Within Ground Marks
Did Three Marks Really Suggest Landing Gear?
The famous triangle of depressions is compelling only if its shape, spacing and timing survive mundane woodland explanations.
On this page
- What Halt's memo actually measured
- Why triangle geometry sounded persuasive
- Where the landing gear reading breaks down
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Introduction
The three small depressions found in Rendlesham Forest are the strongest physical-evidence claim associated with the incident and the foundation of the famous “landing gear” interpretation. According to Lieutenant Colonel Charles Halt’s memorandum, investigators found three impressions roughly 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) deep and 7 inches (18 cm) across at the location where an unidentified object had reportedly been seen. The marks were said to form a triangle, a detail that immediately suggested a tripod landing arrangement to many observers. [Wikimedia Commons]commons.wikimedia.orgCommons File:Halt Memorandum.jpgWikimedia CommonsFile:Halt Memorandum.jpg - Wikimedia Commonsthree depressions 1 1/2" deep and 7" in diameter were found where the object…
The difficulty is that the same evidence that appears persuasive at first glance becomes much less decisive when examined closely. The measurements were limited, the geometry was never documented in a formal survey, the marks were found in an active woodland environment, and alternative explanations emerged almost immediately. Whether the three depressions genuinely indicated a landed craft depends less on their existence—which is not seriously disputed—than on how much can be inferred from their shape, spacing and context.
What Halt’s Memo Actually Measured
The key document is Halt’s memorandum of 13 January 1981. It does not describe landing gear directly. Instead, it records that “three depressions” measuring about 1.5 inches deep and 7 inches in diameter were found where the object had allegedly been observed. The memo further notes that radiation readings were later taken in and around the impressions, including the centre of the triangle they formed. [Wikimedia Commons]commons.wikimedia.orgCommons File:Halt Memorandum.jpgWikimedia CommonsFile:Halt Memorandum.jpg - Wikimedia Commonsthree depressions 1 1/2" deep and 7" in diameter were found where the object…
Two points are often overlooked.
First, the memo gives dimensions for the individual depressions but not the distances between them. Modern retellings frequently emphasise a geometric pattern suggestive of a vehicle, yet the original document does not provide the measurements needed to establish a precise triangular footprint. [Wikimedia Commons]commons.wikimedia.orgCommons File:Halt Memorandum.jpgWikimedia CommonsFile:Halt Memorandum.jpg - Wikimedia Commonsthree depressions 1 1/2" deep and 7" in diameter were found where the object…
Second, the memo does not state that investigators determined the marks were caused by a landed craft. It records observations: depressions, a triangular arrangement and radiation measurements. The leap from “three marks” to “landing gear” came primarily through interpretation rather than direct measurement. [Wikimedia Commons]commons.wikimedia.orgCommons File:Halt Memorandum.jpgWikimedia CommonsFile:Halt Memorandum.jpg - Wikimedia Commonsthree depressions 1 1/2" deep and 7" in diameter were found where the object…
Later accounts by participants and supporters often described the marks as evidence of a craft resting on three points. Some witnesses referred to plaster casts being taken, while later narratives increasingly presented the triangle as a structured landing pattern rather than merely a set of impressions in the ground. [Facebook]facebook.comRetired Col. Charles Halt recounts the unexplained lights …There were three depressions from the landing gear that were one and a halfFacebookRetired Col. Charles Halt recounts the unexplained lights …There were three depressions from the landing gear that were one and…
Why Triangle Geometry Sounded Persuasive
The appeal of the landing-gear interpretation is easy to understand. Three points define a stable platform. Aircraft, helicopters and engineering structures commonly use tripod arrangements because three supports automatically sit securely on uneven terrain.
In the Rendlesham case, several factors reinforced that interpretation:
- The marks reportedly appeared in the same area where witnesses believed an object had been on the ground.
- The depressions were similar in reported size.
- They were described as forming a triangle rather than appearing randomly scattered.
- The marks became linked to nearby tree damage and later radiation readings, creating the impression of a coherent landing site. [Wikimedia Commons]commons.wikimedia.orgCommons File:Halt Memorandum.jpgWikimedia CommonsFile:Halt Memorandum.jpg - Wikimedia Commonsthree depressions 1 1/2" deep and 7" in diameter were found where the object…
Psychologically, a triangle is also a highly recognisable pattern. Once witnesses or investigators begin considering a landed craft, three roughly aligned marks naturally invite comparison with landing struts. The interpretation gains strength because it links multiple observations into a single narrative: object seen, object lands, object leaves traces.
