Incident at Exeter (1965)

The Incident at Exeter refers to a series of reported UFO sightings that occurred in and around Exeter, New Hampshire, in September 1965. The events primarily involved local residents and law enforcement, attracting significant media attention and prompting an investigation by the United States Air Force (USAF) under Project Blue Book.

September 1, 1965 (Approx. 2:00 AM): Norman Muscarello, an 18-year-old, reported observing a large, dark, pulsating object with flashing red lights in a field off Route 150 in Kensington, New Hampshire, near the Exeter town line.

September 3, 1965 (Exact time not specified): Mrs. Arthur Stewart and her daughter, while driving near Epping, New Hampshire, reported seeing a large object with flashing red lights hovering near power lines.

September 3, 1965 (Approx. 5:00 AM): Exeter Police Officer Eugene Bertrand responded to Muscarello's report. He, along with Muscarello, reportedly observed the object again in the same field.

September 3, 1965 (Shortly after Bertrand's observation): Officer David Hunt arrived on the scene as backup. He, Bertrand, and Muscarello reportedly observed the object for an extended period.

September 5, 1965: Initial reports of the incident appeared in local newspapers.

September 21, 1965: The incident was officially investigated by Major Richard W. Bolton of the USAF through Project Blue Book.

The USAF conducted an official investigation into the Exeter incidents under Project Blue Book, designated Case File No. 10073. Major Richard W. Bolton, a Project Blue Book investigator, interviewed witnesses in September 1965. The incident received significant contemporaneous media coverage in local and national publications, including The Exeter Newsletter and The Boston Globe. The New Hampshire State Police dispatcher log for September 3, 1965, contains an entry regarding Officer Bertrand's report of a UFO.

Norman Muscarello reported seeing an object "as big as a barn" with "very bright blood-red lights" that pulsed on and off, illuminating the surrounding area. He claimed the object moved erratically and silently. Officer Eugene Bertrand reportedly described the object as "round and very large" with five bright, flashing red lights that "pulsated in sequence." He stated the object made no sound and maneuvered silently. He also reported that the field's dogs were agitated, barking intensely. Officer David Hunt reportedly corroborated Bertrand's description, noting the object's silent movement and the intense reaction of animals in the vicinity. He reportedly found the heat produced by the object to be "oppressive." Mrs. Arthur Stewart and her daughter claimed their car stalled when the object hovered near power lines, and it restarted only after the object moved away. They described the object as "dark and huge" with flashing red lights.

The primary witnesses were Norman Muscarello, Officer Eugene Bertrand, and Officer David Hunt. Their testimonies were provided to local media and subsequently to Project Blue Book investigators. Mrs. Arthur Stewart and her daughter also provided testimony regarding their separate, but similar, sighting. All witnesses described a large, silent object with pulsating red lights. Muscarello initially experienced fear, reportedly throwing himself into a ditch.

The official investigation was conducted by the United States Air Force's Project Blue Book. Major Richard W. Bolton interviewed the primary witnesses in Exeter. The Project Blue Book summary categorized the incident as "Insufficient Data" to explain, despite initial press reports labeling it as an "Unidentified Flying Object" and subsequent civilian ufological analyses.

No independent scientific analysis of the Exeter incident, beyond the Project Blue Book investigation, was conducted at the time. The Project Blue Book investigation focused on witness accounts rather than physical evidence or scientific methodologies due to the lack of tangible data.

One skeptical explanation proposed by Project Blue Book investigators was that witnesses observed an Air Force refueling operation involving a KC-97 tanker aircraft. Another hypothesis, put forth by some skeptics, suggested that the witnesses mistakenly identified anti-collision lights of conventional aircraft, possibly from nearby Pease Air Force Base and Grenier Air Force Base, which had occasional night flights. The pulsating lights could also be attributed to atmospheric conditions or an optical illusion.

Despite skeptical hypotheses, Project Blue Book officially categorized the Exeter incident as "Insufficient Data," meaning they could not definitively explain the sightings based on the information gathered. The consistent descriptions of a large, silent, low-flying object with pulsating red lights by independent witnesses, including law enforcement officers, along with the reported agitated behavior of animals, remain unverified by conventional explanations within the official record.