A large glowing object displaying flashing lights was observed by multiple witnesses near Exeter, New Hampshire, including a young man and a police officer who investigated the report.
In the early morning hours of September 3, 1965, eighteen-year-old Norman Muscarello reported seeing a large object with flashing red lights hovering over a field near Exeter, New Hampshire. Terrified, he sought help from a passing police officer, Eugene Bertrand. After returning to the area, both men observed the object, which appeared to pulse with intense light and eventually moved away. Later that morning, additional witnesses reported seeing a similar object. The case gained national attention after journalist John G. Fuller investigated the reports and published them in his book 'Incident at Exeter'. The U.S. Air Force investigated the event but did not provide a definitive explanation.
The Exeter Incident, occurring on September 3, 1965, is one of the most credible UFO sightings in history, primarily due to the involvement of Norman Muscarello, an 18-year-old Navy recruit, and two Exeter police officers. Muscarello reported being chased by a huge, silent, disc-like object approximately 60 to 90 feet in diameter featuring five sequentially pulsating red lights.
Key details of the incident include:
Witnesses: In addition to Muscarello, Officer Eugene Bertrand and Officer David Hunt independently observed the object hovering and maneuvering erratically near a farm in Kensington, New Hampshire. The object caused horses and dogs in the area to panic.
Official Investigation: The U.S. Air Force’s Project Blue Book investigated the case but could not identify a probable cause, noting the observers were "stable, reliable persons." While skeptics later suggested it was a KC-97 Stratotanker or misidentified Jupiter, the witnesses maintained the craft was silent and maneuverable in ways impossible for conventional aircraft.
Legacy: The event was popularized by journalist John G. Fuller and led to the first open congressional hearing on UFOs. It is commemorated annually in New Hampshire by the Exeter UFO Festival, which raises funds for children's charities.
| Date: | 1965-09-03 |
| Location: | Exeter, New Hampshire |
| Country: | United States |
| Category: | Civilian / Police Encounter |
| Credibility: | High / Police and Civilian Witnesses |