Flare seen by pilot in South Carolina

Summary

In September 1960, a pilot from Capitol Air Lines reported a bright object resembling a missile, approximately the size of a C-47 fuselage, colored white and orange. The object was observed 10 miles north of Fort Mill, South Carolina, moving toward the observer from the southwest. After hitting the ground, roughly 100 miles east of Charlotte, the object remained visible for about 10 to 20 seconds before extinguishing. The observation lasted one minute, with no photographs or radar involved.

A later investigation revealed that the Army at Fort Bragg had been conducting maneuvers and had fired a flare at the same location and time as the sighting. This suggests the object was not an unknown phenomenon, but rather a flare used during military exercises. Despite the clear explanation, the official report did not completely rule out the possibility of an unidentified object, reflecting the cautious and ambiguous approach taken during this era.