The Rendlesham Forest Incident

Over several nights in December 1980, US Air Force personnel stationed at RAF Woodbridge in England encountered something extraordinary in nearby Rendlesham Forest. The case, featuring physical evidence and Lt. Col. Halt’s audio recording, is often called “Britain’s Roswell.”

The Bases

Twin bases:

• RAF Woodbridge
• RAF Bentwaters
• US Air Force operated
• NATO installations
• Suffolk, England

Night One - December 26

First encounter:

• Around 3:00 AM
• Strange lights reported
• In Rendlesham Forest
• Security patrol sent
• Something there

The Patrol

Staff Sergeant Penniston:

• Airman Burroughs
• Went to investigate
• Found clearing
• Encountered craft
• Close approach

The Craft

Penniston described:

• Triangular shape
• Metallic surface
• Lights on surface
• Symbols or writing
• Landed or hovering

Penniston’s Claim

He says he:

• Approached craft
• Touched it
• Felt warm
• Saw symbols
• Drew them later

The Symbols

Penniston recorded:

• In notebook
• Strange markings
• Like hieroglyphics
• From craft surface
• Primary evidence

Night Two - December 27

Activity continued:

• More lights reported
• Forest again
• Personnel observed
• Pattern emerged
• Not isolated event

Night Three - December 28

Lt. Col. Charles Halt:

• Deputy Base Commander
• Led investigation team
• Into forest
• With recording equipment
• Historic night

Halt’s Team

The colonel brought:

• Multiple personnel
• Radiation detector
• Geiger counter
• Audio recorder
• Scientific approach

The Audio Tape

Halt recorded:

• Real-time observations
• Strange lights
• Team reactions
• Radiation readings
• Primary evidence

On the Tape

Famous quotes:

• “It’s definitely coming this way”
• “There it is again”
• “Look at the colors!”
• Team excitement
• Genuine reactions

The Lights

Halt observed:

• Moving lights
• In the trees
• Breaking into parts
• Shooting beams down
• Multiple phenomena

Landing Site Evidence

They found:

• Ground indentations
• Three depressions
• Arranged triangularly
• Radiation elevated
• Physical traces

Official Report

Halt filed:

• Memo to RAF
• Documenting incident
• Known as “Halt Memo”
• Released through FOIA
• Official record

British Response

Ministry of Defence:

• Received report
• Filed it
• No investigation
• No threat assessed
• Standard response

Larry Warren

Additional witness:

• Claimed direct encounter
• More elaborate account
• Controversial claims
• Disputed by some
• Part of narrative

Skeptical Explanations

Some suggested:

• Lighthouse
• Burning car
• Meteor
• Bright stars
• None fully satisfying

Against Lighthouse

Problems:

• Personnel knew lighthouse
• Different location
• Different behavior
• Multiple nights
• Radiation readings

The Witnesses Today

Decades later:

• Penniston maintains story
• Halt maintains story
• Others have spoken
• Consistent accounts
• Never wavered

Significance

Rendlesham significant for:

• Military witnesses
• Audio recording
• Physical evidence
• Official documentation
• Multiple nights

Legacy

Rendlesham remains one of the most significant military UFO encounters. Lt. Col. Halt’s audio recording, the physical evidence, and multiple credible military witnesses make this case cornerstone of UFO research.