TRANSCRIPT OF THE 'HALT TAPE'
The Rendlesham Forest UFO Incidents [RAF Bentwaters and RAF Woodbridge](JAMES EASTON, MARCH 1998).
This is a new transcript of the tape recording made by Lieutenant-Colonel Halt, subsequently Colonel Halt, during the second night's events, when he set out to investigate claims that the 'UFO' was back.
This seems to have taken place during the night and early morning of 27/28 December, the initial 'UFO' claims relating to events which began around 0300 on the morning of 26 December.
As will be evident from the transcript, Halt's actions were effectively an investigation of the preceding incident, even though it was a dark and cold December night.
Halt had taken with him a quickly assembled 'team of specialists' and it's known these included:
LIEUTENANT BRUCE ENGLUND
SERGEANT MONROE NEVILLES (who operated the Geiger counter)
MASTER SERGEANT BOBBY BALL
Halt's party were also later joined by AIRMAN FIRST CLASS JOHN BURROUGHS, who was one of the central participants from the first night.
THE EXCURSION IN THE FOREST HAD THREE DISTINCT PHASES:
1. A RECONNAISSANCE OF THE AREA IN WHICH IT WAS HYPOTHESISED, VIA STAFF-SERGEANT JIM PENNISTON'S CLAIMS, AND POSSIBLY ALSO BURROUGHS', THAT AN OBJECT MAY HAVE BEEN WITNESSED ON THE FIRST OCCASION
2. THE SIGHTING OF A SMALL RED LIGHT, VISIBLE THROUGH THE TREES
3. WITNESSING APPARENT AERIAL PHENOMENA.
TRANSCRIPT OF THE 'HALT TAPE'
HALT: 150 feet or more from the initial, or I should say suspected, impact point. Having a little difficulty; can't get the light-all to work. There seems to be some kind of mechanical problem. Let's send back and get another light-all. Meantime we're gonna take some readings with the Geiger counter and chase around the area a little bit waiting for another light-all to come back in.
BACKGROUND RADIO COMMUNICATION: This is ridiculousYou want to know who's the Security Control? That's marked, ah, one of a kind pod number
HALT: OK, we're now approaching the area within about 25, 30 feet. What kind of readings are we getting? Anything?
VOICE: Just minor clicks.
BACKGROUND: Want to go to the rest area [?] after this? Or?
HALT: Minor clicks. Where are the impressions?
VOICE: Here's the mark.
HALT: Is that all the bigger they are?
VOICE: Well, there's one more well-defined over here.
BACKGROUND RADIO COMMUNICATION [Unclear]
HALT: We're still getting clicks.
VOICE: We're still getting clicks, clicks.
BACKGROUND RADIO COMMUNICATION [possibly includes "Security-6at East Gate"]
HALT: You want to read that on the scale?
VOICE: Yes, sir. We're now on the five-tenths scale, and we're reading about third, fourth [mark?] over
HALT: OK, we're still comfortably safe here.
BACKGROUND RADIO COMMUNICATION: You don't have a light-all? (By the tone, this means. "You don't have a light-all, I could have"?)
Yeah [?] Lieutenant, it's ready.
BACKGROUND RADIO COMMUNICATION [Unclear]
HALT: Still minor readings. Second pod indentation
VOICE: Nope.
HALT: This one's dead. Let's go to the third one over here.
VOICE: Yes, now I'm getting some residual.
HALT: I can read that out. The meter is definitely givin' a little pulse. I was gonna say let's go to the center of the area next and see what kind of a reading we get out there. Keep reading the clicks, I can't hear the clicks. That about the center, Bruce? [presumably Bruce Englund] OK, let's go to the center.
VOICE: Yes, I'm getting
HALT: That's the best deflection of the needle I've seen yet. OK, can you give me an estimation. We're on the point five scalewe're gettingI have trouble reading the scale
VOICE: At approximately 0125 hours
VOICE: We're getting rad at half a millirem.
SOUND OF DISTANT BELLS [Possibly two bells from a nearby Church, announcing half past the hour]
HALT: best point. I don't see any go any higher.
BACKGROUND: it's still flying around.
HALT: OK, we'll go out toward the
VOICE: Now it's picking up [presumably Geiger counter reading].
HALT: This is out toward the number one indentation, where we first got the strongest reading. It's similar to what we got in the center.
VOICE: right near [?] the pod, it's plainly in the center.
