Wildwood, New Jersey sightings
10 January 1948 · Wildwood, New Jersey
Summary
A check-list dated 10 January 1948 recorded a sighting at Wildwood, New Jersey, at 10 PM EST by Mrs. Ethel Evans, listed as an authority on knitting. The form gave the place of observation as 401 Pine Avenue, the home of Mrs. Krueger. It listed one object that split into two pieces, in sight for 5-8 seconds, with no sound, in a clear night, which fell into the sea. A second form, Incident 50a, recorded Mrs. Krueger, a housewife, as observer. She reported two objects at 500 feet, orange-colored, shaped like discs or balls.
The narrative page recorded that Mrs. Evans brought the objects to Mrs. Krueger's attention. All witnesses, including Evans's son, agreed on a color and size like an old-fashioned gas light. They said it was not, to their knowledge, a balloon, dirigible, flare, parachute or other known object. The same page noted that Mrs. Krueger appeared calm and normally sensible.
The summary then listed later reports by Evans between February and July 1948, including a bright metal object on 2 April that resembled a pilotless plane. She also forwarded a picture of Mars from Life showing an orange-red ball. The compiler wrote that she appeared to be a 'crackpot' and that no one except Mrs. Krueger seemed to have seen the many sightings, despite an alerted coast guard and police department. The check-list and narrative also appear in a second compilation, where the longitude is printed as 75° 48' W rather than 78° 48' W.
A separate Air Force file recorded the handling of Evans's letters. On 6 May 1948 the Directorate of Intelligence forwarded her correspondence to Air Materiel Command. A memorandum for record said she had written to her senator, President Truman, the FBI and AMC, and that an officer was sent to Wildwood to interview her. It said it was then decided not to pursue the matter further. Arrangements were made with Coast Guard headquarters to report unusual aerial phenomena, and nothing had come in from that source. A reply dated 6 May thanked her for her patriotic interest and said her reports had been studied.
Where the files disagree
Two documents give different accounts of the same detail. Both are quoted as written; we don't say which is right.
Longitude of the Wildwood location
“Location Wildwood, N. J. (39° 00' N & 78° 48' W)” page 108 →
“Location Wildwood, N. J. (39° 00' N & 75° 48' W)” page 146 →
Date of the 5:10 P.M. report
“Apr 2d; 5:10 P. M. : (same date) Object appeared to fall in water.” page 109 →
“Apr 24, 5:10 P.M.: "new guided missile of bright metal seen since 2 Apr."” page 147 →
What the files say
“Number of objects 1 which split into 2 pieces”
Page 108 →“NOTE: Individual appears to be "crackpot" No one (with the exception of Mrs. Krueger) appears to have seen the many sightings mentioned.”
Page 109 →“Tactics Floated slowly across horizon, separated and disappeared below housetops”
Page 110 →“NOTE: Witness appeared calm and normally sensible in her responses to various questions.”
Page 111 →“After talking with her, it was decided to pursue the matter no farther.”
Page 91 →
Also discussed in
Explanations in the record
What the documents themselves say the event was, as recorded. Not our assessment.
- The summary compiler judged the individual to appear to be a "crackpot" and noted that no one except Mrs. Krueger seemed to have seen the many sightings. — UFO incident summaries 1-100, Box 7 index, page 109
- Evans forwarded a Life picture of the planet Mars showing an orange-red ball, and the form lists it under photographs; the record does not state that Mars was the cause of the 10 January sighting. — UFO incident summaries 1-100, Box 7 index, page 108
- The witnesses stated that the object was not, to their knowledge, a balloon, dirigible, flare, parachute or other known object. — UFO incident summaries 1-100, Box 7 index, page 111
Related
- Releases: Release 1, Release 3, Release 5
- Programs: Project Sign
- Search the transcripts for “Wildwood”
- All cases