Within Airspace
Are coastal UFO lights really Shaw flares?
Shaw training flights and flare drops can make distant coastal lights look stranger than ordinary aircraft to Myrtle Beach observers.
On this page
- What witnesses report along the coast
- How Shaw exercises can create flare like displays
- When the flare explanation does and does not fit
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Introduction
Many South Carolina coastal UFO reports share a striking pattern: orange, red or yellow lights appearing over the Atlantic, seeming to hover in place, brighten and fade, split into formations, or vanish abruptly. Around Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach, witnesses often describe the lights as silent and strangely stationary, especially when viewed over dark water at night.
One of the most common explanations links these sightings to military activity associated with Shaw Air Force Base and the training airspace extending offshore from the South Carolina coast. That does not mean every coastal report is automatically solved. Some cases lack enough detail to identify a cause with confidence. However, the combination of Shaw-linked fighter operations, offshore warning areas and military flare use provides an important reality check before treating distant lights as unexplained craft. [Shaw Air Force Base]shaw.af.milShaw Air Force Base Poinsett Range: the environmental missionShaw Air Force BasePoinsett Range: the environmental missionNovember 4, 2014 — 4 Nov 2014 — The 12,500 acre training range, just 20 minut…
What witnesses report along the coast
The reports are often surprisingly similar despite occurring years apart.
Common descriptions include:
- One or more orange lights hanging over the ocean. [reddit.com]reddit.comUnusual lights in the sky: r/MyrtleBeachThree orange pulsating lights appear over the ocean. They grew in size and then seemed to fade a…
- Lights appearing in groups of three, four or larger formations.
- Objects that seem motionless for several minutes.
- Lights that slowly dim until they disappear.
- Sudden disappearance resembling a switch being turned off.
- Little or no audible aircraft noise.
A North Myrtle Beach report submitted to the National UFO Reporting Center in 2014 described four bright orange lights offshore that appeared to change shape before disappearing suddenly. The witnesses initially assumed they were aircraft but became uncertain because of their appearance and abrupt disappearance. [Sentient Orbs]sentientorbs.comSentient OrbsRound Orange Glowing Lights over Atlantic off shore of North…October 8, 2014 — 8 Oct 2014 — Four bright lights over Atlan…
Similar descriptions appear repeatedly in local social-media discussions, witness databases and regional news coverage. Myrtle Beach-area residents have for years reported glowing lights offshore that seem difficult to reconcile with ordinary aircraft navigation lights. [Facebook]facebook.commyrtle beach has had several reports of unidentified lights over the years manyFacebookMyrtle Beach has had several reports of unidentified lights…8 Oct 2018 — Myrtle Beach has had several reports of unidentified… [Facebook]facebook.comUFOs in Myrtle Beach? Video shot back in August prompts…UFOs in Myrtle Beach? Video shot back in August prompts conversation about str…
What makes these reports memorable is not usually extreme manoeuvring. Instead, it is the combination of apparent hovering, unusual colour and sudden disappearance against a dark ocean backdrop.
How Shaw exercises can create flare-like displays
The key point is that a light seen from the beach is not necessarily where it appears to be.
Shaw Air Force Base manages access to extensive special-use airspace and military training areas. Shaw aircraft routinely operate toward offshore warning areas used for military training. Publicly available Shaw material identifies major training infrastructure including the Poinsett Electronic Combat Range and a network of military operating areas and offshore routes. [Shaw Air Force Base]shaw.af.milShaw Air Force Base Poinsett Range: the environmental missionShaw Air Force BasePoinsett Range: the environmental missionNovember 4, 2014 — 4 Nov 2014 — The 12,500 acre training range, just 20 minut…
From a beach observer’s perspective, military flares can produce several effects that resemble classic UFO reports:
[They can appear stationary.]reddit.comUnusual lights in the sky: r/MyrtleBeachThree orange pulsating lights appear over the ocean. They grew in size and then seemed to fade a…
Many military illumination or countermeasure flares descend slowly beneath parachutes or drift at distances that make motion difficult to perceive.
They glow with unusual colours.
Witnesses frequently describe orange, amber or reddish lights. Those colours are consistent with many flare observations.
They can appear in groups.
Several flares released during an exercise may create geometric-looking formations that observers interpret as coordinated objects.
