The 1952 Washington D.C. UFO Flap

In July 1952, unidentified objects appeared over Washington, D.C., on two consecutive weekends. The objects were tracked on radar, observed visually by multiple witnesses, and prompted military jets to scramble. The incidents created a national sensation.

July 19-20

On the night of July 19, air traffic controllers at Washington National Airport detected unidentified objects on radar. The objects moved erratically at impossible speeds. Commercial pilots reported visual sightings. The objects disappeared before interceptors arrived.

July 26-27

The following weekend, the objects returned. Again they appeared on radar and were seen visually. This time, interceptor jets gave chase. Pilots reported being surrounded by lights that outmaneuvered them easily. The objects vanished at will.

The Radar Evidence

Multiple radar stations tracked the objects simultaneously. The objects were not temperature inversions or equipment malfunction—they were solid returns moving in controlled patterns. When jets approached, they moved away. When jets left, they returned.

The Press Conference

The Air Force held its largest press conference since World War II to explain the sightings. Major General John Samford attributed the radar returns to temperature inversions, an explanation widely criticized by radar operators who knew the difference.

Assessment

The 1952 Washington D.C. flap represents one of the most significant UFO events in history. The combination of radar confirmation, visual sightings, and the location over the nation’s capital made it impossible to ignore. What flew over Washington those nights was never identified.