Incident #207 Sighting Report — Andrews Air Force Base, 18 November 1948

This document is a collection of reports and correspondence regarding Incident 207, a sighting of an unidentified aerial object near Andrews Air Force Base on the night of 18 November 1948. The incident involved multiple observers, including pilots 2d Lt Kenwood W. Jackson and 2d Lt Henry G. Combs, as well as S/Sgt John J. Kushner. The object was described as an oval or oblong ball with a dull gray glow and a single white light. It exhibited extreme maneuverability, including vertical climbs, rapid speed variations from 80 to 600 MPH, and the ability to circle the field while evading aircraft. The witnesses, all experienced personnel, noted the absence of wings, tail surfaces, or visible exhaust. The object was observed for approximately 15 to 18 minutes. The reports include detailed statements from the observers, who were puzzled by the object's behavior and explicitly stated it did not resemble an aircraft. The Air Material Command (AMC) later evaluated the incident, concluding that the object was likely a synoptic balloon, arguing that observers often struggle to judge relative motion at night. However, this conclusion was contested, as evidenced by a handwritten note in the file stating, 'Definitely not a weather balloon.' The file also contains meteorological data and correspondence between the 2238th AF Reserve Training Center and the Air Material Command regarding the investigation of such sightings under Project Sign.