Rendelsham Revisited

Since this blog recently took on The History Channel's new series, "UFO Hunters", a little bit, it's only fair to note what seemed to be a more useful effort. Last night's program featured an investigation of an incident in Rendelsham Forest, England, in late December, 1980, involving a U. S. Air base and USAF personnel.

Rendelsham is a key case in UFO history because of the presumed quality of the witnesses-- military police and the deputy base commander. The program seemed to break new ground. According to the show, the British Government knew about and was investigating the case before the Americans reported it to the British authorities. There may also be another witness to the events, though, so far, that witness doesn't want to come forward.

Skeptics have argued what the men saw in the forest was actually the beam of a nearby lighthouse playing among the trees. That such sightings have presumably not been reported before the incident or since should have seriously weakened the lighthouse theory, but the program seemed to do a good job finally putting that theory to bed. For example, the lighthouse keeper pointed out that a metal sheet has always been behind the beacon in the lighthouse, directing the light out to sea. In that case, the beam of light is blocked from playing among the trees. The accuracy of the metal sheet statement can be challenged, but the described arrangement certainly seems to make sense.

Bill Birnes and team may have failed yet again to crack a case, but this time, at Rendelsham, they may have pushed the matter forward.