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DoD-B18-021 · 1977-10-14

Brazil Operation Prato Maranhão Wave 1977

DoD◎ Vigia, Pará State, Brazil◌ North America#1977◈ Disc / Saucer↑ 100 feet⏱ Several months (wave)
EVIDENCE GALLERY

Visual reconstruction and recovered media extracted from the incident dossier. Includes motion playback from the released archive.

Representative official gallery image traced to an official public-source archive

MEDIA STATUS
Official gallery media is shown as representative archive context for this case.
SOURCE TYPE
Sensor capture, analyst notes, and released archive media.
VIEW MODE
Still view highlights silhouette, environment, and encounter geometry.
AT A GLANCE

The Brazilian Air Force launched Operation Prato in 1977 — a classified multi-month investigation into UAP incidents in Pará and Maranhão States involving craft that were reportedly attacking and injuring civilians with beams of light. Over 300 pages of classified documents, photographs, and film were collected. The Brazilian Air Force's classified files were officially released in 2004, making Operation Prato one of the most significant official government UAP investigations ever made public.

PRIMARY WITNESSES
Brazilian Air Force personnel, Pará State civilians, Brazilian Navy
EVIDENCE PROFILE
STILL EVIDENCEVIDEO PLAYBACKDISC / SAUCER
FILE ID
DoD-B18-021
DATE
1977-10-14
AGENCY
DoD
REGION
North America
SHAPE
Disc / Saucer
ALTITUDE
100 feet
OBSERVED BEHAVIORS
Stationary HoverEmitting Sub-ObjectsSensor Interference
DECLASSIFIED DETAILS

In 1977, reports began reaching Brazilian authorities from Pará and Maranhão States of unidentified craft at extremely low altitude reportedly emitting beams of light that caused physical injuries to civilians — referred to locally as 'chupa-chupa' (blood-sucker). The Brazilian Air Force dispatched an official investigation team, designated Operation Prato (Operation Saucer), led by Air Force Captain Uyrangê Bolivar Soares Nogueira de Hollanda Lima. The team spent several months in the region photographing and filming craft, conducting interviews, and analyzing physical evidence. They collected approximately 300 photographs, 16mm film footage, and documented approximately 400 witnesses. Captain Hollanda later stated in an interview before his death in 1997 that the craft appeared to respond to the team's presence and demonstrated intelligence. In 2004, the Brazilian Air Force officially declassified the Operation Prato files — including the photographs and film — making it one of the most comprehensive official government UAP investigation archives to enter the public record. Brazil's declassification preceded the US UAPTF and AARO programs by decades.

KEY CHARACTERISTICS
  • ›Brazilian Air Force official multi-month investigation 1977
  • ›300+ photographs and 16mm film collected by military investigation team
  • ›400+ witnesses documented by official military investigators
  • ›Captain Hollanda stated craft appeared intelligent and responsive
  • ›2004 official declassification — comprehensive archive released publicly
  • ›Preceded US UAPTF by decades — Brazil's most significant UAP disclosure
ORIGINAL SOURCE

This incident is indexed as file DoD-B18-021inside Now Declassified's research layer. The nearest official source trail for this agency points to NARA RG 615 / OSD, where archive records, imagery, or supporting context are published for public review.

OPEN OFFICIAL SOURCE CONTEXT →
MORE DOD FILES →MORE DISC / SAUCER CASES →MORE 1977 CASES →
EVIDENCE STRENGTH
COMPELLING
Video Record
25
Still Imagery
15
Witness Credibility
20
Sensor Corroboration
20
Physical Evidence
0
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ARCHIVE EXPORT
RESEARCH GUIDES
›How AARO Publishes UAP Cases›NARA Record Group 615ALL GUIDES →
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RESEARCHER DISCUSSION

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← EARLIER CASE
F.E. Warren AFB ICBM Interference — USAF Security Report
1976
LATER CASE →
Brazil Operation Saucer — Air Force Covert Investigation
1977