Exeter New Hampshire 1965 UFO Sighting
An 18-year-old hitchhiker and two police officers observed a large silent object with five flashing red lights hovering over a field; the Air Force initially dismissed it as stars but later admitted they could not identify the object.
On September 3, 1965, at approximately 2:00 AM, 18-year-old Norman Muscarello was hitchhiking home to Exeter, New Hampshire, along Route 150 when he observed five flashing bright red lights hovering above trees near Kensington. The object, which Muscarello estimated to be 80 to 90 feet in diameter, made no sound and illuminated a nearby field and two houses in red light. Terrified, Muscarello dove into a ditch as the object moved toward him, then ran to a nearby house for help. When no one answered, he flagged down a passing car and was driven to the Exeter police station.
Officer Reginald Toland, who knew Muscarello and was impressed by his genuine fear, radioed Officer Eugene Bertrand Jr. Earlier that evening, Bertrand had encountered a woman on Route 108 who claimed a "huge object with flashing red lights" had followed her car from Epping. Bertrand drove Muscarello back to the sighting location to investigate.
At the field, horses in a nearby corral became agitated and dogs began barking. Both Bertrand and Muscarello then observed an object rise from behind the trees. Bertrand described it as "this huge, dark object as big as a barn... with red flashing lights on it." The object moved silently toward them, swaying back and forth. Bertrand drew his revolver but decided against shooting, grabbed Muscarello, and both ran to the patrol car. Officer David Hunt arrived and also observed the object before it rose and disappeared. All three filed separate reports.
Project Blue Book initially explained the sighting as stars, planets, and a temperature inversion, and later attributed it to Operation Big Blast, a SAC/NORAD training exercise. The officers strongly disputed this, noting the exercise had ended an hour before their sighting and that the object bore no resemblance to conventional aircraft. In January 1966, the Air Force acknowledged they had been "unable to identify the object."
Exeter New Hampshire 1965 UFO Sighting - Context
The Exeter incident occurred during a period of heightened UFO activity in the area. Multiple witnesses had reported strange lights in the weeks preceding September 3. The case gained national publicity and became one of the best-documented UFO sightings of the era.
Journalist John G. Fuller investigated the case for Saturday Review and published "Incident at Exeter" in 1966, which became a New York Times bestseller. The book documented numerous additional sightings in the Exeter area and included detailed accounts from witnesses.
A 2011 Skeptical Inquirer article by Joe Nickell and retired Air Force Major James McGaha proposed that the witnesses had observed a KC-97 tanker aircraft during aerial refueling operations. McGaha noted that the underbelly of KC-97 tankers stationed at nearby Pease AFB featured five very bright red lights that flashed in a pattern matching witness descriptions. The refueling boom, which hung at a 60-degree angle and fluttered in air currents, could explain the "floating like a leaf" motion described by Muscarello.
All three primary witnesses maintained their accounts until their deaths: Muscarello in 2003, Bertrand in 1998, and Hunt in 2011.
Exeter New Hampshire 1965 UFO Sighting - Incident Timeline
Exeter New Hampshire 1965 UFO Sighting - Competing Explanations
KC-97 tanker aircraft during aerial refueling [5]
In 2011, Skeptical Inquirer published an analysis by Joe Nickell and retired USAF Major James McGaha. McGaha had been refueled by KC-97 tankers from Pease AFB. The tankers featured five red lights on the underbelly that flashed in a 1-2-3-4-5-4-3-2-1 pattern, matching witness descriptions. The refueling boom at 60-degree angle fluttering in air currents could explain "floating like a leaf" motion.
Witnesses consistently described the object as silent; aircraft engines would be audible. Officer Hunt heard a B-47 bomber later and noted "you could tell the difference." The object hovered at low altitude (100 feet) for extended periods, inconsistent with refueling operations. Witnesses were experienced with local aircraft operations.
Operation Big Blast military exercise [3]
Project Blue Book cited Operation Big Blast, a SAC/NORAD training mission, as a possible explanation, noting five B-47 aircraft were flying in the area.
Officers Bertrand and Hunt wrote that Operation Big Blast ended approximately an hour before their sighting. The object bore no resemblance to B-47 bombers, which they knew well. Major David Griffin from Pease AFB stated he did not believe the B-47s had any connection with the sighting.
Stars, planets, and temperature inversion [4]
Pentagon initially explained the sighting as "stars and planets twinkling owing to a temperature inversion."
Officers wrote they "confirmed and reconfirmed" the weather was clear with no wind and "no chance of weather inversion." The object moved independently, hovered at specific locations, illuminated buildings and fields in red light, and caused animal reactions. Stars and planets do not exhibit these characteristics.
Unidentified object (Air Force final assessment) [4]
In January 1966, Lt. Col. John Spaulding acknowledged the Air Force had been "unable to identify the object." Major Griffin's initial report stated he could find nothing in the area as a probable cause and the witnesses were "stable, reliable persons."
This assessment does not explain what the object was, only what it was not.
Exeter New Hampshire 1965 UFO Sighting - Eyewitness Testimony
"The object was 80 to 90 feet in diameter with five brilliant red lights. It made absolutely no sound. It began to move steadily towards me."
"This huge, dark object as big as a barn over there, with red flashing lights on it. The object moved silently towards us, swaying back and forth."
"You could tell the difference [between the UFO and a B-47 bomber]. There was no comparison."
"At this time I have been unable to arrive at a probable cause of this sighting. The three observers seem to be stable, reliable persons, especially the two patrolmen."
