Canada reported unidentified aerial event — 1976-04-02 — Summerville, NFLD

Residents of Summerville, Bonavista Bay, Newfoundland, reported two separate passing lights on 2 April 1976. An early RCMP message names Rosemary Richards and several other local observers. The first sighting occurred around 5:30 p.m.; a second was reported around 7:30 p.m. They should not be combined into two objects travelling together. The later police account describes the first as a small, round red object with a grey smoke trail. The second reportedly spun clockwise; its red colour faded until it appeared white. Both passed over the community in the same direction and were visible only briefly. The initial shorthand called the object a red ball of fire, but supplies no craft construction, occupants, communication or landing. By 18 May, RCMP had contacted the people who reported the lights and obtained additional local information. Their follow-up states that youths from Summerville had set off two flares and that the observed objects were believed to have been those flares. This is the recorded explanatory conclusion, not evidence of extraterrestrial visitors or a recovered vehicle. The illustration depicts the first red-light and smoke phase, with the later flare explanation made explicit; the second evening observation remains separate in the narrative.