RADCAT Case Directory
  Category 9, RADAR  
 
 

                                   
     

RADCAT is a revitalized special project now being conducted jointly by NICAP & Project 1947 with the help and cooperation of the original compiler of RADCAT, Martin Shough, to create a comprehensive listing of radar cases with detailed documentation from all previous catalogues, including UFOCAT and original RADCAT.

The Washington National Sightings
July 26/27, 1952
Washington, DC area

updated: 10 Aug, 2020
Brad Sparks:
July 26-27, 1952; Andrews AFB and Washington National Airport, Wash., D.C. (BBU 1661)
8 p.m. [9:50? p.m. EDT] until after 12 midnight [1:00? a.m. EDT]. Radar operators at several airports, airline and F-94 fighter pilots, sighted and tracked many unidentified blips and/or lights all over Washington area, at varying speeds. 3 hrs. 10 mins. (Berliner)

Fran Ridge:
The radar/visual sightings of the 19/20th of July were a shock, but the encore performance of July 26/27 was even more so. The U. S. relied upon radar of WWII vintage to defend its vast airspace. Secretly, the US Joint Chiefs of Staff had been working on a permanent national radar network which was meant to be in place by 1 July 1952, which had been identified as "the critical date when the Soviets would pose a dangerous threat." This famous case is Item 23 on a list of 51 items, 41 of which are Air Technical Intelligence UFO sighting reports cleared for Donald Keyhoe by Albert M. Chop, Air Force Press Desk. Imagine what it must have been like in 1952 to have UFOs over-flying the Nation's Capitol, tracked by radar and jet interceptors being scrambled. Not only did this actually happen on July 26/27, but it had happened previously on July 19/20. The action covered a wide area and this directory covers the official records and press releases which followed. The events of July 19/20 are covered in a separate report.

Detailed reports and documents
July 26/27, 1952
The Saucers Return to Washington; July 26/27, 1952 (Keyhoe/Ridge)
July 27, 1952; Repts Telephoned to OIN-2A2 on 28 July - MAXW-PBB11 1214-1218 (Dan Wilson)
Washington, D.C. Folder (BB) - MAXW-PBB11-916 (Dan Wilson)
Log of Reports on UO 2108E-1121E, July 26, 1952 - MAXW-PBB11 1149-1151 (Dan Wilson)
July 26, 1952, Andrews AFB, Washington, D.C. - MAXW-PBB11 1170-1176 (Dan Wilson)
Washington Newspaper Articles July 28, 1952 --- MAXW-PBB11 1084-1091 (Dan Wilson)
Article: "Aerial Whatzits Buzz D.C. Again" - MAXW-PBB11 1190-1198 (Dan Wilson)
Washington, D.C.; Night of 26/27 July 1952 MAXW-PBB11 1208-1211 (Dan Wilson)
Memo to Carroll - Radar Sightings of AP at WN - NARA-PBB90 131(Dan Wilson)
UFO in the Washington, D.C. Area - NARA-PBB90 127-129 (Dan Wilson)
Newspaper articles during period from BB files (pdf file) - MAXW-PBB11 1081-1099 (Fran Ridge)

Comments on Case 16 (McDonald, "Greatest Scientic Problems of Our Times" [1967].pdf
Comments on Case 5.(McDonald, "UFOs: An International Scientic Problem" [1968].pdf

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