RAF Bentwaters will always be connected with the infamous Rendlesham Forest Incident that occurred in 1980, which is often referred to as 'Britain's Roswell' due to its intriguing and controversial nature. However, it is important to highlight the lesser-known sighting that took place in 1956, which is mentioned in the predominantly 'phony' Condon Report of 1969. This earlier encounter reveals that UFOs had already been officially reported over the Air Force base nearly 25 years prior to the widely publicized events of the late 1970s and 1980s.

Undoubtedly one of the most important UFO events documented in both the Blue Book files and the Condon Report, the Bentwaters/Lakenheath UFO Incident stands out prominently as a remarkable nighttime case that occurred near both military bases in east-central England during the early hours of 13-14 August, 1956. This extraordinary occurrence left a lasting impression on notable researchers such as Dr. James E. McDonald and Dr. J. Allen Hynek, who recognized its significance and complexity. Furthermore, it was so consequential that it captured the attention of the Condon Committee just over a decade later, prompting further investigations into this mysterious phenomenon.

The initial reports on unexplained aerial phenomena predominantly centered around the well-known and historically significant RAF Bentwaters, which is strategically located near the picturesque coast approximately six miles east of Ipswich. However, much of the subsequent activity and detailed investigation related to these intriguing sightings took place about 20 miles northeast of the historic city of Cambridge, specifically in and around the extensive military installation known as Lakenheath RAF Station. This location has long been a focal point for various military operations and has garnered considerable attention in the context of UAP investigations.

Dr. James E. McDonald wrote, 'This "Lakenheath case" was not known outside of USAF circles prior to publication of the Condon Report. None of the names of military personnel involved are given in the Condon Report. (Witness names, dates, and locales are deleted from all of the main group of cases in that report, seriously impeding independent scientific check of case materials.) I secured copies of the casefile from Bluebook, but all names of military personnel involved in the incident were cut out of the Xerox copies prior to releasing the material to me.'

The Condon Report, although initially disposed to a certain level of suspicion that perhaps some sort of anomalous radar propagation might indeed be involved in the events at hand, ultimately does concede that the Lakenheath incident remains an unexplained case. In fact, the Report intriguingly concludes its discussion with the quite curious admission that, in the Lakenheath episode, there are elements that defy straightforward explanation and warrant further investigation., '...the probability that at least one genuine UFO was involved appears to be fairly high',' said McDonald.

The first radar sighting of an unidentified flying object, often referred to as a UFO, occurred at about 21:30, marking a significant moment in aerial phenomenon reporting. Following closely, the second radar sighting took place in the time frame between approximately 21:30 and 21:55, suggesting activity from multiple objects. In the detailed report submitted to Project Bluebook, the Technical Sergeant, whose name has been omitted from the official documentation, disclosed that "these objects appeared as normal targets on the GCA scope and that thorough, normal checks made to determine any possible malfunctions of the GCA radar system failed to indicate anything was technically wrong."

Ranging between speeds of approximately 80 and 125 mph, the dozen or so unidentified flying objects were moving together in a synchronized manner towards the northeast. Their precise formation and consistent velocity piqued the interest of observers, indicating a level of coordination that is often associated with advanced technology. "The 12 to 15 unidentified objects were preceded by 3 objects which were in a triangular formation with an estimated 1000 feet separating each object in this formation." The official report states that the dozen objects to the rear "were scattered behind the lead formation of 3 at irregular intervals with the whole group simultaneously covering a 6 to 7 mile area".

At approximately 21:55, an extremely high-speed radar-visual tracked an astonishingly fast-moving object, traveling at an estimated speed of about 18,000 mph on an east-west trajectory. This radar track captured a brilliant white light that, from roughly 30 miles east to 30 miles west, passed directly overhead of the radar site. The extraordinary object notably "streaked under" a C-47 cargo plane flying at an altitude of 4,000 feet near the base. Radar analysis further confirmed that this intriguing anomaly was operating at an exceptionally low altitude, estimated to be around 2,000 feet. This assessment was also corroborated by visual observers stationed on the ground who were monitoring the event.

The third radar sighting occurred at precisely 22:00 when the T/Sgt detected an unidentified target approximately 30 miles to the east of the Bentwaters Ground Control Approach (GCA) station. He tracked this enigmatic object as it moved with remarkable speed in a rapid westward direction, covering a distance to a point about 25 miles west of the station. According to the observations provided by the T/Sgt, it was at this juncture that the object "suddenly disappeared off the radar screen by rapidly moving out of the GCS radiation pattern," leaving everyone bewildered and eager for clarification.

At approximately 23:00 to 00:30, a radar-visual occurrence of hovering and darting objects was reported. These unidentified flying phenomena exhibited extraordinary agility, managing to outmaneuver a Venom NF-3 jet interceptor that had been urgently dispatched to investigate the situation. This remarkable event began just after midnight. Following this initial sighting, there were numerous attempted intercepts around the hours of 2-3 a.m., all of which unfortunately turned out to be unsuccessful in capturing the elusive objects.

US ground observers stationed at RAF Lakenheath reportedly observed a remarkably luminous object approach their position, traveling on a southwesterly heading. After an intriguing pause, the object then abruptly stopped in mid-air before subsequently moving off, disappearing from view to the east. Shortly thereafter, witnesses noted the sighting of two distinct moving white lights in the same vicinity, where "ground observers stated one white light joined up with another and both disappeared in formation together".

