Key facts
- When
- 26–28 December 1980
- Where
- Rendlesham Forest, Suffolk, England
- Witnesses
- USAF personnel from RAF Bentwaters and RAF Woodbridge
- Key document
- The Halt memo to the Ministry of Defence (January 1981)
What happened
In the early hours of 26 December, security patrols near the east gate of RAF Woodbridge reported lights descending into the forest and went to investigate. Two nights later the deputy base commander, Lt Col Charles Halt, led a group into the forest and recorded his observations on a tape recorder, describing flashing lights and measuring what he believed were elevated radiation readings.
The Halt memo and the files
Halt summarised the events in a memo to the UK Ministry of Defence. It became public in 1983 through a US Freedom of Information request, and the MoD's own case papers were later released, today available through the National Archives.
Explanations
Sceptical researchers point to the rotating beam of the Orford Ness lighthouse, visible from the forest, combined with a bright meteor seen over southern England that night, and to the radiation readings being within normal background levels. Some witnesses reject these explanations, and the case remains debated.
Questions
Was Rendlesham Forest a real event?
Yes. The reports by US military personnel and the Halt memo are documented facts. What the witnesses actually saw is what is disputed.
Can you visit Rendlesham Forest?
Yes. The forest is managed by Forestry England and has a marked UFO trail near the former base.