MilitaryDec 1980Rendlesham Forest, Suffolk, England

Rendlesham Forest incident

Name: Rendlesham Forest incident
Start: 1980-12
Location: Rendlesham Forest, Suffolk, England

Lt. Col. Charles Halt's January 1981 memo to the UK Ministry of Defence Charles Halt, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

U.S. Air Force personnel at RAF Woodbridge reported unexplained lights in Rendlesham Forest on two nights, including an object seen near the base's back gate. Deputy base commander Lt. Col. Charles Halt reported the events to the UK Ministry of Defence in a January 1981 memo.

Evidence

Significance

Sources

OfficialUFO reports (includes Correspondence on the Rendlesham Forest incident, DEFE 24/1948/1) (opens in a new tab)The National Archives (UK)
OtherThe Halt Memo - The Rendlesham Forest Incident (scan and transcript of the 13 Jan 1981 memo) (opens in a new tab)The Black Vault

How sources are chosen and tiered

9 May 1980Military

Peruvian Air Force intercept at La Joya

A U.S. defense attache cable from Lima reported that Peruvian Air Force officers saw a round object hovering near Mariano Melgar air base at La Joya, and that an Su-22 fired on it without effect. Pilot Oscar Santa Maria Huertas later gave his own account. The object was never identified.

Evidence

Significance

11 Nov 1979Military

Manises incident: airliner diverts, Spanish Air Force Mirage scrambled

A TAE Super Caravelle bound for the Canary Islands diverted to Valencia-Manises after its crew reported red lights closing on the aircraft. A Spanish Air Force Mirage F1 later chased lights without success; the declassified file records no radar contact. A deputy raised it in parliament.

Evidence

Significance

Oct 1977Military

Brazilian Air Force Operacao Prato

After residents of Colares and nearby Para coastal towns reported lights in the sky, a Brazilian Air Force team from Belem logged sightings and took photographs into 1978. The Air Force says the files went to the National Archives; no explanation covers every report.

Evidence

Significance

19 Sep 1976Military

Tehran jet intercept

Iranian Air Force F-4 jets were sent after a bright light over Tehran overnight, and crews reported losing instruments and communications as they closed in. A U.S. Defense Attache report on the incident, circulated by the DIA, was later released under FOIA.

Evidence

Significance