UFO Report — Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C., 23 October 1966

On 23 October 1966, at 2330Z, personnel from the 2012th Communications Squadron (RAPCON) at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, reported observing five to six white, pea-shaped lights. The objects exhibited erratic flashing and erratic small movements while traveling in a generally southeast direction. The observation lasted for approximately five minutes. The witnesses, whose reliability was noted as good, reported the incident through official channels. An investigation conducted by Lt. Col. John E. DeWitt of the 4th Combat Support Group confirmed that there was no air traffic in the area at the time, and the MPN 14 radar system failed to detect any objects. Lt. Col. DeWitt noted that the artillery range at Camp Lejeune, located 50 miles to the southeast, was only conducting small arms fire. Crucially, the investigation identified two distinct flights of migrating geese in the area at the time of the sighting. The airfield's rotating beacon was active, leading the investigator to conclude that the lights were likely the result of the beacon reflecting off the migrating geese or scattered clouds. The moon was ruled out as a contributing factor due to its phase and position.