US Air Force Colonel Disputes Rendlesham UFO Claims

US Air Force Colonel Disputes Rendlesham UFO Claims

The infamous Rendlesham Forest incident, often called Britain’s Roswell, continues to spark debate decades later. This event, occurring in December 1980 near U.S. Air Force bases in Suffolk, England, involved multiple service members reporting unexplained lights and encounters with unknown craft and beings. Now, a key figure from that time, Lieutenant Colonel Charles Halt, is speaking out to challenge accounts that have emerged more recently, particularly those of witness Larry Warren.

Revisiting the 1980 Incident

The Rendlesham Forest incident took place over several nights in late December 1980. U.S. Air Force personnel at RAF Bentwaters and Woodbridge bases reported seeing strange lights in the nearby forest. Some claimed they saw actual craft and even entities. The proximity to a nuclear weapons storage area at the base has fueled speculation about national security and possible cover-ups.

Key evidence from the time includes Colonel Halt’s own January 1981 memo, titled “Unexplained Lights.” This report, detailing his observations, was later given to the media by British authorities. An audio tape recorded by Halt during an investigation has also become public, capturing his team’s reactions as they explored the forest.

While skeptics suggest the sightings could be explained by misidentified lighthouses, meteors, bright stars, or natural phenomena, Colonel Halt strongly disagrees with newer witness testimonies. He specifically takes issue with claims made by Larry Warren, a witness whose account has been aired on the show “Reality Check.” Warren stated he was in the forest on the same night as Halt and witnessed a craft and beings.

Colonel Halt’s Account and Denials

Colonel Halt firmly denies Larry Warren’s presence on the night of December 27-28, 1980. “That Larry Warren was not there that night, very clearly,” Halt stated. He claims to have spoken with Warren’s girlfriend at the time, who said Warren was at a party in the dormitory, drinking and upset that he missed the events.

The host of “Reality Check” questioned Halt about other witnesses supporting Warren’s claims, such as Steve Longero. Halt expressed doubt, suggesting that personnel like Longero, who he says was assigned to the Weapons Storage Area (WSA), would not have been permitted to leave their posts. “Once you’re assigned in the WSA, you do not go anywhere else on your flight,” Halt explained. He noted that the WSA was a highly secure area, implying the presence of nuclear weapons without confirming details.

Halt also addressed the accounts of other key figures like Jim Penniston and John Burrows, who reported investigating strange lights and encountering a craft on an earlier night. He acknowledged they witnessed something and saw lights, but expressed reservations about some details of their stories changing over time. He confirmed Burrows was on patrol near the back gate and saw lights, prompting an investigation. Penniston, as area supervisor for security at Woodbridge, arrived with Airman Adrian Cabanissac. They, along with Burrows, went into the forest to investigate.

Halt recounted his own experience on what he believes was the third night of the incidents, a Saturday. He was at a gathering when Flight Lieutenant Bruce England reported seeing lights in the forest again. Halt decided to investigate, changing into fatigues and heading out with security police commander Mel Ziegler. He learned that earlier, on the first night, reports of unexplained lights led to Penniston, Burrows, and Cabanissac going into the forest. Halt was aware of the events because he picked up police blotters the next morning and heard officers joking about the men chasing “UFOs.”

A Mysterious Cargo Plane

The interview also touched upon speculation regarding a large military cargo aircraft, possibly a C5, that arrived days before the main incidents. Halt recalled the plane landing at Woodbridge, not the usual C5 pad at Bentwaters, and taxiing to a secluded area. What struck him as unusual was that the crew wore unmarked blue uniforms and provided their own security, unlike typical transit aircraft. Halt speculated at the time it might be a Department of Energy (DOE) inspection team, noting their lack of insignia was odd but he didn’t question it due to its classified nature. He confirmed the plane arrived after the initial incidents, not before.

The Night of the Investigation

On the night of his investigation, Colonel Halt, accompanied by Bruce England, Master Sergeant Bobby Ball, Sergeant Neville (who brought a Nikon F2 camera), and Adrien Bastenza, went into the forest. They found several vehicles and about 15 officers milling around. Halt instructed them to be quiet to avoid publicity.

They were taken to a site where indentations were found. While examining the area, they detected radiation readings significantly above background levels, especially in the center of a triangle formed by the indentations and on trees facing the site. While trying to understand these readings, they saw a glowing orange, oval object, about the size of a large beach ball, in a farmer’s field. Halt described it as winking and shedding sparks, initially thinking it might be ball lightning, but it remained stationary before moving into the forest.

Halt also addressed claims that another event was happening simultaneously on Capel Green, near the farmer’s house, possibly involving Larry Warren and others. He stated that he instructed everyone to stay put and remain quiet. Bastenza stayed with him, except for a brief period when he went with John Burrows to look at the site again. Halt could see them within 100 yards. They later reported an encounter, but did not mention Larry Warren. Halt maintained he did not see anyone else in the forest besides his group and Burrows and Bastenza.

Audio Tape and Contradictory Accounts

Colonel Halt confirmed he carried a tape recorder and only turned it on when something significant happened, explaining the breaks in the audio. The tape includes distant sirens, which some witnesses associate with British police being present on Capel Green. Halt stated he was unaware of these sirens and that the base’s only known police involvement in the forest was on the morning after the first incident, with two officers taking photos.

Regarding the photographs Sergeant Neville took, Halt said Neville claimed the film came out fogged after developing it in his on-base darkroom. Halt believes the radiation levels weren’t high enough to ruin the film, suggesting a possible mistake or interference. He was unaware of any agency knowing Neville had taken pictures.

Halt disputed claims by Larry Warren and Adrien Bastenza that cameras were deployed on Capel Green or that video cameras were present. He also reiterated his disbelief in Steve Longero’s account, suggesting Longero’s memory might be faulty or that Warren had asked others to lie about his presence.

Interrogations and Allegations

Colonel Halt revealed that personnel involved in the first night’s investigation, including Penniston, Burrows, and Cabanissac, were later taken for harsh interrogations by the OSI (Office of Special Investigations), using drugs and hypnosis. Adrian Bastenza also underwent similar treatment. Halt believes these interrogations aimed to discover what happened and to control the narrative, possibly by inducing false memories.

He stated that OSI agents were based at Rendlesham and that individuals were brought in from outside, possibly from the London embassy or the CIA, along with British intelligence personnel. Those interrogated reported a British presence during their sessions. Halt suggested the intent was to discourage them from pursuing their claims of seeing anomalous phenomena.

In summary, Lieutenant Colonel Charles Halt stands by his original observations and reports from the Rendlesham Forest incident. He directly contradicts key aspects of more recent testimonies, particularly concerning the presence and actions of specific witnesses like Larry Warren, and offers explanations for the events based on his firsthand experience and knowledge of base operations and security protocols.

Source: Reality Check: The search for life in space & Rendlesham Forest | Backscroll (YouTube)