Overview
Over two consecutive weekends in July 1952, multiple unidentified objects were tracked on radar at National Airport and Andrews Air Force Base. Pilots and ground observers reported seeing glowing lights that outmaneuvered conventional fighter jets.
The "Invasion" Scare
The sightings occurred directly over restricted airspace, including the White House and the Capitol. Air Force jets were scrambled to intercept the objects, but the craft reportedly vanished whenever the jets approached, only to reappear once they left.
The "Temperature Inversion" Debunk
The Air Force held a massive press conference to calm public panic, attributing the radar signatures to "temperature inversions" causing radar signals to bounce off the ground. However, radar operators and the pilots involved challenged this, stating that the signatures were "solid" and inconsistent with weather phenomena.