Unidentified flying object seen as a shooting star in Fayetteville in 1966

Summary

In November 1966, in Fayetteville, North Carolina, a mother reported that her children said they had seen a shooting star that did not go out. The object appeared as a pale yellow light slowly moving toward the southeast. Although the children had no experience with sightings, their description matched that of a flare. The investigating officer concluded it was likely a high-intensity parachute flare, commonly used in military exercises in the area. Weather conditions and wind patterns supported this explanation, and no contradictory evidence was found.

This conclusion was based on the observer's description and the meteorological analysis. There were no photos or physical evidence, but the report noted that winds from the east-northeast could have caused the slow, oscillating movement. Additionally, other possibilities like balloons or aircraft were ruled out, as there were no records of launches or unusual activity in the area. Despite the lack of concrete proof, the most plausible explanation pointed to a search exercise using flares, which perfectly fit the observed phenomenon.