CIA: UFO document CREST 15452 lost during MDR review
The Central Intelligence Agency declared it could no longer locate a 1968 UFO-related document (CREST 0000015452) containing redacted correspondence. This prevented a Mandatory Declassification Review requested by The Black Vault in January 2019 from proceeding. The record originally contained Soviet press articles and a classified letter with withheld sections.
Background
The Black Vault filed a Mandatory Declassification Review (MDR) request on January 24, 2019, seeking the release of redacted portions within an eleven-page CIA record designated CREST 0000015452. The document, originating from 1968, contained two Soviet-era press articles from Soviet Life and Moskovsky Komsomolets, along with a two-page classified letter featuring fully redacted paragraphs and a third mysterious attachment referenced but entirely withheld.
After nearly three years of processing, the CIA responded that it could not locate the specific batch of records, including the attachments. This loss prevented any further review of the redacted content. The incident represents a recurring pattern where the agency claims inability to find previously released UFO files when pressed for additional transparency through MDR procedures.
The missing pages reportedly contained unknown correspondence regarding UFO matters, potentially offering insights into intelligence community attitudes during the Cold War era. The inability to access these records hinders historical research into government secrecy surrounding aerial phenomena.