Report of Unidentified Flying Object (FLYBRPT) - 12 October 1952

On 12 October 1952, at approximately 2045 EST, a crew aboard an F-94B aircraft observed an unidentified object off the coast of New Jersey, approximately 25 miles north of Atlantic City. The object was described as a brilliant white light, oblong or egg-shaped, with a cone-shaped tail section. The observers, 2nd Lt. Robert Sonnett and 2nd Lt. James W. Wallace, noted that the object appeared to be at an altitude of 50,000 feet and remained in the general area for approximately 20 minutes. The object displayed no maneuvers, contrails, or sound, and the crew observed no visible propulsion system. The aircraft was vectored toward the object by a Ground Controlled Intercept (GCI) station, which had a faint radar contact, but the aircraft could not close the distance to the object. The weather conditions were reported as having unlimited ceiling and visibility with slight ground haze. The official conclusion on the Project 10073 record card suggests the object was 'Possibly Skyhook type Balloon,' though this was contested by a reviewer who suggested further investigation into upper air balloon tracks and noted the sighting's potential significance. The report includes sketches of the object by both the pilot and the radar observer, depicting a circular body with a tail cone.