# How and why did the accounts grow? · Rendlesham Forest, December 1980 > Three answers have been proposed. Memory, repeated retelling, books, television and the influence of other witnesses' stories elaborated… leads, with… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/rendlesham-forest/questions/QST0CQRZJBA2ZBF/how-and-why-did-the-accounts-grow Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:58:34+00:00 --- **0** # How and why did the accounts grow? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·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]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CQRZ8B04W9C/the-rendlesham-forest-ufo-case)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CQRZ7VC44RB/dropped-object). The site exists partly to study this. ## Answers 3 [**Memory, repeated retelling, books, television and the influence of other witnesses' stories elaborated…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/rendlesham-forest/answers/ANS0CQRZQ7J13CT/memory-repeated-retelling-books-television-and-the-influence) Supported by its tests Evidence: 2 for Most likely [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/rendlesham-forest/answers/ANS0CQRZRPE6BDF/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible [**The witnesses told the truth from the start but were ordered to keep it out of their statements, and spoke…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/rendlesham-forest/answers/ANS0CQRZQZ0451Z/the-witnesses-told-the-truth-from-the-start-but-were-ordered) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: 1 for, 1 against Disputed ## History 1. 2018[Clarke puts forward: the witnesses told the truth from the start but were ordered to keep it out of their statements, and spoke…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CQRZ7KJ50F8/rendlesham-forest-ufos) 1. 2018[Clarke: conrad, the base commander, dismisses the later stories; the MoD file shows no interest in the case.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CQRZ7KJ50F8/rendlesham-forest-ufos)Against: The witnesses told the truth from the start but were ordered to keep it out of their statements, and spoke… 1. 2018[Clarke: halt's 2010 statement alleges concealment by authorities.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CQRZ7KJ50F8/rendlesham-forest-ufos)For: The witnesses told the truth from the start but were ordered to keep it out of their statements, and spoke… 1. 2021[Ridpath: penniston's craft appears in 1994 and the binary in 2010; neither is in his 1981 statement.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CQRZ8B04W9C/the-rendlesham-forest-ufo-case)For: Memory, repeated retelling, books, television and the influence of other witnesses' stories elaborated… 1. 2024[Clarke puts forward: memory, repeated retelling, books, television and the influence of other witnesses' stories elaborated…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CQRZ7VC44RB/dropped-object) 1. 2026[Wikipedia contributors: penniston says his notebook was written that night; its dates do not fit the event.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CQRZ8JT0W9D/rendlesham-forest-incident)For: Memory, repeated retelling, books, television and the influence of other witnesses' stories elaborated… 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/rendlesham-forest/questions/QST0CQRZJBA2ZBF/how-and-why-did-the-accounts-grow%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/QST0CQRZJBA2ZBF/how-and-why-did-the-accounts-grow%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/QST0CQRZJBA2ZBF/how-and-why-did-the-accounts-grow%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/QST0CQRZJBA2ZBF/how-and-why-did-the-accounts-grow%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/QST0CQRZJBA2ZBF/how-and-why-did-the-accounts-grow%23add-source) Where it fits Rendlesham Forest, December 1980 **How and why did the accounts grow?** Key question · you're here [ Ask a question under this one ]