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By adminRendlesham is near Woodbridge, in Suffolk, England. The village is approximately thirteen miles from Suffolk’s largest city, Ipswich. The area can be viewed on Google Maps
Construction began on RAF Butley in 1942. The base was later renamed RAF Bentwaters.
Britain’s Ministry Of Defence leased RAF Bentwaters to the United States Air Force in 1951 and in 1958 RAF Bentwaters and RAF Woodbridge became a “twin base” complex.
The bases were home to the 81st Tactical Fighter Wing (81st TFW) and the 67th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron (ARRS). Both groups were involved in the UFO incident years later.
The UFO incident began in Rendlesham forest, which is only metres from RAF Woodbridge’s rear gate. Rendlesham forest was grown in the 1940s to act as a protective shield for both bases. The forest was severely damaged by the “Great Storm” of 1987 but since then most of the trees have been replanted.
In 1992, shortly after the Cold War ended, RAF Woodbridge and RAF Bentwaters were abandoned by the USAF. RAF Bentwaters recently became a privately owned business park, while RAF Woodbridge is used by the MOD for Army training exercises.