Story of 'British Roswell' lacks verifiable evidence
By: Aaron Sakulich
Issue date: 8/24/07 Section: Ed-Op
Originally published: 8/24/07 at 2:59 AM EST
Last update: 8/24/07 at 2:58 AM EST
Originally published: 8/24/07 at 2:59 AM EST
Last update: 8/24/07 at 2:58 AM EST
The next day, returning to the site of the supposed landing, men found triangular impressions in the earth and "burn marks" on the trees. Therefore, the UFO community came to one conclusion: a mechanical spaceship had been out and about in the forest that night wreaking all sorts of havoc.
Allow me to understate the issue when I say that there are some problems with this conclusion. These problems include: what the men in the woods saw, what Col. Hart saw, the 'physical evidence' that was seen the next day, the actions of Penniston, and some evidence that has cropped up since the case was first popularized.
First, the men in the woods, who were out looking for lights. They had two things going against them: they were at an airbase near the North Sea. As the men moved through the trees looking for lights, they were surprised to come right on top of a marker beacon, a flashing light used for approaching aircraft. When asked if this could be the source of the lights, Penniston petulantly replied that no, he could tell the difference between this beacon and the mystery lights.
On the original transcript of Penniston's conversations with headquarters, he says: "There it is again… there it is… there it is," at even intervals. The light was blinking with an even frequency, and it's the same frequency that the lighthouse six miles away rotated. The UFO enthusiast would have you believe that the lighthouse is impossible to see from the area in Rendlesham woods; however, the lighthouse is clearly visible even during daylight hours. They claim that the forest and other terrain obscure the view of the lighthouse, but photographs taken by locals totally refute this. Oxford Ness lighthouse is there clear as a bell, especially in December, when the trees have lost all their leaves. This was also visible from Col. Hart's area, and explains the blinking light he saw. So there were at least two light sources visible from the woods that could have confused the men: a lighthouse and a landing beacon.
Allow me to understate the issue when I say that there are some problems with this conclusion. These problems include: what the men in the woods saw, what Col. Hart saw, the 'physical evidence' that was seen the next day, the actions of Penniston, and some evidence that has cropped up since the case was first popularized.
First, the men in the woods, who were out looking for lights. They had two things going against them: they were at an airbase near the North Sea. As the men moved through the trees looking for lights, they were surprised to come right on top of a marker beacon, a flashing light used for approaching aircraft. When asked if this could be the source of the lights, Penniston petulantly replied that no, he could tell the difference between this beacon and the mystery lights.
On the original transcript of Penniston's conversations with headquarters, he says: "There it is again… there it is… there it is," at even intervals. The light was blinking with an even frequency, and it's the same frequency that the lighthouse six miles away rotated. The UFO enthusiast would have you believe that the lighthouse is impossible to see from the area in Rendlesham woods; however, the lighthouse is clearly visible even during daylight hours. They claim that the forest and other terrain obscure the view of the lighthouse, but photographs taken by locals totally refute this. Oxford Ness lighthouse is there clear as a bell, especially in December, when the trees have lost all their leaves. This was also visible from Col. Hart's area, and explains the blinking light he saw. So there were at least two light sources visible from the woods that could have confused the men: a lighthouse and a landing beacon.
Ian Ridpath
posted 8/26/07 @ 7:18 AM EST
Greetings from good ole England.
You summarize the problems with the "British Roswell" very well. Those who want to look into the case in more detail can find it here:
http://www. (Continued…)