UFOs Over the Capital

On July 19-20 and July 26-27, 1952, unidentified objects invaded the restricted airspace over Washington, D.C. Tracked on multiple radar systems, seen by pilots and ground observers, the incident prompted the largest press conference since World War II.

The First Night

July 19-20, 1952:

• Saturday night
• Multiple radar contacts
• Washington National Airport
• Andrews Air Force Base
• Confirmed tracks

Radar Operators

Edward Nugent first:

• Spotted seven objects
• Moving slowly
• Then accelerating
• Off normal corridors
• Senior controller called

The Targets

Objects showed:

• Solid radar returns
• Changing speed dramatically
• Hovering capability
• Then rapid acceleration
• Coordinated movement

Visual Confirmation

Pilots saw them:

• Capital Airlines crew
• Reported lights
• Same locations
• As radar showed
• Multiple confirmations

The Restricted Zone

Objects penetrated:

• White House airspace
• Capitol Building area
• Most restricted zone
• National security concern
• Unprecedented breach

Andrews AFB Radar

Air Force confirmation:

• Separate radar system
• Tracked same objects
• Independent verification
• Not equipment error
• Real targets

Jet Scramble

F-94 interceptors:

• Launched from Delaware
• To intercept
• Objects vanished
• As jets arrived
• Then returned

Cat and Mouse

Pattern emerged:

• Jets approach
• Objects disappear
• Jets leave
• Objects return
• Playing games

The Second Weekend

July 26-27:

• They returned
• Same pattern
• More witnesses
• More radar tracks
• Bigger story

National Attention

Media coverage:

• Front page news
• Nationwide concern
• Public alarm
• Questions demanded
• Government pressure

The Press Conference

July 29, 1952:

• Pentagon held conference
• Largest since WWII
• General Samford spoke
• Temperature inversions blamed
• Public skeptical

The Official Explanation

Air Force claimed:

• Temperature inversions
• Caused radar returns
• Visual misidentification
• Natural phenomena
• Case closed

Problems with Explanation

But experts noted:

• Experienced radar operators
• Multiple systems agreed
• Visual correlations
• Not inversion signatures
• Explanation inadequate

Pilot Testimony

Captain Casey Pierman:

• Capital Airlines
• Saw the lights
• Where radar showed
• Moved unlike aircraft
• Credible witness

The Robertson Panel

CIA response:

• Convened scientists
• January 1953
• To address UFO issue
• Recommended debunking
• Public relations focus

Significance

Washington incident significant for:

• Capital airspace violation
• Multiple radar confirmation
• Pilot witnesses
• Government response
• Cold War context

Legacy

The 1952 Washington UFO incident remains one of the most significant cases due to its location, multiple confirmations, and the government response it triggered. UFOs over the nation’s capital demanded—and received—official attention.