Naval Weapons Station Earle: UFO Takes Evasive Action from Navy Spotlight
On June 11, 1978, at 11:28 p.m. at the U.S. Naval Ammunition Depot/Naval Weapons Station Earle, Gunnery Sergeant Brininger and Private First Class Johnson observe a 'distinctly-outlined illuminated white ball with a short conical tail' while on duty outside an 80-foot tower. They initially see it near the horizon to the south; within five seconds it moves west and elevates to 30 degrees. Brininger estimates the object is only 300 feet away and 200 feet off the ground. He turns on a Navy spotlight toward it, and the object 'abruptly changed course' from horizontal flight, turning away and climbing west. Its center appears darker with only the rim glowing brighter.
Background
1. On June 11, 1978, at Naval Weapons Station Earle in New Shrewsbury, New Jersey, two military personnel observed an unusual illuminated object. The object, described as a white ball with a conical tail, exhibited rapid movement and evasive maneuvers. This sighting occurred at 11:28 p.m.
The Incident
At 11:28 p.m. on June 11, 1978, Gunnery Sergeant Brininger and Private First Class Johnson were on duty outside an 80-foot tower at the U.S. Naval Ammunition Depot/Naval Weapons Station Earle. They observed a "distinctly-outlined illuminated white ball with a short conical tail behind it."
The object was initially seen near the horizon to the south. Within five seconds, it moved west of their position and elevated to 30 degrees above the horizon. Brininger estimated the object was approximately 300 feet away and about 200 feet off the ground. He then turned on a Na[missing text in source].
Investigation
The source text mentions that the Navy investigated a similar incident that occurred a month prior, but came to no public conclusions. Allen Hendry of CUFOS investigated that earlier case, calling it a case of "high merit." CSICOP members Philip Klass and Robert Sheaffer offered debunking explanations for the earlier incident. Klass argued that radar tracking was "ambiguous," and Sheaffer suggested Venus, Jupiter, and Capella were responsible for the mistaken visuals. Hendry countered that the radar tracking was "an unambiguous ... confirmation" of the visual sighting, and that Venus and Jupiter were in the wrong position. It is not explicitly stated whether this specific incident at Naval Weapons Station Earle was investigated.
Significance
The Naval Weapons Station Earle incident is significant as it represents another in a series of UFO encounters reported by military personnel. The object's described characteristics, including its illumination, shape, and rapid movements, align with common descriptions of unidentified aerial phenomena. The proximity of the sighting to a sensitive military installation adds to the case's intrigue. The prior incident a month earlier, and the subsequent debate between UFO proponents and skeptics, highlights the ongoing controversy surrounding the interpretation of such events.