Start with the record, not the legend.
These pages examine documented encounters across different eras and evidence types. The groupings are discovery routes rather than claims that the cases have the same explanation. Each entry points directly to its existing canonical Case File page.
Historic and foundational cases
10 case filesKenneth Arnold
Foundational pilot report and the origin of “flying saucers.”
1947 · New MexicoRoswell 1947
Recovered-debris claims, changing explanations, and the record.
1940s · World War IIFoo Fighters
Unusual lights reported by wartime aircrews.
1994 · ZimbabweAriel School
Schoolyard witnesses and a contested close-encounter account.
1917 · PortugalFátima
Mass witness event and the documentary record around it.
1952 · West VirginiaFlatwoods
A rural encounter shaped by fear, distance, and later retelling.
1955 · KentuckyKelly–Hopkinsville
A family’s prolonged nocturnal encounter report.
1966 · AustraliaWestall
A school sighting remembered through many witness accounts.
1980s–present · NorwayHessdalen Lights
Recurring lights studied through field observation and instruments.
1967 · Nova ScotiaShag Harbour
A reported object impact and the official response.
Military, radar, and government records
12 case filesNimitz Tic Tac Encounter
Carrier-group testimony, radar data, and infrared footage.
1989–1990 · BelgiumBelgian UFO Wave
Police reports, military intercepts, radar, and a compromised photograph.
1980 · United KingdomRendlesham Forest
Military witnesses, a memo, recordings, and competing explanations.
1952 · United StatesWashington, D.C. 1952
Radar returns, visual reports, and the capital response.
2019 · Gulf of OmanGulf of Oman
A modern naval encounter with sensor and witness questions.
1967 · MontanaMalmstrom Echo Flight
Missile-site reports and the question of interference.
1968 · North DakotaMinot AFB
A military sighting near a strategic weapons installation.
1975 · United StatesNorthern SAC Incursions
Security alerts and reported objects near SAC facilities.
1957 · Gulf of MexicoRB-47
An aircrew encounter involving radar and electronic signals.
1976 · IranTehran F-4
Military intercept reports and instrument anomalies.
1942 · CaliforniaLos Angeles
Wartime air-defence confusion over the city.
2015 · TexasPantex 2015
A modern report connected to a sensitive weapons facility.
Close encounters, photographs, and physical evidence
10 case filesTravis Walton
A logging crew, a missing-person case, and disputed testimony.
1961 · New HampshireBetty and Barney Hill
A landmark abduction account and its later reconstruction.
1973 · MississippiPascagoula
Two witnesses, an immediate report, and a contested encounter.
1997 · ArizonaPhoenix Lights
Two events often merged together: flares and a wide formation.
1990 · ScotlandCalvine
A long-hidden photograph and the provenance questions around it.
2006 · ChicagoO’Hare Airport
A dozen airline employees reported a disc; the FAA called it weather.
1964 · CumbriaSolway Firth Spaceman
A famous background figure, and the conventional explanation that followed.
1948 · North DakotaGorman Dogfight
A fighter pilot’s 27-minute pursuit of a light, and the balloon explanation that followed.
1981 · FranceTrans-en-Provence
A government-documented landing trace whose cause remains contested.
1979 · ScotlandRobert Taylor
A forestry worker’s report with alleged physical traces.
1965 · PennsylvaniaKecksburg
A reported object, military presence, and an enduring mystery.
1996 · BrazilVarginha
Witness accounts, military claims, and a disputed incident.
1948 · New MexicoGreen Fireballs
Military observations of luminous objects over the Southwest.
2008 · TexasStephenville
Witness reports, aircraft explanations, and a disputed sighting.
1950 · OregonMcMinnville Photographs
Two famous photographs, decades of analysis, and an unresolved object.
1957 · TexasLevelland
Multiple motorists reported a luminous object that stalled engines and lights.
2014 · PacificChilean Navy UAP
Infrared footage tracked on radar, investigated by CEFAA, ending unidentified.
1978 · New ZealandKaikōura Lights
Filmed and radar-confirmed lights, investigated and reported to the UN.
1995 · ArgentinaBariloche Airport
A bright object near the approach, and an airport power failure.
1993 · EnglandCosford Incident
Over 30 witnesses reported a low triangular craft; the MoD investigated.
