Nash-Fortenberry sighting
- Date
- 14 Jul 1952
- Place
- Over Chesapeake Bay near Newport News, Virginia (Pan American DC-4), United States
- Record
- Curated case
- Assessment
- Contested
- Evidence strength
What was reported
Pan American pilots William Nash and William Fortenberry, flying a DC-4 at dusk, reported eight glowing discs flying in tight echelon formation far below them over the bay, which changed direction abruptly and climbed away. Because the objects crossed known landmarks, ufologists argue the pilots' estimates of size and speed are unusually well constrained, and they cite independent ground witnesses. Project Blue Book listed the case as unknown. Donald Menzel suggested ground lights distorted by haze and later fireflies trapped between the cockpit window panes; Steuart Campbell proposed a mirage of Venus.
What officials concluded
Unresolved
Listed as unknown by Project Blue Book
Strongest ordinary reading
None established; haze-distorted ground lights and a Venus mirage have been proposed
Evidence profile
- Yes: Visual
- No: Infrared
- No: Radar
- No: Video
- No: Photo
- No: Film
- No: Audio
- No: Night vision
- No: Other sensor
- No: Civilian
- No: Military aircrew
- No: Military ground
- Yes: Airline crew
- No: Sensor operator
- No: Law enforcement
- No: Scientist
- No: Astronaut
- No: Intelligence official
- No: Other
- No: Light only
- No: Orb or sphere
- Yes: Disc
- No: Triangle
- No: Cylinder
- No: Cube
- No: Other shape
- No: Physiological
- No: Physical trace
- No: Electromagnetic
- No: Sound
- No: Silent
Outside sources
- Wikipedia: Nash-Fortenberry UFO sightingen.wikipedia.org
On the map
37.10° N, 76.30° W, plotted at the centre of the region named in the record
Show on the map