July 13–18. Flying saucers reported from all states in the Union. (Observers for the American Meteor Society counted an average of fifteen meteors per hour on those nights.)
July 14. A group of saucers over Chesapeake Bay and Norfolk, Virginia ([p. 256]).
July 16. Saucers photographed by Coast Guardsman, Salem, Massachusetts ([p. 122]).
The sighting hysteria was approaching the critical mass, and no special wisdom was required to see that an explosion was inevitable. The only question was: Where would it occur? The panic finally reached its climax in the nation’s capital:
July 19. Flying saucers (invisible) invade Washington, D.C. (See [Chapter VIII].)
July 26. Saucers again invade Washington ([p. 155]).
July 27. Saucers over Manhattan Beach, California ([p. 49]).
July 29. Saucers over Port Huron, Michigan ([p. 160]).
August 1. Saucer over Bellefontaine, Ohio ([p. 162]).
Most of these and hundreds of other UFOs were eventually identified as meteors, stars, balloons, jet planes, birds, searchlights, and radar angels. About the only aerial phenomenon that was not mistaken for a flying saucer during these weeks of panic was the planet Venus. Until the end of August it was too near the sun to be visible.