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Encounter in Rendlesham Forest: The Inside Story of the World's Best-Documented UFO Incident
Roswell was only the beginning! An in-depth look at the Rendlesham Forest UFO Incident, the world's most sensational and compelling series of UFO encounters.In 1980, a UFO was tracked on military radar in Rendlesham Forest, England. It landed near two of the most strategically important military bases in NATO, and was approached by military witnesses who touched the hull. This explosive new book tells the full story of this incident, which is set to become better-known than Roswell. Written by Nick Pope, an international bestselling author and former government UFO investigator, working closely with John Burroughs and Jim Penniston, the two officers at the heart of the encounters, Encounter in Rendlesham Forest reveals the first-hand witnesses' full stories for the first time and is supported by numerous formerly-classified documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act. The inside story of these events and their aftermath will change people's perceptions about UFOs and about the true role played by government, the military and the intelligence agencies.
334 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 18, 2014
126 people are currently reading
1116 people want to read
About the author
Nick Pope
42 books88 followersNick Pope used to run the British Government's UFO project. From 1991 to 1994 he researched and investigated UFOs, alien abductions, crop circles and other strange phenomena, leading the media to call him the real Fox Mulder. His government background and his level-headed views have made him the media, film and TV industry's go-to guy when it comes to UFOs, the unexplained and conspiracy theories.
As the world's leading expert on UFOs, Nick Pope has consulted on, and helped to promote a number of alien-themed movies, TV shows and video games. He has presented, consulted on and contributed to numerous TV shows, has written five best-selling books, and lectures all around the world.
Nick Pope lives in America.
As the world's leading expert on UFOs, Nick Pope has consulted on, and helped to promote a number of alien-themed movies, TV shows and video games. He has presented, consulted on and contributed to numerous TV shows, has written five best-selling books, and lectures all around the world.
Nick Pope lives in America.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
February 28, 2019
I worked at RAF Woodbridge about 5 years before this happened. This is the best book you can read on UFO's.
October 1, 2017
I liked the book, but I was a little confused by it.
When I began the book, the entire incident was described in few pages. I remember thinking, "Okay, how is this going to drag out into an entire book?" I was pleasantly surprised at what Nick Pope included, including a chapter that was a general overview on other unsolved UFO encounters.
So, 3 stars for it being intriguing and well-written. But it definitely has lead me to more questions than answers.
When I began the book, the entire incident was described in few pages. I remember thinking, "Okay, how is this going to drag out into an entire book?" I was pleasantly surprised at what Nick Pope included, including a chapter that was a general overview on other unsolved UFO encounters.
So, 3 stars for it being intriguing and well-written. But it definitely has lead me to more questions than answers.
June 4, 2014
Very interesting book, but after the story of the encounter meanders a little afield before getting back on track in the later chapters. Some of the middle chapters could be pruned without any real loss.
Want to read
May 26, 2017
A well documented case. I am pretty much interested in the binary message Sergeant Jim Penniston received by telepathy while touching the spaceship (on December 1980). It seems the (translated) message points to several earth coordinates of sites of ancient civilizations (Egyptian, Greek, Peruvian...) and especially one of the mythical island of Hy-Brasil, off the coast of Ireland, which some maps, as early as the 14th century, had pictured.
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/lates...
June 2, 2014
I'd heard about the RF incident - dubbed Britain's Roswell - some time ago, and recall finding it fascinating at the time. I was, and still am fascinated by UFOs, and always interested to hear about knew sightings and facts. I was only 15 years old when this story broke, but do recall the headline in the News of the World. But, like with most UFO stories, as time passes, and no more information comes out, you sub consciously file the story away, and it loses its importance and significance.
Nick Pope's new book, co-written with Jim Penniston and John Burroughs, two of the primary witnesses, breathes new life into the events that occurred that December night in 1980. The two airmen were the first to out that night to investigate the strange lights seen over Rendlesham Forest, which lies between the then twin USAF bases, Bentwaters and Woodbridge, in Suffolk, England. Upon reading Mr Pope's new book, my interest in the event has now been more than re-kindled, excuse the pun!
This book is well written, and sets out the timeline of the events in digestible bits of information, together with additional facts and testimony that has come out since the event. The book is written with the help of the two primary witnesses, Jim Penniston and John Borroughs.
