The events began at 9:30pm (GMT) when Airman 2nd Class John Vaccane of the US Air Force at RAF Bentwaters tracked a single unknown object on ground controlled approach radar. The object appeared 25-30 miles east south-east and moved at a constant 295 degree heading across the scope. The object travelled 40-50 miles in only 30 seconds and was calculated travelling at speeds of between 4,800 and 6,000-mph. The target was lost 15-20 miles north west of RAF Bentwaters.

Only a matter of minutes later at around 9:25pm a group of around 12-15 objects were picked up on radar 8 miles south west of Bentwaters. The group of objects appeared to move as a group toward the north east at varying speeds. Reportedly the fleet covered a 6-7 miles area on the scope. The blips faded considerably at a point 14 miles north east of Bentwaters and were then tracked approximately 40 miles north east of Bentwaters when they apparently merged together into one single strong blip which was several times larger than a B-36 aircraft which was the largest operational bomber in history. The single blip appeared stationary at the point 40 miles from Bentwaters for 10-15 minutes then moved 5-6 miles north east and stopped again for 3-5 minutes. The single object then finally moved out of radar range (50 miles) at 9:55pm the average speed of the objects was calculated to be between 290 and 700-mph.

At 10:00pm yet another object was picked up about 30 miles east of Bentwaters and tracked to a point about 25 miles west of the station the object was tracked for a total of 16 seconds. The radar operator estimated the speed of this object to be in excess of 4000 mph but the time and distance figures indicated a speed of roughly 12,000 mph.

According the Project Blue Book report on this incident another object was picked up on radar at 10:55pm. The object was picked up 30 miles east of Bentwaters moving towards the west at an estimated speed of 2,000-4,000-mph the object disappeared from radar 30 miles west of the station. At this point someone at Bentwaters GCA station called Lakenheath RATCC station asking the night watch supervisor if he had any 4,000-mph targets on his scopes and described the track of the 4th object. The caller also stated that the control tower at Bentwaters had reported seeing a bright light passing over a field from east to west at a "terrific" speed at around 4,000 feet in altitude. The caller also mentioned that at the same time a pilot of a C-47 aircraft reported a bright light go directly under his aircraft and again the light was reported at going east to west. The night watch supervisor at Lakenheath was sceptical of the reports but had all controllers start scanning radar scopes using full MTI (moving target indicator).