrial.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said, “These files, hidden behind classifications, have long fueled justified speculation — and it’s time the American people see it for themselves.” Trump, who previously previewed the release, stated on Truth Social that the disclosure was intended to provide “Complete and Maximum Transparency” and invited the public to decide “WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?”

The Pentagon noted that while all files have been reviewed for security, many materials have not been fully analyzed to resolve anomalies. Approximately 108 of the 162 files contain redactions to protect eyewitness identities, sensitive military locations, or unrelated classified information. No redactions were made to conceal information about the nature or existence of UAP encounters.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman praised the transparency efforts, stating, “At NASA, our job is to bring the brightest minds and most advanced scientific instruments to bear, follow the data, and share what we learn. We will remain candid about what we know to be true, what we have yet to understand, and all that remains to be discovered.”

The Pentagon’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), established in 2023, will continue to analyze reports and release new documents periodically. The government has not confirmed any evidence of extraterrestrial life from these investigations, and the files do not indicate contact with alien beings. The release aims to provide raw data for public review and scientific analysis rather than definitive conclusions.