1979 · MinnesotaVal Johnson
A deputy’s patrol car came away damaged after a reported light.
1958 · BrazilTrindade Island
A Brazilian Navy expedition photographed a Saturn-shaped object.
1959 · Papua New GuineaFather Gill
A missionary and 38 witnesses reported a craft with figures on top.
2010 · ChinaHangzhou Airport
An unidentified radar contact shut an airport and diverted flights.
1990 · East GermanyGreifswald Lights
Hundreds watched two formations of lights form geometric patterns.
1947 · CaliforniaMuroc AFB
Two daylight discs, and four officers who signed statements.
1561 · NurembergNuremberg 1561
A single broadsheet documented a reported aerial battle of spheres.
1803 · JapanUtsurobune
A hollow disc-shaped vessel, a pale stranger, and surviving illustrations.
1897 · TexasAurora, Texas
A single newspaper story claimed an airship crash and a buried pilot.
1948 · KentuckyMantell Incident
A pilot pursued a reported object and died; the Air Force cited Venus.
1965 · New HampshireExeter Incident
A teenager and two police officers reported a red-glowing object.
1956 · EnglandLakenheath/Bentwaters
RAF and USAF tracked objects on multiple radars and saw them.
2009 · NorwayNorwegian Spiral
A white spiral widely photographed, attributed to a missile test.
1953 · Lake SuperiorKinross Incident
An F-89C vanished while intercepting a radar return.
1979 · SpainManises Incident
A Spanish airliner diverted after its crew reported red lights.
1980 · PeruLa Joya Incident
A Peruvian pilot reported firing at an object without effect.
1977 · BrazilOperação Prato
Colares residents reported beams; the Air Force investigated.
2007 · ChannelAlderney Sighting
An airline captain reported two bright objects, with reported radar.
1986 · USSRDalnegorsk Crash
A glowing sphere crashed into Height 611; an expedition followed.
1946 · ScandinaviaGhost Rockets
~2,000 reports of missile-shaped objects, investigated by a committee.
1948 · AlabamaChiles-Whitted
Two pilots reported a wingless torpedo-shaped craft.
1947 · WashingtonUnited Flight 105
An airline crew reported disc-shaped objects after Arnold.
1969 · FinlandFinnish Air Force Pori
Controllers directed an intercept; pilots reported a disc.
1954 · AustraliaNowra Sea Fury
A pilot reported two lights, with a radar contact.
1982 · FranceNancy Amaranth
An ovoid object in a garden, investigated by GEPAN.
1965 · MartiniqueFort-de-France
Several hundred witnesses reported a light over the harbour.
1952 · TokyoHaneda Interception
Tower operators tracked an object that a pilot pursued.
1984 · BelarusMinsk Aeroflot
An Aeroflot crew reported an intense yellow light.
1973 · ItalyCaselle Airport
Controllers detected a radar target; a pilot confirmed it.
1957 · PortugalLemos Ferreira
Four F-84 pilots reported an object during a night exercise.
1965 · AntarcticaDeception Island
Base personnel reported luminous objects.
1977 · BrazilBaía do Sol
An Operation Saucer observation, in the official report.
1979 · ItalyCecconi Intercept
A marshal intercepted a detected object in a G.91R.
1960 · WewakWewak Light
A light over a test site, in an official report.
1975 · JapanKofu Incident
Two boys reported a landed object and a small being.
2008 · TurkeyKumburgaz Footage
Video of objects, with contested authenticity.
1970 · FinlandImjärvi Encounter
A forester reported a bright object and a small being.
1978 · ItalyZanfretta Abductions
Reported abductions investigated by police, resting on hypnosis.
1995 · South KoreaGapyeong Photograph
A Korean newspaper photo, with contested interpretation.
1980Cash-Landrum Incident, 1980
Cash-Landrum matters because it is a rare physical-effect case with reported radiation symptoms and a named in
2019USS Omaha Encounter, 2019
The USS Omaha encounter matters because it is a distinct 2019 Navy sensor case with confirmed footage.
1967Falcon Lake / Stefan Michalak, 1967
Falcon Lake matters because it is a Canadian physical-trace case with official RCMP and DND records.
1977Petrozavodsk Phenomenon, 1977
Petrozavodsk matters because it is a Soviet mass event with an official Academy of Sciences investigation.
