The Exeter Incident

In the early morning hours of September 3, 1965, teenager Norman Muscarello and two Exeter, New Hampshire police officers witnessed a large, silent object with brilliant red lights maneuvering over an open field. The case became one of the most thoroughly investigated UFO sightings of the 1960s.

The Initial Witness

Norman Muscarello:

• 18 years old
• Walking home at night
• Route 150
• 2:00 AM
• Sober and clear-headed

The First Sighting

Muscarello observed:

• Huge dark object
• Five bright red lights
• In a row
• Pulsating sequence
• Over field near road

His Reaction

The teenager:

• Dove into ditch
• Terrified
• Object approached
• Then retreated
• He fled to seek help

The Police Station

Muscarello:

• Reached Exeter
• Reported to police
• Obviously shaken
• Officer Bertrand dispatched
• To investigate

Officer Eugene Bertrand

Earlier that night:

• Found woman in car
• Shaking, upset
• Reported large object
• Following her car
• Dismissed at time

The Field

Bertrand and Muscarello:

• Returned to site
• Waited in field
• Horses acting strange
• Dogs barking
• Tension building

The Return

The object appeared:

• Rising from behind trees
• Enormous size
• Red pulsating lights
• Silent movement
• Approached witnesses

Officer David Hunt

Second officer arrived:

• While object present
• Witnessed same thing
• Three observers now
• Confirmed sighting
• Called for backup

The Object

All three described:

• Large, dark mass
• Five red lights in row
• Lights pulsated in sequence
• Silent or slight hum
• Erratic movement

The Departure

Eventually:

• Object moved away
• Toward ocean
• Gradually faded
• Witnesses stunned
• Report filed

Investigation

Air Force Project Blue Book:

• Investigated case
• Initially explained as aircraft
• Officers objected
• Explanation unsatisfactory
• Case became controversial

The Book

“Incident at Exeter”:

• John G. Fuller authored
• 1966 publication
• Detailed investigation
• Brought case to public
• Best-seller

Other Witnesses

That night and following:

• Multiple other sightings
• Same area
• Similar objects
• Pattern emerged
• Wave of activity

Significance

The Exeter incident is significant for:

• Police officer witnesses
• Extended observation
• Multiple observers
• Thorough investigation
• Official controversy

Legacy

The Exeter incident became a landmark UFO case, demonstrating that credible witnesses including law enforcement could observe unexplained objects. The Air Force’s weak explanation only added to the case’s notoriety.