Nash-Fortenberry Sighting: Pan Am Pilots Observe Eight Disc Formation
Two experienced Pan American pilots observed eight disc-shaped objects in precise formation over Chesapeake Bay.
Background
On the night of July 14, 1952, Captain William Nash and First Officer William Fortenberry observed eight bright red disc-shaped objects while piloting a Pan American DC-4 at 8,000 feet over Chesapeake Bay, Virginia. The sighting featured remarkable maneuvers and occurred during the 1952 Washington UFO wave, classified as an official Project Blue Book unknown.
The Incident
The pilots spotted six bright red disc-shaped objects approaching at tremendous speed in a stepped-up echelon formation.
The discs abruptly reversed direction with a sharp edge-flip maneuver.
Two additional discs joined from beneath, making eight objects that then accelerated together and vanished within seconds.
Witnesses
Both Captain William Nash and First Officer William Fortenberry were highly experienced aviators.
They provided detailed technical descriptions of the event.
Investigation
The sighting took place during the intense 1952 Washington UFO wave.
Air Force investigators classified it as an official Project Blue Book unknown.
They could not offer a conventional explanation for the sighting.