The important thing about this case has got to be the sheer number of trained military personnel who witnessed the events over the 3 nights, together with some photographic evidence, radar evidence, and radiation readings taken at the alleged landing site, after the initial event. The now famous Halt memo, released by the USAF, under the Freedom of Information Act in 1983, led to the story being broken by the News of the World back in the same year. This memo, written by Colonel Charles Halt, the deputy base commander, together with a recording he made, which can be listened to on YouTube, and which are transcribed in Pope's book, provide clear evidence that Halt, and his men, who went out into the forest on the third night, witnessed something very unusual - more lights in the forest, and the sky, which appeared to be craft, under intelligent control, performing incredible high-speed maneuvers, and which shone laser-like beams of light to the ground, and into the weapons storage areas. (Probably housing nuclear weapons.)
Pope can't comment on whether there were nuclear weapons stored at the base, as it would be a breach of The Official Secrets Act if he did, but some brief research quickly reveals that the bases were storing a large quantity of the US's battlefield nuclear warheads, an interesting and worrying fact in and of itself.
Although the story seems to have become embellished over the years, with contradicting accounts as to what happened, the original witness testimonies taken as part of the initial investigation, are perhaps the most interesting aspect. They leave no room for doubt that the witnesses experienced something other than just the flashing light of the Ofordness Lighthouse during the 3 nights of the event. Simply too many individuals saw something they could not explain.
Having devoured Mr Pope's book in a few days, I needed to find more information on the event, and I located a load of information and interviews on YouTube, and even better, downloaded the late Georgina Bruni's book, entitled `You Can't Tell The People.' This book, unlike Mr Pope's, was written back in 2000, and the author carried out meticulous research, and tracked down dozens of witnesses, both military and civilian who all verify different aspects of the sightings. Anyone interested in this story, and who has read Pope's book, will be doing themselves a favour if they also read Bruni's book.
The fact is, 34 years on, the witnesses still maintain that they said they saw back in 1980. To me, it seems incredible if the accounts of these trained military men, who had to remain silent until they left the USAF, were not genuine. Why put yourself through the hassle and ridicule of saying you witnessed such `outlandish' events, if they weren't true? It doesn't make sense.
I'd be astounded if more information doesn't eventually come out on this case, but unless it comes from Colonel Halt, or as yet, some unknown, but verifiable witness, or higher ranking officer who was present at the bases in 1980, then it will be difficult to accept.
So, did an alien craft land in the forest? Or was it a top secret military craft belonging to the good old USA? The secret TR-3B, would be a good contender. Especially as some of the witnesses described seeing what appeared to be something dripping off the craft.. perhaps a problem with the mercury-based plasma drive engine?? Or has a cover-up been orchestrated to hide a sinister accident of some kind? Whatever happened, the case is fascinating, and won't be going away any time soon. I suppose the only comforting fact is that if it was indeed an alien craft, no one was harmed by said aliens - at least not intentionally. If the men were harmed, the harm was more likely caused by fellow humans from the MOD or the USAF!
The truth is out there! Watch this space!
Nick Pope's new book, co-written with Jim Penniston and John Burroughs, two of the primary witnesses, breathes new life into the events that occurred that December night in 1980. The two airmen were the first to out that night to investigate the strange lights seen over Rendlesham Forest, which lies between the then twin USAF bases, Bentwaters and Woodbridge, in Suffolk, England. Upon reading Mr Pope's new book, my interest in the event has now been more than re-kindled, excuse the pun!
This book is well written, and sets out the timeline of the events in digestible bits of information, together with additional facts and testimony that has come out since the event. The book is written with the help of the two primary witnesses, Jim Penniston and John Borroughs.
The important thing about this case has got to be the sheer number of trained military personnel who witnessed the events over the 3 nights, together with some photographic evidence, radar evidence, and radiation readings taken at the alleged landing site, after the initial event. The now famous Halt memo, released by the USAF, under the Freedom of Information Act in 1983, led to the story being broken by the News of the World back in the same year. This memo, written by Colonel Charles Halt, the deputy base commander, together with a recording he made, which can be listened to on YouTube, and which are transcribed in Pope's book, provide clear evidence that Halt, and his men, who went out into the forest on the third night, witnessed something very unusual - more lights in the forest, and the sky, which appeared to be craft, under intelligent control, performing incredible high-speed maneuvers, and which shone laser-like beams of light to the ground, and into the weapons storage areas. (Probably housing nuclear weapons.)
