Yankee Blue

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Yankee Blue
Illustration of official papers and files
Illustration: official papers and files. An artist's impression drawn for this site, not a photograph of the event.
TypeTerm
Also known asYankee Blue briefing

Yankee Blue is the name reported for a secret U.S. Air Force induction briefing in which, for decades, some officers taking command of highly classified programs were shown a picture of a supposed antigravity craft and told that their program involved reverse-engineering it. The practice was revealed by The Wall Street Journal in June 2025, based on findings by the Pentagon's UFO office.[1][2]

The briefing

Illustration of a photograph of an unknown object
Illustration: a photograph of an unknown object. An artist's impression drawn for this site, not a photograph of the event.

According to the report, newly appointed commanders of some of the Air Force's most secret programs were shown the image of the "craft" and told never to speak of it. Many reportedly never learned that the picture was fake. Officials described the practice as a hazing ritual that had got out of hand. It was said to have continued until a memo from the Secretary of Defense in spring 2023 ordered it stopped.[2]

Investigation

Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick, director of All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office at the Department of Defense, gives a presentation during a public meeting of…
Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick, director of All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office at the Department of Defense, gives a presentation during a public meeting of… Photo: NASA/Joel Kowsky · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons

The findings were attributed to investigations by the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) under its first director, Sean Kirkpatrick. The Journal reported that Kirkpatrick's team had found that the government had at times fabricated evidence of alien technology to distract from secret weapons programs.[1][2]

Reaction

Illustration of glowing orbs in the sky
Illustration: glowing orbs in the sky. An artist's impression drawn for this site, not a photograph of the event.

Commentators noted that the account depended on government officials and was hard to verify independently, and writer Jacob Weindling of Jezebel called the hazing explanation unconvincing.[2][3]

References

This page was last edited on 31 October 2026. Articles are written in our own words from the sources listed under References; disputed claims are attributed to the people who made them.

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