5 light doing incredible maneuvers over the Pacific Ocean

Summer 1979 off the coast of Southern California, while serving aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Boutwell about 300 to 400 miles west of Los Angeles.  
While doing lookout watch on the flying bridge, I saw 5 lights in a chevron formation, moving from north to south, the lights appeared to be somewhere at around 20,000 feet, I could not distinguish what type of craft they were.  
I watched the lights for about 3 to 4 minutes, then the 2 craft at the wide end of the chevron made a 90 degree turn, one to the left, the other to the right, the remaining lights continued for about 30 seconds, then the next 2 made a 90 degree turn as the ones before did, the final craft continued for about 30 more seconds the made a 90 degree turn to the right.
Witness indicates that the date is approximate.  PD