Air Intelligence Information Report — IR-44-52

This document is an Air Intelligence Information Report (IR-44-52) dated July 25, 1952, concerning an unidentified aerial object sighting on the night of July 22, 1952, near Pennington, New Jersey. The report details the investigation conducted by Staff Sergeant Dennis G. Washburn, Jr., of the 56th Air Base Group at McGuire Air Force Base. The primary witnesses were three women who were in their backyard when they observed a bright, dull yellow or orange light traveling in front of a civilian airplane. The witnesses reported that the object maintained a constant distance from the aircraft, had no visible exhaust or trail, and made no sound. They estimated the object to be slightly larger than a star and noted that it followed a straight course from the northeast to the southwest before disappearing. The investigation included interviews with the witnesses, who were described by the investigating officer as experienced and reliable. The weather at the time of the sighting was reported as extremely clear and hot, with no clouds or breeze, which the investigator noted as favorable for observation. The report includes statements from the witnesses, who consistently described the object's appearance and behavior. One witness compared the object to a copper penny, while another noted it was slightly larger than a star. The witnesses were adamant that the object was not a shooting star, as it maintained a steady, straight path. The report concludes with an evaluation by the investigating officer and a concurrence by Major Joseph H. King, confirming the reliability of the witnesses and the details of the report. No physical evidence, radar contact, or photographic documentation was obtained. The document is marked as 'Restricted' and was later downgraded under DOD Directive 5200.10. The report serves as a formal record of the military's attempt to investigate the sighting, though it offers no definitive explanation for the object's identity.