The Nash-Fortenberry incident took place on the night of July 14, 1952, when two experienced commercial pilots, William B. Nash and William H. Fortenberry, were flying a Pan American World Airways DC-4 from New York to Miami. As they approached Norfolk, Virginia, over Chesapeake Bay, the pilots observed a group of eight brightly lit, saucer-shaped objects flying in a tight echelon formation at an estimated altitude well below their aircraft. The objects were described as having a fiery orange glow and moved at incredible speeds, demonstrating sharp turns and precise maneuvers.
The sighting allowed for relatively accurate measurements due to the proximity of known landmarks such as the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Nash and Fortenberry estimated the objects to be about 100 feet in diameter, flying at an altitude of 2,000 feet. Their detailed account included observations of the objects' rapid acceleration, abrupt stops, and high-speed maneuvers, all without any audible sound or visible propulsion system. The incident was notable because it was corroborated by several independent ground witnesses, further adding credibility to the pilots' testimony.
The U.S. Air Force's Project Blue Book, tasked with investigating UFO sightings, categorized the Nash-Fortenberry incident as "unknown," meaning no conventional explanation could be provided. Various theories were proposed, including misidentified aircraft, atmospheric phenomena, or reflections. However, none could adequately account for the described behavior and characteristics of the objects.
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