Three rapidly moving high lights joined a larger light which then winked out.

My brother and I were walking home from a neighbors place and looking up at the stars.  We were suprised to see three points of light in the South moving rapidly North, the three lights (high up) traveled four hand widths before appearing to join a large star or light which then winked out.  The three points of light were approximately 1/16" at arms length, the large stationary light about 1/8".  My brother and I were high school age at the time.  Our Father had been a pilot and member of the Civil Air Patrol previously and we had read his manuals as well as military infantry training manuals in which one is taught to use finger/hand widths for spotting targets.
Date is approximate.  PD