Quick Info
On August 13, 1960, two California Highway Patrol officers watched a large metallic object with bright red lights perform incredible maneuvers near Red Bluff. The object approached them closely, emitted a sweeping red beam, caused radio interference, and was briefly confirmed on radar. One of the strongest early radar-visual police encounters on record with multiple additional witnesses.
Officers Charles Carson and Stanley Scott described a football-shaped craft that appeared to be crashing, then suddenly reversed direction and hovered silently. The case includes radio interference and multiple additional witnesses.
A Routine Patrol Turns Extraordinary
It was a warm summer night in Northern California. California Highway Patrol officers Charles A. Carson and Stanley Scott were on routine patrol south of Red Bluff when they spotted what they first believed was an airplane in distress. It wasn't...
The Object Appears
Around 11:50 PM, the officers saw a large object descending rapidly with a bright red light at each end. It looked like it was about to crash into the hills east of the highway. Suddenly, the object stopped its descent completely, reversed direction, and climbed at tremendous speed. The officers were stunned by how abruptly it changed direction.
“We thought it was going to crash… but it stopped dead still in the air and then shot straight up like a rocket.”
- Officer Charles Carson
The object was estimated to be 100 to 200 feet long, metallic in appearance, and completely silent except for a slight humming sound when it moved. It had a definite shape, somewhat like a football or elongated egg.
Close Approach and the Red Beam
The officers turned their patrol car toward the object and drove closer. It hovered silently about 200–300 feet above them. Suddenly a bright red beam shot out from the front of the craft and swept the ground and sky in a searching pattern. The officers felt strongly that the beam was looking for them. At the same time, their patrol car radio began experiencing heavy static interference every time the object came closer.
“It was as though the thing was looking right at us. The beam was bright red and swept the area like a searchlight.”
- Officer Stanley Scott
Both officers later admitted they were frightened, as you can imagine, during the event and even considered drawing their service revolvers, though they decided against it.
Radar Confirmation
The officers radioed the Red Bluff Air Force radar station and asked them to check for unidentified targets. The base initially confirmed they had a strong return matching the officers’ description. The radar operator told them they were tracking an unknown object in their vicinity. However, the next day the Air Force base officially denied any radar contact had occurred — a detail that has been debated ever since.
Additional Witnesses
Other law enforcement officers, including several sheriff’s deputies and a night jailer at the Tehama County Jail, reported seeing similar objects performing unusual maneuvers that same night. Civilians on Nine Mile Hill also witnessed the lights and described the same bright red lights and rapid movements. The consistency across independent witnesses from different locations added significant credibility to the officers’ account.
“We saw the same red lights moving very fast and stopping dead in the air. It wasn’t any airplane we’ve ever seen.”
— Tehama County Deputy
Timeline of the Red Bluff UFO Sightings
- Around 11:50PM on August 13, 1960 – Officers Carson and Scott spot a rapidly descending object near Red Bluff.
- Close approach – The object hovers and emits a bright red beam toward the officers.
- Radar check – Red Bluff Air Force station initially confirms a strong return.
- Throughout the night – Multiple additional witnesses report similar sightings.
- Next day – Air Force base officially denies radar contact.
Why This Case Remains Important
The Red Bluff sightings stand out because of the credibility of the primary witnesses (two experienced highway patrol officers), the close-range observation, the red beam effect, radio interference, and the initial radar confirmation. It happened during a period of heightened UFO activity and remains one of the strongest early police UFO encounters on record.
Great video on this event from @JoBloParanormalNetwork on YouTube
More videos from @JoBloParanormalNetwork on YouTube
What Do You Think?
After reading about the two highway patrol officers’ close encounter with the Red Bluff UFO, the red beam, and the radar confirmation, what’s your reaction? Do you think the officers really saw something extraordinary, or could there be a conventional explanation? Why do you think the object approached them so closely? This remains one of the strongest early police UFO cases, I’d love to hear your thoughts on it.
