Fran Ridge:
Feb. 5, 1963; near Charlottesville, Virginia
11:45 p.m. Returning to Pennsylvania from Danville, Virginia (near Charlottesville, Virginia, about 95 miles SW of Washington, D.C.) Carl Chambers noticed a star like light, and soon realize it was moving toward his plane. After noting that its altitude and position changed rapidly, he radioed the Washington FAA and reported the incident. For nearly an hour after, they stayed in contact with Washington. During that time, the object hovered off the right wing [easterly] and moved toward, under, and above the aircraft. Then it dropped off and a few minutes later appeared about 35 miles south of Washington, where it seemingly hovered over a missile defense base. From that position and less than a half-minute later it reappeared some 10 or 15 miles north of the capital. FAA tower personnel confirmed to Chambers that they had received a similar report from another pilot in the area at the same time (after midnight). The object had an intermittent yellow-white glow, and at its closest point appeared to be about three feet in diameter. Sighting not listed by Blue Book, but theday prior there is a report of someone mistaking "Vega" for a UFO over Montebello, VA - see BB doc below. (Signed report in NICAP files; UFO Evidence, Section 5, page 43)

There was a Nike site (W-64) at Lorton, Virginia which is approximately 17 miles SSW of Washington DC. This site contained missiles armed with nuclear warheads. Lorton Nike Missile Site Marker Inscription: "Located north of here was one of three Nike anti-aircraft missile complexes in Fairfax County operated by the U.S. Army and the Army National Guard between 1954 and 1974. The sites were established during the Cold War to defend Washington from Soviet air attack. This complex, along with those at Great Falls and Fairfax, was among thirteen Nike sites that surrounded Washington and Baltimore. The ring of Nike sites was reminiscent of the perimeter of forts that protected the capital during the Civil War. This was the only Nike complex in Fairfax County containing missiles armed with nuclear warheads. It served as a model site for visits by foreign dignitaries. Erected 1994 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number E 97.)"