Sightings Podcast Episode: The Exeter Incident: New Hampshire, 1965
Release Date: July 7, 2025
Hosts: McLeod Andrews & Brian Sigley
Produced by: REVERB | QCODE

Introduction

In this gripping episode of Sightings, hosts McLeod Andrews and Brian Sigley delve into one of New Hampshire's most enigmatic supernatural events: The Exeter Incident of 1965. This story intertwines tales of unexplained aerial phenomena, government secrecy, and community anxiety, painting a vivid picture of a town haunted by the unknown.

The Exeter Incident Unveiled

Initial Encounter

The narrative begins with a firsthand account from Eugene Bertrand, a seasoned police officer in Exeter with a background in the Air Force. Bertrand recounts a late September night in 1965 when he encountered a terrified woman claiming to have been chased by a mysterious object in the sky featuring bright red lights.

Eugene Bertrand [03:45]: "I looked around, scanning the darkness above us, but saw nothing unusual. I just filed it away as another odd encounter and a job full of them."

Despite his skepticism, Bertrand’s encounter sets off a chain of events that would soon engulf the quiet town.

A Night of Multiple Sightings

Approximately an hour after Bertrand's initial report, his colleague Toland alerts him to another unusual event involving Norman Muscarello, a local hitchhiker. Norman describes a large, silent craft with five pulsing red lights that compelled him to seek shelter.

Eugene Bertrand [07:15]: "There felt to me like someone was playing a prank. But then I looked at Norman again, at that genuine terror in his eyes, and I knew this was no joke."

Compelled by Norman's earnestness, Bertrand accompanies him back to the sighting location near the Kennington town line. Together, they witness a massive, silent craft with a patterned sequence of red lights executing improbable maneuvers.

Eugene Bertrand [09:30]: "It moved towards us and I realized it was absolutely silent. No engine noise, no rotor wash, nothing."

Realizing the threat, Bertrand defensively retreats to his cruiser, only to watch the object vanish into the night at an unprecedented speed.

Escalation and Government Involvement

The subsequent days see a surge in sighting reports across Exeter, all describing similar silent, red-lit crafts. Bertrand's persistent investigation leads him to believe there is a pattern connecting these sightings to high-tension power lines, though the Exeter power department denies any anomalies.

Eugene Bertrand [21:10]: "Almost every single sighting had occurred near high tension power lines... Maybe siphoning electricity, even if it sounded far-fetched, was the only pattern I could find."

Bertrand's efforts attract the attention of John Fuller, a skeptical reporter renowned for his work on the Barney and Betty Hill abduction story. Fuller conducts extensive interviews and hypothesizes a link between the sightings and power grid anomalies.

The Great Northeast Blackout Connection

As reality and speculation blur, the Great Northeast Blackout of 1965 occurs, plunging the region into darkness and reigniting UFO sighting reports. Bertrand connects the blackout to the earlier sightings, suggesting a possible extraterrestrial interest in Earth's power infrastructure.

Eugene Bertrand [29:50]: "Whatever happens next, it isn't going to be normal."

Government Statements and Continued Mystery

In response to mounting public concern, the Pentagon attributes the sightings to weather inversions—an explanation Bertrand dismisses despite his Air Force background.

Eugene Bertrand [30:05]: "If the Pentagon says this is a weather inversion, then there was no weather inversion."

Further complicating matters, Major Hector Quintanilla of Wright Patterson Air Force Base erroneously claims the sightings were part of a military training exercise involving B47 bombers—an assertion that Bertrand contests based on the craft's described characteristics.

In-Depth Discussion and Theories

Hosts' Analysis

McLeod Andrews and Brian Sigley engage in a comprehensive discussion, exploring various facets of the Exeter Incident:

• Overlap with Other UFO Stories: The proximity in time and location to the Barney and Betty Hill abduction case raises questions about potential interconnectedness between different UFO narratives.

  Brian Sigley [24:01]: "It was the same area, roughly. Exeter is only about 30 to 40 minutes from where Barney and Betty Hill lived."

• Power Grid Hypothesis: Fuller’s theory linking sightings to power grid infrastructure introduces a unique angle rarely seen in UFO lore, suggesting possible energy siphoning or data gathering by extraterrestrial visitors.

  Brian Sigley [29:33]: "The blackout that happened... rolled out through the entire region. And that sighting expanded far beyond that little part of New Hampshire."

• KC97 Refueling Tanker Theory: A revelation that the pulsing light pattern matches the KC97 refueling tanker raises possibilities of misidentified military aircraft or classified operations.

  Brian Sigley [34:15]: "The plane was built in the '50s and used by our military through the late '70s... Why did the government not say, 'Oh, it's this plane'?"

Skeptical Perspectives

The hosts consider rational explanations, from mass hysteria—termed "ufomania"—to potential military cover-ups. However, inconsistencies and lack of transparency in official responses keep the mystery alive.

McLeod Andrews [32:16]: "Ufomania, perhaps... People were looking for connections."

Community Impact and Legacy

The Exeter Incident left an indelible mark on the community, intertwining with broader UFO narratives and governmental distrust. The recurring sightings following the blackout suggest an enduring fascination and fear of the unknown within the region.

Conclusion and Future Directions

McLeod and Brian wrap up the episode by highlighting the enduring mystery of the Exeter Incident and teasing upcoming episodes that promise to delve deeper into related phenomena, including stories of communication with the other side.

Brian Sigley [36:41]: "This one is really unique... It involves communication with the other side."

They invite listeners to share their theories and engage with the podcast's community, emphasizing the ongoing quest to uncover the truth behind Exeter’s unexplained events.

Notable Quotes

• Eugene Bertrand [09:30]: "It moved towards us and I realized it was absolutely silent. No engine noise, no rotor wash, nothing."
• Brian Sigley [34:15]: "The plane was built in the '50s. It was used by our military through the late '70s. This was right in the smack metal of it."

Further Resources

For an in-depth exploration of the Exeter Incident, including archival materials and witness interviews, visit sightingspodcast.com.

Upcoming Episodes

Stay tuned for the next episode, where McLeod and Brian will explore a phenomenon that blurs the lines between the supernatural and the inexplicable, involving communication with entities beyond our realm.

Thank you for tuning into Sightings. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform to stay updated on the world's most mysterious supernatural events.