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What did the three witnesses see over Hackensack on the evening of 3 August 1947?

Asked 3 Nov 2026 by ·3 answers·0·0 following
Three answers, none aheadNone is ahead yet. See what would settle it.

Where it stands

Three answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Three are still possible. Of the one narrower question under it, none is answered yet.

Why it matters

It is the sighting the incident number was given to; Hynek left it unexplained only because the Air Force file held almost nothing.

Answers 3

Evidence: 1 against
Still possible
Evidence: 1 for
Still possible
Evidence: 1 for, 1 against
Still possible

Next steps 2

1
Read The Bergen Evening Record for 4-5 August 1947
Adds evidenceFair odds~2 h
15score
Details

Look for the police report, other callers, or a balloon release that evening (a fair, party or advertising balloons).

2
Bergen Evening Record, 4-5 Aug 1947
Adds evidenceFair odds~2 h
15score
Details

Read the Hackensack paper for the police report, other callers or a balloon release that evening.

Ranked by how likely each is to move the key question, for the time it takes

History

  1. Federal Bureau of Investigation, Newark Division: the witnesses first took it for a balloon, and it moved like oneFor: A small balloon carried on the evening's light south-westerly wind
  2. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information: the witnesses first took it for a balloon, and it moved like oneFor: A small balloon carried on the evening's light south-westerly wind
  3. Federal Bureau of Investigation, Newark Division: no witness describes wingbeats or turnsAgainst: A bird lit by the low sun
  4. Federal Bureau of Investigation, Newark Division: no one else reported it, and a neighbour on a porch saw nothingAgainst: An unidentified flying object that no ordinary cause explains
  5. Federal Bureau of Investigation, Newark Division: two witnesses judged it too fast for a balloon and saw no stringFor: An unidentified flying object that no ordinary cause explains
  6. Federal Bureau of Investigation, Newark Division: two witnesses judged it too fast for a balloon and saw no stringFor: An unidentified flying object that no ordinary cause explains
  7. Session 1: raised the question, found four results bearing on its answers and worked on one of its sub-questions
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