MilitaryOct 1977Colares, Brazil

Brazilian Air Force Operacao Prato

Name: Brazilian Air Force Operacao Prato
Start: 1977-10
Location: Colares, Brazil

After residents of Colares and nearby Para coastal towns reported lights in the sky, a Brazilian Air Force team from Belem logged sightings and took photographs into 1978. The Air Force says the files went to the National Archives; no explanation covers every report.

Evidence

Significance

Sources

OfficialDecisao no 00212/2015-CMRI (appeal on Air Force UFO records, NUP 60502.000921/2015-38) (opens in a new tab)Comissao Mista de Reavaliacao de Informacoes, Casa Civil (gov.br) / 2015-08-11
PressDocumentos ja foram revelados, diz Aeronautica (opens in a new tab)DOL (Diario Online, Belem) / 2014-06-01
PressA missao militar secreta na Amazonia que produziu centenas de registros e fotografias de objetos no ceu (opens in a new tab)O Antagonista / 2026-07-25

How sources are chosen and tiered

19 Sep 1976Military

Tehran jet intercept

Iranian Air Force F-4 jets were sent after a bright light over Tehran overnight, and crews reported losing instruments and communications as they closed in. A U.S. Defense Attache report on the incident, circulated by the DIA, was later released under FOIA.

Evidence

Significance

Oct 1975Military

Northern-tier base overflights

Air Force and NORAD records released under FOIA describe unidentified, low-flying objects, often likened to helicopters, over Loring, Wurtsmith and Malmstrom bases in late October and November 1975. Pursuit efforts failed; the Washington Post reported the files in 1979.

Evidence

Significance

11 Nov 1979Military

Manises incident: airliner diverts, Spanish Air Force Mirage scrambled

A TAE Super Caravelle bound for the Canary Islands diverted to Valencia-Manises after its crew reported red lights closing on the aircraft. A Spanish Air Force Mirage F1 later chased lights without success; the declassified file records no radar contact. A deputy raised it in parliament.

Evidence

Significance

9 May 1980Military

Peruvian Air Force intercept at La Joya

A U.S. defense attache cable from Lima reported that Peruvian Air Force officers saw a round object hovering near Mariano Melgar air base at La Joya, and that an Su-22 fired on it without effect. Pilot Oscar Santa Maria Huertas later gave his own account. The object was never identified.

Evidence

Significance