Who Released the Pentagon UFO Videos First?

Introduction

The three videos commonly called FLIR1, Gimbal and GoFast did not suddenly appear when the Pentagon published them in April 2020. They had already been circulating for years through a combination of online leaks, investigative journalism and promotion by To the Stars Academy, the organisation co-founded by musician Tom DeLonge. The Pentagon’s action was therefore not the first public release of the footage. Instead, it was an official authentication and authorised publication of material that had already entered public circulation through different routes. This distinction matters because much of the later public debate confused official confirmation that the videos were genuine Navy recordings with official endorsement of extraordinary interpretations. The Department of Defense was careful to make no such endorsement.[U.S. Department of War]defense.govU.S. Department of War Statement by the Department of Defense on the Release of Historical Navy Videos > U.S. Department of Defense > RelU.S. Department of WarStatement by the Department of Defense on the Release of Historical Navy Videos > U.S. Department of Defense > Rele…(https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/2165713/statement-by-the-department-of-defens/statement-by-the-department-of-defense-on-the-release-of-historical-navy-videos/)

Who Released the Pentagon UFO Videos First?

The publication history differs for each recording, but together they form a layered timeline rather than a single government disclosure.

The oldest clip, FLIR1, was associated with the USS Nimitz encounter of November 2004. Versions of the footage appeared online as early as 2007 through unofficial channels. Years later, the Department of Defense itself acknowledged that the videos had been circulating after “unauthorised releases in 2007 and 2017”, confirming that public access began well before the Pentagon’s own publication.[U.S. Department of War]defense.govU.S. Department of War Statement by the Department of Defense on the Release of Historical Navy Videos > U.S. Department of Defense > RelU.S. Department of WarStatement by the Department of Defense on the Release of Historical Navy Videos > U.S. Department of Defense > Rele…(https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/2165713/statement-by-the-department-of-defens/statement-by-the-department-of-defense-on-the-release-of-historical-navy-videos/)

The remaining videos entered widespread public awareness much later. In December 2017, The New York Times published a major investigation into the Pentagon’s Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP), embedding the FLIR1 and Gimbal videos alongside reporting on the programme. At roughly the same time, To the Stars Academy published the footage through its own channels, with former defence officials including Luis Elizondo and Christopher Mellon helping explain the recordings to journalists and television audiences. GoFast followed shortly afterwards and received broad attention during 2018.[HISTORY]history.comNavy Confirms UFO Videos Are Real and Show Unidentified Aerial Phenomena | HISTORY…

The result was that millions of people encountered the videos through news organisations and a private advocacy group rather than through an official Pentagon press release.

FLIR1’s Early Online Circulation

The 2007 appearance of FLIR1 remains one of the most unusual parts of the story because the video’s path into the public domain was never presented as a formal government publication.

Copies circulated on the internet within UFO communities years before the footage became internationally famous. At the time, the clip attracted limited mainstream attention because there was no official confirmation of its origin, little accompanying documentation and no coordinated media campaign explaining its significance. Without authoritative context, many viewers regarded it as simply another disputed internet video.

Only after later reporting connected the recording to the 2004 USS Nimitz incident did the earlier leak become historically important. The early circulation demonstrated that genuine military material could appear online long before the government acknowledged it publicly, but the leak alone did not persuade most mainstream observers because its provenance remained uncertain.[U.S. Department of War]defense.govU.S. Department of War Statement by the Department of Defense on the Release of Historical Navy Videos > U.S. Department of Defense > RelU.S. Department of WarStatement by the Department of Defense on the Release of Historical Navy Videos > U.S. Department of Defense > Rele…(https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/2165713/statement-by-the-department-of-defens/statement-by-the-department-of-defense-on-the-release-of-historical-navy-videos/)

The 2017 Journalism and To the Stars Releases

The decisive change came in late 2017, not because new footage appeared, but because established institutions supplied context and credibility.

The New York Times linked the videos to reporting on AATIP, describing a previously little-known Pentagon programme that investigated reports of unidentified aerial phenomena. The accompanying article included interviews with former officials and military personnel, transforming obscure infrared clips into evidence associated with a documented government project.[WIRED]wired.comwhat is up with those pentagon ufo videosThe article included videos of UAPs and featured accounts from Navy pilots. The program, Advanced Aviation Threat Identification Program…

At nearly the same time, To the Stars Academy amplified the material through a different route. The organisation combined former government officials, media production and Tom DeLonge’s celebrity profile. It argued that the videos had passed through official review processes before release, although later reporting noted continuing questions about the precise administrative approvals involved and whether clearance for public release was identical to formal Department of Defense publication.[WIRED]wired.comDoes It Matter That the DOD Released Those UFO Videos?These videos, previously surfaced through The New York Times in 2017, were not initially authorized by the Pentagon, though they were ack…

This combination proved unusually influential because it reached several audiences simultaneously:

Rather than a single official announcement, public awareness grew through overlapping media channels that reinforced one another.