Pope can't comment on whether there were nuclear weapons stored at the base, as it would be a breach of The Official Secrets Act if he did, but some brief research quickly reveals that the bases were storing a large quantity of the US's battlefield nuclear warheads, an interesting and worrying fact in and of itself.
Although the story seems to have become embellished over the years, with contradicting accounts as to what happened, the original witness testimonies taken as part of the initial investigation, are perhaps the most interesting aspect. They leave no room for doubt that the witnesses experienced something other than just the flashing light of the Ofordness Lighthouse during the 3 nights of the event. Simply too many individuals saw something they could not explain.
Having devoured Mr Pope's book in a few days, I needed to find more information on the event, and I located a load of information and interviews on YouTube, and even better, downloaded the late Georgina Bruni's book, entitled `You Can't Tell The People.' This book, unlike Mr Pope's, was written back in 2000, and the author carried out meticulous research, and tracked down dozens of witnesses, both military and civilian who all verify different aspects of the sightings. Anyone interested in this story, and who has read Pope's book, will be doing themselves a favour if they also read Bruni's book.
The fact is, 34 years on, the witnesses still maintain that they said they saw back in 1980. To me, it seems incredible if the accounts of these trained military men, who had to remain silent until they left the USAF, were not genuine. Why put yourself through the hassle and ridicule of saying you witnessed such `outlandish' events, if they weren't true? It doesn't make sense.
I'd be astounded if more information doesn't eventually come out on this case, but unless it comes from Colonel Halt, or as yet, some unknown, but verifiable witness, or higher ranking officer who was present at the bases in 1980, then it will be difficult to accept.
So, did an alien craft land in the forest? Or was it a top secret military craft belonging to the good old USA? The secret TR-3B, would be a good contender. Especially as some of the witnesses described seeing what appeared to be something dripping off the craft.. perhaps a problem with the mercury-based plasma drive engine?? Or has a cover-up been orchestrated to hide a sinister accident of some kind? Whatever happened, the case is fascinating, and won't be going away any time soon. I suppose the only comforting fact is that if it was indeed an alien craft, no one was harmed by said aliens - at least not intentionally. If the men were harmed, the harm was more likely caused by fellow humans from the MOD or the USAF!
The truth is out there! Watch this space!
December 3, 2017
A page-turner, this account by the former head of the British Ministry of Defense's UFO-investigations, supplemented by the accounts of several of the principal experiencers, all retired USAF personnel, details what is known of the events at and around two joint RAF/USAF bases near the Rendlesham Forest during three days in late December of 1980. Author Pope draws no conclusions, but, interestingly, while one of the experiencers opts for the extraterrestrial hypothesis, another appears to be firmly convinced that the craft was manmade--though constructed by our descendants, far in the future. Published in 2014, this book has original material supplementing previous works on the subject. Pope's decades in the British military bureaucracy provide valuable insights into how its various agencies operate--and obfuscate.
May 15, 2019
This book takes a truly memorable UFO encounter and truly breaks it down to the absolute minute details of the experience and then takes it to the intelligence community to show how it was handled and what they truly did or did not know. This shows what could be governmental incompetence and what could genuinely be a cover up of some key information on the subject. This is the most important aspect of the book as it seems to skirt this line the entire way without coming fully to a conclusion, although if I had to bet on it the book probably leans towards incompetence on the subject matter.
The book starts well before the sightings that occurred over the Christmas Break of 1980 at RAF Bentwater in the United Kingdom, it explains why this base was important, what may or may not have been there (as it is still not known if the base was nuclear), and historical events that had happened in the area. The book goes on to describe in the best detail I have seen to date, the exact events that happened on December 26, 1980 and then 2 days later to another group of military personnel. It is broken down as to why there seems to be a discrepancy between the US and UK response and really the conflicting jurisdiction as it happened off base but to US military personnel. The book continues on to describe all the actors and their upstanding mental state, which was required and routinely checked to work at this base, and what subsequently happened to all of them.
