Relatório de Missão — Operação Prato

This document is a comprehensive mission report regarding 'Operação Prato,' an investigation conducted by the 1st Regional Air Command (1° COMAR) of the Brazilian Air Force into Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) in the state of Pará, Brazil, between April and November 1977. The report details the deployment of an intelligence team to the city of Colares and surrounding areas following persistent reports from the local population regarding strange objects in the sky. These objects were frequently described as metallic, cylindrical, or conical, capable of high-speed maneuvers, and emitting intense light beams. Witnesses, including local residents and a physician, Dr. Wellaide Cecim de Carvalho, reported physiological effects after being struck by these light beams, such as paresis, burns, nausea, and small puncture marks on the skin. The report includes detailed accounts from various witnesses, including a local priest and several residents, who described the objects' behavior, including their silent flight and the emission of colored lights. The military team attempted to document these phenomena using cameras and theodolites, resulting in several photographs and observations of light patterns. However, the report notes a lack of consensus among the team members regarding the nature of the phenomena, largely due to the fear of professional ridicule. The document also highlights the role of the local press in amplifying the reports, which the military authorities viewed as a factor contributing to public panic and skepticism. The mission report concludes with a summary of observations and the ongoing efforts of the 1st Air Command to continue investigations, despite the challenges posed by the sensationalist nature of the media coverage and the difficulty in obtaining concrete, scientific data.