ARTISTS TALKING

# 31 [5 October 2011]

We collected samples in Rendlesham, both items went into the same receptacle which is probably highly dubious in terms of collecting evidence however the evidence was well basic to say the least and some 30 plus years after the incident. I left the receptacle and contents in Dominique's capable hands and wonder if it will find its way to Aid and Abet at some point - although it may not fit through their letter box.

Nicola Naismith

# 32 [6 October 2011]

This is an interesting site featuring several podcasts, recommended to us by our UFO witness:

http://rendlesham-incident.co.uk

Paul and Ben Eno have released a series of podcasts aired between, I think, August and October 2010  as ‘Return to Rendlesham’ podcasts.  These feature amongst others, John Burroughs, Jim Penniston, Charles Halt and Nick Pope.  First broadcast on: Online/Archiveradio.com.  This site also has other interviews including an article about the BBC broadcast " The Truth is not out there".  This follows Evan Davis investigating Rendlesham with, " noted skeptic, Ian Ridpath, and Mark Pilkington. The group observe satellites, glow worms, and of course the Orford Ness lighthouse, which is apparently all it takes for Davis to conclude: “mystery explained.”

“On Monday night, after dark, I ventured into Rendlesham Forest with the astronomy writer, Ian Ridpath, a scientist who has almost made a career of explaining the incident. He took me to the place where the airmen reported seeing flashing lights in the sky. There, we were greeted by the sight of the Orford Ness lighthouse a few miles away. Mr Ridpath was certain that this was what the witnesses to the mysterious lights in the forest were looking at. It is still there now – its light rotating every five seconds."

It was a bit too misty on the day we were in Rendlesham, so lighthouse views were limited.  We did go into Orford to view the lighthouse - NIcola has some pictures -   (and we sent a postcard to Aid & Abet from Orford on the way) and our conversations and reading seem to conclude that the Lighthouse is not the answer.

Dominique Rey

Aforementioned Orford Lighthouse image now added

Nicola Naismith

# 33 [7 October 2011]

This unexpected fascination with UFOs  reminded me of a book my Granny bought me years and years ago. I dug the book out and have started reading it again - UFO landings in the Guernsey German Underground Hospital, but written in a more innocent  (and strangely formal) style than could be expected today.I think it gave me a nightmare at the time. Reading the book in turn made me find some images I took in Guernsey down in the Underground Hospital in  2007. The hospital tunnels were, I think, built with forced labour during the WW2 Occupation by Germany. It really is strangely spooky place all on its own without any 'aliens' (German, inter-planetary or any other type).

And I did have a dream about alien landings the other night.

Dominique Rey

# 34 [9 October 2011]

17 January 1947: Operation Charlie

One of the incidents that Dave Evans (the person we are investigating and collecting UFO information on behalf of) mentioned was Operation Charlie from 1947.

My initial enquiries have located mentions of both the Chain Home Low Radar at Skendleby in Lincolnshire and RAF Ingoldmels. It seems some kind of capture of the unidentified object was undertaken without success. There is a book which included information about Operation Charlie:

'Out of the Shadows: UFOs, the Establishment and Official Cover Up (David Clarke and Andy Roberts)'

which is available on Amazon i wonder if Dave would appreciate a second hand copy?

Perhaps a visit to the Radar Museum (RAF Air Defence)  in Norfolk may be useful http://www.radarmuseum.co.uk/home.htm

Dominique and i need to plan our next tour date....

Nicola Naismith

# 35 [10 October 2011]

Part of Rendlesham Forest that we wandered around, showing the corner of the former Woodbridge Airbase, including, I think, the fabled Eastgate.

Dominique Rey 

# 36 [11 October 2011]

I've printed the black and white images taken of details of Rendlesham Forest that caught our attention and even, perhaps, seemed significant at that time in that place.  I've called them 'traces' , of what? Context is paramount, it seems.  Do they still seem significant at this distance? I certainly want / wanted to believe......

The  overall impression is of a spooky, atmospheric wood, dark shadows and alleys of trunks  leading off in every direction.  It is difficult with black and white images of forests to not be just a little Blair Witch, although I tried hard to steer away from this.   The images were then photocopied and after some experimentation, I have come up with using highlighter pens for a purity of colour  to evoke the vibrancy of the paint Nicola and I saw daubed on tree trunks in the forest.  Highlighter pens rule! The collection of 7 or so images will be loosely stuck / clipped together to form a document.  

This suits the process of the project:

we are looking at lo-fi methods of distribution, copying, dissemination through interaction, edition-ing and later archiving. 

Also, I'm excited about the possibility of visiting the Radar Museum on our next Tour.

Dominique Rey

# 37 [12 October 2011]

Some strange sort of reputation as a UFO spotter? This was forwarded to me....

# 38 [12 October 2011]

The flimsy-posters arrived today, ready for sending to Aid & Abet, or taking out to our Tour tomorrow when we think about Operation Charlie. There are 3 of each - one for the UFO Tour archive to take to the Royal Standard, one for the Satellite UFO Tour Archive and one to play around with in whichever way seems best at the time. 

Dominique Rey

# 39 [12 October 2011]

Open Skies

When Dave Evans (the artist from Royal Standard) sent an email expressing an interest in our Touring Territories project he mentioned his initial curiosity " to see if an area with a reputation for flatness looked to the sky as an speculative/imaginative space (much like deserts, new Mexico and Arizona in the U.S)".

With this in mind we will (weather permitting) do some sky watching tomorrow either side of our visit to a museum dedicated to not looking at the sky directly with the eyes but monitoring movements through a radar machine.

Nicola Naismith

# 40 [13 October 2011]

Radar

Dominique and i journeyed to the RAF Air Defence Radar Museum at Neatished in rural Norfolk today. On arrival a rotating mobile radar greeted us and we were immediately enthralled.

So eager were we to get there that Dominique forgot her purse and even though i raided the car for change we couldn't quite raise the entrance fee. The very kind gentleman on the entrance desk said it would be fine to send a cheque and promptly arranged a brief tour for us. The museum has a strap-line - its bigger than you think - which is very true and the time we had flew by and we need a return visit at some point.

We were led to Neatished from details contained in Dr David Clarke & Andy Roberts text on operation charlie:

http://www.uk-ufo.org/condign/histcharlie.htm

Although Operation Charlie is dated as 1947, it was the Coldwar Operations Room (in use between 1973  - 1993 i think) that had us completely enthralled. Not least on my part by the knowledge that my dad would have spoken to radar operatives there when he was stationed at near by RAF Coltishall. Working in the control tower he would have spoken to pilots that would have been pursuing 'unidentified' or perhaps 'univited' aircraft from Russia. We were in danger of becoming diverted from our primary UFO focus as neither of us asked any of the numerous room guides about Operation Charlie or possible sightings  - we asked ourselves why. Was it from a fear of appearing foolish? We have repeatedly questioned our approach to this project, are we believers or skeptics and how might this influence the research that we undertake? We have tried as much as possible to keep a neutral position, respectful of peoples experiences and opinions which ever side they fall on.

During the the post tour debrief in a local pub we explored the very expansive potential of this project but also how we might develop and fine tune this methodology in the future.

The low lighting levels in the Operations room made for some interesting photos. Dominique also has a rather lovely image of the East Anglian Territory with Ghost Plain markings which i hope she will add. 

Nicola Naismith