Why the Pentagon Published the Videos in 2020

By April 2020 the recordings were already widely available, so the Pentagon’s decision addressed a different problem.

The Department of Defense stated that it was authorising release because the videos had already circulated publicly after unauthorised disclosures. Following review, officials concluded that publishing the unclassified recordings would not reveal sensitive capabilities or interfere with investigations. The department also said it wanted to eliminate public confusion over whether the circulating footage was authentic or whether additional hidden footage existed.[U.S. Department of War]defense.govU.S. Department of War Statement by the Department of Defense on the Release of Historical Navy Videos > U.S. Department of Defense > RelU.S. Department of WarStatement by the Department of Defense on the Release of Historical Navy Videos > U.S. Department of Defense > Rele…(https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/2165713/statement-by-the-department-of-defens/statement-by-the-department-of-defense-on-the-release-of-historical-navy-videos/)

That statement accomplished three specific things:

• it confirmed the videos were genuine Navy recordings;
• it established that their official release would not compromise national security;
• it reiterated that the observed aerial phenomena remained unidentified, without offering an explanation or endorsing extraterrestrial interpretations.[U.S. Department of War]defense.govU.S. Department of War Statement by the Department of Defense on the Release of Historical Navy Videos > U.S. Department of Defense > RelU.S. Department of WarStatement by the Department of Defense on the Release of Historical Navy Videos > U.S. Department of Defense > Rele…(https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/2165713/statement-by-the-department-of-defens/statement-by-the-department-of-defense-on-the-release-of-historical-navy-videos/)

This is an important distinction. The Pentagon authenticated the source of the footage, not the extraordinary claims sometimes attached to it.

Why the Official Release Changed the Story

Although the clips themselves were largely familiar by 2020, official publication fundamentally changed their status.

Before April 2020, debates often centred on whether the recordings were genuine military videos or fabricated material. After the Pentagon’s release, that question largely disappeared because the Department of Defense had formally accepted ownership of the footage. Attention shifted instead to what, if anything, the videos actually showed.[U.S. Department of War]defense.govU.S. Department of War Statement by the Department of Defense on the Release of Historical Navy Videos > U.S. Department of Defense > RelU.S. Department of WarStatement by the Department of Defense on the Release of Historical Navy Videos > U.S. Department of Defense > Rele…(https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/2165713/statement-by-the-department-of-defens/statement-by-the-department-of-defense-on-the-release-of-historical-navy-videos/)

The official release also demonstrated how separate stages of disclosure can shape public understanding:

• Unofficial circulation (2007): genuine material reached the public without authoritative confirmation.
• Journalistic investigation (2017): the videos gained national attention by being linked to reporting on a real Pentagon programme.
• To the Stars promotion (2017–2018): celebrity influence and former defence officials expanded the audience dramatically.
• Pentagon authorisation (2020): the government authenticated the recordings while explicitly leaving the objects classified only as unidentified aerial phenomena.[defense.gov]defense.govU.S. Department of War Statement by the Department of Defense on the Release of Historical Navy Videos > U.S. Department of Defense > RelU.S. Department of WarStatement by the Department of Defense on the Release of Historical Navy Videos > U.S. Department of Defense > Rele…

Understanding this release trail helps explain why the phrase “Pentagon UFO videos” can be misleading. The Pentagon did not first introduce the recordings to the public in 2020; it formally validated and republished footage that had already travelled through leaks, investigative reporting and a high-profile public campaign years earlier.

Amazon book picks

Further Reading

Books and field guides related to Who Released the Pentagon UFO Videos First?. Use these as the next step if you want deeper reading beyond the article.

Book

In Plain Sight: an Investigation Into UFOs and Impossible Sci...

By Ross Coulthart

An award-winning journalist investigates a story largely ignored by mainstream media but right there, in front of our eyes ... UFOs, UAPs...

See on Amazon

Book

UFOs: Generals, Pilots, and Government Officials Go on the Re...

By Leslie Kean

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Impeccably researched, this riveting journalistic investigation separates fact from fiction, and documents th...

See on Amazon

Book

Inside the Black Vault: The Government's UFO Secrets Revealed

By John Greenewald, Jr.

