1968: Witnesses observe near-landing of UFO

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THINK ABOUTIT SIGHTING REPORT

Date: July 30, 1968

Sighting Time: 1 a.m.

Day/Night:

Location: Claremont, New Hampshire

Urban or Rural: –

Entity Type:

Entity Description:

Hynek Classification: CE-I (Close Encounter I) Observation of an object in close proximity to the witness (i.e. within 500’)

Duration: 3 1/2 Hours

No. of Object(s):  1

Size of Object(s): 20 feet wide

Distance to Object(s): 230 feet

Shape of Object(s): bright round object

Color of Object(s):

Number of Witnesses: Multiple

Source: NICAP (National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomenon), ‘Strange Effects from UFOs’, by Donald Keyhoe and Gordon Lore

Summary/Description: A manufacturing plant worker was carrying two buckets of water toward his garden when he saw “a bright round object float in a gentle arc low in the sky to the northeast.” It looked like a full moon but was at an extremely low altitude. Shortly thereafter and just two miles away, a land surveyor and his wife witnessed a dome-shaped object. It was about 20 feet wide and hovered approximately 10 feet above the ground, and was 230 feet away.

Full Report

Witness’ sketch of UFO seen in Claremont, NH.

“Terrified” Witnesses Observe Near-Landing

At 1 a.m., a manufacturing plant worker was carrying two buckets of water toward his garden in Claremont, New Hampshire, when he saw “a bright round object float in a gentle arc low in the sky to the northeast.” It looked like a full moon but was at an extremely low altitude.

The UFO disappeared behind some trees. Running back into his apartment, the witness checked the time. It was 1:12 a.m., July 30, 1968.

Shortly thereafter, a land surveyor and his wife had retired after working in the rock garden of their new home less than two miles from the residence of the plant worker. It was 2 a.m. when they saw a dome-shaped object. It was about 20 feet wide and hovered approximately 10 feet above the ground. They estimated its distance from them at 230 feet.

“The object . . . was moving slowly, causing shadows on some freshly cut hay,” the husband reported to NICAP. “These shadows made effects of people moving.”

The UFO shone a 20-foot wide gray-colored beam of light onto the ground. The frightened witnesses said their children and dogs were highly disturbed.

“Our children . . . were very restless,” the wife stated. “They were moaning as if something was hurting them. . . . They were actually crying out in their sleep. The children are both very quiet sleepers and once they are in bed they do not wake up unless they are sick. . . . Our German shepherd . . . was . . . whimpering and whining as if something was hurting her. . . . My poodle . . . was most upset. He sleeps in our bedroom . . . and he pawed the side of the bed until I put him in bed with us. He was actually shaking from being so upset. As soon as the object left both dogs quieted down and went to sleep. . . . My fear for the children was what upset me most. I kept saying to my husband, what was going to happen to the poor children if someone should come to the house.”

Both witnesses “felt isolated and terrified.” The husband wanted to drive for help, but his wife refused to let him leave. The observers heard a high-pitched humming sound, like that of a utility pole transformer.

A few minutes later the object moved about 25 feet to the east and remained there until 4:30 a.m. At this time the humming sound grew “very loud.” The light brightened to “high intensity” and the UFO started moving to the west, clearing the trees and disappearing. The shepherd dog “whined loudly.”

“During this time,” the wife said, “I thought of all kinds of things. I keep hearing sounds throughout the house. Any other night they wouldn’t have meant a thing, but tonight they were most terrifying.”

While they were watching the object, the witnesses saw a projection from it descend toward the ground.

“Our experience was very terrifying and I hope that it never happens again,” the wife concluded. “However, if it should, I hope that my husband and I will be prepared by then to handle the matter in a better way. . . .”

Several hours later, the husband reported the incident to Claremont Police Captain Ernest M. Fausse, who confirmed to John Meloney, of NICAP’s New Hampshire Subcommittee, that the witness appeared nervous and apprehensive.