Andrews Air Force Base Washington unidentified aerial event — September 1951

Light just disappeared (report received 11 Apr 1952). On Monday, 10 September 1951, I departed Andrews AFB at 1830 hours in C-47A 45-918, accompanied by Capt. ______ Headquarters, Air Resupply & Communications Service, who was serving as co-pilot. I remained in sight for approximately 5 to 10 seconds at what appeared to be the same altitude at which I was flying, during which period Capt. ______ and I discussed the object. I estimate that the object had descended to the ground. An illumination from the object following the flame trail which the object was leaving resulted in the observer's statement that the object was flying was estimated to be about 500 miles per hour. On Monday night, 10 September 1951, I was flying as co-pilot in a C-47 on a local flight from Andrews Air Force Base. At this time I saw an object ahead of us at approximately 8000' altitude, 30 miles southeast of Andrews, apparently traveling in excess of 600 and 900 miles per hour. The total time that I observed this light was in the neighborhood of 2 seconds. When the light disappeared, there were no trailing lights or no outline of any object visible.