UFO Sighting on 2 March 1959 — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

This document collection details two distinct events investigated by the United States Air Force in March 1959. The primary report concerns a sighting on 2 March 1959, near New Brunswick, New Jersey. A witness, employed by the Philco Corporation and holding an engineering degree, reported observing a spherical object while driving alone on the Franklin Park cutoff road. The object, described as having an orange center and a yellow outer portion with a trailing vapor trail, was visible for three to four seconds at an elevation of approximately 25 degrees. The witness noted that the object appeared to waver in flight before disappearing behind trees. Air Force investigators, specifically 1st Lt. William S. Barnett, concluded that the sighting was likely a reflection of a light source in the witness's wrap-around windshield, which became distorted. The witness was deemed a responsible individual. A second, unrelated event involved unidentified objects observed on a weather radar scope at Lowry Air Force Base, Colorado, on the same date. Captain Lionel D. Blanchard and other observers reported these returns between 1432Z and 1500Z. Subsequent communications between the Air Technical Intelligence Center and Lowry AFB confirmed that these radar returns were the result of an equipment malfunction, and all further investigation into the Lowry incident was terminated.