Incident #202 Sighting Report — Newark AFB, New Jersey, 8 November 1948

This document details the investigation of a UFO sighting (Incident #202) reported by a civilian dispatcher at Newark Air Force Base on November 8, 1948. The witness, an experienced former Air Force pilot, reported observing a pale, luminous, disc-shaped object at approximately 1850 hours. The object, which appeared to be about the same diameter as the moon and possessed one-third of its brightness, traveled in an arc from the north-northwest to the south-southeast at an estimated speed of 800 mph and an altitude between 5,000 and 6,000 feet. The observation lasted for one second or less, and the witness reported no sound. The witness, noted for being highly reliable and intelligent, was performing duties at the 223rd AF Reserve Training Center at the time. The investigation involved multiple military units, including the 2102nd Air Weather Group and the Air Materiel Command, as part of the broader Project Sign. Weather data, including teletype sequences and winds aloft reports, were collected to rule out conventional explanations. Investigators specifically noted that the timing of the sighting occurred five hours after the last scheduled weather balloon release, effectively ruling out a balloon leak or misidentification. The official conclusion reached by the investigating authorities was that the object, while luminous, matched the description of a slow-moving fireball. Consequently, the incident was tentatively ascribed to the flight of a fireball, pending further information. The document includes various internal correspondence, statements, and administrative routing slips documenting the formal investigation process.