VOICE: Looks like an area here possibly where there could be a blast
BACKGROUND VOICES [Unclear]
VOICE: up towards sevenjust jumped up towards seven tenths.
HALT: Seven tenths? Right there in the center?
VOICE: Uh-huh.
HALT: We found a small blast - what looks like a blasted or scruffed-up area here. We're getting very positive readings. Let's see, is that near the center?
VOICE: Yes, it is. This is what we would assume would be the dead center.
VOICE: Picking it up more as you go along - the whole area here now
HALT: Up to seven tenths? Or seven units, let's call it, on the point five scale. OK, why don't we do this: why don't we make a sweep here, I've got my gloves on now - let's make a sweep out around the whole area about ten foot out, make a perimeter run around it, starting right back here at the corner, back at the same first corner where we came in, let's go right back here. I'm gonna have to depend on you counting the clicks. OK, let's
VOICE: I'll tell you as it gets louder.
HALT: Right, put the light on it and let's sweep around it.
BACKGROUND VOICE: It was black?
HALT: Put it on the ground every once in a while.
VOICE: This looks like an abrasion on the tree
HALT: OK, we'll catch that running [?] back, let's go back, c'mon back. Hit it there [this could be "Hit it, Ted"].
VOICE: We're getting interest right over here. It looks like an abrasion pointing into the center of the [unclear]
HALT: It is. It may be old, though - there's some sap marks or something on it. Let's go on back around.
BACKGROUND VOICE: also it gives an extension on it
HALT: Hey, this is an awkward thing to use isn't it?
VOICE: Almost had to carry it on my ears, but this one broke.
HALT: Are we getting anything further? I'm gonna shut this recorder off until we find something.
BACKGROUND VOICE: Picking up here [?]
HALT: Picking up? Where are we up to? We're up to two, three units deflection, you're getting in close to one pod.
VOICE: Picking up some herepicking up.
HALT: OK, it's still not going above three or four units.
VOICE: Picking up more, though - more frequent.
HALT: Yes, you're staying steady up around two to three to four units now.
VOICE: Colonel Halt? Each one of these trees that face into the blast, what we assume is the landing site, all have an abrasion facing in the same direction, towards the center.
HALT: That's interesting. Let's go this way round the circle here. Turn it back down here.
VOICE: Picking up something for the collection [?]
HALT: Let me see that! Do I want it? You're right about the abrasion. I've never seen a tree that's uh
VOICE: [Unclear] small sap marks
HALT: I've never see a pine tree that's been damaged react that fast.
VOICE: You gotta get a bottle to put that in.
HALT: You got a sample bottle?
VOICE: Yes, sir.
VOICES [Unclear - sounds as though they are taking samples]
VOICE: You'll notice they're all in the same [unclear]
HALT: Let's identify that as point number one - that stake [?] there. So you all know where it is if we have to sketch it. You got that, Sergeant Nevilles? OK, closest to the Woodbridge basebe point one. Let's go clockwise from there.
VOICE: Point two
HALT: Point two. So this tree is between point two and point three.
BACKGROUND RADIO COMMUNICATION:two other personnel requesting.jeep location..
VOICE: Tell them negative at this time. We'll tell them when they can come out here. We don't want them out here right now.
[This doesn't appear to be Halt's voice. It was presumably however someone who felt no need to consult Halt]
HALT: The sampleyou're going to mark this sample number onehave them cut it off, and include some of that sap and allis between indentation two and three on a pine tree about five feet away, about three and a half feet off the ground. There's a round abrasion on the tree about three and half, four inches in diameterit looks like it might be old, but, erstrange, there's a crystallinepine sap that has come out that fast. Say, is that a tree [unclear] damaged in a similar fashion?
VOICE: Yes [unclear] toward the center of the landing site
HALT: OK, why don't you take a picture of that and remember your picture, we ain't gonna be writing this down. Well, it's gonna be on the tape.
VOICE: Got a tape measure with you?
HALT: This is the picture, your first picture will be at the first tree, the one between mark two and three. Meantime I'm gonna look at a couple of these trees over here.
VOICE: We are getting some
HALT: You're getting readings on the tree you're taking samples from on the side facing the suspected landing site.
VOICE: Four clicks max.
HALT: Up to four. Interesting. That's right where you're taking the sample now. Four? That's the strongest point on the tree?
VOICE: Yes sir. If you come to the backthere's no clicks whatsoever.
HALT: No clicks at all on the back - it's all on the
VOICE: maybe one or two
HALT: side facing theinteresting. The indentations look like something twisted as it sat down on them. Looks like someone took something and sat it down and twisted it from side to side. Very strange.
