After these events, at RAF/USAF Woodbridge, military personnel investigated a "dazzling fire" in nearby Rendlesham Forest. They described the air as "filled with electricity". They saw an object described as triangular in shape, approximately 8 ft (244 cm) wide and 6 ft (183 cm) high. The object emitting a bright white light. There were reports of a red light on top and a bank of blue lights beneath which seemed to indicate that the object was sitting on short legs.
As the military personnel approached, the object maneuvered through the trees away from them towards a nearby farm, driving cattle there into an agitated state before taking off at extraordinary speed. Investigation the following day showed three small depressions in the ground where the object had been sighted.
Several aspects of this story make it one of the most outstanding cases:
The commanding officer of the base, a USAF Lieutenant Colonel, wrote this official memorandum about the incidents addressed to the British Defense Cabinet. This memo is now in the public domain. This is a case where a high ranked officer with the responsibility to manage a joint USAF/RAF base signs an incredible series of events.
The whole case gathers visual witnesses of ground events, air events, by military personal and officers, and also radar sightings, air pursuit, ground traces, radioactivity positive measures on the ground.
The affair caused the anger of the former British defence chief, who claimed to the press that his successor and the military authorities deliberately hid to the general public the fact that a UFO came and landed in British territories.
Unfortunately, it also seems that some self promotion seeking ufologist have added some confusion using very late and contradictory witnesses and possibly a fake tape recording.
It also seems quite likely that some late contradictory and confusing data might have been brought forth by military or intelligence authorities to discredit the otherwise clear and precise witnesses of the events.
The Halt Memorandum
Memorandum regarding the Woodbridge/Rendlesham forest incident
by Charles I. Halt, Lt Col, USAF, Deputy Base Commander of the joint United
States and United Kingdom airbase at Woodbridge in Suffolk, England. The
memorandum was released via the Freedom of Information Act in the United
States in June 1983.
The Halt Tape
Transcription of the sound recording by Lieutenant Colonel Halt during is patrol in the forest,
during which they met the landed UFO. The tape has been released in the public by a Colonel and
a General.
Sketch with notes by USAF law enforcement patrolman John Burroughs of the UFO he encountered at the Rendlesham Forest after Christmas 1980. Source Antonio Huneeus.
Article about the Rendlesham incidents
An article about the Woodbridge/Rendlesham forest incident, from 'UFOs - the definitive casebook', by John Spencer, 1991.
Article about the Rendlesham incidents
Entries on the 'Rendlesham Forest' incidents from 'The UFO Encyclopedia',
by John Spencer (Headline Books, ISBN 0-7472-3494-9)
Article about the Rendlesham incidents
An article from the newspaper 'The People' (UK), Sunday 4th of December 1994 regarding the Rendlesham incidents. 'UFO-landing was kept secret' says ex-Defence Chief - by David Jack.
Article about the Rendlesham incidents
An article by Nick Pope in the newspaper 'Daily Mail' (UK), of May 15, 1996, regarding the Rendlesham incidents.
Latest UFO theory is dismissed
an article of the East Anglian Daily Times newspaper relating how sergent Kevin Conde thought
a prank he did may have been at the origin of the incident.