The book takes a long look approach to the case as well, following it through both the US and UK government, at least as far as possible. Nick Pope is able to offer firsthand views on the handling of cases such as this and how FOIA really brought most things out into the open, I say most because there is a section of the records that was “accidentally shredded”. We get to see the fight some MP’s had with the system and how the US side of things was just a compartmentalized clusterfuck. At the end of it all we get to see the “binary code” Jim Penniston received when he touched the UFO, but this is a mixed piece of info as no one knows the correct way to interpret the code. At the end of it all I loved Nick Popes approach and would love to read more of his work!
The book starts well before the sightings that occurred over the Christmas Break of 1980 at RAF Bentwater in the United Kingdom, it explains why this base was important, what may or may not have been there (as it is still not known if the base was nuclear), and historical events that had happened in the area. The book goes on to describe in the best detail I have seen to date, the exact events that happened on December 26, 1980 and then 2 days later to another group of military personnel. It is broken down as to why there seems to be a discrepancy between the US and UK response and really the conflicting jurisdiction as it happened off base but to US military personnel. The book continues on to describe all the actors and their upstanding mental state, which was required and routinely checked to work at this base, and what subsequently happened to all of them.
The book takes a long look approach to the case as well, following it through both the US and UK government, at least as far as possible. Nick Pope is able to offer firsthand views on the handling of cases such as this and how FOIA really brought most things out into the open, I say most because there is a section of the records that was “accidentally shredded”. We get to see the fight some MP’s had with the system and how the US side of things was just a compartmentalized clusterfuck. At the end of it all we get to see the “binary code” Jim Penniston received when he touched the UFO, but this is a mixed piece of info as no one knows the correct way to interpret the code. At the end of it all I loved Nick Popes approach and would love to read more of his work!
April 24, 2014
This is THEE book on this subject. It is well put together - and brings most everything together in a coherent narrative. It discusses alternate theories and squashes ridiculous debunking claims, i.e., "the lighthouse". ERF also covers the debriefing of the witnesses - and the Mod's claim, as well as every country's absurd statement "there is no defense significance", yet acknowledging that "something" occurred. The hypocrisy of authorities who investigate then claim .. nothing was found, when investigators discover that indeed, evidence was found. All manifested in "Project Condign". The book ends with
final thoughts by Jim Penniston and John Burroughs - the principal witnesses. However, if you're looking for answers, there aren't any. This is an "event in progress" despite the actual experience(s) occurring in 1980. The repercussions still linger and vibrate with everyone involved. This book gets my highest recommendation.
final thoughts by Jim Penniston and John Burroughs - the principal witnesses. However, if you're looking for answers, there aren't any. This is an "event in progress" despite the actual experience(s) occurring in 1980. The repercussions still linger and vibrate with everyone involved. This book gets my highest recommendation.
May 6, 2014
The best book written on a subject witnessed by over 80 military and security personal & by lots of civilian witnesses.
The only UFO incident book that has needed clearance by American & British governments.
Written by Nick Pope an ex member of the British defence ministry from 1985 to 2006, with the two major eye witness accounts of John Burroughs, USAF (Ret.) & Jim Penniston, USAF (Ret.)
Not only was a UFO witnessed over a course of three nights over the Christmas period of December 1980, but it landed, it was touched and it took off.
Accounts, interrogation, cover up's, but what ever this UFO was, military, alien or time travel, the evidence, the facts all show, that something was there and it happened.
The only UFO incident book that has needed clearance by American & British governments.
Written by Nick Pope an ex member of the British defence ministry from 1985 to 2006, with the two major eye witness accounts of John Burroughs, USAF (Ret.) & Jim Penniston, USAF (Ret.)
Not only was a UFO witnessed over a course of three nights over the Christmas period of December 1980, but it landed, it was touched and it took off.
Accounts, interrogation, cover up's, but what ever this UFO was, military, alien or time travel, the evidence, the facts all show, that something was there and it happened.
March 23, 2021
This comprehensive account of the Rendlesham incident is nicely presented so as to be accessible & interesting to a broad audience. Pope’s narration is conversational & accessible while detailed enough to really offer some insights into the events described & the input from the two primary witnesses add valuable & interesting perspectives as well.
