Craft Encountered and Touched in Rendlesham Forest — Suffolk, England

I am Sergeant Jim Penniston, USAF, 81st Security Police, stationed at RAF Bentwaters. In the early hours of December 26, 1980, I was dispatched with Airman John Burroughs and another airman to investigate reported lights in Rendlesham Forest adjacent to the base's east gate. We observed a craft approximately 9 feet long, 6 feet tall, triangular in profile, with a bright white light and colored lights at each corner — blue, red, and yellow. It was resting on the forest floor among the trees. I approached to within arm's reach. The surface was smooth and black, like polished glass, with no seams or rivets. On the lower section there were symbols etched or inscribed — geometric in nature, each about 3 inches in size, arranged in a band around the body. I touched the craft. I placed my hands flat on it. It was warm. I sketched the symbols in my field notebook. After several minutes the craft lifted vertically with no sound, moved through the trees, and shot away at an impossible speed. At the landing site the next morning we found three depressions in triangular arrangement, broken branches overhead in a downward pattern, and radiation readings significantly above background. Deputy Base Commander Lt. Col. Charles Halt personally investigated the following night and made an audio recording documenting further activity including a beam of light directed from the sky to the ground. I have maintained this account consistently for over forty years.