The Washington D.C. UFO Flap

On two consecutive weekends in July 1952, unidentified flying objects appeared over the nation’s capital, tracked by multiple radar stations and witnessed by numerous observers. Fighter jets scrambled to intercept were outmaneuvered by objects that seemed to toy with them.

The First Weekend

July 19-20, 1952:

• Saturday night into Sunday
• Multiple radar returns
• Washington National Airport
• Andrews Air Force Base
• Multiple tracking stations

The Radar Operator

Edward Nugent:

• Washington National
• Spotted unknown targets
• 8:00 PM Saturday
• Seven blips appeared
• Not aircraft

Confirmation

Other stations:

• Andrews AFB radar
• Also tracked objects
• Same locations
• Independent confirmation
• Real targets

Over the Capitol

Objects appeared:

• Over White House
• Over Capitol building
• Restricted airspace
• Maximum violation
• Ultimate provocation

Visual Confirmation

Pilots reported:

• Capital Airlines crew
• Saw lights
• Matching radar positions
• Visual and radar
• Multiple witnesses

Fighter Scramble

F-94 jets:

• Launched from Delaware
• Newcastle AFB
• To intercept
• Reached DC
• Objects vanished

Cat and Mouse

When jets arrived:

• Objects disappeared
• Jets returned to base
• Objects returned
• Pattern repeated
• Seeming intelligence

The Second Weekend

July 26-27, 1952:

• Same pattern repeated
• Radar contacts
• Visual sightings
• Fighter scrambles
• Objects returned

Increased Activity

Second weekend:

• Even more sightings
• More radar contacts
• National headlines
• Public alarm
• Government concern

Pilot Encounters

Lt. William Patterson:

• F-94 pilot
• Surrounded by objects
• Asked permission to fire
• Objects departed
• Left him shaken

Speed Estimates

The objects:

• Clocked at impossible speeds
• Radar tracked
• 7,000+ mph estimated
• Far beyond 1952 aircraft
• Technology unknown

The Press Conference

July 29, 1952:

• Largest since WWII
• Pentagon briefing
• General Samford
• Offered explanations
• Temperature inversions

The Inversion Theory

Air Force claimed:

• Temperature inversions
• Caused false returns
• Explained everything
• Case closed
• Move along

Problems with Explanation

But issues remained:

• Visual sightings too
• Pilots saw objects
• Experienced operators
• Two weekends
• Pattern not random

The Credibility

Witnesses included:

• Military radar operators
• Commercial pilots
• Air Force pilots
• Trained observers
• Multiple confirmations

Robertson Panel

CIA response:

• Convened panel
• January 1953
• Recommended debunking
• Reduce public interest
• Information control

The Implications

UFOs over DC:

• Ultimate provocation
• Security failure
• Technology demonstration
• Power displayed
• Message sent

Media Frenzy

Headlines nationwide:

• “Saucers Swarm Over Capital”
• Public alarmed
• Government embarrassed
• Explanations demanded
• Crisis atmosphere

Significance

The DC Flap is significant for:

• Capital airspace invasion
• Radar confirmation
• Fighter jet involvement
• Pentagon attention
• National security concern

Legacy

The 1952 Washington D.C. UFO flap remains one of the most significant sighting waves in history. Objects over the nation’s capital, tracked on radar, witnessed by pilots, and scrambling fighters created a crisis that the temperature inversion explanation never fully resolved.