1966Portage County UFO Chase, 1966
Portage County matters because it is a named police pursuit of a luminous object.
1986Brazilian Night of the UFOs, 1986
The Brazilian Night of the UFOs matters because it is a mass military radar-visual event with an official pres
1952Wonsan-Sunchon Bomber Encounters, 1952
Wonsan-Sunchon matters because it is a Korean War bomber encounter with a Blue Book record.
1962Meløy Fighter Pursuit, 1962
Meløy matters because it is a Norwegian military pursuit with an official report.
1996Pretoria Police Helicopter Pursuit, 1996
Pretoria matters because it is a police helicopter pursuit with official reports.
1962Espora Naval Base Radar Incursions, 1962
Espora matters because it is an Argentine naval-base incursion case with official reports.
1972Rosmead School Trace Incident, 1972
Rosmead matters because it is a South African physical-trace case.
1954Woomera Radar-Visual Disc, 1954
Woomera matters because it is an Australian radar-visual case at a restricted test range.
1977Mirage IV Pursued over Chaumont, 1977
The Mirage IV pursuit matters because it is a French military case.
1994Air France 3532 Radar-Visual Object, 1994
Air France 3532 matters because it is a commercial-aviation radar-visual report.
1976Clermont-to-Grenoble Corridor Object, 1976
The Clermont corridor object matters because it is a French multi-witness case.
1973Latina Airliner and Fighter Confirmation, 1973
The Latina case matters because it is an Italian airliner-and-fighter confirmation.
1978Clarenville Harbour Object, 1978
Clarenville matters because it is an RCMP-investigated report.
1904USS Supply Red-Object Formation, 1904
The USS Supply observation matters because it is an early naval report of a red-object formation.
2004Mexican Air Force C-26 Encounter, 2004
The Mexican C-26 encounter matters because it is a 2004 military FLIR case with released footage.
1967Walker AFB Incident, 1967
Walker AFB matters because it is a nuclear-base security report.
1965Valensole Lavender-Field Trace, 1965
Valensole matters because it is a famous French physical-trace case with official records.
1957Ubatuba Magnesium Fragments, 1957
Ubatuba matters because it is a physical-evidence case with a documented analysis.
1988Mundrabilla Vehicle-Lifting Encounter, 1988
Mundrabilla matters because it is an Australian vehicle-lifting report with a police record.
1959Évora Filament Fall, 1959
Évora matters because it is a Portuguese physical case with a reported filament fall.
1976Talavera Air-Base Intrusion, 1976
Talavera matters because it is a Spanish air-base intrusion report.
1969Jimmy Carter Sighting, 1969
The Jimmy Carter sighting matters because it is a future President’s own reported observation.
1978Valentich Disappearance, 1978
Valentich matters because it is a documented aviation disappearance during a reported object encounter.
1976Allagash Abductions, 1976
Allagash matters because it is a multi-witness abduction account.
1967Cussac Plateau Encounter, 1967
Cussac matters because it is a French close-encounter case with a GEPAN investigation — yet the reported figur
1954Quarouble Railway-Track Encounter, 1954
Quarouble matters because it is a French 1954 physical-trace encounter with a gendarmerie/Air Police investiga
1973Coyne Helicopter Incident
This case matters because it is a documented military event whose object identity remains unresolved.
1950Mariana Film
This case matters because it is a documented physical event whose object identity remains unresolved.
1971Delphos Landing Ring
This case matters because it is a documented physical event whose object identity remains unresolved.
1951Fort Monmouth Radar-Visual
This case matters because it is a documented radar event whose object identity remains unresolved.
1952Brookley AFB Radar-Visual
This case matters because it is a documented radar event whose object identity remains unresolved.
1960Red Bluff Police Sighting
This case matters because it is a documented radar event whose object identity remains unresolved.
2013Puerto Rico 2013 UAP Video
This case matters because it is a documented radar event whose object identity remains unresolved.
2001Chulucanas Formation Videos
This case matters because it is a documented government event whose object identity remains unresolved.
1978Gujan-Mestras Power-Failure Object
This case matters because it is a documented government event whose object identity remains unresolved.
2004Las Piñas Sighting
This case matters because it is a documented mass event whose object identity remains unresolved.