This is one reason the depressions have remained central to Rendlesham discussions. Unlike the lights in the sky, the marks were physical features that could be photographed, measured and revisited. Even critics generally accept that the impressions existed; the dispute concerns what produced them. [Ian Ridpath]ianridpath.comIan RidpathRendlesham Forest UFO – the landing marks17 Jan 2008 — A triangle of small indentations was located between the trees near the…
Where the Landing-Gear Reading Breaks Down
The main weakness in the landing-gear interpretation is that the triangle itself was never documented with the level of precision required to distinguish an engineered footprint from an ordinary woodland pattern.
A true landing-gear hypothesis implies several testable expectations. One would expect carefully measured spacing, evidence that the marks bore substantial weight, and documentation showing that the geometry was unusually regular. The surviving record provides little of this. The frequently repeated dimensions describe the size of each depression, not the overall pattern. [Wikimedia Commons]commons.wikimedia.orgCommons File:Halt Memorandum.jpgWikimedia CommonsFile:Halt Memorandum.jpg - Wikimedia Commonsthree depressions 1 1/2" deep and 7" in diameter were found where the object…
Another problem is the environment. The impressions were found in a managed forest where animal activity, weather and forestry operations routinely disturbed the ground. Critics noted that shallow scrapes or depressions are common features on a forest floor and argued that the marks were not extraordinary in themselves. [UAP Globe]uapglobe.comUAP GlobeThe Rendlesham Forest Incident (26 December 1980)June 13, 2026 — The next morning, three small depressions about 7 inches across…
Most importantly, alternative explanations were offered by people familiar with the site. Suffolk police officers and forestry personnel reportedly identified the impressions as rabbit diggings or rabbit scrapes rather than evidence of a landing. Forester Vince Thurkettle, who knew the area and later became one of the best-known sceptical voices on the case, argued that the glade contained ordinary rabbit disturbances that happened to form a rough triangular arrangement. [Wikipedia+2UAP Globe]WikipediaRendlesham Forest incidentRendlesham Forest incident
The phrase “rough triangular arrangement” matters. Human observers are good at finding geometric patterns, particularly when they are already searching for evidence that confirms a dramatic event. Without a detailed survey showing exact distances and angles, it is difficult to determine whether the pattern was genuinely precise or merely appeared suggestive after the fact. [UAP Globe]uapglobe.comUAP GlobeThe Rendlesham Forest Incident (26 December 1980)June 13, 2026 — The next morning, three small depressions about 7 inches across…
How Much Weight Can the Three Marks Carry?
The three depressions remain an authentic part of the historical record because they were documented in Halt’s memo and discussed by multiple witnesses. They are not an invented feature added years later. [Wikimedia Commons]commons.wikimedia.orgCommons File:Halt Memorandum.jpgWikimedia CommonsFile:Halt Memorandum.jpg - Wikimedia Commonsthree depressions 1 1/2" deep and 7" in diameter were found where the object…
However, the evidential question is narrower than many retellings imply. The marks demonstrate that three shallow impressions were observed at the alleged site. They do not, by themselves, demonstrate that a vehicle landed there. To support that stronger conclusion, investigators would need evidence showing that the impressions possessed a uniquely engineered geometry or characteristics inconsistent with ordinary woodland disturbance.
More than four decades later, that evidence has not emerged. Supporters continue to regard the triangular arrangement as suggestive of landing gear, while sceptics view the marks as a classic example of ambiguous physical traces acquiring significance because they were discovered after an unusual and widely discussed sighting. [The Guardian]theguardian.comThe most notable encounter involved U.S. Air Force personnel Jim Penniston, John Burroughs, and Charles Halt, who reported strange lights…
The result is a piece of evidence that remains intriguing but inconclusive. The three depressions are real enough to warrant discussion, yet the step from “three marks in a triangle” to “landing gear from a craft” remains an interpretation rather than a demonstrated finding. [Wikimedia Commons+2Wikipedia]commons.wikimedia.orgCommons File:Halt Memorandum.jpgWikimedia CommonsFile:Halt Memorandum.jpg - Wikimedia Commonsthree depressions 1 1/2" deep and 7" in diameter were found where the object…
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Endnotes
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Source: commons.wikimedia.org
Title: Commons File:Halt Memorandum.jpg
Link: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AHalt_Memorandum.jpgSource snippet
Wikimedia CommonsFile:Halt Memorandum.jpg - Wikimedia Commonsthree depressions 1 1/2" deep and 7" in diameter were found where the object...
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Source: facebook.com
Link: https://www.facebook.com/HISTORY/posts/retired-col-charles-halt-recounts-the-[unexplainedSource snippet
Retired Col. Charles Halt recounts the unexplained lights...There were three depressions from the landing gear that were one and...
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Source: Wikipedia
Title: Rendlesham Forest incident
Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rendlesham_Forest_incident -
Source: facebook.com
Title: in december 1980 us air force personnel saw strange lights in rendlesham forest
Link: https://www.facebook.com/mrballen/posts/in-december-1980-us-air-force-personnel-saw-strange-lights-in-rendlesham-forest-/908029534929214/Source snippet
Air Force personnel saw strange...When they got close they reported, according to the USAF Halt Memo below, that they saw a "strange glo...
