Summary

Beginning on September 3, 1965, the small town of Exeter, New Hampshire became the epicenter of one of the most significant UFO flaps in American history. The incidents began with teenager Norman Muscarello’s terrifying close encounter with a massive craft and escalated when police officers Eugene Bertrand and David Hunt witnessed the same object. Over the following weeks, dozens of credible witnesses reported similar sightings, prompting official investigations and national media attention. The case remains unexplained despite numerous attempts to debunk it.

The Initial Encounter

Norman Muscarello’s Experience

At approximately 2:00 AM on September 3, 1965:

  • 18-year-old Norman Muscarello was hitchhiking home
  • Walking along Route 150 near Kensington
  • Noticed a bright light in a field
  • Object suddenly moved toward him

The Terrifying Approach

Muscarello described:

  • Huge object, estimated 80-90 feet diameter
  • Bright pulsating red lights
  • Absolutely silent
  • Wobbling, “yawing” motion
  • So close it filled his entire field of vision

In terror, Muscarello:

  • Dove into a ditch
  • Object hovered directly overhead
  • Slowly moved toward a nearby farm
  • He ran to a house, pounding on door
  • No one answered

Race to Police Station

Muscarello flagged down a car:

  • Couple drove him to Exeter police station
  • Arrived around 2:25 AM
  • Extremely agitated and frightened
  • Desk officer noted his genuine terror

Police Investigation

Officer Bertrand Responds

Officer Eugene Bertrand had earlier investigated a similar report:

  • Woman claimed UFO followed her car
  • Bertrand found nothing
  • Returned to station
  • Heard Muscarello’s story
  • Decided to investigate

Return to the Scene

At approximately 3:00 AM:

  • Bertrand drove Muscarello back to area
  • Initially saw nothing unusual
  • Walked into field where sighting occurred
  • Suddenly saw object rising from behind trees

The Officers’ Sighting

Bertrand later testified: “It was this huge, dark object as big as a barn. It had five bright red lights on it that pulsed in sequence, from right to left, then left to right.”

The object:

  • Hovered about 100 feet altitude
  • Swayed back and forth
  • Moved slowly toward them
  • Frightened nearby horses
  • Dogs howled throughout area

Officer Hunt Arrives

  • Bertrand radioed for backup
  • Officer David Hunt arrived
  • Also witnessed the object
  • Watched it hover and maneuver
  • Observed it for several minutes
  • Object finally departed at high speed

Additional Witnesses

Earlier That Evening

Mrs. Christina Westmoreland:

  • Driving home around 1:00 AM
  • Object followed her car
  • Bright red lights
  • Silent operation
  • Terrified, drove to police station

Simultaneous Sightings

During the police encounter:

  • Ron Smith (telephone worker) saw lights
  • Several residents called police
  • Reports from multiple locations
  • All described similar object

The Investigation Begins

Official Reports

  • Bertrand and Hunt filed detailed reports
  • Pease Air Force Base notified
  • Project Blue Book informed
  • Media quickly picked up story

Air Force Response

Major David Griffin and Lieutenant Alan Brandt investigated:

  • Interviewed all witnesses
  • Examined locations
  • Took measurements
  • Found no conventional explanation

The Pentagon Explanation

Initial Dismissal

The Pentagon suggested:

  • Operation Big Blast (military exercise)
  • High-altitude refueling operations
  • Temperature inversion
  • Advertising planes

Problems with Official Explanation

Officers Bertrand and Hunt wrote famous rebuttal:

  • No aircraft in area at time
  • Object far too large
  • Movements unlike any aircraft
  • Silent operation
  • Duration too long for aircraft

Their letter stated: “What bothers us most is that many people are thinking that we were either lying or not intelligent enough to tell the difference between what we saw and something ordinary.”