They seem to vanish suddenly.
A flare eventually burns out. At long distance, the transition can look abrupt rather than gradual.
They are often silent.
At offshore distances, observers may see the light source long before hearing any aircraft, or may never hear the aircraft at all because of distance, wind direction and ambient coastal noise.
These characteristics closely match many of the recurring descriptions from Myrtle Beach and other South Carolina coastal sighting clusters.
Why the ocean makes ordinary lights look stranger
The South Carolina coast creates viewing conditions that can exaggerate uncertainty.
Over land, observers have trees, buildings, roads and other reference points that help judge movement and distance. Over open water those references largely disappear. A light tens of miles away may seem much closer, while a moving light can appear stationary if it is travelling toward the observer rather than across their field of view.
Atmospheric conditions add another complication. Moist coastal air can scatter light and create shimmering effects. Temperature inversions over water can distort apparent altitude and position. Under dark-sky conditions, even modest light sources can look unusually prominent.
These factors do not create UFO reports by themselves, but they make misidentification more likely. A distant military flare or aircraft light can acquire an appearance that feels genuinely unusual to an eyewitness.
Cases that strengthened the flare explanation
Some of the strongest support for the flare explanation comes from similar incidents elsewhere on the Atlantic coast.
A widely circulated 2019 video from North Carolina’s Outer Banks showed a line of bright lights hovering over water. The footage was widely promoted online as evidence of UFOs. Subsequent sceptical investigation argued that military flares were the most likely explanation, noting the appearance, behaviour and location of the lights. News coverage repeatedly highlighted military exercises as a plausible cause. [FOX 35 Orlando]fox35orlando.comViral video of unidentified lights off NC's Outer Banks has…7 Oct 2019 — Video of a mysterious group of lights in the sky captured off… [Skeptical Inquirer]skepticalinquirer.orgreal ufos in north carolina shown to be flaresSkeptical Inquirer'Real' UFOs in North Carolina Shown to be Flares11 Dec 2019 — The video, which is thirty seconds long, shows fourteen b… [Charlotte Observer]charlotteobserver.comUFO debate in NC after odd lights spotted off Outer Banks4 Oct 2019 — A fleet of lights recorded off North Carolina's Outer Banks has ign…
The importance of that case for South Carolina is not that it directly involved Shaw aircraft. Rather, it demonstrated how distant coastal lights can rapidly acquire a UFO reputation even when a military explanation fits many of the observed details.
Local Myrtle Beach discussions often reach similar conclusions. Residents familiar with regional airspace frequently point to military operations, offshore warning areas and flare activity when videos of orange lights circulate online. [Reddit]reddit.comRedditJust seen off Myrtle Beach: r/UFOsIf you're in Myrtle Beach those are almost certainly flares off a military aircraft operating in…
When the flare explanation fits well
The flare explanation is strongest when several indicators appear together:
- Orange, red or yellow lights rather than conventional navigation-light colours.
- Multiple lights appearing simultaneously.
- Apparent hovering without dramatic manoeuvres.
- Gradual fading or burnout.
- Sightings over the ocean or toward known military training areas.
- Reports occurring during evening or night hours.
When these features are present, military flares become a serious candidate explanation rather than an after-the-fact debunking attempt.
This is especially true when the report lacks radar data, photographs with useful metadata or multiple observation points that could establish distance and movement.
When the flare explanation does not fit
Not every coastal report can be dismissed as a flare.
The explanation becomes weaker when witnesses report:
- Rapid acceleration or abrupt directional changes.
- Extended tracking over long distances.
- Structured objects visible in daylight.
- Confirmed radar returns inconsistent with flare behaviour.
- Long-duration movement patterns incompatible with drifting lights.
- Independent observations from multiple locations showing the same object travelling significant distances.
In such cases, investigators need more information before reaching conclusions.
A recurring problem in South Carolina UFO history is that many reports emerge from brief observations with limited documentation. Witnesses may sincerely report unusual lights, yet there is often insufficient evidence to determine whether the source was a flare, aircraft, drone, atmospheric effect or something genuinely unresolved.
Why this matters for South Carolina UFO history
Shaw-linked flare explanations occupy an important middle ground between belief and dismissal.