No discernible features on the UFOs were observed by the ground observers, who extensively scrutinized the skies for details. However, both the radar operators and the ground observers ultimately concurred in their reported descriptions, stating that the unidentified flying objects exhibited certain characteristics that were intriguing and difficult to explain. This collective agreement on the nature of their sightings adds a layer of credibility to the unusual events being investigated. "the objects (were) travelling at terrific speeds and then stopping and changing course immediately."

McDonald stated, quite emphatically, that the observations made during the recent UAP sightings have raised numerous questions that demand thorough investigation and careful analysis. 'the fact that radar and ground visual observations were made on its rapid acceleration and abrupt stops certainly lend credulence (sic) to the report.

The incident saw yet another intercept mission where the highly skilled pilots who confronted an 'unknown form of reality' were left feeling very frightened and anxious by their nocturnal encounters. Flying a Venom during this challenging situation, the pilot on this occasion attempted numerous evasive manoeuvres in a desperate bid to shake off the persistent presence. However, they were ultimately unable to lose the UFO, which radar continuously tracked as 'a distinct echo behind the aircraft,' implying that the distance between the two was greater than approximately 500 feet. According to the detailed findings in the Bluebook report,, 'Pilot advised he was unable to 'shake' the target off his tail and requested assistance.'

Lakenheath then swiftly ordered a second Venom to proceed and closely tail the mysterious unknown object. However, before the pilot could get close enough to make any detailed observations, he suddenly began experiencing significant engine malfunction issues and was forced to return to base for safety reasons. The following conversation was monitored by the vigilant Lakenheath watch supervisor between the two Venom pilots, providing critical insight into their experiences and concerns:

Pilot Number 2: "Did you see anything?

"Pilot Number 1: "I saw something, but I'll be damned if I know what it was."

Pilot Number 2: "What happened?"

Pilot Number 1: "He - or it - got behind me and I did everything I could to get behind him and I couldn't. It's the damnedest thing I've ever seen."

The highly experienced pilot of Venom Number 1 also stated during the report that "there was something there that was solid" and unmistakably present, as he had a radar gun lock for several seconds before abruptly losing contact with the object in question. This observation adds a layer of intrigue to the incident, suggesting that whatever it was exhibited qualities that were not merely ephemeral or illusory.

The probability that anomalous propagation of radar signals may have been involved in this particular case seems to be quite small. One or two details are somewhat suggestive of anomalous propagation (AP), particularly the reported disappearance of the first track as the UFO appeared to overfly the Bentwaters GCA radar. However, against this possibility must be weighed the clear statement from the Lakenheath controller, who indicated that there was "little or no traffic or targets on scope," which critically is not at all suggestive of typical AP conditions, and also the observable behavior of the target near Lakenheath - which appeared consistent, continuous, and easily tracked throughout. The "tailing" of the RAF fighter, when considered in isolation, seems to indicate a possible ghost image scenario; however, this interpretation does not align well with the report that the UFO ceased following the fighter as it was returning to its base and instead veered off in a completely different direction. The radar operators were apparently meticulous in calculating the speed of the UFO by utilizing distances and elapsed times, and the speeds they reported were consistently reliable from run to run, even during the various stationary episodes. This peculiar behavior might be somewhat consistent with reflections originating from moving atmospheric layers — but it does not convincingly explain the diverse directions observed.

The visual mirage at Bentwaters appears to be completely out of the question due to the comprehensive combined ground and airborne observations conducted during the sighting; notably, it was reported that the C47 pilot apparently saw the unidentified flying object directly below him as he was flying. Furthermore, the visual objects in question do not seem to have been meteors, as the statements made by the various observers indicate that meteors were numerous at the time, which implies that they were indeed able to differentiate the UFO distinctly from the meteors that were present in the sky.

In summary, this is widely regarded as the most puzzling and unusual case found within the extensive radar-visual files. The apparently rational and intelligent behaviour exhibited by the UFO strongly suggests that it may be a mechanical device of unknown origin, making this the most probable explanation for this intriguing sighting. However, taking into account the inherent fallibility of witnesses and their perceptions, more conventional explanations related to this report cannot be entirely ruled out, as they remain a valid part of the discussion surrounding this enigmatic phenomenon.

This fascinating account from 1956 is extremely revealing as it highlights a significant possibility that intelligently operated flying machines are indeed visiting sites housing nuclear weaponry, underscoring a concern that has persisted for decades. Furthermore, as the well-documented 1980 Rendlesham Forest Incident later showed, UFOs have repeatedly been observed over the Bentwaters and other RAF bases, indicating that these unidentified flying objects have played host to a number of intriguing sightings over the years. Such compelling evidence strongly suggests a solid connection between nuclear activity and UFO sightings, raising numerous questions about the implications of such encounters.

This particular case is of paramount importance due to the exceptional reliability and credibility of the RAF officials involved in the investigation. As Gordon D. Thayer wrote in his detailed analysis, the testimonies and insights provided by these professionals lend significant weight to the findings, ensuring that they deserve our serious attention and thorough examination., 'Taking into consideration the high credibility of information and the cohesiveness and continuity of accounts, combined with a high degree of "strangeness," it is also certainly one of the most disturbing UFO incidents known today.'