UFO in Oklahoma with Russian Note

Summary

In 1958, a couple in Temple, Oklahoma, found a rectangular white plastic object measuring 7 by 7 feet stuck in a tree. The object had a note attached written in Russian stating: "I do not understand Russian. How are you?" Army and Air Force investigators concluded it was a common weather balloon and the note was a prank. The plastic was of the type used in surveillance balloons and had no instruments, indicating it hadn't crossed the ocean. The Russian phrase was considered a copy from a phrase book typical of what U.S. soldiers used during wartime.

The note was handed over to the FBI, but its final disposition is unknown. Investigators concluded there was no evidence of an unidentified object, but rather a case of a hoax or mistake. The case was classified and later declassified, showing how authorities approached UFO reports with a critical and practical mindset.