They show how a real military activity can generate sightings that look extraordinary from the ground. Witnesses are not necessarily imagining anything. They may be accurately describing lights that genuinely appeared unusual. The question is whether the unusual appearance requires an extraordinary explanation.
For South Carolina’s coastal UFO record, the answer is often less dramatic but more useful. The state’s combination of offshore military airspace, fighter training activity, dark Atlantic horizons and long-distance viewing conditions creates an environment where flare-related misidentifications are entirely plausible.
That does not solve every case. It does explain why coastal light reports near Myrtle Beach and other shoreline communities should be checked against Shaw-linked military activity before being treated as evidence of something unknown. In many instances, the flare hypothesis matches the observed behaviour remarkably well. In others, the available evidence remains too limited for certainty, leaving the sighting unresolved rather than definitively explained. [Shaw Air Force Base]shaw.af.milShaw Air Force Base Poinsett Range: the environmental missionShaw Air Force BasePoinsett Range: the environmental missionNovember 4, 2014 — 4 Nov 2014 — The 12,500 acre training range, just 20 minut… [Reddit]reddit.comft during targeting exercises. This is in fact a widely…
Amazon book picks
Further Reading
Books and field guides related to Are coastal UFO lights really Shaw flares?. Use these as the next step if you want deeper reading beyond the article.
The UFO Experience
Addresses recurring sighting patterns and misidentification issues.
The Report on Unidentified Flying Objects
Shows how military activity often intersects with unexplained reports.
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Endnotes
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Source: reddit.com
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/UFOs/comments/18ioo6n/just_seen_off_myrtle_beach/Source snippet
RedditJust seen off Myrtle Beach: r/UFOsIf you're in Myrtle Beach those are almost certainly flares off a military aircraft operating in...
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Source: facebook.com
Title: myrtle beach has had several reports of unidentified lights over the years many
Link: https://www.facebook.com/KFDMNews/posts/myrtle-beach-has-had-several-reports-of-unidentified-lights-over-the-years-many-/10156820245103756/Source snippet
FacebookMyrtle Beach has had several reports of unidentified lights...8 Oct 2018 — Myrtle Beach has had several reports of unidentified...
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Source: facebook.com
Link: https://www.facebook.com/wchstv/posts/ufos-in-myrtle-beach-video-shot-back-in-august-prompts-conversation-about-strang/10156960794992845/Source snippet
UFOs in Myrtle Beach? Video shot back in August prompts...UFOs in Myrtle Beach? Video shot back in August prompts conversation about str...
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Source: fox35orlando.com
Link: https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/viral-video-of-unidentified-lights-off-ncs-outer-banks-has-people-questioning-aliens-or-militarySource snippet
Viral video of unidentified lights off NC's Outer Banks has...7 Oct 2019 — Video of a mysterious group of lights in the sky captured off...
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Source: facebook.com
Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/267822101295445/posts/1221166609294318/ -
Source: facebook.com
Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/officialmyrtlebeach/posts/10160321608348533/Source snippet
Also you may hear them flying along the coast...Read more...
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Source: facebook.com
Link: https://www.facebook.com/shawfloors/Source snippet
ts stains, scuffs, and moisture—so it's easier...Read more...
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Source: facebook.com
Title: the unexplained 1973 ufo sighting over myrtle beachduring the summer of 1973 res
Link: https://www.facebook.com/TheLanternNewsandMediaGroup/posts/the-unexplained-1973-ufo-sighting-over-myrtle-beachduring-the-summer-of-1973-res/1308466011278191/Source snippet
They darted back and forth very fast across...Read more...
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Source: reddit.com
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/dwke61/unexplained_phenomenaunexplained_lights_off_north/Source snippet
ft during targeting exercises. This is in fact a widely...
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Source: reddit.com
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/MyrtleBeach/comments/8xsv4k/unusual_lights_in_the_sky/Source snippet
Unusual lights in the sky: r/MyrtleBeachThree orange pulsating lights appear over the ocean. They grew in size and then seemed to fade a...
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Source: reddit.com
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/UFOs/comments/fvqun0/orange_lights_at_myrtle_beach/Source snippet
Orange Lights at Myrtle Beach: r/UFOsPretty sure they do alot of coast guard flight training off the coast of myrtle Beach probably flai...
