Greek ISR Mission Report: UAP Observation over the Mediterranean Sea — October 2023 (DOW-UAP-D33)

Source file: dow-uap-d33-mission-report-greece-october-2023.pdf Originating agency: Department of Defense / USCENTCOM / AFSOC — DoD Modern UAP Date range: October 26–27, 2023 (takeoff 2339Z on October 26, landing 1309Z on October 27) Page count: 7 (all read) High-significance pages: 1 (main narrative, UAP observation), 6 (full UAP particulars), 7 (UAP event description)

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Official Blurb (from war.gov)

This document is a Mission Report (MISREP), a standardized reporting form the U.S. Military uses to record the circumstances surrounding its operations. U.S. military services often use MISREPs to report Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) to AARO. The GENTEXT, or "general text" section of these reports often contains important qualitative, contextual information, distinguishing it from the more quantitative, or numerical, data found elsewhere in the report. A U.S. military operator reported observing a UAP "flying just above the surface of the ocean." The report describes the UAP as taking "multiple 90-degree turns at an estimated 80 mph." All descriptive and estimative language contained in this report reflects the reporter's subjective interpretation at the time of the event. Such characterizations should not be interpreted as a conclusive indication of the presence or absence of any intrinsic object features or performance characteristics.

Summary

MISREP No. 9329374 describes an ISR mission flown by the 33 SOS (Special Operations Squadron) of the 27 SOW (Special Operations Wing) under AFSOC/USCENTCOM. The aircraft took off from base LGLR (Greece) at 2339Z on October 26, 2023, flew roughly 13.5 hours, and landed at base OJMS. During the flight, at 0035Z on October 27, an unidentified aerial object (UAP) was identified flying just above the surface of the ocean water; it performed sharp 90-degree turns at an estimated 80 mph and then disappeared from the camera.

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Research Article

Introduction

In late October 2023, a U.S. operational aircraft flew a routine ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) mission over a Mediterranean area, as part of a broader operational framework against targets whose particulars were redacted. The mission, documented as Misrep 9329374 and associated with file DOW-UAP-D33, became a formal UAP report after the aircrew reported the identification of an unexplained object flying in an anomalous movement pattern just above the sea surface.

The report was classified at a high level and released to the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) on January 26, 2026, after being authorized for release by Major General Richard A. Harrison, USCENTCOM Chief of Staff. The scheduled declassification date is October 26, 2048 — evidence of the operational sensitivity that still surrounds portions of the mission.

Mission particulars and the operational framework

The mission was flown under USCENTCOM operational command and under the 603rd AOC operations center. The air control center operated as 609 CAOC. The 33 SOS is a special operations squadron operating on behalf of the 27 SOW (Special Operations Wing). The aircraft was classified AREC (Airborne Reconnaissance), with a primary FMV (Full Motion Video) sensor, G-MESH equipment, a LINK 16 data link, and an AN/DAS-4 targeting sensor. No munitions were loaded.

The aircraft took off from LGLR (a Greek airfield) at 2339Z on October 26, 2023, reached the mission area at 0342Z on October 27, remained on station for 6 hours and 29 minutes, and landed at OJMS at 1309Z. Total mission time: 13 hours and 30 minutes. The narrative notes that the aircraft came to replace a "Lightning Line" that had landed at LGLR the previous day.

The central UAP incident

At 0035Z on October 27, roughly 53 minutes after the start of monitoring the targeted area, the aircrew identified an object classified as "1X POSS UAP" (a single object, possibly a UAP). The event lasted about 3 minutes, until 0038Z, when the aircraft lost the visual signal.

The official description of the event, as recorded in the report:

"AT 0035Z, [CALLSIGN] WAS EN ROUTE TO THEIR TARGET WHEN THEY SPOTTED A UAP FLYING JUST ABOVE THE SURFACE OF THE OCEAN WATER. THE UAP TOOK MULTIPLE 90 DEGREE TURNS AT AN ESTIMATED 80 MPH. AT 0038Z, [CALLSIGN] LOST THE UAP FROM THEIR FEED."

UAP particulars recorded:

• Visual description: "SEEMINGLY CIRCULAR, TOO SMALL TO MAKE OUT DETAILS"
• Estimated speed: 80 mph (about 129 km/h)
• Movement characteristic: sharp 90-degree turns (multiple)
• Altitude: just above the sea water surface
• Physical state: solid
• Propulsion: unknown
• Signatures: none recorded (no RF, no response to queries)
• Intelligent control: no
• Effects on persons/equipment: no
• Observer assessment: Benign
• First coordinates: 35S KD 95[redacted] 53[redacted]
• Last coordinates: 35SKD9[redacted][redacted]

ISR particulars and additional activity

In addition to the UAP observation, the aircraft conducted a focused ISR mission as planned. Upon reaching the point of origin at 0413Z, no related EEI (Essential Elements of Information) activity was observed. Between 0413Z and 1011Z, the aircraft moved to monitoring multiple COIs (Centers of Interest), including: route analysis, identification of obstacles to traffic, and classification of vehicle and personnel movement. The mission's global campaign framework: GCP-VEO (campaign against violent extremist organizations).