I don’t think you’d need to be particularly invested in the idea of UFO’s to get something out of this, which is essentially a snapshot of the workings of the US & British military establishment & government at a very significant moment in history.
I don’t think you’d need to be particularly invested in the idea of UFO’s to get something out of this, which is essentially a snapshot of the workings of the US & British military establishment & government at a very significant moment in history.
August 27, 2014
I arrived at RAF Bentwaters/Woodbridge 3 1/2 years after this event. A very good friend, an extremely reliable, trustworthy man, observed this event but was hesitant to come forward fearing discharge from the USAF. I'm still not sure what to make of the event, but something unexplained did happen! Eerie.
July 1, 2014
Maybe one of the most well-documented, (by trained observers) UFO cases in history, (two incidents at a USAF base in England in 1980) became bogged down in boring background procedures by Nick Pope. The first and last few chapters are o.k., with a lot of stale mid-parts. Watch the "Unsolved Mysteries" segment for a better perspective.
July 13, 2014
Well worth a read, totally unbiased
February 21, 2018
Too much filler, for my taste. I could have done without all the peripheral information on rumors, government policy, and other classic (unconnected) ufo events. Personally, I think Pope's contributions hindered the presentation of evidence more than it aided it. That being said, nowhere else will you find these kind of first hand accounts, as recalled by the primary witnesses, to what remains to be an intriguing mystery. Worth mentioning is the appendix which lays out some of the evidence, unedited.
October 19, 2017
The Rendlesham Forest incident is one of the world’s best documented UFO incidents. In December 1990 USAF employees John Burroughs and Jim Penniston (now retired) were sent to investigate reports of a UFO landing in Rendlesham Forest. Penniston sketched pictures and recorded the series of ones and zeros aka Rendlesham Code which flashed through his mind after touching the strange vessel. Both men continue to suffer from various health conditions as a result of their exposure.
In the days following investigations events were either downplayed or actively covered up. Some witnesses were threatened and/or administered truth serum. Some were left to get on with their lives with no counselling or any other assistance. I wasn’t surprised to learn that supporting documentation has disappeared and the British government continues to deny the two men access to their medical records. The incident occurred in Suffolk an area where scientific and military research has been carried out and two huge nuclear power stations are located in nearby Sizewell. I can imagine the amount of security in place before and after the UFO was sighted and the interest generated.
Nick Pope is a former employee of the UK Ministry of Defence who also worked on their UFO project in the early 1990s. He collaborated with Burroughs and Penniston to record their eye witness accounts and detail the cover up by authorities in the days that followed.
I have always been curious about UFO’s, aliens and life on other planets and found this book fascinating to read. In my opinion it would be a little naive to expect we are the only life forms in the universe. I particularly liked how the author set out the facts as well as balanced consideration to various possibilities in a very logical sequence.
This riveting read is written in a factual and sometimes humorous way while divulging as much information as the writers are allowed to considering the ties to their former government employer.
A digital copy of this book was obtained from the publisher via Netgalley and my review was freely provided.
In the days following investigations events were either downplayed or actively covered up. Some witnesses were threatened and/or administered truth serum. Some were left to get on with their lives with no counselling or any other assistance. I wasn’t surprised to learn that supporting documentation has disappeared and the British government continues to deny the two men access to their medical records. The incident occurred in Suffolk an area where scientific and military research has been carried out and two huge nuclear power stations are located in nearby Sizewell. I can imagine the amount of security in place before and after the UFO was sighted and the interest generated.
Nick Pope is a former employee of the UK Ministry of Defence who also worked on their UFO project in the early 1990s. He collaborated with Burroughs and Penniston to record their eye witness accounts and detail the cover up by authorities in the days that followed.
I have always been curious about UFO’s, aliens and life on other planets and found this book fascinating to read. In my opinion it would be a little naive to expect we are the only life forms in the universe. I particularly liked how the author set out the facts as well as balanced consideration to various possibilities in a very logical sequence.
This riveting read is written in a factual and sometimes humorous way while divulging as much information as the writers are allowed to considering the ties to their former government employer.
A digital copy of this book was obtained from the publisher via Netgalley and my review was freely provided.