The evidence in this book may not ultimately give you the “smoking gun” you are looking for on your journey, but I guarantee it will give...

See on Amazon

Book

Trust Me, I'm Lying: Confessions of a Media Manipulator

By Ryan Holiday

Recently, fake news has become real news, making headlines as its consequences become crushingly obvious in political upsets and global t...

See on Amazon

Browse more on Amazon:In Plain Sight: an Investigation Into UFOs and Impossible ScienceUFOs: Generals, Pilots, and Government Officials Go on the RecordInside the Black Vault: The Government's UFO Secrets Revealed

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

eBay marketplace picks

Marketplace Samples

Live-tested eBay searches with available results related to this page.

Shop location

UsingUSA USA USAUKCanadaAustraliaIreland

Selected fromUFO collectible oneBay.co.uk.

Current eBay listing

Bob Lazar UFO Model | S4 Sports Model Cutaway | Sci-Fi Display Collectible

GBP 110.00 | Free shippingNewSeller: cosmicprints (100.0% positive)Ships from: GB

View listing on eBay

Current eBay listing

Set of 3 Grey Alien Figurines Hand Painted UFO Alien Decor Collectible AU

GBP 37.67 | Shipping GBP 14.69NewSeller: ozgalaxystore (100.0% positive)Ships from: AU

View listing on eBay

Current eBay listing

Bob Lazar UFO / UAP Model - S4 Sports Model -UFO Collectible - Project Gravitaur

GBP 24.99 | Shipping GBP 3.99NewSeller: cosmicprints (100.0% positive)Ships from: GB

View listing on eBay

Current eBay listing

Junior Alien Bust Replica | Betty & Barney Hill UFO Model, UFO/UAP Collectible

GBP 49.99 | Shipping GBP 2.99NewSeller: cosmicprints (100.0% positive)Ships from: GB

View listing on eBay

Browse more oneBay.co.uk

Example items shown for inspiration; availability and pricing can change. Branchoria may earn a commission if you purchase through outbound eBay links.

Endnotes

1. Source: defense.gov
Link:https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/2165713/statement-by-the-department-of-defens/statement-by-the-department-of-defense-on-the-release-of-historical-[navy-videos

2. Source: history.com
Link:https://www.history.com/articles/navy-confirms-ufo-videos-real

3. Source: wired.com
Title: what is up with those pentagon ufo videos
Link:https://www.wired.com/story/what-is-up-with-those-pentagon-ufo-videos

4. Source: wired.com
Title: Does It Matter That the DOD Released Those UFO Videos?
Link:https://www.wired.com/story/does-it-matter-that-the-dod-released-those-ufo-videos

5. Source: abcnews.go.com
Link:https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/pentagon-declassifies-navy-videos-purportedly-show-ufos/story?id=70364183

Additional References

6. Source: videoovni.fr
Title: archive vérifiée la vidéo navy qui a relancé la question uap
Link:https://videoovni.fr/en/articles/archive-v%C3%A9rifi%C3%A9e-la-vid%C3%A9o-navy-qui-a-relanc%C3%A9-la-question-uap.html

Published: April 20, 2026

7. Source: monkeyandelf.com
Title: pentagon officially releases three ufo videos
Link:https://www.monkeyandelf.com/pentagon-officially-releases-three-ufo-videos/

8. Source: kerrang.com
Link:https://www.kerrang.com/the-pentagon-has-officially-released-tom-delonges-ufo-videos

Published: April 28, 2020

9. Source: theguardian.com
Link:https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/27/pentagon-releases-three-ufo-videos-taken-by-us-navy-pilots

10. Source: uap-archive.org
Link:https://uap-archive.org/uap/learn/pentagon-navy-uap-videos/

11. Source: youtube.com
Title: Navy Pilots Detail Encounters With Unidentified Aerial Phenomena
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBtMbBPzqHY

12. Source: commons.wikimedia.org
Title: File:FLIR1 Official UAP Footage from the USG for Public Release.webm
Link:https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AFLIR1_Official_UAP_Footage_from_the_USG_for_Public_Release.webm

13. Source: abcnews.com
Title: Pentagon declassifies Navy videos that purportedly show UFOs
Link:https://abcnews.com/Politics/pentagon-declassifies-navy-videos-purportedly-show-ufos/story?id=70364183

14. Source: youtube.com
Title: Glowing A.U.O. Hovering In Navy Video | NYT News
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tf1uLwUTDA0

15. Source: ufotransparency.com
Title: decade 2020s dod navy video official release 2020 flir1
Link:https://ufotransparency.com/files/decade-2020s-dod-navy-video-official-release-2020-flir1