The Encounter
The United States Air Force established a tactical air wing at Royal Air Force Woodbridge (located in Suffolk County, England) in 1952. During 1952–80, the British-American venture brought various fighter-bomber wings and support aircraft to the base at a time when NATO was consolidating its activities in Western Europe. Besides hosting squadrons of fighter-bombers, Woodbridge provided access to USAF B-47 Stratojet bombers and KC-97 Stratofreighter refueling tankers. In 1958, USAF activity at Woodbridge expanded to encompass another RAF base, located nearby at Bentwaters. By 1970, Woodbridge and Bentwaters were available to C-130 Hercules transport aircraft and HH-53B “Jolly Green Giant” combat search-and-rescue helicopters.
Nineteen eighty brought six squadrons of A-10 Thunderbolt II “Warthogs”—a fearsome close-support aircraft dreaded by enemy infantry and tank corps; the Thunderbolts were divided between Woodbridge and Bentwaters.
At about 3:00 a.m. on December 26, 1980, USAF personnel at Woodbridge reported unexplained lights in and above nearby Rendlesham Forest. Reports suggested that the illumination alternated between white, blue, red, and orange.
USAF security police dispatched three men to investigate: S/Sgt. James Penniston, A1C (Airman First Class) Ed Cabansag, and A1C John Burroughs.
As Cabansag remained with the truck to monitor the radio, Penniston and Burroughs entered the piney woods. Distant farm animals reacted to the lights (or possibly, just to the presence of the men) with lowing and other vocalizations. As Penniston and Burroughs stepped closer to the pulsating lights, the illumination retreated a bit, and then hovered at the tree line. Shortly, the object settled to the forest floor, where Penniston could clearly see its “triangular” (delta) shape and “smooth, opaque black glass” surface.
The air around Penniston and Burroughs seemed heavy with current, as if the forest were highly charged with static electricity. Though apprehensive, Penniston put out his hand and touched the peculiar glyphs etched onto the craft.
The symbols had a rough texture that contrasted with the skin’s general smoothness.
Penniston’s hand rested on the craft for just a moment—but long enough for him to gain a sensation of missing or distorted time. When the craft suddenly flashed with brilliant illumination, Penniston was temporarily blinded; he and Burroughs retreated. Penniston regained his vision in time to see the craft lift off and depart.
Drawings prepared to accompany Penniston’s witness statement depict a delta- shaped craft—noted by Penniston as about ten feet across and ten feel high— topped by a short obelisk. In his 2014 book Encounter in Rendlesham Forest, Penniston wrote, “I left the forest a different man. . . . I was in awe of the technology. . . .”