Operação Prato
Encyclopedia
The Operação Prato was the first operation by the FAB
(Força Aérea Brasileira) focused mainly on UFOs.
ian city of Colares, Pará
. The UFOs allegedly caused injuries to witnesses. Due to the shapes of scars found on witnesses, local residence named them "Chupa Chupa" (literally Sucker-Sucker, not to be confused with the Chupacabra
). After a rise in local concern, the mayor of the city requested help from the Air Force, organizing night vigils and using fireworks to keep the lights away.
(editor of UFO Magazine, founder and president of the CBPDV (Centro Brasileiro de Pesquisas de Discos Voadores, or Brazilian Center of Flying Saucer Research), national director of the Mutual UFO Network
) and Marco Antônio Petit. In this interview, he recounted his experiences living alongside his men. Some three months after the interview, he was found dead hanging by his own belt.
Brazilian Air Force
The Brazilian Air Force is the air branch of the Brazilian Armed Forces and one of the three national uniformed services. The FAB was formed when the Army and Navy air branch were merged into a single military force initially called "National Air Forces"...
(Força Aérea Brasileira) focused mainly on UFOs.
Precedent events
In 1977, many UFOs were seen in the BrazilBrazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian city of Colares, Pará
Pará
Pará is a state in the north of Brazil. It borders the Brazilian states of Amapá, Maranhão, Tocantins, Mato Grosso, Amazonas and Roraima. To the northwest it also borders Guyana and Suriname, and to the northeast it borders the Atlantic Ocean. The capital is Belém.Pará is the most populous state...
. The UFOs allegedly caused injuries to witnesses. Due to the shapes of scars found on witnesses, local residence named them "Chupa Chupa" (literally Sucker-Sucker, not to be confused with the Chupacabra
Chupacabra
The chupacabras is a legendary cryptid rumored to inhabit parts of the Americas. It is associated more recently with sightings of an allegedly unknown animal in Puerto Rico , Mexico, and the United States, especially in the latter's Latin American communities...
). After a rise in local concern, the mayor of the city requested help from the Air Force, organizing night vigils and using fireworks to keep the lights away.
The operation
The operation was commanded by Captain Uyrangê Bolivar Soares Nogueira de Hollanda Lima. During late 1977, several pictures of strange lights were recorded. In approximately four months, Uyrangê and his team managed to reestablish peace and order in the region. The operation was closed with no public results. The official documents can be read: here.Uyrangê's interview and death
In 1997, two decades after the operation, Captain Uyrangê gave an interview to researchers Ademar José GevaerdAdemar José Gevaerd
Ademar José Gevaerd is a Brazilian ufologist, or specialist in the study of Unidentified Flying Objects .He is editor of UFO Magazine, Founder and Director of the Brazilian Center for Flying Saucer Research and Brazilian Director for Mutual UFO Network...
(editor of UFO Magazine, founder and president of the CBPDV (Centro Brasileiro de Pesquisas de Discos Voadores, or Brazilian Center of Flying Saucer Research), national director of the Mutual UFO Network
Mutual UFO Network
The Mutual UFO Network is an American non-profit organization that investigates cases of reported UFO sightings. It is one of the oldest and largest UFO-investigative organizations in the United States....
) and Marco Antônio Petit. In this interview, he recounted his experiences living alongside his men. Some three months after the interview, he was found dead hanging by his own belt.