The speed of these speres were unbelievable they held formation stationary then bursted one by one into space

On a very clear evening on a shore front pier in a cove on the Cheasapeake Bay.  Here is what was observed by myself and 4 or 5 other people.  Something I never forgot as a child.  While looking across the water as we often did in the evening, we saw 4-5 round lights hovering overhead about 2-oclock above the horizon at what appeared to be above the normal flight paths. 
As we observed these strange lights they moved eratickly to and fro for about 3 to 4 min  then suddenly and silently moved into formation similar to the way military jets would position themselves ,only these objects were not moving in any direction they remained still.  
Suddenly one by one they shot strait into space in an instant and out of sight without a sound, faster then any plane could ever move more like a bullet I'm hoping this discription triggers someone elses memory of this strange sighting after all this time.
Witness elects to remain totally anonymous.  Date is approximate.  PD