On the evening of July 14, 1952, Pan American World Airways pilots Captain William B. Nash and First Officer William H. Fortenberry reported a dramatic encounter with eight unidentified flying objects over the Chesapeake Bay. Their detailed and consistent account, given their extensive flight experience, made this one of the most compelling UFO cases of the era.1 The incident occurred during a period of heightened UFO activity, just days before the famous Washington D.C. UFO flap.2
The Encounter
While flying a DC-4 at 8,000 feet, Nash and Fortenberry observed six bright, red-orange, circular objects flying in a tight echelon formation below their aircraft. The objects, estimated to be around 100 feet in diameter, streaked towards them at an incredible speed, estimated by Nash to be as high as 12,000 mph.3 As they approached, the lead object appeared to slow, causing the others to waver. The formation then executed a sharp, angular turn, flipping on their edges, before two more identical objects joined them from below. The eight objects then ascended in a graceful arc, disappearing one by one.4
Investigation and Credibility
The sighting was investigated by the U.S. Air Force's Project Blue Book, which ultimately classified the case as "unknown."5 Both Nash and Fortenberry were highly experienced pilots and U.S. Navy veterans, and their credibility was a significant factor in the investigation. Edward J. Ruppelt, the head of Project Blue Book, described them as "excellent pilots, not given to flights of imagination."6 Several ground witnesses also reported seeing similar lights at the same time, corroborating the pilots' account.1
Explanations and Legacy
Despite the detailed testimony, skeptical explanations have been proposed, including mirages of the planet Venus or ground lights distorted by atmospheric conditions.7 However, weather data from that night reportedly did not support these theories. The Nash-Fortenberry sighting remains a significant and debated case, often cited by UFO researchers as strong evidence of intelligently controlled, non-conventional aircraft, and it continues to be a focal point in discussions about unidentified aerial phenomena.8