Most of the 41 files released on Friday are grainy recordings taken by cameras or sensors on US military planes, often during missions in the Middle East, of flying lights, orbs and other types of unidentified flying objects.
The recordings come from the Pentagon, FBI, CIA, State Department and President Donald Trump's office, CBS News reports.
Cigar shape over Sweden
The events in Sweden describe unidentified flying objects, so-called "ghost rockets", that hovered over Sweden and other Scandinavian countries in early May 1946. They are said to have been described as, among other things, "shiny cigar-shaped objects".
Most of the objects were likely misidentified natural phenomena, according to the Pentagon, which in some cases believes they may have been Soviet missile tests. The Swedish Defence Staff at the time, according to the Pentagon, is said to have described the objects as of “celestial origin.”
“Did you see that?”
Among the highlights is also the testimony of a former pilot in the US military in 2024. In a recorded interview, the pilot talks about an experience in Afghanistan in 2002.
"At approximately 4:30 a.m. local time, the subject noted that the stars above Bagram were darkening. It appeared as if something enormously large was passing overhead, from west to east, in the shape of an equilateral triangle. The object flew silently, at a constant speed and altitude, possibly 150 knots (278 km/h), with no visible lights," the Pentagon wrote.
Another pilot is also said to have observed the object and said "did you see that?" when the object passed, the Pentagon notes.
Will seek the truth
Friday's publication of previously classified documents about phenomena that could come from outer space will not be the last under President Trump, a Pentagon spokesperson promises.
The Pentagon does not take a position on the nature of the observations, the department points out on its website , adding:
"We will seek the truth and share our findings with the American people."
