The Lakenheath-Bentwaters Incident

On the night of August 13-14, 1956, RAF and USAF personnel at two English air bases tracked unidentified objects on radar and visually observed strange lights. When a fighter was scrambled to intercept, the pursued became the pursuer in one of the best-documented military UFO encounters of the Cold War era.

The Bases

Two facilities involved:

• RAF Bentwaters
• RAF Lakenheath
• Both in Suffolk, England
• USAF operated
• Cold War installations

The First Contacts

Beginning around 9:30 PM:

• Radar contacts at Bentwaters
• Multiple targets
• Moving at impossible speeds
• Some 4,000 mph estimated
• Controllers alerted

The Objects

Radar showed:

• Fast-moving targets
• Sudden stops
• Course reversals
• Merged and separated
• No known aircraft capable

Visual Confirmation

Tower personnel:

• Observed lights
• Confirmed radar returns
• Bright white light
• Moving erratically
• Corroborated data

Lakenheath Contact

Shortly after:

• Lakenheath radar
• Same or similar objects
• Tracked independently
• Coordinated response
• Fighter scrambled

The Venom Intercept

RAF De Havilland Venom:

• Scrambled to intercept
• Pilot gained radar lock
• Approached object
• Then extraordinary happened

The Pursuit Reversal

Remarkably:

• Object circled behind fighter
• Locked onto Venom
• Pursued the interceptor
• Pilot could not shake it
• Stayed on his tail

Pilot’s Attempts

The RAF pilot:

• Tried evasive maneuvers
• Dives, climbs, turns
• Object stayed behind
• Eventually object broke off
• Pilot returned shaken

Second Fighter

Another Venom sent:

• Developed mechanical issues
• Had to return
• No intercept made
• Objects still present
• Eventually departed

Official Documentation

Both American and British:

• Reports filed
• Radar data recorded
• Witnesses interviewed
• High strangeness noted
• Never explained

The Condon Committee

Later examined case:

• University of Colorado study
• Found unexplainable
• One of few admitted unknowns
• Strong evidence
• No conventional explanation

The Duration

Events continued:

• For several hours
• Multiple contacts
• Various locations
• Eventually ceased
• Mystery remained

Significance

The Lakenheath-Bentwaters case is significant for:

• Dual radar confirmation
• Fighter intercept
• Pursuit reversal
• Official documentation
• Admitted unknown by Condon

Legacy

The Lakenheath-Bentwaters incident is considered one of the most compelling military UFO cases in history. The radar evidence, the fighter intercept, and the unprecedented pursuit reversal make it a cornerstone case that even skeptical studies couldn’t explain away.