HALT: We're looking at the same tree we took the sample off with this - what d'you call it - Starscope? [Unclear response] Getting a definite heat reflection off the tree about three to four feet off the ground?
VOICE: Yes, where the spot is
HALT: Same place where the spot is, we're getting a heat
VOICE: and a spot on the tree directly behind us I picked up the same thing, and one off to your right.
HALT: Three trees in the area, immediately adjacent to the site, within ten feet of the suspected landing site, we're picking up heat reflection off the trees.
VOICE: Give me the light, Bob.
HALT: What's that again?
VOICE: Shine the light on it again, Bob.
HALT: What, are you [unclear]
VOICE: [Unclear] right on the spot, and then when you
HALT: OK, turn the light on [?]
VOICE: you'll notice the white.
HALT [possibly now using the 'Starlight' (image intensifier) scope]: Hey! You're right. There is a white streak on the tree.
VOICE: Indicates a heat
HALT: Let me turn around and look at this tree over here now. Just a second - watch, 'cos you're right in front of the tree. I can see it. OK, give me a little side lighting so I can find the tree. OK. Ah
BACKGROUND RADIO COMMUNICATION: Alpha Two, security
HALT: I've lost the tree. OK. Stop, stop. Light off! Hey this is eerie.
VOICE: Why don't you do the pod spots?
HALT: This is strange. Here, someone wanna look at the spots on the ground? Whoops, watch you don't stepyou're walking all over 'em. OK, let's step back and not walk all over 'em. Come back here and somebody put a beam on 'em. You're gonna have to be back ten or fifteen feet. You see it? OK, lights off.
VOICE CUTS IN ON TAPE RECORDING [It seems the recording has briefly been 'taped over' at a later date]: "he took this long to document"
HALT: What d'you think about the spot? Let's see the first spot? OK, that's what we'd call spot number three. Let's go to the back corner and get spot number one. Spot number one, here's spot number one right here. Spot number one, right here. D'you need some light? There it is, right there. Focused?
VOICE: Focused.
HALT: OK. Look around spot number one through the Starlight scope.
HALT: Slight increase in light at spot number one. Let's go look at spot number two. Spot number two's right over here. Right here - see it? OK, get focused on it. Tell me when. OK, lights on, let's see what we get on it.
VOICE: Slight increase.
HALT: Just a slight increase?
Let's try the center.
The center spotwell it really isn't the center, it's slightly off center. Try it there.
VOICE: Right here.
HALT: We're gonna get your reading on it right there.
VOICE: OK.
HALT: Tell me when you're ready. OK, lights out. It's the center spot we're looking at now, or almost the center.
VOICE: Slight increase.
HALT: Slight increase there? This is slightly off center toward the one-two side. It's some type of abrasion or something in the ground where the pine needles are all pushed back where we get a high radioactive reading about, er deflection of, er, two to three, maybe four, depending on the point of it.
VOICE: Wanna check it?
VOICE: Yes.
HALT: You say there is a positive after-effect?
VOICE: Yes, there is, definitely. That's on the center spot. There is an after-effect.
VOICE: What does that mean?
VOICE: It means that when the lights are turned off, once we are focused in and allow time for the eyes to adjust we are getting an indication of a heat source coming out of that center spot, which will show up on
HALT: Heat or some form of energy. It's hardly heat at this stage of the game.
HALT: Looking directly overhead one can see an opening in the trees, plus some freshly broken pine branches on the ground underneath. Looks like some of 'em came off about 15 to 20 feet up. Some small branches about an inch or less in diameter.
HALT: 01.48. We're hearing very strange sounds out of the farmer's barnyard animals. They're very, very active, making an awful lot of noise.
VOICE: [Unclear] pigmentation.
HALT: You just saw a light? Where? [Unclear] Slow down. Where?
VOICE: Right on this position here. Straight ahead, in between the trees - there it is again. Watch - straight ahead, off my flashlight there, sir. There it is.
HALT: I see it, too. What is it?
VOICE: We don't know, sir.
VOICE: Can I just have a
HALT: It's a strange, small red light, looks to be maybe a quarter to a half mile, maybe further out. I'm gonna switch off.
HALT: The light is gone now. It was approximately 120 degrees from the site
VOICE: It's back again.
HALT: Is it back again?
VOICE: Yes, sir.