May 11, 2014
I thought this was a very well researched, organised and written book. I was especially impressed with the research of historic UFO cases and the official documentary evidence. I think the Rendlesham case is a particularly interesting one, especially because of the rank and professional status of those involved. I also think the evidence was very fairly looked at by Nick Pope and the overall linking to the UFO phenomenon and how officialdom has treated this subject was carefully covered. I was however a little disappointed with how little of the actual Rendlesham incident itself was covered in the book, and felt that it was more of a documentation of the history of the UFO phenomenon itself according to Mr.Pope, which although very interesting, did not really focus on the case per se. I would have liked to have seen more from other witnesses that were at the bases over the time in question. I would have liked to have heard about the evidence and what was discovered; the transcript of the tape was included of the investigation in the woods, but not the conclusions of what they found, the readings of radiation, the effects on the plants and wildlife, damage to the area etc. Also the relevance of the nuclear facilities at the bases! I am also very interested in the binary code - I think more should have been discussed about this. However it is a very important book to read if you are seriously interested in the UFO phenomenon as it does cover a lot of very serious points about how governments and the various military and official agencies treat the phenomenon as a whole. I hope this book will lead to a more open discussion by the British and American governments on this subject and that society will see how much deception and covert manipulation of evidence there is.
March 5, 2021
True story. Candid and matter of fact.
The best and most intriguing UFO encounter documented. Bigger than Roswell. And right here in the UK. Nick Pope the Author is himself a former UK Government employee who worked internally on UFO and other strange cases.
The Rendlesham Forest incident took place in December 1980 over the Christmas period and was witnessed by various high-level military personnel from the UK and US airbases of Bentwaters and Woodbridge. An actual craft was witnessed, radiation spikes documented, and audio tapes recorded by the witnesses on site during the events themselves. The event was witnessed on radar, and by multiple people – none of whom have anything to gain and everything to lose from making something like this up.
This book takes you through the events as described by the two primary witnesses John Burroughs and Jim Penniston. The author goes through countless theories as to the “natural” or potential “hoax” causes for the strange events, along with all of the fringe theories. Evidence is provided, including the transcripts of the audio tapes from the nights in question, and drawings of the remembered sighting of the craft and the symbols on the side of the craft. A mysterious binary code that was “transmitted” through one of the witnesses is provided and parts decoded.
Make your own conclusions about the existence of extraterrestrial life, but some occurrences are beyond other explanations.
The best and most intriguing UFO encounter documented. Bigger than Roswell. And right here in the UK. Nick Pope the Author is himself a former UK Government employee who worked internally on UFO and other strange cases.
The Rendlesham Forest incident took place in December 1980 over the Christmas period and was witnessed by various high-level military personnel from the UK and US airbases of Bentwaters and Woodbridge. An actual craft was witnessed, radiation spikes documented, and audio tapes recorded by the witnesses on site during the events themselves. The event was witnessed on radar, and by multiple people – none of whom have anything to gain and everything to lose from making something like this up.
This book takes you through the events as described by the two primary witnesses John Burroughs and Jim Penniston. The author goes through countless theories as to the “natural” or potential “hoax” causes for the strange events, along with all of the fringe theories. Evidence is provided, including the transcripts of the audio tapes from the nights in question, and drawings of the remembered sighting of the craft and the symbols on the side of the craft. A mysterious binary code that was “transmitted” through one of the witnesses is provided and parts decoded.
Make your own conclusions about the existence of extraterrestrial life, but some occurrences are beyond other explanations.
April 16, 2018
Blew through this one in a day after getting hooked in the bookstore years ago. Fascinating read. The presentation is instantly addicting and a wild ride. Past the first 50-100 pages, it slows down until the final chapters, going down the usual tangents you expect to find in a UFO book before some decidedly un-foreshadowed major twists in the story. Constant redundancies throughout give the book a convoluted and awkward non-linear feel, where information is constantly being re-told in almost the exact same language that’s used sometimes even pages before, before then being summarized all over again at chapters’ end. But it’s often enough surrounded with fresh info and deeper complexities that make the story that much more compelling as you go. Despite the author’s nuanced background that’s introduced perhaps too late in the text, there are speculative moments now and again that feel a bit hard to swallow (suggested cover-ups that seem, ostensibly, to be more based in natural incredulity than deception), but by the end, despite the almost-bizarre pacing issues and constant insistence about how this case is BIGGER THAN ROSWELL, it’s quite clear that this story is exceptionally researched and deeply compelling. Definitely a must-read for aficionados and particularly for those freshly dabbling in the UFO enigma.