1973Dionisio Llanca Encounter
This case matters because it is a documented encounter event whose object identity remains unresolved.
1987Vranov UFO Incident
This case matters because it is a documented mass event whose object identity remains unresolved.
1954Thessaly Sightings, 1954
This case matters because it is a documented mass event whose object identity remains unresolved.
19821982 South Korea DMZ Sighting
This case matters because it is a documented military event whose object identity remains unresolved.
1954Venezuela 1954 Sighting Wave
This case matters because it is a documented encounter event whose object identity remains unresolved.
1968Cluj-Napoca 1968 Sighting
This case matters because it is a documented mass event whose object identity remains unresolved.
2004Tinley Park Lights — Halloween Mass Sighting
This case matters because it is a documented mass event whose object identity remains unresolved.
2010Harbour Mille Incident — Newfoundland
This case matters because it is a documented mass event whose object identity remains unresolved.
19671967 Fortuna AFS Radar Case — 5,000 mph Return
This case matters because it is a documented radar event whose object identity remains unresolved.
1954The Green Object Over Antananarivo
This case matters because it is a documented mass event whose object identity remains unresolved.
1954The Florence Stadium Objects
This case matters because it is a documented mass event whose object identity remains unresolved.
1963The Trancas Ranch Lights
This case matters because it is a documented encounter event whose object identity remains unresolved.
1954The Marcilly Construction-Site Encounter
This case matters because it is a documented encounter event whose object identity remains unresolved.
2013The Collahuasi Mine Photographs
This case matters because it is a documented physical event whose object identity remains unresolved.
1972The Isla de Lobos Lighthouse Intrusion
This case matters because it is a documented military event whose object identity remains unresolved.
1990The Alfena 'Flying Jellyfish'
This case matters because it is a documented mass event whose object identity remains unresolved.
1957Fort Itaipu Heat and Power Failure
This case matters because it is a documented military event whose object identity remains unresolved.
1965Pretoria Police Highway Trace
This case matters because it is a documented physical event whose object identity remains unresolved.
1952Hasselbach Forest Landing
This case matters because it is a documented government event whose object identity remains unresolved.
1971Fort Beaufort Fireball Engagement
This case matters because it is a documented government event whose object identity remains unresolved.
1952Oloron Aerial Formation and Filament Fall
This case matters because it is a documented mass event whose object identity remains unresolved.
1968Mendoza Hospital Encounter, 1968
This case matters because it is a documented physical event whose object identity remains unresolved.
1988Villa Urquiza Christmas Night Object
This case matters because it is a documented mass event whose object identity remains unresolved.
1994Guiyang Forest Destruction Event
This case matters because it is a documented physical event whose object identity remains unresolved.
1952Norrtälje Twin-Object Photographs
This case matters because it is a documented physical event whose object identity remains unresolved.
1966Balwyn Polaroid Disc
This case matters because it is a documented physical event whose object identity remains unresolved.
1959Moreland Farm Encounter
This case matters because it is a documented government event whose object identity remains unresolved.
1966Burkes Flat Headlight Distortion
This case matters because it is a documented physical event whose object identity remains unresolved.
1954Taormina Twin-Object Photographs
This case matters because it is a documented physical event whose object identity remains unresolved.
1990Megaplatanos Burned-Hillside Incident
This case matters because it is a documented physical event whose object identity remains unresolved.
1976Rives/Voreppe Sighting — Physicist Witness
This case matters because it is a documented radar event whose object identity remains unresolved.
1977Broad Haven School Sighting — Wales
This case matters because it is a documented encounter event whose object identity remains unresolved.
1980Alan Godfrey Police Encounter — Todmorden
This case matters because it is a documented encounter event whose object identity remains unresolved.
1974Berwyn Mountain Incident, 1974
This case matters because it is a documented mass event whose object identity remains unresolved.
1978North Yorkshire Police A629 Sighting
This case matters because it is a documented encounter event whose object identity remains unresolved.
1987Ilkley Moor UFO — Photographed Entity
This case matters because it is a documented encounter event whose object identity remains unresolved.
1974John Lennon UFO Sighting — New York, 1974
This case matters because it is a documented encounter event whose object identity remains unresolved.
1951 · TexasLubbock Lights
Lubbock Lights matters because it is a photographed, multi-witness mass sighting with named academic witnesses