Mysteries Department
Sign inRequest access
0

How and why did the accounts grow?

Asked 26 Oct 2026 by ·3 answers·0·0 following
Most likely: memory, repeated retelling, books, television and the influence of other witnesses' stories elaborated…Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted.

Where it stands

Three answers have been proposed. Memory, repeated retelling, books, television and the influence of other witnesses' stories elaborated… leads, with evidence 2 for: supported by its tests. Two are still possible.

Why it matters

Rendlesham is the clearest case of accounts changing over decades: lights in 1981, a touched craft in 1994, a binary message in 2010, aliens and abductions later⁠[1]⁠[2]. The site exists partly to study this.

Answers 3

Evidence: 2 for
Most likely
None of these.
Not tested enough to call either way
Evidence: none yet
Still possible
Evidence: 1 for, 1 against
Disputed

History

  1. Clarke puts forward: the witnesses told the truth from the start but were ordered to keep it out of their statements, and spoke…
  2. Clarke: conrad, the base commander, dismisses the later stories; the MoD file shows no interest in the case.Against: The witnesses told the truth from the start but were ordered to keep it out of their statements, and spoke…
  3. Clarke: halt's 2010 statement alleges concealment by authorities.For: The witnesses told the truth from the start but were ordered to keep it out of their statements, and spoke…
  4. Ridpath: penniston's craft appears in 1994 and the binary in 2010; neither is in his 1981 statement.For: Memory, repeated retelling, books, television and the influence of other witnesses' stories elaborated…
  5. Clarke puts forward: memory, repeated retelling, books, television and the influence of other witnesses' stories elaborated…
  6. Wikipedia contributors: penniston says his notebook was written that night; its dates do not fit the event.For: Memory, repeated retelling, books, television and the influence of other witnesses' stories elaborated…
  7. Asked on this site
Add evidence
1What it bears on2What you found3Where it comes from
Which answer?
Does it count for or against it?
In a sentence, what did you find?
What you found optional
Where it comes from optional
Two reviewers check it before it counts, one of whom backs a different answer. You'll hear back by email: accepted, needs changes, or a duplicate.
Propose an answer
Your answer, in a sentence
What would rule it out? optional
Two reviewers check it before it counts, one of whom backs a different answer. You'll hear back by email: accepted, needs changes, or a duplicate.
Ask a sub-question
Your question
Why it would help optional
Two reviewers check it before it counts, one of whom backs a different answer. You'll hear back by email: accepted, needs changes, or a duplicate.
Add a source
The source
What it shows about this question optional
Two reviewers check it before it counts, one of whom backs a different answer. You'll hear back by email: accepted, needs changes, or a duplicate.

Discussion 0

Add to the discussion