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Source: shaw.af.mil
Title: Shaw Air Force Base Poinsett Range: the environmental mission
Link: https://www.shaw.af.mil/News/Features/Display/Article/664583/poinsett-range-the-environmental-mission/Source snippet
Shaw Air Force BasePoinsett Range: the environmental missionNovember 4, 2014 — 4 Nov 2014 — The 12,500 acre training range, just 20 minut...
Published: November 4, 2014
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Source: sentientorbs.com
Link: https://sentientorbs.com/explore/sightings/NUFORC-114377Source snippet
Sentient OrbsRound Orange Glowing Lights over Atlantic off shore of North...October 8, 2014 — 8 Oct 2014 — Four bright lights over Atlan...
Published: October 8, 2014
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Source: skepticalinquirer.org
Title: real ufos in north carolina shown to be flares
Link: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/real-ufos-in-north-carolina-shown-to-be-flares/Source snippet
Skeptical Inquirer'Real' UFOs in North Carolina Shown to be Flares11 Dec 2019 — The video, which is thirty seconds long, shows fourteen b...
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Source: charlotteobserver.com
Link: https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article235790617.htmlSource snippet
UFO debate in NC after odd lights spotted off Outer Banks4 Oct 2019 — A fleet of lights recorded off North Carolina's Outer Banks has ign...
Additional References
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Source: merriam-webster.com
Link: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shawSource snippet
SHAW Definition & Meaningnoun (1) ˈshȯ dialect: copse, thicket shaw 2 of 2 noun (2) chiefly British: the tops and stalks of a cultivate...
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Source: shawcontract.com
Link: https://www.shawcontract.com/en-usSource snippet
Shaw ContractShaw Contract's USA-made luxury vinyl tile & carpet tile pair design flexibility and durability with vast in-stock inventory...
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Source: broadwaycarpets.com
Link: https://www.broadwaycarpets.com/flooring/brands/shaw/Source snippet
Shaw Flooring | Broadway Carpet & FlooringShaw flooring blends durability and style. Discover premium carpet, vinyl, and more at Broadway...
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Source: shawfloors.com
Link: https://shawfloors.com/en-us?srsltid=AfmBOoqeJD94H3ioQbCdbK5yMpK8KTDz7Wrj6gwsdnz8ZRetqqTuTJJISource snippet
Shaw Floors: Beautiful, Durable Flooring for Every RoomBrowse stylish, long-lasting flooring for every space. Browse hardwood, carpet, lu...
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Source: shawinc.com
Link: https://shawinc.com/Source snippet
Shaw Industries Group, Inc. | HomeShaw Industries Group, Inc. is a leader in flooring and other surface solutions designed for residentia...
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Source: sfgate.com
Title: Mysterious glowing orbs off N C coast UFOs 14493713
Link: https://www.sfgate.com/nation/article/Mysterious-glowing-orbs-off-N-C-coast-UFOs-14493713.phpSource snippet
Mysterious glowing orbs seen off N.C. coast — UFOs?4 Oct 2019 — So far there is no explanation for the glowing orbs filmed last week hove...
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Source: wmbfnews.com
Link: https://www.wmbfnews.com/story/24910277/myrtle-beach-man-shares-ufo-experience-with/Source snippet
[https://www.wmbfnews.comMyrtle](https://www.wmbfnews.comMyrtle) Beach man shares UFO experience on national TV6 Mar 2014 — Travis's has witnessed UFOs five times as a pil...
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Source: shaws.com
Title: Shaw’s: Grocery Delivery Near You
Link: https://www.shaws.com/?srsltid=AfmBOor1ELbt6Ud_1JF1IxxGLGxRwfk39_P3UB7t8U-yAOFWqlsut8HaSource snippet
Shop at Shaw's online store and get grocery delivered to your doorstep. Use Shaw's for U rewards & coupons to save money on...
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Source: newsobserver.com
Title: A UFO or ‘space junk’?
Link: https://www.newsobserver.com/news/state/north-carolina/article248416385.htmlSource snippet
Debate erupts over Outer Banks video13 Jan 2021 — Experts believe some of the suspected UFOs reported off the coast were actually militar...
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Source: Wikipedia
Title: Brown Mountain lights
Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_Mountain_lightsSource snippet
Brown Mountain lightsThe Brown Mountain lights are purported ghost lights near Brown Mountain in North Carolina.... In July 1916, a f...
Published: July 1916
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