# What did the first patrol see on 26 December 1980? · Rendlesham Forest, December 1980 > Four answers have been proposed. The falling lights were a fireball; the lights in the forest and the beacon were the Orford Ness lighthouse… leads, with… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/rendlesham-forest/questions/QST0CQRZHVP1QJ8/what-did-the-first-patrol-see-on-26-december-1980 Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:58:34+00:00 --- **0** # What did the first patrol see on 26 December 1980? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·4 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: the falling lights were a fireball; the lights in the forest and the beacon were the Orford Ness lighthouse…** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Four answers have been proposed. The falling lights were a fireball; the lights in the forest and the beacon were the Orford Ness lighthouse… leads, with evidence 2 for, 1 against: supported by its tests. Three are still possible. ## Why it matters Halt's memo describes a structured object; the airmen's own statements describe lights and a walk toward a beacon⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CQRZ7BR7EV6/unexplained-lights-memorandum-to-raf-cc)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CQRZ8365PSQ/the-truth-about-rendlesham). Which is closer to what happened decides whether anything landed. ## Answers 4 [**The falling lights were a fireball; the lights in the forest and the beacon were the Orford Ness lighthouse…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/rendlesham-forest/answers/ANS0CQRZJK46V3Q/the-falling-lights-were-a-fireball-the-lights-in-the-forest) Supported by its tests Evidence: 2 for, 1 against Most likely [**A prank with vehicle lights and fog by base personnel.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/rendlesham-forest/answers/ANS0CQRZMHM6RQY/a-prank-with-vehicle-lights-and-fog-by-base-personnel) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 1 for Still possible [**A structured craft landed in the clearing and was approached and touched.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/rendlesham-forest/answers/ANS0CQRZKJC3HAY/a-structured-craft-landed-in-the-clearing-and-was-approached) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: 1 for, 2 against Disputed [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/rendlesham-forest/answers/ANS0CQRZN18599Y/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible ## History 1. 1981[Halt: halt's memo, written from the airmen's reports, describes a metallic triangular object with coloured lights…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CQRZ7BR7EV6/unexplained-lights-memorandum-to-raf-cc)Against: The falling lights were a fireball; the lights in the forest and the beacon were the Orford Ness lighthouse… 1. 2006[Easton: burroughs' 1981 statement says he followed a beacon for about two miles before realising it was the…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CQRZ8365PSQ/the-truth-about-rendlesham)For: The falling lights were a fireball; the lights in the forest and the beacon were the Orford Ness lighthouse… 1. 2018[Clarke: police and the forester judged the depressions rabbit diggings; the radiation was at the meter's noise floor.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CQRZ7KJ50F8/rendlesham-forest-ufos)Against: A structured craft landed in the clearing and was approached and touched. 1. 2021[Ridpath puts forward: a structured craft landed in the clearing and was approached and touched.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CQRZ8B04W9C/the-rendlesham-forest-ufo-case) 1. 2021[Ridpath: penniston's 1981 statement puts him about 50 metres from lights and mentions no craft; Burroughs and…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CQRZ8B04W9C/the-rendlesham-forest-ufo-case)Against: A structured craft landed in the clearing and was approached and touched. 1. 2026[Wikipedia contributors puts forward: the falling lights were a fireball; the lights in the forest and the beacon were the Orford Ness lighthouse…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CQRZ8JT0W9D/rendlesham-forest-incident) 1. 2026[Wikipedia contributors puts forward: a prank with vehicle lights and fog by base personnel.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CQRZ8JT0W9D/rendlesham-forest-incident) 1. 2026[Wikipedia contributors: a bright fireball was recorded over southern England at 2:50 am on 26 December.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CQRZ8JT0W9D/rendlesham-forest-incident)For: The falling lights were a fireball; the lights in the forest and the beacon were the Orford Ness lighthouse… 1. 2026[Wikipedia contributors: penniston has described touching the craft since 1994 and produced a notebook and binary code in 2010.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CQRZ8JT0W9D/rendlesham-forest-incident)For: A structured craft landed in the clearing and was approached and touched. 1. 2026[Wikipedia contributors: kevin Conde says he staged such a prank in late December 1980 but cannot tie it to these nights.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CQRZ8JT0W9D/rendlesham-forest-incident)For: A prank with vehicle lights and fog by base personnel. 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/rendlesham-forest/questions/QST0CQRZHVP1QJ8/what-did-the-first-patrol-see-on-26-december-1980%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/rendlesham-forest/questions/QST0CQRZHVP1QJ8/what-did-the-first-patrol-see-on-26-december-1980%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/rendlesham-forest/questions/QST0CQRZHVP1QJ8/what-did-the-first-patrol-see-on-26-december-1980%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/rendlesham-forest/questions/QST0CQRZHVP1QJ8/what-did-the-first-patrol-see-on-26-december-1980%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/rendlesham-forest/questions/QST0CQRZHVP1QJ8/what-did-the-first-patrol-see-on-26-december-1980%23add-source) Where it fits Rendlesham Forest, December 1980 **What did the first patrol see on 26 December 1980?** Key question · you're here [ Ask a question under this one ]