Project 10073 Record Card and Related Correspondence — Bethesda, Maryland, 18 April 1952

On 18 April 1952, at approximately 0130 hours, four civilians in Bethesda, Maryland, observed a formation of lights in the sky. The witnesses reported seeing between seven and nine orange-yellow, spherical objects flying in a V-shaped formation. The formation was described as having an included angle of approximately 40 degrees, with one light at the apex and three to four lights in each leg. The objects were observed for a duration of four to eight seconds as they traversed an arc of approximately 100 degrees, moving from the south to the north. The witnesses reported that the objects performed straight and level maneuvers and made no sound. One witness estimated the speed of the objects to be in excess of 1500 mph at an altitude of 1000 feet. The weather was described as clear with no clouds. The witnesses were interviewed by telephone and in person; they were described as intelligent and cooperative. They specifically noted that they had not read the Life Magazine article regarding the Lubbock incident prior to their sighting. An investigation was conducted to determine if jet aircraft were in the area, but none were identified. While a similar report of light formations had previously been attributed to a B-45 aircraft, no such aircraft were present during this incident. The official conclusion for this report is listed as 'None'.