Patuxent River NAS: Radar tracks 6900 mph targets
Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland detected several large radar targets moving at 6,900 mph on December 19, 1964. Project Blue Book dismissed it as radar interference despite no visual sightings.
Background
Event Details
On December 19, 1964 at 15:50, Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland registered several large targets on radar moving at 6,900 mph. One object approached the facility for about 12 seconds before disappearing. Twenty-four seconds later another appeared, moving away at the same speed, and also disappeared. Five minutes afterwards further targets appeared, moving briefly in various directions.
Evidence and Witnesses
There was no visual confirmation. Radar operators reported clear, large returns. Project Blue Book classified the incident as classic radar interference. Sources include reports by Sparks, newspaper articles from 1965, Harold H. Deneault Jr. in Fate, and Donald E. Keyhoe.
Significance
This military radar contact points to the continuing debate about unexplained high-speed objects near US military bases, despite the official dismissal as a technical problem.