The Washington D.C. UFO Flap

On two consecutive weekends in July 1952, unidentified objects were tracked on radar over Washington, D.C., and observed by numerous witnesses. The incidents prompted jet scrambles, made national headlines, and resulted in the largest Pentagon press conference since World War II.

First Weekend: July 19-20

Events began when:

• Air traffic controllers spotted objects on radar
• Multiple targets appeared over the Capitol
• Objects moved erratically
• Speeds varied from hovering to high velocity
• Visual confirmations from pilots

The Objects

Controllers and witnesses reported:

• Bright lights over the city
• Objects near the Capitol and White House
• Radar returns showing solid objects
• Speeds up to 7,000 mph
• Sudden direction changes

Second Weekend: July 26-27

The following weekend:

• Objects returned to D.C. airspace
• More radar contacts recorded
• Jets were scrambled
• Pilots reported visual contact
• Objects seemed to evade pursuit

Jet Scrambles

Air Force response:

• F-94 interceptors scrambled
• Pilots saw lights they couldn’t catch
• Objects disappeared when jets arrived
• Returned when jets left
• Described as playing “cat and mouse”

The Press Conference

On July 29, 1952:

• Major General John Samford addressed media
• Largest Pentagon presser since WWII
• Attributed sightings to temperature inversions
• Many found explanation inadequate
• Public concern remained high

Radar Evidence

Technical aspects:

• Multiple radar sets tracked objects
• Both civilian and military radar
• Consistent tracks between stations
• Temperature inversion cited as cause
• Controllers disputed the explanation

Eyewitness Accounts

Witnesses included:

• Air traffic controllers
• Military radar operators
• Airline pilots
• Civilian observers
• All describing similar phenomena

Project Blue Book

The Air Force investigation:

• Classified sightings as “unknown”
• Later reclassified as temperature inversion
• The case remains controversial
• One of most significant Blue Book cases

Historical Impact

The flap caused:

• National security concerns
• Calls for serious investigation
• CIA involvement (Robertson Panel)
• Public fascination with UFOs
• Lasting questions about government response

Significance

The Washington UFO flap is significant for:

• Occurring over the nation’s capital
• Multiple radar confirmations
• Jet scrambles documented
• Pentagon press conference
• Never satisfactorily explained

Legacy

The 1952 Washington sightings represent one of the most dramatic UFO incidents in American history. The objects’ appearance over restricted airspace near the White House ensured the phenomenon could not be ignored.