Air Intelligence Information Report IR-39-52B: Unidentified Objects Sighted Near Trenton, NJ

This Air Intelligence Information Report, dated July 23, 1952, details an investigation into a series of unidentified aerial phenomena observed near Trenton, New Jersey, on the night of July 22, 1952. The investigation was conducted by Staff Sergeant Washburn of the 568th Air Base Group at McGuire Air Force Base. According to the report, three civilian witnesses—a married couple and another woman—reported seeing multiple orange, round objects in the sky. The sightings occurred at three distinct times: 2150 hours, 2225 hours, and 2305 hours. The witnesses described the objects as being very large, appearing at an extremely high altitude, and traveling in a straight line from the north toward the south and southwest at an estimated speed of 200 to 250 miles per hour. The witnesses explicitly noted that the objects produced no sound, left no exhaust or vapor trails, and did not flash like conventional aircraft lights. The weather conditions were reported as clear with a light breeze. Major Joseph H. King, the Director of Operations for the 568th Air Base Group, reviewed the findings and concurred with the investigator's assessment of the witnesses' reliability. Despite the witnesses' consistent accounts, the official conclusion of the investigation remained 'undetermined.' The report notes that no air traffic or meteorological activity in the area could explain the sightings. The document includes transcripts of the interrogations, where witnesses were questioned about the size, speed, and appearance of the objects, as well as their own backgrounds, to establish credibility. The report was filed under the classification of 'Restricted' and was intended for distribution to the Air Technical Intelligence Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and other relevant military commands.