Boise Idaho 1964 Flare Incident

Summary

In May 1964, Boise, Idaho, witnessed an event initially reported as a UFO. A man lit a high-powered marine flare to show his son how it worked. The flare, descending on a 12-foot parachute, was seen by several witnesses as a bright red ball that appeared to land gently. Local TV stations covered the event, causing confusion among the public.

The Air Force investigated the case but closed it once the plausible explanation was found. The UFO officer did not obtain the names of the man and his son but confirmed the phenomenon was not a UFO. This case is a classic example of how a common object can be misinterpreted as an unexplained phenomenon, especially when information is scarce.