Alan Godfrey Encounter

On November 28, 1980, British police constable Alan Godfrey encountered a diamond-shaped UFO while on patrol in Todmorden, West Yorkshire. He experienced missing time and, under hypnosis, recalled being taken aboard the craft by small beings. The case is notable for involving an on-duty police officer.

The Officer

PC Alan Godfrey was a police constable stationed in Todmorden, where he was on duty investigating reports of missing cattle. He was widely considered an experienced and respected member of the force and, prior to this event, had no known interest in UFOs or paranormal phenomena.

The Night

At approximately 5:00 AM, Godfrey was conducting a search for cattle reported as having escaped from their enclosures. He then encountered an unusual object obstructing the roadway ahead. This object proved to be a diamond or oval-shaped craft that hovered above the road surface, and it was estimated to be approximately 20 feet wide.

The Object

Godfrey described the craft as being large and diamond-shaped in form. The lower section of the craft was rotating, while the upper half was a brilliant white color. The craft hovered just above the road, and as it did so, it caused the road surface to vibrate.

The Sketch

While still situated within his patrol car, Godfrey quickly sketched the object he had observed just before a memory gap occurred. The resulting drawing depicted a structured craft, and this drawing subsequently became a key piece of evidence in the investigation.

Missing Time

Following the sighting, Godfrey found himself located further down the road than he had originally been. Approximately 30 minutes had elapsed during which he could not account for his whereabouts. Furthermore, he discovered that one of his boots had been split, and the missing cattle were eventually located in a nearby field.

Hypnotic Regression

Under the influence of hypnosis, Godfrey was able to recall the events of the night in detail. He recounted being taken aboard the craft by the occupants, and he described encountering small beings with large heads. He also recalled the presence of a taller humanoid figure who appeared to be in charge, along with medical examination procedures that were conducted. Finally, he described being returned to his patrol car.

The Beings

Godfrey’s description of the beings involved small entities approximately 4 feet tall. These entities possessed large heads with prominent eyes, and a taller humanoid figure was also present. He stated that communication with these beings occurred through telepathic means.

Other Witnesses

That same night, a truck driver reported observing a bright light in the area, and other individuals in the vicinity also reported seeing something unusual. The timing of these reports aligned remarkably with Godfrey’s own encounter.

Investigation

The case was investigated by a variety of parties, including fellow officers who initially expressed skepticism, UFO researchers who were interested in documenting the event, hypnosis experts who facilitated the recollection of events, and several media organizations eager to report on the extraordinary circumstances.

Police Response

The police force responded to the situation with a thoughtful approach, choosing not to discipline Godfrey for reporting the incident. They took the report seriously and acknowledged the unusual nature of the experience. Some colleagues were supportive of Godfrey’s account, and the case was officially filed as an incident for record-keeping purposes.

The Zigmund Adamski Connection

Interestingly, several months earlier, a body was discovered on a coal heap in Todmorden, and this body was identified as Zigmund Adamski. The body exhibited mysterious burns, and the circumstances surrounding its discovery and the nature of the burns remained unexplained. Godfrey himself had discovered the body. Some individuals have speculated about a possible connection between the Adamski case and Godfrey’s encounter.

Significance

The Alan Godfrey encounter is significant due to several factors, including the fact that it involved an on-duty police officer witness, the detailed sketch made immediately after the sighting, the occurrence of missing time, the hypnotic recall of an abduction experience, and the possible connection to other unexplained events.

Legacy

PC Alan Godfrey’s case demonstrated that police officers could potentially experience UFO encounters while performing their duties. His willingness to speak publicly about his experience and to undergo hypnosis provided valuable data for abduction research and ultimately contributed to a deeper understanding of reported phenomena.

Sources

• Wikipedia search: “Alan Godfrey Encounter”
• CIA UFO/UAP Reading Room — Declassified CIA documents on UAP
• UK National Archives — UFO Files — MoD UFO investigation records
• British Newspaper Archive — UK press archive