Raw capture
CIA, "Exploitation of Metallic Fragment from Unidentified Flying Object", 4 May 1966 (Congo)
CIA, "Exploitation of Metallic Fragment from Unidentified Flying Object", 4 May 1966 (Congo)
- Source: Central Intelligence Agency information report 15127-66, CONFIDENTIAL, Country: UNIDENTIFIED, Subject: "Exploitation of Metallic Fragment from Unidentified Flying Object". Date of info: April 1966. Date distributed: 4 May 1966. Release marking: "Approved for Release 2/2010". CIA release page number C00204832.
- Attachment: an Army/DoD exploitation report, "FRAGMENT, METAL, RECOVERED IN THE REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, ORIGIN BELIEVED TO BE AN UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT (COUNTRY UNIDENTIFIED) (U)", report number rendered on the scan as MCN-25100 / MCM-25300 (the digits are not legible with confidence).
- Where to get it: CIA FOIA Electronic Reading Room document 0005517743 (https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/0005517743); PDF mirror obtained via The Black Vault, https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/cia/ufos/C05517678.pdf
- Sourced: 2026-07-26 · Method:
curlof the Black Vault PDF, then page-image reading of the 12-page scan (the scan is stamped "POOR ORIGINAL" and defeatspdftotext; the text below is read off the page images) - Ellipses in square brackets mark words that are genuinely illegible on the scan. Figure numbers refer to photographs and photomicrographs in the original.
Cited by: ../../sources/moon-dust-blue-fly-programs · ../transcripts/project-unity-moondust-bluefly-2026-07-26
Cover sheet (CIA information report 15127-66)
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY 15127-66
This material contains information affecting the National Defense of the United States
within the meaning of the Espionage Laws, Title 18, U.S.C. Secs. 793 and 794, the
transmission or revelation of which in any manner to an unauthorized person is prohibited
by law.
C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L
COUNTRY UNIDENTIFIED REPORT NO. [redacted]
SUBJECT Exploitation of Metallic Fragment DATE DISTR. 4 MAY 66
from Unidentified Flying Object NO. PAGES 1
REFERENCES [redacted]
DATE OF
INFO. APRIL 1966
PLACE &
DATE ACQ. April 1966
SOURCE [redacted]
On file in CIA Library is an exploitation report on a metallic
fragment approximately 2"x2"x1", recovered near Kerekene, Republic
of the Congo. The fragment was recovered by ground search after
a UFO fell to earth in the area. The report concludes that the
fragment was originally part of an electrical component and was
constructed of 0.010-inch thick silicon-steel laminate.
C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L
Attached exploitation report
CONFIDENTIAL
EXPLOITATION REPORT
FRAGMENT, METAL, RECOVERED IN THE REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO,
ORIGIN BELIEVED TO BE AN UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT
(COUNTRY UNIDENTIFIED) (U)
MCN-25100
SECTION I. (C) Purpose (U)
1. (C) The purpose of this report is to present the results of
the exploitation of a metallic fragment recovered near the town of
Kerekene in the Republic of the [Congo]. The recovery was the
result of a ground-level search which was conducted after an
unidentified flying object exploded and fell to earth in the area. The
sighting and recovery took place sometime between 10 and 15 October 1965.
Other than a reported east-to-west direction of flight for the UFO,
specific observation and recovery details are lacking.
SECTION II. (C) Description (U)
2. (C) Details concerning the exact location and characteristics
of impact are unknown. However, the appearance of the fragment in-
dicated exposure to high temperatures prior to [either] impact [or]
[...]. Impact of the specimen had little or no effect on its final condition
or appearance. The fragment weighed [...] and an indefinite density
of approximately iron and measured 2.25 x 1.75 x 1.0 inches. The top
and side views of the specimen were rounded and appeared to have
been shaped by heating and melting. This is illustrated in Figures 1
and 2. The [...] shaped groove, visible in Figure 1, is the outline of
an insert of sheet stock that differs slightly from the rest of the
specimen. Figure 3 shows the side view [...] and shown in Figure [...]
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
and was composed of six machined or formed "T" shaped fins extending
along the major axis of the fragment.
SECTION III. (C) Conclusions (U)
3. (C) The fragment was originally part of an electrical
component and could be identified as a motor armature, generator armature,
or associated electrical regulating [or measuring] device.
4. (C) The fragment was constructed of 0.010-inch thick silicon
steel laminates stacked on a central mild steel core or shaft.
5. (C) Materials, processes, dimensions, etc., as such, prevent
determination of exact origin (country).
6. (C) Surface appearance and microstructure of the specimen
indicates exposure to temperatures in excess of 2820° F.
SECTION IV. (C) Exploitation (U)
7. (C) The recovered specimen [weighed] 41 grams and has a
density closely approximating [that of iron. Examination of the] fin[s]
[showed that the] metal [and] heavy oxide was [...] to temperatures in
excess of 2820° F. While there are no indications of impact, the
flowed metal, as shown in Figures 4 and 7, would substantiate the
conclusion that the item was moving at a high velocity when it was hot.
8. (C) Fabrication of the item was accomplished utilizing more
or less standard procedures for fabricating electric motor armatures.
Armature laminates were stamped (punched) from approximately .012-inch
sheet steel, copper-plated, and assembled on a mild steel shaft
approximately .425 inches in diameter. Following assembly, the
laminates were joined by self-[brazing] or diffusion-bonding of the copper-
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
plating. This can be accomplished by tightly compacting the laminate
assembly and heating in a furnace. Temperature required for bonding
of the copper depends upon the degree compaction or pressure; the
higher pressures requiring proportionately lower temperatures.
9. (C) A cross-section (transverse to the length of the specimen)
is shown in Figure 5. The light-colored [areas] are the edges
of individual laminates, caused by cutting at a slight angle to, instead
of parallel to, the laminates. [Note that] the plate fins or petals
are "T" shaped. This shape is used to help hold winding wire in place
and is found on high RPM motors. The melted condition of some of the
"T"s is indicative of the high heating conditions experienced. The
outer surface of the armature shaft is serrated to prevent axial
slippage of the laminates.
10. (C) The lamination or stacking of [the individual] laminates
is clearly illustrated in Figure 6. The sp[read between] laminates on
the fin at the top of the photograph is due to the melting and flowing
of the copperplating during the high temperature [exposure] of the
specimen. Some of the copper [has] been [removed and flowed to] the
bottom of the photograph. A [greater] magnification of this area
is shown in Figures 7 and 8.
11. (C) Another result of intense heating was the enlarged grain
size of the steel laminates' microstructure. The microstructures of
the [laminates shown] in Figures 9 and 10 illustrate grain sizes that
are comparable to Category 2 of ASTM [grain size standards]. The
large grain size indicates [that the material was subjected to]
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
intense heat and then cooled at a comparatively slow rate.
12. (C) The light material between the laminations in Figure 9
is plated copper that melted and flowed between the laminations when
the entire specimen was hot. A photomicrograph of this is shown
in Figure 11.
13. (C) Analysis of the [shaft] disclosed the following:
Element Percent Present (Weight)
Carbon [...]
Manganese [...]
Silicon [...]
Nickel less than 0.10
Chromium 0.87
Molybdenum less than 0.01
14. (C) Chemical composition of the steel laminations was as
follows:
Element Percent Present (Weight)
[Carbon] [...]
Manganese .26
Silicon (1.5)
Nickel [less than] 0.13
Chromium [...]
Molybdenum less than 0.01
CONFIDENTIAL