1 - The Black Vault

Untitled Document
• ~"'")(t~
The Rendlesham MoD file: Some Preliminary Thoughts
Jenny Randles
The release of this file to David Clarke in May 2001 is of considerable interest,
given the prominence of the Rendlesham Forest case in UFO thinking. But It also
has great significance in terms of other modern British incidents - for we might
now hope to get better official information on them without having to walt 30
years and find re-investigation badly compromised.
This recognition may be more important long term than the release of the files on a case
that was already of diminishing import in terms of scientific UFO evidence - as obvious from
'The UFOs that Never Were' written two years before this file was released.
However, Rendlesham has held - and will still hold - a vice-like grip on most UFOiogists
because it offers them the lure of being 'the big one' - a single case that could change the
world. And so any information that helps to illuminate the path towards resolution is to be
welcomed.
Yet, of course, whilst this file does not add much to any resolution of the case itself, and, it
will always be arguable whether it even reflects the sum total of official knowledge on both
sides of the Atlantic (with some no doubt suspecting hidden files may yet lurk somewhere
unannounced) it is of great value. This is especially because of the picture that it paints
about the approach of the MoD's public visage to UFO investigation.
There are no great surprises in the image that it portrays. But there is great interest
because we now have clear, on the record, data from the MoD that all sensible people
should accept as being truthful - at least within the purview of those compiling the reports.
Indeed - I would submit - these records would not be untruthful. They may not be complete
(indeed the MoD have admitted to withholding some files) but they will be honest. The MoD
simply would not lie on open record. It would be too potentially destructive for any
government caught doing so.
Ralph Noyes - himself a senior figure in the MoD who dealt with UFOs and who ran DS 8 at
one point in his career - taught me from our various discussions that if the powers that be
do not want to say something then they do not lie. They just don't say it. If they do say it
then you can
confidently assume that it is basically true.
As such it is proper that we consider this MoD file not as offering untruths but as providing
genuine pointers towards what happened.
Here is a summary of the key things that seem to emerge from the new information and
my thoughts about them- based as yet on only a study of the summary. I will probably add
more when I examine the full report.
1: The dating of the Events
There is no question in my mind - and has not been since one of the three original
witnesses (John Burroughs) told me this in 1989 - but these two events occurred in
Rendlesham Forest in the early hours of 26 December and overnight on 27/28 December.
There were other minor sightings at other times (many caused by airmen who were aware
of the gossip from around base and so went skywatching in the forest determined to see
'the UFOs' for
themselves). But the Rendlesham legend revolves around these two nights.
http://www.flyingsaucery.corn/Rendlesham/comjen1.htm 22/10/01