02 · LORE
551 FILES·LAST 1D AGO
United States1952-07-19civilian claim

Washington DC Overflights

On the nights of July 19–20 and July 26–27, 1952, radar operators at Washington National Airport and Andrews Air Force Base simultaneously tracked unidentified objects over the restricted airspace above the U.S. capital; intercepting F-94 jets found the objects only to watch them vanish from radar, then reappear when the fighters departed.

On the nights of July 19–20 and July 26–27, 1952, radar operators at Washington National Airport and Andrews Air Force Base simultaneously tracked unidentified objects over the restricted airspace above the U.S. capital; intercepting F-94 jets found the objects only to watch them vanish from radar, then reappear when the fighters departed.

Brief

On the nights of July 19–20 and July 26–27, 1952, radar operators at Washington National Airport and Andrews Air Force Base simultaneously tracked unidentified objects over the restricted airspace above the U.S. capital; intercepting F-94 jets found the objects only to watch them vanish from radar, then reappear when the fighters departed. Senior controller Harry Barnes stated the objects' 'movements were completely radical compared to those of ordinary aircraft.' The incident prompted the largest USAF press conference since World War II and alarmed the Truman administration enough to produce the Robertson Panel in January 1953. Project Blue Book attributed the radar returns to temperature inversions.

Metadata

Date
1952-07-19
Year
1952
Location
Washington, D.C.
Region
United States
Status
confirmed
Tag
civilian claim
Primary
In 1952, 'Flying Saucers' Over Washington Sent the Press Into a Frenzy
Source type
article
Sources
3

Key Points

  • On the nights of July 19–20 and July 26–27, 1952, radar operators at Washington National Airport and Andrews Air Force Base simultaneously tracked unidentified objects over the restricted airspace above the U.S. capital; intercepting F-94 jets found the objects only to watch them vanish from radar, then reappear when the fighters departed.
  • Senior controller Harry Barnes stated the objects' 'movements were completely radical compared to those of ordinary aircraft.' The incident prompted the largest USAF press conference since World War II and alarmed the Truman administration enough to produce the Robertson Panel in January 1953.
  • Project Blue Book attributed the radar returns to temperature inversions.

Most Interesting

  • Senior controller Harry Barnes stated the objects' 'movements were completely radical compared to those of ordinary aircraft.' The incident prompted the largest USAF press conference since World War II and alarmed the Truman administration enough to produce the Robertson Panel in January 1953.
  • On the nights of July 19–20 and July 26–27, 1952, radar operators at Washington National Airport and Andrews Air Force Base simultaneously tracked unidentified objects over the restricted airspace above the U.S. capital; intercepting F-94 jets found the objects only to watch them vanish from radar, then reappear when the fighters departed.
  • Project Blue Book attributed the radar returns to temperature inversions.

Timeline

  1. 1952-07-19 · Encounter

    On the nights of July 19–20 and July 26–27, 1952, radar operators at Washington National Airport and Andrews Air Force Base simultaneously tracked unidentified objects over the restricted airspace above the U.S. capital; intercepting F-94 jets found the objects only to watch them vanish from radar, then reappear when the fighters departed.

  2. 2022 · Source record

    In 1952, 'Flying Saucers' Over Washington Sent the Press Into a Frenzy is the preferred source material attached to this encounter.

Sources

Connected Encounters

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