Skeptical Inquirer Explanation
The November/December 2011 edition of Skeptical Inquirer presents an explanation of the incident. It was developed by Joe Nickell, prominent paranormal investigator, and James McGaha, Major, USAF retired. As a pilot, McGaha had been refueled in flight by KC-97 tanker aircraft like the ones stationed at Pease AFB near Exeter in 1965. He recognized the flashing light pattern reported by the witnesses Bertrand and Muscarello: one, two, three, four, five, four, three, two, one. Before refueling, the underbelly of the KC-97 tankers flashed five very bright red lights in that same pattern. The refueling boom hung down at a 60 degree angle and would flutter in the air currents when not being controlled by the boom operator: "floating like a leaf" per witness Muscarello. The KC-97 would surely have been used during Operation Big Blast which occurred that evening.
Read more about this topic: Exeter Incident
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