HALT: Well douse flashlights then. Let's go back to the edge of the clearing so we can get a better look at it. See if you can get the Starscope on it. The light's still there and all the barnyard animals have gone quiet now. We're heading about 110, 120 degrees from site out through to the clearing now, still getting a reading on the meter, about two clicks.
HALT: Needle's jumped, three to four clicks, getting stronger.
VOICE: Now it's stopped Now it's coming up Hold on. There we go about approximately four foot off the ground, at a compass heading of 110 degrees.
HALT: He's turned the meter off. Better say that again. About four feet off the ground, about 110 degrees, getting a reading of about four clicks?
VOICE: Yes, sir. [Sneezes]. Now it's dying.
HALT: Now it's dying. I think it's something other than the ground. I think it's something that'ssomething
VOICE: [Unclear] large tree right over
HALT: We've just bumped into the first night bird we've seen. We're about 150, 200 yards from site. Everywhere else is just deathly calm.
HALT: There is no doubt about it - there is some type of strange flashing red light ahead.
VOICE: There! It's yellow.
HALT: I saw a yellow tinge in it, too. Weird! It appears to be maybe moving a little bit this way? It's brighter than it has been. It's coming this way. It is definitely coming this way. Pieces of it are shooting off. There is no doubt about it. This is weird!
VOICES: [Unclear]
VOICES: Two lights. One light just behind and one light to the left.
HALT: Keep your flashlights off. There's something very, very strange. Check the headset out, see if it gets any stronger. Give us your
VOICE: Make a notation that this is on a vague reading too.
VOICE: How vague a reading.
VOICE: It still has been removed [?]
HALT: Pieces are falling off it again.
VOICE: Sir, it just moved to the right
HALT: Yeah!
VOICE: just off to the right.
HALT: Strange! One again left[?] Let's approach to the edge of the woods up there. Do you wanna do it without lights? Let's do it carefully. Come on.
HALT: OK, we're looking at the thing, we're probably about two to three hundred yards away. It looks like an eye winking at you. Still moving from side to side. And when you put the Starscope on it, it sorta has a hollow center, a dark center, it's like a pupil of an eye looking at you, winking.
And it flashes so bright to the Starscope that it almost burns your eye.
BACKGROUND RADIO COMMUNICATION [Unclear]
HALT: We've passed the farmer's house and are crossing the next field and now we have multiple sightings of up to five lights with a similar shape and all but they seem to be steady now rather than a pulsating or glow with a red flash.
HALT: We've just crossed a creek and we're getting what kind of readings now? We're getting three good clicks on the meter and we're seeing strange lights in the sky.
HALT: 2:44. We're at the far side of the second farmer's field and made sighting again about 110 degrees. This looks like it's clear off to the coast. It's right on the horizon. Moves about a bit and flashes from time to time. Still steady or red in color. Also after negative readings in the center of the field we're picking up slight readings, four or five clicks now, on the meter.
HALT: 3:05. We see strange strobe-like flashes to the rather sporadic, but there's definitely something there. Some kind of phenomenon.
HALT: 3:05. At about ten degrees, horizon, directly north, we've got two strange objects, er, half moon shape, dancing about, with colored lights on 'em. At, er, guess to be about five to ten miles out, maybe less. The half moons have now turned into full circles as though there was an eclipse or something there for a minute or two.
HALT: 03:15. Now we've got an object about 10 degrees directly south, 10 degrees off the horizon. And the ones to the north are moving. One's moving away from us.
VOICE: Moving out fast.
VOICE: This one on the right's heading away, too.
HALT: They're both heading north. Hey, here he comes from the south, he's coming toward us now.
HALT: Now we're observing what appears to be a beam coming down to the ground.
SHOUT IN BACKGROUND: [Unclear]
HALT: This is unreal.
HALT: 03:30 and the objects are still in the sky, although the one to the south looks like it's losing a little bit of altitude. We're going around and heading back toward the base.
HALT: The object to the south is still beaming down lights to the ground.
HALT: 04:00 hours. One object still hovering over Woodbridge base at about five to ten degrees off the horizon, still moving erratic and similar lights and beaming down as earlier.
NOTE: Halt was to later clarify that the objects described as changing from half moons to circles were being viewed through a lens and the likelihood of image distortion, particularly focusing on a bright light against a dark background, should be allowed for.
To confirm, this is the relevant extract from Halt's memo to the Ministry of Defence:
"The objects to the north appeared to be elliptical through an 8-12 power lens. They then turned to full circles".