Comparison with D35 — a second mission from October 2023

Document DOW-UAP-D35 is a separate report from the same month, October 2023, flown by the same unit (33 SOS, 27 SOW), from the same airfield (LGLR), with the same equipment. There are significant differences:

D33 (the present mission) versus D35:

Parameter	D33 (Misrep 9329374)	D35 (Misrep 9337873)
Takeoff date	October 26, 2023	October 28, 2023
Takeoff time	2339Z	1504Z
Takeoff field	LGLR	LGLR
Landing field	OJMS	LGLR (return to base)
Mission time	13:30 hours	20:01 hours
Time on station	6:29 hours	9:24 hours
UAP identified at	0035Z (October 27)	0811Z (October 29)
UAP movement	90-degree turns, 80 MPH	straight, above the sea toward land
UAP speed	80 MPH	30 MPH
UAP characteristic	multiple sharp maneuvers	straight motion
UAP description	"seemingly circular, small"	"seemingly circular, small"
Weapons on aircraft	none	2xAGM-114R9E, 2xAGM-114R2
ISR effectiveness	"SATISFACTORY", Intel Gap NOT Filled	"SATISFACTORY", Intel Gap Filled: YES

The comparison of the two reports reveals a striking pattern: two UAP observations two days apart, from the same operational theater, by the same unit, with identical visual descriptions ("seemingly circular, too small to make out details") but with different movement patterns. In D33, a highly anomalous movement was recorded (90-degree turns); in D35, the movement was more linear, toward land.

Significance

Report D33 is a classic representation of a UAP observation in a maritime environment, recorded by airborne FMV. Several factors are notable:

First, the kinetic pattern. Sharp 90-degree turns at a speed of 80 MPH are physically unusual for a conventional aircraft. Such motion at that speed requires a near-instantaneous stop and a change of direction while in motion, which is inconsistent with normal aerodynamics. Even so, the aircrew assessed the object as Benign rather than threatening.

Second, the double observation. Two UAP events within two days, from the same theater, raise the question of whether this represents a consistent presence of a particular phenomenon in this area of the Mediterranean at the end of October 2023.

Third, the operational context. Both missions operated within a VEO (violent extremist organizations) framework — that is, an active operational area. The presence of a UAP in this airspace, one that is unidentified and unresponsive to observer actions, is an important factor for airspace awareness.

Key People

Role	Detail
MG Richard A. Harrison	USCENTCOM Chief of Staff; authorized release of the report on January 22, 2026
POC (point of contact)	AIC, unit 27 SOW, control center 609 CAOC (name redacted)
QC (quality control)	SrA, unit 56SOIS, 27 SOW, 609 CAOC (name redacted)
APPROVER	SSgt, 603 AOC (name redacted)

Locations

• LGLR — Greek airfield, takeoff point
• OJMS — landing base (Jordan / Middle East)
• 36S YC 40[redacted] 5[redacted] — the targeted station point (UTM coordinates)
• 35S KD 95[redacted] 53[redacted] — aircraft position at the time of the UAP observation
• Mediterranean area — general operational theater

Incidents

Incident	Date	Location	Pages
Takeoff from LGLR to begin the mission	October 26, 2023, 2339Z	LGLR, Greece	1, 4
Arrival on station, start of FMV/SIGINT	October 27, 2023, 0342Z	36S YC [redacted]	4, 5
UAP identified above the sea surface	October 27, 2023, 0035Z	35S KD 95[redacted]	1, 6, 7
Loss of UAP from the camera	October 27, 2023, 0038Z	Mediterranean area	7
Transition to multiple COI monitoring	October 27, 2023, 0413Z–1011Z	Mission area	5
Return to base and landing at OJMS	October 27, 2023, 1309Z	OJMS	1, 4

Notable Quotes

"THE UAP TOOK MULTIPLE 90 DEGREE TURNS AT AN ESTIMATED 80 MPH." (The UAP performed multiple 90-degree turns at an estimated 80 mph)

"UAP DESCRIPTION: SEEMINGLY CIRCULAR, TOO SMALL TO MAKE OUT DETAILS" (UAP description: seemingly circular, too small to make out details)

"FLYING JUST ABOVE THE SURFACE OF THE OCEAN WATER" (Flying just above the surface of the ocean water)

"UAP MANEUVERABILITY OBSERVATIONS: Sharp 90 degree turns" (Maneuverability observations: sharp 90-degree turns)

"OBSERVER ASSESSMENT OF UAP: Benign" (Observer assessment of the UAP: Benign)

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The report was released under USCENTCOM MDR 26-0019, approved for release to AARO on 01/26/26. Sensitive details were redacted in accordance with FOIA exemptions 1.4a, 3.5c, and (b)(6).