The Exeter Incident

On the night of September 3, 1965, a teenager hitchhiking near Exeter, New Hampshire encountered a massive UFO that would also be witnessed by two police officers. The case became one of the most thoroughly investigated UFO encounters of the decade.

The First Witness

Norman Muscarello:

• 18 years old
• Hitchhiking home
• After midnight
• Route 150
• Kensington area

The Encounter

Walking along road:

• Saw huge object
• Rising from trees
• Pulsating red lights
• Approaching him
• Terrifying sight

His Description

The object:

• Enormous size
• 80-90 feet diameter
• Five bright red lights
• Pulsating sequentially
• Silent operation

His Reaction

Muscarello:

• Dove into ditch
• Object passed over
• Rose again
• Hovered nearby
• Then retreated

Getting Help

He ran:

• To nearby house
• Pounding on door
• No answer
• Flagged down car
• Got to Exeter police

At the Station

Muscarello:

• Clearly shaken
• Told Officer Toland
• Coherent account
• Obviously terrified
• Taken seriously

Officer Bertrand

Eugene Bertrand:

• On duty that night
• Earlier encountered
• Upset woman
• Also saw UFO
• Corroboration

The Return Trip

Bertrand took Muscarello:

• Back to location
• To investigate
• Carl’s field
• Same area
• Search for object

The Object Returns

Standing in field:

• Object appeared again
• Rose over trees
• Toward them
• Exactly as described
• Both witnessed

Their Observation

They saw:

• Massive craft
• Red pulsating lights
• Moving slowly
• Over the field
• Completely silent

Officer Hunt

David Hunt:

• Arrived at scene
• Also witnessed
• Third officer
• Same object
• Triple confirmation

The Lights

Five red lights:

• Pulsating in sequence
• Around perimeter
• Extremely bright
• Not aircraft lights
• Distinctive pattern

Farm Animals

Horses nearby:

• Went berserk
• Kicked and screamed
• Dogs howled
• Animal reaction
• Corroboration

The Departure

Eventually:

• Object moved east
• Toward ocean
• Slowly at first
• Then rapid acceleration
• Disappeared

The Investigation

Case attracted:

• Air Force attention
• Project Blue Book
• John Fuller investigation
• Extensive documentation
• National interest

Blue Book Response

Initial explanation:

• Aircraft
• B-47 refueling operation
• But no aircraft there
• Time wrong
• Inadequate

John Fuller

Journalist:

• Investigated thoroughly
• Wrote “Incident at Exeter”
• Bestselling book
• Detailed documentation
• Landmark UFO book

The Officers’ Position

Bertrand and Hunt:

• Wrote Air Force
• Demanded retraction
• Of aircraft explanation
• Professional reputations
• They knew what they saw

Significance

Exeter is significant for:

• Police witnesses
• Multiple observers
• Animal reactions
• Thorough investigation
• Published account

Legacy

The Exeter Incident remains one of the landmark UFO cases. Multiple police witnesses, thorough investigation, and John Fuller’s documentation make it a cornerstone of serious UFO research.