August 8, 2016
Hy Brasil ruined it
I enjoyed Nick Pope's examination of the Rendlesham Forest incident and I felt a great deal of sympathy for the witnesses. Undoubtedly, whatever it was that happened was thought important enough to cover up by the UK and US governments and the witnesses paid the price of that. However (spoiler alert) the revelation that the chief witness had received a coded message from the UFO stretched my credibility too far. For me, it threw much of the evidence into doubt. I am more willing to believe the claim that he and others were subject to drug-assisted efforts to alter their memories and perhaps plant new ones in a cruel and misguided attempt to hide the truth. I read this book because I saw a UFO a year ago and have been trying to rationalise it ever since, so I'm not a disbeliever. I'm just unconvinced that a UFO is at the heart of the Rendlesham story. Nevertheless, it is definitely worth reading this book for yourself and forming your own conclusions.
I enjoyed Nick Pope's examination of the Rendlesham Forest incident and I felt a great deal of sympathy for the witnesses. Undoubtedly, whatever it was that happened was thought important enough to cover up by the UK and US governments and the witnesses paid the price of that. However (spoiler alert) the revelation that the chief witness had received a coded message from the UFO stretched my credibility too far. For me, it threw much of the evidence into doubt. I am more willing to believe the claim that he and others were subject to drug-assisted efforts to alter their memories and perhaps plant new ones in a cruel and misguided attempt to hide the truth. I read this book because I saw a UFO a year ago and have been trying to rationalise it ever since, so I'm not a disbeliever. I'm just unconvinced that a UFO is at the heart of the Rendlesham story. Nevertheless, it is definitely worth reading this book for yourself and forming your own conclusions.
September 12, 2015
Not a lot of folks take UFO's or UFO books seriously, but if you buy into it you can get what you want out of it. The Bentwaters Rendelsham Forest incident of course along with Rozwell is the UFO touchstone. If what happened here was in fact real and not some distant "lighthouse" it probably is the closest encounter we have on record, or not on record as the case may be. If you are a true believer this book will fill your fantasies I suppose. If you are on the fence it will keep you there. Despite a lot of pages many are fillers. Boring recounting of conjectured cover up and blase intrigue. I found the recapping of some other encounters more interesting than what it had to say about Rendlesham. So one is left with what one started with, maybe this was real, maybe not. It is doubtful at this we will ever know the truth, the book does not offer much more.
September 5, 2015
Fascinating account of the alleged UFO landing between two U.S. Air Force bases in England. I really appreciated Nick Pope's attention to detail and numerous documents in the appendix. The event is still a mystery to me, but the very fact that records, including the medical records of two of the primary witnesses, were classified and now missing makes me think this incident was BIG.
I have seen a UFO and have spent 30 years trying to find out what I saw. It is still unidentified, yet I am more of a believer now than 30 years ago.
Why don't the hackers go after classified UFO documents? Are they that well hidden away?
Very good read. Thanks to Nick Pope, John Burroughs and Jim Penniston for trying to get at the truth.
I have seen a UFO and have spent 30 years trying to find out what I saw. It is still unidentified, yet I am more of a believer now than 30 years ago.
Why don't the hackers go after classified UFO documents? Are they that well hidden away?
Very good read. Thanks to Nick Pope, John Burroughs and Jim Penniston for trying to get at the truth.
November 4, 2016
Getting closer to the truth!
Among other new and old information updated, we have the unvarnished telling of the event happening itself. While the history of the USAfOSI and the British MoD investigations are lengthy it is better to understand them, in light of "The Rest of the Story". Since Penniston and Burroughs state " There is more to come", I will be waiting.
Although parts of these airmen's stories may stretch your credulity, the strangeness of it pretty much indicates they are "letting it all out", whatever some people may think and whatever the consequences may be.
These men are truly good, patriotic, men who have been treated shabbily treated, even though well supported by the entire chain of command above them. May God bless them!
Among other new and old information updated, we have the unvarnished telling of the event happening itself. While the history of the USAfOSI and the British MoD investigations are lengthy it is better to understand them, in light of "The Rest of the Story". Since Penniston and Burroughs state " There is more to come", I will be waiting.