Published: december 1980
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Source: facebook.com
Title: Deputy Base Commander, RAF Woodbridge U.S
Link: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=122193530036937231&set=a.122105040062937231&type=3Source snippet
Air Force...The next day, three depressions 1 1/2 inches deep and 7 inches in diameter were found where the object had been sighted on t...
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Source: ianridpath.com
Link: https://www.ianridpath.com/ufo/appendix.htmlSource snippet
Appendix – Col Halt's memo to the MoDThe next day, three depressions 1.5 inches deep and 7 inches in diameter were found where the object...
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Source: theguardian.com
Link: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/30/the-rendlesham-forest-mystery-its-the-perfect-storm-of-a-ufo-caseSource snippet
The most notable encounter involved U.S. Air Force personnel Jim [Penniston]({{ 'penniston/' | relative_url }}), John Burroughs, and Charles Halt, who reported strange lights...
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Source: ianridpath.com
Link: https://www.ianridpath.com/ufo/rendlesham5.htmlSource snippet
Ian RidpathRendlesham Forest UFO – the landing marks17 Jan 2008 — A triangle of small indentations was located between the trees near the...
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Source: uapglobe.com
Link: https://uapglobe.com/cases/rendlesham-forestSource snippet
UAP GlobeThe Rendlesham Forest Incident (26 December 1980)June 13, 2026 — The next morning, three small depressions about 7 inches across...
Published: June 13, 2026
Additional References
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Source: hangar1publishing.com
Link: https://hangar1publishing.com/blogs/ufos-uaps-and-aliens/rendlesham-forest-incident?srsltid=AfmBOorTqcVwJy8J17B_w3FAWX_hBbdOYLZoAgPHl9UXaVLy5flpMQd-Source snippet
Rendlesham Forest Incident: Britain's RoswellMilitary witnesses described them as forming a perfect equilateral triangle, each depression...
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Source: hangar1publishing.com
Link: https://hangar1publishing.com/blogs/ufos-uaps-and-aliens/rendlesham-forest-incident?srsltid=AfmBOooQwpP9tKGhcz_LCzqAgPZfvU79IRFRAIOuhLUF-_RdH5y6k1PSSource snippet
Nearby trees showed broken branches and what appeared to be scorch or burn marks...Read more...
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Source: researchgate.net
Link: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/405414715_UFO_Curated_Landmark_Cases_and_AnalysisSource snippet
(PDF) UFO Curated Landmark Cases and Analysis30 May 2026 — The crew initially faced suspicion of foul play, until polygraph results clear...
Published: May 2026
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Source: instagram.com
Link: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DV_6PLMkbzH/Source snippet
sky. Today the Rendlesham Forest incident is still...Read more...
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Source: youtube.com
Title: Rendlesham UFO incident: Does new film ‘Capel Green’ have new evidence?
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21yW_XZR2LUSource snippet
Rendlesham Forest landing physical evidence Physical evidence Col Halt has from the Rendlesham Forest incident...
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Source: hansard.[parliament]({{ ‘parliament/’ | relative_url }}). uk
Title: Hansard Rendlesham Forest Incident
Link: https://hansard.parliament.uk/lords/2001-10-16/debates/c246478f-c76a-4129-826b-765803ab377a/RendleshamForestIncidentSource snippet
Forest Incident - Hansard - UK Parliament16 Oct 2001 — a glowing metallic triangular object had landed in Rendlesham Forest in December 1...
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Source: military-history.fandom.com
Title: Rendlesham Forest incident
Link: https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Rendlesham_Forest_incidentSource snippet
Forest incident - Military Wiki - FandomThe Rendlesham Forest incident is the name given to a series of reported sightings of unexplained...
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Source: handsworthprimary.org.uk
Link: https://handsworthprimary.org.uk/AjaxRequestHandler.ashx?DOCUrl=App_Data%2Fhandsworthprimary_org_uk%2FClassPages%2F014%2F_Documents_2020-21%2FSlide.pdf&Function=GetSecuredDOCSource snippet
Defence Department Confidential FilesThe next day, three depressions 1.5 inches deep and 7 inches in diameter were found where the object...
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Source: youtube.com
Title: Legendary British Alien Sighting | History’s Greatest Mysteries
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLqXp90GTX8Source snippet
Rendlesham UFO incident: Does new film 'Capel Green' have new evidence?...
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Source: youtube.com
Title: Rendlesham Forest UFO sighting: Eyewitness Colonel Charles Halt
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JBwH6yHEDoSource snippet
Legendary British Alien Sighting | History's Greatest Mysteries...
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