Ep.23 The 1952 Washington D.C. UFO Incident

UFO Chronicles Podcast

Nik Hunter

Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, Science

4.6 • 843 Ratings

🗓️ 15 July 2025

⏱️ 14 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In this episode, we delve into the astonishing 1952 Washington D.C. UFO Incident, a wave of sightings that shook the heart of the U.S. capital. For two weekends in July, radar operators and pilots tracked unidentified objects darting through restricted airspace near the White House and Capitol, appearing as glowing orbs and streaks of light that outran pursuing military jets. We reveal the events that sparked widespread curiosity and forced a government response. Were these alien crafts, secret tech, or something natural. Tune in for a dive into a historic mystery that still stirs debate.

Brief Encounters is a tightly produced, narrative podcast that dives headfirst into the world of UFO sightings, the paranormal, cryptids, myths, and unexplained legends. From ancient sky wars to modern close encounters, each episode takes listeners on a journey through some of the most mysterious and compelling cases in human history. Whether it's a well-documented military sighting or an eerie village legend whispered across generations, Brief Encounters delivers each story with atmosphere, depth, and cinematic storytelling. Episodes are short and binge-worthy perfect for curious minds on the go. In just 5 to 10 minutes, listeners are pulled into carefully researched accounts that blend historical context, eyewitness testimony, and chilling details. The series moves between eras and continents, uncovering not only the famous cases you've heard of, but also the forgotten incidents that deserve a closer look. Each story is treated with respect, skepticism, and wonder offering both seasoned enthusiasts and casual listeners something fresh to consider. Whether it’s a 15th-century sky battle over Europe, a cryptid sighting in a remote forest, or a modern-day abduction report from rural America, Brief Encounters is your guide through the shadows of our world and the stories that refuse to be explained.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	The 1952 Washington DC UFO incident.
0:16.0	In July of 1952, something very strange happened in the skies over the capital of the United States.
0:22.6	It began with lights. Not just one, but several, they appeared without warning, moved against
0:28.6	the wind, hovered in restricted airspace, and then vanished. They returned the next weekend.
0:34.6	This time they were seen by both military radar operators and
0:39.3	commercial pilots. Fighter jets were scrambled, orders were issued, then just as quickly
0:45.3	the lights were gone. For two weekends in a row, unidentified objects entered the airspace
0:52.3	over Washington DC, arguably the most secure airspace in the
0:56.9	country. They came close to the White House, the Capitol building and Andrews Air Force Base.
1:02.8	The press picked up the story and the public demanded answers. The incident caused such a stir
1:09.1	that it led to the largest official press conference held by the US military since the end of World War II.
1:16.3	And still, decades later, the question remains, what exactly happened during those nights in July?
1:23.3	This is brief encounters, and this is episode 23, the 1952 Washington DC UFO incident.
1:32.5	A quiet night turns strange. The events began on the evening of Saturday, July 19, 1952.
1:39.3	It was a warm, humid night in Washington, D.C., and air traffic was light, at Washington
1:45.3	National Airport, now Reagan National.
1:48.5	Air traffic controllers were monitoring the skies when something unusual appeared on their
1:53.2	radar screens.
1:54.8	A group of objects had entered the airspace around the city.
1:59.2	They were clustered, moving slowly at first but without
2:02.3	transponders or flight plans. The radar operators checked for equipment malfunctions. Finding none,
2:09.3	they radioed Andrew's Air Force base to confirm. Operators there were also tracking the unknowns.
	...

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