Although parts of these airmen's stories may stretch your credulity, the strangeness of it pretty much indicates they are "letting it all out", whatever some people may think and whatever the consequences may be.
These men are truly good, patriotic, men who have been treated shabbily treated, even though well supported by the entire chain of command above them. May God bless them!
February 18, 2020
Encounter in Rendlesham Forest
This is an eye opening book from Nick Pope, written with the two men who were central to the events in Rendlesham Forest.
To me it appears the truth has not yet come out about what happened in December 1980, and more worryingly papers connected with the event have reportedly either disappeared or been destroyed. Why?
The two former air force men have both had health issues since the encounter and can't even get their medical records. That doesn't sound right to me.
A brilliant book that tells the full story of what happened, over those few nights by those that were there.
Highly recommended.
This is an eye opening book from Nick Pope, written with the two men who were central to the events in Rendlesham Forest.
To me it appears the truth has not yet come out about what happened in December 1980, and more worryingly papers connected with the event have reportedly either disappeared or been destroyed. Why?
The two former air force men have both had health issues since the encounter and can't even get their medical records. That doesn't sound right to me.
A brilliant book that tells the full story of what happened, over those few nights by those that were there.
Highly recommended.
January 6, 2017
Nick Pope did an excellent job of chronicling this UFO encounter. People who don't believe UFO are real are just refusing to accept evidence both visual and eye witness. The encounter in Rendlesham Forest was made by US military personnel on several days. UFO encounters still often show capabilities far beyond anything the military has today. Some think we are just keeping the tech secret but it is useless unless it is deployed. Why build jets if you can instantly go from zero to several thousand mph? Exciting true story.
May 5, 2021
Britain's Roswell is a really interesting story that is backed up by accounts from very reputable Military personnel. I really enjoy this story, but I think the book is padded out in several sections to increase the page count. I had heard most of the details of this via Documentary shows, and the entire subject can be pretty exhaustively covered in an hour or so. Still, there are extra details here that are worth re-visiting, and if you have never heard the story, it is absolutely mind blowing stuff.
May 31, 2014
I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. The book described and analyzed the UFO incident of December 26 and 28 in Rendlesham Forest in England.
The incident happened between 2 US Air Force bases on English soil. Two of the book's authors actually witnessed the UFO sighting. The book explores various theories and explanations of the incident, some very plausible and some totally ridiculous.Factual book of a real life incident so not to everyone's taste.Very well written and thought out.
The incident happened between 2 US Air Force bases on English soil. Two of the book's authors actually witnessed the UFO sighting. The book explores various theories and explanations of the incident, some very plausible and some totally ridiculous.Factual book of a real life incident so not to everyone's taste.Very well written and thought out.
April 30, 2014
A rather dry but informative and seemingly unbiased account of a December 1980 UFO/UAP encounter in Suffolk, England and its aftermath. Its main interest lies in the apparent proof that the US and UK government have admitted to the existence of non-terrestrial visitations. It gets rather boring at times so don't expect one of those hyper-sensational reads that are light on fact but heavy on imagination.
Really more of a 3½ stars than a 4 but I'm feeling generous.
Really more of a 3½ stars than a 4 but I'm feeling generous.
January 3, 2017
I had not previously known about the Rendlesham incident and happened upon this book while at the library. Being that this took place in 1980, I was rather surprised and decided to give it a read. I wasn't disappointed. The opening and closing chapters were terrific, with Chapter 18 being my favorite. I liked how the information was presented overall. It was easy to follow and I found it to be balanced.
3.9 out of 5 stars
3.9 out of 5 stars
April 30, 2014
Pope has a produced a sensible and non-sensational account of the still very mysterious Rendlesham Forest case. I personally suspect that this was some kind of psy-ops experiment that got out of hand, but it's a classic case with excellent witnesses and supporting evidence. Worthy reading for skeptical types and UFO enthusiasts alike.
October 15, 2017
I should start by saying that I learned about this incident from a documentary. So I was very eager to get more facts. This book does exactly that. If gives clear descriptions of all facts and then lists not one but a couple of conclusions based on those facts. So it's entirely up to the reader to form an opinion.
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