The Classic Police UFO Case

On September 3, 1965, teenager Norman Muscarello was followed by a massive UFO near Exeter, New Hampshire. When he reported it to police, officers went to investigate and witnessed the same object, creating one of the best-documented UFO cases of the 1960s.

The Witness

Norman Muscarello:

• 18 years old
• Walking home
• 2:00 AM
• From girlfriend’s house
• On Route 150

What He Saw

The object:

• Massive craft
• Red pulsating lights
• No sound
• Near field
• Approached him

The Encounter

His experience:

• Object followed him
• Dove at him
• He hid
• Ran to house
• Eventually flagged car

Reaching Police

At station:

• Visibly shaken
• Reported encounter
• Officers skeptical initially
• Agreed to investigate
• Returned to site

The Officers

Police response:

• Officer Eugene Bertrand
• Officer David Hunt
• Both experienced
• Both became witnesses
• Credible testimony

The Second Sighting

At the field:

• Bertrand and Muscarello
• Object reappeared
• Both saw it
• Officer Hunt arrived
• Three witnesses

What Officers Saw

Their description:

• Large object
• Bright red lights
• Wobbling motion
• Near power lines
• Rose and departed

The Reaction

Officer Bertrand:

• Drew service weapon
• Thought of shooting
• Reconsidered
• Both men fled initially
• Returned to observe

Air Force Investigation

Project Blue Book:

• Investigated case
• Initially: “advertising aircraft”
• Then: unidentified
• Never explained
• Classic case

The Book

“Incident at Exeter”:

• John G. Fuller
• 1966 bestseller
• Detailed investigation
• Defined case
• Historic importance

Other Witnesses

Same period:

• Multiple sightings
• That night
• Surrounding nights
• Extended wave
• Pattern emerged

NICAP Investigation

Civilian research:

• Dr. J. Allen Hynek involved
• Thorough study
• Found credible
• Supported witnesses
• Important case

Official Response

Air Force position:

• Changed explanations
• From advertising plane
• To temperature inversion
• To unidentified
• Inconsistent

Physical Details

Object characteristics:

• 80-90 feet diameter
• Five red lights
• Pulsating sequence
• Complete silence
• Structured craft

Significance

Multiple-witness police UFO case with Air Force investigation and bestselling book documentation.

Legacy

The Exeter incident set the standard for police UFO cases—multiple credible witnesses, official investigation, and documentation that brought the case to national attention.