The Washington, D.C. UFO incident of 1952, often referred to as the “Washington National Airport Sightings” or the “Big Flap,” remains one of the most significant UFO events in American history. Over two consecutive weekends, on July 19-20 and July 26-27, multiple unidentified flying objects were spotted over Washington, D.C. The sightings started when air traffic controllers at both Washington National Airport and Andrews Air Force Base detected strange blips on their radars, which corresponded with eyewitness reports of bright, fast-moving lights in the sky.
These objects exhibited extraordinary flight characteristics, including abrupt turns and rapid acceleration, well beyond the capabilities of conventional aircraft at the time. As the objects moved closer to the capital, jets were scrambled to intercept them, but the UFOs always seemed to vanish or outmaneuver the fighter planes. The events garnered massive media coverage, prompting public concern and speculation about possible extraterrestrial activity.
In response, the Air Force conducted an investigation and held a press conference, attributing the sightings to a combination of temperature inversions, misidentified stars, and meteors. However, these explanations were met with skepticism, both from the public and within the military. The incident led to increased attention and debate over the phenomenon of UFOs and propelled further investigations, including the famous Project Blue Book. The Washington, D.C. UFO incident remains a compelling chapter in the history of UFO sightings, marked by its extensive eyewitness accounts, radar evidence, and the intense scrutiny it attracted.
Several hours on July 19-20th and July 26-27th
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