In July 1952, Washington D.C. experienced a series of dramatic UFO sightings, dubbed the "Washington flap," involving both visual observations and radar detections of unknown objects over the nation's capital. These incidents, occurring on consecutive weekends, caused widespread public and media frenzy, leading to scrambled fighter jets and a high-profile press conference by the U.S. Air Force.1 The events remain one of the most significant and debated UFO cases in history, highlighting the challenges of explaining anomalous aerial phenomena.2
Radar and Visual Sightings
The sightings began on the night of July 19-20, when air traffic controllers at Washington National Airport observed multiple unknown blips on their radar screens. These objects moved at incredible speeds and performed maneuvers impossible for conventional aircraft, such as sudden stops and sharp turns.3 Pilots in the area also reported seeing bright, fast-moving lights that coincided with the radar contacts. Similar events recurred on July 26-27, prompting the Air Force to scramble F-94 fighter jets to intercept the objects, though they were unable to make visual contact or engage.4
Official Response and Explanations
The intense public and media attention forced the Air Force to respond. On July 29, Major General John Samford, Director of Air Force Intelligence, held a press conference, attributing the radar blips to temperature inversions that could cause false returns, and the visual sightings to misidentified meteors or stars.5 While this explanation aimed to quell public concern, it was met with skepticism by many witnesses, particularly the experienced air traffic controllers and pilots who maintained that what they observed was beyond conventional explanation.6 The incident underscored the need for a more systematic approach to UFO investigations, influencing the ongoing work of Project Blue Book.7