Continuing Sightings

The Flap Intensifies

Following weeks brought:

  • 60+ reported sightings
  • Multiple police witnesses
  • Daytime and nighttime encounters
  • Various sizes and configurations
  • Pattern of sightings along power lines

Notable Cases

September 15: Mrs. Virginia Hale

  • Craft landed in field
  • Left circular impression
  • Witnessed by neighbor

October 1: Two police officers

  • Chased object in patrol car
  • Speeds exceeded 100 mph
  • Object easily outdistanced them

Physical Effects

Electromagnetic Interference

Multiple reports of:

  • Car engines stalling
  • Radio interference
  • TV disruption
  • Electrical system failures

Animal Reactions

Consistent reports of:

  • Dogs howling
  • Horses panicking
  • Cattle stampeding
  • Unusual animal behavior

Media Coverage

Local Response

  • Exeter News-Letter extensive coverage
  • Manchester Union Leader investigation
  • Boston newspapers picked up story

National Attention

  • Saturday Review article
  • Look magazine feature
  • Network TV coverage
  • International wire services

”Incident at Exeter”

Journalist John Fuller investigated:

  • Interviewed 60+ witnesses
  • Published book in 1966
  • Became bestseller
  • Brought worldwide attention

Scientific Interest

Atmospheric Physicist James McDonald

Investigated case in 1967:

  • Interviewed key witnesses
  • Found Air Force explanation inadequate
  • Called it “one of the most significant cases”
  • Criticized Project Blue Book handling

NICAP Investigation

National Investigations Committee found:

  • Witnesses highly credible
  • Multiple independent sightings
  • No conventional explanation
  • Physical effects documented

Debunking Attempts

Advertising Plane Theory

Skeptics suggested advertising plane:

  • Wrong location
  • Wrong time
  • Size discrepancy
  • Movement patterns different
  • No planes in area

Weather Balloon

Air Force suggested weather balloon:

  • Too large
  • Wrong movement patterns
  • Multiple witnesses discount
  • Duration too long

Mass Hysteria

Difficult to support:

  • Initial witnesses unaware of others
  • Police officers trained observers
  • Physical effects recorded
  • Consistent descriptions

Long-term Impact

Police Procedures

Exeter influenced:

  • UFO reporting protocols
  • Officer training acknowledgment
  • Documentation standards
  • Multi-witness procedures

Witness Credibility

The case demonstrated:

  • Police testimony weight
  • Multiple witness importance
  • Community credibility
  • Media responsibility

The Witnesses Today

Norman Muscarello

Before his death in 2003:

  • Maintained story accuracy
  • Rarely discussed experience
  • Never sought publicity
  • Stood by account

Officer Bertrand

Throughout his life:

  • Never wavered from account
  • Frustrated by dismissals
  • Proud of professional conduct
  • Wished for serious investigation

Modern Analysis

Pattern Recognition

Exeter sightings showed:

  • Concentration near water
  • Power line proximity
  • Consistent time patterns
  • Similar flight characteristics

Technology Implications

Objects demonstrated:

  • Silent propulsion
  • Extreme maneuverability
  • Electromagnetic effects
  • Structured craft appearance

Significance

The Exeter incidents remain important because:

  • Multiple credible witnesses
  • Police officer involvement
  • Extended time period
  • Physical effects
  • Inadequate official explanations
  • Community-wide impact

Conclusion

The Exeter UFO incidents of 1965 represent one of the most thoroughly documented and credible UFO flaps in American history. Key factors include:

  • Initial terrifying close encounter
  • Police witness confirmation
  • Multiple independent sightings
  • Physical and electromagnetic effects
  • Inadequate conventional explanations
  • lasting impact on witnesses

Whether the objects over Exeter were:

  • Advanced military craft
  • Natural phenomena
  • Extraterrestrial vehicles
  • Something else unexplained

The case provides compelling evidence that structured, intelligently controlled craft of unknown origin operated over New Hampshire in 1965. The courage of witnesses like Norman Muscarello and Officers Bertrand and Hunt in reporting what they saw, despite ridicule, helped establish standards for UFO investigation that influence the field today. Exeter remains a benchmark case demonstrating that sometimes, extraordinary claims are backed by extraordinary evidence.