FBI UFO Case File Serial 130: Declassified Document Reveals New Details

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According to FBI records released under PURSUE, a recently declassified document titled “65_HS1-834228961_62-HQ-83894_Serial_130” sheds light on a fascinating incident involving an unidentified flying object (UFO) sighting by a commercial airline pilot in 1947. The document, which includes investigative records, eyewitness testimonies, and public reports concerning UFOs and flying discs documented between June 1947 and July 1968, reveals a detailed account of the incident.

The incident occurred on August 4, 1947, when Mr. I. Powell, an Airline Captain with Pan American Airways, Inc., was flying a Constellation-type aircraft from Gander, Newfoundland, to La Guardia Field, New York. At approximately 1600 hours, while the aircraft was at an altitude of 9,000 feet and a speed of 266 mph, Mr. Powell and his navigator, Mr. White, spotted a bright orange object on the right side of the plane, slightly below the level of the aircraft. Mr. Powell described the object as being about the length of a P-40 fuselage, blunt at both ends, cylindrical in shape, and having a bright orange hue.

The object was observed for approximately 50 seconds, during which time Mr. Powell banked the aircraft to obtain a better view. The object was estimated to be about one mile away and at an altitude of approximately 7,800 feet. Mr. Powell stated that the object had a definite shape and that there was no suggestion of gaseous dispersion, which would be expected if the orange color were due to a rocket or jet aircraft. The object’s course was estimated to be 200° magnetic, and its speed was approximately 160 mph.

Investigation and Witness Accounts

The FBI document includes a detailed interview with Mr. White, the navigator, who described the object as being a deep gold in color, with a surface that reflected light. He estimated the object’s length to be around 113 feet and its depth to be around 25 feet. Mr. White also stated that the object was traveling in a southeasterly direction at a speed of approximately 176 mph. The document also includes a statement from Mr. Powell, who described the object’s shape and color in detail.

Per a Wikipedia summary of the United States UFO files, the release of these documents is part of an ongoing effort by the US government to declassify and release records related to UFOs, also known as Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs). Wikipedia’s entry on the topic notes that the releases began on May 8, 2026, and are expected to continue as repeated, ongoing, expanding releases of UFO materials.

The FBI document, while providing a detailed account of the incident, raises more questions than it answers. The official description of the document offers limited detail beyond the incident itself, and the context in which it was released is not entirely clear. However, the release of this document, along with other UFO-related records, may shed more light on the phenomenon and provide a better understanding of the US government’s involvement in investigating these incidents.

Future Releases and Unanswered Questions

As the US government continues to release UFO-related documents, readers should watch for future PURSUE releases that may provide more insight into the phenomenon. The release of these documents may also raise more questions about the nature of UFOs and the government’s involvement in investigating them. What remains unanswered is the significance of these incidents and how they fit into the broader context of UFO sightings and research. As more documents are released, it is likely that we will gain a better understanding of the US government’s knowledge and involvement in this phenomenon, and what it may mean for our understanding of the world around us.

For now, the release of the FBI document titled “65_HS1-834228961_62-HQ-83894_Serial_130” provides a fascinating glimpse into a previously unknown incident involving a UFO sighting by a commercial airline pilot. As we await future releases, we are left to ponder the significance of this incident and the many unanswered questions that remain about the phenomenon of UFOs.