Range Fouler: one object overtaken by another, then three on screen (31 August 2020)
A 482nd Attack Squadron pilot (rank O-2) on an ISR mission at dusk on 31 August 2020 saw an object fly through the sensor screen and started tracking it. A second object of the same size and shape but much faster overtook it. At one point three were on screen together, "moving amongst each other". The form gives contact altitude 18,000 ft and direction/speed "150/230". "Other shape" and "apparent propulsion" are ticked. The grid zone 39R covers the Persian Gulf and southern Iran (analysis by this write-up), while war.gov titles the file "Japan, 2023". A video released in Release 02, DOW-UAP-PR088/PR089, is uploader-titled "31 AUG [callsign] Observes UAP" and dated 2020 by AARO. No file links it to this form. *Method note: war.gov blocks this server. The form was read from the original PDF served by the ufotransparency.com mirror. It is a scanned Range Fouler form with a poor OCR text layer, so the quotations were read from the page image. Checkbox values are given as ticked on the scan.*
How plausible · Moderate
An attack-squadron pilot's official form records three objects, one overtaking another at much higher speed.
- ●●Access The ISR crew tracked it on their own sensor.
- ●●No gain sought An official reporting form.
- ●●Checkable details check out Released in PURSUE.
- ●○Restraint Describes motion and signature, no explanation.
- ●○Character record An official report; crew names withheld.
- ●○Fits the documented skeleton Part of the documented Range Fouler and PURSUE record.
Plausibility weighs how well an account fits where secrecy hides the documents by design, so missing records never count against it. Strength measures what is documented. Assessed 2026-10-23.
On the record
- Header fields: squadron "482 ATKS"; rank "O-2"; crew position "Pilot"; date "08/31/20"; "Dusk"; mission "ISR"; LFE "No"; contact location redacted (b)(1)1.4a; contact altitude "18000"; altitude constant "Yes"; contact moving "Yes"; direction/speed "150/230"; radar equipped "Other"; "Other Shape" and "Apparent Propulsion" ticked. Time of detection is blank. (DOW-UAP-D42, p. 1; read from the page image)
- MGRS grid of initial contact: "39RWL2" followed by redactions. (DOW-UAP-D42, p. 1; read from the page image)
- "Saw the initial object fly through the screen and started tracking it. Initial object was surpassed by another object of same size and shape but much higher speed. At one point during tracking the objects, there were three on the screen at the same time moving amongst each other." (DOW-UAP-D42, p. 1; read from the page image)Three separate UAP observations on one ISR mission over the Persian Gulf (16 July 2020)
- Release stamp: "USCENTCOM MDR 26-0028 Approved for Release to AARO. FOUO / PA applies 03/16/26". (DOW-UAP-D42, p. 1; read from the page image)