Explore one of the most important Close Encounters with a UFO ever recorded: the incident at RAF Bentwaters and Rendlesham Forest in late December 1980. This event, described as a "gripping read" by Dennis Stacy of AAUFON UFO Journal, may have included non-verbal contact between an alien crew and representatives of the U.S. military. It is a case that some say came close to jeopardizing the special relationship between the British and American governments.The podcast will delve into the astonishing story of a weekend that rocked the US Air Force. Drawing on extensive sources, witness testimony, and official documentation like the Halt memo, we will investigate what happened during the mysterious events, including lights seen falling into Rendlesham Forest, strange noises, high radiation readings at a suspected landing site, and physical traces like indentations and damaged trees oozing peculiar sap.Discover the evidence of airmen, officers, and non-military personnel, including accounts of strange glowing lights shaped like a giant mushroom or a silvery, phosphorous ghost that defied known laws of nature. Hear how objects bounced up into the sky at steep angles and rocketed upwards. Explore the official reactions, from initial radar contact reported by RAF personnel to the USAF command unit and subsequent attempts to manage the information.This case generated debate by Ministers of Defense, questions in Britain's Parliament, and investigations by US Senators. Despite official denials of extensive investigation or audiovisual documentation, key documents like the "Halt Memo" and a controversial tape recording have emerged, often through Freedom of Information Act requests.We will examine the numerous theories proposed, from secret aircraft prototypes and unusual atmospheric phenomena to the highly debated "lighthouse theory" and alleged alien contact supported by hypnotic regression testimony.Join us as we seek to establish the basic reality of this close encounter and navigate the layers of secrecy, differing accounts, and potential cover-ups surrounding the Bentwaters/Rendlesham Forest incident.